Getting new Kidney, which VISA should I get?

[psychomud]

In september, I plan to get a kidney transplant in Bangkok (Param9).

I have a thai wife (with only thai citizenship) and toddler (thai and american citizenship). We own our own house up in Korat and have been married for years and years.

My Korean nephrologist says recover can take on average 3 months but up to 6 months - off of work, with minimal contact with the public. The intent being to avoid getting sick since I will be on some heavy anti-rejection drugs that supress my immune system.

SO - Which VISA should I apply for here in South Korea before heading to thailand? (1 year multi-entry NON-O based on marriage?)

Keep in mind I wanna stay home in bed most of that time and avoid being out in public, and i need it for UP to 6 months preferably.

Is there a special VISA i can apply for for medical reasons that will keep me in thailand for 3-6 months?

Also, even though I plan on not going until September, if I apply for a VISA now, is it too early in the year to do so?

Thanks in advance!

[nzexpat]

<off-topic comment deleted>

As far as I am aware there is no visa which will permit a continuous stay of six months,

It does occur to me that as you are married there is more than enough time for you to seek an extension of stay , based on marriage . For this you would need a single entry non "o" visa and 400,000 Baht in a Thai bank. Such and extension would allow you the required 6 months with minimal public contact.

[ubonjoe]

You could get a multiple entry non-o visa based upon marriage. But that means leaving every 90 days for a new entry. But you can get a 60 day extension of the entry at immigration to visit your wife..

The visa will be valid for entry for one year so getting it now would not be to early.

If you your doctor produces documents that you can not travel it is possible to get up to a 90 day extension for medical care.

There is no visa that the embassy can issue that would give you the 6 months stay based upon medical treatment.

You could also get a single entry non-o and apply for a one year extension of stay based upon marriage. You would to need to show 400k baht in a Thai bank for 2 months or proof of an income of 40k baht. But you would have to be for 2 months after you enter on the non-o visa before you could apply.

[KhunBENQ]

Purely from the web/regulations.

One of the reasons to get a Non-O visa is this:

http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/4908/15398-Issuance-of-Visa.html

(instead - as ubonjoe describes - a Non-O on other reasons like marriage - can be applied for)

- other activities (Category "O") as follows:
to stay with the family, to perfrom duties for the state enterprise or social welfare organizations, to stay after retirement for the elderly, to receive medical treatment, to be a sport coach as required by Thai Government, to be a contestant or witness for the judicial process.

When in Thailand there is also the possibily to extend the stay for 90 days per application with the following:

(from: ORDER OF THE IMMIGRATION BUREAU No. 327/2557 Subject: Criteria and Conditions for Consideration of an Alien’s Application for a Temporary Stay in the Kingdom of Thailand)

2.25 In the case of receiving medical treatment, attending rehabilitation, or taking care of a patient:
A. In the case of receiving medical treatment, attending rehabilitation, or taking care of a patient:
Permission shall be granted for no more than 90 days.
A. In the case of receiving medical treatment, attending rehabilitation, or taking care of a patient:
(1) Must have been confirmed and requested by a physician of the hospital or state medical institution providing said treatment with full explanation about the illness, period of treatment, and the physician's opinion that the illness is an impediment to
travel.

It is indeed to early for an actual visa application in your home country.

But in such a special case it is surely advised to get information firsthand from your Thai consulate/embassy.

If you have the proof of financials and be over 50 years there would be the option to apply for a Non O-A (retirement) visa which allows a one year continuos stay without leaving the country.

I don't know whether the consulate in South Korea issues Non O-A.

[NeverSure]

I don't know the answers, OP but the others know their stuff. I just want to wish the very best outcome for you, your wife and your toddler.

Cheers

[zeichen]

"(1 year multi-entry NON-O based on marriage?)"

Just a heads up that the Thai Consulate in South Korea doesn't offer multiple entry visa with a 1 year expiration date.

And as Ubonjoe stated, you would have to do border runs every 90 days which wouldn't be good for your recovery.

You will easily get a single entry for being married and then get an extension while in Thailand.

good luck on your transplant. I hope that it isn't black market. LOL

[ubonjoe]

"(1 year multi-entry NON-O based on marriage?)"

Just a heads up that the Thai Consulate in South Korea doesn't offer multiple entry visa with a 1 year expiration date.

That is not what this report from February says. http://www.thaivisa....n-seoul-report/

[Inn Between]

For a country that a few times has talked up plans of being the medical hub of SE Asia, you think they'd have a medical visa in order for long-term recovery patients. People should go to India where they actually DO have a medical tourism industry and a good reputation for doing proper work at very good prices AFAIK

[zeichen]

Could have changed. Last year when I was there, I was denied.

[ubonjoe]

For a country that a few times has talked up plans of being the medical hub of SE Asia, you think they'd have a medical visa in order for long-term recovery patients.

If you read back where the 90 day extensions were mentioned you would see that their is a way to stay here. The hospitals that deal with foreigners have people that can arrange the paper work for the extension and then go to immigration to apply for the the extension for the patient.

So you are wrong in saying their is no arrangements.

There are also visas that will allow a person to enter the country and then the extensions can be applied for.

[Mario2008]

For a country that a few times has talked up plans of being the medical hub of SE Asia, you think they'd have a medical visa in order for long-term recovery patients. People should go to India where they actually DO have a medical tourism industry and a good reputation for doing proper work at very good prices AFAIK

There is a medical visa, but it is (mainly) for nationals of the gulf states.

[psychomud]

thanks for all the great advise gang!

i think we will go visit the thai embassy on the 25th and i will report back what they say and give me

[Suradit69]

For a country that a few times has talked up plans of being the medical hub of SE Asia, you think they'd have a medical visa in order for long-term recovery patients. People should go to India where they actually DO have a medical tourism industry and a good reputation for doing proper work at very good prices AFAIK

As said, there are ways to stay here for extended medical treatment. I would imagine that most people traveling here for hospital care would not need to remain immobile for the amount of time the O/P might, but it is not an insurmountable issue. You can't expect immigrations to issue open visas without conditions simply because someone announces he's coming here to see a doctor. The system would quickly become abused as other visa options have been abused.

The fact that India may have a specific visa for extended medical treatment would hardly make them the first choice for health care any more than you would choose a doctor because he had a large parking lot.

In any event those hospitals in Thailand that would cater to international patients have people who liaise with immigrations and smooth out such issues.

More than 89% of medical tourists travelled to Thailand, India or Singapore in 2010, with Bangkok and Singapore leading the pack. But the cost of hotel rooms and treatment are both far more expensive in Singapore than in the Thai capital, making Bangkok the most popular place for medical tourism in the world. Even after the devastating floods of 2011, 19 million tourists visited Thailand in 2011, a 20% jump from 2010, with an estimated 500,000 travelling specifically for medical treatment, whereas of the 10.2 million tourists that visit Singapore each year, only 200,000 go to receive medical care.

http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20120828-the-rise-of-medical-tourism-in-bangkok

Price and proximity seem to be the biggest draw for India rather than quality of care or visa availability.

While most patients come to India from the Middle East, Africa and other parts of Asia, interest from America is growing, said Patients Beyond Borders CEO Josef Woodman.

http://www.businessinsider.com/india-is-becoming-a-hub-for-medical-tourists-2014-6

[maidee]

if you are in korea, why not get it done there?

[gandalf12]

Marriage visa will cover it but you need the 90 day sign on. Can do it online in Bangkok

[NancyL]

If the OP is over age 50 and meets the financial requirements, an O-A retirement visa would be the best visa to get so that he'd be granted a 12-month permission to stay upon entry and would never have to leave the hospital or his lodgings while recovering. 90 day reports could be done on-line (maybe) or by mail.

A marriage visa extension of a 90 day O visa involves a trip to immigration, all sorts of documents -- which probably won't be right, so the need for a return trip. A home visit by an immigration officer, a trip back to immigration after the 30 day "under consideration" period yada, yada, yada.

Medical extensions may be difficult to obtain once the surgery is done and he's just recovering at home. Many immigration officers don't consider someone to be deserving of a medical extension unless they're at death's door in a hospital. I doubt someone who is ambulatory wouldn't be considered deserving of a medical extension

[psychomud]

if you are in korea, why not get it done there?

Good question!

Well, its frankly MORE expensive to get it done in South Korea. In addition to this, we live and work here but have no family members to take care of our toddler. We could only import 1 family member for 3 months at a time while we rested up at home to take care of the little guy.

It makes much more sence to have a large base of grandparents, aunts, cousins, siblings, and uncles on hand to help take care of our son while we recouped.

In addition to this, while on recovery, we are going to have work done on our home (I will stay in the guest house while wife supervises). Wife should be up and able to boss around and watch the workers within a month - while I have to stay mostly isolated for at least 3 months.

We are going to put $20,000 in upgrades in our main house during the 3-6 month time frame. Which will make our nice house - my dream retirement house, when I retire in about 10 years time or so.

[psychomud]

If the OP is over age 50 and meets the financial requirements, an O-A retirement visa would be the best visa to get so that he'd be granted a 12-month permission to stay upon entry and would never have to leave the hospital or his lodgings while recovering. 90 day reports could be done on-line (maybe) or by mail.

A marriage visa extension of a 90 day O visa involves a trip to immigration, all sorts of documents -- which probably won't be right, so the need for a return trip. A home visit by an immigration officer, a trip back to immigration after the 30 day "under consideration" period yada, yada, yada.

Medical extensions may be difficult to obtain once the surgery is done and he's just recovering at home. Many immigration officers don't consider someone to be deserving of a medical extension unless they're at death's door in a hospital. I doubt someone who is ambulatory wouldn't be considered deserving of a medical extension

Well I am not 50 yet. Most likey, if all else fails, I will have to make a border run after 90 days. Not hard to do by private van from Korat. Annoying but not immpossible.

I just want to avoid people exposure (like many Korat expats) during this time frame to stay as healthy as possible.

[Mario2008]

Most big private hospitals will have liasons with immigraiton and will help you get your extension based on medical grounds.

[IMA_FARANG]

You could apply for q 90 day single entry non O based upon intent to marry a Thai and then if successful extend that for a one year extension in Thailand based on your marriage to a Thai citizen.

You would need the financial requirements in Thailand to get the extension at your local Thai immigration. Once you are legally in Thailand on a legal visa you can then apply for a marriage extension (often called a marriage visa) which you can later extend annually to stay in Thailand as long as you are married to a Thai.

Assuming that is what you want to do.

You will need a marriage license and some other paperwork to get this extension plus either 400K Thai Baht funds in a Thai bank account or a 40,000 Thai Baht monthly income.

I suspect that the hospital has people on their staff who could help you with getting the one year extension and probably support your medical need to remain in Thailand with a doctor's recommendation.

You said in our original post you own a house in Korat?

[psychomud]

I have a Thai wife.

1 is enough for me IMA.

[IMA_FARANG]

I have a Thai wife.

1 is enough for me IMA.

---------------------------

It was for me to, and that is why we are now separated..... but that is another matter.

What I should have said is that you could get a 90 day visa to enter Thailand based upon your marriage to a Thai, and then once in country..... do a one year extension, as long as you can meet the financial requirements for that extension and your marriage to a Thai.

That extension can then be renewed yearly if you want to live in Thailand by meeting the same financial requirements each year.

If you have the marriage extension/visa you do not have to leave Thailand every 90 days, although you would be required to do a 90 reporting with Thai immigration as long as you are staying in Thailand for a period more than 90 days.

If you wanted to leave Thailand and return later during that one year extension you could purchase a exit re-entry permit which would let you leave Thailand and return without losing your annual extension.

Then if you wanted to at age 50 you could change that marriage extension to a annual retirement extension instead of a marriage extension.

Just giving you an idea of how it could be done if you wanted to do it.

[elliottm]

Purely from the web/regulations.

One of the reasons to get a Non-O visa is this:

http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/4908/15398-Issuance-of-Visa.html

(instead - as ubonjoe describes - a Non-O on other reasons like marriage - can be applied for)

KhunBENQ, I love your posts, please feel free to help me with any future pleas, your water filter posts (whilst still awaiting middle bro's installation) are the stuff of my TV legend, THANQ!