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Can I apply for an O-A visa extension in Thailand if my insurance starts on the same day my current extension expires?

O-A VisaVisa ExtensionInsurance RequirementsThailand ImmigrationPacific Cross Insurance
Oct 12, 2020
4 years ago
Marty *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I tried to get a 1 year extension of my O-A visa today at CW, Bangkok. My current extension expires November 19th. My new insurance policy was dated to start November 19th. The immigration officer told me I had to come back Nov 19th. I can come back early but I will lose whatever time on my current extension. All my other documents were OK. When I return my insurance policy has to start the day of my return to Immigration.

Sooooo . . . . I've asked Pacific Cross to change the date and I will give it another try this week. I have reasons to want to get this done earlier rather than later.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is facing challenges with applying for a 1-year extension of their O-A visa due to insurance policy timing. Their current extension ends on November 19, but their new insurance starts on the same date. The immigration officer advised them to return on November 19, but they are exploring options to synchronize their insurance with their visa extension. Comments from the community highlight the importance of having insurance in effect on the day of application and discuss potential solutions, like presenting both current and future insurance certificates at the next visit.
John ******
Can someone translate and what is the problem everything is the same date, or am I missing something?
4 years ago
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Marty *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
The problem is this - You can sync your 1 year extension with 1 year of health coverage only as long as you have health coverage the day you apply. My extension expires on Nov 19. My health coverage started Nov 19 but today in Oct 12th. She told me to come back on Nov 19th.

I can apply 45 days early at CW in Bangkok. If I had insurance starting today (Oct 12th) then they would have processed my application and given me an extension from Oct 12 (today) to Oct 12, 2021 which is fine except that I would have lost 1 month of my current extension. Since I didn't have the correctly dated insurance I would have to get Pacific Cross to reissue my insurance certificate for, say Thursday, and I could go back and get my 1 year extension from Oct 15th.

For subsequent extensions it is not a problem because now you always have health insurance the day you apply. Unfortunately for me, I failed to tell her and the Immigration office failed to look this up on the computer, that I actually do have current health insurance. When I go back on Wednesday I will have the insurance certificates for both my current health insurance and my future (Nov 19th) health insurance and hopefully everything will be fine.

It is a bit of a weird story but I ended up leaving CW without my extension today. Coming back on the 19th leaves me a little uneasy coming in on the absolute last day of my current extension. In the meantime, I have some other things going on in my life (building a house in Isaan) which makes me want to get this out of the way earlier rather than later.
4 years ago
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Marty *********
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Greg ********
Thanks for sharing this my extension date is approaching also🙏
4 years ago
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Marty *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
The plan is to go back on Wednesday.
4 years ago
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Tod *********
report back if you can, AND remember you'll need to update your bank book for that date too :)
4 years ago
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Marty *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
This is also the first time I've had anyone in Immigration speak a full English sentence to me. 😊
4 years ago
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āļĄāļŦāļē **********
@Marty ********
 why would anyone at immigration need to speak English? Isn't it only Thai that use immigration services in Thailand? ðŸĪŠ
4 years ago
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āļĄāļŦāļē **********
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Marty *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 She mentioned to update the bankbook and she mentioned that my bank letter was only good for 7 days.
4 years ago
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Marty *********
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Tod *********
IF you apply for a yearly extension on an O-A visa and your insurance doesn't run until the expiration date of your extension, they issue it from the date you applied until the expiration date of the insurance.

This example stamp shows someone who applied on the date their insurance came into effect Aug 25 2020 AND they were given an extension only until their insurance ran out Aug 25 2021.

The words āļ­āļ™āļļāļāļēāļ•āđ€āļ—āđˆāļēāļ­āļēāļĒāļļāļāļĢāļĄāļ˜āļĢāļĢāļĄāđŒ on the stamp say that
4 years ago
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Marty *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I think I am going to try Tod's suggestion. I will hold off on re-dating my insurance policy and will try again showing them I am already covered and have a new policy synced to my expiration date. If I can get them to look at the computer this time then I (we) will get a more definitive answer on this.
4 years ago
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Tod *********
What appears to have happened IS, he only had the new insurance paperwork from his carrier with him AND the thai officer vetting the paperwork only saw was that his NEW policy started on the date his current extension expired. :/

They didn't even log into the system to check and see he was insured already..

I think IF he goes back with this current insurance policy AND the new one they'll let him apply for a year extension now
4 years ago
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Tod *********
It's not making sense. IF you had this insurance policy for several years you should still BE covered on the old insurance AND when they look into the data base they should clearly see you're covered until next year 2021 on the new policy that takes effect Nov 19
4 years ago
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Marty *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
You would think so.
4 years ago
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Marty *********
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Marty *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
PC was a little surprised by the disconnect of the insurance start date and the extension expiration date. I think they have seen it go both ways.
4 years ago
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Tod *********
I don't think so, I've never seen someone get an extension when they weren't covered at C/W and I have never seen someone get an extension for longer than the coverage lasts
4 years ago
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Marty *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 I try to keep up on these things and I was not sure about this myself. sabai sabai. That is why I go in early. To find out about things like this.
4 years ago
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Tod *********
@Marty ********
 they'll put a stamp in your passport noting you got an extension for as long as the insurance was good for..
4 years ago
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Tod *********
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Tod *********
Remember though, seeing as they only offer an insurance policy on O-A visas for a year at a time. IF you move the date you will only get an extension up to the date the policy expires (meaning you won't get a year from the date your current extension expires).
4 years ago
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Marty *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
The Immigration officer spoke passable English and acknowledged that I would lose time if I came in early.
4 years ago
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Tod *********
@Marty ********
, only for that first yearly extension, because after that they insurance AND the expiration date are sync'd to one another.
4 years ago
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Marty *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 However, my current PC policy is in the database for travel purposes but I guess that doesn't count or it's just not possible to do it this way this time.
4 years ago
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Marty *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 Interesting. I have had the same PC policy for a couple of years. But since I haven't used it to extend yet. They, I guess, don't know about it. So yes, maybe next year I won't loose time when I try to extend early.
4 years ago
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Marty *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 This is my 3rd extension. The extension and the policy will be synced but I will lose time on the current extension if I go in before Nov 19th
4 years ago
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Marty *********
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Tod *********
You have to be covered BY the insurance on the date you apply for your extension
4 years ago
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Peter **********
Not for me in Chiang Mai either got the OA extension a month early but insurance started on Oct 24th ( start date of extension)
4 years ago
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Owen *******
Maybe it's just Chiang Mai. Got to say that everytime I've dealt with them they've been helpful and more than reasonable. But with the new covid style counters you don't really get much chance to discuss things with the IO, so can't say.
4 years ago
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Owen *******
Not in Chiang Mai. I just applied for my extension of stay based on a O-A (retirement) visa. First time I've had the insurance and it doesn't kick in until 1st November 2020. They approved the extension until 1st November 2021.
4 years ago
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Tod *********
@Owen ******
 wow, that is totally NOT how it's written at all. It says you have to be covered on the date you apply and you only can get an extension for the length of time you're covered for (if it's less than a year)
4 years ago
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Tod *********
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