O/A visa and insurance experience today

[lopburi3]

25 minutes ago, Max69xl said:

Immigration didn't accept sworn testaments = fake testaments.

I and suspect many or us are tired of hearing that.  Most provided sworn statements that were true and Immigration was free to request supporting documents from any of us at any time.

[ThaiBob]

25 minutes ago, Max69xl said:

Immigration required the income/pension to be documented,stamped and signed by authorities/insurance companies and/or banks. Just like income letters from other embassies. Immigration didn't accept sworn testaments = fake testaments. Then the UK embassy said that they weren't "experts in verifying documents", which is bs. So they stopped issuing income letters. So, don't blame Immigration. 

Yes, it was bs. These four or five embassies let down their tax paying citizens primarily because of bureaucratic ineptitude. Other embassies continue to serve their citizens. 

[LivinLOS]

18 hours ago, saiber said:

Where i have to leave the country every 90 days... not my intentions. O-A is absoloutely the perfect visa . ( from now on only if they accept a foreign insurer and stop this "Go-Hock" regarding mandatory Thai insurer. ) 

You leave once.. Then you extend uincountry in exactly the same way.. Minus the insurance. 

 

You are aware that how it works yeah ??

[Andrew Dwyer]

2 hours ago, garygooner said:

I changed from an ED visa in Thailand to a retirement visa in Thailand about 5 years ago. 4 Extensions in Thailand since. Am I right in thinking that it must be a non imm 0 visa (not 0-A) and doesn't need health insurance?

If you changed to a visa in Thailand then it is definitely NOT an OA visa and probably an O visa.

OA visa can only be obtained in your home country ( or country of residence ) .

 

You lucky fella !!

[Sheryl]

20 hours ago, jackdd said:

If you can get the foreign insurance certificate from them you can get an OA visa with it.

In case you want to get an extension for retirement after you entered Thailand with an OA visa, then this insurance will not be accepted.

Note that the certificate -- which is difficult if not impossible to get signed -- is not an absolute requirement  and Embassy or Consulate might issue the visa based on policy documents if you call and explain that you have the required cover but can't get the certificate.

 

One TV member succeeded in this with Vancouver Consulate and I suspect in time all the Embassies/Consulates will be doing likewise as people just won't be able to get the certificate signed as worded.

 

Doesn't  solve the problem for subsequent years though. Inless you return home after one year and get a new OA.

[Max69xl]

1 hour ago, LivinLOS said:

You leave once.. Then you extend uincountry in exactly the same way.. Minus the insurance. 

 

You are aware that how it works yeah ??

You don't leave at all. You enter on the 90 days Non-Immigrant O based on retirement, then after 60 days you extend it 1 year at the local immigration office. If you meet the financial requirements.

[LivinLOS]

Just now, Max69xl said:

You don't leave at all. You enter on the 90 days Non-Immigrant O based on retirement, then after 60 days you extend it 1 year at the local immigration office. If you meet the financial requirements.

Hes currently on an OA.. 

 

He needs to leave once, invalidate his current permission of stay, get a non imm O single, return and extend. 

 

Hes labouring under the belief that a non imm O means you have to leave the country every 90 days. 

[lkv]

58 minutes ago, LivinLOS said:

Hes currently on an OA.. 

 

He needs to leave once, invalidate his current permission of stay, get a non imm O single, return and extend. 

 

Hes labouring under the belief that a non imm O means you have to leave the country every 90 days. 

Everybody keeps talking about "just get a non O".

 

No embassy will issue a non O whilst on an unexpired non O-A.

 

No embassy will void another embassy's issued valid visa. Or if they would, kindly let me know which.

 

You cannot have two valid visas in a passport in the same time, both a non O-A and a non O.

 

The "killing" scenario only works when you are past the expiry date of the non O-A, so therefore you cannot use it anymore to enter Thailand. Until then, you have a valid visa, and no other visa will be issued.

 

The only way to get out of the catch 22 in this situation would be to change the passport, which invalidates the non O-A.

Edited November 16, 2019 by lkv

[Pib]

9 minutes ago, lkv said:

Everybody keeps talking about "just get a non O".

 

No embassy will issue a non O whilst on an unexpired non O-A.

 

No embassy will void another embassy's issued valid visa.

 

You cannot have two valid visas in a passport in the same time, both a non O-A and a non O.

 

The "killing" scenario only works when you are past the expiry date of the non O-A, so therefore you cannot use it anymore to enter Thailand. Until then, you have a valid visa, and no other visa will be issued.

 

The only way to get out of the catch 22 in the last situation would be to change the passport.

So, lets say a person has a Non-OA from Christmas past....say from 2010 and that person has been getting retirement extensions of stay ever since...and let's say that current retirement extension of stay is good till 30 Jun 2020.

 

With above scenario in mind, are you saying if that person exits Thailand tomorrow "without" a reentry permit to keep the current retirement extension of stay alive and reenters a week later that his current retirement extension of stay is still valid till 30 Jun 2020?  If so, I don't think that is correct.

 

Without the reentry permit the retirement extension is killed off (based on an old Non-OA from Christmas past) and the person would just get the normal Exempt entry stamp good for 30 days for many nationalities.  Then the person can start the process to convert the Exempt to a Non-O at their local immigration office.  And assuming the conversion is approved then during final 30 days of that Non-O is to apply for a retirement (or marriage) extension of stay.  

 

 

 

[lkv]

11 minutes ago, Pib said:

So, lets say a person has a Non-OA from Christmas past....say from 2010 and that person has been getting retirement extensions of stay ever since...and let's say that current retirement extension of stay is good till 30 Jun 2020.

 

With above scenario in mind, are you saying if that person exits Thailand tomorrow "without" a reentry permit to keep the current retirement extension of stay alive and reenters a week later that his current retirement extension of stay is still valid till 30 Jun 2020?  If so, I don't think that is correct.

 

Without the reentry permit the retirement extension is killed off (based on an old Non-OA from Christmas past) and the person would just get the normal Exempt entry stamp good for 30 days for many nationalities.  Then the person can start the process to convert the Exempt to a Non-O at their local immigration office.  And assuming the conversion is approved then during final 30 days of that Non-O is to apply for a retirement (or marriage) extension of stay.  

 

 

 

In the case you are describing, that person no longer has a valid non O-A visa in their passport, because it has long expired, and they are on a permission of stay that just got extended over and over again.

 

To invalidate a permission of stay, all you have to do is to exit Thailand, and not have a re-entry permit, as you said.

 

Permission of stays are granted when one enters Thailand and end when one leaves Thailand.

 

When one extends at local Immigration, they extend their permission of stay. The one granted initially upon arrival in Thailand. When one exits Thailand, they don't terminate "the extension of stay", they terminate the stay, whether it's extended or not extended.

 

I was describing the scenario for people that have a valid non O-A visa in their passports and want to invalidate it.

Edited November 16, 2019 by lkv

[Martyp]

27 minutes ago, Pib said:

So, lets say a person has a Non-OA from Christmas past....say from 2010 and that person has been getting retirement extensions of stay ever since...and let's say that current retirement extension of stay is good till 30 Jun 2020.

 

With above scenario in mind, are you saying if that person exits Thailand tomorrow "without" a reentry permit to keep the current retirement extension of stay alive and reenters a week later that his current retirement extension of stay is still valid till 30 Jun 2020?  If so, I don't think that is correct.

 

Without the reentry permit the retirement extension is killed off (based on an old Non-OA from Christmas past) and the person would just get the normal Exempt entry stamp good for 30 days for many nationalities.  Then the person can start the process to convert the Exempt to a Non-O at their local immigration office.  And assuming the conversion is approved then during final 30 days of that Non-O is to apply for a retirement (or marriage) extension of stay.  

 

 

 

In my case I arrived in 2017 with an OA visa. I just got my 1 year extension until November 2020. However I also bought a multi-re-entry permit. I believe I would have to wait until November 2020 before I could start a non-O process.

[flexomike]

3 minutes ago, Martyp said:

In my case I arrived in 2017 with an OA visa. I just got my 1 year extension until November 2020. However I also bought a multi-re-entry permit. I believe I would have to wait until November 2020 before I could start a non-O process.

so if you just got your extension in November, did they ask about insurance, if no, what immigration office

 

[lkv]

20 minutes ago, Martyp said:

In my case I arrived in 2017 with an OA visa. I just got my 1 year extension until November 2020. However I also bought a multi-re-entry permit. I believe I would have to wait until November 2020 before I could start a non-O process.

Correct. Unless Immigration would be willing to cancel the re-entry permit, but I am not sure they either could or be willing to do such a thing. 

 

However, in your case, you would have no reason to do that or apply for a non O earlier than November 2020, because you should not be asked for insurance if you travel abroad and come back. You have already been granted a permission of stay a while ago, that was never invalidated, because you extended your stay, and whenever you left Thailand, you used a re-entry permit.

 

Therefore, upon re-entry, you are not requesting for a new permission of stay, but simply continuing your previous permission of stay, already granted.

Edited November 16, 2019 by lkv

[stat]

12 minutes ago, lkv said:

Correct. Unless Immigration would be willing to cancel the re-entry permit, but I am not sure they either could or be willing to do such a thing. 

 

However, in your case, you would have no reason to do that or apply for a non O earlier than November 2020, because you should not be asked for insurance if you travel abroad and come back. You have already been granted a permission of stay a while ago, that was never invalidated, because you extended your stay, and whenever you left Thailand, you used a re-entry permit.

 

Therefore, upon re-entry, you are not requesting for a new permission of stay, but simply continuing your previous permission of stay, already granted.

Why not "simply" get a second passport from your homecountry and get new visa? Perfectly legal in most countries I know. Leave TH with old passport enter with 2nd passport. u can just send the 2nd pp from Thailand to embassy in your native country and have it resend to mate in homecountry who then forwards your passport to Thailand. Worked for me in 2011 with 2 tourist visas back 2 back, alas before biometrics at airports were introduced. But to my knowledge they just confirm if you fit the biometrics in your passport not if you have left Th in the morning with another passport as in my case.

 

Good luck!

Edited November 16, 2019 by stat

[lkv]

7 minutes ago, stat said:

Why not "simply" get a second passport from your homecountry and get new visa? Perfectly legal in most countries I know. Leave TH with old passport enter with 2nd passport. Worked for me in 2011 with 2 tourist visas back 2 back, alas before biometrics were introduced.

Because alternative solutions can be found. For people on an extension of stay that was granted already, with a re-entry permit, they will not be affected.

 

The only category that might be affected are current non O-A valid visa holders.

 

If it comes to changing passport, they could simply change it in Thailand, then go with both passports to Immigration, transfer the permission of stay from one passport to the other, and then exit Thailand and apply for a non O.

 

That's a more economical way to invalidate a non O-A visa, instead of "simply" going back home.

Edited November 16, 2019 by lkv

[stat]

1 minute ago, lkv said:

Because alternative solutions can be found. For people on an extension of stay that was granted already, with a re-entry permit, they will not be affected.

 

The only category that might be affected are current non O-A valid visa holders.

 

If it comes to changing passport, they could simply change it in Thailand, then go with both passports to Immigration, transfer the permission of stay from one passport to the other, and then exit and apply for a non O.

 

That's a more economical way to invalidate a non O-A visa, instead of "simply" going back home.

No need to go back "just" mail passport. Just wanting to help to show possible solution.

[lkv]

1 minute ago, stat said:

No need to go back "just" mail passport. Just wanting to help to show possible solution.

Yeah, mail to their respective embassies in Thailand, Bangkok, if they are not in Bangkok, if those Embassies provide the mail service.

[Lovethailandelite]

[DrJack54]

78 pages of rubbish. If you had an O-A prior to Oct 31 then leave after obtaining reentry permit you will not require insurance. 

If your O-A obtained post Oct 31 you require insurance. When you exit with a reentry permit (perhaps near end of first yr multi non O-A) you will not need insurance. 

For folks who entered years back on now expired O-A and apply for 12 month permission of stay based on retirement.... just continue. Business as usual. No insurance required.

[Max69xl]

39 minutes ago, lkv said:

Because alternative solutions can be found. For people on an extension of stay that was granted already, with a re-entry permit, they will not be affected.

 

The only category that might be affected are current non O-A valid visa holders.

 

If it comes to changing passport, they could simply change it in Thailand, then go with both passports to Immigration, transfer the permission of stay from one passport to the other, and then exit Thailand and apply for a non O.

 

That's a more economical way to invalidate a non O-A visa, instead of "simply" going back home.

Why would a change of passport invalidate the still valid O-A Visa? 

[lkv]

29 minutes ago, Max69xl said:

Why would a change of passport invalidate the still valid O-A Visa? 

Re-edit.

 

You are right, it does not invalidate the visa.

Edited November 16, 2019 by lkv

[Max69xl]

Just now, lkv said:

Because you cannot transfer a visa from one passport from another. A visa is issued per a specific passport number.

 

That's why, if people are on a non O-A, and they lose their passport in Thailand, they have lost their non O-A. They have to go back to their home countries and apply for a new non O-A.

 

Immigration only transfers the current permission of stay (extended or not).

 

The valid O-A Visa will still exist in the Immigration database, and will probably pop-up when entering Thailand. Immigration also has the right to ask for the old passport. 

[lopburi3]

5 minutes ago, lkv said:

Because you cannot transfer a visa from one passport from another. A visa is issued per a specific passport number by an Embassy overseas. Passport becomes invalid, visa becomes invalid.

Totally false information - visa remain valid in canceled passports but entry must be entered on current valid passport.

[Forresttrump]

Hi all, new member but not new to your forum.  I find your members experiences a great help when preparing for my frequent visits to Thailand.  I have the O-A visa issued December 2018 and returned here on Thursday.  Now the one thing I’ve learnt is never to question an IO’s knowledge of his job and have more documentation than you need!  Ok that’s two things.  First question from the IO you have your insurance certificate please, yes here it is, quick scan and stamp for one year extension and sent on my way.  For your information I only had multi-trip travel insurance for one year.  It worked for me your experience maybe different.

 

[lkv]

15 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

Totally false information - visa remain valid in canceled passports but entry must be entered on current valid passport.

Yeah makes sense actually, you are right. They would honor visas from cancelled passports. Visas do indeed remain valid. 

 

Oh well, so what happens then in the scenario that one does what I have described above.

 

Changes the passport, applies for a non O, enters with a non O?

 

What would Immigration do then? If one does not have his old passport in his possesion.

Edited November 16, 2019 by lkv

[Haribo]

On 11/15/2019 at 4:04 PM, Momofarang said:

So amongst the 1117 posts of this thread, which has gone way off topic, are there any first hand accounts of:

a) anyone, with a non OA entry prior to October 31st, having been denied extension based on retirement;

b) anyone, with a non OA entry prior to October 31st, having been denied extension based on marriage to a Thai?

Now one may argue that extension are off topic too, so please point to the relevant thread(s).

We have one client who has a non OA since 6 years, having denied extension on retierment because not accept the international firstclass health insurance. The Immigration say he has to make a thai health insurance.

So what will happen if a foreigner over 75 years old and not get an thai health Insurance?  

[Kadilo]

40 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

78 pages of rubbish. 

For folks who entered years back on now expired O-A and apply for 12 month permission of stay based on retirement.... just continue. Business as usual. No insurance required.

You can call it what’s you like but some people who are going to get their EOS from previous O-A Visa ARE being asked for Thai Insurance 

There are examples across many existing threads. 

Edited November 16, 2019 by Kadilo

[lopburi3]

13 minutes ago, lkv said:

Oh well, so what happens then in the scenario that one does what I have described above.

Toss of the dice I suspect (lottery day) - computer will likely call up old information when new passport entered based on name/DOB or new bio data but what officer would do may vary.  Actually there is more dust than sun so far and expect a lot of head scratching being done by more than just us.

[Max69xl]

21 minutes ago, lkv said:

Yeah makes sense actually, you are right. They would honor visas from cancelled passports. Visas do indeed remain valid. 

 

Oh well, so what happens then in the scenario that one does what I have described above.

 

Changes the passport, applies for a non O, enters with a non O?

 

What would Immigration do then? If one does not have his old passport in his possesion.

The valid O-A Visa will pop-up when Immigration scans the new passport. I don't know how the embassy/consulate will react when they see the last entry stamp and the permission to stay stamp in the new passport. They might also be able to see the valid O-A Visa,and then refuse another application.

[el jefe]

14 hours ago, UncleMhee said:

A friend gets exactly that visa every year in Savannakhet; and has done so for many many years. This year as well!

That's great for your friend. When I used to get O visas in NY it took 5 minutes and cost nothing other than the visa itself. Going to savannakhet will take 3 days and cost an additional 12,000 baht. No thanks. That's why I got an O-A.