I just want to clarify the insurance requirement for the LTR visa.

The Thai Consulate website states "... or social security benefits insuring treatment in Thailand."

After going back & forth with the LTR Visa Unit in Thailand for the past several days on exactly what this statement means, it seems that by "social security" they are referring to healthcare coverage an applicant is entitled to from their home-country government. This makes sense, since it is meant as an alternative to health insurance. In the U.S., social security means something different; it is not healthcare & therefore does not satisfy the requirement.

Fortunately for American military retirees, in an email I received this morning, 12-06-2024/2566, from the LTR Visa Unit, "Tricare or US military healthcare [i.e., FMP if one collects VA disability] meets the requirements for the LTR visa, so you do not have to apply for separate health insurance." For those 65 or older, you must opt in for Medicare Part B to retain Tricare coverage, which is then called Tricare for Life.

On a separate issue, once the BOI endorses your application, you are not required to annually or otherwise update Thai Immigration regarding your eligibility, meaning your visa is essentially maintenance free at least until the five-year renewal point. Plus, they said address reporting is only required annually, vice quarterly, & then only if you haven't left the country.

One other note: for Americans, they mostly rely on annual IRS 1040s for proof of income (total reported divided by number of names included on 1040), though this is not a hard-&-fast rule. Letters from appropriate authorities can be submitted as proof, as well as your written explanation for why you don't file taxes or why there might be a discrepancy or two between your stated income & what the 1040 shows. As an example, VA disability is not reported on 1040s.

Anyone here have experience with VISA medical coverage requirments and TriCare?

Wanted to post my experience for the LTR VISA pensioner. I am a retired military officer- 53 years old. My pension /VA was enough to qualify for the amount. I was also able to prove that TRICARE was sufficient to qualify for the medical insurance. I downloaded the coverage from the milconnect page and also provided a letter from the TRICARE office on Okinawa which stated that coverage was available for costs in excess of $100,000.

The BOI personnel were very responsive from the online process. It probably would have processed faster, if I had responded quicker to their requests. After any response, they moved the process along within one business day.

Pretty straight forward for the application/process. I applied on 22 June and received my 10 year VISA time stamp today from the One Stop in Chamchuri office today- 26 July. I was in the office right at one hour. Initial stamp was the 5 year through 2028.

As I will be traveling a couple times a year back to the USA, the fast track through immigration will be welcomed. Also I will not have to report, as the one year timeline restarts whenever I re-enter the Kingdom. I was under a non-Imm O (didn’t have to cancel or do anything to that VISA, they wrote a note in my passport), so this new visa will also free up the funds I have sitting in a Thai bank account.

Very happy with this new VISA

Hi, I've emailed the Thai Embassy in Washington DC but they have yet to reply. So my question is:

I am a Retire US Military member. My medical is via TriCare (US Government). To apply for a Non-O based on Retirement the rules are I need to supply an Original Medical Policy. TriCare does not issue Policies.

While in Thailand I pay for medical treatments and apply for reimbursements, I have done this in the past.

So my question is what can I supply as proof of Insurance?

Thanks in advance. dz