What experiences do others have with the Thailand Soft Power DTV visa approval process?

Remember when the aircraft leaves the ground in the USA heading overseas Medicare STOPS…coverage and takes 30 days upon your return to kick back into coverage.

I have Pacific Cross insurance in Thailand and they automatically give you the required and proper signed paperwork in Thai and English and will also partly cover you in the USA.

Also if you keep your policy current they will cover you until you’re 99 years old. There is only about 4 companies in Thailand that will do that.

Have you thought about the other retirement visa option? Non-O?

Non-O and Non-O-A Retirement Visa

The Non-O and Non-O-A retirement visas are two distinct options for retirees looking to live in Thailand. Here are the key differences:

Application Location: Non-O can be applied for from within Thailand at a local immigration office, while Non-O-A must be applied for from your home country at a Thai embassy or consulate.

Insurance Requirements: Non-O does not require health insurance, whereas Non-O-A mandates health insurance coverage worth at least $100,000 from approved Thai insurers.

Initial Validity: Non-O typically starts with a 90-day visa, which can be extended to one year, while Non-O-A is a one-year, multiple-entry visa.

Flexibility: Non-O offers more flexibility, allowing for a single entry and the possibility of extending the visa without leaving Thailand. Non-O-A requires a police clearance certificate and is less flexible.

Cost: Non-O has lower costs, including a visa application fee and ongoing health insurance premiums, while Non-O-A involves higher costs due to the insurance requirement.

Choosing the right visa depends on individual circumstances, such as insurance status, financial stability, and personal preferences. It's essential to consider these factors to ensure a smooth transition into retirement in Thailand.

Hey SilverTiger, I was in the same predicament as you in January of this year. I went with CIGNA worldwide and had my OA approved from the US by virtue of CIGNA filling out that foreign insurance certificate correctly. However, there’s one thing you need to know. After learning from different posts on these boards that when I apply for the extension of stay at one year I might have problems with my foreign insurance, I went to immigration in person in Bangkok. I confirmed that upon the annual application for the extension of stay, I will need to switch to one of the approved TGIA health insurance is listed. So, if your current insurance signed that form and you are accepted, just be aware that at your one-year renewal, depending on who your immigration officer is, it’s more likely than not they will not extend your stay unless you switch over to one of the TGIA approved insurances. I’m in the same situation.

The insurance immigration accepts is on their website. If you have questions send your question to your local Thai Consulate and ask them the question do they accept WR Life? Medicare is US only.

The Thai e-Visa system may ask for a “Foreign Insurance Certificate,” but a TGIA/OIC-participating Thai insurer may provide its own O-A visa insurance certificate containing the same required information instead of using the generic downloadable form. For an overseas insurer, the generic Foreign Insurance Certificate usually needs to be completed, signed, and stamped by that insurer. The important point is not the exact title of the document, but whether it contains the required O-A insurance details and is accepted by the embassy/consulate.

I don't know if I would trust using a foreign insurer for this unless I had no better option. The paperwork has to satisfy Thai e-Visa/embassy expectations, and foreign insurers may not understand or cooperate with the required certificate format. A Thai TGIA/OIC-participating insurer already knows the O-A process and can issue the visa-specific certificate. It may or may not be the best insurance value, but it is usually the safer paperwork route.

If your insurer is not on the TGIA approved list, they will need to complete, sign and stamp the Foreign Insurance Certificate. If your policy is issued by a TGIA-approved Thai insurer, that is normally not required.

pRkP4tkCe/Form(s)/ENG/แบบฟอร์มใหม่_(2)_Foreign_Insurance_Certificate_1.pdf

You cannot use Medicare outside the US.

Submit with your OA application proof of your health insurance plan. Contact your insurer in Thailand and ask for one.

Be aware that the OA Visa when issued will only be valid to the ending date of the health insurance you have.