Keith5588

Thanks again,

Lacessit - I will have a look to visit the Erotic Gardens, could be good for some holiday photos.

 

A1Str8 – I agree and usually like to be more flexible than a tour allows.

 

Trujillo – Thanks a lot for all the suggestions, much appreciated. Concerning the Songthaews I am a bit confused on how convenient they are or not. Now deciding with all the help that it is best to travel on the hired motorbike. But I was serious about using a Songthaew because I had looked at this web site

https://www.chiangmaitraveller.com/chiang-mai-public-transport-songthaew/

 

An extract

The yellow songthaew has specifically designated routes going between Chiang Mai city and the other towns. They do not roam around Chiang Mai city but only wait for passengers at the bus terminal. Here is the routes and bus terminal information of the yellow songthaew:

Route: Chiang Mai – Chom Thong
Depart from: Chang Phueak Bus Terminal
Hours: 8.00am – 16.00pm
Point of interest: Hang Dong district, San Pa Tong district, Wat Phra That Si Chom Tong, and transit to Doi Inthanon National Park, Mae Klang Waterfall, Wachirathan Waterfall.
Fare: 20 – 30 Baht

Route: Chiang Mai – Wiang Kalong – Wiang Pa Pao
Depart from: Chang Phueak Bus Terminal
Hours: 6.00am – 18.00pm
Point of interest: Khun Chae National Park, Chiang Rai Hot Spring

 

The orange songthaew plies the route from Chiang Mai to Fang district, where the beautiful Doi Ang Khang National Park is situated.

Route: Chiang Mai – Fang District
Depart from: Chang Phueak Bus Terminal
Hours: 6.15am – 18.00pm
Point of interest: Doi Ang Khang, Fang Hot Spring
Fare: 40 – 80 Baht

Etc.

 

So they do travel long distances but I accept they would not always be good for a day trip.

Also the Songthaew that goes to Doi Inthanon I assume would not stop at the waterfalls? I guess?

Sorry if I am being a bit stupid.

 

Thanks again for all the help

Keith

Hi,

Thank you all for your suggestions.

 

I ride a scooter around Khon Kaen and am confident at least for short distances. I’m not so good at long distances as I tend to start falling asleep, and not really want to ride or drive for hours especially after dark as I think it then becomes a bit too dangerous.

 

I do intend to rent a bike and to visit Doi Suthep. So after that I guess I should make my own judgement if I want to ride further.

 

I know some people love it but I don’t think I would enjoy 4 hours of riding, having to concentrate all the time. Riding something like the Mae HongSon Loop would be too much riding for me – I think.

 

I was lucky with the Air Asia flights. They started direct flights taking about 1 hour Khon Kaen to CM from  1 Aug. I booked the flights 2 weeks ago. About 1 week ago I looked and there was no availability at all in August. The only other flights mean going to Bangkok first, taking over 6 hours and paying more than double the Air Asia cost.

 

I have looked a bit at things to do from Chiang Mai but not yet from Chiang Rai. I suspect that Lacessit is right and there are more different sorts of places close to the border, I will investigate.

 

We do play Petanque almost every day in Khon Kaen, anyone know of a Petanque club in Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai?

 

Thanks again for all your suggestions

Keith

I am from the UK aged 67. I have been living in Khon Kaen for the past 3 years with my Thai gf. We have not visited Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai before.

During the first half of August we will be spending 9 nights in Chiang Mai (inside of the old city) and then 6 nights in Chiang Rai.

We are both reasonably fit and do not mind walking a reasonable distance and hopefully will join the Hash House Harriers on a run or two.

I intend to hire a motorbike but not a car.

Places like Doi Inthanon, do you think it best to book a tour or to visit independently. I have read that it would be a bit too far and steep to do it comfortably on a motorbike?

Also maybe a trip up past Pai to the Lod cave, could we travel there on a Songthaew?

Any help and suggestions much appretiated.

Thank you

Keith

To DrJack54 and Peter Denis 

A small point

I think someone stated insurance starts at 4:30 pm but I believe it is not the case.

Here is a direct copy from my LMG insurance certificate.

At the top it states

Period of Insurance 24/06/2020to 24/06/2021 Time 16.30 hrs.

A bit lower down it states

The period of insurance begins from 24/06/2020 at 00.01 hours until 24/06/2021 at 16.30 hours as stipulated on the Insurance

 

So it actually starts at 00.01 hours and they give a bit more than 1 full year!

 

I still believe it is best to do as I did and have the health insurance start the day before you go to immigration. The lady was good and also very honest. I have always given exactly 1,900 baht but on the 25th I thought she was good so I gave her 2,000 baht. There was instantly a 100 baht note on the table very close to me and so I did pick it up .....  so still zero tea money given.

 

She did go through to the back somewhere for about 5 minutes to check on the health insurance, I don't know what she did. I just think it safest to have had the health insurance actually start the day before.

 

I am a bit confused why I actually feel happy? I have done another 1 year extension of stay and this time have had to pay 7,700 baht extra for health insurance ....... but I still feel happy!  I think partly because the relaxing of the lockdown and I can plan a holiday, or two!

 

Good luck to you all

Cheers

Keith 

 

 

Thanks Peter,

 

Concerning your first point I’m still not 100% clear on what is best to do. I thought in the past I had read that the IO checks to see that you have current health insurance and that it is on the TGIA database. If I had the insurance start on the 2 July do you think the IO would have issued me with the extension today? 

I really would not want to have to go to immigration on the very last day i.e. 1 July, if there is a delay or something goes wrong then I would be on overstay.

I know it does not apply this year because of the amnesty.

 

A year ago the KK office did say I should visit to show them my bank account. Maybe things have changed a bit or relaxed because of the virus? Or maybe just a different IO?

I have been told I do not need to so I am not, however I always just keep the money in that bank account untouched.

 

Cheers

Keith

Yippee! …………. I have just successfully renewed my 1 year extension of Stay based on retirement!

Now I can forget about immigration for nearly a year, apart from doing the 90 day report online.

Also to do more important things like planning a holiday within Thailand.

 

My experience:-

 

15June

I decided to start the process of buying the LMG health insurance for a cost of 7,700 baht.

I live in Khon Kaen and there is an LMG office about 3 km from where I live, in fact there are 2 LMG offices marked on Google Maps, one being totally fake. I know it is easy to inform Google Maps of the error but I did inform the real LMG office so they should do it.

Obviously I went to the fake office that didn’t exist, from there telephoned the real office but my gf was told the lady that spoke English was out of the office and to contact them the next day.

 

16 June

We telephoned and twice was put through to the lady that speaks English ……. Who actually didn’t speak any English at all. It was strange. The tipping point came when the lady said to my girlfriend that LMG cannot offer health insurance to anyone over 60, enough is enough!

 

I started contact with LMG in Bangkok.

I also telephoned Khon Kaen Immigration and the lady said that it would be OK to have the health insurance start 24th June and for me to visit them 25th June. I said that my current extension ends 1 July, can she tell me when my new extension will finish. She said that if approved they would renew my extension for 1 year. Sounds good but you can never be sure until it happens.

 

19 June.

Application approved and my transfer of 7,700 confirmed.

All went reasonable smoothly with LMG Bangkok. The application form was in pdf format and I could not easily write to it. No big problem I printed the application form at a nearby copy shop. Filled it in. I selected to have the certificate emailed to me (not by mail). I selected to start the insurance 24 June.

I took photos of each page and emailed them to LMG.

 

22 June

I received the certificate as an email attachment …….. I now have everything needed to visit on the 25th. The email stated that the full policy will be mailed to my address.

I emailed straight back asking for the policy to be emailed to me. I prefer to keep everything as computer files and not paper. 

I received a reply that it had already been posted. I did mention that I am posting in a forum and would like to know if everything could be sent via email. I just received that they usually include other things like a care card which is why they print it out.

 

25 June

Visit to immigration went smoothly. The IO actually commented that all my paperwork was perfect …… nice lady!

Note

My original extension of stay finished 1 July 2020.

My new extension of stay finishes 24 June 2021 which is when my health insurance finishes.

Also she paper clipped the notice that I need to do a 90 day report on the 22 Sept 2020.

She had done another 90 day report today.

I did an online 90 day report at home on the 2nd of this month that gave me 30 Aug as my next 90 date report date.

So she could not see or missed my online 90 day report and did another one ……. No problem.

She confirmed I can do it online again next time, now I am not sure whether to do it on 30 Aug or 22 Sept, not really a big problem.

I also asked if I need to visit immigration in 3 months to confirm my bank balance, she definitely said no (I asked twice).

 

So no more visits to immigration for nearly 1 year ……….. I’m happy.

 

When I arrived home I had the LMG mail. It was a package, you know the cardboard wallet thing that I hate because it is bigger than A4 size.  It contained other information as well as the policy so I can see a bit why they send it by mail but I would still prefer everything in computer files.

 

As I think I wrote earlier I decided 3 years ago to self insure so I did not want to buy insurance. So for me not having any other health insurance it does have a little value, included was a nice plastic card to put in my phone case.

 

For me hopefully rules will change before June next year or I will do a boarder run and change my visa to type O.

 

Good luck to everyone

Keith

A bit off topic but a heads up for 90 day reporting ONLINE

 

Peter Denis - Thank you again for sending me the 90 day online reporting guide. In it Peter suggested using a different browser if have a problem.

 

I submitted my 90 day report yesterday afternoon.

 

I first used Chrome browser, I did have to change then re-enter the captcha. At the last page it did not show any of my details and would not complete.

I started again but this time I used Microsoft Edge browser.

All was good and submitted  successfully!

 

Unfortunately I cannot be certain why it did not work the first time as it could have been either:-

1. Because I used Chrome browser

2. Because I was very slow finding and entering the correct data.

 

In 3 months time I will use Chrome again and make sure I enter information quickly, hopefully I will conclude if the Browser or taking a long time was the problem.

 

I have just had a look and it has been approved so I have saved the 2 pdf files (The next appointment date and the completed TM47).

 

Because of the amnesty I know that I actually did not need to do the 90 day report but it was a good time to practice.

 

Concerning my 1 year extension of stay I will visit the Khon Kaen LMG office in 2-3 weeks from now then go to Immigration.

Cheers

Keith

5 hours ago, Peter Denis said:

I have some serious doubts about the statement by NowCompare.

1 - You can ONLY apply for a Non Imm O-A Visa in your home-country, and this requires a health-insurance policy that meets IO requirements and is confirmed by an Insurance Certificate issued by your insurer.  So I doubt that an applicant in his home-country would subscribe to the thai Regency health-insurance policy just to be able to apply for the Non Imm O-A Visa at his home-country's thai embassy.  It would be far easier for them to simply enter Thailand VisaExempt or on a Tourist Visa, and once in country apply for the Non Imm O - retirement Visa at his local IO as that Non Imm O - retirement Visa does NOT require any IO-approved health-insurance.

2 - The reports I read from Non Imm O-A Visa holders that applied for a 1-year extension of stay at their local IO for reason of retirement, and subscribed to the mandatory thai IO-approved health-insurance policy, tell a different story than what NowCompare claims (at least in CW and CM).

Those applicants were denied their 1-year extension of stay till the details of their health-insurance policy were accessible in the TGIA Insurance database.  Due to an anomaly in the process those policy details are only uploaded in the TGIA insurance database on the last day of their current permission to stay, forcing them to come back on that last day so that IO can check that the data on their Insurance Certificate are indeed compliant with the data in that TGIA insurance database.  And only then their 1-year extension of stay application is approved.

With Regency not being on the list of TGIA insurers, IO would not be able to check the policy data in the TGIA database.

It is possible that IO would show leniency and still approve the application, or that not all IOs do this TGIA database check, but why take the risk when the PoliceOrder clearly mentions the TGIA database.

Conclusion:

If the health-insurance policy from Regency fully meets your insurance needs and you want to subscribe to their policy, it would be very much recommended to first check with your local IO whether they would accept a non-TGIA issued Thai IO-approved health-insurance policy when you apply for your 1-year extension of your original Non Imm O-A Visa for reason of retirement.

If that is not the case, you would still be required to take a thai IO-approved health-insurance policy to have your 1-year extension approved.  The cheapest available thai IO-approved healht-insurance policy is the one offered by LMG Insurance (6.000 THB to 11.700 THB annual premium in the age bracket 51 to 75, with a deductible of 200K).

Please note that content-wise that LMG policy is as good as worthless and should only be regarded as an entry-ticket allowing you to extend your Non Imm O-A Visa for reason of retirement.

 

Thanks Peter, I have serious doubts as well concerning the statement by NowCompare. When I sat down to get some quotes I contacted 3 places, one being NowCompare, it was just a final email to them to see what they say, I think a small chance that they are correct but I am now happy to go ahead with LMG for 7,700 baht in about 3 or 4 weeks from now. 

As said I will enquire about it with my local IO, then I will try to get it all done in one visit just before my current extension finishes. I will post on here what happens to me.

Thanks

Keith

Just to let you all know that some health insurance brokers believe that you can renew your extension of stay with health insurance from Insurance companies, in this case Regency, that are not on the TGIA list. In fact they say that they have had clients that have done it.

 

My email to “NowCompare”

Hi X,

I think maybe we have some misunderstanding. I initially received a telephone call from X and I said that I will need to renew my yearly extension of stay based on retirement and that I need health insurance because my original visa is a Non Imm O-A.

Does Regency's policy cover me for my Thailand one year extension of stay?

 

Their reply

Hi Keith,

As far as we are aware Regency would be a valid insurer to obtain your VISA extension. We have clients that have received their first VISA with this policy and we have had clients that have received VISA extensions with it.

Thanks Peter,

 

I will definitely try to do the 90 day reporting online.

 

Concerning my extension of stay, thanks for pointing out that the insurance may have to be aligned.

 

To visit immigration twice would not be a problem for me but I can see that some people would have a problem if they have to be at immigration on an exact day and maybe visit twice.

 

It doesn’t seem logical as that is exactly why they let you apply a few weeks before.

 

You have pointed out something that I might have got wrong.

 

Actually I could do as you suggest and go to immigration 2 or 3 days before 1 July and accept that I might need to go back on the last day ……. Khon Kaen immigration is only about 4 km from where I live so not a problem for me.

 

This just seems to me to be CRAZY. If they have to be exactly aligned Immigration would be saying “No you cannot come in before your extension ends” If you say you cannot come in that exact day then you would start to be on overstay!  CRAZY! ..... that is CRAZY!

 

I will now check with my local Immigration about 24^th June and will definitely post again.

 

Thanks for all your help

Keith

Thanks Peter,

I was thinking the same as you in not letting my extension of stay slip.

But I was thinking differently in that I intend to start my insurance about 1 week before my current extension of stay finishes lets say on the 24th June.

I then go to Immigration on the 25th June and my insurance will be on the TGIA database. 

I go to immigration once and the worst that can happen is the IO not giving me a whole year extension, but ending my next extension when my health insurance finishes on 24 June 2021. 

I would rather have a 51 week extension than to go to Immigration twice.

Is my thinking right?

Cheers

Keith

Actually thinking a bit more and to be 100% sure I will renew my 1 year extension as normal (as Tanoshi suggested) when it is due just before 1 July. 

Leaving it until after it expires even though I can stay here under the amnesty may cause a problem.

Thanks Tanoshi,

I agree with you 100%, I did not see your post when I was just now writing my post .

Cheers

Keith

Thanks Joe, 

I am now worried and confused thinking what Immigration offices are going to be like on 31 July and border crossings on 1 Aug. If they enforce the 2 metre apart social distancing the queues would probably be many km long.

 

OK I'm joking a bit but have now almost decided to go to my local immigration a week before 31 July if things do not change. I will have purchased the cheapest health insurance I can find which seems to be LMG at the moment and to have that start 1 week before the 31 July.

 

I feel better now.

Thanks for all your help

Keith

 

 

 

 

 

I have a 90 day report due 8 June. My current permission to stay ends 1 July.

I did see this web page https://immigration.go.th/content/extend_alien?click=1

So I feel certain about not needing to do my 90 day report but am not sure if I can stay until 31 July without going into overstay?

Joe do you think it wise for me to telephone my local immigration office in Khon Kaen to make sure?

 

Interesting to know that boarders are closed at the moment.

 

Thanks

Keith

 

 

 

Peter, thank you so much for your very good and detailed information.

All is now becoming clearer.

I would love to have a copy of your guidelines and will PM you.

I have already been in contact with LMG by LINE messenger with their office in Khon Kaen, where I live. So it will be easy for me to go to their office in the near future. For 200,000 excess I have a quote for 7,700 baht.

 

I would still prefer to change to a Non Imm O visa.

 

Anyone have any comments on my concerns about leaving Thailand at this time due to the covid-19 lockdown restrictions?

Wow, thank you Ubonjoe, you are right. I have had another look. I am surprised they are allowed to have a web address of www.thaiembessy.com and not be the official site.

I explained clearly to the first person I spoke to on the telephone at “Now Compare” that I will shortly be renewing my 1 year extension of stay. He emailed me suggesting Regency for Expats insurance company but at the same time copied it to a person in a different department who took over communicating with me. After a further look I think maybe the second person might be assuming I am applying for a Non IM O-A visa.

Thank you so much for clarifying the situation.

 

Tanoshi, thank you for your reply. Where I am staying the wifi is cut off for 30 minutes each morning and so I have been writing below which states the same as you have, sorry about that.

 

3 years ago I actually decided to self insure and so I actually do not want health insurance.

 

I live in Khon Kaen. I was planning to pop over to Laos from Mukdahan, make it a short holiday, see the mighty Mekong river, a short boat trip if possible. Either apply for an O visa in Savannakhet or most likely just come back on a 30 day visa exempt and then to apply for the Non Imm O visa.

 

The lockdown due to the covid-19 virus has confused me. So many unknowns.

 

Is a trip to Laos and back now possible? Are buses operating?

If possible will there be complications?

Will a recent medical check e needed before coming back to Thailand?

Maybe even covid-19 medical insurance? I think I read something about that but I think it was not fact as I cannot imagine hospitals charging covid-19 patients.

Would I need to self quarantine?

Do I now want to go?

 

I am now thinking that it is a bit risky to purchase health insurance that is not on the TGIA list. I am going to have a look at LMG who Peter Denis mentioned in the past. They are on the TGIA list and I think I can get it for about 7,000 baht for a year. I will ask for maximum excess.

 

ps. Have just seen your posts Peter and will now read them

Thank you RichCor for all your information.

Thank you Martyp, I have just been writing my next post and agree will what you have posted.

 

I have just had a look on the Thai Embassy web page https://www.thaiembassy.com/travel/health-insurance-thailand-new-requirement-for-retirees.php

It states below:-

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What is the new requirement for the Thai retirement O-A visa?

The new rule specifies that the applicant or visa holder must have health insurance not be less than 40,000 baht for outpatient and 400,000 baht for inpatient medical fees. Policies can either be purchased from domestic or foreign insurers, but the sum of foreign policies must not be less than the amount stipulated for Thai policies.

By requiring foreign retirees to have health insurance, they can be ensured that they will be taken care of when they get ill and in case of an accident. This measure will solve over 100 million baht fees left unpaid by foreign patients. The measure will prevent foreigners from doing a runner for hospital fees.

Who are required to have health insurance?

The new rules will be applied to those who are applying for the non-immigrant O-A visa from the Thai embassy or consulate in their home countries, for those who enter the country for the first time with non-immigrant O-A visa and those who wish to extend their non-immigrant O-A visas inside Thailand.

Which companies participated in this scheme?

Here are some of the insurance companies that the applicants may obtain their health insurance to:

Viriyan Insurance,

Asia Insurance 1950,

Thaivisa Insurance,

Sompo Insurance,

LMG Insurance,

Thai Health Insurance,

Navakij Insurance,

Dhipaya Insurance,

The Falcon Insurance,

Pacific Cross Health Insurance,

AXA Insurance,

AETNA Health Insurance

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

When I put my post on Thaivisa I thought that the health insurance company HAD to be on the Thai General Insurance Association  (TGIA) list.

 

I have just looked on the TGIA web page https://longstay.tgia.org/

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Non – Immigrant Visa "O-A"

The listed companies who participate in this scheme.

Download Overseas Insurance Certificate

Participating Company Namelist and Contact list

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

So the health insurance from Regency that “Now Compare” are recommending as they admit are not on the above list but it does not have to be on the list. They state that the policy they are recommending covers all Thailand state medical facilities.

 

I am beginning to understand more, “Now Compare” are probably correct that Regency will provide an appropriate certificate but I cannot help thinking that if this is the case why has the Thai Embassy compiled a list of companies. Also I had a look at the “Download Overseas Insurance Certificate” and it only mentions applying for a Non Imm O-A visa, no mention of Extension of Stay that I will need to do.

 

I am also thinking that if I can go ahead with the health insurance from Regency that is not on the TGIA list why have I seen people on this forum stating that they have very good health insurance but are having to buy another extra Thai health insurance just to satisfy Thai immigration?

 

This extra health policy would probably only cover stays in Thai state hospitals and it may complicate any claims to their much better insurance.

Why don’t these people chase their existing Health insurance to issue a certificate stating that they conform to the immigration requirements of more than 400,000 inpatient  and 40,000 outpatient?

 

Cheers

Keith

Today I asked for a quote from “NowCompare” they recommended Regency Health Insurance Company.

My last message to them:-

Are Regency on the TGIA approved list of health insurance companies?

Their reply:-

To answer your question, no Regency are not on the TGIA list of insurance companies.

It is important to highlight that TGIA is not an authority, meaning they do not have the right to approve or disapprove insurance companies. This is just a website you can go to for information on medical insurance, it is an industry marketing website so therefore companies can pay to advertise on there.

Regency’s policy complies with requirements specifically for an OA VISA, giving you THB 400,000 inpatient cover and THB 40,000 outpatient cover. This plan covers you in all Thailand state medical facilities. We have many clients in Thailand that have opted for the Regency Thai Long Stay policy so your situation is very familiar to us.

 

Is the above statement from Nowcompare correct? I think it has been stated on this forum that the health insurance needs to be with a company on the TGIA list?

Thank you 

Keith

Thank you all for your replies.

Maybe my confusion is because I am relying on only what I have read because the only Will I have done before is a cheap one I bought from a UK shop, did it myself and it was only one page.

 

AtlasAus – Glad that you confirmed witnesses initialled every page in your Will, it makes sense.

uncleP – If you write in your Will your wishes concerning disposal of your body why do you need any sort of permission of your embassy? Are you sure?

Gracas – My template also has the date on the first page near the top and the same as yours on the last page and to sign immediately below. Thank you for your other information. It is a good point about using the same pen as the witnesses, a good thing to do, I will make a note to do that.

I have posted last year asking for help concerning making a Last Will and Testament. So far all I have done is have my Thai girlfriend open a new fixed interest bank account and I have deposited enough so that she has money in an emergency or to pay a hospital and funeral costs if the worst happens.

 

I feel that I have enough information including a Will template in .doc format (so I can easily change it). It is in English and duplicated in Thai.

It is just my Thai Will for my Thai assets.

I do not own a house, my details are very simple, I wish to leave all my assets in Thailand to my Thai girlfriend whom I will also name as Executor so I have decided it is not necessary to involve a Lawyer but to just do it myself..

I have just completed it and there are 4 pages. On page 4 myself and 2 witnesses will later sign.

 

Now I am a bit confused.

It is a very important document but in my mind I think it can be easily changed after the signing takes place. It doesn’t seem right!

 

What I mean is let’s say I wished to leave all my assets to a local charity. I and witnesses sign page 4.

What is to stop someone changing pages 1, 2 or 3?  All they would need is to create an appropriate word file, print it out and change pages 1,2 or 3?

 

Could this be overcome by me and witnesses signing every page and mentioning this on page 4?

I think that if every page should be signed and witnessed then all Will templates should prompt for this at the bottom of every page.

I have just deleted all the Thai language and changed to a smaller narrower font so that it all fits on one page but I am still puzzled how a larger Will can be secured against future change?

 

Thanks

Keith

Thanks jacko, it helps that you also feel I have not missed something.

My next 90 day report is on 8 June. 

I queried twice why I needed to apply for the Non Imm O visa before 10 June and he actually wrote it down the second time that I need to apply at Khon Kaen immigration on 8th, 9th or 10th June.

It makes no sense, I have wondered if he subtracted 21 days from when my extension finishes on 1 July. Again makes no sense as I will terminate the extension by leaving Thailand without a re-entry permit. I will probably pop along to immigration again in 2 months time just to make sure because he was so insistant that I needed to apply before 10 June.

Thanks again

Keith

 

 

About me.

I am 67 years old British single (with Thai girlfriend) male. After help from this forum I obtained a Non Imm O-A visa from the London Thai embassy in July 2017 and all has gone to plan. I have only left Thailand once having a holiday in Vietnam and returning to Thailand 2 July 2018, just before the “enter before” date of my Non Imm O-A. So I was able to be in Thailand for yearly 2 years on the Non Imm O-A visa. Then July 2019 I obtained a 1 year extension based on retirement which expires on 1 July 2020. While in Thailand I have lived in Khon Kaen, a lovely town.

So all gone very smoothly, only charge being 1,900 THB for the extension.

Today I went for my 90 day reporting which was straightforward and quick as usual, just needed to hand over the filled out TM47, my passport, and copies of face page and permit to stay page.

 

Now the confusion.

I will have the problem (as many others) of needing to have health insurance, something I do not want to pay for as I have decided to “self insure”, when I go for my next extension of stay. Not too much of a problem as I was thinking of turning it into a mini holiday to have a look at the Mekong river around Nakhon Phanom before going to Savannakhet. Maybe apply for a Non Imm O visa in Savannakhet, but now I am thinking it would be easier to just re-enter Thailand on a 30 day visa exempt, then apply for Non Imm O at Thai immigration.

So today I asked about obtaining a Non Imm O visa in 3 months time when my permit to stay expires on 1 July 2020. I said that I intend to leave Thailand and enter Laos just before 1 July and return to Thailand on a 30 day visa exempt.

He said that they could issue me with a Non Imm O visa, then I would not need the Health insurance but I would need to leave Thailand and then come to the immigration for the Non Imm O visa on or before 10 June.  I assumed that he looked at the dates of my old expired Non Imm O-A visa and that I was currently on an extension of stay that ends 1 July but I did not specifically mention it.

I was a bit confused why I needed to apply before 10 June so he repeated it and was very specific in that I need to travel into Laos on the 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th or 5^th of June, obtain a 30 day visa exempt upon reentry into Thailand, then come along to KK immigration on the 8^th, 9^th, or 10^th June.

He gave me 2 copies of the TM87 form and said I would need the original and a photocopy of the following:-

1. . Bank statement and proof that 800,000 THB has been in a Thai bank for at least 3 months prior to application of the Non Imm O visa.

2. Passport pages including my old Non Imm O-A visa

3. Proff of address in Khon Kaen

4. Application form

 

I am still confused why I cannot leave Thailand say on 30^th June, return on say 2 July, then apply for a Non Imm O visa. Why would I need to apply for the Non Imm O visa before 10 June?

Hopefully someone can shed some light on it.

If not I may go back to immigration in a couple of months from now.

Or I could just do as told and leave and return before 10 June. My thinking is that I do not obtain a re-entry permit then I will just be on the 30 day visa exempt.

 

Thanks in advance for any help.

Keith

8 hours ago, topt said:

Not saying you shouldn't but as with all things you need to choose carefully. Just read this article here -

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/pensions/article-7400159/Trapped-purgatory-Six-years-mother-died-waiting-legacy.html

I have just read the article, it is interesting. Thank you.

Many years ago my company wanted to and eventually did change pension provider. I suspected it was for them to gain financially at the expense of the employees and after I obtained a lot of proof I needed some help. I found out the correct government department (Financial or Pension Ombusman, I have now forgotten). They would not take any action to investigate and even misled me to begin with about the initial correct course of action I should take to file a complaint. A very long story and a long time ago but I learnt a lesson that government bodies do not help the ordinary person as much as I thought they would.

Sorry for going off topic.