CanadaJoe

I went back to Immigration this morning after purchasing a throw-away insurance policy and waving goodbye to $350. Next year I will leave Thailand, return on a 90-day O or visa exempt and transition off the OA so I don't have to pay these rip-off insurance fees ever again. Thanks to everyone who responded for your advice and information, it was much appreciated.

Thanks the link, I'll go through it.

I'm currently in Thailand and have no plans to return to Canada in the near future. When I went to Phuket immigration last week to check on the requirements for the visa, the Immigration officer told me I needed to have photos of me standing outside my Phuket condo, with the unit number clearly visible. I complied with this requirement, but they didn't like the fact that the photos were in landscape orientation on the page when they were printed.

Olay thanks for the clarification. I guess I didn't understand renewing a visa and extending my stay were different beasts. Yeah as a Canadian I believe I can enter Visa exempt for 60 days. I have all my paperwork and bank account stuff prepared for the O visa already so hopefully once back in Thailand it would be a fairly simple process to get the O visa.

Okay, thanks. Yes, that's an option.

I contacted the Thai consulate in Canada numerous times before applying for my original visa. Each time, they told me my only option (from within Canada) was the OA visa. I was informed the O visa could only be applied for from within Thailand. In hindsight perhaps I should have originally entered on a tourist visa and applied from within Thailand for the O visa, but I followed the advice of the Thai consulate in Canada. But yes, I believe there is also a lot of unnecessary bureaucracy here in Thailand, despite the number of visa options available. For example, today they refused to accept the photos of me standing outside my condo because they were printed in landscape orientation and they insisted on portrait orientation. I had specifically visited the immigration office last week to double-check everything I needed, but there was no mention of the orientation requirements for the photos. Also, what does a photo of me standing outside a condo prove? I could easily go and stand outside ANY condo and take a photo, it's not valid proof of anything.

Thanks. Yes, the plan is to stay here in Thailand long-term. I'd prefer not to have to purchase throw-away insurance each year, so it seems transitioning over to the O visa is the only way around that. How is it possible to stay for 2 years on an OA?

Thanks for the advice. It's just frustrating having to leave the country to do all of this. Gotta love government bureaucracy!

Thanks. Yeah, I didn't think it was possible to renew an OA from within Thailand and don't really want to do that anyway. I wanted to just transition over to the O which I was under the impression I could do. I already have the 800,000 in a Thai bank and comprehensive health insurance with another company. When I got my original OA in Canada I again had to waste $350 CDN on a throw-away policy because it seemed like no insurance company would sign the "Foreign Insurance Certificate" that This government insists on. Is it just me, or is it crazy that the Thai government was the insurance company to sign a letter saying they have sold you a policy when you can show the policy itself? Doesn't make any sense to me. Anyway, thanks for your advice.

Thanks. I hope we can find something as well. Thanks for the advice.

Thanks. That's an option we're considering but I'd still need to get my motorcycle to Hua Hin as I couldn't take that in an SUV. If I can send the bike via Thai post or another route that would be fine.

Has anyone had issues transitioning from an OA Retirment Visa to an O Retirment Visa? When I obtained my OA visa in Canada, they told me that if I stayed in Thailand I'd have to transition over to O visa. They said the only difference (aside from a few requirements like health insurance, police check, etc.) was that OA visa were issued in the applicatns home country, while O visas were issued in Thailand. However, when I went to Thai Immigration today to do this, I was told it was not possible. They said I have two options: 1) Renew my OA Visa, or 2) Leave Thailand, return on a Tourist visa and then apply for a new O visa To renew the OA Visa, they said I would need to get my non-Thai insurance certified by the Canadian embassy. It's my understanding that the Canadian Embassy does not provide services like this. The insurance is from a German insurer, so the Thai immigration official then told me to go to the German embassy and have them certify the insurance. However, I'm not convinced that the German embassy will certify insurance, particularly for a non-German citizen. The only other option for getting around the insurance is to fork out $300-$400 CND for one of those throw-away Thai insurance policies. This is despite my current policy having infinitely more coverage and benefits than the Thia policy would provide. The other option would be to fly to a neighbouring country, return on a Tourist visa and start the whole process of applying for an O visa again from scratch. It's very frustrating, particularly as the Thai Consulate in Canada had told me it would be no problem to transition from an OA to an O. Has anyone had similar experiences and if so, how did you resolve the issues? Thanks

Thanks. Yeah a van and driver is another option we're looking into but haven't found anyone local yet who'll do it.

Yeah, I don't mind riding the bike if that's easier and cheaper. Just need to ensure I can get there ahead of the delivery truck.

Great thanks. Will try them as well.

Sweet thanks. Seems like Thai Post does it all.

Wow! Seems pretty efficient. In Canada they post office has trouble delivering a letter nevermind a bike!!! Thanks

Great thanks. Do you know if they do motorcycles as well or just household goods?

Great thanks. Just spent a frustrating afternoon at the Thail Immigration office so didn't have a chance to get to the post office. Will try tomorrow.

Great thanks for the info. Will contact them and see what they say. We also do have a motorcycle but it's a larger bike (900 cc). Not sure if they transport larger bikes like that but will ask them. Thanks for the prompt reply. Much appreciated.

My partner and I are moving to Hua Hin in August and are having trouble finding a company that will move our stuff. We probably have the equivalent of about 8-10 large suitcases consisting of personal items, clothing, household goods, etc. We don't have any furniture or really large items, so we don't meet the minimum volume requirements of any of the moving companies we've approached. All of our stuff would easily fit in something like a Toyota van or in the back of a pick-up truck. Does anyone know of a company that would transport this amount at a reasonable price? We're also happy to hire a private truck or van with a driver, but again, have not had any luck in finding someone. Any advice or recommendations for companies or individual drivers who could help us would be much appreciated. Thanks

Senseless 😟

Sounds like a ChatGpt story. Although, a Harley rider locking up the brakes, losing control and falling over while travelling at a paltry 10 kph does sound feasible 😆

Great info, thanks for sharing. I'll be doing my first renewal this week and your info will hopefully help to ensure a smooth experience at the Immigration office. Thanks

A very sad, devastating and life changing incident. Yes, it was a crazy and stupid decision to approach a shark, and unfortunately she will have to live with the consequences of that for the rest of her life. An horrific, yet completely avoidable incident. 🙁