I just did it. Have to either go to a social security office or call them and have them mail you a form to mail back (not available online).

Even if you have an advantage plan, Medicare cost is now nearly $200/month before part d and before any supplemental or advantage plan. Not sure how Aetna above can provide any coverage outside the USA since Medicare offered no coverage outside USA

@Frank-Steven **********

don't think you can apply for dtv out of home country...

You can most likely exit and reenter getting a new 60 day exemption. But this is so new, don't think there will be any experience to rely on. You might be a trailblazer!

@Thaimer *****

you will need both a passport bio page photo AND a recent profile picture. No size issues for online, just needs to be under 3mb. If you click the info icon next to the picture it will show you lots of examples.

The only difference as I understand it is that when applying for non-o in Thailand you need the 800k in Thai bank at application time and it can be a challenge to get a bank to give you an account without the non-o and a residency certificate.

When applying in your own country you just need to show a bank account with the 800k (about $22kusd) in your home country Bank (or evidence of 65k income). You'll then have to get it into a Thai bank 60 days prior to applying for your first 1yr extension (30 days after your non-o is approved).

Everything else is the same.

@Brandon ***********

a bit of topic of this post, but if I put the 800k in there for the first 14 months and deposit 65k for 12 consecutive months in that first year. Can't I then withdraw the 800k and rely on the 65k per month for all my subsequent extensions?

@John *******

tax on the 800k depends on the source. Not sure anyone has been taxed yet on the 800k principal. Only the meat interest.

@Brandon ***********

if he showed 12 consecutive months of 65k foreign deposits, wouldn't that qualify him for the extension?

@Eric *****

I don't know about the ME.

@Terary *********

that's only for an non-OA visa. The non-o had no insurance requirement.