Old & Slow Guy Has A Question

[John13]

thanks for all your help, i am old & slow, so i try to be extra carefully, and need detailed explainations, because i get confused. i got my retirement multi-entry visa last month. i shall be going to thailand sept 2. i am planning to fly to beijing from thailand in mid nov and fly back to thailand from china mid jan; staying in thailand until feb 17, 2009 before i return to hawaii.

Has anyone had any experience getting a "L" tourist 90 day visa from PR China? I may need a good travel agent in Pattaya to book flight to Beijing, any recommendations? I was planning to book southern china airlines, but heard their website is the pits. Okay. leaving to Beijing, since i have a multi-entry retirement visa--i won't need a reentry permit right? returning in Jan 09, will be visa be extended for one year? When I leave in Feb 09, I should apply for a re-entry permit before I leave to be safe? I hope to return to thailand by Jan 2010 to keep my multi-entry retirement visa alive and will hopefully be able to spent at least half the year, every year in thailand. thanks for your help guys! Aloha, John13

[Mario2008]

With a multi-entry you don't need to get a re-entry permit. A multi entry means that you can come and go as much as you like in a one year period, as long as you don't stay longer than 90 days. After 90 days you have to leave the country and come right back in. By leaving the country and coming back just before the end of your visa, you can extend to almost 15 months.

For a new multiple entry you would have to apply for a new one abroad, not in Thailand.

What you might want to do is to apply for a one year extension of stay at the local immigration office in phuket. This would mean you don't have to leave the country any more after 90 days, but you will have to report your adress every 90 days to immigration. Also when you leave the country you need a re-entry permit. The extension of stay can be renewed every year.

Since you intend to stay in Thailand only for about half a year each year it is hard to tell which option is the best. With an extension of stay you will probably fall under a grandfather clause if they change the rules. But you would need to be in Thailand for the extension every year.

[JimGant]

When I leave in Feb 09, I should apply for a re-entry permit before I leave to be safe? I hope to return to thailand by Jan 2010 to keep my multi-entry retirement visa alive

As you have a Non Imm O-A multi-entry visa, when you return to Thailand in Jan '09 you'll receive a permitted-to-stay stamp until Jan '10. However, your visa will expire in June '09, so returning to Thailand by Jan 2010 will *not* keep your "multi-entry retirement visa alive," as it dies in June '09, one year, less a day, from date of issue.

And getting a re-entry permit to return to Thailand the same month (Jan 2010) the 'permitted-to-stay' expires doesn't make a lot of sense, as you'll just need to scramble around to get a new permitted-to-stay stamp based on in-country extension criteria. And, if you've read the info required for in-country extension, I'm not sure you'll want -- or be prepared in such a short time -- for such a drill......

If I remember correctly, you found the Honolulu Honorary Consulate 'user friendly' in getting your Non Imm O-A visa. My recommendation is to just get another O-A visa from them prior to returning to Thailand in Jan 2010.

[OlRedEyes]

With a multi-entry you don't need to get a re-entry permit. A multi entry means that you can come and go as much as you like in a one year period, as long as you don't stay longer than 90 days. After 90 days you have to leave the country and come right back in. By leaving the country and coming back just before the end of your visa, you can extend to almost 15 months.

For a new multiple entry you would have to apply for a new one abroad, not in Thailand.

Non imm retirement visa procured abroad you don't have to leave every 90 days. Just confirmed this with Thai embassy in my home country.

[OlRedEyes]

When I leave in Feb 09, I should apply for a re-entry permit before I leave to be safe? I hope to return to thailand by Jan 2010 to keep my multi-entry retirement visa alive

As you have a Non Imm O-A multi-entry visa, when you return to Thailand in Jan '09 you'll receive a permitted-to-stay stamp until Jan '10. However, your visa will expire in June '09, so returning to Thailand by Jan 2010 will *not* keep your "multi-entry retirement visa alive," as it dies in June '09, one year, less a day, from date of issue.

Is this true? Not so sure. In effect then the visa can be used for nearly 2 yrs stay.

[lopburi3]

And that is exactly why it is somewhat of a bargain. Every entry during the one year validity of a multi entry OA visa gets a (new) one year permitted to stay stamp. But once the validity ends a re-entry permit is required to keep the last permitted to stay stamp alive.

[JimGant]

Is this true? Not so sure. In effect then the visa can be used for nearly 2 yrs stay.

If John returned to Thailand the day before his visa expired -- someday in June 09 -- he would get a 365 day stamp and, yes, his multi-enty O-A visa gives him nearly 2 years without ever having to visit Immigration (assuming he mails in his 90-day reports).

But John plans to be in Hawaii when his visa expires (June 09), but somehow believes that, if he returns to Thailand before his last permittted to stay stamp expires (Jan 10), he will then be given another 365-day stamp -- perhaps with the aid of a re-entry stamp. This won't happen.

In fairness to John, many share his confusion. But once your visa expires (and this is a finite date -- extensions, new permitted to stay stamps, whatever can't change this expiration date), you now have two choices: dealing with Thai Immigration in-country to extend your permitted to stay period -- assuming this period hasn't yet expired; or leaving Thailand and returning with a new visa (or visa exempt entry and subsequent in-country visa application) and starting the countdown to visa expiration once again.

In any case, John's dream of indefinite 365-day stamps, while nice sounding, ain't gonna happen. He'll have to deal with a Thai Consulate, or Thai Immigration, like the rest of us. But, maybe only every two years or so.........

[John13]

Is this true? Not so sure. In effect then the visa can be used for nearly 2 yrs stay.

If John returned to Thailand the day before his visa expired -- someday in June 09 -- he would get a 365 day stamp and, yes, his multi-enty O-A visa gives him nearly 2 years without ever having to visit Immigration (assuming he mails in his 90-day reports).

But John plans to be in Hawaii when his visa expires (June 09), but somehow believes that, if he returns to Thailand before his last permittted to stay stamp expires (Jan 10), he will then be given another 365-day stamp -- perhaps with the aid of a re-entry stamp. This won't happen.

In fairness to John, many share his confusion. But once your visa expires (and this is a finite date -- extensions, new permitted to stay stamps, whatever can't change this expiration date), you now have two choices: dealing with Thai Immigration in-country to extend your permitted to stay period -- assuming this period hasn't yet expired; or leaving Thailand and returning with a new visa (or visa exempt entry and subsequent in-country visa application) and starting the countdown to visa expiration once again.

In any case, John's dream of indefinite 365-day stamps, while nice sounding, ain't gonna happen. He'll have to deal with a Thai Consulate, or Thai Immigration, like the rest of us. But, maybe only every two years or so.........

Jim, As you can tell, I am old and slow and have difficulty understanding the Thai immigration visa rules. I am looking at my US Passport, my O-A non-immigrant visa was issued from Honolulu on May 19, 2008, I wasn't able to fly over to Honolulu to pick it up until June. What happens if I return to Thailand by May 17, 2009? Earlier you wrote, "If John returned to Thailand the day before his visa expired -- sometime in June 09 (actually it expires May 18, 2009, if I arrive there before the day is May 17, 2009) he would get a 365 day stamp and, yes, his multi-entry O-A visa gives him nearly 2 years without ever having to visit immigration (assuming he mails in his 90-days reports." How would I do this, just arrive at the airport and they would stamp it good for another 365 days? What would happen the following year if I were granted a 365 day stamp to keep it ongoing? I realize on that date, my visa expires, but I want to know what I can do to have it extended? I may be studying in China and had plan to fly direct to Beijing, so if I changed my plans to flew to Bangkok earlier...by May 17, 2009 and stayed a while before going to Beijing that could work for me. I don't have a problem going to Honolulu getting the visa, my problem when I was young (age 19), I have a police arrest record, without conviction in San Francisco. So when I was in San Francisco in February, I went to the police department to get a copy of my records, which I had to file by a certain time for my thai visa. That's why I applied for my visa in May to make the deadline. I want to avoid jumping hoops if possible, that's why I was hoping that my O-A multi-entry retirement visa can somehow remain valid for a long run, if I need to apply for extension of stays, re-entry permits, whatever, so I could live in Thailand half the year, however my current interest is studying in Beijing, so I would like to do that and somehow still need my visa or permit to entry and live in Thailand alive. If I need to fly back or stopover in Thailand that is fine. I don't want to fly back to San Francisco get a copy of my police records before applying for a Thai O-A retirement visa everytime. I am not ready to live full-time in Thailand yet, in that I still have too many interests, and had recently retired last year, and if possible see more of the world while I physically am able to, so Thailand for part of every year sounds good to me. I hope this gives you a better understanding of my situation and you would help me find a solution. Thank you in advance for your help, if possible, please try to make your explaination as simple as possible for my benefit. I have difficulty understanding all the ins and outs of this Thailand visa mess. John

[TBWG]

Hi John.

I quote i am planning to fly to beijing from thailand in mid nov

Another point you will of course need a visa to visit China.

This is easily available from the Bangkok Embassy, get all the paperwork to them early in the morning and collect late afternoon.

Paperwork can be downloaded from internet but is available at the embassy.

TBWG

[lopburi3]

Arrive May 17, 2009. Enter visa information on arrival card for 365 day stay. Get stamp until May 16, 2010 (check it before leaving).

You will now require a re-entry permit prior to leaving Thailand to keep that May 16, 2010 date alive. Your visa will no longer be valid for entry so you can not use for another entry - only the re-entry permit will be used.

In April/May of 2010 you will need to make application for a one year extension of stay from Immigration inside Thailand if you want to keep your retirement stay alive.

[OlRedEyes]

Thanks Lopburi3 you've just made my day.

First bit o' good news I've had in months

[JimGant]

John13,

Depending on your time-lines re China, Hawaii, and Thailand (which are hard to discern), Lopburi's suggestion may fit the bill.

But, if coming back to Thailand for a new 365-day stamp just before your O-A expires is inconvenient, I again suggest your revistit Honolulu for another O-A visa, if this fits your timing scheme. They were apparently very accomodating before -- and no reason why they wouldn't be again. And they were probably *curious* as to why you submitted a San Francisco police report, as a nationwide police report is not required. So, next time, a Maui County Police report should suffice (as I think I recall Maui being your Stateside home), thus eliminating your concern about your 19-year old antics.

You've got options. If you're in Thailand as your last 365-day stamp approaches expiration, extending in-country should work no sweat (with 800k in the bank for 3-months, 65k certified pension income, blah blah). If in Hawaii, with plenty of sit-back time, another O-A would seem to fit the bill. If in China when all is about to expire -- or has expired -- heading back to Hawaii for another O-A, or entering Thailand on a 30-day exempt -- both would work, albeit with different levels of hoop jumping (none insurmountable).

[John13]

Arrive May 17, 2009. Enter visa information on arrival card for 365 day stay. Get stamp until May 16, 2010 (check it before leaving).

You will now require a re-entry permit prior to leaving Thailand to keep that May 16, 2010 date alive. Your visa will no longer be valid for entry so you can not use for another entry - only the re-entry permit will be used.

In April/May of 2010 you will need to make application for a one year extension of stay from Immigration inside Thailand if you want to keep your retirement stay alive.

I am sorry that I am slow and can't quite figure it out. Will I need to return to Thailand on the exact date May 17, 2009 to apply for a 365 day stay? What would happen it I arrived earlier? Or, when I return to Thailand in mid January 2009, is there something I could do, like apply for an extension of stay and get a re-entry permit before leaving. I would like to follow you advice on returning by May 17, 2009; but I remembered that my son will be getting his master's degree in college and that's sometime in late May, I could guess, and I probably would like to attend. Of course, following Jim's advice, I could apply for the O-A retirement visa all over again, but first going to the Kauai police department for a copy of a police record, which would work for me.

Hey, thanks everyone for all your help, sorry I am slow, it's because I just want to be careful. John

[lopburi3]

You are the person who provided that date. Any entry before that date will be one year from that date of entry and an extension of stay would be required 11-12 months later. Any arrival after May 17, 2009 will require that you have a re-entry permit prior to leaving Thailand.

So if you arrive in January 2009 you will be stamped until January 2010. For any travel that will have you return after May 17th you will require a re-entry permit. That permit will keep the January 2010 date alive. In January 2010 you would make application of an extension of stay for one year from Immigration.

[John13]

You are the person who provided that date. Any entry before that date will be one year from that date of entry and an extension of stay would be required 11-12 months later. Any arrival after May 17, 2009 will require that you have a re-entry permit prior to leaving Thailand.

So if you arrive in January 2009 you will be stamped until January 2010. For any travel that will have you return after May 17th you will require a re-entry permit. That permit will keep the January 2010 date alive. In January 2010 you would make application of an extension of stay for one year from Immigration.

thank you so very much, i was confused, but understand now. john