It's only a mystery because any classification with a "B" designation is for business purposes...not tourism...not retirement...business.Originally Posted by Manforallseasons
It's only a mystery because any classification with a "B" designation is for business purposes...not tourism...not retirement...business.
and of course no discussion of visa options is complete with mentioning the Elite visa - for an initial payment of just 600,000 Baht you get a 5 year multiple entry visa, each entry allows you to stay up to 12 months, executive lounge and airport transfers for all departures and arrivals, and all with no further interaction with embassies or Immigration offices, except:
- if a single stay is longer than 90 days then you still need to do a 90 day report - do online or by mail or the Elite people will do it for you for a small fee
- if a single stay is longer than 12 months then you need to do an extension of stay at Immigration in Thailand - the Elite people will help you with this
yes, I know you could do this for a tenth of that price using a NON-O or non-OA visa and extensions - I suppose it depends on how you value your time, the cost of your blood pressure meds, how much you hate dealing with embassies and Immigration offices, and of course your bank balance!
I can’t even be bothered to be apathetic these days!
Dodger (October 18th, 2021)
Another important point is that none of these visas granted entry during Covid. Nor did ownership of a condominium.
The O-visas are letter O, not number 0 = zero.
mr giggles (October 18th, 2021)
Isn't that a crock of shit!
Fortunately, I remained in-country during this pandemic, but I've often thought about what it would be like to be prevented from returning in the event that I had been traveling out-of-country.
The Thai government didn't (doesn't) show an ounce of consideration for expat retiree's when it comes to this, and our foreign embassy's remain lodged with their heads up their asses doing what they do best - and that's nothing.
If it weren't for the boys over here I'd be learning to speak Khmer.
Moggy (October 18th, 2021)
to be fair this is not just a Thailand problem - just read the Australian press for example, there are still stories every day of the plight of Australian citizens and long term visa holders caught overseas during the pandemic and still battling to return home
I can’t even be bothered to be apathetic these days!
Dodger (October 19th, 2021)
….
"In the land of the blind the one eyed man is king"
Yes, they introduced this last year.
The $3 million baht coverage they're referring to - is the U.S. $100,000 covid coverage which got added to the requirements for O-A visa holders last year. Tourists are also required to have this. This is nothing new...and I'm not even sure why Barry Kenyon wrote about this in his column this late in the game.
I had to show proof of this when I renewed my extension last month. Nothing to fret: The coverage you and I both have through AA exceeds these amounts.
Word is, that all visa holders will eventually get nailed with this. I'm not sure about you O-B guys though...you may be exempt...LOL
The concern for many expats who don't have any health insurance over here is that if they wait too long (over 70) they won't be able to get a policy. The Visa Agents will be having a field day.
Who is the "word"? As for those over 70 yo, everyone will eventually be over 70 yo unless they die before hand.
mr giggles (October 26th, 2021)
The "words" I'm referring to came from several sources, including the Director of Operations for a large insurance brokerage operating in Thailand, as well as a top-ranking official I spoke with at Chonburi Immigration earlier in the year. I rarely rely on what I read in the papers, or street gossip. I prefer getting information that has a direct effect on my life in Thailand directly from the source(s).
Who is the "word"? As for those over 70 yo, everyone will eventually be over 70 yo unless they die before hand.
Some low-end insurance company's stop covering clients after they reach a certain age. Some of the larger and more reputable companies have no such clause and continue covering their clients typically until age 99 - which is always covered in the language of the policy (contract). Obviously, the cost of the premiums gets higher the older a person gets. No big mystery there!
Like everything else in life, you get what you pay for. According to Barry Kenyon, there have been arrangements made in the Thai insurance network just recently for those over 70 to secure the level of health insurance needed to comply with Immigrations latest mandate. I have no idea what the premiums cost, but know they have to be pretty high. They (Immigration) will also start accepting insurance policies from a foreigners home country to address this need.
I haven't reached 70 yet, but still had to pay more to have my policy upgraded to comply with this new mandate (>3M baht), but it's still costing my about 1/3rd of what similar coverage would cost in the U.S., so no complaints from me.
This is not Barry Kenyon…and it is a new requirement.
https://www.thaihealth.co.th/en/non-...nt-o-a-1-year/
"In the land of the blind the one eyed man is king"
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