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What are the rules for extending an OA visa in Thailand, especially regarding health insurance coverage?

OA Visa Thailand Immigration Visa Extension Health Insurance Requirements Retirement Visa Marriage Visa

Oct 17, 2020

6 years ago

Lex *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Good Day Everyone! I read a post that stated that the immigration will only extend am OA visa to the end of the health insurance. My oA visa expired Feb 2020 but got a free year when I left and returned to Thailand so I'm good until Nov 2021. My health insurance coverage is from Feb 2020-Feb 2021. Does this mean that when I go to the immigration office to get my OA extended, they'll only give until the expiration of my insurance (Feb 2021)? Additionally, how hard is it to convert from a OA to an O visa? I'm married to a Thai whom I met in the US and then we retired in Phuket. Thanks!

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The discussion revolves around the complexities of extending an OA visa in Thailand, particularly concerning the expiration of health insurance coverage. The original poster has an OA visa that technically expired in February 2020 but was granted a reprieve allowing stay until November 2021 due to re-entry into Thailand. However, their health insurance only covers them until February 2021, raising questions about the duration of their possible extension. Comments clarify that extensions granted at immigration will not exceed the health insurance coverage duration. Additionally, conversion to an O visa based on marriage is discussed as requiring at least one extension based on the original OA visa reason before changing to a different type based on marriage.

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Tod *********

I forgot to mention that the

@Lung ****

IS covered by one of the 14 thai approved insurance carriers. :)

While it is totally okay to get your O-A visa from your country using an insurance carrier there that meets the requirements, you cannot get any extension from an O-A inside the country without carrying the mandatory insurance requirements by one of the 14 thai approved insurance companies. The O/P is covered by Pacific Cross and they are one of the approved insurers for O-A visas ..

6 years ago

Evan ********

@Tod ********

can you please confirm you need to have made at least 1 extension on an A-O before you can get an extension based on marriage to a Thai? I was told I could do it at Hua Hin and given the list however we didn’t discuss about having made a previous (in country) extension? I also got in without having having insurance if that matters.

6 years ago

Tod *********

That is my understanding. You entered on an O-A VISA <- and you can only get an extension from that entry stamp based on the reason you got the visa (which was for being over 50)

Now once you get at least one extension from it based on the reason you got the visa you can indeed change the reason for extensions after that to another reason.

Talk to your immigration office to see what they say, AND show them your passport so they know you're not on an extension but on a year entry stamp from the O-A.

As far as you getting in without showing proof of insurance, the rules changed back on Oct 31st, 2019 and anyone entering on an O-A visa had to show proof of insurance, so dunno why you got in without showing proof of it unless you entered before that date.

6 years ago

Evan ********

@Tod ********

thanks. I’m on the 2nd year of my A-O having left Thailand briefly and back in March 2019 just before the lockdown. That’s not an extension though so basically still on my original visa. I’ll make another trip in to see if I can get a definitive answer from Immigration. Yep lucky about the insurance!

6 years ago

Tod *********

@Evan *******

the way you tell is IF you're on the small blue rectangular entry stamp that got you stamped in for a year, it means you have never extended that visa inside the country.

That's the type you have to get at least one extension based on the reason the visa was issued before you can change reasons.

OR so I have been told by immigration officers. :/ Check with your office AND definitely take your passport with you to show them you're only on an entry stamp NOT a previous extension from the O-A

6 years ago

Evan ********

@Tod ********

yep small blue rectangle stamp. Thanks 😄

6 years ago

Reply to

Evan ********

Lex *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thanks Tod! Appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions and catching my date error. 👍

6 years ago

Tod *********

Now here's a thought, The O/P wants to switch (NOT to an O VISA) but to an extension based on marriage to a thai. BUT in order to do that from an O-A entry stamp they have to get at least one extension based on the reason they have the visa (retirement).

They could apply for the retirement extension this nov when their current year entry stamp runs out by meeting the financial requirements and showing their proof of insurance. BUT what would happen is, instead of them getting a year extension they would only get an extension good as long as their insurance policy is (Feb 2021).

Once they have that extension (no matter that it's less than a year) when it comes up to run out they could then apply for a NEW yearly extension based on marriage to a thai because they'd have followed the rule of applying for at least one extension for the reason they got the visa (retirement).

6 years ago

Guz ********

@Tod ********

I wish I had read your post before applying for my yearly extension last week. Six months ago when my O-A ran out I was granted an extension of stay based upon retirement until my insurance expired. I am also married to a Thai. I will definitely go down that route next year. To satisfy O-A visa requirements I purchased a health issurace from the approved list. Gave a huge excess that renders the insurance usless but cheap then bought a sensible policy with high inpatient cover

6 years ago

Tod *********

So it would work like this

Apply for a yearly extension based on retirement by meeting the proof of funds and proof of insurance

BUT only get the extension until Feb 2021 because that's when the insurance runs out

BEFORE that extension runs out go back and apply for a new yearly extension based on marriage by meeting the proof of funds and submitting the required documentation,.

Get a 30 day under consideration stamp, then after that go back and get the year extension based on marriage inked into your passport.

That COULD indeed work out

6 years ago

Reply to

Tod *********

Okay, this is pretty much like I thought it was

They mis-typed that they are stamped in until Nov 2021 :/ they're stamped in until Nov 2020.

The O-A visa expired in Feb 2020 but they bounced out and back in back in Nov 2019 which gave them a new year entry stamp dated until Nov 2020.

They are insured until Feb 2021. SO that means IF they apply for an extension in Nov (and don't do anything with their insurance) they will only get an extension dated until Feb 2021 <- the date they are insured until.

6 years ago

Reply to

Tod *********

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