Another month?

[Jlop]

I am an American living in Krabi, Thailand since mid-November under the following:

 

1. 30-day exemption on arrival

2. 30-day extension

3. 60-day tourist visa obtained after flying to Malaysia and staying a couple of nights

3. 30-day extension that expires April 13

 

I was scheduled to leave Thailand on April 2nd, but the airline has been messing with my flights, and now I can change my departure date for free. 

 

For several reasons, I wouldn't mind staying a bit longer. What do you think are my chances of getting another 30-day exemption on arrival if I go over the border in Malaysia? I thought I read in a few places that the government does not want you to stay 6 months or more in a rolling 12-month period, but I'm not sure about it.

 

Thank you!

[DrJack54]

OP, you still have your 2 border entries that can both be extended. 4 months extra.

[Jlop]

On 3/15/2020 at 11:49 AM, DrJack54 said:

OP, you still have your 2 border entries that can both be extended. 4 months extra.

Those would be by land only?

[ubonjoe]

33 minutes ago, Jlop said:

Those would be by land only?

He was suggesting land border crossings.

There is no written limit by air.

[Jlop]

13 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

He was suggesting land border crossings.

There is no written limit by air.

Thanks, sounds like my plan is feasible.

[timendres]

On 3/16/2020 at 1:07 PM, Jlop said:

Thanks, sounds like my plan is feasible.

Except that Malaysia just closed it's borders.

 

 

[Jlop]

22 hours ago, timendres said:

Except that Malaysia just closed it's borders.

 

 

Yes I heard that. So I'm giving up and going back to U.S. and its rapidly growing outbreak.

[mosan]

30 minutes ago, Jlop said:

Yes I heard that. So I'm giving up and going back to U.S. and its rapidly growing outbreak.

Smart move, just because one has a visa (I'm looking at you Non Immigrant O Multiple Entry holders) does not mean you can cross a border at your own convenience.  I sympathize with their plight, but the practice may carry over in the future - because xenophobia, etc., etc... I'll be leaving later this year and hopefully obtain a new Non Immigrant O from the US this year.  My current Non Imm. O-A is potentially cramping my style.

[BritManToo]

5 minutes ago, mosan said:

Smart move, just because one has a visa (I'm looking at you Non Immigrant O Multiple Entry holders) does not mean you can cross a border at your own convenience.  I sympathize with their plight, but the practice may carry over in the future - because xenophobia, etc., etc... I'll be leaving later this year and hopefully obtain a new Non Immigrant O from the US this year.  My current Non Imm. O-A is potentially cramping my style.

Flying to Cambo tomorrow.

Will buy the slightly more expensive ordinary  VISA on arrival @ $35, so I can extend it for a year if I'm not allowed back on Monday.

Will be hard on the kids and gf and home loan if I can't get back, as I don't have enough money to run two homes in different countries & it'll be 'walk away' time.

[Nyezhov]

2 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Will be hard on the kids and gf and home loan if I can't get back, as I don't have enough money to run two homes in different countries & it'll be 'walk away' time.

Its a renters market here. Folks are nervous.

[BritManToo]

1 minute ago, Nyezhov said:

Its a renters market here. Folks are nervous.

Drove through CM this morning in an attempt to find meds and USDs ........

The moat and Loi Kro were unnaturally empty, not many cars around, the money changers didn't have much in the way of $$$$$s either.

All very strange. 

[DrJack54]

29 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Flying to Cambo tomorrow.

Will buy the slightly more expensive ordinary  VISA on arrival @ $35, so I can extend it for a year if I'm not allowed back on Monday.

Will be hard on the kids and gf and home loan if I can't get back, as I don't have enough money to run two homes in different countries & it'll be 'walk away' time.

Walk away from what. Home country or wife and lids.

[Jlop]

On 3/18/2020 at 5:44 PM, mosan said:

Smart move, just because one has a visa (I'm looking at you Non Immigrant O Multiple Entry holders) does not mean you can cross a border at your own convenience.  I sympathize with their plight, but the practice may carry over in the future - because xenophobia, etc., etc... I'll be leaving later this year and hopefully obtain a new Non Immigrant O from the US this year.  My current Non Imm. O-A is potentially cramping my style.

What is it you don't like about the O-A Visa? Insurance?

[mosan]

12 minutes ago, Jlop said:

What is it you don't like about the O-A Visa? Insurance?

I loved the Non Immigrant O-A...it allow me to leave my funds in my home bank and gave two years of stay in the Kingdom. I already have excellent world-wide insurance coverage. It was the implementation of the Thai insurance rule that made it a non-starter, and spoiled all the advantages of the visa.  It's the Non Immigrant O Multi-Entry Visa that does not make a lot of sense.  True, you don't have to face immigrations inside Thailand, but the extra cost and hassle of border runs every 90 days is way more of a problem.  The smart move mentioned above was about getting off of the Non Imm O-A because it's no longer the asset it once was.   

[Jlop]

5 minutes ago, mosan said:

I loved the Non Immigrant O-A...it allow me to leave my funds in my home bank and gave two years of stay in the Kingdom. I already have excellent world-wide insurance coverage. It was the implementation of the Thai insurance rule that made it a non-starter, and spoiled all the advantages of the visa.  It's the Non Immigrant O Multi-Entry Visa that does not make a lot of sense.  True, you don't have to face immigrations inside Thailand, but the extra cost and hassle of border runs every 90 days is way more of a problem.  The smart move mentioned above was about getting off of the Non Imm O-A because it's no longer the asset it once was.   

I think  your comparison makes perfect sense. But the OA rules say that the Thai government will accept foreign equivalent for Insurance if you provide two copies of the policy. Have you considered trying that? I know there can be a big difference between what the rules say and what they actually allow. I am counting on using my own American Insurance when I apply for an OA Visa in the future. Because it's coverage is better than the Thai insurance policies.

[mosan]

3 minutes ago, Jlop said:

I think  your comparison makes perfect sense. But the OA rules say that the Thai government will accept foreign equivalent for Insurance if you provide two copies of the policy. Have you considered trying that? I know there can be a big difference between what the rules say and what they actually allow. I am counting on using my own American Insurance when I apply for an OA Visa in the future. Because it's coverage is better than the Thai insurance policies.

For the record, I'm an American also, and on top of that I'm a veteran with TRICARE for Life which after a deductible, covers me 100%. However, I've already tried to run the insurance past the Embassy/Consulate in Washington, D.C. and they wouldn't accept it.  They did tell me to check back after my two years are up (this October 2020) and see if things have changed on the acceptance of TRICARE for Life.  Additionaly, several individuals on this forum (A person named Sheryl I think is one) have mentioned that some higher level people at the Embassy in Bangkok were in fact working behind the scenes to get more "across the board" acceptance of various insurance products.  You can infact use your international coverage for the first year applying in the US, it just that subsequent extensions in Thailand require insurance to be purchased from the approved Thai insurance companies.