I believe they are planning to reduce the insurance coverage requirement back to 400,000 baht. Possibly in September . . . if that helps.

@Michael ******

No you are not wrong. The OP is in the first year of his OA. The OA is multiple entry the first year. After the first year you need a re-entry permit.

@William *****

I for one am not going to live here full time on ATM withdrawals. I pay taxes in the US each year including tax on 85% of my Social Security benefits. I now have an LTR so money I bring into Thailand is not taxable.

@Michael ******

I got my OA in Feb 2017 before the insurance requirement. I went to Cambodia in Nov 2017 (no re-entry permit required) and when I returned I got a permission to stay stamp until Nov 2018. Between Feb 2018 and Nov 2018 I needed a re-entry permit if I wanted to leave/return in that time period. I did all my 1 year extensions from Nov 2018 and needed re-entry permits to travel and not kill the OA extension. In 2020 I was required to have health insurance. I synced my insurance policy dates to my OA extension dates.

@Michael ******

I had an OA for 6 years too. The first year it is a multiple entry visa. After that first year you are on a permission to stay stamp or an extension and you do need to get a re-entry permit.

The OP says he is in the first year of his OA visa.

@Michael ******

An OA is a 1 year multiple entering visa.

@Michael ******

An OA is a one year multiple entry visa. When you leave and return during the first year you get stamped in for another year or up to the expiration date of your health insurance.

I assume you know that to get off the OA you must leave before the first year expires and return after it expires. So you don't want insurance . . . that is up to you. The next question you have to ask is what are the financial requirements you are willing to put up with? The O and OA are identical except for the insurance. I switched from my OA to a pensioner LTR and I am quite happy with that choice but there is a steep financial requirement. Or you can look at the DTV but regardless of it being a 5 years visa you are still basically a tourist. That may or may not fit your retirement lifestyle and yearly travel. I can't say it is a wise choice to come and go on 60 day visa exempt entries and extensions but if you are willing to live with that uncertainty then . . . again . . . up to you.

Marry her because you want to get married not because of the visa option.

@Graham *****

Feel free to do what you want. I’m just repeating what the only government official giving interviews about the DTV is saying. You must know better.

@Colin ********

There are two interviews of Naruchai Ninnad, Deputy DIrector-General of the Department of Consular Affairs at Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. One on the YouTube channel RW4U and the other is a Bangkok Post podcast. Search for “Deeper Dive Thailand” on a podcast app.