Question on Re-entry permit on Retirment/O-A Visa

[Bodger22]

Hi

 

I have a question regards the Re-entry permit on Retirment/O-A Visa.

 

I understand about single and multiple permits etc.

 

But I'm not clear what happens if I return AFTER the visa has expired.

 

Do I get credited back the time that I was out of the country? e.g. if I am away for 6 months is the visa expiry date extended by 6 months?

 

Or is the Visa automatically cancelled as soon as the expiry dates is hit?

 

My Retirement O-A visa runs from 20th October. If I wanted to go to the UK next year with a re-entry permit how long can I be away without the visa being cancelled. 

 

What date would I have to return by bearing in mind I might need a couple of weeks to prepare the renewal documents for the visa?

 

I just want to be clear how long I can be out of the coutry and when I must return without the visa being cancelled?

 

Apologies if this has been covered in another post, but I would appreciate some feedback and clarity on this question.

 

Thanks very much

[ubonjoe]

When your OA visa expires you cannot get anymore one year entries from it.

You can get a single or multiple re-entry permit to keep your most recent or last entry form the visa valid if you want to travel that will keep the remainder of that entry valid when you enter the country.

[Bodger22]

Hi

 

Thanks for the reply

 

So as long as I return to Thailand before the visa expiry date with enough time to prepare the renewal documents there should be no issues?

 

Is that correct?

[ubonjoe]

32 minutes ago, Bodger22 said:

So as long as I return to Thailand before the visa expiry date with enough time to prepare the renewal documents there should be no issues?

Yes

If you entered just before your visa expired you would get a new one year permit to stay in the country and you could get a re-entry permit to keep the remainder of that permit to stay valid.

[soisanuk]

18 hours ago, Bodger22 said:

Hi

 

I have a question regards the Re-entry permit on Retirment/O-A Visa.

 

I understand about single and multiple permits etc.

 

But I'm not clear what happens if I return AFTER the visa has expired. There is a difference between a Visa and an Extension of Stay that is received based on the Visa.  An O-A Visa is valid for one year from date of issue and is multiple entry (used for entry into Thailand as many times as you wish during the "validity" period - when the enter by date shown on the Visa is passed it is no longer valid for entry.  When you first enter Thailand using the Visa, you receive a Permission to Stay for one year. Until the enter by date, if you leave and return, you receive another one year stay.  Thus the Visa expiration and Permission to Stay dates will not be the same.  If you plan to leave and return after the Enter by Date, you need a Re-Entry Permit.  The Re-Entry Permit expires the same date as your latest Permission to Stay period as shown on the last entry stamp in your passport.

 

Do I get credited back the time that I was out of the country? e.g. if I am away for 6 months is the visa expiry date extended by 6 months? No, any period out of Thailand does not extend either the Visa or the Re-
Entry Permit expiration dates.  If you are using a Re-Entry Permit, when you re-enter Thailand Immigration will give you a Permission to Stay until the expiration date of your latest extension stay.

 

Or is the Visa automatically cancelled as soon as the expiry dates is hit? The Visa is in effect "cancelled" and no longer valid as of the Enter by Date shown on the Visa.  The Re-Entry Permit is in effect "cancelled" when you Permit expires as shown on the Re-Entry Permit.  Once "cancelled" they are no longer valid for entry into Thailand.

 

My Retirement O-A visa runs from 20th October. If I wanted to go to the UK next year with a re-entry permit how long can I be away without the visa being cancelled. As mentioned, the Visa itself is in effect "cancelled" as of the Enter by Date shown on it -- it is not clear whether the 20th October date you mention is the Enter by Date on the Visa, or whether it is the date shown on your latest Permission to Stay stamp.  See comments above as to when you would need to Re-enter Thailand for either  to still be valid.

 

What date would I have to return by bearing in mind I might need a couple of weeks to prepare the renewal documents for the visa? Your Permission to Stay date is the important date.  You must be in Thailand to apply for a renewal of your extension of stay based on the date shown on your entry stamp into Thailand OR the date shown on your extension of stay stamp obtained at Thai Immigration.  Immigration Offices will process an application for renewal of an extension up to 30 days before it expires (some will do it up to 45 days before).  As you mention, it is a good idea to re-enter int time to get your documents in order.

 

I just want to be clear how long I can be out of the coutry and when I must return without the visa being cancelled? See answers above.

 

Apologies if this has been covered in another post, but I would appreciate some feedback and clarity on this question.

 

Thanks very much

Bodger 22, see my answers to your questions - blue text above.