Geordie Munro

I did my first 90 day report (Non OA) at 1pm today. I went 'belt and braces' and took a scan copy of the passport ID page, visa page and TM6 form as well as the passport/TM6 itself - I was in and out by 1.03pm. I also used the QueQ app, which was easy.

1 hour ago, Senior Player said:

The latest news is that Emirates has just announced their flight plans for this and the following year from the UK, and they claim that they'll be back "to the new normal" by October 1st. That doesn't mean there won't be a reduced service as they're planning on cutting five flights to four from London to Bangkok. Though it certainly looks like a positive step in the right direction. Is it too soon to celebrate? Maybe. But at least it offers a glimmer of hope for those wanting to getaway in late Autumn or the Winter.

A friend of mine is a senior purser with EK and has been rostered a DXB-BKK-DXB flight in late August - the first time BKK has been on any Emirates roster since March. As you say, maybe a glimmer of hope but I'm not betting on it.

10 hours ago, mike787 said:

Alrighty, everyone begin packing, get out, and never come back you all are NOT wanted here in Thailand.  It's over, go find another place.

I'd consider that... if I could only get BACK to begin packing, get out, never come back etc etc ????

12 hours ago, verticalift said:

I have global coverage with CIGNA using their office in Dubai. Their main office for expats seeking Global coverage, including Thailand is in Scotland. They recently issued me a separate letter confirming that based on my policy, that I have coverage for any issues related to Covid19. 

Having lived in Thailand for over the past 20 yrs..... I’m also locked-out.

I find myself currently stuck in Abu Dhabi. Even though I own my own home in Phuket with a Yellow Book Tambian Baan, Thai I.D. Pink Card and a recently issued (Oct 2019) 10 yr O-X Retirement Visa, can I get home....??? No. Maybe in October. 

Which particular package (silver/gold/platinum) do you have with CIGNA? I'm looking to get a new policy and this might work if it also has Covid coverage. 

6 hours ago, dode57k said:

Mid February for me. Stuck in Aberdeen.

Same as myself but I'm a bit further south in Fife.

No family back in Thailand but that's where my house and possessions lie - in the meantime I'm back living with my mother in a tiny bungalow. Not ideal for an older bloke and, like many of us, I don't see me getting back to Thailand until deep into the second half of the year. Hope I'm wrong...

2 hours ago, Greg O said:

My mate went to UK Yesterday. No issues if you're a UK citizen or resident but only a couple of flights a week as of now...

I'm in the other boat - my house and and all possessions are in Thailand and I'm now stuck back in the UK after visiting family in February.

This is the longest I've stayed back here in over 30 years. Simply no idea when I can even look at getting back (I'm sure the milk in the fridge might be off by now :-0) but, as StevieAus wrote, there is no point in worrying about something we can't control right now. At least we're still kicking around, farting and burping.

Right, now back to A Place in the Sun just to torture myself...

Did Zigcap ever manage to sell this membership?

6 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

You can do the application at Phuket immigration. 

From a post did by member today that did it at Phuket. The only difference is that he had a tourist visa so he used a TM86 form.

1. Download: TM87 Application For Non Immigrant Visa You will already have a TM6 departure card you will get on entry to the country that you need a copy of for the application.

2. No medical certificate is needed.

3. You will do everything at Phuket immigration.

4. All the major Thai banks are good. 

5/6. You do not need an agent.

 

 

 

This might be a daft question ubonjoe but is there an obvious place to get these forms completed in Thai? I live in an Arabic-speaking country and they have typists planted at desks alongside govt bodies who do this all day for about 200baht a time. Same in Thailand (not in Arabic obviously!)? 

6 minutes ago, JackThompson said:

But - yes, if you use an agent in Pattaya (Jomtien office), and pay 10x plus the actual cost for the Non-O 90-day stamp (the sticker-price is 2000 Baht).  Some have managed to get a Non-O 90-day stamp there without an agent, but it is not easy.  They will not do it by the official rules, like they will in Bangkok (Chang Wattana).

That's great - much appreciated getting a heads-up on that. I was wondering what the huge mark-up was for as it doesn't seem that tough to do it on your own (I've been an expat for over 30 years so I am used to dealing with bureaucracy when needing to get paperwork sorted).

I looked into getting the 'Retirement' visa where I live but that ridiculous expense just to get a medical certificate actually makes the entire total cost MORE than what it would be getting in done by an agent on the ground...

11 minutes ago, JackThompson said:

Perhaps lost in translation - you would apply for a "Non-OA Long-Stay Visa" in your home country.  It is a 1-year Multiple-Entry visa, where you get a new 1-year permitted stay each time you enter the country, until it expires.  If you enter just before the visa expires, you can get almost 2 years of stay out of it.

 

Thanks JT.

Their exact words: "You can apply yourself and change tourist visa or 30 days on arrival to Non O in Pattaya Immigration. However, as an agency we can change from the tourist visa or 30 days on arrival to Non On Retirement visa and you will get 15 months."

That doesn't appear to require me getting a Long Stay in my home country - a process I am trying to avoid as the medical cost alone is around 700 quid (I'm not in the UK...)!

I appreciate your feedback though - these are the contrasting comments I keep finding depending on who I ask. I'm in Thailand for a week soon and will speak to them on the ground first and see what gives. before applying on my next trip in November. I'm sure it will all come out in the wash. Fun and games eh?

Hey Mark,

I am doing exactly the same thing and have been checking up on this over the past few weeks. I'm a similar age to you and won't be working in Thailand. However, I will be leaving the country sporadically during the years ahead and have been assured this is no problem if I apply for the Non OA Long Stay Multi Entry.

A friend of mine has her own agency in Pattaya and has confirmed that once I am on the ground and with the 30-day stamp in the passport, I can start the proceedings for the 90-day and the subsequent OA but: "... whatever you do, please remember to start the application with a minimum of 15 days left on the arrival visa - although 20 is better in case of snags".

Let me know how you get on - I won't be setting the wheels in motion until mid-November. All the best!

GM