Getting rid of Non O-A (specific case)

[scubascuba3]

4 hours ago, Sheryl said:

 

 

Immigration cannot change an OA to an O visa. They can convert a tourist visa to an O or issue an O to someone already in country on  a visa exempt entry.

 

Why can't they change an OA to an O when they can convert a visa exempt or tourist visa to an O?

[ubonjoe]

3 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Why can't they change an OA to an O when they can convert a visa exempt or tourist visa to an O?

Because there is no procedure or authority to do it. A non immigrant visa category cannot be changed at immigration.

[hugocnx]

8 hours ago, Sheryl said:

 

It is, but a second "throw-away" policy just to meet Imm requirement will cost even more and be of no use whereas you can get at least some use out of ATENA OPD cover.

 

Which AETNA plan is this? If Platinum there is no maximum per visit which greatly increases the likelihood if actually using much of it.

Sorry Sheryl, I didn't get want you meant in first paragraph.

 

For 30K I can travel to many holiday destinations. I would never pay that extortion amount for a 40K OPD coverage.

 

I have a simple plan with Aetna since I had exclusion for heart & vessels. Why pay for an extensive coverage if the highest costs are not covered.

Edited December 6, 2019 by hugocnx

[Peter Denis]

12 hours ago, hugocnx said:

Sorry Sheryl, I didn't get want you meant in first paragraph.

For 30K I can travel to many holiday destinations. I would never pay that extortion amount for a 40K OPD coverage.

I have a simple plan with Aetna since I had exclusion for heart & vessels. Why pay for an extensive coverage if the highest costs are not covered.

Many posters - including myself - are in same situation as yourself, i.e. being well-insured for any accident or health-related eventuality that might happen when staying in Thailand.

And they are equally outraged that in order to extend their stay based on an original OA Visa for retirement, they are now forced to take an expensive and basically worthless thai-approved health-insurance policy, because IO does not accept foreign insurance (even if its coverage is way beyond the ridiculously low 400K/40K coverage required).

And that's why OA -retirement Visa holders are looking for ways to 'dodge' the health-insurance requirement.

Applying for an extension based on MARRIAGE instead of retirement being one of the options.  Alternatively conversion to a Non Imm O type Visa based on retirement (or marriage) is also an option.

[berrec]

Why you ask two dogs; that anything Thai officialism is involved with consistently lacks clarity of execution (all IMO are not created equal).

 

Or more broadly speaking is a Cluster F#####.

 

The government  legislation on the health insurance for OA -retirement Visas as I read it looks precise and clear in its definition. 

 

The problem seems to be lack of correct interpretation and consistent enforcement by various IMO.  

 

No problem if all IMOs are singing from the same hymn sheet; assuming they can read! 

 

 

[Deerculler]

Can anyone tell me where to find the information about health insurance for O-A Retirement applications?

 

[Deerculler]

PeterDenis,

I agree with you.

Another thing is why should anyone rush away and get married or go the border every 90 days.

I get the horrible feeling that they want us to go onto the Elite Visa.

Even that Visa is badly conceived.

 

[ubonjoe]

8 minutes ago, Deerculler said:

Can anyone tell me where to find the information about health insurance for O-A Retirement applications?

 

https://longstay.tgia.org/

[Deerculler]

5 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

https://longstay.tgia.org/

Thank you very much Joe.

[Peter Denis]

57 minutes ago, Deerculler said:

PeterDenis,

I agree with you.

Another thing is why should anyone rush away and get married or go the border every 90 days.

I get the horrible feeling that they want us to go onto the Elite Visa.

Even that Visa is badly conceived.

Hi Deerculler,

For your info >

When applying for a 90-day Non Imm O Visa based on retirement you need to cross (exit/return) the border only once.

You can apply for the 90-day Non Imm O Visa either abroad in your home-country (if it is available there) or in a neighboring country (Laos, Malaysia, ...).  You can also apply for a Tourist Visa abroad or return to Thailand Visa exempt, and apply for a 90-day Non Imm O Visa at your local IO.

Once you have the 90-day Non Imm O Visa based on retirement, you can then apply at your local IO for a 1 year extension of stay.

The requirements and conditions for that extension based on a Non Imm O - retirement, are exactly the same as for an extension based on a Non Imm OA - retirement, except that for the Non Imm O there is NO health-insurance requirement.

Crazy and waste of time/energy/money but of course much better than having to sign up for the expensive and basically worthless thai-approved health-insurance.

 

 

[KhunBENQ]

Step 1, the known debacle just a from a first hand experience.

 

My mate walked in to Jomtien today trying to get his yearly extension based on retirement.

Entered on Non O-A in 2010, never left the country.

 

Just had a video talk with him.

All as expected. Non O-A: no retirement extension without one of these **** Thai health insurances.

He meets all other requirements for extension.

His existing insurance does not interest. No document for signing by insurance company offered (useless anyway).

When he asks what he can do: leave country and get a normal Non-O.

 

No surprise. All as expected.

Crazy as can be.

 

He will decide tomorrow whether he will use the offer of some "agent" or do the visa run (his extension ends mid January).

Edited December 16, 2019 by KhunBENQ

[Deerculler]

49 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

Step 1, the known debacle just a from a first hand experience.

 

My mate walked in to Jomtien today trying to get his yearly extension based on retirement.

Entered on Non O-A in 2010, never left the country.

 

Just had a video talk with him.

All as expected. Non O-A: no retirement extension without one of these **** Thai health insurances.

He meets all other requirements for extension.

His existing insurance does not interest. No document for signing by insurance company offered (useless anyway).

When he asks what he can do: leave country and get a normal Non-O.

 

No surprise. All as expected.

Crazy as can be.

 

He will decide tomorrow whether he will use the offer of some "agent" or do the visa run (his extension ends mid January).

Thank you you very much for your post.

This is very important information.

Myself and others will be interested in how he gets on.

Like to know how he gets on with the agents as well.

I wonder what happened the only those applying for O-A after the 31-19-2019.

Please keep us up to date.

[KhunBENQ]

3 minutes ago, Deerculler said:

Please keep us up to date.

Of course.

3 minutes ago, Deerculler said:

I wonder what happened the only those applying for O-A after the 31-19-2019.

31 Oct 2019?

But still not sure what you mean with the sentence.

His experience is just proof that all those are also affected who entered long ago (visa as such expired)

Edited December 16, 2019 by KhunBENQ

[KhunBENQ]

On 12/16/2019 at 6:41 PM, KhunBENQ said:

 

He will decide tomorrow whether he will use the offer of some "agent" or do the visa run (his extension ends mid January).

He met with an agent today who handled the application at Jomtien immigration.

His passport will be ready latest on Monday.

I will wait to see what has been done and "finalize" this case.

I won't go into detail publicly.

[saengd]

I posted the following in response to someone in a different thread. But since I committed to reply to several posters here I'm posting it again here:

 

I just returned from Immigration and my passport is now stamped with "under consideration" and I must return on 17 January to get stamped for the remainder of the twelve months, I'm using the cash in bank method. To reiterate:

 

The original request which was confirmed in writing was to change from an O-A extension based on retirement to an O visa based on marriage.

 

I was originally issued with an O-A visa based on retirement in 2004 and my extension of stay has been extended every May since using the cash in bank method.

 

We married four weeks ago and used a well known/regarded visa agent in Chiang Mai to make the visa change.

 

I am told by the agent this is now a type O visa extension but I don't have any stamp to confirm that.

 

I have not left Thailand to accomplish the above.

 

There is no requirement for me to buy health insurance for my current extension.

 

The total cost was 8,900 baht, not the 15,000 baht I mentioned previously, this was my mistake, sorry.

Edited December 18, 2019 by saengd

[jacko45k]

14 hours ago, saengd said:

I am told by the agent this is now a type O visa extension but I don't have any stamp to confirm that.

 

I appreciate the update and feedback on this. With the above statement I am unsure how this can be assured. Does your passport still have the original O-A Visa in it, or the  transfer to a new passport, which will of course mention the original Visa type? 

The Extension Stamp itself does not usually mention the originating Visa. 

A marriage extension doesn't require insurance. 

You have achieved what was desired. Hopefully, any future reversion to an Extension based on retirement will be straightforward, better still, never needed. 

 

Edited December 19, 2019 by jacko45k

[ubonjoe]

15 hours ago, saengd said:

I am told by the agent this is now a type O visa extension but I don't have any stamp to confirm that.

They only changed the reason for your extension of stay from retirement to marriage. An extension of stay based upon marriage does not require insurance.

You original permit to stay you have extended is still from from a non-oa visa. That cannot be changed unless you leave and re-enter the country with a non-o visa.

[OJAS]

5 hours ago, jacko45k said:

I appreciate the update and feedback on this. With the above statement I am unsure how this can be assured. Does your passport still have the original O-A Visa in it, or the  transfer to a new passport, which will of course mention the original Visa type? 

The Extension Stamp itself does not usually mention the originating Visa. 

A marriage extension doesn't require insurance. 

You have achieved what was desired. Hopefully, any future reversion to an Extension based on retirement will be straightforward, better still, never needed. 

 

Sounds to me like her agent is just as confused by the terminology as are various posters on here!

 

But her report does appear to provide useful confirmation to Chiang Maian retirees who originally entered Thailand with a non-OA visa and are married to Thai nationals that their "friendly" local immigration office will permit them to switch from retirement to marriage as the reason for future extensions so as to avoid the insurance requirement without the need to exit Thailand for either a non-O visa within the ASEAN region or a 30-day visa exempt stamp + non-O conversion. 

[KhunBENQ]

My mate just sent me a photo of his new extension based on retirement.

Applied last week, picked up today.

Extension expires in Jan 2021.

His "insurance" expires in Dec 2020.

"insurance": as written he went through some agent and I don't want to go into details publicly.

Case closed for him for another year.

[KhunBENQ]

Forgot to point to the fact that the procedure does not include any change of visa status (from Non O-A).