Will Sadao immigration let me re-enter Thailand the same day?

[simon43]

A radio amateur friend in Malaysia has a used antenna that he is selling to me.  Import of any kind of antenna is controlled by Thai customs and only allowed by businesses with an import permit. (I have encountered this problem several times and it has cost me, since they will not issue an import permit to an individual).

 

However, hand-carrying a few pieces of aluminium antenna tubing though land or air borders has never been a problem 🙂

 

My plan is to drive to Sadao tomorrow from my home in south Thailand, get a re-entry permit for my O 'retirement' visa, enter Malaysia, meet my friend, collect the antenna and then return through Sadao crossing the same day.

 

Will Sadao immigration allow this?  I can stay one night in a hotel on the Malaysia side if this helps and return to Thailand the next day.

[Tod Daniels]

Unless I'm mistaken you can't BUY a re-entry permit at that border crossing and you'd have to have one before you show up to stamp out (although I freely admit I could be wrong) 🙂

On a valid yearly extension (which is what you have (not any visa) with a re-entry permit you SHOULD be able to exit/re-enter the same day because you're not trying to border bounce to add time to your stay here (like people do who bounce out/back to get free stamps for 60 day). You hold a valid extension w/re-entry and can come and go without much problem. 

I would certainly check IF you can get a re-entry permit at the border crossing before you slog down there 🙂 OR have that person come into thailand and get the stuff from you AT the border but on the thai side 

[simon43]

31 minutes ago, Tod Daniels said:

Unless I'm mistaken you can't BUY a re-entry permit at that border crossing and you'd have to have one before you show up to stamp out (although I freely admit I could be wrong) 🙂

On a valid yearly extension (which is what you have (not any visa) with a re-entry permit you SHOULD be able to exit/re-enter the same day because you're not trying to border bounce to add time to your stay here (like people do who bounce out/back to get free stamps for 60 day). You hold a valid extension w/re-entry and can come and go without much problem. 

I would certainly check IF you can get a re-entry permit at the border crossing before you slog down there 🙂 OR have that person come into thailand and get the stuff from you AT the border but on the thai side 

Thanks.  I just phoned Sadao immigration and they tell me that they issue re-entry permits for O visa holders 🙂  So I should be fine.

 

I'll report back later as to the outcome.

[DrJack54]

46 minutes ago, simon43 said:

Import of any kind of antenna is controlled by Thai customs and only allowed by businesses with an import permit

So all this for a sus antenna import. 

[Tod Daniels]

26 minutes ago, simon43 said:

I just phoned Sadao immigration and they tell me that they issue re-entry permits for O visa holders

Good to know, not every border checkpoint sells re-entry permits (for instance up north in Nong Khai at the Lao border they have the re-entry permit place about 5km before the border in a little office 😮) 

Safe travels sir 👍

[simon43]

52 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

So all this for a sus antenna import. 

I know.. I once ordered a small wire antenna from the USA, consisting of some fibreglass supports and the wire.  The company had to use the correct customs tariff code for antennas on their declaration.  To avoid problems, that company also offered a premium payment to prepay all import tax and customs 'hassles'.  I paid that but the customs saw the 'red flag' word "antenna" on the customs declaration and confiscated to package because I didn't have a business import licence (for 1 wire antenna and some fibreglass supports).

 

So I told Thai customs to send it back to the sender....

 

"No can do" was their reply.  "You need an export licence for antennas" !!!

 

Luckily, I persuaded the sending company to refund me anyway, on the basis that Thai Customs were being dickheads....

 

This is why I usually build all my antennas myself, but this guy in Malaysia lives near Sadao and it means that I get a professional antenna, as opposed to the tangles of wire that I usually build 🙂