oldcpu

5 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

You could apply for an extension based upon marriage to a Thai that does not require insurance.

You would need 400k baht in a Thai bank for 2 months or proof of 40k baht income.

Excellent recommendation I think.

That indeed was what I attempted just over a week ago.

But every Thai province immigration appears to implement immigration rules with a slightly different twist. 

Phuket immigration refused to give me an extension based on marriage. They explained their policy was if this was a Type-OA applying for a first extension they would not accept marriage but only retirement as a justification.

If one was already on an extension and applying for an extension based on marriage (on an OA) they would accept marriage as the justification.

They sent me to the retirement section of the immigration office and they gave their attention to the next person in the line.

They were very busy and didn't have time to discuss further.

I do recommend the marriage approach if one's immigration office will accept such.

On 2/6/2021 at 8:21 AM, Isaanman said:

I informed them of a minor pre-existing condition and told them in the explanation box following all the questions about (pre) existing conditions that I have had this condition for over 3 decades and am gladly willing to "sign my name to a policy written up by LGM Insurance Company that limits my claim options and does NOT cover this pre-existing condition." LGM promptly wrote up a "counter offer" policy "Excluding All Investigation, Treatment, and Any Complications" of this condition--no problem.

Thanks for this - its interesting to read.

I am currently trying to obtain Health Insurance from a company on the Thai approved list, and I have an ongoing dialogue at present with LMG.  I am age-67 and already have excellent Health Insurance (exceeds Thai requirements) but my Health Insurance company is not on the Thai approved list, so I need second ('throwaway') Health Insurance to meet requirement of being on a Thai approved list of companies.  

LMG asked for my last medical results, which I sent (last medical was in 2019).  Back in 2019 the Thai doctors commented on a few borderline items (based on Thai criteria) and recommended a followup in 3 to 6 months. I showed such to my European doctor (a 2nd opinion) and he stated Thai requirements more tight than European criteria and he saw NO issue and followup in his view not needed (he suggested hospital was trolling for more testing $$ ).   However LMG asked for such follow up results (where I did none) - so that has now complicated my LMG application - and I may be asked to do a second medical.

Tomorrow (Monday) my Thai wife and I may phone LMG and see if they can go for an exclusion clause of what they speculate could be 'pre-exisiting' conditions (of which I have none, but the 'trolling' (?) 2019 medical results suggested investigations in certain areas). 

I am happy to read LMG will consider exclusion clauses, as I already have excellent Health Insurance so an exclusion clause causes me no risk (and it protects the Insurance Company).

I have my fingers crossed for Monday.

EDIT : As a backup, my Thai wife has contacted an Insurance broker, and Pacific Cross has been pointed out to me as a possible inexpensive alternative to LMG if one goes for the maximum deductible with Pacific Cross .

On 2/1/2021 at 2:42 PM, DUNROAMIN said:

What do foriegners have if granted permanent  residency?

Not wanting to be cynical - but they may also have additional income tax filing requirements (as a resident) which retired (not employed) non-immigrants (who are not considered an official resident) do not have such income tax filing requirements. ... If one's only income (from abroad) comes from countries with tax agreements with Thailand, this may not be an issue - but Thailand does not have tax agreements with all countires  ... Of course I could be wrong here in regard to my 'tax' cautions - but I suspect tax could be a residency consideration.

I recommend as much as possible, you use a bank account in Province/city where you ultimately plan to stay. 

If that is Phuket, I recommend you could use Bangkok Bank, in Central Festival.  Bangkok Bank has 2 branches in Central Festival mall.  I have an account (has my 800 K in a fixed account) in that branch on the south side of the road, on the top floor.  The woman in that Bangkok Bank branch that I talked to in setting up the account was well aware of foreigner non-immigrant visa requirements for funds, so that made it easier.

I also have the advantage of a Thai driver's license, Yellow Book, and a Thai ID card, but NONE of that was asked for when I opened my 800K account.  Only my passport.  (although I already had a Bangkok Bank account from year 2016 which obviously made this extra account easier)

But you may thou need to go to Phuket immigration 1st, as soon as possible as exiting ASQ, prior to opening the Bank Account, to get a one page letter indicating your temporary presence in Phuket, which the bank may ask for in order to open the account.  I had to do that in year 2016 when I opened my first bank account in Phuket (I went to Bangkok Bank in Phuket town, which in hindsight was more difficult than going to the one in Central Festival - I didn't have Thai drivers licence/ID card/yellow book then (which frankly is not needed)).

Good luck in your efforts.

19 minutes ago, Peter Denis said:

Did you sent your application to Miss Kannika, of which I provided the co-ordinates in the LMG Application Guideline? 

....

Normally any pre-exisiting conditions you have and reported on the application form, will simply be taken out of the insurance coverage.  And any claims you would do later will be investigated whether it was the result of a pre-existing condition. 

...

But I do hope that it works out fine for you, and that this BS for past medicals to be provided by you will be dropped, as subscribing to that policy does NOT require a medical.

 

Thanks for the suggestions.

I had immediately applied to LMG (filled in their web site application) prior to your recommendation in this thread for Miss Kannika, so I am dealing with another LMG representative.  I considered contacting Miss Kannika, but I suspect commissions for LMG agents could be involved, and changing agent in mid-stream may simply irritate LMG.

Re pre-existing conditions being taken out of the coverage - YES, I'm fine with that, but given I don't have ANY such conditions (only year-2019 medical suggestion to follow up on border line areas in case there may be a condition  - where my German doctor laughed at that recommendation)  its pretty hard to point to a pre-existing condition.   

I suspect I will be pushed into doing a medical.  I'm hoping LMG reply to me by Monday, and if so, on Monday I'll likely contact my Health Insurance company, and get their 'blessing' to go for an annual medical (they will cover ~90% of cost), and then go for a Medical here in Phuket as early as late next week.   I would rather not in these COVID times  - but if this solves the problem then I am ok with such.

My understanding is the Hospitals that cater to foreigners are looking forward to the business ... I just need to make certain in any medical that they understand I need it for Health Insurance and that they don't overstate any test (trolling for extra money via recommending tests - which IMHO the Thailand hospitals OFTEN do ... ).  I don't want to side track this thread, but I have been getting medicals in Thailand since 2014 (?), they often have recommendations on what they say is "borderline", and when I show such to my European doctor, they simply shake their head, say by European standards its an ok reading (ie Thai criteria too tight), and they speculate the hospital is trolling for money at a foreign patients expense.  The truth ? I don't know - but I have heard others claim similar experience.   But I am on a tangent - sorry.

I'll keep my fingers crossed.

On 1/28/2021 at 4:43 PM, Peter Denis said:

My own experience when applying for that LMG Plan-1 policy > The application process went very smooth.  Did sent the filled-in application form on Sunday evening.  Monday morning I already had response that it was received and being processed (but with request for a copy of my passport ID-card).  After sending that, within hours I received confirmation of application approved and payment details.  I paid same-day and Tuesday morning I received the Health Insurance Certificate by e-mail, and 3 days later I received the policy documents by regular mail.

 

Success with your application!

Thanks for the success wish - but my going is NOT going smooth with LMG.  Yes they have been quick to reply, but likely because I am older (?) than you, they asked for my last medical result (and yes I did select NO, in the application form for all the mentioned illnesses/conditions, which was correct).   I had a medical in 2019 at one of Thailand's best hospitals so I sent them that medical result.  There were a few recommendations in that medical, where the hospital in the medical noted a few 'border line' areas and suggested if I had any symptoms (which they listed) I should follow up in 3 to 6 months.  Well I had no symptoms and did not need thus to follow up. I also showed the medical results to my German doctor in Europe, who laughed and noted such results in a Hospital test would not have raised a comment in Germany and in his opinion I had no need to follow up. 

LMG got back to me today and asked for a year 2020 or 2021 medical result (where I have none -2019 was my last medical) and they pointed to those recommended followup 'if symptom' comments as their justification asking for another medical result from me. 

I replied to LMG proposing we talk on the phone, but I am beginning to think LMG will be a no go ...  I speculate (note speculate) that possibly LMG will ask for a medical in the next 2 weeks (barely enough time to do such)  which in these COVID times I am not particularly keen to do.

Any suggestions (from anyone on this thread) as to what another Insurance company with low rates for a 67-year old. Again - I am fully covered for Health Insurance far exceeding Thai requirements, but my Insurance company is not on the Thai list.

15 hours ago, Peter Denis said:

In your case, it would surely be worth enquiring at LMG (ask for miss Kannika - who is fluent in english and very efficient) whether it would not be possible to change the start or end-date of that LMG Plan-1 insurance policy you intend to subscribe to, in order to cap your 1-year permission to stay to the policy end date .... and that it simply would be more convenient for you to have the policy end at a date of your choice somewhere in October/November, I do not see how that could pose a problem.

The more I think about this idea that I initially considered (to go for ~9-months Health Insurance to 'force' an early end of my retirement extension to 'mid-November-2021' ) the less likely I am to attempt it.   Assuming LMG will go for 9-months Health Insurance (and I can see no reason why they would not), my concern is Phuket Immigration may decide I am 'working the system' and refuse the extension and insist I obtain the extra 3-months (approx) to closer approximate a 1-year Health Insurance ....   Of course this is my speculative paranoid over-cautious aversion to risks.

From what I've read, different Immigration offices have some leeway in how they implement/enforce the regulations ... and so maybe my best bet with my Non-immigrant Type-OA is to simply go for the 1-year retirement extension (obtaining 'throwaway' 1-year health insurance on the Thai approved list (augmenting my current excellent Health Insurance that is not on the Thai approved list)).  Keep renewing that every year until COVID is over (which could be late this year or early next) and when its finally ok to travel internationally without facing quarantines/other-restrictions, then leave Thailand (without a re-entry permit) to stop my OA visa, and return on a 30-day Tourist Exempt-Visa status followed by applying for a Non-Immigrant Type-O (timing such to be in a favourable time of the year for my future travels).   From what I have read, leaving the country to 'kill' the OA, and come back to setup a 'Type-O' is the "tried and proven" method, and I'm not one for taking risks (however slight) and venturing into new extension-application territory (so to speak).

But many thanks for all the suggestions !

31 minutes ago, Tanoshi said:

In my opinion taking out a 6 month policy until August would be cheaper.

OK Immigration will only extend your permission of stay until Aug, then you'll have to apply again, but your extension renewal date will be now well clear of interfering with your winter vacations.

 

If borders were open, I'd suggest going out somewhere locally in Feb and apply for a Non O Visa.

That would move your extension application up to May and no pesky Health Insurance requirement.

The LMG insurance price for 200K THB deductible for 1 year on their plan 1 for a 67-year old is only  ~7,700 THB.   I am fortunate in my life at present where that is not an amount to be concerned about.   That insurance is not worth much wrt coverage, but as I already have excellent Insurance, the extent (lack of coverage) of the LMG health insurance is not a factor.

August renewal timeframe would be tempting, except I also tend to international travel in August to early October timeframe - hence either May-to-July ... or ... late-Oct-to-mid-November are the ideal times for myself to be in Thailand for conducting a renewal (of my permission to stay).

I agree about open borders (when there is no COVID) - and maybe that indeed the best way to go - but I need to be patient and wait until the borders open appropriately with no COVID restrictions/dangers. Then leave Thailand (optimistically in Jan-2022) and possible return/leave a few times between Jan-2022 and April-2022 (returning each time on Tourist Visa-exempt) and then in mid/late April when in Thailand (?) apply for a Non Imm Type-O Visa followed by applying for a 1-year extension (based on retirement).

I have a question for our Visa knowledge persons, with regard to some long range planning of mine. Its based on an optimistic assumption of no COVID restrictions in Jan/Feb-2022 … and if there are restrictions, it hopefully doesn’t matter as then the dates below would all be almost exactly 1-year later (ie I would delay this by 1-year).

I believe it also involves changing a Type-OA to a Type-O Visa in the future ....

I am age-67 and my permission to stay on my Type-OA Visa expires on 27-February-2021. I plan in next week or so (after purchasing Health Insurance on Thai approved list) to apply for my 1st extension (1-year) on my permission to stay. I have all the requirements met for such a “permission to stay” extension (I just need to complete Health Insurance).

I like to travel a LOT outside of Thailand, multiple times for 2 to 4 weeks at a time, in the January to April time frame, returning to Thailand for 2 to 3 weeks, and then leave Thailand again. By end-April, I like to stay in Thailand until end of the year (other than a 4-week visit to Canada/Europe in the Aug-Sep time frame).

Obviously this year (2021) I am staying in Thailand due to the COVID global pandemic.

But having to be in Thailand, to do Visa/"permission to stay" paperwork inside Thailand in the February timeframe can put a constraint on my international travel plans for February in year 2022, 2023, 2024 etc ....

So I was thinking (and hope to have checked by forum experts ) the following plan :

    (1) apply for a 1-year “retirement” 1st extension on Type-OA Visa in mid-February-2021 which if approved should take me to mid-February-2022 

    (2) if traveling Internationally in January to April-2022, leave Thailand (likely depart in January-2022) without an re-entry stamp, and return to Thailand on a Tourist Visa exempt status (ie 30 days) 

    (3) with my next international trip likely within 30 days, leave Thailand again  (and possibly repeat step-2 & 3 a couple of times)

    (4) after last travels, return to Thailand (~mid/late-April-2022) on a Tourist Visa exempt status (ie 30-days) and then apply for a Type-O Visa (90-days) based on retirement … followed by applying for a 1-year permission to stay on the Type-O due to retirement.

Once I have the Type-O visa (with a ~May/June permission to stay expiry) I am set for years of travel in January-to-April  without a 'February' permission to stay renewal 'interference'.

Is that logical ?

Are there regulations that could disrupt the above plan? ... or things to prepare/need to be aware of ? (Clearly I need to limit the duration of Tourist exempt entries).

Thanks in advance for any criticisms and/or agreements its an ok plan.

4 hours ago, Peter Denis said:

>> I did PM you a Guideline document (with tips and caveats) on how to apply for the LMG Plan-1 (with 200K deductible) health-insurance. 

 

Thank you.  I received it and I will read it.

As for the exact date selection for my Insurance starting, because I live a close 10-minute car drive from Phuket Immigration, going to the Immigration office is not a big inconvenience.  My current "permission to stay" expiry date on 27-February-2021 is an inconvenience to me (as in non-COVID times I like to travel go cold countries in the cold January/February months for winter sports < I know - that's strange > ) , and a renewal sometime in November or December would be much better for me.  

I'm tempted (but have not decided) to see if I can negotiate the insurance coverage to start in mid-February and end sometime in mid-December-2021 ... I don't mind paying the same Insurance price even if it only 10 instead of 12 months.

or if that too risky, to simply have the insurance date (for one year) start on around 18-Feb-2021 (well after Chinese New Year) ... with the intent of each year gradually move up the renewal date until its in December.   

The basic idea is to use the Immigration tying the Insurance ending date to the 'permission to stay' end date, to my advantage.

5 hours ago, Thaiwrath said:

I know I will get the "get a pink colored I.D. card" comments from the usual suspects here, which I will ignore, but I am asking for confirmation that this is not needed according to the written law here. 

 

   

If this is required now, it is new to me.  I have many retired expatriate friends who have been here for decades, and they don't have Thai ID cards.   I do not know the requirement if one is legally working in Thailand (possibly required then? ).

Having typed that, I am retired and I obtained my Thai ID a week ago, not because I needed one, but because my Thai wife wanted me to have one (possibly as a face saving measure)?  Turns out an expatriate woman friend of hers had recently obtained her Thai ID and was telling my wife about the experience.  Not to be outdone, my Thai wife marched me down to Phuket City hall to get a Thai ID.  Previous (last year) my wife and I obtained a Yellow Book (with my name) for the condo unit that I own in Phuket, and that Yellow Book coupled with my being married to a Thai, allowed me to get the Thai ID.

The Phuket City Hall asked for proof of my marriage to my Thai wife (which was a surprise as my wife's expatriate friend (that friend is married to another expatriate)) was not asked for such marriage proof.  But apparently the ID card has a field on it stating if one is married, and so the Phuket City Hall wanted that proof of being married to a Thai before giving me the ID.  I also had my Kor-22 (family status registry for Thai family) updated recently updated, so it was easy to provide the proof of marriage to a Thai.

I recently used my new Thai ID for a check-in to a Hotel (instead of using my passport).  I don't know if that is legal, but the Hotel was happy.

Having typed the above, I would be very surprised if a Thai ID for a retired foreigner is a requirement.

Thankyou all for your Health Insurance recommendations (for 'throw-away' health insurance - which is what I need).

44 minutes ago, Boomer6969 said:

But couldn't OP apply for the 2 months Thai wife extension, which would subsequently allow him to apply for a Non-O and then the yearly "Thai Wife" extensions?

I could be wrong - but my understanding is I would need to leave Thailand first, to 'close' my Type-OA visa, and only then able to apply for a new Type-O visa.  One can't just 'cancel' a Visa without leaving the country ( ?? )

Unfortunately there is a global pandemic going on, and at age 67 I am not too keen on travel (especially considering likely expensive quarantine requirements when entering different countries).

If there was not a pandemic going on, I would quite possibly do this, as the ~7,700 Thai baht fee (I will need for 1-year Health Insurance on the Thai approved Health Insurance list, needed for a 1-year retirement extension on my permission to stay (on my Type-OA visa) ) would go a long way to contributing to a nice short trip out of Thailand and back.

15 minutes ago, Kenny202 said:

I remember before the medical insurance thing, I saw it quoted here ad nauseum that your original O or OA visa, after expiry was dead, gone, null and void after it had expired. You were only on an extension. Turns out to be, very much not the case.

If you are referring to my case,  I think if you look at my old posts I never once stated I was on an extension. Rather I was still in my 1st year of my Type-OA Visa.  My Type-OA Visa was issued 28-March-2019, and was valid until 27-March-2020.  I last entered Thailand on 29-February-2020, so my 1 year on my Type-OA Visa "permission to stay" started from that point on 29-February-2020 (and my permission to stay is until 27-February-2021). 

I deliberately went to Phuket Immigration today (28-January-2021) which is possibly the 1st day of my 30-days before my permission to stay expires, so to give myself time if things go astray (which they did go astray).

Yes, I did post on my planning in advance for my 1st extension - and to that aim, 'just to be safe', I ensured I had +800K in the bank, and did not rely on only having +400K in the bank.   I feel lucky to have taken that extra precaution (of more money in the bank) just in case, to ensure I still qualified for a 'retirement' Visa financially (and not only rely on the 'marriage' possibility).

21 minutes ago, OJAS said:

But, unless I am mistaken, Phuket had previously been reported on here as not enforcing the mandatory health insurance requirement for those seeking retirement extensions on the basis of original OA visas. If so, then they have clearly now had a change of heart.

Based on what I read on the Phuket Immigration Volunteer website, and consistent with what the Thai Immigration official noted, Phuket do not require Health Insurance for some extensions (on Type-OA visas) dependent on the date of the OA-Visa issue and also on the last date of entry of one into Thailand.  In my case, I did NOT qualify for the Phuket Immigration "Health Insurance" exemption for selected type OA-Visas. ....    I suspect there was no policy change in Phuket immigration, rather those who had obtained extensions (with Type-OA visas) were in a different 'timing' situation wrt their Visa/entry to Thailand - than what I am in. 

8 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

That is not correct. Many people have applied for extension of stay based upon marriage that had a entry from a OA visa.

Just a few odd offices say otherwise. In fact any non immigrant visa entry can be extended based upon marriage.

Indeed - That was my understanding.   I had watched this forum (and watched a facebook page on Thai Visa) reasonably carefully and there were various cases of those on OA Visas who obtained an extension based on marriage (and not on retirement). I did not thou, pay attention if this was their 1st or 2nd (or subsequent extension). The Phuket Immigration official (in the 'retirement section') advised my wife and I that Phuket Immigration would process my application for an extension on my permission to stay (on my Type-OA) based on marriage if it was my 2nd or a subsequent extension. But they would not do so given this was my 1st extension. 

21 hours ago, PDP11 said:

To my surprise, I was refused. This was verified by two separate IOs and their supervisor. The reason given is that since I entered Thailand on an OA (retirement) visa, I need to do the first one year extension of stay based on retirement before I can do subsequent extensions based on marriage. Be warned those that are on their original OA visas.

 

The same happened to me this morning in Phuket - with an extension based on marriage denied up front.   I am also on a Type-OA and married to a Thai woman. This is also my 1st extension on my Type-OA.

I have the +80K in a Thai account since I arrived in Thailand I year ago, but my excellent pension subsidized Health Insurance (which covers both my wife and myself) is not on the Thai approved Health Insurance company list.  My Health Insurance has great coverage and is so inexpensive, it would be a mistake to 'give it up'. So I am now looking for the most inexpensive 'throwaway' health insurance I can get for myself (as a 67-year old) for one-year, so to meet the Thai Health Insurance requirement for a 'retirement' extension. 

My initial attempt today to go for a 1-year extension on my permission to stay in Thailand was denied in Phuket. I tried for an extension based on Marriage (initially denied) and Retirement (also initially denied).

I last entered Thailand on 29-Feb-2020 on a Type-OA visa. I am married with a Thai wife. I have excellent Health Insurance (exceeds the coverage of that on the Thai approved insurance company list) that covers both myself and my wife, is VERY inexpensive as it comes with my pension,  ... but my Health Insurance is not on Thai approved insurance list.

Failed 'Marriage' extension attempt: My Thai wife and I went to room 204 of Phuket Immigration for a 1-year extension based on marriage. I had all paper work, but the Phuket Immigration officials looked at the Visa, stated my permission to stay was based on a Type-OA and they said they would NOT grant an extension based on marriage, and for a Type-OA my extension could ONLY could be done in Phuket based on ‘retirement’. They referred me to room 103 of Phuket immigration where they stated I must ask for an extension based on ‘retirement’. The Immigration Office was very crowded and they immediately gave their attention to the next person in line. 

I have in excess of 80k Thai baht in the bank, so funds already in the bank for retirement extension is not an issue financially for me.

Failed 'Retirement extension Attempt': I went to room 103 of Phuket Immigration. They looked at my permission to stay stamp (entering Phuket on 29-February-2020, with a permission to stay until 27-February-2021) and noted I could only get a retirement extension if I had Health Insurance from the Thai approved list.

When my wife and I noted to this Immigration official (who had more time) we were married and asked why we were then sent to the ‘retirement’ section, the Immigration Official noted in Phuket one can only get an 1-year extension (based on marriage) on their permission to stay in Thailand (if Visa is Type-OA) if this is one’s 2nd extension on a Type-OA Visa. If it is one’s 1st extension (on a Type-OA), as is the case for me, one MUST go for a ‘retirement’ extension’. I did not know that.

Phuket Immigration Type-OA health insurance requirements: Also, in my case, the date of my entry to Thailand (on my Type-OA visa) means for Phuket Immigration I must get Health Insurance from the Thai approved list for a ‘retirement extension’.

This Health Insurance requirement for Phuket immigration (for retirement) is not a surprise to me, as the Phuket Immigration Volunteer site clearly states:

– If the Non-OA visa from your home country is issued in 2018 or later but the last entry date is AFTER 1 October 2019 then the health insurance is IS required for your extension.

From that Phuket Immigration Volunteer site, those with Type-OA Visas who do not require Health Insurance fall under these categories:

– If the Non-OA visa from your home country is issued In or BEFORE 2017 then the health insurance is NOT required for your extension.
– If the Non-OA visa from your home country is issued in 2018 or later but the last entry date is before 1 October 2019 then the health insurance is NOT required for your extension.

I had mistakenly believed I could obtain an extension based on Marriage with my Type-OA as a 1st extension. Turns out I was not correct wrt how Phuket Immigration implements the requirements.

Leaving Thailand and returning (on a different visa), in this pandemic time, is not something I am keen to do at present. So it now appears I will need to purchase Health Insurance for 1-year from the Thai approved list. I have paid no attention to the posts on this, so it appears I have my work cut out ahead of my to research and find an inexpensive (mostly useless) Health Insurance for duplicate health coverage (myself being 67-years old).  I do NOT plan to throw away my current excellent insurance coverage.

This was a surprise. Fortunately my permission to stay is until 27-February-2021 so I have a few weeks to sort this (and purchase throw-away insurance to meet Phuket immigration implementation of Thai requirements).

.

On 6/15/2020 at 1:34 PM, JimGant said:

You didn't say, but is your marriage from abroad? If so, you're heading for a headache. First and foremost, you may not even be able to get a marriage certificate acceptable to Immigration. Why? Your embassy/consulate is probably closed  -- and you need an affidavit from them attesting to the validity of your marriage. Then, this affidavit and your marriage certificate need to be certifiably translated into Thai. Then, a trip to MFA to validate such certified translations. Then, when MFA validates such, you need a trip to your local Amphur, which may want your poo yai baan to accompany you, in order to receive your Kor Ror 22. This is the form you give to Immigration.

 

I also saw this as a big negative factor, but after exchanging posts with some on Thai Visa, I went ahead and successfully did this in December-2019, staying in Phuket the entire time, while the Embassy I needed to certify the marriage (as we were married outside of Thailand) is in Bangkok.  It was mostly a matter of locating a Bangkok based translation office that offers this as a service.  After I provided them power of attorney specific to this paperwork (which was easy to do as they provided the form for me to fill in (which I edited a bit to ensure it was limited to the marriage aspects)), and I couriered to them in Bangkok my foreign marriage paperwork, passport copies and power of attorney. 

They then conducted almost all the points you noted for me as part of their service - i.e. took the marriage certificate to the Embassy and obtained the Embassy certification.  With that now done, as official translators they certifiably translated all the documents to Thai language and took them to the MFA to validate the certified translations.  They then couriered back me the appropriate documents.

The ease of doing the above was a major and pleasant surprise to myself.

My Thai wife and I took the paperwork we received from the translator to our local Amphur in Phuket and we received our Kor Ror 22.  Possibly the only complication/difficult part in this entire process, was the Phuket Amphur we went to, wanted two witnesses also who knew us to be present - so we had to ask a favour of a couple of Thai friends to leave work and come to the Amphur - and sign document as our witnesses.  ... Fortunately we timed it such they only had to be at the Amphur for about 15-minutes (my wife and I were there for a couple of hours - waiting for our turn in line).  It did provide us an excellent excuse to buy our friends lunch that day - so it all worked out very well.

I have yet to go through the other hoops to get an extension on marriage, but it doesn't seem that difficult.  Everyone has a smartphone with a camera, so getting some pictures taken at home are not difficult. Further drawing a map to where we live is not something I also see as difficult.

Immigration is a 15-minute car drive from where my wife and I live, so that also makes it pretty easy for us.

I guess the degree of difficulty all relative - based on one's situation.  I go for my extension (likely based on marriage) in February-2021, so I will find out then as to how difficult this will ultimately be.

On 6/7/2020 at 7:20 PM, KarenBravo said:

Because you are not listening. The O-A visa is only issued in your own country and only for retirement. No other reason.

I plan  to go for my 1-year extension on my 'permission to stay' in Feb-2021, where I have a Type-OA visa issued NOT in my own country of Ireland, but rather issued in Germany where I was a resident for many years.   A 'mute' point but your wording 'own country' is a bit inaccurate.

My understanding is the extension is on one's "permission to stay" (obtained from a Type-O or OA) and NOT on the Visa itself, ergo if applying for a 1 year extension on the "permission to stay", based on marriage, it can be done on a "permission to stay" granted originally on a Type-O or a Type-OA Visa.  (The visa valid date long since expired - you don't extend the Visa - you extend the 'permission to stay' - this is an important point).  It doesn't matter which was the original Visa (Type-O or OA) for extension based on marriage.  There have been posts by people on a "permission to stay" (based on a type-OA visa) who obtained a 1-year extension based on marriage in different Immigration offices in Thailand.  

My understanding also is that in most Immigration offices in Thailand, those applying for a 1-year extension based on retirement on "the permission to stay" (where original Visa was a type-OA), now have to prove Health Insurance from a Thai approved list.  Fortunately for those of us in Phuket, it may be that this Health Insurance requirement is not being enforced.  

I have a Thai spouse (married for 19 years), I have the money for the 1-year 'retirement' extension (but my health insurance is not on the Thai approved list), and I plan to have paperwork ready for both 'marriage' and 'retirement' extensions when I apply for my 1-year extension.  I'm curious to find out what Phuket Immigration will prefer.

On 6/17/2020 at 1:33 PM, sirwilly said:

No Agent , Never used one I have a Thai Partner who came with me .

If one is married to a Thai woman, I have read one does not need the Thai Insurance for a  1-year Marriage extension on a permission to stay associated with a Type-OA visa. 

I've also read/been told the paperwork for the 'marriage extension' greatly exceeds the 'retirement extension' paperwork.  Nobody (?) likes too much paperwork.

Given you have a Thai partner, and since you meet the higher financial requirements for the 'retirement' extension, possibly the Immigration decided rather than fight the extra paperwork (for an extension based on 'marriage'), to simply grant you the 1-year extension based on retirement.   ...  It makes sense to me (to reduce paperwork - when ultimately you likely did qualify for a 1-year extension).    Glad to read it worked for you.

On 6/10/2020 at 10:59 AM, Lost in LOS said:

to anyone who needs the insurance, AA insurance can get you the required insurance up to 99 years old.  Max 0927276427 AA insurance.  Just a FYI post, ask them for details.   Mine adjusted policy will come Monday and i will do a do over, gotta hit the bank again unfortunately but all other info okayed already.  thanks for all your help.  i did try to search it but didn't get the results i was looking for.  

Best of luck in your efforts.

I did not see any mention on this thread (and I may have missed it) of going for a 1-year extension based on marriage - where health insurance is NOT required.

Hence one approach to adopt with an original Type-OA Visa (on which their extension to their permission to stay in Thailand is based) is instead of going for a 1-year extension based on retirement (which has an associated Health Insurance costs on a limited Thai approved list of companies) is instead to go for a 1-year extension based on marriage to a Thai wife.   One does not need to show Health Insurance if one is going for a 1-year extension based on marriage to a Thai wife.

Of course that assumes one is married to a Thai woman. 

My research tells me, and others have pointed out to me, that the paperwork requirements to obtain a 1-year extension based on marriage are significantly greater than the 1-year extension based on retirement - but if means not having to purchase possibly worthless Insurance from a limited # of companies on a Thai approved list, then I believe it to be a valid approach.

I happen to have excellent health Insurance (exceeds the Thai in-patient/out-patient requirements) but because my health insurance company is not on the Thai approved list, it cannot be used for a 1-year extension of the permission to stay (based on a type-OA).  My changing insurance companies would be a major financial mistake.

Hence my nominal plan here in Phuket in February-2021, when I need to apply for an extension, is to apply for a 1-year extension based on marriage - although I continue to monitor reports on this.  Some posts have suggested that for 1-year extension based on retirement (on a Type-OA) that Phuket immigration may not enforce the health insurance requirements - which is an exception to most (all ? ) other immigration offices in Thailand.

My being on a Type-OA non-immigrant Visa, and living in Phuket, I find this thread (wrt Phuket immigration) of applying for a 1-year retirement extension on a Type-OA permission to stay and not having to prove Health Insurance an interesting possibility.  I have superb Health Insurance (covers myself and my Thai wife and exceeds the Thai minimum requirements) but its not on the limited official Thailand health insurance company list for Type-OA visa permission to stay 'retirement' extensions.

My permission to stay in Thailand on my Type-OA is until 27-February-2021 hence sometime in February-2021, I need to apply in the Phuket immigration office for a 1-year extension of my permission to stay in Thailand, either due to 'retirement' or due to 'marriage'.   Last year in December (2019) I went through the effort to register my foreign marriage (almost 20 years ago) to my Thai wife, here in Thailand.  I had planned to apply in February-2021 at the Phuket immigration office for the extension based on 'marriage'.

I'm tempted now, to show up in the Phuket Immigration Office in February-2021, with the paperwork prepared for both possibilities for a 1-year extension on my permission to stay (ie paperwork ready for an extension by 'retirement' with no proof of insurance; and also paper work for an extension by 'marriage').   And then see what Phuket immigration will accept.  Its a bit extra work to prepare paperwork for both possibilities, but having the 'larger' amount of money in the bank (800k) is not an issue - and I am sufficiently curious to be willing to go through the extra hoops to have paperwork for both possibilities. 

Its all very interesting.