Switching from Non-Immigrant OA to Non-Immigrant O on basis of Retirement

[Liquorice]

11 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

 

Are you obtaining extensions from non O-A based on retirement or marriage.

Retirement requires insurance 

Marriage no insurance requirement 

chiang mai later posted;

 

5 hours ago, chiang mai said:

This is probably my oversight, I changed my reason to stay from retirement to marriage, about ten years ago and had overlooked the fact that those OA holders using retirement as the basis of their stay, required insurance. Whether or not anyone was grandfathered in subsequently, I don't know since I wasn't affected. Apologies.

 

[skorts]

1 hour ago, JimTripper said:

Are you otherwise covered, or will be going without insurance?

I have a global medical insurance policy (excluding USA) with £1 million of annual in-patient cover (policy issued in the U.K.) so over 100 times the ฿400,000 in-patient requirement being re-introduced for OA annual extensions.

 

I have a high excess to keep the premiums down so self insuring to an extent but know I am covered if I have a serious accident or major health issue. 
 

As it is not issued by one of the Thai panel insurers and I have no outpatient cover it is not accepted by Immigration. Completely bonkers in my opinion which is why I am ditching my O-A Visa.

 

Having taken this policy out as a continuation policy of my employer scheme when I left employment many years ago I have no pre-existing conditions. If I  tried to get medical insurance now with a new insurer I would have several exclusions. 
 

Buying an annual Thai medical insurance policy with a huge excess and medical exclusions makes it worthless as I will never claim on it.

Edited September 22 by skorts

[DrJack54]

7 minutes ago, skorts said:

If I  tried to get medical insurance now with a new insurer I would have several exclusions. 

That is an issue for many.

Good you have excellent alternative.

Clearly you are better off with a non O with the process you outlined in OP.

[skorts]

Just now, DrJack54 said:

That is an issue for many.

Good you have excellent alternative.

Clearly you are better off with a non O with the process you outlined in OP.

Thanks for your reassurance Dr Jack. I wish I had switched a long time ago but I have been a bit concerned about compulsory medical insurance being introduced for O Visas too as it seems the next step. But I will switch and cross that bridge if it ever happens. 
 

Appreciate your feedback. You and others like Liquorice are doing a fantastic job supporting us all with your expertise through what can only be described as a minefield 🙏

[DrJack54]

2 minutes ago, skorts said:

.....I  have been

 a bit concerned about compulsory medical insurance being introduced for O Visas too as it seems the next step....

 

Much of that is scaremongering.

IF that was to eventuate then most likely other options would be available. 

In recent time LTV, DTV etc.

Make the switch to non O and chill.

Your financials are in place. Bank account etc.

Good move. 

[bigt3116]

One option that never seems to get mentioned for a Non-OA is if you have continued with the health element of the social security, (having previously worked), that is also accepted and of course that is only 432 baht a month.

[WDSmart]

I did this about ten years ago. I went to the Thai Embassy in Laos and got the O Visa, which was a 30-day visa. When I returned to Thailand, I got a one-year stay extension based on retirement. I've been getting the one-year stay extension ever since and have even switched back and forth between an extension based on marriage and retirement several times.

[KhunBENQ]

20 hours ago, skorts said:

The thing I am not sure about is 3. above, and whether I can go to Immigration and apply for a Non-Immigrant O Visa almost immediately after entering Thailand on 60 days Visa exempt or I have to wait until later during my 60 day Visa exempt period?

I went immediately in 2022 (30 day visa exempt).

 

Border run Sunday 17.7.2022 (July).

Apply Non-O on 19.7.2022 and got under consideration until 12.8.2022.

Picked up Non-O on 6.8.2022 (didn't wait under consideration🙂).

Issue date of Non-O was 2.8.2022 resulting in an "admitted until" 30.10.2022.

 

Applied for extension on 4.10.2022 (almost as early as acceptable).

Got extension until 30.10.2023.

... and so on

 

So the new date for your extension is somewhat arbitrary and depends on when the boss signs the application.

In my example 2.8. resulting in a look alike entry stamp admitted until 30.10.

Since then 30 October is my extension due.

Edited September 23 by KhunBENQ

[Liquorice]

5 hours ago, bigt3116 said:

One option that never seems to get mentioned for a Non-OA is if you have continued with the health element of the social security,

Perhaps because the O-A doesn't permit employment.

[khomlong1]

Why not have a break at Savannaket In Laos, just over the border. The Thai consulate can issue a 90 day non.o visa . Takes 2 days. You can then extend it for 1 year retirement towards the end of this period .

[Slugs11]

You can start the process of applying for the Non O visa straight after you get back into Thailand.  I did the same as you’re planning. I left Thailand to kill off the old Non OA visa, re entered Thailand the next day and started the process of applying for the Non O visa within  the first week. Just wanted to get it all completed and not leave it to the last few days. 

[DrJack54]

21 hours ago, skorts said:

With my U.K. passport re-enter Thailand visa exempt and get stamped in for 60 days. 

OP, out of interest for others what was the actual plan for exit point to kill off the non O-A.

Land border or .....

[bigt3116]

49 minutes ago, Liquorice said:

Perhaps because the O-A doesn't permit employment.

 

Perhaps you should learn to read. I said if you had continued the health element of Social Security, you can only do that AFTER you stop working.

 

(In your defence, maybe you are not too familiar with the Social Security and its benefits)

 

🙂

Edited September 23 by bigt3116

[Liquorice]

6 minutes ago, bigt3116 said:

Perhaps you should learn to read. I said if you had continued the health element of Social Security, you can only do that AFTER you stop working.

Which part of an 0-A visa doesn't permit working, obtaining a work permit, to be able to pay into the SS scheme didn't you understand.

The 0-A is issued purely on the basis of retirement - employment prohibited > no work permit > no SS contributions.

 

What has this to do with switching from an O-A to an O visa?

[skorts]

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

OP, out of interest for others what was the actual plan for exit point to kill off the non O-A.

Land border or .....

I will be flying out of Suvarnabhumi. 

[DrJack54]

3 minutes ago, skorts said:

I will be flying out of Suvarnabhumi. 

That's why I asked. HH not so easy for a border bounce.

My pick would be few days in Saigon.

From a Bangkok airport.  

 

On return visa exempt consider options to cover any request from airline at departure for onward flight. 

[skorts]

4 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

That's why I asked. HH not so easy for a border bounce.

My pick would be few days in Saigon.

From a Bangkok airport.  

 

On return visa exempt consider options to cover any request from airline at departure for onward flight. 

Thanks for flagging onward flight. Something I definitely need to consider.

[skorts]

2 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

I went immediately in 2022 (30 day visa exempt).

 

Border run Sunday 17.7.2022 (July).

Apply Non-O on 19.7.2022 and got under consideration until 12.8.2022.

Picked up Non-O on 6.8.2022 (didn't wait under consideration🙂).

Issue date of Non-O was 2.8.2022 resulting in an "admitted until" 30.10.2022.

 

Applied for extension on 4.10.2022 (almost as early as acceptable).

Got extension until 30.10.2023.

... and so on

 

So the new date for your extension is somewhat arbitrary and depends on when the boss signs the application.

In my example 2.8. resulting in a look alike entry stamp admitted until 30.10.

Since then 30 October is my extension due.

Really helpful feedback.  Thanks for outlining your experience and the timeline. 

[DrJack54]

22 minutes ago, skorts said:

Thanks for flagging onward flight. Something I definitely need to consider.

One option is rent a ticket 

"onwardticket.com"

[skorts]

12 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

One option is rent a ticket 

"onwardticket.com"

Thanks for that. I recommended them to a friend a while back and they used them successfully. I had forgotten the name of the company so thanks! 

[TimBKK]

The OA insurance requirements are so low and thus so cheap (granted, its a complete throwaway policy) that I wonder if it would actually cost more to switch to a non-O, at least initially?

 

Think I paid 2000b (via an agent) for something from the “Bangkok Insurance Public Company Limited” which I believe is affiliated with Bangkok Bank.  I could probably renew the policy at a BKK branch for even cheaper.

 

Just a though, although I suppose over time the non-O will eventually win out on cost.

[oldcpu]

3 hours ago, TimBKK said:

The OA insurance requirements are so low and thus so cheap (granted, its a complete throwaway policy) that I wonder if it would actually cost more to switch to a non-O, at least initially?

...

Just a though, although I suppose over time the non-O will eventually win out on cost.

 

 

I think many of us (who were on type-OA visas) had different circumstances than yourself.

 

Many of us, due to our age, could not get a throw away health insurance as inexpensive as you can get.  Further, as you point out, over time, after a number of years of purchasing a throw away health insurance , the amount of money adds up.

 

So for those of us with far superior non-Thai branch provided Health Insurance, (while on Type-OA visas - where such not accepted in Thailand by immigration) we either switched to a extensions based on marriage (as we had a Thai wife) or we simply exited Thai to invalidate our Type-OA visas (and re-entered to obtain a Type-O, per the OP's post).

 

Unfortunately, the Type-OA visa , for Health Insurance proof, does not adopt the approach of the LTR visa, where self health insurance (from large deposits in bank accounts either in or outside of Thailand) can be used in lieu of Health Insurance proof.

Edited September 23 by oldcpu

[flexomike]

On 9/22/2024 at 1:05 PM, chiang mai said:

You're not on an OA visa, you're on an extension of stay, the visa has expired, why do you want a new one?

His original visa was an OA, stated that he did nine extensions of the original visa, probably doesn't want to get the usless Thai insurance anymore, so he wants to switch to an O visa and extent that before his 90 days is up. 

You should stick to the taxation issues which you seem to know so much about and leave visa issues for those with more knowledge than you.

[flexomike]

On 9/22/2024 at 1:01 PM, skorts said:

 

After 9 annual extensions from my original Non-Immigrant OA Visa I have decided to switch to a Non-Immigrant O Visa. Just wanted to check my understanding is correct. The ฿800,000 is already seasoned. 

 

1. Leave Thailand without a re-entry permit so my Non-Immigrant O-A is cancelled. 
2. With my U.K. passport re-enter Thailand visa exempt and get stamped in for 60 days. 
3. Over the next few days after re-entry into Thailand go to Immigration (Hua Hin) main office and apply for a Non-Immigrant O Visa valid for 90 days. Fee ฿2,000. 
4. 30 to 45 Days before expiration of that Visa go to Immigration (Hua Hin) main office and apply for my annual extension Fee ฿1,900. 

 

The thing I am not sure about is 3. above, and whether I can go to Immigration and apply for a Non-Immigrant O Visa almost immediately after entering Thailand on 60 days Visa exempt or I have to wait until later during my 60 day Visa exempt period?

 

I know I can apply for my Non-Immigrant O Visa much later during my 60 day Visa exempt period but for various reasons want to apply as soon after re-entering Thailand as possible. 

Does the annual extension start from the date I visit the Immigration office and apply for my annual extension or from the day after my Non-Immigrant O Visa 90 days expires?

 

Thanks in advance for your help. 

I did my changeover on the same day I crossed the border and back. Get it done

[bigt3116]

18 hours ago, Liquorice said:

Which part of an 0-A visa doesn't permit working, obtaining a work permit, to be able to pay into the SS scheme didn't you understand.

The 0-A is issued purely on the basis of retirement - employment prohibited > no work permit > no SS contributions.

 

What has this to do with switching from an O-A to an O visa?

 

Jeez, you are slow, maybe, just maybe the person with the O-A didn't always have one, maybe they worked beforehand?

 

I mentioned the social security health benefits because it is accepted as insurance for the O-A, and it seems the only reason people change is because of the insurance, so I mentioned an option, (that never seems to be put forward).

[flexomike]

On 9/22/2024 at 1:20 PM, chiang mai said:

My OA expired 19 years ago and I don't need medical insurance, why do you think you do?

Because it is the law for anyone on an OA visa extension for reason of retirement. Some people have changed their original OA extension from retirement to marriage. This negates having to have insurance.

[flexomike]

On 9/22/2024 at 1:23 PM, DrJack54 said:

Yours has been grandfathered hence no insurance requirement.

Can't recall the date your non O-A to have been issued for that to be possible. Think 2018

Someone will post the year. 

I think Phuket is the only one that gave grandfathering. My OA was from 2016 and I was required to have insurance. Rayong Immigration

[flexomike]

On 9/22/2024 at 1:33 PM, skorts said:

Thanks for your feedback. 
 

Can I go to Immigration and apply for a Non-Immigrant O Visa almost immediately after entering Thailand on 60 days Visa exempt or do I have to wait until later during my 60 day Visa exempt period?

YES

[chiang mai]

51 minutes ago, flexomike said:

His original visa was an OA, stated that he did nine extensions of the original visa, probably doesn't want to get the usless Thai insurance anymore, so he wants to switch to an O visa and extent that before his 90 days is up. 

You should stick to the taxation issues which you seem to know so much about and leave visa issues for those with more knowledge than you.

You should read the entire thread before commenting!

[lamyai3]

On 9/22/2024 at 1:01 PM, skorts said:

The thing I am not sure about is 3. above, and whether I can go to Immigration and apply for a Non-Immigrant O Visa almost immediately after entering Thailand on 60 days Visa exempt or I have to wait until later during my 60 day Visa exempt period?

I did this in 2022 and completed the entire process in under two months. Visit to CW immigration the next working day after returning on 30 day visa exempt entry to apply for the Non O, and again 45 days before it expired. With the Non O (retirement) I was required to have a home visit during the under consideration period which was normal at that time, not sure if this is still required.

 

On 9/22/2024 at 1:01 PM, skorts said:

Does the annual extension start from the date I visit the Immigration office and apply for my annual extension or from the day after my Non-Immigrant O Visa 90 days expires?

From the date you visit the office to apply for the extension.