Salerno

It's only required for the period of your initial entry e.g. if someone turns up on visa exempt with the intention to convert to Non-O and get a 12 month extension they still only "need" 30 days covid insurance. As I alluded to, there's a difference between government requirement and what a person deems necessary; some go down the "self-insured" route others like the peace of mind a decent insurance policy gives..

Maybe a silly question but what do you need it for? (Not insurance in general, the fact you mention $100,000 suggests you're talking about the insurance required to enter Thailand.)

The extension is only 30 days. There is a 60 day Covid extension still available but no guarantee that will still be available after November. Normally you could but it hasn't been available due to Covid as I understand it (schools closed?). People have been going for "volunteer" visas to ensure long stays.

Not being American I was surprised reading a report somewhere (not sure if on this site) that a guy got his via the FBI and it was accepted. Read it a while back and I think it was in relation to O-A. Looks like $18 https://www.fbi.gov/services/cjis/identity-history-summary-checks and you can pop into a post office for fingerprints.

As @DrJack54 mentioned, comes down to how long you intend to stay. Cutting it back to 30 days does make the timelines for conversion to retirement without an existing bank account a bit tight but with the available extension/use of an agent no big deal. If looking to head across for 3 months then yeah, bit of a pain. Do you actually have to upload the visa to get the pre-approval? It states "1. Copy of Thai visa or re-entry permit (if any). If the applicant does not have a valid visa or re-entry permit, the applicant must submit visa application in requesting the issuance of an appropriate visa directly to the Embassy / Consulate-General (if required)." Worth trying it without to see what happens.

Indeed, it was a good option and disappointing it looks dead. In reality, there's no real need for an official statement (in that it looks like it just did exactly as they stated - upgraded until 1 October) but it would have been nice to include it as clarification when they announced the other changes.

No, that would be talking about an O-A which you can squeeze out almost 2 years from the 12 month visa. When you get your extension of stay due to retirement it has to be renewed annualy. You only need to top it up, if you in fact use some of the 800K, 2 months before renewal. So basically minimum 800K for 5 months of the year (2 before and 3 after extension anniversary) and minimum 400K for 7 months of the year.

It was never 45 + 45, it was 45 + 30. Still haven't seen an official announcement categorically saying it has been rescinded but it was removed from Aussie embassy a day or two ago and a couple of posts above stated it's been removed from Brit embassy so ...

Before anyone can answer that truthfully more data is required ... is the pub selling alcohol?

Personally I'd ensure it's a minimum of 2 weeks and 1 day; a report on here yesterday/day before from a BM that landed on the 2 week anniversary of his second jab ... got 10 days.

As I mentioned, too early to tell. On past performance we're unlikely to know if Phase 2 of the plan (opening further "sandbox" type areas) is going ahead from November until around 27 Octoberish. Until then I doubt you'll be able to book it officially. What little they have released is so vague e.g. how are they going to get people to all the proposed locations?: Bangkok, Krabi (both Province), Phang Nga (whole province), Prachuap Khiri Khan (Hua Hin, Nong Kae), Phetchaburi (Cha-am municipality), Chonburi (Pattaya, Bang Lamung, Na Jomtien, Bang Saray), Ranong (Koh Phayam), Chiang Mai (Mueang District, Mae Rim, Mae Taeng, Doi Tao), Loei (Chiang Khan) and Buriram. (Mueang District). ALSQ in Pattaya has pickup from BKK so I don't think that will be an issue for you, but they;ve got a lot of specifics to iron out yet.

Think Chonburi jumped on the upgrade to SHA+ as they where pushing to be a "sandbox" from October, so makes sense they're further prepared than Bangkok I guess.

Too soon to tell yet; if things go well in October (deaths keep dropping and cases however they count them) IMO there's a good chance they'll give it a shot in November; how long it will last who knows (look at what happened in April-May).

On the SHA website there's already 298 SHA+ in Chonburi but strangely none listed in Bangkok. https://www.thailandsha.com/shalists/index?page=2&type=2-Hotel, accommodation and Homestay&province=20-Chon Buri

It was an example, not a full list (and only SHA not SHA+ which I believe they will have to be for a "sandbox" type opening, just a bit of an upgrade). There's almost 300 SHA+ listed in Chonburi already (not sure how many in Pattaya as per OP but a fair number) : https://www.thailandsha.com/shalists/index?page=2&type=2-Hotel, accommodation and Homestay&province=20-Chon Buri

Or "volunteer visa" more likely.

@trav2021 Re: Might not be quite accurate. the extra 15 days for visa exempt was due to run out on 30 September but there hasn't been any announcement that I've seen. I was hoping it would be extended to at least November (when more "sandboxes" are being touted to be open) given there still a minimum 7 days quarantine unless going the sandbox route. Just checked the Embassy here and the note about 45 days they had in red has been removed ???? So possibly worth the hassle getting TR as timing could tight on visa exempt (you need the money in the bank with at least 15 days left on your entry). Personally I'd still go visa exempt and if I had problems opening an account in the first couple of days, throw some money at an agent to do so.

My bad; for 90 days (initial length of entry) not 9 months (misread it initially).

Yes. More than a few reports of people using Agoda etc. with the ability to cancel bookings. See above re paying but the main thing to remember is you can't change an STV to a different visa in Thailand. The limitations and requirements that made it, IMO, a bad choice when first offered are still the same.

This is just the STV; it was due to finish 30 September, they extended it for another 12 months.

They already have SHA certified hotels e.g.

And proactive.

The only "advantage" is the extra 15 days on initial entry. IMO, not worth the hassle in getting the visa. If pushed for time on the visa exempt (e.g. hassle opening bank account; can get an agent to help if need be to negate that) you can get a 30 day extension. Depends on your home bank; not an American but would be surprised if you couldn't nowadays. Yes, select the "Long term stay in Thailand" option in the reason for transfer to ensure it's marked as coming from overseas. Transfer fee is indicated prior to actually initiating the transfer. Again it comes down to your bank, check the fees against Wise fees. Wise tends to better up to a certain point (when comparing also take into account exchange rate not just the fee on the face of it). You need the 800K in the bank the day you apply for the Non-O (which gives you 90 days). You need it to be in the bank for two months when you apply for the extension based on retirement (then in the bank for three months, can drop to minimum of 400K for 7 months but back to 800K for 2 months prior to next extension - easier to drop it in and just forget about it if you can afford it IMO).

Up to 99 years old: https://www.tipinsure.com/CovidRegional/product_detail