oldcpu

17 hours ago, Jack1988 said:

thai womens only see foreigner like an opportunity to take as much money they can from him, is nothing new in thailand

Perhaps ... but not for all.

I had the 22nd anniversary with my Thai wife a few days ago.  I have to keep reminding myself how lucky I am.

Like myself, while we were married (before us moving back to Thailand), she was an engineer in Europe, earning an engineers salary. She did not need to live with me for money - she had and has more than enough of her own money.

I hope that you eventually have the good fortunate like myself, to meet a Thai women who can see you for your qualities other your money.  In my case my wife has more than enough of her own money and my money is IMHO not relatively large enough to be a factor for her sticking around with me.

20 hours ago, Moonlover said:

You're being naive. Agents pay a portion of their fee to the IO.

 

Not always. 

If one fully meets the requirements then I doubt there is any payment to the IO. 

In such a case, for strictly the extension of one's permission to stay, the agent is given legal power of attorney and everything is 100% legal in that case and by the book. No bribes. Nothing illegal. 

One simply pays the agent such that one does not have to sit around the Immigration office, and one does not have to research to see if any new documents needed.  The agent does most of the work, all for a fee.

Would I ever go for an agent?  Highly unlikely.  I'm too cheap.   I would rather spend the money elsewhere. 

But as I posted already, there are those, with the money, who do not have my patience when it comes to the renewal of their permission to stay and they will happily pay an agent so they don't have to be bothered.

.

5 hours ago, jaxon said:

 

Many people have alluded to the fact that a Type O extension based on marriage requires far more paperwork than one based on retirement.  And, from what I can gather, a one month "under consideration" period plus some home photos.  I am wondering what is the main extra paperwork that is required, and is it really that onerous.  Are these mainly Thai forms which I would need to sign ?   

 

The paperwork?

For the first extension, its mostly paper work proving one is married.   If married not in Thailand (to one's Thai spouse) then there is a lot of official translations ($$)  and certifications needed of one's foreign marriage documents (and even foreign passport) to take in Bangkok to one's embassy (for certification) and to Thai foreign affairs (for certification) followed by taking to one's local city hall, to have the marriage registered in Thailand and obtain the Kor-22 (?).    And after obtaining this, do NOT lose it ... its a pain to do again.

Then every year, prior to going for the extension for the permission to stay in Thailand, some (all ? ) immigration offices require one go back to City Hall to have the Kor-22 (?) marriage registration document in Thailand updated (with a current date stamp).  Dependent on the City Hall, this could mean hours waiting.  Some immigration offices may not require this, but some do require this, every year.

One also needs to have paper copies with images of one's wife's current ID for each extension of the permission to stay.  Some offices require images of one with their wife (1) inside their home (2) outside their home where their house (or condo) # is visible. In the case of a condo it could be 2 images (not just one by the entrance), with one by the door to their unit, and one by the condo entrance.  Some immigration offices insist it be new image(s) (by one's home with one's wife) every year (as opposed to continually using the same image).   I think some Immigration offices might require one's wife accompany one as part of the extension (of one's permission to stay) process.

Also some (not all) immigration offices require that one be at home with one's wife for a house visit, where  one or more immigration officers will come to one's home, and want to take images of one with their wife in all sorts of rooms in one's home.

That is what comes to my mind off of the top of my head - maybe others know of other items that I forgot while typing this.

I did not find it too onerous, but it was definitely more than what was needed for retirement.  However I do believe there are those who would have ZERO patience for all of that, every time a renewal is required.  I know my wife was irritated by the process ... and "a happy wife is a happy life" ... but an upset wife makes one's life less than pleasant at times.

....  What I found most unpleasant, was that the annual extension for one's permission to stay, based on marriage, took weeks waiting for the approval, as opposed to days in the case of a retirement extension.

On 12/19/2023 at 2:17 AM, still kicking said:

 I have lived in Thailand for many years but a few years I moved back . So, my Thai wife of 20 years ask if I would like to move back to Thailand. I would have enough money to deposit into a Thai bank. Even so I am married would it be better to apply for a retirement visa since I have not the required income to apply for a married visa.

As noted there are two types of Visas to consider: Type-OA and Type-O (with permissions of stay in Thailand can be based on retirement or based on marriage).

If you obtain permission to stay (in the Visa application and subsequent extensions) based on marriage, you do not need to worry about being forced to get health insurance from the Thai branch of a health insurance company.

A type-O visa has (IMHO) the advantage that if one wishes to go for a 'permission to stay' based on retirement, there is no Health Insurance requirement (from a health insurance company Thai branch).  This is contrary to a Type-OA which has a health insurance requirement for extensions based on retirement.

Note:  A retirement extension is more expensive in terms of proof of funds than a marriage extension:  An extension of one's permission to stay in Thailand requires more proof of funds for an extension based on retirement, as opposed to when on an extension based on marriage.

The advantages to an extension based on retirement (over marriage) is that there is far less paperwork (and IMHO less hassle, and its quicker to obtain) and it if based on an underlying Type-O visa, no health insurance proof needed.

The advantage to an extension based on marriage (over retirement) is that one needs less proof of money (than that of a retirement extension) and in the case of a Type-OA underlying visa, there is no Health Insurance proof needed for an extension based on marriage.

I would recommend going for a Type-O based on retirement if you can prove the funds.  And if you don't want to meet the financial requirements (for retirement) then I still recommend a Type-O (but instead based on marriage). This way if something should happen to your wife, or something happen to your relationship with your wife, you can more easily (at your annual renewal) switch to a permission to stay extension based on retirement (assuming you can then meet the increased financial requirements of a retirement extension over a marriage extension).  

If you were on a Type-OA (based on marriage) and you were suddenly no longer married, you would be faced with the Health Insurance requirements from the Thai branch of a health insurance company, which could be disruptive to one's current health coverage setup.  The Type-O visa avoids such a potential future possibility.

4 hours ago, Pilot3Boz said:

Why use an agent if you have the funds in the bank??

While I agree (or at least when I was on a Type-OA and a Type-O agreed) that if one meets the requirements (via funds) there is no need for an agent ... and I have NEVER used an agent myself, ...  I do have friends who have lived in Thailand for years, who have more than adequate finances to meet the extension of the permission to stay requirements, and they ALWAYS use an agent.

Simply put, they are in their late-70s, they detest sitting around at immigration, and an agent is far far less hassle for them, and the amount of money they spend for an agent is trivial for them.  Their tolerance for any hassle is FAR FAR less than mine.  When they fly somewhere, they fly business class. Why? Because the extra money from economy to business is trivial for them.

Again,  if I was still on a type-O or a type0A visa myself, I would NOT use an agent, but the point is I do know some who think different than myself, for reasons that are very logical for them. 

Not everyone uses an agent because they can't meet the financial requirements.

12 hours ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

 

I remember you doing your first extension from an O visa, your second extension should be due soon I think ?, would be interested to hear if you have another home visit ( video call or otherwise ).

Likely no more home visits (nor home videos) for myself for a decade or so.  As soon as I obtained the one-year extension on my 90-day Type-O Visa (for reason of retirement), I then immediately applied for an LTR-WP visa.  

I waited until I had the approval of the one year extension on my Type-O permission to stay (for reason of retirement), before applying for the LTR-WP, so that I would not stress over my LTR-WP application if it was slow in getting approved. That turned out to be a fortuitous approach, as it took me 5-months to get the LTR-WP, most likely because my assets are very very diverse, because I had to buy some government bonds to reach the necessary investment in Thailand, and because BoI wanted an up to date Canadian taxation document - where that took me some time to get.

One thing I like about the LTR-WP (as opposed to the old Type-OA retirement extensions) is that the LTR-WP allows self Health Insurance by having a certain amount of money in a bank anywhere in the world.

12 hours ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

So far I have had a visit for 1st retirement extension, today another one for the 2nd extension and i also had a surprise visit ( it was a surprise because they just showed up saying they had called me, no record on my phone ! ) around 6 months ago. 
 

See what happens in June 2024 !!

 Wow ... just showing up.  That would work for me (for retirement) if only I had to be in the condo when they (immigration) showed up.  But if it was for 'marriage' extension, trying to pick a time (other than early morning or evening) when both my wife and I are in my condo would be very hit and miss.

Fortunately, with LTR-WP, most of those paperwork days are gone for another 4.5+ years for myself.   However when the 10-years of the LTR-WP are up, I might go back to a Type-O visa, if it is still around, and if the conditions/requirements have not changed.

First time I obtained a 1 year extension (retirement) on my permission to stay on a Type-OA Visa, at Phuket immigration, the IO stated they would call at my condo unit for a visit.  Even thou this was a retirement extension, my Thai wife happened to be with me, and she also gave the IO her #.  

In the next couple of months we were called twice by immigration. Both times we were out of province. They never did visit in the end.

Then a couple of years later, when I switched to to a 1-year extension on my permission to stay (on that Type-OA) visa, but this time for reason of retirement.  Again, they stated they would do a house visit. And again when they called, I was out of province, and in the end they never did visit.

Later (by leaving the country) I switched to a Type-O visa (for reason of retirement), and on this occasion, they asked for my Thai phone # and setup a Line (social media) video appointment, a few days later - with instructions that I had to be in my condo during the call.  I then had to video chat with them with my phone set to a selfie mode, and they wanted to see me in my condo, see me by the entrance to my condo (where condo # visible) and also see me at the entrance to the condo complex (where # visible).  So I had to walk around a bit during the call.  And again, this was for a retirement permission to stay extension.

I highly suspect this is both Immigration office specific, and may be even specific to the IO on duty when when one does their application.   I am not convinced there is a hard fast consistent practice.

6 hours ago, jaxon said:

Is there a diffrent long term visa recommendation for retirees depending on whether they are married to a Thai or not ?   It seems that on the retiree basis (Type O, OA) the main criteria is age 50+ and financials.  Does being married effect the extension of stay process at the expiry of the visa.  

 

Not sure what you mean by "process". 

A number of us, who were on an 'extension of our permission to stay' (for reason of retirement) on an underlying type-OA visa, on our next extension, to avoid the "Type-OA" health insurance requirement (from the Thai branch of a health insurance company) switched to getting an extension for reason of 'marriage'.   The extension for reason of 'marriage' thou (in addition to having financial benefits such as no health insurance req'd, only 400k in bank, and possibility to work) does have a lot more paperwork, and in offices such as Phuket immigration takes a long time to be approved (as opposed to extension for retirement which is quick to approve in Phuket).

I went from a Type-OA extensions (for reason of retirement), to a year later to a Type-OA extensions (for reason of marriage), to a year later leaving the country, invalidating my Type-OA, re-entering visa exempt, and obtaining a Type-O (for reason of retirement) to (1) avoid having to buy health insurance from Thai branch of an insurance company, and (2) have quicker processing of my annual extensions since retirement extensions in Phuket are processed quicker than marriage extensions. 

Note I have great (superior to Thai requirements) health insurance, but immigration don't accept such and I don't like buying double health insurance ( just to meet the immigration requirements on the Type-OA for retirement extensions) and I don't want to give up my superior European insurance (which is also cheaper as it is subsidized as part of my pension).

If you are on a Type-OA (for reason of marriage), you might in the future (next time you plan to leave the country) consider switching to a Type-O (for reason of retirement) if the money in the bank and other aspects are not big issues. By switching to Type-O, one doesn't have the health insurance factor to consider, which as one gets older gets more expensive. The reduced paperwork and faster processing (for a retirement vs marriage extension)  made it worthwhile for me to switch.

By being on a Type-O, it may also make your life easier (than being on a Type-OA), if something very unfortunate, very sad, and definitely unwanted should happen to your Thai wife. 

Nominally, it may have been better for you to have sorted this before you left Canada.  

This may also be easier if you are age-50 or over.  I assume age-50 or over in my reply.

Typically, to stay one year in Thailand, its possible if one is age age-50 or older, one will go for a Type-OA or a Type-O visa.  The Type-OA visa tends to have a bit more flexibility once obtained, but it has the added requirement of proving health insurance, which could be a bit complex dependent on where one is where one applies.  Typically Thailand wants to see the health insurance from the Thai branch of a health insurance company.

When I applied I had to prove residency (in Germany) which was a bit more complex for me, as I am Canadian and not a German citizen (but I was a legal German resident).  Being out of country, likely means the Type-OA is more difficult to get.  Being a Canadian in Germany complicated it a bit for me to get a Type-OA as I had to prove German residence for the Thai Embassy in Germany to accept my application.  And a Type-OA is not ideal due to requirements on the health insurance side.

A nice aspect of the Type-O visa (as opposed to Type-OA) is one does not need to prove health insurance from the Thai branch of a health insurance company nor from any health insurance company (which means one can use other health insurance or no insurance - and note, regardless of a Visa,  I recommend one gets health insurance).

There are various ways to go about getting a Type-O visa, and I don't know them all. That might be suitable for you, if you don't mind putting money into a Thai bank account.  Likely being out of Canada for more than 1/2 year means your provincial health care may not cover you, so if you are not already paying for health insurance, buying health insurance in Thailand (timed to correspond with your Thailand stay) may not be a bad idea.

It might be possible to get a 90-day type-O visa from outside of Thailand ( and then, once one has the Type-O one can then get in Thailand extensions on its permission to stay by satisfying some other requirements), but I do NOT know anything about getting a type-O from outside of Thailand. Others can tell you about that.

But one can get a Type-O visa after one arrives in Thailand, albeit there are some complications.  In that case, of the Type-O visa obtained in Thailand, you could enter Thailand visa exempt (which gives you 30 days). Then immediately (ie first few days) open a bank account in a Thai bank.  This is the hardest part, as normally Thai banks require one to be on a one-year visa BEFORE they allow one to open a bank account.   You could try to explain to the bank you need to open the account so you can apply for a long term visa, but they may ignore you. You may have to find an agent to help you open the account ( and while I know there are such agents, I do not know of any myself).

As soon as that bank account is open, transfer 800k Thai baht into the Thai bank account.  Keep the money there.  As soon as the money is in that bank account, go to immigration and apply for a 90-day type-O Visa.  If you don't have money setup in the bank in time, which is needed for applying for the Type-O visa, then go to immigration and apply for a 30-day extension of your permission to stay in Thailand. Hopefully that extra 30-days will give you time to have the money transferred to the Thai bank account. Then hopefully you can apply and get the 90-day Type-O visa.

Then assuming you get that 90-day Type-O visa it will give you 90-day permission to stay in Thailand (after your 30-day visa exempt expires (or after your 30-day extension expires).  

About 30-days (probably sooner is better) before your 90-days permission to stay expires, go again to immigration and apply for a 1-year permission to stay in Thailand base on retirement.  You will need the 800K Thai baht still in the bank account.

There are other ways, with border bounces and such , that you might be able to extend your stay ... but to do so for an entire year, starts getting more complex and IMHO problematic.

I will let others fill you on the details on how to attempt that route (which IMHO may or may not work).

3 hours ago, LivingNThailand said:

On another note, and this doesn't have to do with my original post, but I have to say something.  The Phuket International Departure Lounge is an armpit.

Ok - a bit off topic, but I tend to agree, when it is crowded, the Phuket International (and also the Domestic) Departure area can be a zoo.  

One can reduce the pain 'a bit' by going to a proper lounge in the air side of the terminal, which may be possible if one obtains free lounge access from their credit card (where some of the more exclusive cards provide a couple of Dragon Pass access per year).  However to obtain such a credit card, one typically needs to have a lot of money in the bank (that issues the credit card) or pay a higher annual fee for such a credit card.  

Also, if one flies Bangkok Airways (granted that tends to be more domestic) one can access the very basic Bangkok Airways lounge, which while incredibly basic, is sometimes still preferable to the crowded zoo that Phuket domestic terminal airside (outside of such a lounge) can also be as well.

Still - even a lounge doesn't get rid of the last 15-to-30-minutes of pain in the terminal (airside) when one is waiting for the gate to load, which per Murphy's law, tends to be a late boarding of the aircraft when the crowd waiting to board the aircraft is the absolute largest - making one wait longer and longer in the "zoo".

On 12/15/2023 at 10:10 AM, GregBow said:

Means changing to marriage visa and extension from current retirement visa on first 12 month extension, which expires in April 2024.

 

A bit of a mute point, but note what Mike Lister noted.   Best that I can read, you are not trying to change your Visa that has expired, but rather you are trying to change the 'permission to stay' justification that came with your original Type-O visa from 'retirement' to 'marriage'.  One's visa can be 'expired' for years, but one can still be renewing the 'permission to stay' based on that original visa for year after year after year.  It may sound like a mute point but the words can be confusing to some of us if one talks about changing the visa, when instead one really means they want to change their justification of their "permission to stay" (where a "permission to stay" is different from a "visa" - .... a "visa" will lead to a "permission to stay").

Anyway one point I am not clear on (for a Type-O visa initially based on retirement) is as follows:   

In the case of a type-OA visa (initially based on retirement) I could not change the 'permission to stay' based on retirement, to one based on marriage, until after I had successfully done at least one extension of the 'permission to stay' (based on retirement).  As a result, I ended having to do my first 1-year extension based on retirement (and I ended up paying for double health insurance - where health insurance is a type-OA visa 'permission to stay' requirement).  Your type-O won't have any health insurance requirements for retirement nor marriage extensions, but I do not know if you have to have 'one year extension of the permission to stay' based on retirement under your belt before you can apply for a new 1-year 'permission to stay' based on marriage.

Others on this forum more knowledgeable than myself can confirm what is the typical immigration office requirement here.

While I had a Type-OA and then later a Type-O visa, I had been going for 1 year extensions at Phuket for a number of years.

The first time I went for a 1 year extension, Phuket immigration noted they would come for a visit.  They called twice - both times we were out of province.  We even called them but they advised - don't call us - we will call you. In the end they never visited.

Then a couple of years later, in two separate 1 year renewals, they made a "Line Video" call with me and my wife, where I was required to show them my condo via the video chat (via a video selfie with us inside the condo), then I had to walk to the door of my condo where the unit # could be seen and do a video selfie there, and then go to the condo complex entrance with me by the condo sign, and do a video selfie there.  

There is no elevator in our beach front condo, and I had to run up a few flights of stairs (and across a parking lot) to get to the street sign for our condo - which giving my huffing and puffing I thought was a bit humorous (I need the exercise) but they didn't seem to mind.  I had previously given them printed images of the same, ... so it was not the first time they had seen such.

So maybe after the 1st one or 2 renewals, they might switch to a video sessions, as opposed to a visit by them?  I don't know - I am now on an LTR visa and no longer have to worry about such.

5 hours ago, Thomas72 said:

 

The yellow book is basically a house book for foreigners. With it you don't need certificates of residency to buy cars, open bank accounts, etc. So it's a convenient thing to have.

 

Further to Thomas72 excellent post, and Liquorice further comment (after age-60 the pink card is valid for life - and I am over age-60), one further benefit I had by having a yellow book and a pink card, is a Bangkok Bank branch required such for me to purchase a Thai government savings bond. 

Without that, they were not going to let me buy a Thai government bond from their branch.  That could very well be branch specific for all I know. 

Fortunately I had both yellow book and pink "ID" card.

Let me also say I do NOT consider Thai government bonds a great investment (the one I bought only gives 3% interest).  I had to buy some bonds to add to my existing amount (for a Thailand investment) to get an LTR-WP Visa.

Another possible benefit < unsure > - by registering my name at the local city hall (via my yellow book) with my name against the condominium I own, I do not have to pay annual tax on my condo, as I live in the place full time.  I think one is allowed to own a place up to 50-million THB (mine is worth far less) and not pay tax on the place, if it is one's principle residence. But legally it has to be registered in city hall against one's name.  My wife walked me through the process at the city hall, and according to her, I could not have done this if I did not have a yellow book. I do NOT know if that is accurate. She has been wrong before.  But for certain my having the yellow book made the house registration (so not to pay tax) easy.  So maybe ... maybe ... it saved me having to pay annual tax on my condo.

This is all very obscure, and I believe that both a yellow book and a pink ID are not needed for almost all expats - but every now and then, having such can come in handy.

20 hours ago, Thomas72 said:

oldcpu - I thought health insurance was required for the LTR-WP visa? Do they accept your European insurance instead?

Unfortunately, no.   The paper work that European Cigna will provide is not succinct enough to meet BoI requirements for Health Insurance for the LTR-WP. ( BoI would be forced to go through a ~50 page document of the coverage to confirm it adequate which they do not want to do - and Cigna refuse to provide anything other than their standard forms which either say not enough information (a 1 page form) or say too much (a ~50 page document)).   

But fortunately for me,  BoI will accept self health insurance. 

If one can show $100,000 US$ equivalent in cash in a bank account anywhere in the world (in any currency, but equivalent to 100k US$) one can claim self health insurance for the LTR-WP visa.  I have such as part of my (much larger) portfolio, so instead I claimed self health insurance.  I note thou, in that case of self health insurance, it can NOT be in an equity trading account, but rather it has to be $100k cash in a bank account that is not an equity/trading account.  And they wanted proof that amount was in there for some period of time ( I can't recall if it was 1 year or 2 years - it was not an issue for me).

Clearly that (having to have $100k cash in a non-equity account) would be a 100% show stopper for many many many expats  (re self health insurance) but having such in a bank account was not, and is not, an issue for me. 

1 hour ago, Pattaya57 said:

The main issue raised against the O-A visa always seems to be the insurance. I don't see it as a problem as AXA offers an O-A approved 4 million baht policy for 13,290 baht (with 100k deductable). This is a third of the price I pay in Australia for my current health insurance

Good to read it makes sense for you. 

In my case my European global health insurance from Cigna is subsidized as part of my pension.  My European health insurance provides superior coverage to the Thai immigration requirements, and after the subsidy I get with my pension my European health insurance, my European insurance is cheaper (than the lower coverage insurance from Thailand).  But my European health insurance is NOT accepted by Thai immigration.

Further the Thailand Cigna branch would not (even for a nominal fee) provide Thai immigration assurances that this European Cigna coverage exceeded the Thai requirements. Instead Thai Cigna branch wanted me to buy (more expensive and NOT as good) health insurance from their branch. i.e. buy double health insurance, or dump my superior European health insurance and go only with the Thai branch of Cigna's insurance.

There was no way I was going to dump my superior (and less expensive due to being subsidized) European health insurance.

Hence my deciding the underlying Type-OA visa (if I wanted to go for extensions on my permission to stay based on 'retirement') did not make sense for me from a Health Insurance perspective.  So after one year with double health insurance (on an extension to my permission to stay based on retirement),   followed by one year with an extension based on marriage to a Thai (which requires no health insurance, but has massive paperwork), ...  I eventually switched to the 90-day Type-O visa (followed by a 1-year extension on the permission to stay based on retirement with that underlying Type-O visa) ... and now finally I am on an LTR-WP visa. 

Its been a long haul for me getting what I believe is best for me.  I suspect others would see this differently.

Likely everyone is different, and we all need to decide what is best for ourselves.

3 hours ago, Thomas72 said:

 

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).

YES - be careful thou to ensure the 'other requirements are met'.  B800K has to be shown as having originated from outside of Thailand. And the Health Insurance requirement typically means Health Insurance from a Thai branch of a Health Insurance company.  Most often than not (IMHO) Health Insurance from the branch of a Health Insurance outside of Thailand will not be accepted for a one year extension of one's permission to stay on a Type-OA.

3 hours ago, Thomas72 said:

 

2. If #1 is true, is the health insurance requirement then dropped?

No. If I understand the question correctly.  When (in 2 years) you apply for your one year extension, for reason of retirement, on the permission to stay on your Type-OA visa (where this could give you your 3rd year if you time this right) then you will need to prove Health insurance meeting the Thai immigration health insurance requirements, where most likely this health insurance has to come from the Thai branch of a health insurance company.

3 hours ago, Thomas72 said:

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.

I don't know the details of Laos/Vietnam and 90-day type-O visas.  But note that if you wish to invalidate the permission to stay on a Type-OA visa) you will have to do so after the expiry date of the Type-OA visa and also be certain you do not have a re-entry permit associated with that permission to stay.  If you have a re-entry permit, the permission to stay on the Type-OA won't be invalidated and the purpose of the hop will fail.

3 hours ago, Thomas72 said:

 

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?

In my case, I left Thailand when I was on a 1-year extension of my permission to stay (on a Type-OA visa) where I deliberately did NOT have a re-entry permit on that permission to stay. When I left Thailand, the Thai IO was kind enough to point out I did not have a re-entry permit. I politely told him I was leaving without the re-entry permit so I could invalidate my permission to stay.

When I re-entered Thailand over a month later, I entered Visa-Exempt and I immediately, when inside Thailand, applied for a 90-day Type-O Visa.   I already had the 800K in a Thai bank (from my previous Type-OA) and I had kept my records of that 800K coming into Thailand from outside of Thailand (although it would have been a PIA to produce had I been asked). Thankfully I was not asked (at Phuket immigration) to prove that 800k, possibly because it was clear from my records at the Phuket IO office that I had proven such in the past.  But beware, that is a paperwork risk/complication.

Another consideration - if flying out/in of Thailand, to invalidate the permission to stay on the Type-OA, if you return to Thailand by air, with an intention to enter visa exempt, then the airline might (and it might not) ask for proof of your leaving Thailand at the end of the visa exempt that you plan to enter on.  Some of us, to meet that airline requirement (which may or may not happen) have purchased throw away tickets leaving Thailand. There are entire threads on this subject with massive differences in opinion.

In my case, once I was in Thailand, on a 90-day Type-O visa permission to stay, long before it expired I successfully applied for a 1-year extension (for reason of retirement) on my permission to stay in Thailand. 

Also, be aware, if you should get married to a Thai, and try to switch to an extension of stay in Thailand based on marriage, you may have until you apply for your 2nd (one year) permission to stay in Thailand on the underlying Type-OA.  I was initially on a Type-OA (based on retirement) and I tried (and failed in Phuket) to quickly switch a permission to stay based on marriage (on my 1st one year extension of my permission to stay in Thailand) and I was told I had to first do a 1-year extension on my permission to stay based on retirement, before I could do a 1 year extension of my permission to stay based on marriage.  I know you didn't ask that, but its something to keep in mind in case the right lady comes along and marriage changes your perspective.

3 hours ago, Thomas72 said:

 

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.

It reads to be a doable plan - but "This is Thailand", so one never knows how things may change in the future.  Note that Health Insurance expenses start getting larger and larger as you grow older and older.  So 5k may be nothing now, but as you grow older health insurance costs could be larger (due to your age, or due to Thailand immigration increasing how much coverage they demand one be insured for). ....

So I think your consideration of changing from Type-OA to Type-O (by leaving the country) sometime in the future is a good idea, as long as things don't change.

11 hours ago, K2938 said:

"Those who obtain the LTR visa are exempted from paying personal income tax on their foreign assets or earnings.

 

Since the launch of the scheme in September 2022, over 3,000 LTRs have been granted to foreigners. In the weeks since the Sep 15 announcement of the new tax regulation, there has been a 14 per cent increase in LTR applications, according to sources."

 

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/asean/thailands-tweak-tax-regulation-foreign-income-sparks-confusion-worries

Interesting article - but I think at this stage, no one is quite sure how this will turn out.

I note that Business Times article states: 

 " What’s clear for now is that the tweaked tax ruling will go into effect on Jan 1, 2024, which means it applies to foreign income earned after Jan 1, 2023. "

Could the Business Times article be wrong there? I ask that because of a Thai revenue department document that came out in November-2023. More precisely, Thailand Revenue Department orders No.P.162/2023 (unofficial translation of it) states:

"The provisions of paragraph one shall not apply to assessable income arising before 1-January-2024".

So Business Times stating income earned after Jan 1, 2023, appears to me to possibly be in contradiction to the 1-January-2024 date noted in the November-2023 Thai revenue department clarification document Thailand Revenue Department orders No.P.162/2023 (for assessable income) .

But what is the actual case?  I don't think any of us know just yet.

2 hours ago, 1tent42 said:

I retired early this year so I have not completed one full year retirement yet.  If my full year of retirement pension will be in April 2024 (it meets the LTR annual pension requirement), would I be eligible to apply for the LTR WP then?  Should I wait until 2025 to apply so the income tax returns would be simpler then? 

You might be best to ask BoI that question.

In my case (and I think for others) BoI wanted to see an income tax return that proved what we claimed about our pension income.  I ended providing both my Canadian Income tax return (and the Canadian government revenue department letter acknowledging my income) and provided a government document stating my pension income.   I do not know if you will be asked for similar ... 

Possibly thou your 2024 income tax return (for year 2023) will have enough information on it to satisfy BoI.  Again, maybe its best to ask them.  You can send an email, or just phone them.  They have many people who can speak very good English.

2 hours ago, 1tent42 said:

I'm on an OA visa now and is valid until December 2024.  But I'd like to get the LTR visa next year to receive the tax exemptions if possible.

My suspicion, is the best time to reply is when you have government proof of your 2023 tax return submission (submitted in early 2024) - but again, check with BoI.

As you likely know, over a 10 year period, if you plan to leave Thailand multiple times/year, the LTR-WP visa is about the same cost as the OA visa (maybe a bit cheaper).   In my case, the LTR-WP visa mean it was easier for me to prove "Health Insurance" (on LTR) than it was on Type-OA - which I believe, if that is also true for you, might be a good reason to apply as soon as applicable.

 While getting a tax exemption (that will hopefully come with an LTR visa for money brought it to Thailand) is desirable, even without that, I believe there are good reasons for applying for an LTR when you will have the required paperwork.   ....  Again, I suspect tax records (if asked for) could be the documents that may drive your application schedule.

This is puzzling.

Did the OP mention their nationality?

Would that make a difference? (ie could OP be from a country where Visa exempt on arrival is not provided, and the OP's previous entries to Thailand were with a Visa)?    Or was that possibility covered and I missed some detail.

Its puzzling.

32 minutes ago, sometimewoodworker said:

It seems that you have a rogue immigration office (there maybe a few) as there is nothing in the regulations that requires it.

 

However the sensibility of having health insurance in some form is without question.

An issue a number of us with Type-OA visa's faced when going for an extension based on retirement, is that we already had superb international health insurance from outside of Thailand, that greatly exceeded the Thailand requirements, but it was not accepted by Thai immigration.  In the most part, Thai immigration would mostly only accept Health Insurance (for extensions based on the type-OA visa) from the Thai branch of a health insurance company.

In my case, my European (from Cigna) health insurance was heavily subsidized as part of my pension, and it was superior to the Thai requirements, but it was not accepted by Thai immigration. The Thai branch of Cigna refused to provide Thai immigration the needed information for my European based International Health insurance, but instead advised I had to buy double health insurance from their Thai branch of Cigna, for them to provide the information to Thai immigration that I met the Thai health insurance requirements.

There was no way I was going to (1) get rid of my superior subsidized international health insurance, nor was I going to (2) buy double health insurance.   Initially I obtained an extension based on marriage to a Thai but the amount of paperwork, and slow processing of the 1year annual extension based on marriage was a bit tiresome for me ( I know - others feel different) .  So on my next travel out of Thailand, I departed without a re-entry stamp so to invalidate my Type-OA visa extension, and I re-entered a month later visa exempt and applied for a Type-O visa.  I obtained the Type-O, and then a couple of months later I applied for a 1 year extension based on retirement - no health insurance needed.

I wish that the Type-OA visa accepted $100K US$ equivalent (anywhere in the world) in a bank account as Self Health Insurance ... (similar to what the LTR visa does) but that is not (as of yet) in the cards for the Type-OA visa extension (for reason of retirement) health insurance requirement.

4 hours ago, Lemsta69 said:

 

Many reports on here of people being asked for onward ticket/proof funds. Replace "never" with "unlikely" and you might be closer to the mark.

I would agree with the 'unlikely' assessment ... and further, I wonder, if asked and one did not have such, what would immigration do?  Tell one to go to the back of the immigration line and book a throw away ticket?  In a large airport such as Bangkok, one can stay in the international area (before passing thru immigration) for a very long time with no issue (while one leisurely proceeds to get a throw away ticket).  The issue, as many pointed out, is the danger of being denied boarding before flying to Thailand.

Recently, when I invalidated a previous Type-OA visa (by leaving Thailand without a re-entry permit), I re-entered Thailand from Frankfurt, visa exempt.  In Frankfurt, when checking-in "on-line" with Thai Airways I obtained a popup advising me that proof of departure from Thailand could be asked for at the airport.  

When I arrived at Frankfurt airport, I was not asked to show a departure ticket (at Thai airlines counter) when I checked in my luggage.  However when at the gate, in the international area (I had already passed Frankfurt immigration) I was called to the counter and I was asked for my passport.  I anticipated I would be asked to show a departure ticket (which I actually had, a cheap Krabi-to-KL on a discount airline, where I previously bought the ticket on sale).  The people at the counter stared at my Type-OA visa (which in fact was invalid due to me departing without a re-entry permit), and waived me through, NOT asking to see my departure ticket from Thailand.

My guess is they mistakenly thought my Type_OA visa was still valid.

But when I arrived in Bangkok, visa exempt, I went through the Thai line with my Thai wife (I immediately followed her) , when unexpected to me, the immigration officer asked for my ticket. I asked myself, what ticket?  I had no clue.  I pulled out my boarding pass, and give it to the IO who appeared to me not satisfied (but maybe they were satisfied ), and I then proceeded to fumble throu my paperwork to find my 'throw away' ticket (which I never did show to the IO), when my wife said some things to the IO in Thai, and at that point the IO waved me through into Thailand.  Later she said that she advised the IO we were married and I intended to apply for a Type-O visa.

Regardless, being stopped in Bangkok at immigration and asked for a ticket leaving Thailand (which I believe must be incredibly rare) surely is very very easy to deal with. IF there is no departure flight to catch (ie unless a tight domestic connection somewhere) ... one has lots time to obtain a throw away ticket if such a very very VERY rare immigration request might happen.  I would weigh odds most people are never asked by immigration for such.

However prior to boarding, to fly to Thailand, is a different story (if on a one-way ticket).  I know of a couple cases where friends were asked for such (and where they were prepared).

47 minutes ago, Thailand J said:

 $100,000 is not a big deal to me one way or another.

It's just not how I would manage my money.

17000B to 25000B is 0.8% of $100,000, it's a no brainier to invest the money and pay the insurance, but only to me,you should do what you are comfy with.

Two points - (1) my checks for health insurance to meet the requirements for my age required MORE than 17k to 25k THB.   And  (2) $100k US$ equivalent, even in an interesting bearing account, as small part of a very large diversified portfolio, is not unusual -and some (dependent portfolio size) might say prudent - and it can give a modest return (together with any larger prudently selected equity returns).

As you state - each do what they are comfortable with.  I am NOT comfortable putting all my liquid assets into equities. My diversified investment strategy for the past 40 years has worked well for me. Others clearly have different strategies ... I do note I have acquaintances who threw all their assets in equities, did NOT do well in some times - and they are still trying to recover. In my case, the cash was VERY useful for a very rapid rebound to buy when equities bottomed and just started to recover.   Again - as you suggest - go with what one is comfortable with and what has worked for one..