Problem transitioning from OA to O Non-Immigrant Retirment Visa

[Confuscious]

Slightly off-topic, but what is a "throw away insurance policy" and do you have any links to where to obtain such insurance policies?

[WDSmart]

I did this about 10 years ago. I went to the US Embassy in Laos to have it done, and everything worked out well.

[CanadaJoe]

2 hours ago, erectem said:

Had same problem with OA and beginning of covid.  Too old to get med. ins. so got an agent for 2 consecutive estensions to do renewals.  When covid restrictions wetre lifted, I went to Vientienne (with out re entry permit effectively cancelling oa) and got a 60 day tourist visa.  entered Thailand and 15+ days before expiration applied at C. Wattanna for 90 day thing. Non. imm. 0. for retirement. and now I get 1 year extension  easy peasy. 

Great 👍🏻 Looking forward to ditching the OA 

[CanadaJoe]

47 minutes ago, Confuscious said:

Slightly off-topic, but what is a "throw away insurance policy" and do you have any links to where to obtain such insurance policies?

To get my original OA visa and to get my extension, I needed a health insurance policy of at lease 4,000,000 TBaht. My previous policy covered me for $10,000,000 USD so exponentially more than required. However, the Thai government requires holders of any non-Thai policies to have a letter signed by the insurance company stating that they sold you the policy. Sounds straightforward and simple enough, but every company I contacted for insurance would not sign such a letter. So, despite being covered by my existing policy for $10,000,000 USD, I had to fork out (throw away) $350 on one of the “approved” Thai insurance policies. These Thai policies do not require a signed letter. The Thai policy covers me for the minimum 4,000,000 baht required for the visa, but has a 300,000 Baht deductible, making it virtually useless for anything but the most serious cases. So basically, insurance companies sell them to people like me, who are forced to buy them in order to get a visa. When I transition to a regular O visa, there is no such requirement from the Thai government. 

[CanadaJoe]

42 minutes ago, WDSmart said:

I did this about 10 years ago. I went to the US Embassy in Laos to have it done, and everything worked out well.

Sweet! Glad it all worked out 👍🏻

[CanadaJoe]

1 hour ago, Confuscious said:

Slightly off-topic, but what is a "throw away insurance policy" and do you have any links to where to obtain such insurance policies?

I got the list from the Thai consulate website in Vancouver. longstay.tgia.org

[connda]

23 hours ago, CanadaJoe said:

2) Leave Thailand, return on a Tourist visa and then apply for a new O visa

 

2) Leave Thailand, return on a Tourist visa and then apply for a new O visa
This ☝️

 

Now you know!

[CanadaJoe]

2 minutes ago, connda said:

 

2) Leave Thailand, return on a Tourist visa and then apply for a new O visa
This ☝️

 

Now you know!

Cheers 👍🏻

[DrJack54]

5 minutes ago, CanadaJoe said:

Cheers 👍🏻

There is no need to return on tourist visa that provides 60 day stamp.

Visa exempt also provides 60 day stamp and you can obtain Non O from that entry with a TM87 along with financial requirements. 

[Confuscious]

21 minutes ago, CanadaJoe said:

I got the list from the Thai consulate website in Vancouver. longstay.tgia.org

This list is about insurance companies but not specific about "throw away insurance policies".
Which insurance company produce such insurance policies?

[DrJack54]

11 minutes ago, Confuscious said:

This list is about insurance companies but not specific about "throw away insurance policies".

Think that you have not understood the expression.

It means a policy that does not provide meaningful coverage. 

Obtained to satisfy immigration office. 

 

[flexomike]

6 hours ago, CanadaJoe said:

Got it, thanks for the info. When I leave Thailand, is it best to do so just before my current OA visa expires, so that it's already expired when I return? If I leave while my OA visa is still valid and try to re-enter on a visa exemption or a 90-day O visa, could that cause any issues?

If you leave shortly before it expires and come back after it has expired no problem

[Confuscious]

Just now, DrJack54 said:

Think that you have not understood the expression.

It means a policy that does not provide meaningful coverage. 

 

I am aware that it was a "legal" insurance policy but made virtually inalid due to the excessive own risk deduction and other clausules.
But I don't know any insurance company which allows such policies.
Hence my question, which company would allow such contracts?

 

[CanadaJoe]

2 hours ago, Confuscious said:

I am aware that it was a "legal" insurance policy but made virtually inalid due to the excessive own risk deduction and other clausules.
But I don't know any insurance company which allows such policies.
Hence my question, which company would allow such contracts?

 

I would say all or most of the companies on the list. I'm sure they are laughing all the way to the bank. 

[EVENKEEL]

On 2/24/2025 at 3:05 AM, CanadaJoe said:

Thanks. Yes, the plan is to stay here in Thailand long-term. I'd prefer not to have to purchase throw-away insurance each year, so it seems transitioning over to the O visa is the only way around that. How is it possible to stay for 2 years on an OA? 

 

 

 

 

An agent can obtain a super cheap Insurance policy for 3000 baht.

 

I started with the OA, this was during covid and I couldn't leave Thailand to reset for 12 months. I used an agent who for 15,000 baht got my 12 month extension with a 3000 baht health insurance policy. I have since then switched to an O so no insurance policy needed. Like yourself I have a good international insurance policy from home country.

[BrandonJT]

5 hours ago, Confuscious said:

This list is about insurance companies but not specific about "throw away insurance policies".
Which insurance company produce such insurance policies?

It just means a policy that you have no intention of using.  Usually because you already have better insurance, but that insurance doesn't meet the requirements for the visa.  So you buy it to throw it away, as it's garbage/useless to you. 
The word throwaway has nothing to do with the policy itself.

[CanadaJoe]

12 hours ago, EVENKEEL said:

An agent can obtain a super cheap Insurance policy for 3000 baht.

 

I started with the OA, this was during covid and I couldn't leave Thailand to reset for 12 months. I used an agent who for 15,000 baht got my 12 month extension with a 3000 baht health insurance policy. I have since then switched to an O so no insurance policy needed. Like yourself I have a good international insurance policy from home country.

Thanks for the tip. Yep, that's an option, but the cost of the agent significantly exceeds the price of the throwaway policy. Wherever possible I like to do the paperwork myself so I know exactly what's going on and can repeat the process in subsequent years. 

[Hakuna Matata]

On 2/24/2025 at 5:39 PM, CanadaJoe said:

if I stayed in Thailand I'd have to transition over to O visa

 

The fact is that it is actually illegal, strictly speaking. If there is a visa crackdown in Thailand, your NON-O visa can be cancelled.

 

If you want a NON-O visa instead of NON-OA visa, you need to apply for a new visa at the Thai Consulate in another country, it cannot be just converted without leaving Thailand. This is a violation of Thai Immigration law.

 

Having said this, I know it has been done and is still being done for $$$ fee.

 

After all, This Is Thailand! 555

[CANSIAM]

43 minutes ago, Hakuna Matata said:

 

The fact is that it is actually illegal, strictly speaking. If there is a visa crackdown in Thailand, your NON-O visa can be cancelled.

 

If you want a NON-O visa instead of NON-OA visa, you need to apply for a new visa at the Thai Consulate in another country, it cannot be just converted without leaving Thailand. This is a violation of Thai Immigration law.

 

Having said this, I know it has been done and is still being done for $$$ fee.

 

After all, This Is Thailand! 555

The OA visa is obtained at Thai Embassies outside Thailand, the Non O can be obtained abroad at home Embassies or here in Thailand. The OP now needs to kill off his OA by exiting Thailand prior to his extension of stay stamp date ( without a re entry permit ) and return after stamp date - OA is now killed off and can start the Non O process without health insurance headaches...... 

[Srikcir]

On 2/24/2025 at 5:39 PM, CanadaJoe said:

1) Renew my OA Visa, or

2) Leave Thailand, return on a Tourist visa and then apply for a new O visa

3) Stay in Thailand and apply for a 10-year LTR visa. Very limited by conditions so you may not be eligible.

[Ben Zioner]

On 2/24/2025 at 5:39 PM, CanadaJoe said:

2) Leave Thailand, return on a Tourist visa and then apply for a new O visa

So here you got the [only] answer, whingeing is pointless.

 

BTW many here have gone through this painless process after the introduction of the HI requirement.

 

Yes it is preposterous HI be mandatory for OA visa and not for O, but T.I.T.

[DrJack54]

18 minutes ago, Ben Zioner said:

On 2/24/2025 at 5:39 PM, CanadaJoe said:

2) Leave Thailand, return on a Tourist visa and then apply for a new O visa

So here you got the [only] answer, whingeing is pointless.

And why bother with obtaining a Tourist Visa.

He can simply enter visa exempt and obtain a Non O retirement and subsequent 12 month extension. 

[khomlong1]

On 2/24/2025 at 5:47 PM, Upnotover said:

They didn't mean renew your non-OA, they meant get an extension.  You could only renew it in Canada.

 

Your best option is to leave Thailand and kill off the OA.  You can re-enter exempt or better apply for a single non-O e-visa in a nearby country, then re-enter, 90 day entry.  Then you only have to get a 12 month extension of that.  You will need 800k in your Thai bank account, but you will no longer need the insurance, not at least for immigration purposes.

 

[khomlong1]

Quite correct. Thai immigration in Lopburi advised me to do this . Went for a break in Savannaket in Laos to get 90 day non-o visa. Extension no problem. If you go this way, I believe you may need an appointment at the Thai consulate. Good luck.

[Ben Zioner]

20 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

And why bother with obtaining a Tourist Visa.

He can simply enter visa exempt and obtain a Non O retirement and subsequent 12 month extension. 

Sure.

[DrJack54]

18 minutes ago, khomlong1 said:

If you go this way, I believe you may need an appointment at the Thai consulate.

Previously Savannakhet was good option.

Now all visas are via eVisa (online) and that may take several days. 

Added issue is currently no online payments.

There is better option 

[kingoak]

On 2/24/2025 at 5:57 PM, CanadaJoe said:

Thanks. Yeah, I didn't think it was possible to renew an OA from within Thailand and don't really want to do that anyway. I wanted to just transition over to the O which I was under the impression I could do. I already have the 800,000 in a Thai bank and comprehensive health insurance with another company. When I got my original OA in Canada I again had to waste $350 CDN on a throw-away policy because it seemed like no insurance company would sign the "Foreign Insurance Certificate" that This government insists on. Is it just me, or is it crazy that the Thai government was the insurance company to sign a letter saying they have sold you a policy when you can show the policy itself? Doesn't make any sense to me. Anyway, thanks for your advice. 

I changed from an O-A to an O last year in Chiang Mai. I came in on a Visa on Arrival. 

They do the change here but I know some offices will not do the change (maybe because there is an incentive from Insurance Companies if they keep you on an O-A). But, as you say, the Insurance is pretty useless and the O Visa has no insurance requirement so is much more appealing. I know Chiang Rai won't do the transfer as well as some other offices. 

Procedure is a bit longwinded but if you do what they say properly, although it may seem illogical to you, then you will get there in the end.

Don't get upset about the bureaucratic requirements in Thailand, it is something you have to get used to to make your life easier here. Western logic doesn't apply in Thailand so just do everything as they say and it will make your life easier. 

Good Luck with everything!! 

[CanadaJoe]

15 hours ago, kingoak said:

I changed from an O-A to an O last year in Chiang Mai. I came in on a Visa on Arrival. 

They do the change here but I know some offices will not do the change (maybe because there is an incentive from Insurance Companies if they keep you on an O-A). But, as you say, the Insurance is pretty useless and the O Visa has no insurance requirement so is much more appealing. I know Chiang Rai won't do the transfer as well as some other offices. 

Procedure is a bit longwinded but if you do what they say properly, although it may seem illogical to you, then you will get there in the end.

Don't get upset about the bureaucratic requirements in Thailand, it is something you have to get used to to make your life easier here. Western logic doesn't apply in Thailand so just do everything as they say and it will make your life easier. 

Good Luck with everything!! 

Thanks. Yeah, I now have the extension on my OA and will leave the country next year to kill it off. Yep, the bureaucracy is a bit frustrating, especially when you have to fork out hard-earned money for nothing. But as you say, it's just part of living in Thailand. I experienced the same thing in Mexico when I lived there for a couple of years. Lots of stuff that didn't make any sense at all, but just the way things were done there. I believe that initially I got poor advice from the consulate in Vancouver, but that's water under the bridge now. I'm looking forward to another year in the Land of Smiles. 

[CanadaJoe]

20 hours ago, Srikcir said:

3) Stay in Thailand and apply for a 10-year LTR visa. Very limited by conditions so you may not be eligible.

Yeah, I'm not eligible for the LTR. 

[RocketDog]

On 2/24/2025 at 5:57 PM, CanadaJoe said:

Thanks. Yeah, I didn't think it was possible to renew an OA from within Thailand and don't really want to do that anyway. I wanted to just transition over to the O which I was under the impression I could do. I already have the 800,000 in a Thai bank and comprehensive health insurance with another company. When I got my original OA in Canada I again had to waste $350 CDN on a throw-away policy because it seemed like no insurance company would sign the "Foreign Insurance Certificate" that This government insists on. Is it just me, or is it crazy that the Thai government was the insurance company to sign a letter saying they have sold you a policy when you can show the policy itself? Doesn't make any sense to me. Anyway, thanks for your advice. 

I renewed my OA visa several times here until last May when I let the OA expire on a trip to america. Maybe the law has changed but to my knowledge OA can still be extended every year as me and thousands have been doing for years.

 

But I came back on visa exempt, applied for a 90 day O visa the waited a short time and applied for the 1 year O visa. Just as your first two replies said.

THE ONLY PROBLEM WAS SOME DRONE WITCH AT HUA HIN IMMIGRATION TOLD ME MY BANK ACCOUNT USED FOR THE OA VISA COULD NOT BE USED AGAIN FOR O.

 

So I had to go to the bank and spend an hour getting proof that the funds for my 4 years of fixed deposit account 800k had ALL come from America.  She claimed i had to open a new account and fund it with new 800k. I still don't believe that though.

 

i got and kept those records in case this nonsense happens again. I duly reported all this on the forum so you can probably still find my post from about early June last year.

 

Then it was renewed quickly after I showed the bank records.

 

Just be ready for something like this to happen. Otherwise I know for a fact that converting from OA to O is done by lots of folks without a hitch every year.

 

Good luck.