Hi Guys,

I am sure this is a simple one, but your advice would be appreciated.

I have a friend who has a non-O-A visa issued in NZ 21st Feb 2007, expiring 20 Feb 2008. He didn't use it until 30 May 2007, and has an 'admitted until' date on his passport stamp of 29th May 2008.

He has just been and done his 90 day report, and on the receipt of notification, there is a stamp saying 'renewal for one year visa before 29th May 2008.

My (his) question is does he need to apply for a visa renewal before 20th Feb, or 29th May, and how long before should he apply.

Thamks in advance.

On vital piece of information is missing. Is his visa marked "single" or "multi" entry? Very important to know.

If single entry he has to make his extension of stay request before 29 May (his permitted to stay until date).

If he has a multi entry he can exit/return before 20 Feb and get a new one year permitted to stay stamp so would not have to extend until that new date. But any travel after 20 Feb would require a re-entry permit to keep it alive.

On vital piece of information is missing. Is his visa marked "single" or "multi" entry? Very important to know.

If single entry he has to make his extension of stay request before 29 May (his permitted to stay until date).

If he has a multi entry he can exit/return before 20 Feb and get a new one year permitted to stay stamp so would not have to extend until that new date. But any travel after 20 Feb would require a re-entry permit to keep it alive.

Thanks Lop - it is Multi entry, so does that mean if he does not intend to travel between now and May that he can leave it until then to get his extension of stay?

BTW how long before should he apply.

Most people would make a cheap border run before the visa expiration date to obtain the extra year without the need for money in Thailand or obtaining Embassy letter of income (usually cheaper than extension). But if he does not want to take advantage of that he should apply about 3 weeks before 29 May. Just remember that any travel after Feb 20 will require a re-entry permit.

Sorry if I am being a bit thick on this, but not something I know too much about (as I am not old enough). Are you saying that if he simply does a border run before the 20th feb, he will automatically get an extra year? Not heard of that one before.

Sorry if I am being a bit thick on this, but not something I know too much about (as I am not old enough). Are you saying that if he simply does a border run before the 20th feb, he will automatically get an extra year? Not heard of that one before.

Yes.

His visa will allow multiple entries and he is allowed to stay for one year on each entry. So if he makes a border run before the visa, not the entry stamp, expires then they will give him a new stamp that will be good for one year.

He will need to get a re-entry permit if he plans to leave during that one year period. Then about a year from now, he could file the paperwork for the extension of stay.

Yes.

He will be stamped in for one year as he has a valid multi entry non immigrant OA visa. Any entry on that visa gets stamped in for a one year stay. The only difference is that in the second year he will require a re-entry permit prior to any travel to keep the current permitted to stay until alive. Currently all he needs to do is return and he gets a new one year stamp because his visa is still valid.

Thanks guys for the info.

If he does a border run now, and gets a stamp until Feb 09, can he then still apply for extension of stay next year, or will he have to apply for a whole new visa at that time. From what Jstumbo says he could apply for extension of stay in 12 months, but he is worried that as his visa will have effectively expired for nearly 12 months at that point, that they won't give him the extension, and he will have to go home to get a new visa.

Also if he is eligible to apply for the extension in 12 months, how concrete is that, ie, are they likely to turn around in 12 months and say sorry you need a new visa.

Thanks again, I will gladly share the several beers this is going to cost him.

Thanks guys for the info.

If he does a border run now, and gets a stamp until Feb 09, can he then still apply for extension of stay next year, or will he have to apply for a whole new visa at that time. From what Jstumbo says he could apply for extension of stay in 12 months, but he is worried that as his visa will have effectively expired for nearly 12 months at that point, that they won't give him the extension, and he will have to go home to get a new visa.

Also if he is eligible to apply for the extension in 12 months, how concrete is that, ie, are they likely to turn around in 12 months and say sorry you need a new visa.

Thanks again, I will gladly share the several beers this is going to cost him.

He will be able to get the extension next year as long as he meets the requirements for the extension, currently 800K in Thai bank for previous 3 months, or 65K/month pension or combination of both. It is an extension of his stay, not an extension of his visa. With the extension of stay, he will also need a re-entry permit if he plans to leave the country.

Just wanted to say thankyou to Lopburi and Jstumbo. He went today, still sceptical, and was given the 12 month stamp exactly as you said.

My friend asked me to pass on his thanks also. I would say he is a TV convert, but as I still have to log him on to his Yahoo mail I think that may be some way off.

Cheers