Beware of Non-O extensions, when traveling

[IgboChief]

Greetings.

 

As least for me, the Visa Situation has become a lot worse: I am holding a Non-O from Savannaketh "valid until" 19-Feb-2025 and I entered Thailand on 28-Jan-2025 and got a stamp until 28-April-2025.

Today, at the Immigration I was told that I can't do an Extension yet because "too early". All I could get was a Multiple Re-Entry permit (after spending half day at the Amphur for a a Khor Ror 22 and another 1 hour at the bank for a bank statement).

Then I am expected to come back in April, applying for extension, would be put under 8 weeks consideration -- for which one I have to do another Multi RE Permit.
Then, when finally getting the stamp I will have to do another Multi RE Permit.

 

So effectively, I will have to pay for 3 ME R-Permits and have to come to the local Immigration 3 times and I am losing 3 passport pages for all those stamps. This is very frustrating honestly compared to the ease and simplicity of getting the Visa at Savannaketh before.

 

Anyone in a similar situation? How do you guys deal with the change in Visa policy?

[KhunLA]

21 minutes ago, IgboChief said:

Greetings.

 

As least for me, the Visa Situation has become a lot worse: I am holding a Non-O from Savannaketh "valid until" 19-Feb-2025 and I entered Thailand on 28-Jan-2025 and got a stamp until 28-April-2025.

Today, at the Immigration I was told that I can't do an Extension yet because "too early". All I could get was a Multiple Re-Entry permit (after spending half day at the Amphur for a a Khor Ror 22 and another 1 hour at the bank for a bank statement).

Then I am expected to come back in April, applying for extension, would be put under 8 weeks consideration -- for which one I have to do another Multi RE Permit.
Then, when finally getting the stamp I will have to do another Multi RE Permit.

 

So effectively, I will have to pay for 3 ME R-Permits and have to come to the local Immigration 3 times and I am losing 3 passport pages for all those stamps. This is very frustrating honestly compared to the ease and simplicity of getting the Visa at Savannaketh before.

 

Anyone in a similar situation? How do you guys deal with the change in Visa policy?

Or you could have simply known to apply for the extension 30 days (if the rule) before the expiration date and avoided all that.

[DrJack54]

48 minutes ago, IgboChief said:

Today, at the Immigration I was told that I can't do an Extension yet because "too early". All I could get was a Multiple Re-Entry permit (after spending half day at the Amphur for a a Khor Ror 22 and another 1 hour at the bank for a bank statement).

It's very well know that you apply for 12 months extension up to 30 days early at most offices and 45 at few large offices eg CW,CM, Phuket etc.

 

48 minutes ago, IgboChief said:

Then I am expected to come back in April, applying for extension, would be put under 8 weeks consideration

Which immigration office.

Usually under consideration period is less than 8 weeks.

Surely you were aware of under consideration period for extensions based on marriage. 

How frequent are your trips out of Thailand that you require multi reentry permits..

 

48 minutes ago, IgboChief said:

Anyone in a similar situation? How do you guys deal with the change in Visa policy?

What change in "visa policy" 

[Briggsy]

3 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

What change in "visa policy" 

I assume he is referring to the fact that Savannakhet are no longer issuing multi-entry visas.

[DrJack54]

6 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

I assume he is referring to the fact that Savannakhet are no longer issuing multi-entry visas.

You assume correctly. Previously using multi non O.

The single entry Non O has the under consideration period for extensions so travel plans need to be factored in.

 

I'm aware of couple friends on roster (month on month off) and even though married to Thai use Non O retirement as that does not have the under consideration period. 

[Briggsy]

1 minute ago, DrJack54 said:

The single entry Non O has the under consideration period for extensions so travel plans need to be factored in.

Indeed so @IgboChief

 

that is 1000 Baht single re-entry and 3800 multiple re-entry.

 

What are your travel plans? Single re-entries may make more sense.

[IgboChief]

I am just 48 years old and travel every 2-3 weeks or so. However, the next phone call can change everything. So ME Permit is mandatory.

And yes, I was referring to the change regarding Laos/Savannaketh where the Visa was issued next day.

[IgboChief]

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

It's very well know that you apply for 12 months extension up to 30 days early at most offices and 45 at few large offices eg CW,CM, Phuket etc.

 

Which immigration office.

Usually under consideration period is less than 8 weeks.

Surely you were aware of under consideration period for extensions based on marriage. 

How frequent are your trips out of Thailand that you require multi reentry permits..

 

What change in "visa policy" 

 

 

You are pretty much missing the point I think: The Visa Sticker says "valid until" 19-February and am leaving on 17th.
Which makes it reasonable to apply for Extension before the 17th.

They still denied me that, pointing out that the visa based on my arrival is ending on 28th April only (but without the implied ME Permit). So they implicitly extend the ME Visa, but not the ME permission and force me to do an extra ME permission.

[DrJack54]

2 hours ago, IgboChief said:

You are pretty much missing the point I think: The Visa Sticker says "valid until" 19-February and am leaving on 17th.

Not missing anything.

Seems you had a single entry Non O.

It has a validity of 3 months (window) to enter Thailand.

It was used upon entry and you were given a 90 day permission of stay. 

As soon as entered Thailand the ..."valid until" 19-Feb-2025" became irrelevant.

[Caldera]

7 hours ago, IgboChief said:

You are pretty much missing the point I think: The Visa Sticker says "valid until" 19-February and am leaving on 17th.
Which makes it reasonable to apply for Extension before the 17th.

They still denied me that, pointing out that the visa based on my arrival is ending on 28th April only (but without the implied ME Permit). So they implicitly extend the ME Visa, but not the ME permission and force me to do an extra ME permission.

 

It's standard procedure that you can only extend within the last 30 days (45 days at a few immigration offices) of your current permission to stay. The expiration date of the visa doesn't matter at all; your single-entry visa has been "used" for entry already anyway.

 

Based on your entry date (28 Jan) and permission to stay date (28 Apr), the IO was right to reject your request for an extension.

 

So I'm afraid that YOU are the one who's missing the point.