Jurg

Your change over from your Visa shouldn't be a problem.

BUT!

If you are of the age nearing 75 years or if you are already over the age of 75 most definitely to maintain the Thai health insurance you have now for your OA Visa. Once you are getting your O Visa you could reduce your health  insurance to a very small cover hence smaller premium to pay. 

On 12/21/2023 at 6:53 PM, dinga said:

Huge frustration every year at this time as there's the decision to be made about what on earth to do with Health Insurance Policy (even more so as I'll be 70 at the time of next renewal).

 

I've been reasonably happy with April International for OP only coverage until now (albeit I've never made a claim)- with the exception of their annual fee increases.  This year the Premium is up by an astounding +18%   I'm fortunate to maintain medical coverage under the Thai Social Security arrangements by continuing to pay the some 500 baht in monthly subs  -  so guess it's a matter of time really before unaffordable costs force me to abandon an International Policy.    

 

I bleated to AA Brokers about that increase and they have come back with a recommendation to get a new Policy with Regency for Expats.  I had never heard of them but a very brief consultation with Prof Google has raised some red flags - incl;uding:

*  Trust Pilot 

*  Laws of Nevis (West Indies) are the applicable laws for the Policy.  [Nevis being a noted tax haven]

 

None of that stuff gives me confidence. 

 

Appreciate any information/experience with Regency and any suggestions about what alternative I should consider.

 

Thanks & best regards  

Unfortunately with an OA Visa here you are forced into a Thai Health Insurance.  Very expensive especially after the age of 75 years.

Sooner then later one can expect that the O Visa also would require the same, a Thai Insurance, for a yearly renewal at the Immigration.

Keep in mind: My advise is get as early as possible into a Thai Health Insurance. If you wait till you forced getting a Thai Health Insurance, especially after the age of 75 you are paying astronomical premiums just to get in!

I need to make a seperate Will here in Thailand for my Girlfriend too, that's what the Australian Lawyer advised me to do.

May I  ask approximately what costs are involved here in Thailand to get a simple Will, eg 800+ Bank account and house?

2 hours ago, SiSePuede419 said:

No, a gun ended the lives of the victims, not drugs.

 

Read the story again.  The deaths weren't caused by drug overdoses.

 

 

The gun didn't end the lives of the victims.

The bullet in fact ended the lives of the victims. 

On 11/24/2021 at 2:35 PM, 4MyEgo said:

Best to always hedge your bets with this clown.

 

I would assume you will be using your paid for Moderna shot as a booster some time in the New Year as I hear we will all be needing boosters.

 

March/April is when I will be getting my booster, no disappointment here.

 

On 12/22/2021 at 7:51 AM, fredge45 said:

Beat you on the 55 minutes in Chiang Mai yesterday - 19 minutes from arrival!

 

Used the appointment booking system, walked through the masses following a friendly IO with her "Follow me please".  Never even got a chance to read my ebook on the Kindle.

 

Wonderful!

On 2/22/2022 at 1:30 AM, ukrules said:

If they introduce any lockdown measures again then the truth is out - it will mean it's out of control and they can't handle it. Just watch and see.

 

They don't have to say anything, it's what they do that matters.

On 2/23/2022 at 9:54 AM, Thailand said:

Thai friend who has Covid had to spend 6 hours queueing in a crowded hospital yesterday to get reams of medication and then went home for 14 days to isolate!

2 hours ago, tracker1 said:

If you are an expat returning to your place of residence in Thailand do you have to do the same and as for insurance what if you are covered by your spouses Government Insurance thru her employment ?

See a reputable Thai visa agency to find your answers. That is what agencies are here for. 

2 hours ago, Captain Monday said:

Most airlines do not require pre-flight testing. Please name one.

 

Airlines actually want people to fly. The airlines use the rules of country of destination and country of 

transit.

6 hours ago, Thailand said:

Thai friend who has Covid had to spend 6 hours queueing in a crowded hospital yesterday to get reams of medication and then went home for 14 days to isolate!

In Australia you aren't waiting 6 hrs my friend, you can wait many more hours before you even being attended too. Then the process is as slow as, till you finally get your needs met, or not! 

12 hours ago, ukrules said:

If they introduce any lockdown measures again then the truth is out - it will mean it's out of control and they can't handle it. Just watch and see.

 

They don't have to say anything, it's what they do that matters.

Why is everybody talking about they, meaning THE AUTHORITIES. 

It is up to us, each individual, to take personal responsibility as to prevent and or slow down the spreading of this virus. 

Without each individual cooperating, "they" meaning the Authorities cannot stop the spreading. 

How much longer before people wake up to this? 

On 1/31/2022 at 1:23 PM, possum1931 said:

If there are, and I would think that is a strong possibility, no one is going to admit it, especially on a public forum.

Changing from an OA Visa to an O Visa would require you to leave Thailand, then re-entry on a Tourist Visa and then apply stright away for an O Visa in here in Thailand.

Or am I missing something here? Please correct me if there is another way to change the OA Visa.

On 1/30/2022 at 9:04 AM, sqwakvfr said:

“Not having strong ties”?  Non O Ext of Stay-1 year Non OA 1 year?  Both allow 1 year stays.  No one is guaranteed to have any visa extended.  Many of us who have lived in LOS for years know or knew of people who lived in LOS for years and have invested money in condos and vehicles who are still treated like they just “got off the boat”.  The only foreigner who actually has “strong ties” is someone who has Thai Citizenship or Permanent Residency.  All others in LOS are here on a year to year basis without guarantees.   It does not matter how I feel about the country or the people the government makes it difficult to establish or maintain “strong ties”.  This is one of the reasons I have always gone through the OA Visa as apposed to the O Ext of Stay route.  Treat me like a long term visitor then I will behave like a long term visitor who obeys the laws, respects the customs and treats the people with kindness.  

Essentially I  agree with what you are pointing out. All I would add is a person who is married with a Thai and or even has a child(ren) here in Thailand, would and could be looked upon of having "strong ties" with this country.

On 1/30/2022 at 8:01 AM, tonray said:

The problem is extensions have same requirements as O visa retirement holders...but get tagged with additional insurance. My guess is the ministers have no working knowledge of the extension process/requirements and only saw that OA visa holders not required to have money here, hence insurance. Reality is law being applied inappropriately due to their ambiguous orders and this is Thailand....nobody is going to tell their boss (Minister level) that they need to change it.

I am on an OA Visa, but on my extention I  had to not only produce a health insurance but also had to show 800000 Baht in a Thai Bank. Initial first application for an OA Visa issued by your country from where you apply for it you didn't have to have money in a Thai Bank.

On 1/24/2022 at 8:35 AM, asiaexpat said:

Why would ones passport be inside CW Immigration and the person is outside? Over many years of different activities at CW I have always been given my passport back, even when needing to return for a stamp. Last visit in late December my passport was scanned on entry.

Please, what does CW stand for? 

6 hours ago, it is what it is said:

 

assume it's designed to be downloadable and saved on a smartphone, thus readily accessible

Screenshot of your licence may be OK too. 

In Australia, can't use their screen shot. And your digital licence when displayed on your mobile you can turn mobile fro. PORTRAIT TO LANDSCAPE, then your time will be displayed to prove that the displayed Licence isn't a fake or just a screenshot! Very clever ????

On 1/6/2022 at 1:02 PM, Postmaster said:

Jurg. Could you mail me the agency which you used to obtain the cost effective but adequate insurance please ? Thank you in advance.

How do I mail you? Where on this forum page can I do it?

On 1/9/2022 at 1:55 PM, Wake Up said:

Can you please tell us the agency you used or pm me ????

Don't know how to pm you here?

I am in the same predicament OA to O visa. However with my agency we were able to find a cheaper version of insurance then when you try to research it yourself.

So for the time I keep going with the OA Visa. 

(Listening around, the general expectations is that sooner or later also the O Visas will be hit with the insurance requirements.) 

9 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Been keeping my stocks up since I got caught out the first time.

What stocks to keep up?

We had only one Lockdown here in CM during this ongoing Pendemic , but always could buy groceries etc etc..! Can't see the problem. 

Within seconds I get a SMS from my bank if there is any withdrawal in my account. Asking me if the amount being withdrawn is authorised by me? If it is not authorised by me, there is a telephone number to ring and the withdrawal would not go ahead.

In your situation I would have rang the number given in my notification SMS, and the withdrawal would not have happened without my consent. 

I totally agree with you, the account holder must be notified to be able to know when or before money is being taken out of his account, the amount and to whom it is intended to be paid. So if there is an unauthorised amount of money being withdrawn, the account holder and the bank can prevent / stop the payment.

Best go there in person to see if they are open. 

But to my understanding you only can get a 5 year licence after your 2 year provisional licence. 

I did mine not long ago and did it 1 month before expireydate of my provisional licence.

They also give you 1 year grace after expiry date to do it, after that time you'd have to start from scratch again.

Good luck. 

22 hours ago, sirocco said:

Good evening,
In order not to have a visa application, at the expiry of my passport, I anticipated by requesting this passport, one year before the end of its validity.
And I did well, because the year after the embassy was closed -Covid 19- and it was impossible to get papers or information.
By the way, I got this passport in 12 or 13 days, unlike the information I received;

This is definitely a very good way to do it. In Australia you can get a new passport at any stage during the existing valid passport dates too.????

9 hours ago, clivebaxter said:

He does more harm than good and creates confusion every time he makes an announcement on the subject 

Why? 

1 hour ago, Tanoshi said:

Same documents as for a retirement extension, with the addition of your Marriage certificate, Childs birth certificate, Childs ID, photo's together outside and inside your home.

Documents can vary from office to office, so check beforehand with Nonthaburi.

If you contemplate using an agent, ( I wouldn't recommend when you can fix the problem yourself), then it's easier to do it based on retirement.

 

I know you are separated pending divorce, but the Marriage certificate + Birth certificate proves your child was born in wedlock, which automatically make you the legitimate Father.

 

Regarding the required funds in the bank, of which you are not the first or will be the last to fall foul of the requirements due to an unforeseen error of judgement. May I suggest you open a 6 month Fixed Term account for 800K, followed by a 6 month Fixed Term account for the 400K to prevent you falling below the requirement accidentally.

Alternatively a 12 month Fixed Term account if keeping the 800K in all year around.

Keep the Savings account for bill and living expenses.

I wasn't aware that a fixed term account of 800k  is accepted by the immigration?

Should I definitely open up a 800k fixed term deposit? 

I do use an agency for all my immigration work. 

(I keep a saving account usually with 1 million to 1 million and 200000 Baht. 

The only reason I do that, my bank with 1 million Baht + is paying a much higher interest rate than if you keep it below 1 million.) 

On 4/10/2021 at 10:41 PM, radiochaser said:

An American, Center for Disease Prevention (CDC) card. 
Which was accepted by Thai immigration yesterday 9 March, when my wife and I entered Thailand. 
 

What exactly did your card certify? What was written on the card?