Quick Nong Khai Re-Entry Question

[volunteer]

Hi all,

I'll be coming into Nong Khai tomorrow with the hopes of getting a multiple re-entry visa which will supplement my volunteer work permit which is good until next April 2011.

I've been told that I need to cross the border every 90 days and that a multiple re-entry is cheaper in the long run than paying for a single every 90 days.

Firstly is this correct information and do I get the exit/re-entry permit/visa at Friendship Bridge or is there an office elsewhere which facilitates this?

It says the 22nd June on my passport so I'll be doing this tomorrow.

Thanks in advance for any and all help with this, and for generally supplying great advise all round.

[lopburi3]

If you have to cross a border for visa reasons you do not have an extension of stay so a re-entry permit would be of no use. That only keep a current permitted to stay stamp alive.

A work permit never allows you to stay in Thailand - what visa do you have and from where? If you have a multi entry visa that is valid you do not need re-entry permits as each entry gets a new 90 day stay.

[volunteer]

Thanks Iopburi3!

I have a Non-Immigrant type O, single entry, visa issued at Vientiane in April which is good for 90 days. This was required for me to get a 'work permit' which is a little card booklet with various stamps on it all in Thai. The booklet was issued at the Nong Khai department of work office.

I have been told that to keep my permission to stay in the Kingdom alive I must get a re-entry visa (multiple or single) from inside Thailand and leave the country every 90 days and then re-enter. On every occasion I do the little booklet gets updated permitting me another 90 days stay.

I hope I am clear enough with my interpretation of this and thank you again for your time in dealing with this.

[Mario2008]

It is unclear what you have, as a single entry is only valid for 90 days. Only a multiple non-O would require you to leave the country every 90 days, but you say you have a single entry. Better scan your passport page with visa and permission to stay and post it with deleting any personal details. Alternatively, look at the VISA and does it say single or multiple and till what date is it valid? next look at the permission to stay stamp, the one you got from immigration and till what date is that valid?

If you have a work permit for volunteering, it should be easy to get a 1 year extension of stay from immigration, so you don't need to leave the country at all. have the organization contact immigration to see which documents they require at that office to issue you an extension of stay based on volunteering.

[lopburi3]

You were told wrong. You either must obtain a new visa every 90 days. Obtain a multi entry visa and exit/return every 90 days. Or obtain a one year extension of stay from Immigration and not have to leave country but if you do leave a re-entry permit would then be required.

The visas can only be obtained from a Consulate outside of Thailand. The extension of stay will require a TM.7/photo/1,900 baht and visit with Immigration office during last 30 days of current permitted to stay time and whatever paperwork Immigration requires for your extension of stay.

[volunteer]

Thanks guys - you should get a medal or some sort of official recognition for your work on these boards

It would seem that the 1 year extension part is the area overlooked by my Thai hosts regarding full and proper processing.

I highly doubt I can have it all organised by tomorrow, however now I know, I can cross the border and start the process properly and instigate the 1 year extension part once I've gotten a new 3 months visa.

I may do a quick jaunt around SEA over Christmas and so will go for the multiple re-entry.

Thank you so much for making it make sense to me - I couldn't understand the part about being permitted to volunteer here for a year but having to cross the border every 90 days, now I see it's an oversight and will hopefully rectify it due to your assistance.

A proper big thanks again! :jap: