Seagull Sam

I'll try and keep this brief. I applied for an OA visa last Wednesday evening 12th and I'm flying on 25th with a likely return date of April 24 2023. The new online system is utterly hopeless and has said 'processing' since then. I have tried calling three times now but the call cuts off after an hour. I am wary of applying for another visa, instead of or in addition to, my current application. Background 0 I was expecting the doctor simply to tick the boxes for his £150 fee as previous doctors have done but he insisted on testing for everything. He reassured me it would all be done in 24 hours but had never tested for elephantisis before. This apparently takes 10 days but the lab didn't receive my blood sample so I had to send another sample, hence 20 day delay. I know the Thai Embassy don't work Thai (or British) holidays so suspect King 9 was duly honoured with his holiday on Thursday 13th & 14th. The end of the rains retreat / Buddhist Lent rules out Friday 21st (and a beer if you are lucky enough to already be in the LOS). IF they can manage to process the application by their own maximum 5 day suggestion that takes us to Monday 24th the day before I fly. All contributions gratefully received.

Thanks for your input OJAS. For the record I am not a first timer. I have a Thai bank account opened in the very scruffy / half empty mall in Chiang Mai. (Details on request). I need insurance regardless and my experience with Thai Immigration offices and British Embassies abroad suggests more hassle than simply going with the OA and getting the headache out of the way at the first hurdle. I was expecting to send originals of everything but was told by the branch that I could only do this by coming in and signing for it. Catch 22! As everything is done online I assume I will get away a digital copy. Proof of income, despite appearing on the British Thai Embassy as a possible avenue to a visa, is simply not accepted as you rightly suggest. PS link to easy to open Thai bank account

Thanks to all for the feedback. Ubon Joe helped a lot on a previous occasion I remember so special mention is again due. The OA is the only visa allowing multiple entry and must be obtained in your home country I understand. My medical conditions are such that I need pricey insurance regardless of other conditions. Re The many, various, contradictory and overlapping questions about insurance. All the questions have an asterix by them which suggests that all need answering but I guess I'll cross that bridge when I come to it and come back here if required. Re Additionally 1. Proof of the permanent residence in the country where the application is submitted 2. Applicant must apply for e-Visa via specific Embassy/Consulate conforming with his/her consular jurisdiction and residency. Applicant is required to upload document that can verify his/her current residency I might read this as 1. requiring passport & 2. Requiring proof of UK address. Is this important. It looks like I only get one shot for my money. The insurance have sent back my signed insurance document which I attach. Will this pass muster please?

I am 63 old British male looking to spend significant time in Thailand. I still have some property in UK so I need to travel home from time to time, hence OA requirement. My flight leaves on 25th October. I have a few problems after spending some time on the Thai Embassy website. The relatively simple question is where do I find the medical document for the doctor showing I don't have the various random / unlikely diseases? I could probably find and use the one I used in May 2021 but it might have changed. The second issue is the many, various, contradictory and overlapping questions about insurance. I have some fairly serious health conditions which will be covered by WR Life. They have a few offices in various countries including Thailand but don't appear on the Embassy's 'jobs for the boys' list. In this situation I assume they will be considered a foreign company so have sent them the form which should be signed by two directors and a third signatory. On the assumption this can't or won't be forthcoming would I be better advised purchasing a chuck away policy like the one I bought from LMG last time out. I need 1. Proof of health insurance coverage letter - I don't have a simple one page coverage letter 2. Health Insurance issued by a Thai or foreign insurer for general illnesses, including COVID-19, with the insured sum of not less than 100,000 USD or 3,000,000 THB - I don't have a separate figure for Covid, only the policy as a whole. 3. Foreign Insurance Certificate as stipulated by the Office of Insurance Commission and Health Insurance of Thailand, which must be completed, signed and stamped by the insurance company. - Unlikely to be issued if my insurers are considered foreign. Additionally 1. Proof of the permanent residence in the country where the application is submitted 2. Applicant must apply for e-Visa via specific Embassy/Consulate conforming with his/her consular jurisdiction and residency. Applicant is required to upload document that can verify his/her current residency Isn't this the same thing? Should I use the same or different documents? What is the latest with Covid jabs and proof of having had them which I have? Finally the application process seems to suggest that I no longer need to send in my passport but that confirmation will be sent by email(s) which I simply print and bring to the airport. I can foresee all sorts of problems with this. Perhaps I have got the wrong end of the stick on this point. All help very gratefully received.

He does missionary and doggy, then there's one where the girl stands on her head facing away but facing the other way and somehow manages to ... They needed the big payment for her 'tip'.

Yes, it appeared to be part of the package along with mobile banking app. I tested the card both online and in the supermarket and seems to be working fine. It even seems happy with (Transfer)Wise which will be great for shifting money from UK. My Thai gf was on hand but wasn't needed. I feel very fortunate to have this forum to rely on.

Thank you all. I sauntered into Bangkok Bank at Kad Suan Kaew yesterday afternoon and sauntered out 20 minutes later with a savings account and debit card. I didn't have precisely what is printed on the sign attached but I have been in CM for nearly 8 months with an alien residency form (I am a martian obviously) and have had a number of visits to immigration in that time. It all seemed a bit too easy, I was expecting someone to find a hitch somewhere so I got out quickly. ????

Thanks. There's quite a bit there a lot of which may well be best sorting out back home. Let's try BKK bank at Kad Suan Kaew with the paperwork I have and we'll see how I get on.

Thanks also Vinci. I'm not sure about PP, will they ask for this whatever it is? Is it something about pensions?

Thanks. Is this essentially the rather unloved mall of the same name?

Huge apologies DrJack. It's looking like an agent then

I am, as the title suggests, a 63yo with existing health conditions. The most important issues are a brain injury (similar to minor stroke with left sided weakness) and osteoporosis in my lower limbs. A lot of insurers claim to cover existing conditions but they are always talking out of their rear end. I have got a least worst offer but is there anybody who will genuinely cover these conditions? I don't have a problem in UK but it is glorified holiday insurance and results in having to return home every 90 days. I use a non Imm OA visa so will need insurance quoted in two parts as the Thai 'government' has decreed.

Sorry if it came across this way. It wasn't very nice to be asked if I had read the previous posts. I find people on this forum are generally very helpful. I made that point before pointing out the poster's textual deficiencies before drawing a parallel between our posts. Apologies.

I would like to open a Thai bank account with a non Imm OA visa. I am currently renting a condo with necessary certification. Can anybody recommend a farang friendly bank branch please?

No website, no way to book, no way to promote Thailand as amazing.

Thank you everyone for all your intput. It sounds like a non starter but I'll give the Thai bank account a go on this visit. Do you know any friendly branches in Chiang Mai

I am not entirely sure of the distinction. I want to extend my current non-OA visa issued in London February 2022. I can probably get a statement from UK sent over. Will I need it to be authenticated, probably in a branch? I can't see a letter being forthcoming. Perhaps I need a Thai account.

The visa expires on 15th February. I have a flight booked for 00:15 on Tuesday 18th January, which also when the lease expires on my condo in Chiang Mai. This means I will need to get to the Immigration office on Monday 17th morning, 29 days to visa expiration. Then fly to Bangkok in the evening and pray everything goes to plan. Do I need any paperwork in the way of insurance, bank statements etc to extend? (I will obviously need to jump some hoops on my return depending on what mood the government are in at the time).

I'm off home for a few months on the non-OA. I take it I will then there local hopeless insurance. Do I need any other paperwork? How soon before the end of my current visa can I apply? Upon Joe, you are a star.

BS - but thanks for your particular anecdote

I won't pretend to be the fount of all knowledge but hands up all those who have been in any form of cheap sexual encounter with a woman who has not shown signs of childbirth. In any poor essentially rural economy the breadwinner is the more youthful mother, leaving the kids with the grandparents. Regardless of their 'chosen' profession these women live poor and send all residual income home. Family is everything, morals nothing. That said real youngsters on the game make me shudder frankly.

Facebook reports of burning police vehicles and teargas in Bangkok at the weekend removed almost as soon as they appeared. News that might alarm the public - pure totalitarianism typical of a military regime clinging to power by it's fingernails.

I have OA visa, TM30 issued very soon, quarantine certificate and other bits of paper. I also have a nice jacket, a shirt with a collar and shiny shoes. I'm reasonably sound financially back home so can put a few Baht away. How much should I be looking to deposit? How will they expect payment to be made? Will they take it from a card? Will they open the account and allow a transfer from (Transfer)Wise or from a western bank? Any tips about where to go, who to ask for &c much appreciated.