@Pom *******

happy to help. We got a lot of help from several people over in the other Thai Visa Advice Group so it's nice to pass it on.

@Kevin ********

should "hopefully" find out about the covid extension on Friday.

@Pom *******

yes because I applied as a "trailing spouse", not sure if that's the correct term. We are both Canadian, and were married in Canada. Because we are Canadian we can get a letter from the consulate to verify funds and they verified our marriage. We gave a copy of the letter to immigration plus a copy of the wedding certificate. The lady checking our documents questioned why it wasn't translated we said we weren't told it had to be and the letter verified it. She spoke to someone else who told her to accept it.

Visa exempt will give you 30, + one additional 30 days extension for a total of 60. Immigration has been know to decline entry if they feel that people are abusing visa exempt so something to keep in mind if you plan on bouncing around.

The Tourist Visa, TR60 or Single Entry Tourist Visa, will give you 60, + one additional 30 days extension for a total of 90. Easy to apply for online, usually takes a week.

The STV, Special Tourist Visa, gives 90 days, + two 90 day extensions. No idea how long it takes to get but have read the process is cumbersome.

If the covid covid extension is available after January 25 you can get an additional 60 days. The IO's usually require you have used all extensions on your original entry prior to allowing this... varies per office. If it's extended, entering on a visa exempt would be better since you can apply for before potentially expires.

If you don't like the uncertainty of that, TR60 is the way to go.

Currently, land borders are closed but you can fly. Cambodia is open but need a visa, PCR, negative ATK on arrival and if vaxxed can travel around. You can get a new TR60 from the Thai Embassy to re- enter but would need to meet all the other requirements. Laos has limited opening for tour groups and I think Vietnam is similar.

@Pom *******

we went with AXA Sawadee. The main reason being the covid coverage including asymptomatic hospitalizations. Our Canadian one didn't cover it as not medically necessary so we would have had to get 2 policies to cover everything. The AXA Sawadee is decent and worked out about the same price wise. Plus it's direct bill if you go to a hospital in thier group.

@Pom *******

Air Canada had a promotion when we booked, anything booked prior to a certain date was refundable. Personally, I try not to fly with them because they are horrible but fully refundable was a nice to have.

When we applied for the Non O, the Vancouver Consulate told us we need the covid insurance and the 40k/400k for the original 90 days. We were not asked for it when we did our extension. For various reasons, we didn't want to be without insurance so got a policy that will cover our expected time here. I'd ask the embassy or consulate where you are applying as there maybe different requirements.

We flew one way but booked a fully refundable return ticket for the 90 day time line. I was asked for it by immigration when we originally entered Thailand, my husband wasn't.

@Benjamin *****

only for certain countries and it seems that unless approved you must be on a tour..

1/laos-officials-allow-entry-of-tourists-from-additional-international-locations-as-of-jan-3-update-40

Yes, if it's your first covid extension it starts the date you apply. If you get another covid extension, it gets added to your existing time.

Just email the Canadian Consulate in Chiang Mai, they will respond telling you that they don't issue the letter. Print the email and bring it with you, worked for us when asked last year. The Consulate in Chiang Mai responds very quickly.