Thailand Lounge and Chat area

[QUOTE=BananaBoi;2863387]Now that the Thailand Elite packages have increased over 50% to 900k baht for 5 years, I guess I'll move to an OA Retirement Visa.

Just starting to read through this crap before I apply but already have some questions.

1. re-entry permit. If I have this straight I can get a multi re-entry permit for 3800 baht per year at a Pattaya / BKK Immigration office. This allows me to come and go from Thailand as many times as I want during the 12 month Visa?

2. As I understand it, the 800 k in my Thai bank account doesn't have to be in the bank until 2 months prior to the end of my 12 month Visa?

3. We have to report every time we go stay at a location (new TM-30?) other than our residence. Does that means if I check in at a Bangkok hotel for a weekend I need to complete a new TM-30 within 24 hours of returning to my rented condo in Pattaya? So if I am renting a condo do I get the landlord to do this online or does the real estate office do it? If they don't do it will I get rejected from renewing my OA Visa?

Related question. Anyone know how much it costs me to hire an agency to go stand in the Immigration line for me?[/QUOTE]When you are required to have health INS.

[QUOTE=TConor;2863486]When you are required to have health INS.[/QUOTE]Yes, there is a health insurance requirement for the Thailand OA Visa. As per the new requirements announced by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) on October 1, 2021, people applying or renewing (or rather re-applying for) a Non-Immigrant Visa "O-A" now need to have a Thai health insurance policy for the duration of their stay1. The policy must cover a minimum of 3 million Baht2341, or the equivalent if the policy is issued outside of Thailand2. The total must cover inpatient services2341. The policy can be obtained from a Thai or foreign insurance company2. If you use a foreign insurance company, you will need to provide the original policy and two copies2. Please note that these requirements are subject to change and it's always best to check with the relevant Thai embassy or consulate for the most current information.

I have a one way ticket to BKK and arriving this weekend. Will I be asked for an onward journey ticket.

The reason I ask is everytime this needs to be provided when I travel to Colombia.

I just got to Thailand a week ago with a 1 way ticket and no one asked me about an onward ticket. I did get asked for one several years ago when I was doing a visa run type trip. But even then they let me in.

[QUOTE=DogLife;2863494]I have a one way ticket to BKK and arriving this weekend. Will I be asked for an onward journey ticket.

The reason I ask is everytime this needs to be provided when I travel to Colombia.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=DogLife;2863494]I have a one way ticket to BKK and arriving this weekend. Will I be asked for an onward journey ticket.

The reason I ask is everytime this needs to be provided when I travel to Colombia.[/QUOTE]It depends on the whims of the Immigration officer.

[QUOTE=TConor;2863490]Yes, there is a health insurance requirement for the Thailand OA Visa. As per the new requirements announced by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) on October 1, 2021, people applying or renewing (or rather re-applying for) a Non-Immigrant Visa "O-A" now need to have a Thai health insurance policy for the duration of their stay1. The policy must cover a minimum of 3 million Baht2341, or the equivalent if the policy is issued outside of Thailand2. The total must cover inpatient services2341. The policy can be obtained from a Thai or foreign insurance company2. If you use a foreign insurance company, you will need to provide the original policy and two copies2. Please note that these requirements are subject to change and it's always best to check with the relevant Thai embassy or consulate for the most current information.[/QUOTE]Also, from what I have heard, if you can't get insured up to the required 3,000,000 baht coverage level for whatever reason or choose not to buy health insurance, you must park the difference or the full 3,000,000 baht in a Thai bank account for that purpose under the same conditions some non O-A visa retirees choose to park 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account rather than show a minimum of 65,000 baht per month in Foreign Transfers to prove an ongoing income stream solvency.

[QUOTE=Explorer8939;2863706]It depends on the whims of the Immigration officer.[/QUOTE]This is so True.

My last entry immigration dude told me I come Thailand too MUT.

I had 60 day tourist visa. He made me buy onward ticket on the Spot.

[QUOTE=Explorer8939;2863706]It depends on the whims of the Immigration officer.[/QUOTE]One guy had a stick up his arse and demanded to see a ticket out of Thailand. He went as far as making me buy a ticket on the spot holding up his line. Luckily one way tickets out of BKK are very cheap so I bought one to Phnom Penh on the spot. Once I showed it to him he let me through. I never ended up using it only because I decided to go to Korea on my next border run instead.

Not having a ticket out of Thailand could give the Immigration officer ammunition to deny entry so if this is a concern buy a ticket with some flexibility on date / destination or a cheap throwaway ticket.

[QUOTE=EihTooms;2863709]insured up to the required 3,000,000 baht coverage[/QUOTE]

Which company are you OA Visa guys buying your required insurance from? Is AXA Thailand sufficient? I bought insurance through them during COVID. You can PM me if you prefer.

[QUOTE=BananaBoi;2863801]One guy had a stick up his arse and demanded to see a ticket out of Thailand. He went as far as making me buy a ticket on the spot holding up his line. Luckily one way tickets out of BKK are very cheap so I bought one to Phnom Penh on the spot. Once I showed it to him he let me through. I never ended up using it only because I decided to go to Korea on my next border run instead.

Not having a ticket out of Thailand could give the Immigration officer ammunition to deny entry so if this is a concern buy a ticket with some flexibility on date / destination or a cheap throwaway ticket..[/QUOTE]I had AXA for a few years but switched to Pacific Cross about 5 years ago. At the time, the reason I switched was because AXA would stop insuring someone at age 75 but Pacific Cross would insure someone up to age 95 then assess it on a case by case basis after that. In other words, if you have kept up with your premiums and never filed a claim for anything they will probably be ok with continuing to insure you. LOL.

I purchased a health insurance policy here in Thailand with AXA very soon after I retired and moved here, years before it was required in order to get an O-A Non Immigrant Long Stay Visa. I switched to Pacific Cross five years ago just before I turned 65. I had 1,100,000 baht in-patient coverage before and after the switch, which was already more coverage than was first required. My monthly premium for the 1,100,000 baht in-patient coverage from age 65 to 70 was about 3500 baht. I forget how much the, as I recall, required 40,000 baht out-patient coverage was per month then. Maybe another 1500 baht per month.

Now there is no requirement to have out-patient coverage so I dropped it. As has been stated, the new requirement is for 3,000,000 baht in-patient coverage. My monthly premium for that at age 70 is about 7900 baht or about $225 USD at today's exchange rate.

[QUOTE=Horatio;2863530]I just got to Thailand a week ago with a 1 way ticket and no one asked me about an onward ticket. I did get asked for one several years ago when I was doing a visa run type trip. But even then they let me in.[/QUOTE]They always ask me at the gate in Korea. I just tell them I live there and show them my Thai drivers license. Never been asked by immigration.

[QUOTE=BananaBoi;2863801].... I decided to go to Korea on my next border run instead.

Not having a ticket out of Thailand could give the Immigration officer ammunition to deny entry so if this is a concern buy a ticket with some flexibility on date / destination or a cheap throwaway ticket.



.[/QUOTE]Could you write a bit about how visa runs work please? Are they the same as pre covid? I would just get on a bus to malaysia, cross over and cross back. If was all arraigned by a place that did visa runs. Is it still that simple? I have read that they aren't a thing anymore. Any bit of advice would be appreciated.

My information is not going to help you cause it's pre-COVID. Back then I used to have to leave Thailand every 60 days so I flew to another country for 1-4 weeks every 60 days or less.

Currently I know for sure you can not do more than 2 land border runs like you were doing in a year. I also believe the general rule of thumb is you can not stay in Thailand more than 180 days total each year, unless you have a Visa such as an OA Retirement Visa. Whether these rules are calendar year or a 12 month clock I have no idea.

I have a question for those on an OA Visa. 90 day reporting. Does leaving the country and retuning every 90 days or less remove my requirement to do 90 day reporting as the Kingdom would know my whereabouts on when I left and returned?

[QUOTE=BananaBoi;2863896]My information is not going to help you cause it's pre-COVID. Back then I used to have to leave Thailand every 60 days so I flew to another country for 1-4 weeks every 60 days or less.

Currently I know for sure you can not do more than 2 land border runs like you were doing in a year. I also believe the general rule of thumb is you can not stay in Thailand more than 180 days total each year, unless you have a Visa such as an OA Retirement Visa. Whether these rules are calendar year or a 12 month clock I have no idea.

I have a question for those on an OA Visa. 90 day reporting. Does leaving the country and retuning every 90 days or less remove my requirement to do 90 day reporting as the Kingdom would know my whereabouts on when I left and returned?[/QUOTE]On the 90 day report, I have never done one, since I leave Thailand too much. In past years, I paid a small penalty, this year, they didn't ask for one. Yet.

[QUOTE=DogLife;2863494]I have a one way ticket to BKK and arriving this weekend. Will I be asked for an onward journey ticket.

The reason I ask is everytime this needs to be provided when I travel to Colombia.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=RajPatela;2863797]This is so True.

My last entry immigration dude told me I come Thailand too MUT.

I had 60 day tourist visa. He made me buy onward ticket on the Spot.[/QUOTE]I have never been asked for an onward ticket by Thai immigration, only by airlines.

I did not have one this time, and nobody asked me for one. The Immigration girl didn't even ask me anything.

Since January I have been in and out five times, never a hassle.

[QUOTE=DogLife;2863494]I have a one way ticket to BKK and arriving this weekend. Will I be asked for an onward journey ticket.

The reason I ask is everytime this needs to be provided when I travel to Colombia.[/QUOTE]Just an update immigration was easy. Long lines in the counter but once I reached there it took me less than a minute.

Provided my boarding pass and US passport and the officer ten printed and took my photo then it was done.

No verbal communication.