Exiting and Returning with an O-A Visa

[AAArdvark]

With an O-A visa obtained in my home country, how many times will TI extend permission to stay when leaving and returning more than once (during the first year), just once or multiple times?

Does the O-A multiple entry go away after the 1st exit/reentry?

Also, is that extension automatic, or nearly so, when TI at the port of entry sees the O-A visa or do you have to request it?

[elviajero]

It’s a multiple entry visa so you can enter as many times as you want until the ‘enter before’ (expiry) date of the visa.

 

Every time you enter — upto and including the ‘enter befire’ date — the IO will automatically give you a new permission to stay for 1 year.

Edited December 18, 2018 by elviajero

[steve187]

to get the best use of an 'O''A' visa make a fresh entry just before the 'use by' date of the visa and in that '2nd' year obtain a reentry permit for any trips out the country 1,000 single 3,800 baht multi entry permit

[DrJack54]

Glenn, you have your answer above. To get the full two years out of your OA just exit country and reenter BEFORE (just before) your until date on your O-A stamp. Then if you are exiting Thailand during that second year just obtain reentry permit at airport. Quick and easy. TM8 form. Download double sided.

[Mulambana]

1. O-A is a multi entry visa. I don't know any embassy issuing a single entry O-A visa.

2. O-A visa is valid for one year. Every visa has a valid until date in the VISA sticker.

3. You can come and go as you please within the valid until date in the VISA sticker

4. Each time you enter Thailand, you will be given one year to stay. A square stamp in your passport will tell you this date. This is Admitted Until date. It is stamp by the IO when you enter.

5. The VISA sticker's valid until date and Entry stamp's Admitted until date are different.

6. If you enter Thailand before the VISA sticker's valid until date, you will get one year Admitted until square stamp in your passport.

7. If you want to come and go after the VISA sticker's valid until date, you must obtain a reentry permit.

8. Thus O-A visa practically lets you stay in Thailand for two years for one exit/entry

 

[Olmate]

Is any land border ok, or must be by air?

[ubonjoe]

2 minutes ago, Olmate said:

Is any land border ok, or must be by air?

You can do it by land, sea or air.

[Olmate]

Thank you J,I’ve a mate in Chantaburri, would Trat be ok by private car, then public transport  and is border friendly do you know? 

[ubonjoe]

1 minute ago, Olmate said:

Thank you J,I’ve a mate in Chantaburri, would Trat be ok by private car, then public transport  and is border friendly do you know? 

Yes the Hat Lek crossing a good crossing. It is also a Cambodia e visa crossing. https://www.evisa.gov.kh/  Map: https://goo.gl/maps/dwqGB8NGZx52

The Baan Pak Kad crossing in Chantaburi might be closer. Map:  https://goo.gl/maps/ckNxe6qGqbm

At both of them he can walk across the border to do it.

 

[Olmate]

Great much appreciated!

[KhunBENQ]

And the usual/unspecific reminders for the return:

Fill the visa number in the departure card (TM6) before approaching checkpoint.

Open page with the Non O-A visa when handing over.

Check the stamp carefully after the checkpoint.

To err is human.