Thai Hostages Still Missing a Year After Hamas Attack

[Lee4Life]

    My wife and I have (or had) valid Non-O O/A Multiple Entry E-Visas acquired in the States. We went back to the States for three months and upon re-entry at Savarnabhumi yesterday we were asked for proof of insurance and also for the Visa approval confirmation sent to us when we applied for the visa. This was the first time we had re-entered through Swampy on the e-visas, we had always had the old visa stickers before, and additional paperwork had never been required, I didn't understand that even with a valid multiple entry visa in our passports they would require additional documents, so I didn't have them. I was only able to show them the visa approval letter that was still in my phone, but that was not sufficient and they stamped us in for thirty days, telling us to sort things out at our local Immigration office (NongKhai), or go to Savanahket to get a new visa. I thought I was up on all of the new requirements, but I totally missed this one. It is my hope that others may benefit from our experience and be sure to bring your e-visa approval letter and proof of insurance when re-entering Thailand on multiple re-entry O/A visas, even if you have not had any problems previously. (My wife had been across to Laos and back in at the bridge with no troubles). 

[Upnotover]

If you have a valid non-OA e-visa of course you need to carry it with you to enter.  What actually do you have in your passport? "even with a valid multiple entry visa in our passports"

[DrJack54]

OP, a non O-A has a validity of 12 months from date of issue.

Is your non O-A still valid.

If you enter anytime during the validity of the visa you will be stamped in for 12 months. 

After the validity of the non O-A your permission of stay requires a reentry permit along with insurance. 

With an eVisa that is just an approval email and requires you to show hardcopy print out. 

 

Side note: seems that the io stamped you in visa exempt. No idea why only a 30 day stamp when visa exempt entry is currently 60 days.

 

You mentioned that you returned to USA for 3 months.

Do you plan ongoing living in Thailand? If so there are better options than both having non O-A visas. 

[Liquorice]

What date was your O-A visa issued (it's on the visa).
It's valid to enter Thailand for 12 months from the date of issue, each entry permits a stay of 12 months, but the period of stay is limited to the expiry date of the mandatory Health Insurance. It's possible your visa was still valid, but your original Health insurance had expired.

To obtain a further 12-month period of stay, on re-entry, you would require a valid Health Insurance policy to cover that 12 month period.

 

The IO has allowed you to enter Visa exempt, but the entry permit should have been for 60 days, not 30 days.

Your local Immigration office may be able to amend that date.

 

Next question is how long do you intend to stay for?

[Liquorice]

6 hours ago, Lee4Life said:

previously. (My wife had been across to Laos and back in at the bridge with no troubles). 

It's quite common for folks to obtain the Health Insurance in order to apply for the 0-A visa, without post dating it to start from the date you intend to enter Thailand.

Therefore, by the time you obtain the visa and enter Thailand the Insurance cover is now 6 weeks old, and you only receive permission of stay for 46 weeks rather than 52 weeks.

When your wife crossed the border and re-entered, she would have been stamped in again to the original date when you first entered, which was subject to the expiry date of your Insurance. All the dates are on your stamps.