Is a trailing spouse visa possible for my husband who will be under 50 years old when we arrive in Thailand?

@Terary *********

If you require insurance to open a bank account, you're being scammed. I've opened five accounts over the years, never once needed insurance, although it's been offered!

@Bobby *******

Its not a matter of 'if I am getting scammed' its a matter of 'how much'.

When I started the journey, 8,000 seems way too much. Two days latter several trips to various offices and needing to go to Bangkok US Embassy, 8,000 seemed quite reasonable.

@Sarah *********

Sorry yes, for visa applications outside of Thailand you already do need the three million insurance. It's for the in-country extensions that the new requirements commence in September. My insurance has a $100 (Aus) deductible, so small amounts are not covered. I've made two claims in the last 2-3 years. One was not health related, it was for a rental car excess payment (there was no deduction on that, I got the full amount), and the other was actually an outpatient job for a trapped nerve in my lower back, which required scans, physio as well as pain killers etc. The total was around $500 Aus, which I got back $400. I had to pay upfront of course, scanned and emailed the receipts and was paid within a week.

@Terary *********

the 90 day visa is just regular non-O. Yes they need to show the money in their home country to get that, but then if they want to extend it in Thailand they have to have the 800,000₿ here but this doesn't require insurance.

Non-OA is a 1 year multi-entry visa but does require insurance. Each time you enter you get stamped in for 1 year or for as long as your insurance is good for. So what most people do is get the OA, come to Thailand, then near the end of the that year they get a new year of insurance, leave Thailand and come back in and get another full year stamped in their passport. This basically gives them a 2nd year for free.

Then after year 2 they can either transfer the money to Thailand to extend inside country but still must have insurance, or they can go back home and apply for a new Non-OA visa with their money back home and start it over again.

@Brandon ***********

Pre-covid the OA was by far the best option. No need to transfer unnecessary funds into a Thai bank account, can use your home country insurance, and with a well-timed border bounce get two years stay without having to apply for any extension. Return to Australia for a visit, get a new visa, repeat the process. So easy. And the bonus was I lived for six years in Thailand and never visited an immigration office once. It was brilliant! I yearn for a return to those days!

@Sarah *********

I would suggest do the OA thing for 2 years. Get that "free" second year by leaving and re-entering right before your visa expires. If after that time you decide you do want to stay in Thailand long term, leave and go to your home country and get a non-O. Or leave and return as a tourist and then convert to non-O in the country. This way you can do your extensions without the insurance requirement after you've had 2 years to decide you love Thailand.

@Sarah *********

it was almost impossible to leave and enter Thailand during Covid. But not anymore. Most people don't want to do extensions on the Non-OA because it has a high insurance requirement where the Non-O does not.

@Sarah *********

Thaievisa. Took two weeks to approve my husband application which included one week off for Songkran. I just applied mine this Monday. I created logon ID and checked what they required for documents. They allowed maximum 15 days to upload and submit documents.

@Sarah *********

you are welcome

@Sarah *********

I just received my visa this morning….only one week.

@Sarah *********

Yes, that’s what I selected.