Options entering TH on short notice for 1year plus stay

[stat]

I am a German over 50.

 

Depending on the outcome of a personal situation I might want to move to Thailand on a very short notice (will know 2-5 days beforehand). Stay between 13-months to open end.

 

What are currently my options? Will call embassy tomorrow as well but would like to tap the vast knowledge of Thaivisa beforehand.

 

Can I currently come here with a covid test and quarantaine and then change visa to Non-O? Maybe even stay without visa on extension of stay due to Covid? Prefered region Hua Hin, PKK, Krabi, Lanta or Phuket. Would hate to do quarataine in Bangkok and then again somewhere else, as Bangkok is not an option for me.

favorite would have been Non A-0

 

800K Baht deposit not a problem. Statement of funds maybe a problem as I can show wealth but not in a regular bank account instead it shows as a statement of liquidation value. Also no regular pension but regular income from dividends in the past. Should I use agent in Thailand?

 

Elite visa takes long time as I understand it and maybe I will not need it or maybe you buy one and they wont let you in.

 

Thanks a lot guys!

 

Nota bene: Have stayed in Thailand for about 18 months before on several Multi entry tourist visas (back to back), so I know what i am doing (several years ago, so passport is fresh). I am aware that my situation is very special, but again I know what i am doing on a personal level so pls no comments I should have planed longer before etc, thx ????

[Salerno]

49 minutes ago, stat said:

(will know 2-5 days beforehand)

 

In which case fastest with least paperwork is visa exempt.

 

Convert to Non O after quarantine (800K in Thai bank on day of application), then extension of stay based on retirement after 800K has been seeded for 2 months.

[dadann]

How many times and for how long can you extend the visa exemption entry as of now?

Tried calling immigration at several locations, but they never pick up the phone.

[Salerno]

You can only extend visa exempt once; but they keep extending the covid extension.

[stat]

Thanks for your postings so far!

 

So I could enter visa exempt and stay for (currently 45 days) with the option of potentially some more covid extension convert to non O. Do I understand correctly that as long as they issue covid externsion I can stay in Thailand without a formal visa until they no longer issue covid extensions?

 

I would need COE following this procedure (is this the correct website?):

 

https://coethailand.mfa.go.th/regis/step?language=en

 

and that would be it in a first step.

 

Latest info on change to Non-O would be here right?

https://www.immigration.go.th/en/?p=14714

 

Not sure if the embassy in Germany has latest info on procedures in Thailand.

 

 

I dread the risk that I forfeit my payment for ASQ... (Poitive covid test or change of rules etc)

Any feedback moneywise what happens if I cant travel or have to travel on another date? Will check the threads now.

 

Thank you guys!

 

 

[ThailandRyan]

You better have started the COE, process, have your insurance purchased, and found an ASQ you will quarantine in.  Get it all set up first, then you may, and I say may be able to do it in 2 to 5 days, but I reserve the right to say it may take a few weeks to get it all together.  Better contact your embassy or at least look online to see the requirements and start the paperwork on your end so you have what's needed when you need to start the process.

[DrJack54]

20 hours ago, stat said:

Can I  currently come here with a covid test and quarantaine and then change visa to Non-O? Maybe even stay without visa on extension of stay due to Covid? Prefered region Hua Hin, PKK, Krabi, Lanta or Phuket. Would hate to do quarataine in Bangkok and then again somewhere else, as Bangkok is not an option for me.

favorite would have been Non A-0

 

800K Baht deposit not a problem. Statement of funds maybe a problem as I can show wealth but not in a regular bank account instead it shows as a statement of liquidation value. Also no regular pension but regular income from dividends in the past. Should I use agent in Thailand?

No offense but you sound so much all over the shop. As few posters have mentioned just enter visa exempt and obtain non o based on retirement. You state the  800k is no problem. So why even mention an agent. They cover the money in bank issues.  Also why ask about income method when the plan you suggest won't work.

You state anywhere for quarantine apart from Bangkok. You will be in a room for 2 weeks. What the difference re your location

Read @ThailandRyan post. You need time to obtain the COE etc. It won't be a few days.

Weird thread.

[ubonjoe]

12 hours ago, stat said:

I would need COE following this procedure (is this the correct website?):

 

https://coethailand.mfa.go.th/regis/step?language=en

Yes

 

12 hours ago, stat said:

Latest info on change to Non-O would be here right?

https://www.immigration.go.th/en/?p=14714

No

The is a page for extensions of stay. For a non-o visa application it is this page. https://www.immigration.go.th/en/?page_id=2537

[dadann]

On 1/31/2021 at 10:27 PM, Salerno said:

You can only extend visa exempt once; but they keep extending the covid extension.

Excuse my ignorance, but what does "covid extension" stand for and how would it work with a visa extension? How often can I extend and what would it cost if my initial entry is a visa exempt stamp?

 

Another question, if someone in the know could tell me whether entry from Laos is allowed at any checkpoints using visa exemption? I see a problem with no quarantine hotels being available in Nong Khai, or not that I know of.

[DrJack54]

@dadann

Not possible to enter via land.

The 60 day extension that is being referred to as 'covid extension' is ongoing extensions available by signing a form that basically states that due to the covid situation you are unable to leave Thailand. They cost 1900 baht.

You can obtain them until they stop issue and it would seem that is some time off.

The current situation is they will be issued till march 29. Meaning someone could apply towards end of march and obtain permission of stay stamp til late May.

That date will most likely be extended (again)

 

[Salerno]

7 minutes ago, dadann said:

Excuse my ignorance, but what does "covid extension" stand for and how would it work with a visa extension? How often can I extend and what would it cost if my initial entry is a visa exempt stamp?

 

The Thais have been extremely generous since this all kicked off. They have basically had an amnesty in place and given people "that can't get home" extensions (basically everyone has qualified to-date). The latest announcement being a person can apply for yet another extension up to 30 March and get another 60 days. 

 

13 minutes ago, dadann said:

Another question, if someone in the know could tell me whether entry from Laos is allowed at any checkpoints using visa exemption?

 

No.

[DrJack54]

12 minutes ago, Salerno said:

The Thais have been extremely generous since this all kicked off. They have basically had an amnesty in place and given people "that can't get home" extensions (basically everyone has qualified to-date). The latest announcement being a person can apply for yet another extension up to 30 March and get another 60 days

Agree completely.

However I do find it a little weird that the previous amnesties then extensions and current 'covid extensions' seemed to be put in place to assist those that did in fact get stuck in Thailand and now the extensions can be obtained by folk that have arrived in recent times.

If I was currently wishing to come to Thailand and not able to obtain a non o,  I would enter visa exempt and obtain covid extensions.

[ubonjoe]

42 minutes ago, dadann said:

Another question, if someone in the know could tell me whether entry from Laos is allowed at any checkpoints using visa exemption?

You would have to be able to enter Laos first and then apply for a certificate of entry at the embassy in Vientiane or the consulate in Savannakhet. Only Laotians and permanent residents of Laos can enter at this time and the only flights allowed are for repatriation.

[stat]

On 2/1/2021 at 3:25 PM, DrJack54 said:

No offense but you sound so much all over the shop. As few posters have mentioned just enter visa exempt and obtain non o based on retirement. You state the  800k is no problem. So why even mention an agent. They cover the money in bank issues.  Also why ask about income method when the plan you suggest won't work.

You state anywhere for quarantine apart from Bangkok. You will be in a room for 2 weeks. What the difference re your location

Read @ThailandRyan post. You need time to obtain the COE etc. It won't be a few days.

Weird thread.

Man you are damm right with "all over the shop", sorry my post has to come across as from someone who is close to losing his mind. However I can't further explain my personal reasons for this kind of "mad" hurry, sorry.

 

My proposal regarding location was due to the fact that I learned that sometime you have to do a second quarantaine, due to the fact that Bangkok is labelled a Covid red zone and then I would have to do 2nd quarantaine in a green zone. Can someone confirm that inter Thailand travel is restricted?

 

Thanks for all the helpful posts! Would have needed to leave my country last Thurday which I didn't apparently...

 

So I will stay in Germany for the time beeing and wait till Thailand opens up a bit more, maybe without quarantaine if I get a Covid shot . However my situation can change quickly and I would like to keep all options on the table.

I will maybe opt to go to another country if push comes to shove beforehand and then move to Thailand.

 

If there are any updates on a quick entry in the next weeks I would like to hear about them.

 

Thanks again cheers !

 

[ubonjoe]

44 minutes ago, stat said:

My proposal regarding location was due to the fact that I learned that sometime you have to do a second quarantaine, due to the fact that Bangkok is labelled a Covid red zone and then I would have to do 2nd quarantaine in a green zone. Can someone confirm that inter Thailand travel is restricted?

It is not needed in most provinces. Only a couple of provinces still require the self quarantine but since you would of already done a quarantine and had a negative covid 19 test you would not need to do it. 

[DrJack54]

1 hour ago, stat said:

So I will stay in Germany for the time beeing and wait till Thailand opens up a bit more, maybe without quarantaine if I get a Covid shot . 

OP, you state that you may need/want to exit Germany at short notice. Perhaps you could consider another country then Thailand later. I'm not familiar with the situation in Europe to know what countries are possible. If anyone knows and can post info, that would be great.

Personally my guess is that having had the vaccine and there by being exempt from quarantine is a long way off. 

Also note that you would only need to do one lot of quarantine in Thailand. The package start at ~ 43k baht and work up. Good luck.

[Salerno]

14 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

The package start at ~ 43k baht and work up.

 

For the cheap charlies, they actually start at 26,500 Bht https://thaiest.com/bookings/asq/seasons-siam-hotel (47 to choose from under 40K). 

[DrJack54]

36 minutes ago, Salerno said:

 

For the cheap charlies, they actually start at 26,500 Bht https://thaiest.com/bookings/asq/seasons-siam-hotel (47 to choose from under 40K). 

Is that just in more recent times? I thought early days kick off was about 40k.

Anyway good for OP to know he has cheaper options.

[Salerno]

1 minute ago, DrJack54 said:

Is that just in more recent times?

 

There's new hotels coming online all the time. Of course the old maxim "You get what you paid for" is mostly true as always (few bad reviews for hotels with a price point where better would be expected and a few cheaper surprisingly good).

[stat]

@dr Jack

 

Thanks for your proposition of moving to another country first! Is/was also my first idea. Main problem is that in most countries you immediatly establish tax residency with 1st day of moving there. Most countries however consider living in a hotel not a tax residency. I am in a deep pile of <deleted> here ????Luxemburg would be my first choice here.

 

Germany does not provide vacination for under 80 years old and will not provide it until my guess August/September. So even if Thailand opens up to vacinated people it will be too late for me.

Videos I see regarding quarantaine seems to be a huge mental challenge for some people.

 

Thanks again folks!