talfarlow

Just now, Peter Denis said:

Hi, I did PM you a comprehensive Guideline document on options for staying long-term in Thailand for +50 years.

The document also contains an attachment on how to meet the health-insurance requirement when applying for the Non Imm O-A Visa in your home-country.

That Visa is probably your best option considering that you do not want to be bothered by financial requirements once you enter Thailand.  The Non Imm O-A Visa can provide you with almost 2 years of IO-hassle free stay in Thailand with NO need to apply for extensions at your IO during that period, and NO need to park/transfer funds to a Thai personal bank-account.

>> To access your PM-messages just click the letter-icon next to your profile when logged in to the Forum.

Amazing Peter,

Thank you so much. I'll look it over for sure!

Just now, Peter Denis said:

When entering on a 60-day Tourist Visa, you can extend that Tourist Visa for 30 days at any local IO.

But you also have the option when having entered Thailand on that 60-day Tourist Visa to apply for the change of Visa process (when you meet the 'retirement criteria - +50 years of age, or when you meet the family criteria, i.e. married to a Thai national or with thai dependent children).  This  allows you to apply for the 90-day Non Imm O Visa at the IO of the province where you want to reside long-term in Thailand.  And subsequently you can apply for 1-year extensions of stay based on that Non Imm O Visa.

>> Please note that the change of Visa process is ONLY applicable for those having entered Thailand on a regular TouristVisa or VisaExempt. 

The 60-day TouristVisa currently available for anybody irrespective of age/nationality is not to be confused with the STV.  That STV (special Tourist Visa) is a different type Visa (only available in countries deemed low-risk for covid) and only allows 2 extensions of 90 days after which you need to leave the country.

I''ve always been happy to go to Thailand but I'm going in many ways this time for health care concerns. I don't know about more complex medical situations and carrying a better insurance policy. Just not familiar with it as I've had health insurance through my job here and haven't thought about it beyond the border. Having said that, I'd like to enter with the longest possibility without getting into the 800,000 baht level of transferring funds etc..

Thanks again.

Anyone try any health insurance companies for Special Tourist Visa applicants? Just curious if any policy has looked ok and is affordable?

I'm also assuming that any airline that will get you there is fine.

It would be nice if over time we could create a step by step pinned post for the overall procedure.

I've been to Thailand a number of times but the process now still seems vague to me. Over and out for tonight. Cheers everyone.

3 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

They are all shown now. 

Thanks Joe and everyone for updates.

Just now, ubonjoe said:

It for some unknown reason does not appear on the list now along with others that are allowed. They recently redid their site  and dropped off several that are allowed now.

Perhaps call or fax them at the numbers shown on the site.

Good idea. It's menioned all over the net just not on the site!

Just now, ubonjoe said:

Vietnam since that is the country you are traveling from.

Thanks Joe. That's what I was thinking. I also don't see a option for a 90 day tourist visa under "status".

Question someone may know - I'm a US citizen flying from Vietnam ( a low risk country FWIW). I see on the Thai General Insurance Association a question about "country of origin". Are they referring to my flying out of Vietnam or my US citizenship?

Also, I don't see an option for simple tourist visas?

Thanks!

Thanks Sheryl. Much appreciated.

Just now, Sheryl said:

It remains very hard to get a medical visa/COE and now that Embassies are issuing Touriust Visas, little advantage to it -- easier to just come in on TR.

 

The only difference is on TR you have to quarantine in a hotel whereas on medicalk visa quarantine is at the hospital. I suspect hotels both cheaper and more comfortable.

You're referring to temporary residency TR?

On 9/13/2020 at 12:22 PM, steve187 said:

my son works for Bangkok hospital Bangkok, and its his job to 'recruit' overseas patients to use his hospital, i asked him the other week about these medical tourists and his reply was its almost impossible to tick all the boxes, regarding doctors signing paperwork etc etc

Hi Steve,

I'm curious if your son  works at Bangkok General? I'm also curious to hear if there's anything new on this? Maybe you could recommend a contact even? Thank you.

On 9/13/2020 at 10:34 PM, Sheryl said:

 

Only if you meet criteria - either further stay in medical grounds (need hospital letter saying you are unable to travel, and for how long) or meet criteria for an extension based on retirement or other category. You can't just extend for tourism.

Is this still true? I'm seeing different packages for sale that are reasonable for the 2 week quarantine.

Can anyone report anything new on this process? I'm back to the point I was a couple of months ago unfortunately - would definitely go for medical treatment if possible...just looks daunting at best. Anything anyone can add to this topic? Thanks everyone.

Cheryl and Steve,

Thank you so much for your responses, thoroughness etc...

I'd seen ads in a couple of places (can't recall now) for medical services - and some suggestion about medical tourism etc.. I was finding it hard to believe you couldn't see your spouse or kids but a nose job got you in the door! I imagine we'll see an industry blooming around the globe for "easy entry" approaches that just leave people stuck at the gate somewhere.

Just curious what people know or are hearing about Visas for medical reasons. I guess Medical tourism is the term often used. What's the current status or does anyone know of recent situations?

Thank for any thoughts on it!

Tal

5 hours ago, Chrysaora said:

I have watched a few videos taken in Pattaya, and all from the last few days.  Almost no one there is wearing a mask.  Maybe they think they are immune.  Now I admit, the videos focus on hookers and hoodlums but if you think you are going to go there and avoid the virus, I'm going to guess that our next outbreak will decimate Walking Street.  

 

Good luck.  You'll need it.

Same in Vietnam. The numbers, if you have confidence in the government aren't bad relatively speaking. I was surprised to see while doing errands, commuting etc that almost no tourists are wearing masks. Honestly, people seem a bit flippant about this who are tourists. It's starting to happen though in parts of the North for sure and now quietly in Ho Chi Minh guest hotel areas that "Sorry, we're full" is the new mantra. They don't want the "touring" crowd to come in and make their family sick or their long time guests.

3 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

I agree Thailand is a gossipy place but the computer crime laws are also strict and ruthless, the government has made clear it will use these for spreading rumours about COVID. Rumours without fact are dangerous but it also stops any genuine concerns because of the fear of unjust prosecution.

 

My personal belief is that Thailand cases can be found in the published figures reported in the PUI daily. The problem being that no mention is ever made of who has been tested positive or negative. So a best guess for me would be in the 1000 up range who are positive and have been identified but who knows how many more walking around.

There's a similar perspective here in Vietnam. While the public often doesn't trust the government, the strict laws on internet usage (pretty big brother before the virus thing) leave people being very, very careful of what they post.

Just now, BeltAndRoad said:

You have more chance of jumping from your hotel balcony then catching the corona virus.  Pretty sure you can get a 1 month extension at Pattaya immigration for about 2000 baht. You may want to check the new law Thailand just passed about holding planes on the tarmac, it would not be nice having to sit on a plane for an unknown time.

All sounds pretty reasonable 30-60 days w/o too many hassles. Given what's going on it looks like rates are low just everywhere in the world.

Sitting on the tarmac doesn't sound like fun. Have to keep my eye on the banks not exchanging money....a bit strange.

Just curious what people's read on Pattaya right now it given the global outbreak.

I assume prices (hotel etc..) are down for a number of reasons but I'm wondering how risky people think it is in terms of the virus at this point? I'm interested in any angles on it. Which part of Thailand seems to have been hit the hardest?

Also, I come semi regularly to Thailand but always for less than 30 days. Can I just go to immigration within Thailand (BKK or Pattaya and get another 30 days? I might be looking at a 6 week stretch or so where I'd like to lay low.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts on it.

17 hours ago, zydeco said:

Or have someone take action for you. According to the Bangkok Post, Vietnam has now quarantined an area as well. First outside of China to do so.

Vietnam has seemed fairly transparent in how they're dealing with this. There have been reports of some larger quarantine "hospitals" in areas around Hanoi where the majority of cases seem to be.

As of yesterday, things may have changed - it's hard to tell. I had heard of a 500 bed area near HCM but no cases were mentioned. Yesterday, it was announced that schools would closed through February and for the first time that I've seen, 65 cases were in "self-quarantine", meaning being monitored at home. This number seemed to come out of nowhere.

On 2/12/2020 at 8:41 PM, bkkcanuck8 said:

No, just Vietnam is likely being much more honest about the impact while at the end of the year TAT will likely say tourism grew by 5% YOY again (just like they do when the shop owners are saying tourism off by 30 - 40%). 

 

The impact will be sharp and staggering this year, and then it will likely be many years for it to recuperate as people will continue to have altered their travel patterns (especially companies which will encourage less travel / conferences and more teleconferencing again) -- and until the memory fades a little those travel patterns will be depressed - hitting tourism even after the pandemic has burnt itself out.

Vietnam has done a good job relatively speaking. Everyone's done a better job than China.

Thanks again everyone for the suggestions. I did find something at Fortune Town that fit the bill. Again, to all, thanks very much!!

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

I have been there a few times, over the last 20 years, in both the north and the south. My biggest issue is the people. I just do not find them particularly friendly, especially if you are traveling with a Thai wife, who has a kind of "Pan Asian" look. They did not seem to like seeing me with a woman who could have been one of their own. In Thailand, they are either warm, or indifferent. In Vietnam I ran into alot of people who reminded me of wet fish. Cold and aloof. Not much fun to be around. And they definitely do not have the light hearted spirit, or humor of the Thais. I get it. They have been through alot. But, that is not my issue. 

 

Vietnam would be one of the last countries in the world I would want to live in, and frankly, I doubt if i will ever visit again.

I spent some time in Thailand but have lived in Vietnam for over 5 years. In general, Vietnamese have about a meters worth of interest around them. This applies to how they drive, stand in line, butt in line, yell when their are others around, look at foreigners and more. It is fair to say that Vietnamese are more clan based than any place I've seen. You'll see quite a few offices are staffed by cousins, wives, in-laws etc..it's an insular city in many ways. No one will mention it but that's what's going on.

Most of the people in the alley near where I live are either related or connected in some way. Mostly they just think about their immediate family and maybe the clan in the alley. Despite the neon signs above, I think HCM remains a fairly "non-international" city despite 13 million + people in SE Asia.

The tourist scene here is off and running but the infrastructure is a poor comparison to BKK. No metroline. One of the densest cities around with no city planning. The last statistic I saw on Vietnam was that it had very low return rates for tourists.

Just now, possum1931 said:

I don't really know anything about Vietnam, my post applied mainly to Thailand.

Ah, my bad! got caught up in the Viet side of the reading....

Take care.

Just now, Traubert said:

I mentioned this about three months ago, but was witheringly and condescendingly told by a colonial cousin that everyone had forgotten it in Vietnam. They haven't. There are too many still alive with very vivid memories of that invasion.

 

Also, the fact is, that if you talked about Vietnam in Vietnam on social media the same way Thailand is talked about on here, you would be gone very quickly. Lets face it, some can't help themselves.

It seems your man was well informed. At the end of 2018 there were 250,000 expats in Thailand, excluding Asian nationals. A figure surfaced on another thread last night that at the end of 2019, it was now 150,000, 79,000 of whom were retirees.

Point well taken. People on this board often compare Vietnam with Thailand and I really get that, I would do the same. It's a mistake though as you point out. A negative comment on Facebook about the government and you're likely being scheduled for a conversation at your local police station as you put the final period on the comment. A lot of foreigners romanticize Vietnam or have a nostalgia about it. "F" with the government here and you can really have your ass kicked.

You're more on the mark if you think of Vietnam as a small mirror of China (remember Vietnam is still very much a part of the Communist block here).

****disclaimer

It's their business after all, not a criticism. Don't confuse Vietnam with the Thailand you remember from 1995 or something.

Just now, possum1931 said:

Is it not up to countries like Vietnam and Thailand to deter illegals, and people illegally working by making it so that they will be too frightened to go there, and giving very hard punishments and jail time for anyone caught working illegally or deliberately overstaying their visas. instead of making it hard for decent tourists and retirees? Or do brown envelopes spring to mind?

Maybe I'm not understanding your point, but I think the typical tourist coming into Vietnam won't care much about a 90 or 30 restriction. People who work here legally won't care at all and doing it legally isn't really that expensive - you just have to be above board on it. And the Vietnamese government won't care what foreigners think. It's easy to forget that they've had the <deleted> kicked out them by the French, Americans and the Chinese. They'll take cash from anyone and yes, the brown envelope but I wouldn't confuse this with being a pro-foreigner position. As Vietnam develops I suspect they'll care less and less about a foreign presence let alone some older retired guys pretending to be in business. Just a guess though.

It may end up being more and more like Thailand - big tour buses (mostly from China), orderly Koreans with their money in District 7 and clearly documented foreigners who will add some status to some English centers.