oldcpu

I finally obtained approval for the LTR visa (wealthy pensioner). Applied 17-Jan-2023, email endorsement on 22-May-2023, email advising approval on 28-May-2023, picked up visa on 6-June-2023 and a 10-year Visa now valid until 24-May-2033 (with a 5-year permission to stay in Thailand until 5-June-2028). I applied under the category where one has to prove a passive income of the equivalent of $40,000 US/year and an investment in Thailand equivalent to $250,000 US or greater. I went the 'self health insurance' route. That's the short story. The long story is much longer. DETAILS (somewhat long - for the curious) Investment in Thailand: Since I went for the equivalent $40,000 US/year approach, I needed to show an approximate $250K US investment in Thailand. The condo I purchased in 2016 qualified as an investment, but since it was registered in both my name and in my wife's name, I could only claim 50% of the value. Thus back in December-2022 I purchased via Bangkok Bank the amount of 2,000,000 THB in Thai government bonds (7-year maturity), so to push me well above the $250,000 US$ equivalent investment in Thailand. Purchasing the bonds was not straight forward. I posted previous on this. In regards to the Thai Government bond that I bought, the Bangkok Bank only issued me a "Bond bankbook" which listed the bond series and serial number, but did not specifically state the bond term nor its maturity/redemption date. I uploaded to BoI a copy of my Bond Book, but BoI did not initially accept that. I phoned BoI and they stated they wanted a "Bond Certificate". I went to Bangkok Bank and applied for a Bond Certificate. However after almost a few weeks (with me constantly phoning Bangkok Bank to obtain status) I was advised that Bangkok Bank would not issue me a Bond Certificate for this scriptless Thai government bond. Instead they issued me a letter (confirming my ownership of the bond) and updated my Bond Book to provide details of the series of Thai government bond (7 year term/maturity and the redemption date in year 2029). I sent a copy of that to BoI and it was accepted in lieu of a Bond certificate. PROOF OF PASSIVE INCOME > $40K US$/year equivalent My proving that I meet the $40k/year US$ equivalent was perhaps a bit unusual for BoI, as I have worked/lived in both Canada and Germany (most of which was in a European government organisation). So my pension incomes are diverse (European government organisation pension, small German pension, and Canadian Old Age Security (OAS), but no Canadian Pension yet (I have deferred such to age-70)). My German pension is so small that a few years back the German government in a formal letter to me requested that I (as a non-resident to Germany) do NOT submit a tax return to Germany (unless my German income situation changes), so I have no German tax return to show BoI. I do thou pay a small withholding tax at source to Germany on my small German pension. I suspect my German pension is too small for the the German government to be bothered with the time/effort on their part to process such a small tax return. As a non-resident of Canada (where I worked in Canada for years) I do pay tax to Canada on my also small Canadian Old Age Security (OAS) and I must declare to Canada ALL of my World Wide Income. Unlike Germany, Canada DOES want me to file an income tax return every year even thou my my Canadian OAS amount is small. Canada doesn't mind spending the time/effort to process such a small tax return as my Canadian income. Most of my passive pension income is from the European Government organisation, and for taxes that organisation requires I comply with the law of the country in which I am residing for tax payment on that pension (where my residency is now Thailand). So for providing tax returns to provide to BoI, in mid-January I provided to BOI my year 2020 and year 2021 Canadian Tax assessments (where the Canadian Tax assessment lists the TOTAL of my World Wide Income). In February, BoI in an information request, insisted on also having my year 2022 Canadian tax return, so later (at their request) I sent them a year-2022 Canadian tax assessment of my World Wide Income ... This took some time to prepare, as this was early in year 2023 and it was nominally still a bit early to submit my previous year 2022 tax return to Canada. Since I was sending Canadian tax return assessments, BoI additionally asked me for tax proof of my receiving a Canadian pension (ie they asked for a Canadian T4A tax document). I had to explain to BoI that while I am age-69, I don't YET get a Canadian pension as I deferred receiving my Canadian Pension to when I reach age 70 (hence I only plan to start receiving a Canadian pension next year). Thus I had no Canadian T4A form to provide to them. Instead I provided to BoI my official pension documents of my European Government organisation pension (euros) and official documents (for tax returns) for my Canadian Old Age Security (Canadian$). I did NOT provide to BoI my German pension official pension proof (which is in euros) for tax returns, as it is in German language and I wanted to avoid having to obtain a German to English certified translation. OK, I'm lazy. Besides, I already, without including the German pension, met the $40,000 US$ equivalent passive income requirement. SELF HEALTH INSURANCE PROOF I have excellent European health insurance that covers both myself and my Thai wife and it exceeds the LTR Visa Health Insurance requirements. However my European insurance company will NOT provide proof in the EXACT form that BoI requires. So I decided to go the "Self Insurance" route for the LTR Visa. I previously provided proof of funds >$100k US$ equivalent. BoI then asked that I provide proof that those funds were present for more than 1 year. I then provided that proof (cash > $100 US$) from an account in Canada of the funds in place for >1-year, but BoI then rejected that as they noted that was an investment/equity account. So I then provided proof of cash funds >$100K US$ equivalent in a Canadian self directed Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP )(similar to USA 401(k)) where funds were in place for > 1-year, which was also rejected and not accepted by BoI. So then I tried providing proof of funds >$100 US$ equivalent with a Foreign Currency Account in Krungsri Bank in Thailand (the funds in that account are in Euros) which had been in place for > 1-year, which was accepted by BoI. EXTRA PAPERWORK REQUESTS I had a total of 11 requests for more documents, where in 6 of the 11 cases, BoI already had the documents, and I simply uploaded the document again, with a PDF cover page better explaining the documents to them. I assume my initial first upload explanations (or lack there of) were totally inadequate. For the Investment in Thailand (condo ownership and price paid proof), I initially only provided a copy of the Or-Chor-2 (the Chanote) and a copy of the Real Estate agent's buy/sell signed agreement. BoI didn't want the Real Estate agent's buy/sell agreement but rather BoI wanted the official Or-Chor-16 (buy/sell land office document) copy which I subsequently sent to BoI. BIGGEST DELAY As noted, when I applied (in mid-Jan-2023) I initially provided my year 2020 and year 2021 Canadian income tax documents to BoI, but BOI subsequently asked for my year 2022 income tax documents. But I had not yet submitted my 2022 income tax return to Canada. In fact I still had not received all my year-2022 pension tax documents from the issuing government authorities (so I it was difficult to do my 20222 income tax return). ... So I had to wait a bit for the year-2022 tax paperwork (associated with my pensions) to arrive, and then quickly submit my year 2022 income tax to Canada, and then provide the subsequent Revenue Canada income and tax assessments to the BoI. This took time. And as noted, BoI wanted a Bond Certificate and not just a Bond Book for my proof of 2-million THB Thai Government bond investment in Thailand and that also took me time to sort with Bangkok Bank and BoI. TIME FRAMES I applied 17-January, and I obtained my LTR endorsement in 22-May, and official approval notification on 28-May, and I picked up my LTR Visa in Bangkok on 6-June-2023. Not quite 5-months to obtain. Note that in my case, I was in no hurry to obtain the LTR Visa, as my permission to stay in Thailand was already until February-2024 (from a one year extension on a Type-O visa, for reason of retirement). DIFFICULTY The most difficult part ? For me? The most difficult part for me was me satisfying the BoI request for official paperwork on the Thai government bond maturity and redemption date, which is not normally in a scriptless Thai Government Bond book. Banks don't normally issue a bond certificate, and now issue 'scriptless' bonds. In the end I obtained a letter from Bangkok bank confirming my bond ownership and obtained an update to my Bond Book which listed the bond maturity (7 years) and its redemption date in December-2029. The next most difficult part, was providing proof of a Bank Account with the necessary $100K USD equivalent in cash for self Health Insurance. BoI did not accept the first two accounts I used (for self health insurance, even thou they had the cash funds), but fortunately I had another account I could use for that proof of the $100K US$ equivalent for self Health Insurance. THE LONGEST PART ? The longest part for me was waiting for my year-2022 tax documents (from Germany, European organisation, and Canada), so I could submit my year-2022 tax return, and then after submitting I had to in turn wait for the Canadian government to assess my year-2022 tax return and reply to me (where I could then send that assessment to BoI). I suspect my application took longer than most (?) as my proof for the passive pension (with their request for Tax returns) and my proof of the investment in Thailand, came from multiple diverse sources, and further my income tax situation is a bit non-standard, and BoI were very particular as to which type of financial account they would accept for self Health Insurance. THE REPETITIOUS AND PUZZLING PART (for me)? Having to prove I met the Health Insurance requirements, when I already had excellent Health Insurance was possibly the part that applied here. Since my European Insurance company would NOT provide information in the form that BoI wanted, I could not confirm to BoI satisfaction that my excellent European health insurance met the BoI requirements (even thou it exceeds such). Hence I went the self insurance route (cash funds > $100K US$ equivalent for over 1-year) and showing BoI that I had that money in cash in a bank for that 2 year time frame, resulted in a few submission iterations with BoI, before BoI's final acceptance of one of my bank accounts. THE EASIEST PART ? The easiest part for me was being able to upload the many forms/paperwork requested, from the luxury of my beach front condo, sipping a cool drink while overlooking the sea. It sure beats lining up for hours at an immigration office. The interesting part ? Perhaps the most interesting part, was needing to go from Phuket to Bangkok, to obtain the LTR visa. My Thai wife and I had a soon to expire voucher from Dusit Thani 5-star hotel for three weekday nights in their hotel (that expired end June). So my wife and I felt fortunate we could thus use that voucher for comfortable Bangkok accommodations. ... Its been a while since I stayed in Bangkok, so picking up the Visa in Bangkok, was a good excuse to travel there. Prior to heading to Bankgok, I went to a local photo store and had some passport sized images taken of me (wearing a shirt and tie). For Bangkok I took long pants, a shirt, and shoes (and not sandals) to wear in the BOI office. My being retired, its been years since I last wore a dress shirt and shoes, so that was unusual for me to dress up so. We stayed in a Dusit Thani Suites hotel not far from the BoI offices (a short MTR/BTS couple of stops). BoI had a representative mostly 'hold my hand' through the process, where I brought way more paperwork than necessary (I was taking no chances). That was very nice to have a 'guide'. About 1/2 of the 18th floor (maybe less) is the BoI office, and the remainder is a Thai immigration office, where that office was very busy and mostly packed with people, a bit of a zoo. When I had to go to immigration for part of the process, a BoI representative walked me to the front of any given line, bypassing a number of people waiting. I felt a bit guilty at that (being given preference) but then again, I doubt many (any ? ) of them paid 50,000 Thai baht. I have various Thai bank accounts so I transferred my 50,000 THB from one of them. I noted a big sign saying BoI would not accept bank transfers from UOB bank nor from ttb (?) bank .. nor would they accept cash. Fortunately that did not cause me an issue. I was curious if my 50,000 THB transfer would work, as this was the first time I transfered that amount with the new Thai rule that one might need photo verification as part of their transfer. However I did not encounter any photo verification and the transfer 'just worked'. FUTURE My passport expires in five years, so I will have to have the LTR Visa transfered to a new passport just around the same time that I need to renew my five year permission to stay with the LTR visa. My 7 year Thai Government Savings bond will only have 2 years left in its maturity (before redemption) in five years time, so I am already plannnig to buy a new 2-million baht Thai Government savings bond purchase at that time (in early 2028), so to obtain the second 5-year permission to stay of this 10-year Visa. That likely means I will have 4-million in Thai bonds for a couple of years. I am lucky, this is no big deal for myself - others might balk at this. Ten years from now I will be 79, and I don't know if I will live to be age-89 ... so I have 10 years to decide if I wish to switch back to a non-immigrant Type-O visa in 2033, or if I go for another 10-year LTR visa and gamble that I will live to age 89 (assuming that LTR Visa and/or Type-O non-immigration visa are even around then). I suspect my decision then will NOT be driven by money, but rater be driven by the convenience of the 10 year LTR Wealthy Pensioner vs the inconvenience of a non-immigrant Type-O visa (possibly more convenient if I end up using an agent in 10-years time with a shorter term visa) . .

I think it pretty difficult to beat the price of bookonwardticket and onwardticket ... Trusted Pilot gives both of those pretty good reviews. I could NOT find reviews for getarealvisa.com As noted most reviews of such are good, but there are a VERY SMALL number of negative reviews for such services. I note one of the very few negative reviews of onwardticket was from someone saying that "refused entry in Indonesia because the border officer checked the reservation number on their systems, which didn't exist with Emirates, and they made him buy a real ticket instead." ... Honestly - I find that negative assessment confusing. Most reviews on Trusted Pilot were positive. Another (of the very few) negative reviews of onwardticket stated "... bought a ticket through the website ,and I got it instantly, I even checked it on the airline website manage booking at it was there. However when I went to the counter they asked for my return ticket and I show them this ticket , they said this is not valid , since there is no ticket number. And I even went to the website to download the ticket to show it to them ,and it failed "Tickets and receipts are not available." ... " Again, this was one of the few negative reviews. The user doesn't provide any details on the onward ticket nor the airline that rejected the onward ticket. So take such with a grain of salt IMHO. I don't know why most people note this works, and a small number say it doesn't. Perhaps it depends on the detail of the checks that are done by the airline counter when one shows the ticket to the airline staff? That is PURE speculation on my part - most people note there are very satisfied with such services.. Having typed that, knowing that I have the worst luck in the world for such things, the chance of my having a non-real throwaway ticket being rejected worried me enough last year, that I actually purchased a REAL very inexpensive AirAsia Krabi to Kuala Lumpur ticket for 740 THB (that I never used) (ie ~ $21 USD). However checking today, such cheap tickets no longer exist. The cheapest I can find today with Air Asia is Krabi to Kuala Lumpur 1290 THB (~ $37 USD). That is a REAL ticket and a LOT more expensive than the throwaway ... and per Trusted Pilot most people like the cheap (not real) throwaway tickets, ... but if you want the peace of mind of having a real ticket to throw away (ie a ticket that could actually be used) and money is not a big issue, then there are more expensive options - which are still not too expensive (1290THB or ~$37 USD).

If you can maintain 800,000 THB (about ~$23,000 US$ equivalent) in a Thai bank, then you should be fine with your income, under a Non-Immigrant Type-O Visa. The LTR Wealthy Pensioner visa is targeted at a difference audience than yourself, ... but having typed that IMHO there is nothing wrong with pensioners matching your income levels living in Thailand (if they meet the requirements for such as the non-immigrant Type-O visa (for reason of retirement)). Your income is still excellent compared to the average Thai and I think the money coming into the country is good for the country.

No problem claiming from Thailand. None at all and they are quick to reimburse.. Since 2019, when I moved to Thailand, I have made multiple successful claims to the company providing my superior European Health insurance (medical appointments/procedures, new glasses, annual medicals ... ) for both myself and my Thai wife. Since this superior Health Insurance covers BOTH myself and my Thai wife, she greatly prefers to use it (where it pays for the more expensive private hospitals) over her going to the public Thai hospitals. For my case, staying on a Type-OA visa failed to make sense the moment Thailand decided to implement a health insurance requirement for Type-OA where in practice for that Type-OA visa one must use Health Insurance from the Thai branch of a health insurance company.

What are people doing? We are keeping our superior insurance and going for a different Visa OTHER THAN Type-OA. Some of us have insurance from outside of Thailand that is mostly global, and its cheaper and with better coverage than what is available if one purchases such insurance from a Thailand branch of a Health Insurance company. In my case, my Health Insurance from Europe covers myself and my wife ... and it comes as part of my pension package, and it is heavily subsidised, such that when I get older, my insurance rates do not go up. My European insurance coverage varies dependent on what is being covered (such as dental, glasses, annual health insurance .... ) but overall it is far superior to the Thailand health insurance requirements for the Type-OA Visa. HOWEVER my Health Insurance company REFUSES to present their coverage in a format acceptable to Thailand immigration, and my European based insurance company also refuses to enter data into a Thai immigration database (which is necessary for the Type-OA health insurance proof). I went to the Thai based branch of my European insurance company, and they refused to provide a summary to Thai immigration (despite my having health insurance from their head office in Europe) and they refused to enter the required data into the Thai immigration database, even if I paid them a nominal fee. The Thai branch of my European insurance company FLAT OUT told me to buy NEW insurance from their Thailand branch (and ONLY then would they provide me the needed proof) .... which I refused to do, as it would not be as good, and I did not want to buy double health insurance. At age-69 double health insurance is not inexpensive. So I simply kept my superior and cheaper European insurance (which is global, except for coverage in USA/Canada to live (it does cover me there to visit for 30-days)) and I changed my Visa from Type-OA to a Type-O visa. Basically , for the type-OA Visa, Thailand wants one to buy Health Insurance from a Thailand branch. It is my health and my wife's health ... and why should one get rid of superior foreign health insurance to meet a Type-OA Visa health insurance limitation to buy inferior Health insurance and for me more expensive Health Insurance from a Thailand branch? I like what the LTR Visa has done, which is to allow Self Insurance (by proving $100k US$ equivalent in cash in a Bank Account anywhere in the world) , .. as that, for those of us with the money (where I concede not everyone has such) , does not force us to meet the 'limiting insurance requirements' that a type-OA visa has. I wish the Type-OA would add that 'self health insurance' clause. With that in mind, I may end up succeeding to switch to a 10-year LTR Visa, but that is not a topic for this thread.

In the end, Bangkok bank refused to give me a Bond Certificate for a Thai government bond that had already been issued ! Instead they wrote for me a one page letter ( "to whom it may concern" ) stating I was the owner of said Thai government bond (on the date of the letter) and further they added some computer typed information on the last page of my official Bond Book, that provided the bond maturity information (duration, maturity date ... ) . I then scanned that information (both the letter and the Bond Book information), and uploaded it to BoI. The next day we phoned BoI and they confirmed that information was adequate for part of their requirements for Investment in Thailand proof.

The procedure was done by Dr.Kanit Sananpanich of the Department of Orthopedics, in the Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University. He also has an evening clinic that he runs in Chiang Mai, which is where I went to. Phone # f the clinic is 053-329-432 (Hand Ortho Clinic). Hours of operation Tuesday to Thursday 17:30-19:30 ... and Saturday 09:30-11:30. Email is ksananpa at gmail.com. Lat/Long of the clinic location: 18.77114 N, 98.95052 E in Chiang Mai.. Prior to going I sent him both images and videos of my hand, so he could make a remote assessment (and hence be reasonably confident it was something he could treat). I confess I can no longer remember the cost ... I think it was around 7,000 or 8,000 Thai baht ?? It was cheaper than the airfare (for my wife and myself) to fly from Phuket to Chiang Mai. My (European) Health Insurance paid for it ! We went in November when the air quality is reasonable ok in Chiang Mai.

You quoted me, ... were you referring to me? I think you misread my post - or I typed it in a manner that confused you? I was not standby. Both my wife and I had proper tickets. My passport was examined when my wife and I checked in with our luggage, and again when air-side, while waiting to board, seconds before (and during) the commencement of boarding, I was asked to go to the airline boarding counter. I have no idea why they called me (a second time - the 1st was at luggage check-in). They then at the gate asked for my passport, and sat for a good 20 seconds looking at the OA Visa extension stamp (which happened to be invalid - but its not obvious if one looks at it) ... and then they let me re-join the boarding line. I had my throw-away legitimate ticket in my hand ready to offer it, but they did not ask for it. ( over 12 hours later when at Thai immigration I entered Visa-exempt). The standby people (and yes, there were about a dozen - and I have no idea as to why they were standby) were patiently waiting in Frankfurt at that boarding gate to see if they would be given a boarding pass and allowed to board. The gate closed not long after we boarded - I don't think any standby passengers got on board. The flight was 100% full.

Is that a joke? If those on standby can not catch that flight (and no other flights that day that they can be rebooked on) they either find a (likely expensive) airport hotel they can stay in over night and try again the next day, or they leave the airport to stay at a hotel, or stay with friends, or at home. They probably visit the ticket office immediately after their 'standby' effort fails to see if they have other possibilities. If those refused to be allowed to board, because they ignored the Thai airways warning of the need for an onward ticket (such as possible in the case of my flight) and when asked by the Airline (which I was not asked) they did not have an onward ticket, .... and if for what ever reason they could not get an onward ticket (such as you suggest) , they obviously need to go to a Thai airways ticket agent, and see what they can do. Best case they either get refunded their ticket (not likely for a non-refundable discount ticket), or get rebooked on another flight (possible) or simply lose their ticket with no financial compensation because they deliberately ignored the Thai airways warning. And if no flight that same day, then they will have to find accommodations in the Frankfurt area while they try to find another flight (or if lucky the airline books them another flight). As for their already booked Thailand accommodations ?? Again, if non-refundable (because they did not arrive on time) they could be out of luck. There is a degree of gambling involved here for those who don't want to buy a one-way ticket in advance. Preparation (such as buying a one-way throwaway before, or knowing exactly what sites to go to get such a last minute ticket, AND ensuring one has internet on one's mobile device ... ) is clearly essential. Having some time to do a last minute scramble (in a mad panic to find a throwaway ticket if denied boarding) would be beneficial. I think this is why there is a thread such as this - where we all describe our experiences and express our views.

That's not accurate. They are given appropriate documents to get through security and immigration, but not to board.

You and some of the others clearly have not traveled much. Standby passengers are quite common, and can happen for a number of reasons. Typically standby passengers are present because the flight they were supposed to be on was cancelled, so they were rebooked 'standby' on another flight. Or, sadly, which happens FAR TOO OFTEN is the airline simply overbooks the same flight. The standby passengers have to be airside, because if they were outside of security and outside of immigration, they would never catch the flight at the last minute. So the airline selects WHO they will allow on standby (taking into account immigration and luggage aspects) and the passengers are allowed through airside. (where airside is through immigration and security, waiting at the boarding gate). Typically the standby passengers are called to the gate, many minutes before boarding, and given a status as to their possibility of boarding, and told to wait by the gate. Then at the last minute, before the gate closes, they are called again to the gate and given last minute boarding passes. As noted, my encounter here was in Frankfurt, airside, at the boarding gate. There had to be a dozen or so standby, hoping to get on the flight. .

They asked me at the board gate. Seconds before boarding. People were already lined up at the gate, and I had to leave the line to go to the gate and after they checked my passport, walk back to my place in line. They opened the gate to boarding while they checked my passport. I had to walk back to my spot in line , which was a big line (but my wife kept my place in line). There was one standby passenger within a couple of yards of me at the gate (being asked to wait) and another dozen standing in a group not far from the boarding gate, all with anxious looks on their faces - I suspect wondering if they would be successful in their standby efforts. If one does NOT know the web site to go to obtain such a throw away ticket ... and then has to do a mad scramble to surf for such (assuming one has internet on their phone/portable device) .... I defy anyone to find such in time. Further, the closest ticket booth in Frankfurt was a good 10 minute walk from the boarding gate, and its not uncommon to have more than a 10 minute wait (sometimes 20 to 30) while trying to buy a new ticket. In my view, its best NOT to take the chance. Buy a legitimate cheap throw away ticket before - long before. Each to their own opinion, but as I typed, I defy anyone, who has not researched this prior (and is prepared) to obtain a ticket at the last minute (with their portable device) if they experience such timing as occurred to myself (although in my case I had the throwaway ticket, even thou not asked for such) could cause them not to catch their flight ... which if the ticket is not refundable would be bad news (and not cheap).

this is VERY common in Europe. One has a ticket for a flight on a later date (or for some other reason) but not on the flight I was booked on. Or their flight was cancelled and they were put standby for another flight. Again, this is very common for a standby passenger to be airside. Yes - agreed if one decides to pay attention to the warning. But I dare say some may not pay attention to such and think they will not be checked. If one thinks they can 'wait until challenged by the airline' at the counter, and then book an onward ticket at the last minute - well .... in my case if they had done that they would have missed their flight. That is pretty clear IMHO.

If one has time. They called me to the counter seconds before boarding, and I note a standy passenger was also standing there being told to wait. The flight left on time. I defy anyone to book a second ticket in the time I had available (if they were not already prepared in advance).

Back in July last year, I bought a one-way ticket from Krabi to Kuala Lumpur (for 740 Thai baht) which I used as a 'throw away' ticket. Note I live in Phuket and I had zero intention to go to Krabi ... I just wanted to show a ticket to prove I could leave Thailand. In my case I was leaving Thailand to invalidate my type-OA visa and I was planning to return Visa exempt (and then apply for a type-O Visa). My travel back was from Frankfurt to Bangkok via Thai Airways, and I had read stories of Thai Airways demanding to see a ticket leaving Thailand (within the duration period of one's intended Visa exempt in Thailand) before one could board in Frankfurt. However if one already had a non-immigrant Visa in their passport, that was not demanded. When I did my online checkin (in Frankfurt) for my flight to Thailand, this wording appeared in a popup: "Passenger who hold only one-way ticket may be denied entry at the destination. Please ensure you are in compliance with the entry requirements and regulations at your destination before payment". At Frankfurt, at the departure gate, I was called to the counter and I was asked to show my European passport. At that Thai airline boarding counter in Frankfurt, to my surprise I was NOT asked for my throw away ticket. I note thou the person behind the counter was focused looking at my Type-OA visa (which was then invalid) and I don't think they realized it was invalid. I think they still believed I was on a Type-OA visa. Strangely, when I arrived in Bangkok, and I was at the Bangkok immigration counter, the IO asked for my ticket. So I showed him my ticket to arrive in Thailand and also my throw-away ticket (to leave Thailand). My Thai wife (who was accompanying me) also spoke to him in Thai. The IO looked at her, then looked at me, and then waved me through immigration (after stamping my passport for Visa exempt). I have no idea what my wife said to the IO, and when I asked my wife later, she stated she could not recall. Further, in October last year, I had a friend flying from Bangkok to Vietnam to invalidate his type-OA visa, planning to re-enter Visa exempt, and then switch to a type-O visa. Like me, he purchased a incredibly cheap one-way throw-away ticket. He was asked by Vietnam Air in Da Nang, Vietnam, to show his ticket leaving Thailand BEFORE they would allow him to board in Da Nang (for Thailand). He showed them his "throw-away" ticket, and they let him board. The risk is, especially for transatlantic flights, is not being allowed to board (because one has no ticket showing they plan to leave Thailand) could mean you lose your ticket to Thailand, you don't get compensated for it, and you are possibly unable to cancel hotel reservations in Thailand. This could cost one a few thousand dollars ... where spending $25 on a throw-away ticket would have prevented such. Its not the end of the world, but who wants to lose a few thousand dollars? So IMHO, your mileage may vary.

In the case of Phuket, I think 1-year extensions (on type-O and type-OA) based on marriage are sent out of province. This statement is based on m experience with a Type-OA 1-year extension based on marriage. But I believe (also in case of Phuket) that 1 year extensions (on a type-O) based on retirement are NOT sent out of province. I base this on my experience, in Phuket (earlier this year) when I applied for a 1-year extension, based on retirement, on my type-O visa .... it took only took 24 hours. I don't think it can go to another province and back in that timeframe. Note this is in contrast to my applying (last October) for my initial 90-day Type-O (based on retirement) that took about 6-weeks and clearly was sent out of province for approval.

I am not sure if I correctly understood the quote, but its commonly known that for some Visa applications and extensions, Phuket immigration does send the applications out of province. That has been posted on this forum before. The cases I know of in Phuket immigration are: (1) 1-year marriage extension on a Type-OA visa - after filling in all the paperwork and providing such to Phuket immigration, ... Phuket immigration would then send the paperwork out of province for approval. (2) initial Type-O 90-day Visa application (made when one was in Phuket on a Tourist exempt) - again after filling in all the paperwork and providing such to Phuket immigration, ... Phuket immigration would then send the paperwork out of province for approval. There may be other examples as well - although possibly I misunderstood what I quoted (apologies if that is the case).

Perhaps I mistyped? Nominally for a LTR Wealthy pensioner one has to show equivalent $80K US/year passive income. But there is an alternative LTR Wealthy pensioner category that where one only has to show equivalent $40K US/year passive income IF one can also prove a $250K US$ equivalent investment in Thailand. I my case I was going for the at least $40K US$ passive income category, but I was a bit short of proving the $250K US$ investment in Thailand. So I needed to show a bit less than 2-million THB more investment in Thailand, which I did via buying Thai government bonds. Hopefully that makes this more clear ?

I purchased 2-million THB of Thai government bonds via Bangkok Bank so to 'top up' my investment in Thailand for the LTR "Wealthy Pensioner" 40K US$ equivalent passive income per year. I was given a bond Book from the Bangkok Bank. I provided copy of the Bond book pages to BoI as part of my LTR application, but then just over a week ago BoI asked for a 'Bond Certificate' instead of copies of the Bond Book. One nominally has to pay about 200 baht or so more to get a Bond Certificate, BUT given Thai government bonds are now 'scriptless bonds' the Bond Certificates are not nominally provided (unless specifically asked for). FURTHER, I discovered most Bangkok Bank branches do NOT know how to apply for a Thai government bond certificate. My wife and I phoned a few branches of Bangkok Bank and 2 said they would not do it. We then called the Bangkok HQ for Bangkok Bank and they stated the Bangkok Bank branch where I bought the Thai government bonds was obliged to order the Bank Certificate if one asked. So I went to Bangkok Bank branch from where I ordered the bonds. The teller had no clue how to do it, but she started phoning Bangkok Bank HQ, and then the official Government National Bank. She made about a dozen phone calls with multiple 'run arounds', fowarded to another number. Each time she was told a Bond Certificate was not needed, and each time she had to tell them it WAS NEEDED for an LTR visa proof of investment. Finally she reached a number/contact they gave her instructions how to proceed. She and I filled in the form, I paid the money for the certificate, I was given a receipt, and over a week later I am still waiting for the certificate to arrive. So I can't recall - BUT if when you first buy the bond you are given an option at the same time to pay extra for a Bond certificate, be CERTAIN to do so as BoI require such.

Possibly some exaggeration in the article? When I applied for a 90-day Type-O visa in Phuket in late October last year, I was asked for a copy of pages out of the Chanote of the condo unit I own (which I passed to them) and I was also asked for copies out of pages of my Blue book for my condo (instead I gave them copies of pages out of my Yellow book - which they accepted). I was also asked to call them via Line social media app (they gave me a phone number for Line) at a specific time in the next couple of days, which I did. While on the video call they had me walk to my condo unit door so they could see the unit number, and then had me walk to the street so they could see the condo complex street sign. All easy and quick to do. There was no requirement to go to one of my condo's bedrooms. That's a bit bizarre ? Then in January this year when I went for a 1-year extension (at Phuket immigration) for reason of retirement on that Type-O Visa, I provided them again copies of my Chanote and Yellow book. This time they did NOT ask to do a video call. Of course that was January this year. This is May now so maybe requirements for extensions have changed?

I have found Phuket immigration (for a retirement extension) can ask for pictures of one by their condo , and a map of their condo, dependent on the IO, and dependent on the year in which one is going for the extension. One year I showed up for a one year extension based on retirement (underlying Visa was a type-OA) and the first IO who initially checked my documents, asked for a map to my condo and images as to myself being in front of my condo door, and in front of my condo complex sign. I made clear to him I was going for a retirement extension, and he made clear to me he understood. So fortunately, while I believed those ONLY needed for an extension based on marriage I never-the-less had those. A couple of hours later (after waiting for my queue number to come up) the next (different) IO I saw at the Phuket immigration office handed back both the hand drawn map and images of me by my condo. BUT I was told verbally that an IO may show up at my place/make an appointment to confirm I lived where my documents recorded me as living - so I gave the IO my wife's phone number for them to make an appointment. Two weeks later a Phuket IO phoned and asked if we were home so they could drop by. We were actually off island at the time (in Khao Lak) and told the IO we would be back in a few days. They said they would call back for another appointment in a few days - they never did call back (so I guess it not important). Roll forward in time some years, and after switching to a 1-year Marriage Extension (on my Type-OA) and then a year later switching to a Type-O visa, I went for an extension based on Retirement on the Type-O. The IO did not ask for a hand drawn map, nor (initially) ask for pictures of me by my condo. But I was asked for a copy of the deed of my condo and a copy of the blue book pages (I gave them my Yellow Book pages instead of the Blue book pages). Then they asked for my social media "Line" application contact info (which I had) and they asked I 'video' phone them from my condo at a specific time in 2 days time. This I did. While on a video chat they had me walk to my condo door, and do a selfie with the video, and then walk to my condo complex entrance, and do a selfie by the condo complex sign. They told me they were doing 'screen snapshots' of those 'live' images for their records. This was for a retirement extension on a Type-O visa ! My view ? It all depends on the IO in addition to depending on the Immigration office. This being Thailand, and me being a foreigner, I find it best to simply roll with the 'punches' and give them best as possible what they ask for, especially if it is easy to provide.

If you meet all the requirements then its NOT illegal to use an agent. All one is doing is paying the agent to have Power of Attorney in this Visa 'permission to stay extension' (or paying the agent to obtain on one's behalf other immigration documents) and its 100% perfectly legal. Only for those who do not meet the Thai visa requirements, who manage to find an agent who can 'wiggle around' the Thai requirements and still obtain the permission to stay extension (or obtain other non-Visa related documents/approvals when one does not meet the Thai requirements), is it (IMHO) illegal.

Well - I agree it should be that way. but it was not for me in Phuket with Phuket immigration. I suspect it depends on the immigration branch. I entered some years back on a type-OA visa. Prior to going for my 1st one year extension (for reason of retirement) the rules changed and one had to show Health Insurance from the Thai branch of a Health Insurance company (my superior in coverage and cheaper European insurance was not accepted). When I went for my 1st one year extension (for reason of retirement) I was advised I needed Health Insurance from a Thai branch of an insurance company - and unlike some in Phuket (with different entry dates/stamps on their Type-OA visas than what I had) I did have to show the Health insurance (from Thai branch of an insurance company) according to Phuket immigration. Well I thought no issue - so I immediately applied for my extension based on my being married to a Thai person. Phuket immigration said NO. I could not do that on my 1st (one year) extension on a Type-OA, but could only 'switch' to marriage on my 2nd (one year) extension on a Type-OA. I suspect this is a Phuket immigration unique rule - but there is no sense fighting city hall, so I purchased double health insurance that year and applied for the 1-year extension (for reason of retirement) on my Type-OA. Fortunately the Health Insurance requirements were less then so I was able to purchase almost worthless health insurance (with a MASSIVE deductible) that was accepted by Phuket immigration that did not cost much. ... I did NOT want to give up my superior European Health insurance ... Hence I obtained a one-year extension based on retirement on the Type-OA (again as noted I had to have health insurance from a Thai branch of an insurance company). Fortunately I had maintained the 800k THB in my bank account during that year. 12-months later, when I went for my 2nd 1-year extension on my type-OA visa, this time I stated for reason of marriage, and they accepted that, with no Health Insurance requirement proof required. However the amount of paperwork, to obtain an extension for reason of marriage, GREATLY exceeds that of for reason of retirement, and further in the case of Phuket immigration, the time to obtain an approval for the 1-year extension (for reason of marriage) also GREATLY exceeds that for reason of retirement. So I eventually (months later after obtaining my 1-year extension for reason of marriage) , I left Thailand, invalidated my Type-OA visa, and re-entered tourist visa exempt, applied for and obtained a 90-day Type-O Visa (from Phuket Immigration) and two months later applied for and obtained a one-year extension on my permission to stay on the Type-O Visa for reason of retirement (no health insurance requirement proof needed). My view is a Type-OA visa is no longer attractive if the Thai Health Insurance requirement is unsuitable to one's particular circumstance. Don't 'gamble' that a marriage extension will be accepted the 1st time one tries to get such. It was not for me in Phuket. So in Thailand one never knows for certain - I think each immigration office has a degree of latitude in how they interpret the 'rules' and one has to be a bit careful in their planning.

A caution on this. One can have absolutely fabulous health insurance, and not have it recognized/accepted by the Thai immigration - in particular when it comes time to obtain a 1-year extension (ie after the first couple of years) on a Type-OA visa. So my caution to anyone considering a Type-OA visa, who thinks they don't have to worry about the Health Insurance clause, because they already have health insurance, and because their original Health Insurance was originally accepted by an Embassy (when first getting the type-OA visa) - don't be so sure it will be accepted one or two years later by Thai immigration in Thailand when it comes time for an extension on one's "permission to stay" in Thailand. I have fabulous Health Insurance that comes with my pension from a European government organisation, that exceeds the Thai requirements. It covers both me and my Thai wife. But it is NOT accepted by Thai immigration. With my being faced with either (1) giving up my superior European Health insurance - replacing it with FAR less capable and more expensive Health insurance from the Thai branch of a Health Insurance company), or (2) keeping my superior European Health Insurance and ALSO buying 2nd health insurance from the Thai branch of a Health Insurance company (ie buying double insurance), or (3) keeping my superior European Health Insurance AND switching from a Type-OA to a Type-O visa, I went with the Type-O visa. To the best of my knowledge, Thai immigration does not nominally accept self insurance, unlike the relatively new LTR Wealth Pensioner visa where one can simply maintain $100,000 US$ in a foreign bank account, and that will be accepted as adequate Health Insurance. Of course they call it an "LTR Wealth Pensioner" visa for a reason (ie one needs to have the money), where not everyone has the $100,000 US to keep in a bank account. But given I do qualify, that self insurance (in my view) sure beats me having to buy double health insurance with a Tupe-OA Visa (if I don't want to give up my superior and cheaper European Health Insurance).

I have good friends who ALWAYS use an agent (cost ~ 10,000 baht/year) , and it goes smooth like you describe. Myself? I tend to suffer through immigration, but then later celebrate with the 10,000 Thai baht I saved each year. That can buy some fabulous dinners. My friends just laugh and prefer to spend the money. I figure we both have good points for our different views. I am now applying for an LTR (Wealthy Pensioner) Visa, where all the paperwork submission is from the comfort of my beach front condo, where I can sip some wine (or drink a beer) on the balcony, overlooking the sea, and submit to BoI the scanned PDF files of needed documents with my laptop. No agent needed, and (if LTR approved) the 50,000 Thai baht fee for the entire 10 years, will be 1/2 the summation equivalent of 10-years for an agent every year. My friends view? They are in their mid-to-late-70s and who is to say they will even live another 10 years to justify paying 50,000 THB up front for an LTR (Wealthy pensioner) ? So they pay 10,000 every year instead for an agent. That makes sense to me. Each approach has its advantages. I feel lucky just to have the choice. Best wishes for your approach - as i can fully appreciate its advantage (of not spending time in immigration, which dependent on date/time can amount to hours in a crowded place).