DrJack54

First up yes it's has bad history. The initial wording included statement along the lines ..."covid insurance for the duration of stay" That was just typical Thai not thinking things through. There was debate about what's actually required. The fact that MANY MANY folk with extensions and reentry permits have entered Thailand with a 30 day cover and been stamped in for the until date on their permit is proof enough.. Edit: I just noticed @ThailandRyan in another thread. He recently returned from USA and may have some input.

Are you referring to "Thai Visa Services" located Pattaya?. First up I don't require an agent. Secondly the OP is located in Khon Kaen.

I doubt @ubonjoe would have stated that. I didn't look back to your first post on this. The op was asking about insurance for trip out and return back to Thailand. The covid insurance requirement is covered with period of 30 days.

Can't let it slide. There are visas that are valid for eg a year from issue. Non O-A and ME Non O marriage also one year validity. The non O based on retirement is a visa that provides a 90day permission of stay. Prior to expiry of the POS you can obtain an extension. Note...the visa is not extended. It's done. Your permission of stay can be extended. Forget the "worldwide" reference. This is not being pedantic. It's an important difference to understanding visas, extensions etc. Extension of stay is NOT a visa.

You have a current extension with reentry permit. 30 day coverage will be fine.

It's been sad look since you saw it last. We stay Soi 7-9 area. All the bars shut. Some for good. However now good enough to come to Thailand. Not long ago I was typing that anyone coming to Thailand was straight up Crazy.. Not the case now.

Thinking by the time you arrive with visa exempt you could obtain 30 day extension and by then hopefully some land borders open.. Really depends on length of stay this upcoming visit. Folk tell me that Pattaya getting back to semi normal. Plenty of live music etc. Enjoy..

Either or... I asked as you would need to obtain extension Pattaya. Possibly not nice if you opt to travel. BTW stamp transfer is a minor thing however needs to be done where stamps were issued.

Do you intend to also obtain 12 month extension?

The first post I had to read couple of times. This one several. Don't understand it at all. Actually think I have a headache coming on. In my very small circle there are several of us that have all had it. Myself and gf , her family here in Bangkok, her hairdresser etc etc. How many of them contacted health authorities re positive to rapid test. ZERO of course. Why would you?

No problem. It doesn't help that Thai immigration uses the term retirement visa. Also every extension is referred to by them as a Visa. BTW in other part of your thread you were hoping that agent could possibly obtain another 60 day extension "to visit family". That would not be possible as it's one extension per entry. Even agent can't obtain. Good luck with the non O based on retirement and 12 month extension with reliable agent. I don't know any in Phuket but sounds like you have some contacts.. Also be aware that for folk who don't wish to keep money in a Thai Bank a non O-A is a good option. It provides up to 2 year stay. Must be obtained in home country and has few extra requirements such as police check etc. Useful for those that visit home country every couple of years and just obtain new one.

From the OP...... "I do have health insurance through a US company and it provides coverage in Thailand...."

Had to read this twice. So your stating that if you were mildly ill and did a self test that showed a positive result you would report this to the health authorities? Ludicrous.

Bit harsh. The OP is confused about insurance. It's not required. Perhaps he is thinking of non O-A requirements. As for advise entering thailand visa exempt and obtaining a non O based on retirement, that is very doable. True the op would require 15 days + on his permission of stay to apply. Visa exempt stamps him in for 30 days. An agent can obtain a bank account and that can be pre organized. He also has the option to obtain a 30 day extension to his visa exempt entry. Of course he could opt to enter with a tourist visa and then obtain the non O.

You do not require health insurance.

Just buy a throw away ticket. Does not need to be return ticket. Any onward flight will do.

Read my first post. The op imo best to enter visa exempt. Agent can open bank account. ~4500 baht. Can then obtain non O retirement. Yes alternative is to obtain non O outside of Thailand. That's an option.

Enter Thailand visa exempt. Use agent to open bank account. Transfer 800k from overseas to your Thai bank account. Attend immigration office and obtain non O based on retirement. That gives you 90 day stamp. In last 30 days after the funds have been in bank for 2 months apply for 12 month extension. Health insurance is not required for extensions. Currently entry to Thailand requires 20k insurance. You can buy 30 day cover.

Thanks for your post. So this is left field... Saturday I was chatting with young guy from Oz. Just arrived in Bangkok. Nice guy however seriously dumb as F. Asked him about the process for TP. Stated was minor. This guy was lucky to find way to toilet and back. . Is TP all that difficult?

Sometimes best to bite the bullet. Just go for it. Hope all goes well for you. What's that saying...leap of faith. Edit: just recalled that false positives and negatives are common. Will look for other messages but it's common.

Perhaps slightly off topic. Yes Omicron is extremely contagious. Your locked into short turn around then so be it. What advice are you looking for? Looking for someone hold hand. If travel is imperative then deal with it. Personally I'm waiting to visit family in Oz after 2 years and will wait till TP etc is history. Understand that's not option for you. Experience from a friend attached. What guarantee are you after.

The thread is about flying INTO THAILAND.

What an anal retentive immigration office. You should not even require a TM30 for extension. You state.... "The original incorrect and out of date TM-30 was in my passport and the discrepancies were noted by the I.O". Why even have a TM30 receipt in your pp. Jomtien are just a rubbish immigration office.

Agree. My previous post was more to bump your point. Bit off topic but in my small circle seems Omicron is rife. Myself and gf had it couple weeks back. Now other family members along with gf salon etc. No issue for us as just self isolate. This damn thing is so contagious I would be nervous as a tourist visiting Thailand. Hopefully the TP will disappear soon. BTW our symptoms were very mild.

You will take this as being critical. Not the intention. There is no such thing as a retirement visa or marriage visa. There is a non immigrant O visa. The visa itself is not extended. The visa grants a 90 day permission of stay. That POS can be extended. The extension needs to be based on something. Usual suspects are Retirement and Marriage. You can change the basis of your extension. Some guys change from based on marriage to based on retirement or visa versa.