Spouse visa (again)

[Konini]

Apologies in advance, mine are never straight forward.  I'm on a Non-O (spouse) visa\extension.

 

I got our marriage certificate verified by London and Ministry Foreign Affairs here so I can do the extension from here, and I almost got it a few weeks ago; all of my paperwork was in order (she sent me to get a copy of our lease) and it got to the point where the IO put the stamp in the passport ready for the senior officer to sign.  Senior officer knocked it back - even though my visa expires late May, we'd just come back from Vietnam and I was stamped in for 3 months, she told me everything was OK but I have to come back closer to the stamped in date (24 July) and do it then.  Problem is, we're going to England in a couple of days for 5 weeks.  She assured me that they will let me back into the country on that visa because I'm stamped in until 24 July.  OK, I trust her, but I don't so much trust the IO at Swampy being as switched on.  

 

I could just get the extension from London as I have done every year, (I'm a bit weary this time because there is an empty stamp in my passport that is crossed out which looks a bit dodgy) but I really would rather get it from here because if I get it from London I can't do 90 day reporting, I have to physically leave the country and it will bring our extensions up to the same date.  We end up doing a border hop at Mae Sai maybe once a year, but it's always at the most inconvenient time and it should be so easy to change that.

 

So, visa extension expires May, and I'm stamped in until July 24th , does anyone know how long I'll get when I come back in late June?  Hopefully, they'll just stamp me in until 24 July and I can do the extension as soon as we get back.  If I get stamped in for 3 months again though, I won't be able to do the extension because again the stamp will be too far from expiry. On top of that, we do a lot of trips out of the country and we're away the end of July for a couple of weeks then again the end of August. If they keep giving me 90 days, I could keep this up forever but I don't think that will happen, I think I'll get stamped in until 24 July and can do the extension when we get back, but I need some confirmation if anyone knows please.

 

 

[ubonjoe]

You need to get a single re-entry permit to keep the remainder of your 90 day entry valid. It will be valid for entry until July 24th and that is the date you will be stamped in untl.

[Konini]

OK Joe, thanks for that - you are a real star.

[BritTim]

You probably know this, but just to make sure ... you apply for the re-entry permit before you leave Thailand. It usually costs 1,000 baht if you do it at the immigration office in advance. Easiest, though, is to do it at the airport just as you leave the country. At Suvarnabhumi, this is done in immigration zone 2, just to the left of the immigration counters. You are charged 1,200 baht which includes taking your photo and making photocopies. In theory, you can avoid the extra 200 baht fee by bringing your own previously filled in TM7 form and a photo, but most do not think it worthwhile just to save a few baht.

[ubonjoe]

4 minutes ago, BritTim said:

filled in TM7 form

A TM8 form is used.

[Konini]

Already got it - the very nice IO that helped me had someone doing a re-entry permit whilst she was explaining it all to me.  I just didn't get the part about how long I'd be stamped in for.

 

Edit - no forms, photocopies or photo's, not that I'm complaining.