Thomas72

Well, that's definitely the way to go then. When I turn 63 (12 years from now) and I have some additional pensions that unlock I'll be able to do this (assuming it's still in place). Is this self-insure option of $100K available to O-A visa holders? If so, I could go that way now.

I thought Savannakhet and Saigon were popular choices for a 90 day O retirement visa... Just need to take copies of your bank book and perhaps a bank letter. I look for excuses to travel. I'd rather go somewhere and get a new 90 day O than spend a day at Chaengwattana.

Thank you for all the replies. First let me say I lived in Thailand for 7 years on various visas. I returned to the US and have been living here for the past 2 years. I'm returning to Thailand sometime in the next 3-6 months. I didn't pay much attention to the ins and outs of retirement visas before, as I was under 50. I am now 51. oldcpu - Thank you. You hit all of my questions, especially #2. Year 3, if still on an O-A, would require health insurance. Also, in my many travels around SE Asia in the past I have never been asked for an onward ticket from any airline (from say Phnom Penh to Bangkok, for example). It's only when I depart the US that I am asked for it. If I ever was asked in Asia, I would just immediately book an Expedia flight on my phone, at the counter. As I walked away from the counter I would cancel the flight. Expedia has free 24 hour cancellation. Andrew Dwyer - Yes. The cheapest health insurance for my age bracket is B5,080. Here's the source: https://checkdi.com/th/health/plans?gender=Male&age=51&ipd=1&opdf=1&leadid=502755&p=healthenvisa&lg=en&affid=AG1928 I won't comment on how "good" the insurance is, but the cost is $B5,080 per year. flexomike - Thank you for detailing your experience. That's exactly what I was looking for. I remember back when this insurance rolled out reading a lot of grief from O-A holders, which is why I started this thread. I have no problem doing an O-A to enter Thailand for the first 2 years. I just want to make sure I'm not causing myself any problems down the road. biervoormij - I currently have 5 year driving licenses (car and motorcycle). They expire in about a year. My plan is to enter on an O-A so I can easily renew them for another 5 years. I also have a yellow book and a pink card. oldcpu - I thought health insurance was required for the LTR-WP visa? Do they accept your European insurance instead? Thank you for clarifying this. I have savings and property rentals. This combination of financing would not qualify for the B65k method then. Another reason I'd like to keep money in the US is the huge interest rate I am earning right now. I'm getting 5.25% on my cash. Rates will of course change in the future, but for now - I want to keep as much money as I can in the US.

Liquorice, I like your suggestion best :) Except I'll probably milk the full 2 years out of the O-A. I live on B80k - B100k a month. Honestly I usually just do ATM withdraws because I have a killer account in the US that gives me spot exchange rate, no exchange fees, and refunds all my ATM fees. But I could instead send the money over each month via Wise. Then I guess the only consideration is to to pick a Wise-friendly bank such as Bangkok Bank? In the past I always thought the B65k a month method was for people who didn't have the B800,000. I never considered it for simply getting around that requirement. Also, there's the upcoming issue of income taxation and how that all shakes out. As I use ATMs I thought none of that would matter to me. But if they start taxing Wise transfers then it would require additional consideration...

Thanks MPoll. I knew about the Wealthy Pensioner LTR visa, but didn't know about the lack of banking requirements. It's not something I qualify for right now. I'm only 51. I have additional pensions unlocking at 63 and I'll qualify for it then - so it's something to consider in the future.

Yes. I meant at the end of year 2, go somewhere and get a 90 day O retirement visa and reenter. I swear I read a post around the time they rolled out the O-A insurance requirement that O-A holders who switched to O were having problems. IOs wanted to see insurance, even though they switched to O. I'm also considering going back every 2 years, just so I can keep my money at home. But as you know it takes a bit of effort to get that O-A (the health checkup, the police report, etc). No problem doing it the first time, just not sure I want to keep up with it every 2 years. Also, insurance is cheap for my age group. But it will go up...

I'm getting ready to return to Thailand and an O-A retirement visa is an option for me (US Citizen). I'm aware of everything I need to do to get it. I have a few questions about potential pitfalls surrounding the O-A visa: 1. If I come in O-A and effectively stay 2 years (exit/reenter the last day the visa is valid for another year period of stay), can I then apply for a regular extension of stay based on retirement at the local immigration office (B800,000 in the bank, and all the other requirements having being met). 2. If #1 is true, is the health insurance requirement then dropped? 3. If #1 is not true, can I just hop to Laos/Vietnam and get an 90 day O visa based on retirement, enter Thailand without health insurance, and then get a 1 year of extension of stay. 4. Related to #3, are there any reports of people on O-A, who switched to O, who then ran into problems on entry regarding insurance? I know the O-A isn't that popular nowadays. But as a returning expat, I like being able to keep my money in America for the first 2 years. I like being setup (visa-wise) for the first 2 years. I like entering Thailand on a visa that allows 5 year driver licenses and bank account opening right after I land. The health insurance requirement for me is about B5000 a year - so it's not onerous. I'll gladly pay that B10,000 for my first 2 years back in Thailand. But if I do it, at some point in the future I would like to convert to an O, drop the insurance, and not have any problems down the road. Thanks, Thomas