@John ********

yes, that has to be done in your home country due to it's requirements, such as A Police Check.

@Kane ******

did you not notice on the third line of my previous comment, the word "most" and the rest of that sentence/question? That's because "most" foreigners and in this case, specifically the OP was not asking about an Elite Visa. As they were planning to retire in Thailand, nor were they asking about 60 day Visa Exempt, which is NOT a Visa at all, but instead a stamp put in the passport upon entry. Border runs aren't visas either and I'm pretty sure that you won't find anything in the "Gazette" about them, as they are part of Border control by the Immigration Department, not the MFA.

@Kane ******

so, tell me what's changed regarding Visas in the past 3 years, the ones that most foreigners apply for ( Non-O based on Retirement or marriage)? I've been closely monitoring these things for a little over two years and haven't noticed any changes. The only 'big thing' for foreigners that I've seen is that recently there's been a clamp down on opening Thai bank accounts while on tourist visas, due to the Thai Government clamping down on 'scam centres' in neighbouring countries along the borders.

@Mark ******

everyone's experience is different, but unless Thai authorities have specifically requested Airlines not to refuse boarding to their country, it's nothing to do with "how vital tourism is to the Thai economy". Airlines have a legal responsibility to make sure that passengers have the means to fly home again, should they be refused entry upon arrival at their destination. That 'means' as far as they're concerned is a ticket to leave the destination country, whether it be to go home, or to go to a second country. There's no "scaremongering", there's no reason or motive for that, just different experiences, whether that be first hand, second hand or whatever.

@Paul ******

are you talking about paid flights and hotel bookings for Thailand, or the Philippines? If it was for the Philippines, those bookings were for, then you should have met the criteria required by the Airline. If your bookings were only for Thailand and none for the Philippines, that's why you were refused boarding. Airlines usually require you to have a booked flight out of your destination country for before your Visa/Visa Exemption expired.

@Peter *********

with respect, the OP asked for help from people with experience with health insurance who could help him. As with

@Todd ********

you've given negatives and no help. Who is to say that all those people who've left negative reviews on Trustpilot are not liars? Some people complain at the smallest things and will readily leave bad reviews and possibly leave out the facts because a decision didn't go their way. I'm not defending any insurance companies either, because I often see in the media, them making huge profits like 'Big Pharma' and like in the instance of house insurance, apparently knocking back claims on flooded houses, the cause of natural disasters, for some p*ss weak reasons apparently that aren't the fault of the insured person.

Just saying that the OP asked for recommendations, based on personal experience. Can you provide that? Obviously the person who you responded to did just that.

@Tim ********

yes, the banks are tightening up on allowing people in tourist visas opening Thai bank accounts, but at the moment, it's really about disrupting the activities of people entering Thailand on tourist visas that are operating the Scam Centres just over the borders of Thailand, particularly the border with Myanmar at the moment.

@Paul ******

that might only be a problem if you're doing 'back to back' visa exempt entries. The OP has just spent 60 days in Thailand and isn't intending to return until the end of the year.

@Philip ********

if you're not already in the group

@Tod ********

referred to, it's actually called Australians in Thailand, not "Aussie"

@Tony ******

have you ever looked at Tourist Visas (actual Visas that you have to purchase)? The length of time covered by the visa is actually a pretty good clue as to the "time limit" (other than the fact that an extension can be obtained).