Non-immigrant O-a Visa Extension

[Panamera]

Hello All

I am Australian, mid 50's. I obtained an multiple entry O-A Visa in Australia, which expires in December. I would like to stay for another year.

Can you kind folk please tell me what my options are for extending it?

I have enough income / savings to satisfy what I understand to be the financial requirements, but don't have a bank account in Thailand - my money is in Australia.

I will return to Oz for a 'holiday' before the visa expires also - can I do something to extend it whilst there?

Any advice, tips suggestions or warnings would be much appreciated!

Many thanks.

[lopburi3]

What date was visa issued? A multi entry obtains a new one year permitted to stay stamp on each entry while valid - so if you enter the day before the visa expires you will still have one more year permitted to stay (but must use re-entry permits then).

If you have used the full allowed time you visit Immigration with less then 30 days remaining with proof of 65k income (embassy letter).

[Artamus]

What date was visa issued? A multi entry obtains a new one year permitted to stay stamp on each entry while valid - so if you enter the day before the visa expires you will still have one more year permitted to stay (but must use re-entry permits then).

If you have used the full allowed time you visit Immigration with less then 30 days remaining with proof of 65k income (embassy letter).

I am in the same situation. I was fully aware that each entry into the country grants you a further year. I was not however aware that if I get a reentry permit I can contiinue to use the "last year" even though the visa had effectively "expired". So my underrstanding is that if I get a reentry permit the visa efffectively lasts two years - even if I leave the country after the visa has expired? (ie the visa per se has expired but the re-entry permit enables me to continue entering the country for an additional year.

[lopburi3]

It allows you continue using the second year permitted to stay time but does not add to it.

Visa expires 21 June 2009 - you enter 20 June 2009 - permitted to stay until 19 June 2010 - obtain re-entry permit - permitted to stay will be 19 June 2010 for all further entries using valid re-entry permit.

[Artamus]

It allows you continue using the second year permitted to stay time but does not add to it.

Visa expires 21 June 2009 - you enter 20 June 2009 - permitted to stay until 19 June 2010 - obtain re-entry permit - permitted to stay will be 19 June 2010 for all further entries using valid re-entry permit.

Many thanks for that. As my O-A is expiring shortly but I reentered the country last week it means I can simply get a reentry permit rather than going for a one year retirement extension which I had planned to do next week.

[ubonjoe]

I am in the same situation. I was fully aware that each entry into the country grants you a further year. I was not however aware that if I get a reentry permit I can contiinue to use the "last year" even though the visa had effectively "expired". So my underrstanding is that if I get a reentry permit the visa efffectively lasts two years - even if I leave the country after the visa has expired? (ie the visa per se has expired but the re-entry permit enables me to continue entering the country for an additional year.

The visa is only good for a year but by using the last entry jus before it expires gives you a totlal of almost 2 years stay.

After your visa expires then the re-entry permit allows you to leave and re-enter getting the same permit to stay you got wnen you made your last entry using the visa.

If you have not been making 90 day reports you need do one 90 days after your last visa entry or you will fined 2000 baaht by immigration when you go to immigration for your re-entry permit.

[Panamera]

I am in the same situation. I was fully aware that each entry into the country grants you a further year. I was not however aware that if I get a reentry permit I can contiinue to use the "last year" even though the visa had effectively "expired". So my underrstanding is that if I get a reentry permit the visa efffectively lasts two years - even if I leave the country after the visa has expired? (ie the visa per se has expired but the re-entry permit enables me to continue entering the country for an additional year.

The visa is only good for a year but by using the last entry jus before it expires gives you a totlal of almost 2 years stay.

After your visa expires then the re-entry permit allows you to leave and re-enter getting the same permit to stay you got wnen you made your last entry using the visa.

If you have not been making 90 day reports you need do one 90 days after your last visa entry or you will fined 2000 baaht by immigration when you go to immigration for your re-entry permit.

OK - thanks very much for all that. My Visa expires late December.

So, are you saying, that if I leave Thailand BEFORE that date in Dec my Visa expires, then when I return (does that date have to be before the original Visa expires?), I automatically receive another 1 year Visa (is it single entry, or multiple entry? If single, what do I have to do to enable me to go out more than one time?).

If that is the case (i.e., I get anothewr 1 year Visa effectively) - then what if I would like a FURTHER one year after that? Do I need o go back to Oz and start the process all over again? Or...can I extend (or 'replace') my O-A in Thailand? If yes to the last, will I need a bank account in Thailand in order to achieve this (I currently only have accounts in Oz?).

Sorry to be a pain and ask so many questions - but it is very complicated, and one wants to do the righ thing.

Many thanks once again to any respondents.

[ubonjoe]

You have to etner before the visa expires. It has a date on it that say use before or something like that.

If you enter just before that date you will get a one year permit to stay from the day you enter. Before that year is up you woluld need to go to immigration and get an extesnsion of stay for one year.

After the visa expires you can to immigration here and get a re-entry permit. You can get a single or multiple re-entry permit that will be valid for the length of your permit to stay.

[Lite Beer]

You can do a border run the day before the original Visa expires if you wish and get another 12 months.

As said a Re Entry Permit would then be needed if you wish to leave the country and keep your stay alive.

Obtained from Immigration. Single Re Entry 1,000. Multi 3,800. Baht.

[Artamus]

You have to etner before the visa expires. It has a date on it that say use before or something like that.

If you enter just before that date you will get a one year permit to stay from the day you enter. Before that year is up you woluld need to go to immigration and get an extesnsion of stay for one year.

After the visa expires you can to immigration here and get a re-entry permit. You can get a single or multiple re-entry permit that will be valid for the length of your permit to stay.

This is absolutely correct. I just went to immigration and got a multiple re-entry visa (valid up till one day before the latest entry stamp allows. Cost 3,800 bhat. Single entry also available.

[ubonjoe]

This is absolutely correct. I just went to immigration and got a multiple re-entry visa (valid up till one day before the latest entry stamp allows. Cost 3,800 bhat. Single entry also available.

It is a re-entry permit not a visa.

Visas are only issued by embassies and consulates.

[Artamus]

This is absolutely correct. I just went to immigration and got a multiple re-entry visa (valid up till one day before the latest entry stamp allows. Cost 3,800 bhat. Single entry also available.

It is a re-entry permit not a visa.

Visas are only issued by embassies and consulates.

Yep, true. Bad use of terminology. A re-entry permit, and it consists of a half page stamp in the passport with the expiry date clearly indicated, and should be shown to immigration when entering the country.

[ubonjoe]

This is absolutely correct. I just went to immigration and got a multiple re-entry visa (valid up till one day before the latest entry stamp allows. Cost 3,800 bhat. Single entry also available.

It is a re-entry permit not a visa.

Visas are only issued by embassies and consulates.

Yep, true. Bad use of terminology. A re-entry permit, and it consists of a half page stamp in the passport with the expiry date clearly indicated, and should be shown to immigration when entering the country.

We have a big problem with bad use of terminology on this forum. It creates confusion all the time. The worst is when people call an extension of stay a visa.

[Panamera]

You have to etner before the visa expires. It has a date on it that say use before or something like that.

If you enter just before that date you will get a one year permit to stay from the day you enter. Before that year is up you woluld need to go to immigration and get an extesnsion of stay for one year.

After the visa expires you can to immigration here and get a re-entry permit. You can get a single or multiple re-entry permit that will be valid for the length of your permit to stay.

Thanks very much again. You refer below to problems associated with calling things the wrong name - so may I ask you for clarification about your answer please?

OK - I leave Thailand and re-enter BEFORE my original O-A multiple entry Visa expires. You say that I will then receive a "permit" (not another Visa), enabling me to stay for a further year (my 2nd year). You then say that before THAT year is up, I need to "go to Immigration to get an extension of stay for one year". Is this for the 2nd year, or for a possible 3rd year? If it is for the 2nd year, what is the "permit" for that you suggest I will receive upon re-entry to the Kingdom?

Then you say that "after the Visa.." (my original one?) "..expires, you can go to Immigration here and get a re-entry permit". Is this in addition to, or as an alternative to, your advice above? How long does this permit last, or can you request a specific period of time?? Or is this permit only about single / multiple re-entry and it is valid for the length of the other permit?

You seem to be referring to two different processes, but I am not sure if this is the case?

Sorry - I am a bit confused.

[lopburi3]

1. On a multi entry OA visa any entry before the one year expiration date gets you a one year "permitted to stay" stamp on entry - so if you make an entry the day before the visa expires you get a one year permitted to stay from that date.

2. Once your visa expires you can not make another entry using it so leaving would end your current permitted to stay stamp and you would not have a visa to obtain another one.

3. To keep your current permitted to stay stamp you obtain a re-entry permit prior to leaving. That permit will have the same expiration date as your current permitted to stay stamp - and that date will be used for new permitted to stay stamp when you return. You can obtain these in single entry, or if you believe you will travel often, multi entry versions.

[Lite Beer]

Single Re Entry Permit 1,000 Baht.

Multi Re Entry Permit 3,800 Baht.

Once your second year is finished you have to apply for a 12 month extension at an Immigration Office. You have to do this every year.

Also don't forget the 90 day reports to Immigration to avoid being fined.