Health Insurance requirement - Non-OA visa with marriage based extension

[westsail]

I received a non-OA retirement visa from the Thai embassy in the U.S. in 2019 before health insurance was required.  Then in 2020 when that was expiring I applied at Phuket Immigration for a 12 month marriage based extension.  We were interviewed.  The application and supporting documents were reviewed.  Everything went fine.  I was given provisional acceptance and told to return in 30 days to pick up my visa.  The next day the immigration officer called my wife and said "Sorry.  The rules changed.  We cannot give you the marriage visa extension".  Instead, they gave me 30 days and told me to apply for a Covid extension after that.  I didn't have 800k in the bank for a retirement visa, so I went to a visa agent, and he got a marriage based extension for me.

It's time for me to renew again.  I plan to apply without using an agent,  but I'm not sure which rules apply in my case regarding the health insurance requirement.  Do the non-OA health insurance requirements apply since my original visa is non-OA, or since I currently have a marriage based extension am I exempt from the health insurance requirement?

[DrJack54]

25 minutes ago, westsail said:

Do the non-OA health insurance requirements apply since my original visa is non-OA, or since I currently have a marriage based extension am I exempt from the health insurance requirement?

Extensions based on marriage from a non O-A do not require insurance. 

Not sure what the agent did for you.

Perhaps it was just organize documents etc.

You must have met the required financial requirements. 

 

You also state ...

" I was given provisional acceptance and told to return in 30 days to pick up my visa. The next day the immigration officer called my wife and said "Sorry. The rules changed. We cannot give you the marriage visa extension"

 

Based on what you stated previously that is incorrect advice. 

Was this your first extension.

Whoops just realized my error.

However not edit as perhaps useful for others...

Your first extension needs to be based on retirement.

How did your agent get around that? And obtain extension based on marriage? 

 

 

Edited January 1, 2022 by DrJack54

[westsail]

I'm sure the agent got around it by paying someone.  The extension was also, issued by the Immigration Office in a different province.  Not that that should make any difference.

[DrJack54]

5 minutes ago, westsail said:

I'm sure the agent got around it by paying someone.  The extension was also, issued by the Immigration Office in a different province.  Not that that should make any difference.

Double check your extension stamp. 

Does it have RT written on it?

Seems to me that the agent obtained extension based on retirement.

Possible stamped in KK.

How much did the agent cost.

Did you provide money in the bank etc etc? 

Edited January 2, 2022 by DrJack54

[westsail]

The extension stamp does not mention RT anywhere.  There is a separate very small stamp that says "Thai wife" in Thai.

I had the 400k in the bank for the requisite amount of time.  Fortunately it was held in a separate account in my name only.  I overlooked the requirement that it cannot be in a joint account.

The visa agent was expensive, but I agreed to use him with the understanding that going forward I would be able to complete the renewal process on my own without going thru an agent.

[Tuvoc]

On 1/1/2022 at 11:56 PM, westsail said:

I'm sure the agent got around it by paying someone.  The extension was also, issued by the Immigration Office in a different province.  Not that that should make any difference.

It can be problematic. My last retirement extension was done in a different province. After 90 days I went to my local office and filed a TM30 which they accepted, but they then refused to accept a 90 day report and told me I had to go back to the previous office to do that. Bizarre. I was leaving the country anyway a month later so didn't bother, but theoretically I'll be up for a 2000 baht fine when I do my renewal, which I will certainly do in the  same province this time.

[cardinalblue]

It was expensive b/c you didn’t meet the requirements so money under the table….

 

you won’t get a renewal on your own unless you fully meet the requirements….

 

something is amiss….need to find it and correct it

 

O-A visas require $100k health coverage incl Covid for duration of visa…

 

avoid that coverage if you have a Non O visa….you can’t have both types of visa….you are either O or OA….

Edited January 3, 2022 by cardinalblue