Non-O visas and no multiple re-entry

[jasonsamui55]

I know that if someone has the right documents they can go to just about any Thai embassy or consulate abroad and get a Non-O visa. But in what cases is a multiple entry Non-O given and in what cases is it only single? I’ve had two single entry Non-O visas in the past and later extended for years. But in each case they were single entry visas, which, as soon as I arrived, I went to get a multiple re-entry permit without any issues other than just paying the fee.

 

The trouble is that I’ll be getting a new Non-O in a couple of months, most likely in KL or HK, but someone recently told me that one cannot get a multiple re-entry permit on a single entry Non-O. Is that correct? I was under the assumption that one can get a single or multiple re-entry permit on any type of visa, even a tourist visa.

 

if not, where or how does one get a multiple entry Non-O right from the start? That would certainly make things easier.

[Tanoshi]

Single entry Non Imm O Visas are usually issued to those over 50 and single.

Multiple entry Visas are usually only issued to those married to a Thai or having a Thai family.

 

The requirements vary from Embassies to Embassy.

In the UK for example you can obtain a Non Imm O ME Visa if retired and receiving the State Pension.

They will not however issue a single entry Non Imm O Visa for being over 50.

 

You can obtain a single or multiple re-entry permit from your local Immigration office, which will allow further entries to a single entry Visa type.

[ubonjoe]

37 minutes ago, jasonsamui55 said:

The trouble is that I’ll be getting a new Non-O in a couple of months, most likely in KL or HK, but someone recently told me that one cannot get a multiple re-entry permit on a single entry Non-O.

As far as I know those 2 locations will not issue a multiple entry non-o visa for any reason.

Based upon marriage Penang (show 400 baht in the bank) or Savannakhet Laos (with no financial proof) will issue a multiple entry non-o visa.

On what basis would you be applying for the non-o visa.

[BritTim]

1 hour ago, jasonsamui55 said:

The trouble is that I’ll be getting a new Non-O in a couple of months, most likely in KL or HK, but someone recently told me that one cannot get a multiple re-entry permit on a single entry Non-O. Is that correct? I was under the assumption that one can get a single or multiple re-entry permit on any type of visa, even a tourist visa.

First, understand exactly what a re-entry permit is. It has nothing whatsoever to do with a visa. It just keeps you existing permission to stay (extended or not) intact when you leave and then re-enter Thailand. You can get a single or multiple re-entry permit regardless of how you originally entered Thailand, even if you entered visa exempt. However, it has no affect on the admitted until date on your permission to stay. If your permission to stay ends on 30 October 2018, you acquire a re-entry permit, and you leave Thailand and return, your permission to stay still ends on 30 October 2018.

[jasonsamui55]

2 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

As far as I know those 2 locations will not issue a multiple entry non-o visa for any reason.

Based upon marriage Penang (show 400 baht in the bank) or Savannakhet Laos (with no financial proof) will issue a multiple entry non-o visa.

On what basis would you be applying for the non-o visa.

Thanks. It is based upon having foreign children attend international school and on Ed visas. I have had the same for about five years now, but it is about to lapse and I will need to apply for a new one. 

[ubonjoe]

5 minutes ago, jasonsamui55 said:

Thanks. It is based upon having foreign children attend international school and on Ed visas. I have had the same for about five years now, but it is about to lapse and I will need to apply for a new one. 

No embassy or consulate within the region will issue a multiple entry non-o visa on that basis.

You could apply for a one year extension of stay at immigration based upon being the parent of a child attending school. You would need 500k baht in a Thai bank for 30 days on the date you apply.

[jasonsamui55]

55 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

No embassy or consulate within the region will issue a multiple entry non-o visa on that basis.

You could apply for a one year extension of stay at immigration based upon being the parent of a child attending school. You would need 500k baht in a Thai bank for 30 days on the date you apply.

Thanks. Yes, I know all that. I’ve had the same Non-O visa for 5 years now. But I’m just more worried by a comment I’ve heard recently whereby they said that in that initial 3 months that I wouldn’t be able to get the multiple re-entry permit because it is a single entry visa. Someone said that you can’t get the multiple re-entry permit at a local immigration office in Thailand but that you need to get it at the time of getting the visa abroad. I need to make sure about that because I leave thailand every Monday to Friday for work.

[ubonjoe]

6 minutes ago, jasonsamui55 said:

Thanks. Yes, I know all that. I’ve had the same Non-O visa for 5 years now. But I’m just more worried by a comment I’ve heard recently whereby they said that in that initial 3 months that I wouldn’t be able to get the multiple re-entry permit because it is a single entry visa. Someone said that you can’t get the multiple re-entry permit at a local immigration office in Thailand but that you need to get it at the time of getting the visa abroad. I need to make sure about that because I leave thailand every Monday to Friday for work.

You can get re-entry permit at immigration for any permit to stay. You could get one for the 90 day entry from a single entry non-o visa. You could get a multiple re-entry permit if you needed to travel that often during the remainder of the 90 days.

[Tanoshi]

5 hours ago, jasonsamui55 said:

Thanks. Yes, I know all that. I’ve had the same Non-O visa for 5 years now. But I’m just more worried by a comment I’ve heard recently whereby they said that in that initial 3 months that I wouldn’t be able to get the multiple re-entry permit because it is a single entry visa. Someone said that you can’t get the multiple re-entry permit at a local immigration office in Thailand but that you need to get it at the time of getting the visa abroad. I need to make sure about that because I leave thailand every Monday to Friday for work.

How do you stay in Thailand all year around.

Are you stating you get a new single entry Non Imm O every year.

 

[BritTim]

15 hours ago, jasonsamui55 said:

Thanks. Yes, I know all that. I’ve had the same Non-O visa for 5 years now. But I’m just more worried by a comment I’ve heard recently whereby they said that in that initial 3 months that I wouldn’t be able to get the multiple re-entry permit because it is a single entry visa. Someone said that you can’t get the multiple re-entry permit at a local immigration office in Thailand but that you need to get it at the time of getting the visa abroad. I need to make sure about that because I leave thailand every Monday to Friday for work.

As @ubonjoe has written, you have been given erroneous information on re-entry permits.

 

If you have already been getting extensions of stay on the basis of being the parent of a child in school, I am puzzled as to why you do not just get a further one-year extension. Why do you need to start with a new Non O visa? Did something happen to invalidate your current permission to stay?

[jasonsamui55]

11 hours ago, Tanoshi said:

How do you stay in Thailand all year around.

Are you stating you get a new single entry Non Imm O every year.

 

I’ve had the same Non-O extension for 5 years now, with multiple re-entry permit, and in and out each weekend. 

 

1 hour ago, BritTim said:

As @ubonjoe has written, you have been given erroneous information on re-entry permits.

 

If you have already been getting extensions of stay on the basis of being the parent of a child in school, I am puzzled as to why you do not just get a further one-year extension. Why do you need to start with a new Non O visa? Did something happen to invalidate your current permission to stay?

Yes, I could extend again but it got screwed up when my son, upon whose attendance at international school is the basis for my Non-O, only got an 8 month extension last time rather than the customary 12 month extension, and consequently, I only got an 8 month extension. That’s because I wasn’t expecting the visa extension to only extend to the end of the passport. I have had many visas in the past for other countries and they’re always for a fixed amount, 5 years, 10 years, etc., regardless of expiration date of passport, extending to the new passport as needed. I wrongly assumed Thailand was like other countries in that respect. Anyway, It’s all about finances. Now that my and my sons is cut short 4 months, it means the 500k seasoning funds need to run concurrently with the same 500k my wife needs to keep in her account for her Non-O based on our daughter. Previously, hers was up for extension each December and mine would be up for extension each April, allowing us to just roll the same 500k from her account to mine and back again as needed. Now we’d need to have 2 sets of 500k in the bank at the same time, so I’d rather let mine lapse and get a new one so that extensions fit my schedule and my budget.

[ubonjoe]

You could apply for a single entry non-o visa at a nearby embassy or consulate when your extension ends. Then apply for a multiple re-entry permit to keep the remainder of the 90 days valid when you enter the country.

You could then apply for a new extension. Since it will be the first extension of new visa entry the money would only need to be in the bank for 30 days instead of 90 days.

 

[Tanoshi]

1 hour ago, jasonsamui55 said:

I have had many visas in the past for other countries and they’re always for a fixed amount, 5 years, 10 years, etc., regardless of expiration date of passport, extending to the new passport as needed. I wrongly assumed Thailand was like other countries in that respect.

Whilst the validity of a Visa is not affected by the expiry of a passport, an extension is.

 

Your original Non Imm O Visa gave you permission to stay for 90 days.

Your Visa expires on the enter before date.

You are not extending the Visa at Immigration, you are extending the permission to stay initially granted by that Visa entry.

Immigration cannot extend your period of stay beyond the validity of your passport.

 

http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/4908/15405-General-information.html

Please note that the period of visa validity is different from the period of stay.  Visa validity is the period during which a visa can be used to enter Thailand.  In general, the validity of a visa is 3 months, but in some cases, visas may be issued to be valid for 6 months, 1 year or 3 years.  The validity of a visa is granted with discretion by the Royal Thai Embassy or Royal Thai Consulate-General and is displayed on the visa sticker. 

On the other hand, the period of stay is granted by an immigration officer upon arrival at the port of entry and in accordance with the type of visa.  For example, the period of stay for a transit visa is not exceeding 30 days, for a tourist visa is not exceeding 60 days and for a non-immigrant visa is not exceeding 90 days from the arrival date.  The period of stay granted by the immigration officer is displayed on the arrival stamp.  Travellers who wish to stay longer than such period may apply for extension of stay at offices of the Immigration Bureau

[jasonsamui55]

2 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

You could apply for a single entry non-o visa at a nearby embassy or consulate when your extension ends. Then apply for a multiple re-entry permit to keep the remainder of the 90 days valid when you enter the country.

You could then apply for a new extension. Since it will be the first extension of new visa entry the money would only need to be in the bank for 30 days instead of 90 days.

 

Thanks again ubonjoe. Are there any local SE Asian consulates that are preferred for obtaining a Non-O based on parent of a minor on an Ed visa as I described above, or at least are there any that should be avoided?

 

I was planning to let my son’s Ed visa extension expire/lapse also in the same way and at the same time, that way we both apply for the Ed and Non-O at the same time in the same place. Is there any reason to not do this?

 

And if I extend his Ed, but then go ahead and get a new Non-O for myself, does he need to be personally present at the consulate or embassy abroad where and when I am applying for my new Non-O?

[jasonsamui55]

Also, ubonjoe, is there any reason not to go to HCMC consulate? That’s most convenient for me as I’m there every week for work anyway, just alone and without my son. Thanks.

[ubonjoe]

6 hours ago, jasonsamui55 said:

Also, ubonjoe, is there any reason not to go to HCMC consulate? That’s most convenient for me as I’m there every week for work anyway, just alone and without my son. Thanks.

It should not be a problem there. Just have the required documents. You will pay in US dollars ($80) for the visa.

[jasonsamui55]

Thanks again ubonjoe. Are there any local SE Asian consulates that are preferred for obtaining a Non-O based on parent of a minor on an Ed visa as I described above, or at least are there any that should be avoided?

 

I was planning to let my son’s Ed visa extension expire/lapse also in the same way and at the same time, that way we both apply for the Ed and Non-O at the same time in the same place. Is there any reason to not do this?

 

And if I extend his Ed, but then go ahead and get a new Non-O for myself, does he need to be personally present at the consulate or embassy abroad where and when I am applying for my new Non-O?

[ubonjoe]

14 minutes ago, jasonsamui55 said:

Thanks again ubonjoe. Are there any local SE Asian consulates that are preferred for obtaining a Non-O based on parent of a minor on an Ed visa as I described above, or at least are there any that should be avoided?

As far as I know allow all embassies and consulates within the region will issue a single entry non-o visa for that reason. 

 

15 minutes ago, jasonsamui55 said:

I was planning to let my son’s Ed visa extension expire/lapse also in the same way and at the same time, that way we both apply for the Ed and Non-O at the same time in the same place. Is there any reason to not do this?

No reason not to do it other than the additional cost of him traveling with you to apply for the a non-ed visa. He would have to leave the country before his current extension of stay ends to it is another consideration.

 

15 minutes ago, jasonsamui55 said:

And if I extend his Ed, but then go ahead and get a new Non-O for myself, does he need to be personally present at the consulate or embassy abroad where and when I am applying for my new Non-O?

No need to for him to be with you when you apply for the non-o visa.