Answereda month ago
Should I apply for a DTV for dental treatment or reapply for a non-immigrant O retirement visa?
Hi,
Late last year I was in Thailand on a non-immigrant O retirement visa for 69 days, but I had to return home for a family issue before I could extend it. Since the start of this year, I've entered Thailand 3 times by air visa exempt (with one extension) and one entry from Laos escorted across the border by an agent. No overstays, but I've spent 219 days this year in Thailand visa exempt.
Two weeks before I returned home, I broke a tooth in half. Not unexpected, it was one of two back teeth that have had continuous re-filling for 3 or 4 years. I consulted with a reputable clinic in Pattaya, they told me I needed extractions, 4 implants, possible bone grafts and my wisdom teeth removed. They gave me a 10 month dental plan and all the paperwork required to apply for a DTV.
Question -- should I go the DTV route for dental treatment with my visa-exempt history, or just re-apply for a non-immigrant O retirement visa? I'm worried they'll say I'm attempting to live in Thailand (which I am LOL) on a tourist visa and reject it - noting the DTV fee in New Zealand is 29,000 THB. On the other hand, it's a genuine dental program that I'll eventually need anyway, and anything is less painful than dealing with immigration at Jomtien every year
Late last year I was in Thailand on a non-immigrant O retirement visa for 69 days, but I had to return home for a family issue before I could extend it. Since the start of this year, I've entered Thailand 3 times by air visa exempt (with one extension) and one entry from Laos escorted across the border by an agent. No overstays, but I've spent 219 days this year in Thailand visa exempt.
Two weeks before I returned home, I broke a tooth in half. Not unexpected, it was one of two back teeth that have had continuous re-filling for 3 or 4 years. I consulted with a reputable clinic in Pattaya, they told me I needed extractions, 4 implants, possible bone grafts and my wisdom teeth removed. They gave me a 10 month dental plan and all the paperwork required to apply for a DTV.
Question -- should I go the DTV route for dental treatment with my visa-exempt history, or just re-apply for a non-immigrant O retirement visa? I'm worried they'll say I'm attempting to live in Thailand (which I am LOL) on a tourist visa and reject it - noting the DTV fee in New Zealand is 29,000 THB. On the other hand, it's a genuine dental program that I'll eventually need anyway, and anything is less painful than dealing with immigration at Jomtien every year
Answer summary
The user is considering whether to apply for a DTV (Dental Treatment Visa) for dental procedures or to reapply for a non-immigrant O retirement visa after previously spending prolonged periods in Thailand on visa-exempt entries. They express concerns about potential rejection if they apply for the DTV, given their visa-exempt history, and whether this could be seen as an attempt to live in Thailand on a tourist visa. The discussion involves multiple opinions suggesting that the non-O retirement visa might be easier and more suitable than the DTV, as it provides more stability for long-term residency.
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Jazi ********
Retirement is the best.. no complications and nonsense. You're clearly eligible and only paperwork is needed.
DTV you'll need to suffer
DTV you'll need to suffer
Jazi ********
@Scott ******
logic? Getting a DTV is massive pain. And you can even get rejected. Retirement is almost automatic. Do the documents, be patient, and you got your visaScott *******
OPWhy is it a massive pain? I have the treatment plan documents from the clinic, police checks here are online and free and take a week or so. I guess that was the original aim of my question - why would they reject it? Genuine medical treatment seems far less dodgy than Muay Thai or cooking classes
Luit *****************
@Scott ******
Each entry you have to be prepared to show all updated documents. Most times they will not ask, but it is just possible.Scott *******
OPI don’t see the logic of where the suffering comes in
Patryk *******
If dental care is recurring rather than a one-off trip, the visa that matches how you actually live here usually beats endless exempt re-entries. DTV can be clean for flexible stays; Non-Imm O retirement is more purpose-built if that is truly your basis. The expensive mistake is optimizing the application fee while the entry pattern keeps looking like long-term residence without the matching story. Decide which lifestyle you are documenting, then pick the visa that fits it.
Honest *******
@Patryk ******
There is no requirement to participate in the activity for which your DTV was issued for the whole 5 year validity period. If ever asked for purpose of visit, there are no prescribed acceptable (or unacceptable) reasons. At the end of the day, DTV is a tourist visa thus valid for touristic purposes.John **********
The Non-O based on retirement is much less hassle
Scott *******
OP@John *********
I was thinking getting the DTV might be more difficult, but it would be less hassle afterwards. No battling immigration for extensions every year.Luit *****************
@Scott ******
When the dental plan is only 10 months, what are you plans to do the next 4 years of DTV.There is absolutely no guarantee you can keep using it without softpower activity.
You might be lucky, but nobody knows if checks will be more frequently with a prime minister wanting foreigners to die in their own country.
I think your non-o retirement is a much better option as long as you don't plan to work.
Honest *******
@Scott ******
Absolutely. There are no minimum participation times for any of the activities for which DTVs are issued.Za *******
@Scott ******
that is exactly why eventually they will get denied entryLuit *****************
@Scott ******
I agree a lot of DTV users just abuse the visa and enter the country for different reasons.As long as they not get checked it will work.
So you are right there is no differnce, but a lot of them do this because they not qualify for non-o, and you do, so the non-o is simply more appropriate and has less chance to get in trouble with Immigration.
Scott *******
OP@Luit ****************
I wouldn’t get all 4 implants at once over 10 months, I’d do them over time. Anyway, people on a DTV don’t punch a bag or cook Pad Thai for the whole 5 years, I don’t see the difference.Za *******
@Scott ******
the DTV was not meant to live full time in Thailand and that is what you are intending to doJohn **********
@Scott ******
no staying in the country for longer than 6 months, no bank account, need to sign up and pay for an approved activity, potentially show you are still following activity every time you enter. Yea the DTV is a lot less hassle 😉Honest *******
@Scott ******
Digital nomad can work from anywhere. To attend cultural courses and dental/medical appointments you need to be in Thailand. Arguing that you shouldn't be in the country is absurd. As are the trolls.Za *******
@Scott ******
you need to have to money locked away only for 2 monthsHonest *******
@Za ******
DTV is valid for 5 years. You believe there to be some lower time limit. Why?John **********
@Scott ******
statements, a bank card, a new passport, a new bank book, whateverScott *******
OP@John *********
I understand, but considering I've been out of and back into Thailand 4 times this year already I can't see the issue. I trade that off against the chaos and humiliation at Jomtien immigration once a year and having 800,000 baht uselessly locked awayScott *******
OP@John *********
I'm scratching my head to think of a time I've needed to go into a bank branch for anythingJohn **********
@Scott ******
no they can't. They can only be in Thailand for 180 days at a timeJohn **********
@Scott ******
it does if you need to interact with the bank for anything, they'll want to see your passportZa *******
@Scott ******
like I said, it’s a tourist visa and was not meant to live full time in Thailand. The issues are going to start after you complete your dental treatment. Since your DTV will be based dental treatment once you finish your treatment, you are not fulfilling the purpose of your visa anymore and can get denied entry any timeScott *******
OP@John *********
True, but my non-O expired 9 months ago and I've returned visa exempt 4 times with no issues. The bank has no visibility of my immigration status, does it?Scott *******
OP@Za ******
Surely a remote worker on a DTV can be living full time in Thailand, for 5 years at leastJohn **********
@Scott ******
no guarantee you would get to keep that account if you switch to a DTV.Scott *******
OP@John *********
I already have a Thai bank account, no need to hold 800,000 baht either with a DTV. The dental work has to be done eventually, I figured I could space it over a few years as well. My worry is getting rejected and the 29K baht going down the drainActivity
7 joined7
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