Thailand Lounge and Chat area

[Mr Enternational]

I need to keep my SIM and use it via Internet while overseas. Is it easier to purchase a cell phone (used and unlocked) while in the USA and take it to Thailand or purchase one for use in Thailand? Knowing what type of phone is needed for service in Thailand is also appreciated. Thanks.

You did not say in what part of Thailand you will be in. Does your carrier not have service in Thailand? If so, why would you need another phone. If not, then you could just switch SIMs when you leave the room. You did not give enough information of what you are trying to accomplish.

[Horatio]

I'd get a cheapie in America. I'd ask friends or family is any has an old phone they don't use anymore and buy that cheap.

A group of three of us will travel to Thailand in a couple of weeks. I need to keep my SIM and use it via Internet while overseas. Is it easier to purchase a cell phone (used and unlocked) while in the USA and take it to Thailand or purchase one for use in Thailand? Knowing what type of phone is needed for service in Thailand is also appreciated. Thanks.

[WanderingMan]

A group of three of us will travel to Thailand in a couple of weeks. I need to keep my SIM and use it via Internet while overseas. Is it easier to purchase a cell phone (used and unlocked) while in the USA and take it to Thailand or purchase one for use in Thailand? Knowing what type of phone is needed for service in Thailand is also appreciated. Thanks.

[Akibono]

What is the proper reply from the guy who asked the question? Posting "thanks" seems to clutter up the board and a pm saying thanks seems more bothersome to the answerer than no reply. If no one answers me I try to find out otherwise and post the answer to my own question when I find it out.

Anyway thanks to those who answer my questions.

A report contribution is the best thanks. It helps everyone.

[Horatio]

What is the proper reply from the guy who asked the question? Posting "thanks" seems to clutter up the board and a pm saying thanks seems more bothersome to the answerer than no reply. If no one answers me I try to find out otherwise and post the answer to my own question when I find it out.

Anyway thanks to those who answer my questions.

[DogLife]

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.

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.

[Nyezhov]

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.

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.

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.

[Explorer8939]

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?

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.

[Banana Boi]

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?

[Horatio]

.... 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.



.

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.

[Mr Enternational]

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.

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.

[EihTooms]

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..

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.

[Banana Boi]

It depends on the whims of the Immigration officer.

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.

insured up to the required 3,000,000 baht coverage

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.

[Raj Patela]

It depends on the whims of the Immigration officer.

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.

[EihTooms]

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.

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.