@David ******

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

@David ******

It involves a bribe, which makes it illegal. It can't get any simpler than that.

@David ******

Expensive......and illegal, as it involves paying a bribe. The OP might want to stay legal, and not risk any repercussions!

@Terary *********

If you require insurance to open a bank account, you're being scammed. I've opened five accounts over the years, never once needed insurance, although it's been offered!

@Wayne ********

Correct. All the other consulates are closed

@Terary *********

There's only one Thai Embassy in Australia, and that's Canberra. The others are consulates, and Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth are all closed. The only open consulate is Sydney.

@Kathryn ******

Most (I won't say all) travel insurances will refund for every full calendar month if you cancel. The OA is great because you don't have to think of border bouncing which the cheapest at the moment is return flights to Phnom Penh obtaining visas in neighbouring countries, visiting immigration for extensions and other associated costs. The STV requires insurance, plus paid hotel bookings for 90 days at a time, then visiting immigration to pay another 1900baht for extensions. The O visa requires 800,000 baht to be deposited in a Thai bank account (each) for the duration of your stay. Others see it differently, but to me it's a no-brainer.

@Wayne ********

I can't understand why people work so hard to avoid travel insurance. Flying in and out of the country twice just to avoid buying what is actually a very handy thing to have in Thailand to me makes zero sense.

@Wayne ********

That's a lot of stuffing around! They're both over 50, so they qualify for retirement visa

Get the OA visa. It'll do you for a year and no need to detail where you'll be staying, and no need to transfer money. Use your credit card insurance to meet the three million baht criteria (no longer need specific outpatient insurance, so it's sweet).