What are the requirements and timeline for extending my Non-Imm O-A Visa given my financial situation and health insurance options in Thailand?

Aug 15, 2020
4 years ago
David *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi, I’ve just joined the group and have read many of the posts and there is a wealth of information, so I know I’m in the right group.

I have a Non-Imm type O-A and the VISA expiry date for a ‘border run renewal’ expires on 3 September, but entry stamp permits me to stay until 15 October. As it appeared the borders were not going to open, I visited the Yasothon Immigration Office last week, to determine my options, and the lady there was extremely nice and very helpful, although I think she could have given me more advise as to time lines. She advised that if the borders were to open before 3 September, I could get renewed but I would need to get the health insurance which came into affect after my first entry.

With the borders unlikely to open, she advised that my only other option was to apply for retirement visa, and I would need the 800K in a bank and health insurance, and I could apply prior to 15 October. As such, she provided me with some documents on the insurance.

Now my questions are two fold, firstly the 800K which won’t be a problem once I open an account hopefully in the next couple days, but even if I can open an account on Monday 17th, the 800K won’t get there from Australia until perhaps the 20th August! Do you think this will be a problem?

Secondly, the list of insurance companies on the document provided to me by Immigration are ‘participating companies’ and I’m being told that these companies are not the only ‘approved companies’ and that I can use any of the 168 Insurance companies that provide service in Thailand as long as I get the 400K/40K Cover. Is this correct?

Thanks in anticipation of good advice.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user has a Non-Immigrant O-A visa expiring soon but is unable to meet the 800K baht requirement in time to apply for a visa extension. They seek clarification on the timing of funds needed for application and the validity of insurance companies for visa requirements, especially in light of potential border delays.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
  • Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
  • For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
  • Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
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Tod *********
To be completely honest you should have looked into what you were going to do a LOT sooner than now, BUT be that as it may all you can do is get the account open, get the 800K baht in it, let it start "seasoning" until you hit 2 months. AND you also need to find and enroll in the insurance from one of those companies for a year to meet the requirements.

Unfortunately you'll have to go on overstay (stay longer than your current entry stamp allows) so you can get your money seasoned.

IF you get it in the account by the 20th, you will not be able to apply for your extension until the 20th of Oct <- meaning you will have overstayed 5 days and have to pay a 500 baht a day fine or 2500baht extra.

There's no way you can apply for your new yearly extension before this current one runs out because of the 2 months the money needs to be in the account before you apply :(
David *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
basically I waited until after 31 July as I was hoping that borders might be opening, but of course that’s unlikely now!

I had previously tried to get an account in BKK but all refused as I did not have a work permit, and they wouldn’t open an account for me on this Visa, regardless of how much I said I would deposit! I had not bothered since, as I simply use my lady’s account (who I trust 100%) however I have now been advised of a bank in Yasothon that should open one for me, so I’ll be going there on Monday!

I’ll also revisit Immigration to discuss the implications with her about being a few days late! I gained the impression from her that she is very ‘pro farang’!

As for insurance, I have already emailed all those on the list and have received replies from about 90% of them, but my question was, where does it say that these are the only ‘approved’ companies?

I have been offered an excellent Policy from Regency Insurance, and they claim that they are approved, but not on the list!

Many of those of the list are quoting very high premiums!
Tod *********
@David ********
the rules governing yearly extensions of stays from O-A visas state that those are the only insurance companies you can use. :/

BUT this is the thai VISA group, not the how can I get cheap insurance one. So I'm gonna shut the thread down because you got your answers ;) Good Luck, take care, stay safe
James ********
You will need to purchase the insurance from among those on the approved list.

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Tod *********
alright let's go thru this step by step.

First you have an O-A VISA sticker (from the thai consulate in your country that is valid until the 3rd of Sept) SO if by some wild stretch of the imagination the borders open and there are no restrictions you could bounce out and back to get a new year ENTRY STAMP (you're not renewing anything)..

However as you correctly stated it is extremely unlikely that the borders will open for you to get the "second year" from that visa.

That leaves you with the option of applying for a yearly extension of stay (again NOT renewing anything) at the immigration office.

It requires 800K baht in a thai bank account in your name only for 2 months before you apply for it. SO if your current year entry stamp expires on Oct 15, you needed the 800K baht in the account TODAY to apply for the extension on the your current stamp expires and have the money seasoned the 2 months (it's 2 months date to date, SO if your stamp expires on the 15th of Oct, you need the money IN the account on the 15th of Aug).
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