oldcpu

1 hour ago, vincent13 said:

A similar thing happened to a friend of mine returning through Phuket in early February - no health insurance so they only stamped him in for 30 days. He eventually did a border crossing and re-entry at Nong Khai to get the 12 month stamp.

Its interesting that there were 2 different approaches only a few weeks apart (him arriving early February and having an issue, and myself arriving 29-February with no issue).  

When I arrived Phuket airport, there was a massive line in the airport for foreigners to go through immigration (I venture a 30-minute or longer wait).  My Thai wife noted there was practically no one at the Thai citizen line.  So she grabbed me and we both went through the Thai citizen line almost together ... her first and after she completed she pointed me (next in line) to the IO and stated I was her husband.  There was no one (in the Thai line) waiting behind me.  He then waved me to him, and he processed my Type-OA Visa entry correctly (stamping me for a one year permission to stay). He did not mention health insurance at all.

I was fortunate to both pass the massive foreigner line, and also have my entry (permission to stay) stamped correctly.

I was a bit concerned going through the 'Thai' line might mean the Immigration official in the Thai line would not know the foreigner Visa details, but the IO processed my Type-OA visa quickly and professionally (best that I could observe).

21 hours ago, oldcpu said:

I nominally plan to make this single-re-entry application tomorrow.

As I noted in my quote, I went to Thai immigration in Phuket today and successfully obtained a Single Re-Entry permit on my "Permission to Stay" (from my Type-OA Visa).  I needed the "Re-entry permit" as I will be outside Thailand when my Type-OA valid until date comes and goes.

I had social commitments early in the morning so I could not make it to Thai Immigration in Phuket until 10:30am.   It was packed, with over 70-people in line or waiting.

Having typed that, I was in and out in less than 40-minutes, and the Phuket Immigration staff/officials were incredibly polite.  Given the stress of handling so many people, I was most impressed with their attitude. 

I note I was shaved, neatly dressed, and wearing a yellow shirt with Royal Family emblem on the pocket.  I don't know if that made a difference, but I figure it does not hurt to be both polite and neatly dressed when at Immigration.

====

As an aside, over 1/2 the foreign people at immigration were Chinese.  I speculate many were trying to get extensions on their permission to stay in Thailand, due to complications in their returning to China.  It must be expensive for them to scramble and find a place to stay in Thailand when going back to China not as straightforward as they may wish.

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

This site has a list of all companies with links to their websites.

https://longstay.tgia.org/home/companiesoa

My hope is someday in the future, that list is expanded.  There are many good International (and non-Thai government) health insurances available, which are not yet on that list.  Unfortunately I have not read anything yet that suggests an expansion in the future is likely ...

I wonder to myself, why the list is relatively short - but perhaps that is because this Thailand immigration Type-OA Health Insurance requirement is all relatively new. 

9 minutes ago, Peter Denis said:

A Visa is your 'entry-ticket', which will provide you with a permission to stay.  When that permission to stay almost expires, you can apply for an extension of stay based on that Visa. 

Indeed, I find this observation on the terminology very important and salient, when trying to understand some of the details of the Visa, the different Extension justifications, and the permission to stay process (together with re-entries and other immigration aspects).

3 hours ago, Peter Denis said:

You will have ZERO issues when re-entering Thailand before your permission to stay date of 27 Feb 2021 expires.

The Single Re-Entry Permit you intend to buy before exiting, will keep that permission to stay 'alive' - after re-entry the Permit will be void because used.

I have elected to apply (tomorrow) for a single re-entry on my 'permission to stay' (for each visit outside of Thailand), as opposed to a multiple re-entry (on my permission to stay), even thou I have 4 trips planned outside of Thailand between now and 27-Feb-2021 when my permission to stay expires.  This will keep the 'door open' for me to 'void' my Type-OA if at any time Thai immigration rules change, making the Type-O more suitable for my case.   Fortunately for me, the local Thai immigration office is only a 15-minute auto drive away.

As posted in other threads, my current plan in February-2021 is to apply for a 1-year extension based on marriage (to a Thai woman) with my Type-OA visa permission to stay ... but between now and February-2021 I will continue to read the experiences of anyone else with similar circumstances to myself (Type-OA 1-year extension based on marriage and Health Insurance NOT on the relatively limited Thai 'approved' list).  If that 'remain on Type-OA' approach of mine needs to suddenly change, then I will have an easy option to leave the country to change to a Type-O (on one of my 4 trips outside Thailand).

Originally, I had planned to leave Thailand in February-2021 to go downhill ski in a colder climate, but I think I will move that ski trip up to January-2021, and instead stick around Thailand in February-2021 so to better process my 1-year extension application.

17 hours ago, Mr Smithy said:

You will note that a re-entry permit is not restricted by other than its expiry date which is the same as your permission to stay expiry date

Thanks.  That is good to read.  I nominally plan to make this single-re-entry application tomorrow.

I had a successful entry today 29-Feb-2020 on a Valid type-OA visa (issued 28-March-2019 and valid until 27-March-2020) at Phuket airport immigration.  I was with my Thai wife and we went through the Thai citizen line.  There was no mention of Health Insurance (nor did I expect any as my understanding is only when one goes for an extension of a Type-OA visa  based on retirement is such Health Insurance proof required).   This was the 1st time in which I left Thailand and returned on a valid Type-OA visa.

My passport was stamped with a permission to stay until 27-February-2021 (which was the approximate date expected).

A likely 'mute' comment of mine, ... in the TM-6 under "Purpose of Visit", I entered "RETIRED WITH THAI WIFE".  I suspect that wording made no difference.  I do note in February-2021, I currently plan to apply for a 1-year extension based on 'marriage'.   While I have excellent health insurance (superb coverage for both my Thai wife and myself) it is not on the Thai approved health insurance company list for foreigners applying for extensions (on a Type-OA Visa) based on retirement.

I plan to leave Thailand mid-March-2020 for 1-month, and I will be out of Thailand when my Type-OA visa "valid until date of 27-March-2020" expires.  Hence either next week, or the following week, before I leave Thailand for a month, I plan to go to Thai immigration in Phuket and apply for a 'single re-entry' permit on my 27-February-2021 permission to stay.  Hopefully by obtaining that re-entry permit, I will have in issue when returning to Thailand in mid-April-2020.

The single re-entry permit requires one to specify specific date of planned departure and date of planned arrival.  I know my dates (as flights are booked) but I am a bit concerned the CoronaVirus could affect my flights.  When leaving Thailand back in February, we had a last minute flight change by Cathay Pacific, and I figure there is a risk I could end up leaving Thailand or returning to Thailand, on a different date than that specified in my re-entry permit application.  Hopefully that does not cause an issue.   I could go for a multiple re-entry, but if I did that it would make it more difficult for me to change from a Type-OA to a Type-O visa, if I should ever decide to do such.

I debated on whether to post the above, is the above is all as expected ....  But I decided to do so, as it can be good to have posts confirming things are working the way expected.

I am headed to Canada and New Zealand in the very near future, so for voice call functionality, I installed the "DTAC CALL" application.  DTAC have an english language page here which describes the package.

It works with those who have a DTAC sim already in their phone.  When abroad, and when one is under WiFi coverage, one can phone Thailand at local Thai rates, and receive voice calls from Thailand at local Thai rates.  This appears highly useful.

I set up the package (here in Phuket) on my Xiaomi Mi-8 smartphone.   I tried some local calls going out via the DTAC wifi package (ie called out via wifi) to a regular Thai phone number and it worked.  I was also able (over wifi) to receive a call on my phone.  In my test I put my phone into Airplane mode, and re-enabled ONLY wifi - so I am pretty confident the calls came in / went out over wifi.  The Android "DTAC Call" app also indicated that was the case.

It was initially a bit tricky for me to receive calls (via wifi) when the app was running in the background. I eventually discovered I had to turn ON popup permissions for the DTAC Call app, after which I was able to receive calls over wifi (when someone called my wifi number).

In my view, this DTAC Call app is a very useful addition to apps such as WhatsApp and Line, as the DTAC call app uses one's regular Thai mobile phone number at local Thai rates.

I'll find out soon (when in Canada and New Zealand) how this still works when abroad.

1 hour ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

It was never recommended. It was mentioned once as a possibility under consideration at a very early consideration point in the government process, but obviously, was never enacted.

I never kept the links, with the information on this, which I regret.  My recollection (fuzzy at best) was that the acceptance of international foreign insurance, and the acceptance of health insurance (ie the details and guidelines pertaining to the amendment to be sent to the Thai Cabinet) were jointly formulated by the Public Health Ministry, the Foreign Ministry, the Interior Ministry, the Immigration Bureau, the Office of Insurance Commission, the Thai General Insurance Association, and the Thai Life Assurance Association.    The Cabinet decision after reviwing recommendation, was much more general.

I recall after the Cabinet decision (and this was a link I could still find) that the Thai Health Services Secretary General when commenting on the new regulations, suggested that higher bank deposits may be required for foreigners who cannot purchase health insurance.  My reference: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2019/05/14/health-insurance-foreigners-thailand-thai-government-visa-retirement-compulsory-foreign-men/  and from that article I quote:
 

Of course this is 'water under the bridge', but IMHO it illustrates the potential need for self-insurance was given some thought in Thailand government circles, albeit clearly not followed through ....  and the possibility for having it (self insurance) regulated under Insurance Company (or other organisation) contracts could have been (and I think still could be) explored further.

1 hour ago, JustAnotherHun said:

TallGuyJohninBKK

 I'm on retirement extension O and will stay on that. But I expect that one day in (near) future they'll ask for their silly insurance on this status of stay too. So wait and see.

My hope is with time, the Thai immigration improves their verification process for Health Insurance, such that they accept both superior International Health Insurance (that meets the intent of their Thailand requirements) and also accept superior self Health Insurance (that also needs to meet their Thailand requirements).

I do believe there are ways to do that, that

 - benefits Thai immigration (ie no extra work to speak of),

 - benefits the Thai Hospitals (provides the more expensive private hospitals with patients to help support expensive hospital facilities, giving them additional income),

 - benefits the Insurance companies (providing additional means for revenue via Self Health insurance administered by Insurance companies, and giving the insurance companies additional income), and

 - benefits those under the hopefully then accepted International Health Insurance (including superior foreign Government insurance) and

 - benefits those self insured (with self insurance administered formally by an Insurance company). 

Unfortunately that is not in place today - but possibly if what I believe is a 'win-win' route is mentioned enough times, it will (if viable) be considered for adoption, improved as required and implemented.   I do believe / recall the Thai ministry of health recommended self health insurance and foreign insurance be allowed - it just was not adopted by the Thai immigration.   Of course like others I am somewhat skeptical that such an improvement can take place, but I don't want to give up on pushing the idea just because I am skeptical.

2 hours ago, Pib said:

Personally, I seriously doubt the Thai govt will allow self-insurance as usually that's just a person's excuse for "I'll worry about that later, I'll find some way to pay or someone to pay for me, maybe start a GoFundMe page."   Plus, I seriously doubt the govt wants to set up any program were a person could place a bond/locked deposit with the govt of X-amount to cover medical requirements....that's just problem prone and manpower intensive to setup. 

If setup right, there should be no additional work needed by Thai government.  If setup right, Thai Immigration will receive from the self insured foreigner BOTH a certified Thai document (filled in by Insurance company) that the adequate self Health Insurance is in place, and the Insurance company can enter such in the Thai immigration database, just like takes place currently for Health Insurance on the Thai list.

The insurance company offering such would need to be paid some TBD annual fee (10,000 baht?) and they also would have a large amount of money from the foreigner in bond, although it would be a debit on their ledgers.

And I have heard that such self insurance does exist elsewhere in the world, where it is formally implemented.  I've read internationally this is not something new.  I don't know what the typical annual fee is elsewhere (for administering such a self insurance) and I would be curious.

So this is not a revolutionary idea.  Self Insurance was also recommended (albeit not in such detail as I proposed above) by the Thai Department of Health.  That thou was not picked up by the Thai immigration for implementation. 

I do believe if a sufficient sized bond (1-million ? 2-million? and sufficient annual 'fee') was set, that such a compromise approach could be found that would benefit Thai hospitals, benefit Thai government, benefit Insurance companies, and benefit the self insured.

Unfortunately, almost like yourself, I too border on the verge of being skeptical that it will ever be adopted.  Still - I try to be positive here.

My understanding is that for the initial Type-OA visa application at the Embassy, if you get the Thai government form "foreign insurance certificate" completed, then foreign embassy's will accept that for a Type-OA visa (and one can gain entry to Thailand per Type-OA visa 'privileges').  

However, and this IMHO is the big catch, ... when it comes time in a couple of years to go for an extension of the 'permission to stay' based on one's Type-OA visa (and based on retirement), that the Thailand immigration offices will NOT accept a German private health insurance, even thou it meets all the criteria you noted. 

Currently when in Thailand to obtain an extension of the permission to stay (based on retirement), on a Type-OA visa, one must select an insurance company from the Thai approved insurance company list.  Ergo by going for a Type-OA now, one 'might' be in some 'pain' later when its time to apply for an extension.  Superior international insurance not on the Thai approved list will not be accepted by Thai immigration at present (when applying for an Extension of the permission to stay). 

My hope is in the future, the Thai proof Health Insurance criteria will be improved, but there is no indication of that yet.

You may in the long run, find it easier to apply for a Type-O Visa at your Embassy (if allowed), and then once in Thailand (if not done already) immediately setup finances/banking, such that you can then later apply for an extension on your Type-O visa, based on retirement.  Currently applications for a Type-O Visa  and applications for permissions to stay (based on an original Type-O Visa) do not require proof of Health Insurance.

If I have any of the above wrong, hopefully other Thai visa forum members will correct me.

51 minutes ago, Pib said:

For me, I'm currently on an O-A retirement extension of stay good to later this year.  Come extension time I'm either going to switch to a "marriage" extension of stay since I have one each Thai wife for many decades....and I confirmed face-to-face with a CW immigration officer a few weeks ago insurance would not be required with a OA marriage extension of stay....OR, I'm just going to dump the OA by doing a border run without reentry permit to kill-off the OA and then do an Exempt to Non-O conversion at CW.  ...

 

I am in similar situation with a Type-OA visa and a Thai wife, albeit not yet on my 1st extension.  My current OA is still valid until end-next month.  I have some trips in/out of the country planned/upcoming during the 1st year of my 'permission to stay' on my Type-OA and if necessary I could use one of those to cancel my 'permission to stay' and then attempt a re-entry to Thailand on a 30-day-Visa exempt, followed by a Type-O visa application, followed by a one-year extension justified by marriage on the Type-O visa.   I hope it does not come to that - and I plan to see how long I can keep my Type-OA visa for (with future extensions based on marriage).

I read that the Thailand Health Insurance implementation affecting the "Type-OA" visa applicants/holders/extensions, was to be a trial, and I'm hoping in the future (as part of the "trial" assessment) that the Health Insurance verification criteria is improved, to assist both Thailand and those who already have excellent health insurance and those with adequate funds for self insurance.  I believe there are excellent ways to do such that are not difficult and would benefit Thailand , but who knows?  ... I guess time will tell.

32 minutes ago, elviajero said:

You can't get a Non O-A based on marriage. It's for over 50's and now requires insurance. If the OP can meet the O-A financials and is happy to pay for insurance, I agree that it's a good option.

Indeed I stand corrected. 

I just now (after reading yuor post) checked the website for the German consulate where I obtained my Type-OA based on retirement in March-2019, and its been updated.  When I applied in March-2019 they suggested then I go for a Visa based on Marriage (as I have a Thai wife, and money requirements were less), but money was not an issue so I stayed with the Type-OA based on 'retirement', which I obtained (I am over 50).  Also, my marriage was not then, registered in Thailand, and that presented a complication for me (wrt a Visa based on marriage).

But checking their website now (  https://thaigeneralkonsulat.de/de/visaangelegenheiten.html ), its been updated, and I see they only list "retirement" as the rationale for a Type-OA visa (which has the insurance proof requirements), and if one wishes to use 'marriage'  as a rationale, then one must go for the Type-O. 

Ergo as you point out, Type-O is the approach to adopt, if one does not wish to be forced to select an insurance company from the rather restricted Thai 'approved' insurance company list.  My experience is few International Insurance companies will agree to fill in the Thai Foreign Insurance Certificate form.

.

2 hours ago, elviajero said:

As you’re married the best option would be to get a Single Entry O visa while in Europe. That should be easier than getting one in-country when you return.

I am not convinced that is the OP's best option.

My understanding is if married to a Thai, then there is no need to prove health insurance (although I happen to believe health insurance a good idea). 

A single Entry O will not go for 1 year (one will need an extension).  However a Type-OA based on marriage, will give one almost 2 years, if one times a short departure/re-entry to Thailand just around the Type-OA visa expiry date.  Again, this is a Type-OA based on marriage (and where any subsequent extension will be based on marriage) and not based on retirement.

On 1/4/2020 at 10:27 AM, recom273 said:

BKK bank are the worst, they need a document from the embassy.
 

https://www.bangkokbank.com/en/Personal/Save-And-Invest/Save/Savings-Account

Bangkok Bank the worst?  I beg to disagree.

I tried various banks (in Phuket) and Bangkok bank was the one that worked for me.

I did NOT need any document from the Embassy.  For certain I did not need such. 

This was back in 2016, and I actually opened an account with a Bangkok Bank branch when on a Tourist Visa Exempt stamp (30 day) on my passport.  But I was careful as to the branch I selected, and I had my Thai wife with me to assist in the translation.  I had with me:

• paper from immigration noting my planned Thailand residence (paper only valid for 30 days) , which was also where I was staying at the time
• my passport
   

I noted I was about to buy a condo, and planned to transfer a significant amount of money to their bank (as part of that condo purchase) so maybe that helped.

2 hours ago, billsmart said:

I have proposed the "self insure" option to over 40 insurance companies in the form of a method that is used in the USA. It's called a "surety bond in lieu of insurance." Without going into all the details, it would amount to your having to deposit THB440K in a year-long bond, like with an insurance company or a government agency, and then use that money to pay any health bills during the year. If it was with an insurance company, you could file claims and they would just pay them out of your money, not theirs. At the end of the year and to renew your bond, you'd have to replenish it back up to the THB440K. If you were to die, or at the end of the year not renew, the remainder in the account would be refunded to you or your beneficiary. Of course the insurance company or other agency would charge you a fees for all of this, but it should come out much less than paying an insurance policy if you are 70 or more. Also, this could be used by people of any age and with any kind of medical history.

I like this idea/method, for those who don't already have good health insurance, and need to find a form of Insurance to satisfy Thailand's concerns, where some may find the Insurance company's on the Thai insurance list are not appropriate (either due to monthly cost, or due to a failure to sufficiently cover one or a refusal to cover one). 

I did not know it existed in the USA.

Presumably the Insurance company has a TBD managerial fee that it charges its clients (every year) who adopt this plan?

Hopefully such could be considered as an alternative in a future Thailand update (???) to their present acceptable Health Insurance list.

My view in the far south of Phuket (Kao Khad beach / Ao Yon beach (both junior/senior)) is that November and December-2019, including the Christmas week up to New Years, it was very very quiet.  Many restaurants I visited were empty or only a few customers at meal time.  Almost like the low season. 

Then in January 2020 it picked up significantly, with more typical high season numbers.   The beaches had more people.  The restaurants while not 100% full, had a reasonable number of people. One difference thou, the number of Chinese tourists in January-2020 is significantly less than I remember from the past few years, and instead there are many "caucasian" tourists (many with East European accents).   There are still many Chinese tourists, but they don't outnumber the other nationalities here like they have in the past. 

So I think here in the far south, for January-2020 that there has been a demographic (?) shift, and also a very weak November/December-2019 for tourist revenue.

20 hours ago, SEtonal said:

I believe it has been proposed that those who do not qualify for insurance would be allowed to self insure.

I read the Health Insurance for Type-OA (based on retirement) is nominally a 'trial'. 

My hope that is IF this Health Insurance is sometime in the future applied to other Visas, then the 'lessons learned' from the Type-OA (based on retirement) will be applied. Aspects I think would benefit Thailand and the Thai hospitals (and the Visa holders) would be to accept:

• superior International Health Insurance (including foreign government health insurance) not on the Thai approved list (coming up with a good verification method for Thai immigration by drawing on private Thai hospitals expertise) 
• self insurance for those who have the money to afford self insurance, using a TBD large amount deposited in a Bank fixed account, with conditions applied to allow Thai hospitals to access if the insured is invalid in a hospital.  This would benefit those who are at an age where private insurance is outrageously expensive, and having saved over the years they have sufficient money to afford self insurance.

At the moment thou, it reads that the Type-O Visa for retirement, or Type-OA (based on marriage with a Thai spouse) are acceptable workarounds wrt providing proof of Health Insurance.

wrt Health Insurance costs increasing as one goes older, I read the following (but I have no 1st hand experience on this increase as I have been on same international Health Insurance plan since age-51 (I am now 66)): 

Common age ranges are from 61 to 65, 66 to 70, 71 to 75, 76 to 80 and 81 to 85. Under this scenario, premiums would be the same for a 61 and 65 year old, only increasing at age 66 when you move into the next age bracket (some provider’s, however, will increase your rates every year). The most drastic price increases usually occur at ages 71, 76, 81 and 86.

32 minutes ago, moontang said:

Why not just get an O?

Because I already have an OA and meet the OA requirements (marriage).

9 hours ago, Martyp said:

...  I am not sure if Immigration at the airport will want to see an insurance certificate during this final permission to stay period. I don’t think so but you may be questioned about it depending on the Immigration officer.

IMHO that is a a good question - my guess is it depends on the IO familiarity with the rules.    I can find no detail based on my Type-OA visa (which expires 27-March-2020) that states it is based on 'retirement'.   Rather, I think it is the 'extension' stamps, that say based on 'retirement' or based on 'marriage'. 

Most of the documents (translations) that I have read about the Type-OA health insurance requirement, note it is a requirement for Type-OA based on 'retirement' and not on 'marriage'.

Ergo, for my case, I moved possibly quicker than need be, and today had my 2001 foreign marriage to my Thai wife, registered now in Thailand (and I now have a Kor 22).  I plan to bring either this Kor 22 document, or a copy of this document, with me each time I leave and re-enter Thailand (entering Thailand either on my original Type-OA or entering on a re-entry permit on my permission to stay in my 1st year permission to stay) such that if queried about Health Insurance by an IO, I can point out my stay in Thailand is to be based on 'marriage' and not on 'retirement'.  

I do have superior Health Insurance (that covers both myself and my Thai wife for the better Thai hospitals) but unfortunately being an International Insurance it is not on the Thai Health Insurance list.  Hence I've elected to go the 'marriage' route.

On 12/24/2019 at 1:53 PM, ubonjoe said:

A trip to a translator would be all you would need to do if you paid them to handle the certification at Consular Affairs Department of the MFA (the MFA is located elsewhere) and mail it to you. The consular affairs will mail the to you as well.

Info is here: http://www.consular.go.th/main/th/services/6441/71860-ขั้นตอนการรับรองนิติกรณ์เอกสาร---Legalization-Proc.html

You should check with the Canadian Embassy about the legalization.

Thanks ubonjoe, and just a follow up to conclude my involvement here.

I obtained my (Thai wife and my) Kor 22 today.

You are correct, and it was as you noted.  

We have a Phuket friend (Thai) who is a translator, and she referred us to a Bangkok translation office that she uses when she needs documents dynamically translated in Bangkok, and when she does not want to go to Bangkok herself to handle affairs. 

We contacted the Bangkok translation office she recommended, provided them limited power of attorney for our marriage documents, and sent them our original marriage certificate plus copies of my passport and wife ID.  They went to Canadian Embassy on our behalf, and had copy of marriage certificate certified.   Prior to this, per your suggestion, I contacted the Canadian Embassy and confirmed the Embassy would accept this approach.

The Bangkok translation service then translated my passport to Thai and translated the marriage certificate to Thai, took those documents to the MFA and had the translation of the marriage certificate certified. 

The documents were all mailed back to us, it arrived in Phuket on Saturday 11-January-2020, and today 13-January-2020 we went to the local Phuket government office with the necessary paperwork (certified marriage certificate copy, certified translation of marriage certificate, my wife's blue book (residence info), my passport, my wife's ID, and two witnesses (who have known us for years)) and had our marriage registered.  

We now have a Kor 22 proving my marriage for Thailand purposes.

This was a LOT of work for everyone (my wife, translator, Canadian Embassy, Bangkok MFA, and Phuket government office) just because my superior Health Insurance is not on the Thai health insurance list.  Maybe someday in future years, a means of Thailand being able to easily prove adequate international insurance will be implemented.  But for now, for me, the 'marriage' route (given I've been married since 2001) appears to be the best route to go.

.

23 hours ago, Eibot said:

Also, maintaining a bank account outside of Thailand seem to be difficult. It's impossible in the UK, nor can I open one in The Netherlands without having an adress.

Further to my above post (and others about Transferwise and N26) here is a page that notes some of the various online "virtual" banking that is possible in todays day and age:  https://www.goodbyebanks.com/best-virtual-banks/

23 hours ago, Eibot said:

Also, maintaining a bank account outside of Thailand seem to be difficult. It's impossible in the UK, nor can I open one in The Netherlands without having an adress.

This can be daunting, until one learns what is available.

Some German banks allow international addresses, which is what I use.

Further, there are online accounts you can get in Europe (for use after you move to Thailand), which do provide many of the money transfer functions that you may want if you decide to move to Thailand.

For example Transferwise borderless account (  https://transferwise.com/ ) .  You need to initially open up this account from UK, Europe, USA, Australia or New Zealand.  ie open it up BEFORE you move to Thailand.  All transactions can be done online.  If you go for the Transferwise credit card, I do recommend thou you have a friend's address in either UK, Europe, USA, Australia or New Zealand, in case the card needs to be cancelled/resent, as they can only send the card to one of those countries.  Also a caution:  Transferwise is not a bank, so the amount in the account is not insured.

Another account to consider (instead of TransferWise) is N26 ( https://n26.com/en-eu )  .  I have not used this account myself, but I am told it has the additional advantage that it is a German registered bank, and hence funds insured up to a certain amount.  Edit:  N26 may require European residency be maintained < not sure > so this should be checked into.  I think maximum of 18-months residency outside of Europe.

Both accounts allow money to be transferred internationally at competitive low fees.

On 1/10/2020 at 11:41 AM, ubonjoe said:

1. You will get a under consideration stamp with a report back date 30 days from the date you current permit to stay ends. On that day is when you will get one year extension stamp.

2. You could get a single re-entry permit for a the under consideration period that will be valid for entry up to that day.

Then after you get your one year extension stamp you could apply for a multiple re-entry permit.

An interesting thread to me, as next year when it comes time (in February-2021) for me to apply for my 1st extension of stay (based on marriage on an original type-OA visa), I also want to be out of Thailand for 2 to 3 weeks, so I need to both plan my travel dates and carefully plan the dates in which I visit immigration for my Visa extension.

This year I plan to re-enter Thailand on 29-February-2020 (on a type OA that expires in March-2020), so I hope to be given a permission to stay until 28-February-2021.   I will in early March-2020 apply for a multiple re-entry on that permission to stay.  I have various international travel planned this year (2020).

Next year (2021), I want to be away for 2 to 3 weeks in February-2021 (possibly from 3-to-24-Feb-2021, or possibly from 10-Feb to 3-March-2021, all +/- a few days - as my dates are approximate).

So next year I may end up needing to apply for the permission to stay Extension on my Type-OA in early February-2021, then immediately apply for a single re-entry stamp on the 'under consideration stamp', followed by immediately leaving Thailand and returning in time for the 30-day report back date. 

Since I will be flying overseas, I will need to book flights well in advance and have this well planned out. 

Tidbits such as I am learning in this thread are highly useful to my planning.