Re-entering Thailand After Visa Expires

[minimouse]

We are a family of 5 with multiple-entry non-immigrant O visas for volunteer work, living in Chiang Mai.

Our one-year visas end March 30, 2010. We were planning to do one last border run then to extend our stay until late June, at which time we are returning to the U.S. Now two of us have to travel to India in April.

Can we get a re-entry permit after our border run so that we can leave the country to make this trip to India? Or do we need an extension of stay and do they give this for just 90 days?

I am hoping we don't have to get another O visa in Delhi just for those last few months...

[thaiphoon]

You should do your final border runs before your visas expire which, as you say, will give new 90 day permission to stay on re-entry. You do not need a re-entry permit to leave the country, but obtaining one would preserve the new permission to stay date (around end of June) on re-entry into the Kingdom. Obtain from local immigration office. Fee 1,000 baht for each single entry permit.

[miguel3x]

I guess we can presume that your family is working illegally in Thailand based upon your 90-day visa runs as opposed to an annual extension?

If the family had done things properly, then a re-entry permit on an annual extension for your non-immigrant visa/work permit would have alleviated any of your ancillary travel concerns.

[minimouse]

We are not working illegally but are full-time volunteers who receive no pay. These were the terms under which we applied for and received our O visa from the U.S. I do not know anything about extending this kind of visa for another year - if this is possible please let me know.

Also, I read somewhere about a limit on the number of border runs in 9 months. Does this apply to us? We will have done 3 border runs from late June to Feb. and if we go again in late March to get our final 90 days it will be 4 times in 9 months.

[Lite Beer]

If you do not have a Work Permit you are working illegally.

You may well get away with it , but you need a Work Permit to work whether you get paid or not.

From the Dept. of Employment Website. http://www.doe.go.th/service3_en.aspx

1. Definition

“Alien” means a natural person who is not of Thai nationality; “ Work ” means to engage in work by exerting energy or using knowledge whether or not in consideration of wages or other benefits.

Maybe you already have a Work Permit but you do not mention it.

[Mario2008]

As Lite Beer said, volunteering also requires a work permit. If the organization supplies the paperwork for a work permit and you get one, it is easy to get a one year extension of stay from immigration.

Contact the organization and have them call the labour office to see which documents they need.

[Lite Beer]

Yes, with the correct Work Permit and paperwork you can get 12 month extensions from Immigration.