Forgotton Re Entry Permit

[joesohum]

Last year before leaving Thailand I renewed my retirement visa with no problem. But I for got to get a reentry permit. So upon arriving back here yesterday they would not honor my non O and retirement visa and gave me a 30 day visa on arrival instead. The officer said I would have to go to immigration and start over. Does this mean I have to get a new Non O and start from the very beginning. Everything is current on my existing retirement visa. The money in the bank etc. anyone out there have any experience with this problem??

Thanks for your help

[Crossy]

Sorry Mate, have to start all over, one little slip and you're buggered

You can convert your visa exempt entry to a non-o provided you have more than 21 days left on the stay (2000 Baht IIRC), once that's done you can get your extension all without leaving the country

There are a couple of threads on the conversion process, but by all accounts it's pretty painless. Take all your retirement evidence to demonstate that you will be able to get a retirement extension once the conversion is complete.

EDIT By the way, Bangkok Immigration has moved to Chaeng Wattanna.

[joesohum]

Sorry Mate, have to start all over, one little slip and you're buggered

You can convert your visa exempt entry to a non-o provided you have more than 21 days left on the stay (2000 Baht IIRC), once that's done you can get your extension all without leaving the country

There are a couple of threads on the conversion process, but by all accounts it's pretty painless. Take all your retirement evidence to demonstate that you will be able to get a retirement extension once the conversion is complete.

Painless sounds good. i guess i had a senior moment and forgot the reentry permit. thanks for your help. also this may sound stupid but what does IIRC mean??

[Maestro]

IIRC = if I recall/remember correctly

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Maestro

[whatchamacallit]

This is the reason I always insist that my partner who is on a Retirement Visa to get a multiple entry. The extra money you pay is well worth the time and effort saved going thru the Immigration each time you want to go out. ALSO if there is an emergency and you need to leave and don't have time to get a re-entry then what? So the money for the multiple entry is well spent for the peace of mind alone. AND save pages on your passport as time goes by.

[lopburi3]

All you need is a single re-entry permit to protect yourself - no need to spend 2,800 extra baht for nothing. That would only make sense if you planned multi trips.

Or are you talking about Multi entry non immigrant OA visas from a Consulate? Normally you only have one of those and then extend your stay on a yearly basis at Immigration.

[whatchamacallit]

All you need is a single re-entry permit to protect yourself - no need to spend 2,800 extra baht for nothing. That would only make sense if you planned multi trips.

Or are you talking about Multi entry non immigrant OA visas from a Consulate? Normally you only have one of those and then extend your stay on a yearly basis at Immigration.

No What I Mean is a multiple-entry permit (from a Consulate and when you extend your stay) to protect yourself - 1000 baht for a single entry VS 2800 for multiple. For an extra 1800 - its hassle free and worry free for 1 year. You can plan all you want, but as you may already know Plan changes - as happened to us on our first year here and am sure to others as well.

But then again different strokes for different folks - it's up to you.

[lopburi3]

Actually the multi re-entry permit costs 3,800 baht so it is a waste of 2,800 baht for most people - all they will need for insurance is the single re-entry permit at 1,000 baht - if they use it they buy another. And you do not obtain these from a Consulate - you only obtain from the Immigration office that serves your location.

[whatchamacallit]

Actually the multi re-entry permit costs 3,800 baht so it is a waste of 2,800 baht for most people - all they will need for insurance is the single re-entry permit at 1,000 baht - if they use it they buy another. And you do not obtain these from a Consulate - you only obtain from the Immigration office that serves your location.

Thank you for correcting me... but still it's 3800 baht Vs 1000 baht - a difference of 2800 baht. Saves you all the hassle of going to your local immigration (unless you enjoy going there) each time you used your one and only entry, safe pages in your passport (which can be very precious to some of us) - Look what happened to the OP, now he has to apply for his AO-visa all over again with all that implies - is it worth it?

[thaiphoon]

Any type or re-entry permit would have protected the OP's permission to stay.

Everyone's requirements are different. If you don't plan to travel, obtaining single entry re-entry permit will provide insurance around your permission to stay in case of unexpected travel. But if you plan/anticipate many trips then multi entry would be best - and yes, obtaining multi entry at the outset would save time/money travelling to immigration than obtaining single entries, but if you don't plan on using it then obtaining can be a waste of money.