@Tom *******

He can’t work in Thailand

@Yo***

That is what I meant by “awkward consequences” for both the owner and tenants.

The new rules actually make sense to me but the change and the path from here to there will be difficult . Similar to clearing out bank accounts opened while on tourist entries.

I signed a lease last month, fortunately with a Thai owner.

I saw the video yesterday . Buzzing Pattaya.

I think the desired effect is to limit what foreigners on short term visas/entries can do in Thailand. The same as not being able to open a bank account without a long term visa. I can see some awkward consequences to this.

I had an OA from 2017-2023. There was no insurance requirement back in 2017. I bought Thai insurance in 2018 because my US insurance wouldn’t cover me as a long term resident of Thailand. When they added the insurance requirement to the OA in 2019 it didn’t affect me but many people switched from their OA to an O. I guess the insurance alone was the motivation. Since then I have to believe that insurance is still keeps some people from the OA. I often hear people say they want to keep their current home country insurance and don’t want an additional minimum policy just to qualify for an OA when the O is available. All those people using agents are, of course, getting an O visa.

I kept 800,000฿ in my Thai bank account all those years. I got a pensioner LTR in 2023 so I got the 800k back and I am glad to have had the insurance because the LTR has an insurance requirement too.

@Helen ******

There is a Facebook group dedicated to using Wise in Thailand. If you might want to join that group for Wise questions.

I wire transfer from my US bank to my Thai bank. It typically takes 24-36 hrs for the money to show up in my Thai bank account. Note though that banks in the US and Thailand won't process the transfer on weekends and holidays and that there is a 12 hr time difference between the US and Thailand. That can increase the time to transfer. That has been my experience the past few years.

@David ********

I got the OA in 2017 when there was no health insurance requirement. It was the first thing I saw on the website and I didn’t know about the other visas.

I did get Thai insurance in 2018 that qualified for the requirement implemented in 2019 so the change didn’t affect me. I still have the insurance and used it to qualify for my pensioner LTR in 2023.

OA has some unique features that even today appeal to some expats. I have to believe that fewer people consider it now unless, like me at the time, they don’t know any better.

@David ********

I had an OA too. You can only get the OA outside Thailand. You can get an O inside or outside Thailand. Currently the advice is for people to get the O outside Thailand so you can open a Thai bank account after you get here.

@Todd ********

Not the pensioner LTR. You have to be 50 years old.

@Alex *********

For the one year extension there is no criminal background check. Yes, visit your immigration office for the list of requirements.

Careful about your insurance. The insurance that qualifies you for the visa may not qualify you for the 1 year extension. These companies will qualify



Getting your non Thai Cigna insurance to qualify may be a problem.

I generally recommend that people get an O visa these days. Then you can keep your Cigna insurance for sure.