Which To Do First? Renew Passport (7mos Till Expire) Or Pay Overstay?

[mobiryder]

Basically my buddy is on a 2.5 year overstay. His USA passport is expiring in 7 months. He's ready to pay his overstay and go to get his IMM O visa finally.

Which does he do first? Renew his PP at the USA embassy or do the IMM O?

[CWMcMurray]

I believe you need6 months validity on your passport to get a new visa...

So I would say go pay his fine and then make sure he leaves the country asap so that he can get his visa before his passport has less than the 6 months needed to get his visa. Once he gets his new visa, then go and renew his passport.

[mobiryder]

do u think the thais will be confused when he gets his new passport and leaves the country again and he has no big IMM O stamp in his PP? or will they have this in the computer or perhaps he brings another doc with this info as proof?

[CWMcMurray]

no because after he gets his new passport he will go back to immigration with old passport and new passport and they will transfer the Non O to his new passport.

If he has to turn in his old passport and will not get it back, still no problem... just tell him to photo copy all the pages in his old passport and his last entry/departure card and immigration can transfer the non-o to his new passport.

[ubonjoe]

For now it would best if he got himself a flight out somewhere to where he can get a visa and pay his overstay at the airport. If he doesn't look suspicious he should have no problem leaving.

Then get a new passport when he gets back as long as he has 6 months remaining when he returns it will not be a problem.

Immigration does not transfer visa's. They only transfer entry/permit to stay stamps and extensions of stay.

If he is only planning on a single entry it does not matter anyway since it would be useless after one entry.

[mobiryder]

For now it would best if he got himself a flight out somewhere to where he can get a visa and pay his overstay at the airport. If he doesn't look suspicious he should have no problem leaving.

Then get a new passport when he gets back as long as he has 6 months remaining when he returns it will not be a problem.

Immigration does not transfer visa's. They only transfer entry/permit to stay stamps and extensions of stay.

If he is only planning on a single entry it does not matter anyway since it would be useless after one entry.

this contradicts what the other guy said so now im wondering... he's going to get an IMM O visa, 1 year, multiple entry, 90 days has to leave... if he goes on his almost expired passport, gets that visa, comes back and renews his passport at his embassy... his IMM O is now invalid and non transferrable to his new passport?

[ubonjoe]

There was no mention of a multiple entry visa.

If he gets a multiple entry visa in his old passport he can use his old passport to show the visa until the visa expires.

Just because a passport expires it does not mean a valid visa goes away.

Also if he can show 40,000 baht income or 400,000 in the bank he can get a 1 year extension of stay instead of the muttiple entry visa.

To get a multiple entry visa at any nearby consulate that issues them he going to need some money in the bank to show when he applies.

[mobiryder]

There was no mention of a multiple entry visa.

If he gets a multiple entry visa in his old passport he can use his old passport to show the visa until the visa expires.

Just because a passport expires it does not mean a valid visa goes away.

ah cool. surely he'd freak out if there was any other answer lol

[CWMcMurray]

There was no mention of a multiple entry visa.

If he gets a multiple entry visa in his old passport he can use his old passport to show the visa until the visa expires.

Just because a passport expires it does not mean a valid visa goes away.

ah cool. surely he'd freak out if there was any other answer lol

I agree with this, but I am not sure why if it is a single entry rather than a multiple entry it some how becomes non valid?

Granted I transferred my extension when I got my new passport, but it seems that Thai immigration should have a way of transferring even a single entry non - O to your new passport.

When I did mine, I asked them about this and they advised that they could do it with all visas as long as the person had copies of all their passport pages. The only thing is that they will not physically put another visa sticker in the passport, they will just put in a stamp with a valid until date.

(this was around 20 months ago when I did it)

[lopburi3]

They put your current permitted to stay until date and a notation of the visa information that allowed your entry. The do not transfer a visa. The single entry visa is used when you enter Thailand - it can not be used again. Once you enter the country your permitted to stay until stamp is what allows you to stay.

[mobiryder]

mmm I just noticed something on the KL embassy's PDF of requirements:

Applicant passport valid not less than 6 months. The validity of

18 months is

Required for one-year visa application.

His passport expires in 7 months. How strict are they on this? Assuming they are strict on this, what other options of NON IMM O visa could he apply for if not a 1 year? This is urgent, his plane leaves in 12 hours hehee

[mobiryder]

ok he's freaking out now on the phone .. hehe any love would be appreciated

[ubonjoe]

I think he should leave pay his overstay at the airport and get a single entry and return. Get his passport sorted out and then get his multiple entry later or an extension of stay.

If he gets a new passport that will draw more attention at the airport.

[mobiryder]

I think he should leave pay his overstay at the airport and get a single entry and return. Get his passport sorted out and then get his multiple entry later or an extension of stay.

If he gets a new passport that will draw more attention at the airport.

what length of visa will they allow? 30, 60, 90?

[ubonjoe]

A single entry visa will be good for one 90 day entry.

He needs to do this before he has less than 6 months left on his passport or they might not let him on the plane back.

You have to have 6 months left on your passport to enter the country. It does not matter if you are entering for one day or 90 days they will let you enter the country as long as it's more than 6 months left on the passport.