@Hathaway ************

you'll see a lot of people grumble on here about the o-a because of the health insurance part but it worked well for me but I'd only just hit 50 so the premiums weren't too high. Opening a bank account was dead easy as well as I had the long term visa in hand. Many people seem stuck in a catch 22 of wanting to open an account to get the long term visa but get refused because they don't have a long term visa. Bangkok Bank actually have a branch in London. You may even be able to get the account open before you leave, although I've not seen anyone post on here they've done such a thing but their website does mention savings accounts and current accounts

If you don't want to tie the cash up and are happy to pay for the year insurance get the o-a (which, with a multi entry you can get almost 2 years out of, with a timely border bounce), open your account and then start doing the monthly transfer. When your o-a expires you then have the proof required to to get the o on monthly payments. Criminal check and medical check are simple and will set you back maybe £100. Only issue I guess is of you're worried the criminal check won't come back clean

Talk loud and slowlyi

@Martin ****

did i say he'd be blacklisted? No, I didn't. He is more than welcome to pay an overstay fee at the airport if he wishes. Will the stress of dealing with that and any consequences of being stopped by the police in that short period of time between visa expiring and departure be something the OP is fine with? Only he can say. Financial saving of paying a couple of days overstay vs spending a few minutes getting a tourist visa to cover his entire stay that will guarantee no possible issues with boarding in the first place, to me, isn't worth it. Seems like a lot if risks for a £10 saving

@Martin ****

if you'd like to point out anything I've said that is incorrect then please go ahead. And what do my current whereabouts have to do with it (i assume you meant live)?

@Martin ****

try explaining that to the police if you're unfortunate enough to get stopped in that period of overstay. Paying £30 each in advance to get the tourist visa will give ease of mind and avert any other issues like not being allowed boarding in the first place

You could apply for tourist evisa which will give you 60 days. You've plenty of time to sort it out.

Standard was fine for an o-a visa so likely the same

@Stuart ********

but he's Scottish

Yes