…Is the 'enter before' date the same as the 'expires' date or are there actually 2 different dates stamped in to the passport?...

The visa will have these two dates on it:

– the date on which the visa is issued

– the date before which the visa must be utilized

For example, issued on 5 NOV 2008, must be utilized before 4 NOV 2009. In this example, the last time the multiple-entry non-OA visa can be used is November 3, 2009.

--

Maestro

I understand that honorary consulates are no longer allowed to issue the non-OA visa (retirement visa)

This is apparently true in the UK. But not in the US (with the possible exception of Denver....), nor in Australia.

What about Switzerland, Maestro?

Had a notarized statement of retirement income from past employer; notarized copy of net worth from my investment firm;

RogerL, thanx for the input. The subject of 'notarization' seems to pop up on this forum every so often. The main confusion is, in the US, notarization means witnessing a signature. In other countries, it means authenticating documents -- and the requirements to be a notary are much higher (in the UK you have to be a lawyer).

So, when you say you had your documents "notarized," did all the offices you dealt with have their own notaries public on-hand? If not, how'd you get their signatures witnessed? Can't quite imagine hauling the local cop the the notary's office....

Anyway, you got it done somehow. Most of the honorary consulates, fortunately, don't require notarization.

You need a letter of guarantee from your bank. I just went through getting a O-A Multiple-entry visa in July. A notarized copy of a bank statement won't work. It has to be a letter of guarantee.

You need a letter of guarantee from your bank. I just went through getting a O-A Multiple-entry visa in July. A notarized copy of a bank statement won't work. It has to be a letter of guarantee.

i think it depends on the consulate - in honolulu they said a bank statement is okay, they said only the police report has to be notarized. where did you get yours? Also, now this is weird - honolulu insists I will have one year in which to enter the kingdom even though i explained that everywhere else it is 3 months, and no I'm not tlaking about or confuding that with the length of stay

I understand that honorary consulates are no longer allowed to issue the non-OA visa (retirement visa)

This is apparently true in the UK. But not in the US (with the possible exception of Denver....), nor in Australia.

What about Switzerland, Maestro?

as of yesterday, honolulu said nothing about this.

…Is the 'enter before' date the same as the 'expires' date or are there actually 2 different dates stamped in to the passport?...

The visa will have these two dates on it:

– the date on which the visa is issued

– the date before which the visa must be utilized

For example, issued on 5 NOV 2008, must be utilized before 4 NOV 2009. In this example, the last time the multiple-entry non-OA visa can be used is November 3, 2009.

--

Maestro

if issued on nov 5 2008, you do a border run before november 3 2009 and get another year ending november 2010 upon re-entering, without any of the documentation normally required if you were to go to immigration to renew - right? I will do this a week before just to make sure.

Also, now this is weird - honolulu insists I will have one year in which to enter the kingdom even though i explained that everywhere else it is 3 months

A Non Imm multiple entry visa is good for one year. A Non Imm single entry visa is good for 3 months. Honolulu has told you they will issue a Non Imm O-A multiple entry visa. Thus, the one year period to enter -- and re-enter -- Thailand.

if issued on nov 5 2008, you do a border run before november 3 2009 and get another year ending november 2010 upon re-entering, without any of the documentation normally required if you were to go to immigration to renew - right?

Right. But if you plan to travel during that second year, you'll need to go to Immigration to get a re-entry stamp. Otherwise, if you try to re-enter Thailand with an expired visa and no re-entry permit, you'll get admitted with a 30-day visa exempt stamp -- everything else in your passport is then effectively canceled.

Also, now this is weird - honolulu insists I will have one year in which to enter the kingdom even though i explained that everywhere else it is 3 months

A Non Imm multiple entry visa is good for one year. A Non Imm single entry visa is good for 3 months. Honolulu has told you they will issue a Non Imm O-A multiple entry visa. Thus, the one year period to enter -- and re-enter -- Thailand.

if issued on nov 5 2008, you do a border run before november 3 2009 and get another year ending november 2010 upon re-entering, without any of the documentation normally required if you were to go to immigration to renew - right?

Right. But if you plan to travel during that second year, you'll need to go to Immigration to get a re-entry stamp. Otherwise, if you try to re-enter Thailand with an expired visa and no re-entry permit, you'll get admitted with a 30-day visa exempt stamp -- everything else in your passport is then effectively canceled.

Thank you for all this information. When/if I do a border run near the end of the first year - i thought i would 'effectively' or actually - get another one-year stamp on my passport at the border at re-entry into thailand... But you're saying that my visa will then be 'expired'? I will be in the kingdom on an expired visa? This I don't understand.

I (think I) understand the requirement for (or at least, the idea of) a re-entry permit and, even for a border run as indicated in my particular situation, or at any time I leave and re-enter, I was planning I would do this if it's a relatively simple procedure.

But you're saying that my visa will then be 'expired'? I will be in the kingdom on an expired visa? This I don't understand.

All visas expire. They *cannot* be renewed -- ever. But before the visa expires, it allows you to enter Thailand on a permitted to stay stamp. And it's that permitted to stay stamp that you "extend," not the visa, when you finally go to Immigration with, in your case, your retirement bonafides.

There are folks here whose original visas expired 20 years ago. But, they've been here on a succession of one-year permission stamps. But, they've not broken the chain, as they've renewed each year before the expiration date, and have not left the country without a re-entry stamp. If they had broken that chain, they would have had to start all over again, beginning with a new visa.

Forget the term "renewing your visa." The only thing you renew here is your permission to stay.

Once in Thailand the expiration date does not matter. It is the permitted to stay until stamp that matters.

The expiration date is only for entering the country.

You won't need a re-entry permit until after your last entry into the country. A re-entry permit will allow you to enter the country until the date of your permit to stay. A re-entry permit is easy to get at immigration. You can get a multiple for 3800 baht or a single for 1000 baht. Passport, 1 photo and application form filled out.

Edited November 6, 200817 yr by ubonjoe

Had a notarized statement of retirement income from past employer; notarized copy of net worth from my investment firm;

RogerL, thanx for the input. The subject of 'notarization' seems to pop up on this forum every so often. The main confusion is, in the US, notarization means witnessing a signature. In other countries, it means authenticating documents -- and the requirements to be a notary are much higher (in the UK you have to be a lawyer).

So, when you say you had your documents "notarized," did all the offices you dealt with have their own notaries public on-hand? If not, how'd you get their signatures witnessed? Can't quite imagine hauling the local cop the the notary's office....

Anyway, you got it done somehow. Most of the honorary consulates, fortunately, don't require notarization.

I was not aware of difference in notary requirements between United States and other parts of world. Yes, it is a stamped witness official verifying signatures on the document.

I was fortunate that all forms/letters came from organizations that had a notary public on premises (including the Michigan State Police).

Thank you for all this information. When/if I do a border run near the end of the first year - i thought i would 'effectively' or actually - get another one-year stamp on my passport at the border at re-entry into thailand... But you're saying that my visa will then be 'expired'? I will be in the kingdom on an expired visa? This I don't understand...

Like others before you, you are confusing visa and permission to stay. See here:

http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/conte...axpiredate.html

--

Maestro

Nobody Mentioned the POTENTIAL Disadvantage of an O-A>

That during the Two Year "Trick" the 800k requirement could be increased.

Whereas doing your First Extension EARLY will (if previous times are followed)

GrandFather you at 800K

Bill