Can a Non O-A visa in effect last for two years?

[Peter Denis]

23 hours ago, Tanoshi said:

You don't need 800K in a Thai bank for a Non O-A Visa application, the required funds can be in any bank any Country.

The 800K in a Thai bank is only a requirement if extending your permission of stay for 1 year at a local Immigration office. It's to demonstrate you have sufficient funds to cover living expenses for 1 year.

Fully correct.

And though your last sentence is indeed the 'official explanation' for why you need to keep the +800K on your Thai bank-account when applying for the 1-year extension of stay, it is a typical Thai explanation (devoid of any logic).

Two obvious questions spring to mind:

1 - Why is it NOT necessary to keep +800K/+400K parked semi-permanently on your Thai bank-account during the 2 years the Non Imm O-A Visa did provide you when having applied for it in your home-country? 

2 - When the 800K is meant to ensure that you have sufficient funds for living expenses, then why are you not allowed to make use of them but have to ensure that you never slip under the +800K and +400K tress-holds during your stay in Thailand?

>> Yes these are rhetorical questions, and the answer is 'because these are the rules' which should not be questioned further.

 

[Tanoshi]

12 minutes ago, Peter Denis said:

Two obvious questions spring to mind:

1 - Why is it NOT necessary to keep +800K/+400K parked semi-permanently on your Thai bank-account during the 2 years the Non Imm O-A Visa did provide you when having applied for it in your home-country? 

2 - When the 800K is meant to ensure that you have sufficient funds for living expenses, then why are you not allowed to make use of them but have to ensure that you never slip under the +800K and +400K tress-holds during your stay in Thailand?

>> Yes these are rhetorical questions, and the answer is 'because these are the rules' which should not be questioned further.

The first is easy to answer.

1. Because the requirements for obtaining the O-A, which is a Visa are regulated the Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs, not Immigration and obtained at Thai Embassies in your home Country. 

The requirement for obtaining extensions within Thailand, which are permits, not Visas, are regulated by Thai Immigration.

There are lots of different conditions and requirements attached to both.

2. This was a hasty change made by 'Big Joke's' short term in office, who had plans for further alterations, which he never got to make. We'll never know the reason for this amendment, but I personally think this had something to do with the issue of unpaid medical bills.

The compulsory Health Insurance later became a requirement for O-A Visa and extension applications.

 

Again at that time, in my opinion it was the 'Tourist' groups who were responsible for unpaid medical bills, you only have to see the amount of 'Go Fund me' appeals to identify the group.

Now their introducing a 300 baht fee on entry to cover medical expenses for tourists.

 

Their logic is indeed fickle at times and no government health plan for 'long stay expats' in Thailand, although cover plans in place for foreign workers and now it seems for Tourists.