Can I return to Thailand on an O-A visa after getting a 1 year extension?

November 13, 2020
4 years ago
Evan ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Presently on an O-A visa and thinking of doing the 1 year extension here in Thailand before returning to Australia in March. I’m hoping I can return using it as it seems they are letting O-A visa holders back in to Thailand meeting the requirements. Is that correct?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
You can return to Thailand on an O-A visa after successfully obtaining a one-year extension, provided you meet all requirements, including quarantine and health insurance. Additionally, ensure you fulfill the financial prerequisites for the extension, which include having 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account or a consistent monthly transfer to meet the total. Note that you also require approval from the Australian government for your travel.
Stephen ******
Don’t forget you will also need permission from the Australian Government to leave as well. This of course will change at some point but currently I understand over 80% of applications are refused.
Tod *********
That is correct they are allowing O-A visa & extension holders request permission to enter the country.

REMEMBER though you need to mee the financial requirements to get the yearly extension:

-800K banked in a thai bank account in your name only for 2 months before you apply

OR

transferred in to the country into a thai bank account in your name only a minimum of 65K baht a month each month every month for the previous 12 months before you apply for your extension

OR

a combination of banked money and monthly overseas transfers that total 800K baht for the year

AND

You need to have the mandatory health insurance coverage from one of the 14 approved thai insurance carriers who issue O-A insurance

This is the list of them

******************************************
Graham ******
Get the extension and a reentry stamp , to get ok to leave Australia just tell them your leaving for more than 3 months , then a fit to fly and Coe , corona test
Evan ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
yes I’m aware of the health insurance requirements thank you. I need to have health insurance for the extension anyway so I will already have it when I try to return.

I’m also hoping by when I want to return to Thailand maybe around August 2021, the quarantine in Thailand might be easier if no major outbreaks in either country. I’d need the fit to fly medical, permission to leave Oz and recent Covid test too but not the medical test as I will have a current O-A, is that correct too?
Tod *********
@Evan *******
you say you're going to get the year extension HERE inside the country and then leave in in March.

I wouldn't get the cart before the whore :O err the cart before the horse too much on worrying about what you'll need when you wanna come back to the glorious "Land 'O Thaiz" believe me August is a f*cking LONG way off. Work on getting your year extension FIRST.. No one in this country has the slightest idea what the entry requirements will be next week let along next August
Evan ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
haha just planning ahead without a crystal ball! Not worried about getting the extension here in Thailand. I am just weighing up the pros & cons compared to getting a brand new O-A when back in Oz!
Tod *********
@Evan *******
well when does your current year entry stamp expire? You'll get an extension up to a year added to that date. OR

just leave and buy a new O-A when you come back and you'll get stamped in for a year when you get back in.

That's a personal decision that not a single person on this group can help you with.
Evan ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
well the whole Covid era dictates uncertainty doesn’t it. I normally get O-A visas in Australia and effectively get 2 years out of it plus don’t have to bring money into Thailand especially with the varying but usually crap exchange rate. The big thing now is being able to get back into Thailand so that’s a big change! Presently, I can’t change to an extension based on being married straight from an O-A so that’s a pro for getting an extension here in Thailand as the following year I would then be able to do it...a big plus! In the future being married to a Thai seems to be another way of getting back in too, another plus!

Hopefully a vaccine will eventually make all this a mute situation but that’s a way off too.
Tod *********
@Evan *******
I almost think given what you outlined that you should just leave in March and then get a NEW Non-O-A visa back in Australia before you come back. That way you can use proof of funds with your bank there AND proof of insurance there to get the visa and to enter on it. That'd be the easiest way right now. AND seeing as O-A visas are on the list of visas you can get to get into the country you'll have no problem
Evan ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
yes that’s definitely one option! I’m glad I have them and some time left if things change. An eventual path to an extension based on marriage is a biggy for me through doing the O-A extension in Thailand though.

Thanks for the discussion 😄👍😄 Hope it helps others in weighing up all the present options.
Tod *********
@Evan *******
, if you're married to a thai just get a single entry Non-O when you're back in Oz before you come back, marriage to a thai is also a reason to request to get into the country. So you'd have no problem entering on that Non-O visa
Evan ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
married but not registered in Thailand (yet) but that’s not a bad idea too! Do you have info about the non O from in Oz? I assume that would be for 90 days and I’d then need to apply for an extension based on marriage. I’d still need to get insurance too but only for the length of the Non O visa huh?
Stuart *********
Yes. As long as you can jump through all the hoops including quarantine and insurance et al you can get back on an OA visa.
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