eboy

So it's an airline requirement, not a Thai government requirement? In other words, if I book a round trip from BKK-to-Cambodia-BKK, the airline might require me to add another leg to the journey? What would be the rationale?

I'm currently living full time in Thailand on an O-A visa. I have not applied for a re-entry permit. I plan to fly out of Thailand for a couple of days, return, and request a 45 day visa exempt entry, after which I plan to apply for a NON-O visa. Is it possible that, upon returning to Thailand, Thai agents at the airport will want me to show that I've booked an outbound flight to another country?

"You MIGHT be asked for forward or return ticket" So if I fly from Thailand-to-Cambodia-to-Thailand, for the purpose of obtaining a visa exempt entry to Thailand, prior to applying for a NON-O, are you saying that Thai Customs might want me to have a forward or return ticket in addition to the round trip to/from Cambodia?

Mainly hand-holding. I might end up just doing the whole thing myself. In that case, it would be a lot easier for me to apply for NON-O in Chonburi where I live. Has anyone applied for a NON-O visa at the Immigration office in Chonburi (in Jomtien)? How long does it take them to process the application?

Is it equally efficient to apply for the NON-O visa at any Immigration office in Thailand? The person I'm corresponding with at Thai Visa Expert says it will go much faster in Bangkok, but I suspect that's because he's based in Bangkok and wants me to work with him there.

Do you know if Cambodia requires health insurance and/or a vaccine certificate for a short-term visit? I figure I'll go there before re-entering Thailand as visa exempt.

Do you know if Cambodia requires health insurance and/or a vaccine certificate for a short-term visit? I figure I'll go there before re-entering Thailand as visa exempt.

When you entered Thailand recently were you required to show any proof of health insurance, for example, short-term travel insurance covering Covid? Also, were you required to show a vaccine certificate?

If one enters Thailand as visa exempt, the form used to apply for a NON-O visa is TM87 (Application for Visa). The TM87 form has the following field: "kind of visa" I'd guess one would write NON-O in this field. Is that right?

Thanks, that's very helpful. I assume "up to the last 15 days" means I should apply before the last 15 days. Is that right?

Thanks!

Thanks for your helpful comment. I'd want to do the second option because I want to get out from under the insurance requirement. One question: What is "visa exempt"? Let's say I fly to Cambodia a couple of days before my O-A visa expires and return a week later. What do I tell Thai customs at the airport in Bangkok so that I'll be in good standing to go to Immigration and apply for an O visa? In case it's relevant, my citizenship is USA.

Do you remember from where you downloaded this document? If so, would you please provide the link?

My non 0-A is currently valid and expires in February. From your comment it sounds like I need to get some sort of short-term extension, so that the non O-A expires but I'm still in Thailand legally, then do a border run and re-enter and apply for a non O. Is that right?

I'm considering using them to help me change from an O-A to an O retirement visa. I've exchanged a few emails with them, but haven't decided whether to use their services. If other people have experience with them I'd be happy to hear their about their experiences, good or bad. Or you have another agent that you love, please let me know. ????

Sorry for the ambiguity. I am considering using them as an agent to aid me with a visa issue.

I'm considering working with a visa consulting firm "Thai Visa Expert". Their website is https://thaivisaexpert.com/ Does anyone have any experience them, good or bad? Thank you in advance for your comments.

@ubonjoe When I go to the "Download Form" page of the Immigration Bureau Royal Thai Police website https://www.immigration.go.th/en/?page_id=3202 I don't see the document you've linked to. What is the title of this document on the "Download Form page? Or did you get it from some other page?

The official Thai Immigration website indicates that an O visa is for people with family in Thailand, or who are volunteering at a non-profit. https://thaievisa.go.th/non-immigrant-o But I gather from the present discussion thread is that anyone can get an O visa. So is the Immigration website not telling the whole story, or am I missing some piece of the puzzle?

Can I convert from an O-A to an O visa without leaving Thailand, or do I have to leave and re-enter?

@ubonjoe "You would apply for a one year extension of stay during the last 30 days of the 90 day stay from the non-o visa You need to have a non-o visa to apply for the extension based upon retirement." At the end of the one year extension what happens? Do you need to leave Thailand and repeat the entire process, or can you just extend again for one year, year after year?

@ubonjoe The document that you link to appears to be for a 90 day stay. Is that right? Any idea how one would apply for a 1 year stay?

@Andrew Dwyer You state: "No I didn’t, I did it to avoid the mandatory health insurance from an OA extension." When you enter Thailand on an O visa (not 0A) are you required to show any proof of health insurance? If so, what kind do you have? And how costly is it? I ask because I'm thinking of doing what you did, that is, switching to an O visa from OA, and I'm trying to determine if it will cut my costs.

@internationalism I'm not sure I understand you. What does 15.02 refer to? I'm a senior. So does that mean mandatory hospitalization, even if mild symptoms?

Thai friends who've contracted Covid-19 recently tell me that they've gone to the hospital and, if their symptoms were moderate, they were advised to go home and self-isolate for a week. Does the same practice currently apply to resident foreigners (not tourists)? In the past resident foreigners were required to stay in the hospital for a couple of weeks, at their own expense, even with mild-to-no symptoms. Is that policy still in force, or not?