I came in on a non O-A (over 50) right before the new health insurance rule so I need to get insurance before I border bounce in late September (assuming that the borders open in time). So, this isn't strictly visa-related but I have two questions:

(1) How long a process is it to get insurance? Can it be done online in minutes or do I need to plan X days/weeks ahead of when I want to bounce?

(2) Do you generally pay for an entire year up front or is it monthly? I would prefer not to pay for an entire year if I end up having to leave the country because of border/travel restrictions.

Thanks. I think it was one of your posts that gave me the idea to include a cover letter and provided details on the notary issue. Many other posts in this group have been helpful to me as well so I hope my post can in some small way contribute back.

@Robert ******

I have a pretty extensive history going back multiple years. No overstays or any other rule violations, but yes I have come and gone often. The staff member I dealt with didn't seem concerned with my finances or that I might be working illegally. She simply said that the consular officer was unlikely to approve the visa.

So, here's my latest update. I am now in PP. I contacted a few agencies here and one (Cina) is no longer doing the visa service because they say the embassy sometimes wants answers to questions from the applicant that they cannot provide. Lucky Lucky Moto still does the service ($45 with 4 day turnaround) as does another agency near my guest house (Worldwide Travel & Exchange, same price). Having said that, I decided the best bet was to just go to the embassy myself and apply, which I did this morning. I had all my paperwork in order and received a queue number. Short line and wait (I arrived about 9:00) and the woman working there asked why I have spent so much time in Thailand. She told me she didn't think the consular office would approve my visa and that I would just be wasting my $40 application fee so I should do a visa exempt entry instead. So, that is what I will end up doing.

@Richard **********

We'll see what I find when I get to PP. One Siem Reap agency I visited that was recommended in another post in this group told me that no agencies are allowed because the staff may have questions for you (perhaps related to it becoming a more strict process?) so you have to go yourself. I had also read that the cost was less than the price of a tuk tuk in PP (plus no need to wait on lines) so an agent would be preferable in that case but time will tell. I will report back when I know more.

@Robert ******

I am in Siem Reap not PP. Since I plan to be here a while I thought using an agent while I am out and about touring would be ideal. Since that seems to not be an option now I will try when I get to PP.

Here's an update that may be of interest. I just arrived in Siem Reap and was hoping to use an agent to get a tourist visa but am finding it very difficult to find an agency that will do it. I am getting mixed information. A couple agencies that I talked to (including one recommended in an older post) said that things have changed recently and agents are not allowed to do it any longer. My guest house made a call to whoever they work with and said something about needing a work permit (that was all kind of confusing and undoubtedly wrong but the same end result). I finally found one that said they will do it, but they didn't inspire confidence and, with the office closures on the 5th and 10th I wouldn't get it back until next Thursday. I will try to find an agent in PP next week and see if they say the same or not.

@Ellie ******

Thanks. That's what I was guessing. So, for example, if I get a one-year non O-A, stay for 11 months, border bounce to get one more year, then fly home for 2 months (thus returning after the original 1 year expiration), I should get a re-entry permit before leaving and then when I returned I would be able to stay until one year after my 11 month border bounce. Do I have that correct? (this is not theoretical but what I actually am thinking of doing next year).

What if you leave the country before your one-year visa expires but return after? In that case you would need a re-entry permit?

I got a METV there last year. I just submitted the paperwork as normal fully expecting to get the visa the next day but I was told to come back in the afternoon the same day. I cannot say if that was typical or unusual (perhaps because it wasn't very busy the day I applied?)