CANSIAM

9 hours ago, Thomas72 said:

 

This is a good option, now that I know 1 year non-O ME retirement visas are easy to get from Savannakhet without a Thai bank account.

 

I went through the process on the Thai evisa website. All the steps were pretty straightforward. They wanted:

 

1. Passport upload

2. Picture upload

3. Arrival date, departure date, port of arrival

4. Flight number (don't have to upload a document)

5. Hotel staying at (name/city/zip only, no document upload)

 

Then on the final screen, this:

 

 

#1 and #2 are pre-populated from your previous steps.

 

#3 is unclear and there's no guidelines or a help link. I guess I would upload a driver's license first and see what they come back with.

 

#4 should just be a bank statement. And judging from this recent report, it needs to be over $30K.

 

No indication of insurance required.

 

This is the final screen. The button says "Done". I didn't go past this, as my travel dates are not set in stone yet.

 

 

 

I do not think Savannakhet Lao issues 1 year Non O ME visas. You can a 90 Day Non O from the Thai embassy there. Check their website.....

15 minutes ago, Pattaya57 said:

Not sure about US but in Australia the 90 day non-imm O also requires 90 day health insurance. When I went to all the Thai approved insurers most said they do not do 90 day cover.  I found one that did and it was 3 times the cost of the 12 Month O-A insurance

 

So this was a useless option in Australia

Yeah thats ridiculous, don't think the 90 day Russian freebee  requires health insurance. In my case I arrived on an OA during Covid times, left and returned with a Non O using existing OA insurance for the Non O application. Just align your health insurance start date as close as you can on your OA extensions........  all good ! 

On 12/13/2023 at 7:31 AM, Thomas72 said:

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

 

 

 

You could also apply for a 90 day Non O state side instead.  Gives you 90 days to get organized if you do not have a Thai bank account yet for extensions on the Non O.  If arriving with an O-A visa, all of your future extensions based on the OA will require valid health insurance, you will be given an extension of stay stamp to the expiry date of your current health insurance, so its quite possible you will not get 1 year if you do not align your health insurance start date near the same time as your immigration extension visit.... 

18 hours ago, bamnutsak said:

New sheriff in town.

 

https://thai.news/news/thailand/shrouded-beginnings-the-enigmatic-rise-of-phukets-new-immigration-chief

 

Surprised you weren't shown the tip jar.

 

 

 

 

 

Maybe the new Sheriff can scan through his computor when he has moment checking the Russian infiltration of the Island.....

2 hours ago, phetphet said:

Don’t know if this has already been reported, but as title says, Bangkok Airways hacked and customers information accessed.

 

They recommend changing passwords and beware of anyone contacting.

Yeah read that, I changed my password....

23 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Luckily, using the banks is not the only way to claim your winnings as, doubtless, you found out.

Where do you go if you win 6 million, the nearest cop shop ? lol.......

A Yellow ATM at a 7/11 ate my card awhile back as well, maddening.....called my bank to cancel my valid local card and ordered a new one, have not inserted into a yellow ATM since. 

15 minutes ago, mokwit said:

Maybe drop in on some Thai language classes and help all the Russians in attendance with their Thai.

Good chance attendance is low...........

1 hour ago, BarraMarra said:

Next on the list being invited by the Thai PM will be the Hamas leader now they have released the Thais they kidnapped. As a reward, he probably invite him to holiday in Phuket.

90 day entry stamp stays in the works for Hamas members..........

If you are sitting and waiting and checking your computor daily and its closing in on that 7th day grace period AFTER your 90 day due date has passed, get out the door and to Immigration in person......... 

10 hours ago, sammieuk1 said:

Apparently Phuket now has an abundance of taxi drivers, prostitutes, gangsters,hairdressers and drug dealers to bolster the economy 🤔  

FACT !

12 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

True, but if every country put pressure on the people, they might stop being lame and make a revolution. If not, it must been seen as they agree.

I think Putin would feel more heat if Thailand did close their doors to Russian Federation Passports......

5 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

I'm pretty good now at identifying the STI based on symptoms, more common are gonorrhea, Chlamydia, mycoplasma genitalia, based on that use different antibiotics

Helpful with 2 of the 3 you listed

Not yet,  if unsure - condom rips/comes off, ya didn't put one on...bla bla bla.... 4 x 250mg (all at once) Zithromax  will clear you up....

10 hours ago, Deserted said:

We've known each other for almost 20 years and worked together a few times. It's the first time I've seen him lose control of his own situation before and he seems to think it's no big issue. It helps if I know how things stand myself in case this comes up in conversation again.  

Put this possible 'fix' fake exit stamps to rest, he's in enough trouble already, when he leaves ASAP he can return in 2028 sometime.... 

12 hours ago, Deserted said:

I have a friend who has overstayed by three years now. He tells me all he has to do is book a flight out, pay a 20,000 baht fine and then come back, is this correct? He has never been in trouble before for anything but I told him I don't think its so simple. Who is right, me or him?

He enjoys it here so much he's on 3 years overstay ? When he does leave he may see a stamp in his PP whether new or old he hands over..........'no entry before 2029' terrible error on his part. 

Continuous unelected Leadership is your threat here, nothing external.........