Peter Denis

7 hours ago, Tanoshi said:

 

As previously stated there are two separate Insurance requirements, but not both apply to all types of entry, just certain types. The separate Insurance requirements can be combined in one policy.

I've never commented to the contrary on that.

In your case only the Covid Insurance is required, which must cover the duration of stay.

 

It's difficult to fully rely on a story from a poster based on the experience of a friend.

However if you wish to continue with your argument that your friend obtained a Non Imm O-A Visa with a 6 month Insurance policy from Nationwide, I suggest you open a separate topic on that  particular subject to receive further replies.

I stand by my reply regarding the Insurance for a Non Imm O-A Visa application.

I also stand by my reply that a foreign Insurance policy is unacceptable to obtain extensions of stay based on entry from a Non Imm O-A Visa.

 

Fact, a Non Imm O-A Visa permits a stay of 1 year on entry.

Fact, the period of Insurance (if applicable) must cover the period of stay.

 

The info provided by Tanoshi is fully correct.

A small comment which might clarify the issue re the 6-month insurance.

As Tanoshi wrote 'a Non Imm O-A Visa permits a stay of 1 year on entry'. 

When entering Thailand on a new Non Imm O-A Visa you would need both:

- a 400K/40K in/out-patient health insurance policy

- the 100.000 US $ covid-19 treatment insurance which is required for EVERYONE currently entering Thailand.

Now it is indeed possible that your friend applied for and got the Non Imm O-A Visa with a 400K/40K health-insurance policy valid for 6 months.

But the consequence of doing so, is that the 'insurance note' in his passport will mention that 6-month policy expiry date, and on entering Thailand he would then be stamped in not for the full year that his Non Imm O-A Visa entry normally entitles him to, but his permission to stay will be capped to the health insurance expiry date as indicated on that note.

If he did this, it is even possible that since his permission to stay will be capped to 6 months, that he only needed the 100.000 US $ covid-19 treatment insurance for same period.

However, it should be clear that by doing so and thus losing 6 months of the potential 1-year permission to stay his Non Imm O-A Visa entitles him to, would only be advantageous in very specific cases.  And if he intended to stay long-term in Thailand it would have been better (and ultimately also cheaper) if he had subscribed for a 1-year period for the insurance, when opting for the cheapest insurance solution covering both requirements.

9 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

It will be required for the non imm O based on retirement. Maybe get the statement when it was originally transferred in and hopefully it says International

If OPs mother still has the evidence that the 800K which she transferred eight years ago (or longer) to a personal Thai bank-account, originated from abroad, that would solve the matter of course.  But it is unlikely that she still has that +8 year old evidence, and Thai Immigration would in such cases normally waive that proof of foreign origin requirement when the funds have been already long-time seasoned on her personal Thai bank account.

45 minutes ago, Spellforce said:

@Peter Denis

Thank you and you are right, that may depend of the office.

 

I did my Visa more than 10 years ago and for 10 years they never asked me the "Evidence of foreign currency fund transferred to Thailand" at Jomtien Immigration.

 

For 1 year extension I'm sure that this document is not required.

 

But someone who did a new Visa this year at Jomtien could confirm that this document is not required ?

 

(maybe guru @ubonjoehas the answer ? ???? )

When using the Funds in Bank method, proof that the +800K originated from abroad is required when applying for the 90-day Non Imm O Visa for reason of retirement.

It is NOT required anymore when subsequently applying for 1-year extensions of stay based on that original Non Imm O Visa for reason of retirement.

That proof of foreign origins of the funds will normally be waived when showing evidence that you already have a PERSONAL Thai bank-account and transferred the funds years ago.  But to avoid any hick-ups it is recommended to enquire beforehand at your local Imm Office to have them confirm that in your mother's case it is not needed (and do ask for the officer in charge when the Imm Officer does require it, as the desk officer may not be aware of the normal waiving practice in such cases).

Success!

Your mother can show that she opened already 8 years ago a fixed deposit account on her personal name.  And when the current balance of that FD Account is +800k (which she also maintained in those previous years, as evidenced by the FD Account passbook), normally the requirement to provide proof of the foreign origins of those funds will be waived.

However, as this is Thailand, it would be recommended to visit your local Imm Office to have the above confirmed.

Note that when the Imm Officer does want to see proof of the foreign origin of the funds, you should politely ask to talk with the officer in charge.  That should normally settle the matter.

15 minutes ago, coops said:

Fiat currency (your US dollars, Pounds Sterling, Euro, Swiss Franc etc ect) also has NO intrinsic value.

...

Fiat money is legally enforceable debt, so it DOES have intrinsic value.

Unfortunately this value is being eroded when governments are printing money to finance their projects, but that does not alter the fact that fiat money does have intrinsic value.

Crypto-currencies on the other hand are created out of thin air, and their value at any given time is determined purely by supply/demand (hence their volatility and the ongoing need for new 'investors' willing to exchange their fiat money for cryptos). 

The attached short - and illuminating - article explains in layman's terms the difference between fiat and crypto money.

Cryptocurrencies are Digital Version of Children's Play Paper Money.pdf

When you do not already have insurance that complies with the CoE requirements and covers the required period, the AXA Sawasdee travel-insurance policy would be a worthwhile option.

That policy meets BOTH the:

- 400K/40K in/out-patient health-insurance requirement; AND

- the 100.000 US $ covid-19 treatment coverage requirement.

Since it is issued by a Thai TGIA-associated insurer, it will also cover the cost of hospitalization when tested positive for covid on arrival or during quarantaine.

The policy can be taken for periods of 3 months and will cost approx 7.000 THB.

1 hour ago, simon43 said:

Does anyone actually believe that Lazada sells genuine brand name products? 

 

The whole site is just cheap, Chinese fakes and copies!  So long as you are aware of that, then you take your chance and purchase the junk....  

 

I can't believe some people actually write and complain that their purchase failed or is not genuine.  The Lazada staff and sellers must be laughing their little Chinese socks off!

When the product you want to buy is at a price 'too good to believe' like 20-30% of regular selling price you can be sure that the product is not the genuine brand.  On the product information on Lazada it will state 'no brand' if that is the case.

But when buying on LazMall - the official store of Lazada - you can be sure that the product is genuine and any warranty foreseen by the manufacturer applies.  Also, when you buy from LazMall and the product you receive turns out to be fake, Lazada will re-imburse you 5 times the price you paid for it. 

11 hours ago, ABCbangkok said:

 We are heading out tomorrow morning.

It's only when you exit Thailand and want to keep the permission to stay from your current Visa/extension 'alive' that a Re-Entry Permit is needed. 

Be aware that you can also get the Re-Entry Permit in the departure hall of the main Thai international airports.  So you might save yourself the trip to CW, and simply buy it at Suvarnabumi when exiting Thailand.
In the current situation with re-entry restrictions, it's not worth buying a Multiple-Entry Re-Entry Permit (3.900 THB) as you will almost certainly won't make multiple re-entries on your current permission to stay.  So better to buy a Single-Entry Re-Entry Permit (1.000 THB).

As UJ already mentioned, whether the 100.000 US $ covid-19 insurance and/or the 400K/40K health-insurance will be required, will depend on which Imm Office you apply.

The AXA Sawasdee travel-insurance which meets BOTH insurance requirements, and can be subscribed to for a period of 3 months at approx 7.000 THB fee, will probably be your best option when you do not have already compliant insurance.

43 minutes ago, Phulublub said:

The 90 day report has nothing at all to do with any requirement to return 90 days after granting of annual extension to show 800K still in the bank.  They MAY coincide, but are completely independent.  Different desks, even for those provinces that are requiring them.  If the OP used an agent and has not been told to report back showing funds, then there is no need to do that at any time in any case.

 

PH

There is some confusion going on here.

Indeed, the 90-day TM47 reporting requirement is independent from the 3-month bank-balance check requirement which is imposed by some Imm Offices for a retirement extension application using the Funds-in-Bank method. 

Note: Although at my Imm Office (SiSaKet) they 'reset' the 90-day reporting day at moment of 1-year extension application, so that when you have to come back for that bank-balance check you can do your 90-day TM47 report in one go.  But not every Imm Office that requires the bank-balance check after 3 months , does reset the 90-day reporting...

The confusion however is with your last statement > If the OP used an agent and has not been told to report back showing funds, then there is no need to do that at any time in any case.

My post was a response to clarify that the OP used a Fixer Agent to circumvent the +800K Funds-in-Bank requirement for his 1-year retirement extension of stay.  When the OP uses such Fixer Agent service he simply does not need to have those funds on his personal bank-account (the Fixer Agent takes care of that).  But that also meant that OP would not be able to meet the bank-balance check requirement.  In other words, the service of the Fixer Agent must also circumvent the bank-balance check requirement when applying at an Imm Office that requires such bank-balance check. 

42 minutes ago, Gilltom said:

WHY . Don.t think that's right .i do it with money in bank and i have to go back so why not others?????

Because in most cases the reason for making use of a Fixer Agent, is to circumvent the financial requirement.

Hence it would not be possible for the Fixer Agent to go back after 3 months to show that the +800K has been maintained on the applicants personal bank-account, as there are NO funds in the bank.  So when a Fixer Agent applies for the 1-year extension of stay at an Imm Office that requires a 3-month bank-balance check, it is part of the 'shady deal' with the Imm Officer that also that bank-balance check will be 'overlooked'.

2 minutes ago, Andre0720 said:

Thus, when trying to obtain the services of a 'fixer agent', one must ask the question, 'with which immigration office are you dealing with?'. And it the answer is that the connection not with the local immigration office, search elsewhere.....

That would not help if the Fixer Agent used a fake address for your 1-year extension of stay.

It would be more appropriate to ensure that the Fixer Agent makes use of your actual address when he applies for the 1-year extension, as that would avoid you having to 'administratively relocate' there again by filing a TM-30 when he uses a fake address.

11 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

The OP should avoid the paperwork, get a change of scenery and hop on a bus to Pattaya and get it done there (and every 90-days thereafter). I would recommend taking the train to the airport (if it is still running) and then the Pattaya-Suvarnabhumi bus (if it's still running) as that terminates on Thappraya and is only a 12 minute walk to/from Immigration on Soi 5.

 

There's a movie based on this trip called "A Grand Day Out" starring Wallace and Grommit. You can get the cheese at Food Mart beside the bus station.

I strongly suspect that the OP did make use of a Fixer Agent to get the 1-year extension stamp in Pattaya, and having done so he won't be able to do his 90-day reports there as the Fixer Agent will have used a 'fake address'.  Relocating back to the actual address where he is residing by filing a 'relocation' TM-30 at the Imm Office of the province where his address is situated, is his best option not to get into some Thai-style administrative immigration trouble.

> Great Wallace & Gromit animation movie by the way -

14 minutes ago, jackdd said:

I did of course assume that OP or his landlord are compliant with the law and somebody submitted a TM30.

Those making use of a Fixer Agent are often not aware, that when the Agent got their 1-year extension at another Imm Office than the one in the province where they are actually residing, that their 'official address for immigration purposes' then became a fake address in the province where the Imm Office is located and where the Agent got their 1-year extension.

So in order to regularize their situation they need to 'relocate' again to the address where they are actually staying (and which they never left).  This has to be done by filing a 'relocation' TM-30 at the Imm Office of the province where they are residing.  When not doing so, they will not be able to file their 90-day reports, as a 90-day report is nothing more than a confirmation that their 'official address for immigration purposes' has not changed.

8 hours ago, jackdd said:

You are supposed to do the 90 day report where you stay, it doesn't matter where you got your extension.

A 90-day report is nothing more than a confirmation that your 'official address for immigration purposes' has not changed, and therefore it needs to be done at the Imm Office of the province where you previously filed a TM-30 to notify IO of the address in their province where you are residing.  You cannot file a 90-day report at 'any Imm Office' as Imm will check that the 90-day report refers to the address on that TM-30 which should be on file with them.

By having used a Fixer Agent who applied for his 1-year extension at a different Imm Office than where he resides, OP would in order to be able to do his 90-day report, first have to file a 'relocation' TM-30 at the Imm Office of the province where he is residing.

On 5/3/2021 at 8:51 AM, clivebaxter said:

look at specifications, if it says no brand it's a fake 100%

Yes, if the specifications say 'No brand' you can be sure that it is not the genuine - warranted - product, which does not mean that it cannot be a good deal.

Also if the price is 20-30% of what you pay for the genuine product from the manufacturer, you can be sure that it is not genuine.  In such 'too good to be true' cases, often the name of the product is rendered slightly different, e.g. Realmi instead of Realme, or Somsung instead of Samsung, and those are not typo's...

If you want to be 100% sure that you do not get a fake/counterfeit product, you should order from LazMall on the Lazada website.  Products bought from the LazMall come with a warranty and are 100% genuine, and even better if you do get a fake product when having ordered there, Lazada will re-imburse  you 5 times what you paid for it. 

1 minute ago, Mutt Daeng said:

Hi @Peter Denis, I've had one of these sims for 10 months and will be getting another when my current sim expires in May 2021. What is the code to activate this "50 baht calls to all networks" add on package?

Sorry, I don't know how to activate this "50 baht calls to all networks" add on package to that 10 Mbps unlimited dTac SIM, as I have no need for it (most of my calls are on the dTac-network which are free with that SIM).

@Eindhoven could provide you with the info as he told me about that other networks option, and I simply mentioned it in my post. 

>> You posted the actual notification you received, but the date of your 'next appointment' is featured on a different document > the Receipt of Notification.

Go back to the on-line application > https://extranet.immigration.go.th/fn90online/online/tm47/TM47Action.do?cmd=acceptTerm

and click the Green option 'Check the status of your application'

Clicking the small icon to the right of the row with the APPROVED notification you are then able to print-out both the Notification as well as the Receipt of Notification, and it is the latter  which displays your next 90-day reporting date (and which you are supposed to keep in your passport as proof that you comply).

2 minutes ago, Formaleins said:

Thanks, I just checked with True Move and they say they do not support SMS, so it is no good for me as one of the main REASONS I need a phone is to comply with these ridiculous Two Stage Verification steps for things like Ebay, Lazada and banking! Maybe I will have to rethink about AIS!

The dtac 10 Mbps unlimited data SIM (1.390 THB for a full year) which I referred to in my post, does support SMS.

A Golden TIP when using a mobile phone in Thailand.

Until recently I made use of a 4Mbps dTac SIM-card which I had to top up each month for 750 THB.  It featured unlimited mobile data (surfing and downloading/uploading on the Net).  As I live in the sticks without WiFi or cable anywhere, I use my mobile phone as Hotspot for my laptop.   And in the even hours I stream movies and watch them on my wide-screen television, so having unlimited data at a reasonable speed was important for me (thus avoiding buffering of the movies I stream).

On one of the Forum threads I came across this promotion on LAZADA

> https://www.lazada.co.th/products/10mbps-dtac-12-i1929192284-s6099702345.html

So I did order that 10 Mbps dTac SIM-card, which arrived 2-3 days later.

That SIM only costs 1.390 THB and provides unlimited 10 Mbps mobile data for a full year!

Not only that, but it also features unlimited free calls on the dTac network, and for 50 THB a month this can be extended to ALL Thai providers.  As I live in South Isaan where dTac is the most widely used network, the latter is not necessary for me (but good to know that it is available).

I now use that new 10 Mbps SIM and I did a speed-test which indeed shows that I can surf and download - as well as upload - at 10 Mbps (our house is fairly close to a dTac send-pole which probably explains that max speed I get).

Note: 10Mbps means that you can download 1.25 Mb per second, or 75 MB a minute or 3 GB per hour.  Whether you get those speeds is of course dependent on the server that provides the downloaded content, but on some servers I get 2 GB per hour.

Obviously that SIM-card is really a worthwhile deal, and surely when you need mobile data if you do not have WiFi or cable in your home.

The only thing you need to do once your SIM-card is delivered by Lazada, is to register it on your or your wife/girlfriends name at a dTac shop. The SIM-card features also an instruction on how to do that yourself, but as it was in Thai I simply went to the local dTac shop (shop in my super-market) and they had it fixed for me in 3 minutes.

It seems that also AIS has (or had) a similar deal > A 10 mbps unlimited data SIM at 1.300,- THB for a full year.  But that AIS one includes free calls to ALL networks.  You will be cut off after 15 minutes, but can then call again to continue your talk (useful for the ladies that have +2 hour telephone calls ????).  Not sure whether the AIS deal is still available, but the dTac one (see link higher) still is.

The only somewhat annoying thing with both these dTac and AIS SIM cards is that when they expire, you have to get a new deal with a new phone-number and you might lose your old number.

That’s inconvenient as you would have to update the new number with your bank, hospital, condo, immigration, friends, etc.

However, you could try at a dTac/AIS shop whether it would not be possible to change the number of that 2nd SIM you bought to the 1st one (as that number would not be in use anymore after the 1-year period has expired), and some people have been successful in doing that.

6 hours ago, DividendGuy said:

Hi Peter Denis.

 

If applicable, could you PM me the same information as you sent to Jingo01? I have a yearly "O" visa based on retirement extension and 800K in a bank account to qualify for the yearly extension. I am 73 years old, and would like to continue with self-insuring or understand my options regarding the 400K/40K insurance policy the Thai government is trying to push on foreigners here. I don't mind a big deductible as I would have no plans to use the Thai policy, but only to show it to the IO when applying for my yearly "O" retirement extension. 

Hi @DividendGuy

No problem sending you the info, but I do not want to burden you with unnecessary information (which will only confuse you), hence first this question to you.

You wrote > I have a yearly "O" visa based on retirement extension and 800K in a bank account to qualify for the yearly extension.

If that is indeed the case and your yearly extension is based on an original Non Imm O Visa, then the insurance requirement is not applicable for you.

The mandatory Thai IO-approved 400K/40K in/out-patient insurance (issued by a TGIA-associated insurer) is ONLY required when applying for the 1-year extension

- based on an original Non Imm O-A Visa;

- for reason of RETIREMENT.

When you are not sure whether the original Visa you have been extending is an O or an O-A type:

1 - A Non Imm O-A Visa can ONLY be applied for at the Thai Embassy/Consulate in your home-country (or your country of permanent residence);

2 - A Non Imm O-A Visa is valid for a full year, and during that year every entry you made on that still valid Non Imm O-A Visa would have provided you with a 1-year permission to stay.

If you entered Thailand Visa-Exempt or an a Tourist Visa, and then applied for a Visa, that would be a 90-day Non Imm O Visa.

And when you applied for a Non Imm O Visa at the Thai Embassy/Consulate in your home-country or a neighboring country, it will have provided you only with a 90-day permission to stay when entering Thailand.

> So the above will allow you to determine which type of Visa your extension is based on (O or O-A).

And do let me know if it turns out that - contrary to what you write - that the original Visa on which you entered Thailand was a Non Imm O-A type.  In that case, the insurance will be applicable when applying for the 1-year extension for reason of RETIREMENT (when married to a Thai national or with Thai dependent children, you can apply for that reason with no need for insurance).

And then I will PM you a comprehensive guideline on how to get rid of that pesky insurance or alternatively what is the cheapest insurance to meet the requirement.