General Reports

[Member #4698]

I won't travel until quarantine is much shorter, maybe I'd go with a 3 day quarantine.

A friend of mine in China says their vaccine is only 60% effective and lasts only 6 months, many Chinese people don't want it. Presumably they are using Sinivac. I have no idea if that is accurate information. For that vaccine, perhaps the 3 month duration for entry into Thailand is reasonable. But I'm also reading that Pfizer is 95% effective with durations longer than since start of testing. The 3-month duration for Pfizer makes no sense.

I'd rather expose myself to a group of people with 6 month old Pfizer vaccines than 3 month old Chinese vaccine. I'm assuming that science will show all vaccines greatly slow transmission of the virus.

Good point: not all vaccines are equal or as effective. It will be interesting to see if the Thai Authorities recognize this fact by allowing Pfizer and Moderna inoculated persons in / no quarantine before other lesser quality inoculated groups are welcomed back, but I don't think so. I think the Gov't is committed to their present quarantine policy until 60% to 75% of the Thai people have been inoculated by whatever vaccine they can buy and produce in large bulk.

My Mini told me that inoculations have recently begun in BKK.

[HorseTrader]

So if you were vaccinated three and a half months prior to your flight you need to get vaccinated again in order to qualify for a 7 day quarantine vs a 14 day quarantine? That's weird.

I won't travel until quarantine is much shorter, maybe I'd go with a 3 day quarantine.

A friend of mine in China says their vaccine is only 60% effective and lasts only 6 months, many Chinese people don't want it. Presumably they are using Sinivac. I have no idea if that is accurate information. For that vaccine, perhaps the 3 month duration for entry into Thailand is reasonable. But I'm also reading that Pfizer is 95% effective with durations longer than since start of testing. The 3-month duration for Pfizer makes no sense.

I'd rather expose myself to a group of people with 6 month old Pfizer vaccines than 3 month old Chinese vaccine. I’m assuming that science will show all vaccines greatly slow transmission of the virus.

[EihTooms]

Thailand to reduce quarantine period for vaccinated foreigners.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/thailand-...092226155.html

...
Vaccinations must be administered within three months of the travel period...

So if you were vaccinated three and a half months prior to your flight you need to get vaccinated again in order to qualify for a 7 day quarantine vs a 14 day quarantine? That's weird. They can't really be suggesting that people with long range plans to fly to Thailand, 4 months out for instance, might want to purposely delay getting vaccinated in order to better time it to occur less than 3 months before their flight, can they? Or to get back in line for another round of vaccination if they happen to have gotten their shots too soon before their flight?

[Turgid]

Thailand to reduce quarantine period for vaccinated foreigners.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/thailand-...092226155.html

[Explorer8939]

I was walking around Soi Buakhow and LK Metro last night, it was jammed with people and traffic.

Plenty of ladies hungry for business, though. I think every lady I talked to last night dropped her top at some point without any encouragement from me.

[XXL]

I previously got the Non IMM O-A visa the Chicago embassy. Then the Insurance requirement kicked in in 2018. Went to an agency in Pattaya and got switched a Non-IMM 1 yr Visa, no insurance required. (I renewed it last Month.) I believe you can only get this Visa in Thailand. The Visa stamp only has Non-IMM.

So it's Non-IMM, no longer non-O. I was told you could still get a non-O through the Thai embassies in Laos or Cambodia after entering Thailand on a tourist visa.

[Java Man]

Thai embassy websites, the non-O visa is no longer available for pensioners.

I previously got the Non IMM O-A visa the Chicago embassy. Then the Insurance requirement kicked in in 2018. Went to an agency in Pattaya and got switched a Non-IMM 1 yr Visa, no insurance required. (I renewed it last Month.) I believe you can only get this Visa in Thailand. The Visa stamp only has Non-IMM.

[XXL]

Perfect advice if your extension hasn't come and gone which has happened to a multitude of retirees unable for one reason or another to get back in time. The powers that be in their infinite sense of being understanding and considerate of these retirees some of whom have been here for 20 years plus have decided they will have to start the retirement visa process from scratch. As you suggest best way of doing this is with a O visa as it doesn't last time I checked unlike O-A require insurance. That said you will most likely need Covid cover to get back however you arrive unless they as they should scrap it for those vaccinated.

Plus, from what I gather from some - not all - Thai embassy websites, the non-O visa is no longer available for pensioners. So if you miss the extension, it may be gone forever.

[Franciscass]

If you hold a renewable visa that didn't require an insurance before Covid, the trick is to come for quarantine one or two months before the visa expires. This would be when you want to come back to Thailand anyway so that you do not lose your visa. Then insurance is only needed up until the visa expires (as per "permitted until" stamp upon arrival). After quarantine, get the one-year insurance-free extension. Works with non-O, maybe not with non A-O.

Perfect advice if your extension hasn't come and gone which has happened to a multitude of retirees unable for one reason or another to get back in time. The powers that be in their infinite sense of being understanding and considerate of these retirees some of whom have been here for 20 years plus have decided they will have to start the retirement visa process from scratch. As you suggest best way of doing this is with a O visa as it doesn't last time I checked unlike O-A require insurance. That said you will most likely need Covid cover to get back however you arrive unless they as they should scrap it for those vaccinated.

[XXL]

Other durations are available and from a quick glance the premiums seem roughly pro rata to duration so a 30 day policy from high risk countries is just under THB 5,000 and 60 days THB 8,600.

If you hold a renewable visa that didn't require an insurance before Covid, the trick is to come for quarantine one or two months before the visa expires. This would be when you want to come back to Thailand anyway so that you do not lose your visa. Then insurance is only needed up until the visa expires (as per "permitted until" stamp upon arrival). After quarantine, get the one-year insurance-free extension. Works with non-O, maybe not with non A-O.

[TConor]

It's a video, HT.

Video does not reveal any new information. Thailand is already open for foreigners and it has been for some time. Most people just can't afford the time to spend 2 weeks in quarantine. The video does not say quarantine will be eliminated effective July 1.

Not without vaccines for the Thais and foreigners here. Other places will rule. Not to mention the airlines restrictions.

[Banana Boi]

It's a video, HT.

Video does not reveal any new information. Thailand is already open for foreigners and it has been for some time. Most people just can't afford the time to spend 2 weeks in quarantine. The video does not say quarantine will be eliminated effective July 1.

[HorseTrader]

Thailand will be opening up for poontang hungry warriors on July 1.

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/thai...215603403.html

My device only displayed a single sentence of the article, which reads " With the #OpenThailandSafely campaign, organizers hope to welcome tourists back on July 1. ".

Apparently there are still steps to take place before the door to Thailand is opened wide. I do like Turgid's optimism, hope it really happens.

[Turgid]

Thailand will be opening up for poontang hungry warriors on July 1.

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/thai...215603403.html

[Franciscass]

Franciscass,

Your observation is accurate for general health insurance but for the stand alone Covid cover I was talking about the premiums are not age age specific. Age 1 to 99 it's the same price. The only variables which affect the price seem to be country of origin and duration (I admit I haven't checked whether the "reason for visit" affects the premiums).

". rational thinking in immigration policy. " - hmmmm, may I remind you that This is Thailand?

Thanks for update. A retiree friend 76 years in UK waiting on his second jab is finding it particularly difficult getting affordable $100.000 Covid cover. 74 seems to be the standard cut off age for most providers. Your post suggests there are policies that solely cover covid and are priced the same irrespective of age. Not disagreeing with you if such is the case but it seems a little odd to me that as the risk of hospitalization is significantly higher as you up the age scale that premiums would not reflect this. No matter but if possible do you have a link where my friend might find such cover. It would be very much appreciated. Many thanks, Incidentally totally in sync with you on the intrinsic phobia towards outsiders.