Obtaining A Re-entry Permit Outside Of Thailand?

[jomomojo]

This is my first post and I'm hoping someone may be able to shed some light on my situation. Thank you in advance for any help you can provide.

Today I went to the immigration office in BKK to apply for a one year non-immigrant b visa (my 3 month b visa is about to expire). They put a stamp in my passport stating that I have applied for an "extension of stay" and it is "currently under consideration." I am now required to return to the immigration office on December 24th (no sooner or later) and they will issue the one year visa. I work for a well respected Thai company, all of the paperwork is legit, and I was accompanied by an HR rep from my office (he happens to be a friend of an official there). I have no doubt that the visa will be issued.

However, I have a flight booked that same day to go home to America to spend Christmas with my family. I am trying to avoid changing my flight as it will cost about $800 extra and I will miss most of Christmas (it's been booked for two months!)

Here are my questions:

1) Assuming I arrive at immigration at 8:30 AM, think it's possible to make it to Suwarnabumi by 11AM at the latest to be able to check into my flight?

2) If things are running late at immigration and I do not have time to get a reentry permit after I receive my visa (it requires waiting in a different line), is it possible to obtain a re-entry permit at the Thai consulate in New York city? If I can't, my visa becomes worthless, my work permit will be void, and I'll be in a bit of a fix.

I've done some research and am having a hard time figuring out the re-entry permit issue. If anyone has any advice it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

-J

[Jingthing]

You cannot get a reentry permit while outside Thailand.

As far as your timing question, some people may have opinions. However, you would be taking quite a risk. If I were you I would change the flight. At my immigration office for annual extensions they ALWAYS hold the passport overnight before giving it back to you. So if that happens at your office, you won't make it for sure.

[opalhort]

The only sure way is to re-book your flight, but since you say your HR rep knows an insider at BKK Imm he may be able to get the final stamp a day or two earlier by explaining your situation and showing your tickets.

opalhort

[Thanyaburi Mac]

The only sure way is to re-book your flight, but since you say your HR rep knows an insider at BKK Imm he may be able to get the final stamp a day or two earlier by explaining your situation and showing your tickets.

opalhort

Back in the days when Suan Plu gave out the 30-45 day "under consideration" stamps, I often went in a week or so earlier on just to check if it was done. Apologized saying that I just happened to be in the area and was curious. In each case the process was complete, got the stamps in my passport while I waited, headed to the Re-Entry desk and got that item, finished.

So, I'd suggest going in a week early before you spend the big bucks in changing your flight. If it doesn't work, change. Would hope, tho, that there'd still be seats available.

Another thought. What's the problem with just doing the extension process after you come back? Abandon the current process.

Mac

[worldfun]

easy only 2 (good) choices as mentioned one can NOT get reentry outside of Thailand:

1) get the extension & reentry no later than 1 day prior to your noon flight. If you dont mind it'll increase your chance if going down to immigration asap to explain the situation & thus prepare them for an 'early' pickup (best choice)

2) get an reentry permit on your 'extension under consideration' stamp & delay the visa pickup till your back from xmas hols! Of course this will be an extra expense (single reentry @ 1000bt), but I'm sure the company will foot the bill! should this result in an expired visa well what's the worst to come out of that?

alternatively one may go for the 'official' pickup date on 24th dec & normally it should all be done within 2 hours Don't know your exact departure time, but despite what airlines try to make passengers do you only need to be checkin 45-60min prior to dep. time in order to make it comfortably (no no king power ripoffs included!)

hope you make a good choice - cheers!

p.s. the mentioned 'connection' you or your company have at immi. is priceless as in that case they really can't deny you a 'special service' such a 1 DAY EARLY extension in a lame 30-45 days slooooooooooooooow process LOL.

[lopburi3]

You cannot get a reentry permit while outside Thailand.

As far as your timing question, some people may have opinions. However, you would be taking quite a risk. If I were you I would change the flight. At my immigration office for annual extensions they ALWAYS hold the passport overnight before giving it back to you. So if that happens at your office, you won't make it for sure.

The only office I am aware of that holds a passport overnight is Jomtien. In this case it is a return after 30 day review so not applicable.

[lopburi3]

I would make a visit on the 23rd with your airline ticket out the next day and ask if you can do. They may be able to handle a day early in that case.

[languageexpress]

Go a week earlier; explain your problem, they don’t have to accept it, but they might.

I faced a similar problem in February - admittedly I was dealing with a consulate out of the country- but they all seem to be cut from the same cloth. In my case I needed them to add a visa to my passport that afternoon, not the morning as per policy.

I arrived after the post lunch rush, apologized profusely, explained the situation and much to my surprise the Thai official took it, and even arranged for me to pick it up next morning (not the afternoon) so I could make my flight.

Not sure why this guy acted contrary to their stated rule. I guess it involved no extra work for him, plus I was well presented and looked suitably grateful. It showed me they’re not all officious drones, and you might get lucky, particularly if you go through your Thai colleague’s connection.

Good Luck.

[lopburi3]

A Consulate is not even the same branch of government. Inside Thailand it is the Immigration Police you deal with and often the decision has not been made until the last day or two. Most will try to be helpful if they can but there is never as sure thing.

[jomomojo]

Hey Everyone - Thank you so much for your advice. It is very helpful.

The immigration official seemed very adamant that the Dec 24th date was not adjustable, even though the HR rep explained my situation to him. However, it cant hurt to go a day early and see if a decision has already been made.

As for the flight, I am going to book another one for later that same evening on the 24th in the event that I can not make the earlier one. I will have to cancel one of them, but the fees are minimal (as long as i cancel before departure time) and overall it is less expensive than rebooking my current flight. Worse case scenario is that I arrive home Christmas morning and have to spend a little extra money.

On the bright side of things, it was refreshing to deal with a government official who actually played by the rules. He didn't ask or hint for any tea money and simply said that these are the regulations, we have to follow them, and sorry for the inconvenience...even though he is friends with my HR rep. While this by the books approach is quite a hassle for me, I think it's refreshing that the practice of "rule of law" was enforced by this guy.

Thank you again for your help

[kiwiTV]

My advice for what it is worth is to go early – 10 days early isn’t too early for your own peace of mind. Let them know your situation again or better still talk to someone different. Ask at the information desk in front if you can go right to the top without passing the middle persons.

I have almost always gone along days early and have never had a problem so you shouldn’t either. The easy-going environment of the new office allows for simple issues like this to be solved very easily.

If not successful in the first early return, go back again.

[SurfRider]

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"I do not have time to get a reentry permit after I receive my visa...is it possible to obtain a re-entry permit at the Thai consulate in New York city? If I can't, my visa becomes worthless"

Since the re-entry permit is needed to re-enter Siam, has anyone ever wondered why they don't sell the re-entry permit UPON ARRIVAL? Wouldn't it make much more sense to do that --maybe even charge double the normal fee-- rather than cancel someone's visa that is current and has valid time remaining? Especially considering the amount of work, expense, time, and documentation required to obtain the Visa?

Oh sorry, I briefly went delusional and forgot TiT . . .

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[lopburi3]

A visa is never canceled - only an extension of stay. An extension of stay ends when you get that stamp out of Thailand if you do not have a re-entry permit.

[SurfRider]

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"A visa is never canceled - only an extension of stay."

OK, semantics again -- I guess I should have stated:

Wouldn't it make much more sense for Thai Immigration to sell the re-entry permit UPON ARRIVAL rather than cancel someone's Visa Extension that has valid time remaining? Especially considering the amount of work, expense, time, and documentation, required to obtain another Visa Extension?

In other words, what's the point of requiring a re-entry permit in the first place, when it should be evident that the Visa Extension is still within its validity period?

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[Jingthing]

Doesn't Bangkok hold your passports overnight for annual extensions? Pattaya always does this, you can't get your passport back the same day.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

A gift wrapped new years gift of a bottle of Black might be useful

[SurfRider]

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"Pattaya always does this, you can't get your passport back the same day."

Pattaya/Jomtien/Chonburi seems to vary. Once they handed back my passport immediately, twice they required me to come back in the afternoon of the same day, once it was the next day, and recently three days later - over a weekend.

P.S. dr_Pat_Pong, you're onto something -- as a newbie on my 1st Visa Extension for retirement, they hit me up for a bottle of Black -- I asked if that was legal - she snickered and said "Yes, and my boss will approve your Visa" ( TiT )

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