Jackson B

You might be right. I read of complaining customers being threatened with defamation. Not sure if that would wash in Thailand, given that all the Thai officers resigned, and the company is not registered here.

Hi there Mr B. I saw in the policy wording that there is a 5-year waiting period for degenerative diseases. Is that in your policy? The premiums are certainly attractive.

Indeed, it's a rabbit hole. I can't find Lorentz Capital LTD either. It lent money to the UK company. According to the statement, most of the equity is not cash in bank, so it's curious what is backing up the insurance company. As it is a mutualist model, policy holders own the company, and can earn "points" if they recruit customers. The registration in Nevis leads nowhere... Hard to find any details beyond a listing. But I suppose that's the point of registering an entity in the Caribbean. There's also a dormant company in the UK with 1M pounds capital. The ethical statement is just bizarre: "- Ethics Ethical solvency: our reserves and saving will be put in ethic assets with ethic partners. Ethical behaviour: we already have one Insurance licence and one Broker Licence, and we will get more. Ethical Employment: we want our staff to have shares also, and we will do our best to hold handicapped employees as well. Indeed even if we are participative, we do not avoid the capitalism and we must have profitability." It's all very curious.

I was also interested in this insurance. Curiously, the LLP registered in London has just 2 employees - one in India and the other in Cambodia. The financial accounts can be seen here: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/OC401682/filing-history/MzQyNzUzMDI3NGFkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0 Turnover seems ridiculously low for an insurance company. It's obviously a real registered partnership, but I still can't find the actual underwriter, if any. SBC is a local broker, which seems to promote WRLife insurance.

UPDATE: I have obtained a new passport (faster than the caution of 6 weeks - it actually took 10 days). Last week I went to Chaeng Watthana immigration to transfer the stamps. To my surprise, they demanded bank statements for the last 5 months to prove the 800k was still there. They were not interested in the balance on my phone. So a quick trip to the photocopy shop to print out monthly statements. Then they demanded I withdraw 100 baht from the same account at an ATM. I warned them this would not show the balance, but they still asked for it. OK.... went to ATM to withdraw and print out receipt. Of course, it did not show they balance, and they drew a big question mark around it. After 10 minutes of being referred up the chain, the stamp transfer was approved. This requirement for bank statement is not in the list of requirements on the application form. They added this requirement quite spontaneously.

To be clear, I have not actually submitted my passport application yet, only started the process. But because of the long wait to get an appointment, I am worried I will run out of time before the travel date, so need a plan B, plan C, etc.

I usually get re-entry permits at the airport. But this solution is really useful, thanks. I just don't think Australia will process my new passport in time to get one here (no appointments available for 10 days, plus minimum 6 weeks to process), so I'm now thinking better to apply in Oz. Getting the visa transferred and extended at the same time certainly does save a headache. Thanks for that suggestion!

Yeah, I was slightly ambiguous in my question. I have not actually submitted the passport for renewal yet. Considering other options that just occurred to me, because I cannot get an appointment at the embassy for some time. Yes, I'm aware the previous passport would be voided, but I was unsure if a voided passport and a new one could be used together (this sounds the best option). 2. That's a bugger. I did ask immigration, but got a confused look. I had never been given a term shorter than one year before, even when I changed passports. 3. Right, this would be the option to leave it all till later. The question is really whether one can travel on less than 6 months' validity. Thanks!

1. That surprises me. Does that mean there's a minimum time frame for transferring visas between old and new passports? Or do you mean "no" not at the airport but Chaeng Wattana is possible? 2. Thought so. :-( 3. Ah. That would be helpful. But I have read that one needs 6 months' validity to travel to Thailand (but maybe holding a visa makes a difference?)

I have not submitted the application yet. Only booked an appointment. Because of the minimum processing time of 6 weeks, I'm considering other options, including applying for a new passport in Australia. (If I go ahead with the current application, yes, I would get the visa extension transferred before travel.)

I have a non 'O' (retirement) visa, valid only until my passport expires in June. I am currently waiting for new passport to be processed. Once I get the new passport I plan to travel to Australia and return to Thailand in April. A few questions occur to me: (1) Do I have the option of travelling and returning on the new passport, and have immigration transfer the visa extension from the old passport when I return? Can that be done at the airport on arrival? (2) My most recent visa extension was granted only for 6 months (the validity of the passport). Is it possible for them to grant the remainder of the extension back to the usual 12-month date (once they see the new passport)? (3) Could I return to Thailand in April on a passport that is about to expire in June (with existing visa)? Thanks to knowledgeable members!

Hey Ubonjoe, yeah, you're right. There is no stamp "under consideration", but it's all stamped the same day in September, 2020. I recall they sent officers to photograph my apartment before it was approved, so there must have been a period between application and approval. And then they backdated everything to the date of application.

It was my first non-immigrant visa, converting from a METV during Covid. I'm pretty sure I have never had a "under consideration" stamp, but I'll take a look through my passports to check. I remember being sent directly from counter C to L. While I have got you here @ubonjoe, can retirement extensions at CW be done 30 or 45 days before the due date? Cheers!

I got my Non-O same day. No "under consideration period". But I had a bank letter with me and it was needed.