Missing Reentry Stamp. Urgent Help Or Advice Required.

[BHBKK]

I just got my new annual non imm. B VISA issued and had to fly to Germany for an important meeting. I have been told by my office to get the multiple reentry stamp at the airport before leaving. I have done this already a couple of times in Bangkok and Phuket.

O my surprise I found the office issuing the reentry stamps closed (as of January 2009 and a short notice that only immigration issues the stamp now; yeah another nuisance towards us foreigners).

Does anybody can advice me about ways to maintain my VISA (non-imm B 1 year until April 2010) and more importantly to avoid any impact on my right to apply for a PR (I hold non im-B VISA plus a valid work permits for the last 10+ years). I definitely want to avoid that there is break (I will be in Germany for 14 days) so that I have to waite another 3-4 years to qualify for a PR.

[Lite Beer]

If you are talking about an extension of stay rather than a Visa, I would think that it expired the day you left Thailand without a Re Entry Permit.

Meaning that you will have to start all over again. Sorry.

[lopburi3]

If a visa it would not be a problem but it sounds as if you have one year extension of stay and leaving without a re-entry permit has ended that extension of stay. I really don't know of any option other than starting over once you depart but perhaps someone else can suggest something.

[Camelot]

It has happened in the company I work for. Each time, the person who left Thailand without a re-entry permit has had to make a second trip overseas to get a new non-immigrant B visa and then begin the application process for a new work permit. No exceptions. Because it's a repeat process it tends to be slightly quicker than the initial application but the same amount of paperwork is required.

The closure of the Immigration office at the airport caught many people off guard.

[BHBKK]

You are right it is a 1 year extension. I asked for a multiple reentry extension but our lawyer forgot to get the multiple reentry stamp. Then there was the long weekend and I have been told not to worry and just getting at the airport…..

Is there a link between WP and VISA too? I thought only if my WP is revoked the VISA is canceled too as it is granted based on the work permit. Is my WP also invalid now?

What troubles me the most is the application for PR which I planned for end of this year. Wanted to do it last year but our lawyer said that no PR applications are accepted. I definitely don’t want to wait another 4 years. There should be way or?

[ubonjoe]

I think you need to get a better lawyer. They accepted applications for PR this past December. There was even a post on the immigration website.

Ok now to your current problem. I don't think anything can be done at the moment So you need to think about a visa before you come back.

If you get a letter from your company you should have no problem getting a single entry B.

Use one of the honorary consulates. Stuttgart is reported to be very friendly as well as Munich.

[InterestedObserver]

Is there a link between WP and VISA too? I thought only if my WP is revoked the VISA is canceled too as it is granted based on the work permit. Is my WP also invalid now?

A 'gray area' at best. The linkage between immigration permission to stay and a work permit validity has been repealed, similar wording does not appear in the new Working of Aliens Act B.E. 2551. It remains to be seen how the new Working of Aliens Act is enforced.

[pit101]

If you get a letter from your company you should have no problem getting a single entry B.

Use one of the honorary consulates. Stuttgart is reported to be very friendly as well as Munich.

ubonjoe is right! Better you should NOT try in Frankfurt!

[BHBKK]

If you get a letter from your company you should have no problem getting a single entry B.

Use one of the honorary consulates. Stuttgart is reported to be very friendly as well as Munich.

ubonjoe is right! Better you should NOT try in Frankfurt!

What's the problem with Frankfurt? I am living close to Frankfurt plus Stuttgart only opens Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 12:00 - 14:00. I know that in Thailand immigration issues are handled differently by different people. Does that apply for Germany too?

[ubonjoe]

Frankfurt (and embassy in Berlin) is an official Thai consulate staffed by civil servants.

The others are honorary consulates that are normally be much easier to deal with and normally don't require as many documents as an official one will.

You don't have to go to the consulate in Stuttgart they accept mail in applications. Contact them and see what they require.

You will find that honorary consulates in any country will be better than official consulates.