Non O application form worries..

[Tanuki]

So I'm all signed up for my E-visa Non O application, & I have all the relevant paperwork photographed and sat ready to be submitted at each stage of the form/questionaire, BUT..

 With some of the Q's for an Non O I have to submit more than one copied/photo'd form.. Each time I upload to the page more than one form to the relevant part of the online question/section/page, it only shows evidence of the last form I uploaded... Even at the end prior to going to the payment section when I check what I've offered them .. each section will only show 1 file (the last one to be uploaded) out of the 2,3,4 files I've submitted to complete their demands..?

 Has anyone else on here witnessed this when they applied..? , Do I have faith in their system & pay the £60..? 

 It's gonna be a bit of a downer if my visa application gets rejected due to lack of evidence submitted, when I know damn well I did everything slowly & methodically.

  Any thoughts on this from you folks..?

[palooka]

Ring a consulate. You may find that you only need to upload one copy (as even they can copy and paste now).

The rules and regs are probably a left over from the "apply in person" and they haven't updated the program or more likely no one thought of it yet.

[Tan]

Why Non Imm O visa holder does not need to provide proof of health insurance for extension of long stay in Thailand whereas holder of Non Imm O-A has to submit proof of Health Insurance when applying for Long Stay extension? 

[GoldCoastAussieTony]

As far as I am aware, Non O is applied for when in Thailand (no insurance requirement) and Non O-A is applied for overseas before coming to Thailand and requires medical insurance / Police Check etc. Once you go down this track, you are required to maintain insurance in Thailand as part of the O-A even on yearly renewals. Much better to come on a tourist visa, open your bank account straight away, then extend the visa to give you the time for immigration income requirements and then apply for the Non O (Retirement or type you are wanting)

[palooka]

Anyone know if you can you transfer from non O-A to O whilst in Thailand?

[BlueSphinx]

@GoldCoastAussieTony > In many countries (Australia being one of the exceptions) you can ALSO apply for a 90-day Non Imm O Visa at the Thai Embassy of your home-country or country of permanent residence. 

However, it is NOT recommended to do so as such application requires the 400K/40K health-insurance which is mandatory for a 1-year Non Imm O-A Visa application, but is currently - as part of the CoE requirements - also required for a 90-day Non Imm O Visa application when doing this for reason of retirement (i.e being +50 years of age).  On top of that this mandatory insurance situation is currently chaotic, as the Thai government has expressed its intent to up the coverage to 100.000 US $, and some Thai Embassies (as well as the Thai insurance companies) are already applying that new requirement even though it has not yet been published in the Thai Royal Gazette. 

It would indeed be far better to simply enter Thailand Visa Exempt (without a Visa) and you will be provided with a 30-day permission to stay on entry by border-immigration stamped in your passport.  You then need to apply for the 90-day Non Imm O Visa at the local Thai Immigration Office of the Province where you plan to reside longer term.  And this has to be done when you still have at least 15 days left on your permission to stay (some Immigration Offices require that this is done with at least 23 days left on your permission to stay).  The advantage of applying for the Non Imm O Visa once you are in Thailand is that it then does NOT require any insurance.  But you would need to provide evidence of having at least 800.000 THB on a personal Thai bank-account with foreign origins of these funds proven (transferring the funds once you opened a Thai bank-account by making use of WISE is the easiest, quickest, most transparent and cheapest way to do so). 

The advantage of entering Thailand Visa Exempt is also that it only requires you to have the mandatory +50.000 US $ covid-19 insurance for the period the permission to stay for which you will be stamped in on entry (which is 30 days for a Visa Exempt entry).  And it is good to know that if you fly with Emirates that they provide FREE travel-insurance as part of your ticket-price that meets the CoE requirements.  A one-way ticket will provide 31 days of coverage from moment of arrival, and a return ticket will cover the full period of your trip with a max of 1 year (and you can change the return date at NO cost). 

Also be aware that when flying to Thailand VisaExempt or on a Tourist Visa, that you need to physically show to the airline when boarding that you have an outbound flight-ticket at a date EARLIER than the permission to stay you will receive on entry.  But that's hardly a problem as you can simply buy a cheap 'throw-away' on-line ticket to meet that requirement.  A one-way ticket Bangkok - HoChiMinh city or HuaHin - Kualu Lumpur did cost approx 1.200 THB prior to covid, but might be slightly more expensive now.  

Welcome back to Thailand - the Land of Smiles and Difficult Bureaucratic Procedures.

[BlueSphinx]

35 minutes ago, palooka said:

Anyone know if you can you transfer from non O-A to O whilst in Thailand?

Unfortunately changing to a Non Imm O Visa when you currently are on an extension of stay based on your original Non Imm O-A Visa is NOT possible without leaving the country. 

Pre the current border-restrictions it was simply a matter of doing a quick border-run when your current Non Imm O-A based permission to stay (NOT protected by a Re-Entry Permit) was due to expire.  Leaving Thailand without such Re-Entry Permit voided the permission to stay of that original Non Imm O-A Visa.  And you could then re-enter VisaExempt which will provide you with a 30-day permission to stay, and when still having at least 15 days on that permission to stay you could then apply at your local Thai Immigration Office for the 90-day Non Imm O Visa, and apply in the last month of those 90 days for the 1-year extension based on that new Non Imm O Visa.

When doing so you have effectively dumped the mandatory 400K/40K health-insurance requirement for a Non Imm O-A Visa extension application for reason of retirement.  As there are rumours that Thai Immigration might up the coverage of that 400K/40K in/out-patient health-insurance to 100.000 US $, it is obvious that many long-term stayers are considering to dump their current Non Imm O-A Visa retirement extension and after having done a border-run apply for the Non Imm O Visa which has exactly the same requirements except that it does NOT require the insurance.

Be aware that the mandatory insurance for the Non Imm O-A Visa extension is ONLY applicable when applying for reason of retirement (i.e being +50 years of age).  When you are married to a Thai national or have Thai dependent children, you could apply for the 1-year extension based on your original Non Imm O-A Visa for that reason (but it requires that you provide evidence that you are still married to your Thai wife and that you are living with her at the same address). 

[BlueSphinx]

On 11/2/2021 at 4:20 AM, Tan said:

Why Non Imm O visa holder does not need to provide proof of health insurance for extension of long stay in Thailand whereas holder of Non Imm O-A has to submit proof of Health Insurance when applying for Long Stay extension? 

The mandatory health-insurance is currently - as part of the temporary CoE requirements - ALSO required when applying for a 90-day Non Imm O Visa for reason of retirement at the Thai Embassy of your home-country or country of permanent residence.  However, when entering Thailand VisaExempt (or on a Tourist Visa) you can apply for that 90-day Non Imm O Visa at the Thai Immigration Office of the province where you intend to stay long-term.  And when doing so there is NO insurance requirement.

See also my post higher addressing the same in more detail.

> https://thethaiger.com/talk/topic/7528-non-o-application-form-worries/?do=findComment&comment=99689

 

[palooka]

33 minutes ago, BlueSphinx said:

Unfortunately changing to a Non Imm O Visa when you currently are on an extension of stay based on your original Non Imm O-A Visa is NOT possible without leaving the country. 

Pre the current border-restrictions it was simply a matter of doing a quick border-run when your current Non Imm O-A based permission to stay (NOT protected by a Re-Entry Permit) was due to expire.  Leaving Thailand without such Re-Entry Permit voided the permission to stay of that original Non Imm O-A Visa.  And you could then re-enter VisaExempt which will provide you with a 30-day permission to stay, and when still having at least 15 days on that permission to stay you could then apply at your local Thai Immigration Office for the 90-day Non Imm O Visa, and apply in the last month of those 90 days for the 1-year extension based on that new Non Imm O Visa.

When doing so you have effectively dumped the mandatory 400K/40K health-insurance requirement for a Non Imm O-A Visa extension application for reason of retirement.  As there are rumours that Thai Immigration might up the coverage of that 400K/40K in/out-patient health-insurance to 100.000 US $, it is obvious that many long-term stayers are considering to dump their current Non Imm O-A Visa retirement extension and after having done a border-run apply for the Non Imm O Visa which has exactly the same requirements except that it does NOT require the insurance.

Be aware that the mandatory insurance for the Non Imm O-A Visa extension is ONLY applicable when applying for reason of retirement (i.e being +50 years of age).  When you are married to a Thai national or have Thai dependent children, you could apply for the 1-year extension based on your original Non Imm O-A Visa for that reason (but it requires that you provide evidence that you are still married to your Thai wife and that you are living with her at the same address). 

Thanks for very clear and concise explanation.

[Charlie62]

 

Hi Guys, I am currently in the UK and I want to travel to Thailand to obtain a non imm O. The following is a transcript of a LINE conversation between myself and a visa specialist in Thailand.

ME: Actually, maybe I'm being a bit thick here. Why would they give me a tourist visa without a return ticket. I guess the question is then, do you just lose the money or do you know if it's possible to cancel a return flight.

VISA MAN: Cause your over 50 they can issue a single ticket

ME: As see far as I can tell I have to apply for my tourist visa on the Thai e visa official website where it says....

Required Documents
(Please check relevant embassy/ consulate's website for specifically required documents)

1. Passport or travel document with validity not less than 6 months.
2. Photograph of the applicant, taken within the past six months.
3. Evidence of travel from Thailand (air ticket paid in full).

Am I missing something? at what point in the application process can I specify that I'm over 50 and therefore only want a single ticket?

VISA MAN: You just book a single ticket

Looking at the info from BlueSphinx though it would appear that I am better off getting a 30 day exemption and applying for the non imm O on arrival.

Questions then.

1. If I get a 30 day exemption and the VISA agency, screw up or there's a delay for some reason, can I extend the 30 day?

2. Is the visa man correct, can I just buy a single ticket for a tourist visa or a 30 day exemption because I'm over 50?

 

[AussieBob]

My advice to the OP - wait.  Thailand aint going anywhere. Wait. Things will eventually settle down. 

[AussieBob]

1 hour ago, Charlie62 said:

Hi Guys, I am currently in the UK and I want to travel to Thailand to obtain a non imm O. The following is a transcript of a LINE conversation between myself and a visa specialist in Thailand.

ME: Actually, maybe I'm being a bit thick here. Why would they give me a tourist visa without a return ticket. I guess the question is then, do you just lose the money or do you know if it's possible to cancel a return flight.

VISA MAN: Cause your over 50 they can issue a single ticket

ME: As see far as I can tell I have to apply for my tourist visa on the Thai e visa official website where it says....

Required Documents
(Please check relevant embassy/ consulate's website for specifically required documents)

1. Passport or travel document with validity not less than 6 months.
2. Photograph of the applicant, taken within the past six months.
3. Evidence of travel from Thailand (air ticket paid in full).

Am I missing something? at what point in the application process can I specify that I'm over 50 and therefore only want a single ticket?

VISA MAN: You just book a single ticket

Looking at the info from BlueSphinx though it would appear that I am better off getting a 30 day exemption and applying for the non imm O on arrival.

Questions then.

1. If I get a 30 day exemption and the VISA agency, screw up or there's a delay for some reason, can I extend the 30 day?

2. Is the visa man correct, can I just buy a single ticket for a tourist visa or a 30 day exemption because I'm over 50?

Wait. See my last post. 

[BlueSphinx]

12 hours ago, Charlie62 said:

Hi Guys, I am currently in the UK and I want to travel to Thailand to obtain a non imm O. The following is a transcript of a LINE conversation between myself and a visa specialist in Thailand.

ME: Actually, maybe I'm being a bit thick here. Why would they give me a tourist visa without a return ticket. I guess the question is then, do you just lose the money or do you know if it's possible to cancel a return flight.

VISA MAN: Cause your over 50 they can issue a single ticket

ME: As see far as I can tell I have to apply for my tourist visa on the Thai e visa official website where it says....

Required Documents
(Please check relevant embassy/ consulate's website for specifically required documents)

1. Passport or travel document with validity not less than 6 months.
2. Photograph of the applicant, taken within the past six months.
3. Evidence of travel from Thailand (air ticket paid in full).

Am I missing something? at what point in the application process can I specify that I'm over 50 and therefore only want a single ticket?

VISA MAN: You just book a single ticket

Looking at the info from BlueSphinx though it would appear that I am better off getting a 30 day exemption and applying for the non imm O on arrival.

Questions then.

1. If I get a 30 day exemption and the VISA agency, screw up or there's a delay for some reason, can I extend the 30 day?

2. Is the visa man correct, can I just buy a single ticket for a tourist visa or a 30 day exemption because I'm over 50?

Answers to your specific question

1.  When entering Thailand VisaExempt you will be stamped in for a 30 days permission to stay by border-immigration (or for 60 days when you enter on a Tourist Visa).  Both the VisaExempt entry as well as the Tourist Visa entry can be easily extended (one time only) for an additional 30 days at any provincial Thai Immigration office (cost 1.900 THB).  You can then apply for the 90-day Non Imm O Visa for reason of retirement at the Immigration Office of the province where you intend to stay long-term while in Thailand.  This has to be done when you still have at least 15 days left on your permission to stay (some offices require 23 days).  But anyway, if your original permission to stay does not provide you enough time, the 30 day extension of that, will surely provide you sufficient time to open a personal Thai bank-account and transfer +800.000 THB from your foreign account to that bank-account, as that is the financial requirement to subsequently apply for the Non Imm O Visa for reason of retirement.  Note: I recommend making use of WISE for doing such transfer as it is the easiest, most transparent, quickest and cheapest way to do so.

2. Your VISA man does not know what he is talking about.  You can indeed buy a one-way ticket to Thailand for your Visa Exempt or Tourist Visa entry, but this has nothing to do with you being over +50 years of age.  But when doing so you would need an outbound flight-ticket on a date before the expiry of your 30-day or 60 day VE/TV entry.  Buying a one-way on-line 'throw-away' outbound ticket from Bangkok to HoChiMinh city or from HuaHin to KualuLumpur (any international destination will do) is very cheap - approx 1.200 THB prior to covid so might be a bit more expensive now.  And you will be required by the airline to show such outbound ticket at moment of embarkation to your flight (and it might also be required that you show it to Thai border-immigration on arrival).

[Faz]

13 hours ago, Charlie62 said:

Hi Guys, I am currently in the UK and I want to travel to Thailand to obtain a non imm O. The following is a transcript of a LINE conversation between myself and a visa specialist in Thailand.

First mistake!

I take it you want to stay long term in Thailand (retirement) ?

[Charlie62]

On 11/7/2021 at 6:21 PM, BlueSphinx said:

Answers to your specific question

1.  When entering Thailand VisaExempt you will be stamped in for a 30 days permission to stay by border-immigration (or for 60 days when you enter on a Tourist Visa).  Both the VisaExempt entry as well as the Tourist Visa entry can be easily extended (one time only) for an additional 30 days at any provincial Thai Immigration office (cost 1.900 THB).  You can then apply for the 90-day Non Imm O Visa for reason of retirement at the Immigration Office of the province where you intend to stay long-term while in Thailand.  This has to be done when you still have at least 15 days left on your permission to stay (some offices require 23 days).  But anyway, if your original permission to stay does not provide you enough time, the 30 day extension of that, will surely provide you sufficient time to open a personal Thai bank-account and transfer +800.000 THB from your foreign account to that bank-account, as that is the financial requirement to subsequently apply for the Non Imm O Visa for reason of retirement.  Note: I recommend making use of WISE for doing such transfer as it is the easiest, most transparent, quickest and cheapest way to do so.

2. Your VISA man does not know what he is talking about.  You can indeed buy a one-way ticket to Thailand for your Visa Exempt or Tourist Visa entry, but this has nothing to do with you being over +50 years of age.  But when doing so you would need an outbound flight-ticket on a date before the expiry of your 30-day or 60 day VE/TV entry.  Buying a one-way on-line 'throw-away' outbound ticket from Bangkok to HoChiMinh city or from HuaHin to KualuLumpur (any international destination will do) is very cheap - approx 1.200 THB prior to covid so might be a bit more expensive now.  And you will be required by the airline to show such outbound ticket at moment of embarkation to your flight (and it might also be required that you show it to Thai border-immigration on arrival).

Thankyou so so much Peter. 

 

Ok so, checklist

 

1. Book flight

 

2. Thailand Pass

Passport ✓

Certificate of Vaccination ✓

Insurance with minimum coverage of 50,000 US$ - TBA

Paid AQ / SHA+ hotel reservation confirmation (for the duration of 1 day and including the fee for one RT-PCR test) - TBA

 

2. Obtain negative COVID-19 test result (RT-PCR), issued within 72 hours before travelling ....TBA

 

3. Book onward travel ticket - TBA

I've seen this website;-

https://onwardfly.com/en/?fbclid=IwAR2DdcMKuIff1YsnhUa2ERSFzFM6h2nM2V0FyHkGPvbPXNi9FmwO5dvcAg0

Where you can rent a ticket for about £8 which lasts for 24hrs. So the plan is to buy one from BKK to Kuala Lumpur when I'm at Heathrow (where I know PayPal will work) and show it on my phone when I board the plane and/or at immigration when I arrive. I don't know if you're familiar with this service or know of anyone using it before, but it was recommended on the Facebook page and people said they'd used it ok.

 

Q1. So in terms of proof of outward flight, is that it, or will I need to show it again to anyone after airport immigration?

 

4 TM6

 

5. Download MorChana app

 

Q2. another agent sent me this (see image

Which says I need a tourist visa to apply for a 90 day non imm O? That's not correct is it. (I do have to apply for a 90 day non imm first and then upgrade to a 1 year non imm later right?)

 

Q3. If I buy 50,000 covid cover for 30 days and obtain my non imm 90 day visa within those 30 days, do I need to buy covid cover again when my 30 days is up?

 

Thankyou so much again for your help

 

Regards

 

Glen

Edited November 9, 2021 by Faz
removed forbidden word.

[Faz]

@Charlie62

Why don't you want to apply for a Non O from the Thai Embassy London in the first instance.
On entry to Thailand you'll be granted permission of stay for 90 days.
Within the last 30 days of that 90 days, you can apply to extend your stay for 1 year (an extension of stay).
A 2 step procedure.

You can indeed enter Visa exempt as explained, but applying for and obtaining the Non O is a two step procedure, then applying for the 1 year extension of stay a further procedure.
A 3 step procedures.

It depends where you intend to stay and the distance to your local Immigration office.

You'll need to have the below at hand to apply through the Thailand Pass.
Passport.
Proof of hotel booking.
Proof of flight booking.
Proof of vaccination.
Proof of $50,000 Medical Insurance.
 

Quote

 

Q2. another agent sent me this (see image

Which says I need a tourist visa to apply for a 90 day non imm O? That's not correct is it. (I do have to apply for a 90 day non imm first and then upgrade to a 1 year non imm later right?)

 

That is not correct.

Quote

Q3. If I buy 50,000 covid cover for 30 days and obtain my non imm 90 day visa within those 30 days, do I need to buy covid cover again when my 30 days is up?

It's $50,000 Medical cover including Covid. No, not required for the Non O.

[BlueSphinx]

14 hours ago, Charlie62 said:

Thankyou so so much Peter. 

Ok so, checklist

1. Book flight

2. Thailand Pass

Passport ✓

Certificate of Vaccination ✓

Insurance with minimum coverage of 50,000 US$ - TBA

Paid AQ / SHA+ hotel reservation confirmation (for the duration of 1 day and including the fee for one RT-PCR test) - TBA

2. Obtain negative COVID-19 test result (RT-PCR), issued within 72 hours before travelling ....TBA

3. Book onward travel ticket - TBA

I've seen this website;-

https://onwardfly.com/en/?fbclid=IwAR2DdcMKuIff1YsnhUa2ERSFzFM6h2nM2V0FyHkGPvbPXNi9FmwO5dvcAg0

Where you can rent a ticket for about £8 which lasts for 24hrs. So the plan is to buy one from BKK to Kuala Lumpur when I'm at Heathrow (where I know PayPal will work) and show it on my phone when I board the plane and/or at immigration when I arrive. I don't know if you're familiar with this service or know of anyone using it before, but it was recommended on the Facebook page and people said they'd used it ok.

Q1. So in terms of proof of outward flight, is that it, or will I need to show it again to anyone after airport immigration?

4 TM6

5. Download MorChana app

Q2. another agent sent me this (see image

Which says I need a tourist visa to apply for a 90 day non imm O? That's not correct is it. (I do have to apply for a 90 day non imm first and then upgrade to a 1 year non imm later right?)

Q3. If I buy 50,000 covid cover for 30 days and obtain my non imm 90 day visa within those 30 days, do I need to buy covid cover again when my 30 days is up?

Thankyou so much again for your help

Regards

Glen

Hi Glen,

Some answers/comments:

General - Re the +50.000 US $ covid-19 insurance > Be aware that you only need that one for the period of your permission to stay for which you will be stamped on arrival.  Hence you would need it for 30 days when entering Thailand Visa Exempt, you need it for 60 days when entering Thailand on a Tourist Visa, and you would need it for 90 days when entering Thailand on a 90-day Non Imm O Visa. 

Note: When booking your flight with Emirates, they provide you with FREE travel-insurance that meets that requirement and it is included in the ticket-price.  When buying a one-way flight you will be covered for 31 days from date of arrival (which means that one can be used when entering Thailand VisaExempt).  And when booking a return-flight the full period of your trip is covered to a max of 1 year (and you can change the return-date at no extra cost). 

Response to Question 1 - For the required outbound-flight when checking-in for your flight, you can either buy a real on-line cheap throw-away ticket to meet that requirement (see my earlier response), but you can indeed also make use of an 'onward flight-booking' service.  There are many companies offering that service and it is completely legal, as you book a real 'flight reservation' with them, which costs approx 10 US $.  The on-line booking company provides you on the spot after receipt of your order with that fully legit flight booking reservation, and they will automatically cancel that flight reservation after a fixed period (depending on the company that will be between 24 hours to 3 days).  Choosing an onward-flight booking service company that automatically cancels your reservation after 24 hours might be cutting it a bit close (unless you buy that onward flight reservation in the airport just before checking in), but there are companies that will cancel after 48 or 72 hours, so even if you booked the night before your flight, the reservation will still be on the system when entering Thailand where border Immigration might ask for that outward-bound flight evidence too.

Response to Question 2 - The Thai Visa agent ad is for making use of a Visa Agent that will help you with the application for the 90-day Non Imm O Visa and subsequent 1-year extension of that Visa.  The fact that they ask 25.000 THB for their service, means that they will circumvent the +800.000 THB on a personal Thai bank account.  As you can imagine that offer is quite attractive for long-term stayers that do not have or do not wish to park +800.000 THB on a Thai bank-account.  But obviously - in spite of what the Agent or other long-term stayers making use of that service might tell you - it is not a LEGIT service (a significant part of the 25.000 THB is used to 'buy off' the Immigration Officer that will handle your application.  So I would not recommend doing that, as it might come to haunt you later (and you will be hooked for any future 1-year extensions).  There are also Visa Agents that do offer a LEGIT service, and provide a 'hand-holding' service for all the steps in the process.  And that means that you would need to open a Thai bank-account and transfer 800.000 THB to that account with foreign origins proven.  But the Visa Agent can also help you with that.  As it is a fully legit service without any hanky-panky under the table to buy off Immigration, the costs for that service is considerably lower (somewhere between 5.000 and 10.000 THB, depending on the level of service your request). 

Note that I would NOT make use of the Agent in that ad, as there are 2 errors already in that short list:

1. Instead of a Tourist Visa also a VisaExempt entry would be possible to apply for that service (but that might be cutting it short as you would need at least 15 days left on your permission to stay for the application - the Agent extended that one to 20 days - but you could also extend that VisaExempt permission to stay with an additional 30 days, and that would always provide you with sufficient time for preparing your Non Imm O application, with or without the Visa Agent help). 

2. Point #6 of their list is totally unnecessary if you do not plan to leave Thailand during the 1-year permission to stay extension you would be applying for after having secured your Non Imm O Visa.  And it would make it difficult for you to 'kill' your 1-year extension in case you want to get rid of the Agent (and that's probably the reason they want you to apply for such Re-Entry Permit).

Response to Question 3 - Unless you are applying for a 1-year extension based on an original Non Imm O-A Visa for reason of retirement - and you will NOT be doing that - there are NO INSURANCE requirements when applying for the Non Imm O Visa in Thailand nor for the 1-year extensions of such Visa. 

Note: When applying for the 90-day Non Imm O Visa for reason of retirement at the Thai Embassy in your home-country, you are currently required - as part of the CoE requirements - to buy health-insurance covering 400k/40K in/out-patient coverage (and some Embassies and Thai insurance companies have already upped the required coverage amount to 100.000 US $ - an almost 10-fold increase).  That's why I would recommend NOT to apply in your home-country for the 90-day Non Imm O Visa for reason of retirement, but simply enter Thailand Visa Exempt and apply for it in once you are in Thailand.

[Charlie62]

2 hours ago, Faz said:

@Charlie62

Why don't you want to apply for a Non O from the Thai Embassy London in the first instance.
On entry to Thailand you'll be granted permission of stay for 90 days.
Within the last 30 days of that 90 days, you can apply to extend your stay for 1 year (an extension of stay).
A 2 step procedure.

You can indeed enter Visa exempt as explained, but applying for and obtaining the Non O is a two step procedure, then applying for the 1 year extension of stay a further procedure.
A 3 step procedures.

It depends where you intend to stay and the distance to your local Immigration office.

You'll need to have the below at hand to apply through the Thailand Pass.
Passport.
Proof of hotel booking.
Proof of flight booking.
Proof of vaccination.
Proof of $50,000 Medical Insurance.
 

That is not correct.

It's $50,000 Medical cover including Covid. No, not required for the Non O.

Hi Faz,

Thankyou so much for your help, I want to apply for the non imm in Thailand to avoid the time and cost of police checks, medical checks and buying 100k health insurance

[Faz]

44 minutes ago, Charlie62 said:

Hi Faz,

Thankyou so much for your help, I want to apply for the non imm in Thailand to avoid the time and cost of police checks, medical checks and buying 100k health insurance

Understood.

The procedure for applying for the Non O here:  VE-TV to Non O Retirement.pdf 
If entering VE you need to complete form TM 87.
For the 1 year extension of stay form TM7.

Forms can be downloaded here; https://thethaiger.com/talk/topic/1864-immigration-application-forms-for-download/?tab=comments#comment-7202

 

[Faz]

@Charlie62 where do you intend to stay in Thailand?

You need to stay in the same Province when applying for the Non O and subsequent 1 year extension of stay.
It's also advisable to open a bank account in the Province you intend to reside.

[Charlie62]

On 11/9/2021 at 9:50 AM, Faz said:

@Charlie62 where do you intend to stay in Thailand?

You need to stay in the same Province when applying for the Non O and subsequent 1 year extension of stay.
It's also advisable to open a bank account in the Province you intend to reside.

 

Thankyou Faz, I know people in Jomtien but may need to move to Saraburi after a week or so. I know and trust a property agent in Jomtien who has put me in contact with an agent to arrange the non imm O. Having looked at the TM87 though it doesn't look too complicated. My next questions now then are...

1. Is it NOT advisable to apply myself, do I stand more chance of success using an agent?

2. On the money side, the requirement is as follows...

5.1 A letter of guarantee from the bank in Thailand in 
Thai language (Attention: Immigration Commissioner)
5.2 Copy of all entries of the applicant’s passbook 
showing that the applicant has a savings or fixed 
deposit account of not less than Baht 800,000
(all documents must be in the Applicant’s name)
5.3 Evidence of foreign currency fund transferred to Thailand

5.1 A letter of guarantee of what?
5.2 Do I need to have had 800k in a Thai bank account for a specific period of time before I apply for the visa (I have a bankgkok Bank account from when I was in Thailand with my non imm OA 1 year ago) but it only has about 200k in it
5.3 What does that mean?

3. I'm still a bit confused. Do you a) have to get a 90 day non imm O first and then apply for a 1 year non imm before this expires or b) does the TM87 allow me to get a 1 year non imm O straight off.

If a) do I have to stay in the same province until I apply for the 1 year non O, and if b) can I move to Saraburi from Jomtien as soon as I have it?

I know I keep saying but Thankyou so much to you and Peter. It takes so much pressure and stress off people just being able to get straight answers

 

[Charlie62]

On 11/9/2021 at 6:32 AM, BlueSphinx said:

Hi Glen,

Some answers/comments:

General - Re the +50.000 US $ covid-19 insurance > Be aware that you only need that one for the period of your permission to stay for which you will be stamped on arrival.  Hence you would need it for 30 days when entering Thailand Visa Exempt, you need it for 60 days when entering Thailand on a Tourist Visa, and you would need it for 90 days when entering Thailand on a 90-day Non Imm O Visa. 

Note: When booking your flight with Emirates, they provide you with FREE travel-insurance that meets that requirement and it is included in the ticket-price.  When buying a one-way flight you will be covered for 31 days from date of arrival (which means that one can be used when entering Thailand VisaExempt).  And when booking a return-flight the full period of your trip is covered to a max of 1 year (and you can change the return-date at no extra cost). 

Response to Question 1 - For the required outbound-flight when checking-in for your flight, you can either buy a real on-line cheap throw-away ticket to meet that requirement (see my earlier response), but you can indeed also make use of an 'onward flight-booking' service.  There are many companies offering that service and it is completely legal, as you book a real 'flight reservation' with them, which costs approx 10 US $.  The on-line booking company provides you on the spot after receipt of your order with that fully legit flight booking reservation, and they will automatically cancel that flight reservation after a fixed period (depending on the company that will be between 24 hours to 3 days).  Choosing an onward-flight booking service company that automatically cancels your reservation after 24 hours might be cutting it a bit close (unless you buy that onward flight reservation in the airport just before checking in), but there are companies that will cancel after 48 or 72 hours, so even if you booked the night before your flight, the reservation will still be on the system when entering Thailand where border Immigration might ask for that outward-bound flight evidence too.

Response to Question 2 - The Thai Visa agent ad is for making use of a Visa Agent that will help you with the application for the 90-day Non Imm O Visa and subsequent 1-year extension of that Visa.  The fact that they ask 25.000 THB for their service, means that they will circumvent the +800.000 THB on a personal Thai bank account.  As you can imagine that offer is quite attractive for long-term stayers that do not have or do not wish to park +800.000 THB on a Thai bank-account.  But obviously - in spite of what the Agent or other long-term stayers making use of that service might tell you - it is not a LEGIT service (a significant part of the 25.000 THB is used to 'buy off' the Immigration Officer that will handle your application.  So I would not recommend doing that, as it might come to haunt you later (and you will be hooked for any future 1-year extensions).  There are also Visa Agents that do offer a LEGIT service, and provide a 'hand-holding' service for all the steps in the process.  And that means that you would need to open a Thai bank-account and transfer 800.000 THB to that account with foreign origins proven.  But the Visa Agent can also help you with that.  As it is a fully legit service without any hanky-panky under the table to buy off Immigration, the costs for that service is considerably lower (somewhere between 5.000 and 10.000 THB, depending on the level of service your request). 

Note that I would NOT make use of the Agent in that ad, as there are 2 errors already in that short list:

1. Instead of a Tourist Visa also a VisaExempt entry would be possible to apply for that service (but that might be cutting it short as you would need at least 15 days left on your permission to stay for the application - the Agent extended that one to 20 days - but you could also extend that VisaExempt permission to stay with an additional 30 days, and that would always provide you with sufficient time for preparing your Non Imm O application, with or without the Visa Agent help). 

2. Point #6 of their list is totally unnecessary if you do not plan to leave Thailand during the 1-year permission to stay extension you would be applying for after having secured your Non Imm O Visa.  And it would make it difficult for you to 'kill' your 1-year extension in case you want to get rid of the Agent (and that's probably the reason they want you to apply for such Re-Entry Permit).

Response to Question 3 - Unless you are applying for a 1-year extension based on an original Non Imm O-A Visa for reason of retirement - and you will NOT be doing that - there are NO INSURANCE requirements when applying for the Non Imm O Visa in Thailand nor for the 1-year extensions of such Visa. 

Note: When applying for the 90-day Non Imm O Visa for reason of retirement at the Thai Embassy in your home-country, you are currently required - as part of the CoE requirements - to buy health-insurance covering 400k/40K in/out-patient coverage (and some Embassies and Thai insurance companies have already upped the required coverage amount to 100.000 US $ - an almost 10-fold increase).  That's why I would recommend NOT to apply in your home-country for the 90-day Non Imm O Visa for reason of retirement, but simply enter Thailand Visa Exempt and apply for it in once you are in Thailand.

Thank you again Peter. Its such a massive relief of pressure to be able to get straight answers

[Faz]

5 hours ago, Charlie62 said:

Thankyou Faz, I know people in Jomtien but may need to move to Saraburi after a week or so. I know and trust a property agent in Jomtien who has put me in contact with an agent to arrange the non imm O. Having looked at the TM87 though it doesn't look too complicated.

Couple of pointers you need to understand.

You cannot apply for a 1 year extension of stay when entering under a Tourist status (VE/TV).
You have Non Immigrant status to apply for the 1 year extension.
When entering VE/TV, Immigration offer a process to apply for Non Immigrant status as a prelude to applying for the 1 year extension.
Firstly by apply for a Non Imm O > then the 1 year extension.
This process can only be completed at the same Immigration office.

You cannot for example apply for the Non O in Jomtien, then apply for the extension in Saraburi.
You must have at least 15 days permission of stay left from your 30 day entry to apply for the Non Imm O.
You therefore need to decide whether to submit your application in Jomtien and remain there for 4 months, or move to Saraburi within the first few days of arrival and complete the process there.

There is absolutely no need to use an agent, you learn nothing.
We can go through the procedure and the required documents step by step.
It appears much more complicated in written form, than it is in practice.

All foreigners must register there place of residence with an Immigration office.
If your place of residence isn't registered at the office where you submit any kind of application, they won't process it. The form to register is known as a TM30.
If you stay in a hotel, they are responsible to file the TM30.
If you stay in a private residence, then a number of people are responsible to file it, including yourself.

So my next question is where do you intend to stay in Jomtien and in Saraburi?

[Faz]

5 hours ago, Charlie62 said:

1. Is it NOT advisable to apply myself, do I stand more chance of success using an agent?

2. On the money side, the requirement is as follows...

5.1 A letter of guarantee of what?
5.2 Do I need to have had 800k in a Thai bank account for a specific period of time before I apply for the visa (I have a bankgkok Bank account from when I was in Thailand with my non imm OA 1 year ago) but it only has about 200k in it
5.3 What does that mean?

Easy to apply yourself.

On entry you'll be granted permission of stay for 30 days. Transfer a suitable amount of funds to your Thai bank account in order to meet the 800K THB requirement and enough for living expenses as soon as possible. You can always apply for a 30 day extension first if you require more time to organise.

Personally, I would apply for the Non O as soon as your 800K is in your account.
All documents should be dated the same day as the application.

5.1 - Standard letter the banks issue for Immigration purposes. It states your name, account number and the account balance.
5.2 - Update your Passbook at the branch when requesting the letter.
5.3 - It must be coded as an International transfer, the funds came from overseas.

If you have a Bangkok Bank account you can use 'Wise' for the transfer. Select the reason of transfer as 'long term stay in Thailand' and the transfer will be coded as 'FTT' in your Passbook (Foreign Telex Transfer) and as 'International' on your bank statement - proof of an overseas transfer transaction.

6 hours ago, Charlie62 said:

3. I'm still a bit confused. Do you a) have to get a 90 day non imm O first and then apply for a 1 year non imm before this expires or b) does the TM87 allow me to get a 1 year non imm O straight off.

90 day Non Imm O first > then the 1 year extension.
When you apply for the Non O, you will be granted a further 90 day permission of stay.
Within the last 30 days of that 90 day permission of stay, you can apply for the 1 year extension.

6 hours ago, Charlie62 said:

If a) do I have to stay in the same province until I apply for the 1 year non O, and if b) can I move to Saraburi from Jomtien as soon as I have it?

You have to apply for the Non O and 1 year extension at the same Immigration office, in the same Province. Once you have the 1 year extension you can travel wherever you want.

[M.O.]

"Evidence of foreign fund transfer"

My funds came from a purchaser of my crypto-currency. It was a local bank to bank transfer. Does that mean my funds are no good for Non O application?

I recall reading that if the funds have been in the account for a "longer period" that proof of foreign origins is not strictly required. Is that true? And how long is this "longer period" ?