Can I Use Foreign Health Insurance for a Marriage Visa in Thailand?

Dec 12, 2019

5 years ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi everyone, Ian Mcconaghy here (62). I have an O-A visa in my Australian passport which has an end date of 16/1/2020 ( issued July 2018, re stamped upon re entry on 16/1/2019).

I am wanting to go for a Marriage Visa and plan to visit my local (Saraburi) Immigration office next week.

I purchased a health insurance policy by Regency for Expats which conforms with the Thai criteria of B40,000/B400,000 and they have issued me with a Foreign Insurance Certificate. They have an office in Bangkok but don't appear on their Long stay website, which I am of the impression that it is just a guideline for suggested insurers.

Has anyone had experience with using insurance not on their list?

Also, does the A-O convert to a Marriage A-O or an O and is insurance required for a Marriage extension?

If they don't like it I might have to chose the option of doing the O-A to O conversion as described by Tod last month but will check with the office first as suggested. 

Sorry about a long winded question by I just want to have an idea what I could be up against. 

Cheers!

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TLDR : Answer Summary

Ian Mcconaghy is looking to switch from an O-A visa to a Marriage Visa in Thailand, and he's inquiring about the use of foreign health insurance for visa extension purposes, as well as the conversion process from O-A to Marriage Visa. He plans to visit the Saraburi Immigration office and seeks experiences from others. Comments indicate that foreign health insurance is generally not accepted for the extension, and some advice on converting the visa or getting a Non-O visa in Thailand is provided.

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Tod *********

Sorry about that

@Pat****

, I just don't believe it can be done, and I have never seen it before, so we're just gonna hafta table discussion about it for now (at least until someone posts an original O-A visa and then a yearly extension from it based on marriage ;) ).

I mean no disrespect, I just don't wanna spread false info about how to do it.

I know with 100% certainty that 'breaking the chain' of extensions from an O-A by bouncing out and back and either getting a Non-O in country OR by going and getting the Non-O at a thai consulate works as far as getting an extension without any need for insurance.

5 years ago

Tod *********

If your immigration office can't do the conversion (because not all do), Just go to the thai consulate in Savannakhet Lao and BUY a single entry 90 day Non-O visa based on marriage. They don't require any proof of funds and only minimal documentation to issue that visa.

Then when you come back you'll get stamped in for 90 days, then when you have 30 days left on it you can apply for your yearly extension based on marriage and will not need insurance at all.

5 years ago

Tod *********

This is a little clearer

5 years ago

Ian ****************

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Tod ********

thank you, looks like a trip out and back then. Seeing my stamped date is the

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/2020, what's the best date to fly/drive out?

5 years ago

Reply to

Ian ****************

Tod *********

You are going to need to break the chain from the O-A visa, get a new Non-O visa then you can apply for the marriage extension at the immigration office.

This is how you go from an O-A visa to an O visa.

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5 years ago

Tod *********

nope, you can't use foreign health insurance to get a yearly extension (for any reason) off an O-A visa inside the country.

5 years ago

Reply to

Tod *********

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