Non Immigrant Long Stay O-A Visa

[jc14all]

I've been here a year on my retirement O-A Multiple Entry visa and in October I must renew it. Here is the question, I am leaving Thailand for the states in Aug and returning on 30 September. I am required to get a Re-entry Permit which will apply to my current visa. However, within 9 days of my return to Thailand this visa will expire. Does anyone know what is best; renew my visa while in the states, renew it in Thailand on my return, or will it renew automatically for one more year (second year) upon my re-entry?

This is confusing because with a multiple-entry visa Thailand is requiring me to get a re-entry permit. What's the purpose of having a multi-entry visa if we have to cough up another 1000 - 3800 baht for a re-enrty permit? It seems like it is all about the money. But if anyone has experience on the renewing of an O-A visa give me some advice. Thanks in advance.

[barryofthailand]

I've never heard of a retirement extension with multiple entry visa. I would renew your retirement extension before you leave for the states, as you can renew up to 90 days in advance. At the same time get a re entry stamp, or if you plan to leave the country more than once in the coming year get a multiple entry re entry stamp for 3800 Baht. This will be good for the entire year of your retirement extension of stay.

Barry

[jc14all]

I've never heard of a retirement extension with multiple entry visa. I would renew your retirement extension before you leave for the states, as you can renew up to 90 days in advance. At the same time get a re entry stamp, or if you plan to leave the country more than once in the coming year get a multiple entry re entry stamp for 3800 Baht. This will be good for the entire year of your retirement extension of stay.

Barry

Thanks Barry for your response. If I understand you correctly, you say get the renewal retirement extension first and then get the re-entry based on the renewed visa. Is that correct?

[lopburi3]

When was your multi entry visa issued? Exact date on the visa? If more than one year ago you need a re-entry permit to keep your current permitted to stay alive as your visa is dead and gone. If less than one year from issue and you will return before one year you will receive a new one year stamp on return and not need a re-entry permit. Issue date of your visa is vital to provide an answer.

[TerryLH]

"...it renew automatically for one more year (second year) upon my re-entry?"

If you are in your first year of a multiple entry O-A visa, it should be good for another year, as long as you

re-enter Thailand while the visa is still valid.

You shouldn't need a re-entry permit, unless the 'enter before' date has already passed. That would have been a year from when you got the visa.

Who told you that you need a re-entry permit?

[Lite Beer]

It all depends on what you have.

If it is a Multi Entry Non O-A Visa you will get a stay of 12 months when you return in September. Re Entry Permit not needed.

If it is a Single Entry Non Imm O-A Visa you will get stamped until October if you have a Re Entry Permit.

If it is a 12 Month Extension of Stay you will get the same stamp until October if you have a Re Entry Permit.

[Jimi007]

It all depends on what you have.

If it is a Multi Entry Non O-A Visa you will get a stay of 12 months when you return in September. Re Entry Permit not needed.

If it is a Single Entry Non Imm O-A Visa you will get stamped until October if you have a Re Entry Permit.

If it is a 12 Month Extension of Stay you will get the same stamp until October if you have a Re Entry Permit.

I have a question about that. It states on The Royal Thai Embassy Washington DC website:

Validity of a visa:-

multiple entries : Validity of a visa is 1 year.

Period of stay:-

Travelers with this type of visa will be permitted to stay in Thailand for a period of 1 year.

Recommendations for foreigners with Non-Immigrant Visa "O-A" (Long Stay) while staying in the Kingdom

· Upon arrival, holder of this type of visa will be permitted to stay in Thailand for 1 year from the date of first entry. During the one-year period, if he or she wishes to leave and re-enter the country, he or she is required to apply at the Immigration office for re-entry permit (single or multiple) before departure. In the case of leaving the country without a re-entry permit, the permit to stay for 1 year shall be considered void.

· At the end of the 90-day stay , the foreigner must report to the immigration officer in his or her residence area and report again every 90 days during his or her stay in Thailand . The foreigner may report to the police station if there is no immigration office in his or her residence area.

So, I guess now I confused as to who is correct, the Embassy or TV? Or am I misreading something?

[jc14all]

It all depends on what you have.

If it is a Multi Entry Non O-A Visa you will get a stay of 12 months when you return in September. Re Entry Permit not needed.

If it is a Single Entry Non Imm O-A Visa you will get stamped until October if you have a Re Entry Permit.

If it is a 12 Month Extension of Stay you will get the same stamp until October if you have a Re Entry Permit.

I have a question about that. It states on The Royal Thai Embassy Washington DC website:

Validity of a visa:-

multiple entries : Validity of a visa is 1 year.

Period of stay:-

Travelers with this type of visa will be permitted to stay in Thailand for a period of 1 year.

Recommendations for foreigners with Non-Immigrant Visa "O-A" (Long Stay) while staying in the Kingdom

· Upon arrival, holder of this type of visa will be permitted to stay in Thailand for 1 year from the date of first entry. During the one-year period, if he or she wishes to leave and re-enter the country, he or she is required to apply at the Immigration office for re-entry permit (single or multiple) before departure. In the case of leaving the country without a re-entry permit, the permit to stay for 1 year shall be considered void.

· At the end of the 90-day stay , the foreigner must report to the immigration officer in his or her residence area and report again every 90 days during his or her stay in Thailand . The foreigner may report to the police station if there is no immigration office in his or her residence area.

So, I guess now I confused as to who is correct, the Embassy or TV? Or am I misreading something?

Exactly Jimi007. The web site states that I must get a re-entry permit even if I have a multiple-entry long stay visa, which doesn't make sense and is very confusing.

The visa was issued Sept 2, 2009 at Washington DC, I arrived in Thailand Oct 9, 2009 and the expiration date of this visa is Oct 8, 2010. The type of visa is a Multiple-entry O-A long stay visa. According to the web site: http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2482.php?id=2493 paragraph 5.1 as above in red from Jimi007 post, if I don't get a re-entry permit my "1 year shall be considered void."

I'm going to the immigration office today to get clarification because I don't know what to think???

[jc14all]

"...it renew automatically for one more year (second year) upon my re-entry?"

If you are in your first year of a multiple entry O-A visa, it should be good for another year, as long as you

re-enter Thailand while the visa is still valid.

You shouldn't need a re-entry permit, unless the 'enter before' date has already passed. That would have been a year from when you got the visa.

Who told you that you need a re-entry permit?

Where did you get this info or is it based on experience???

[Maestro]

...The visa was issued Sept 2, 2009 at Washington DC, I arrived in Thailand Oct 9, 2009 and the expiration date of this visa is Oct 8, 2010. The type of visa is a Multiple-entry O-A long stay visa...I'm going to the immigration office today to get clarification because I don't know what to think???

For your visit to the immigration office it is important for you to know the difference between the expiration of your visa and the expiration of your permission to stay. What does the visa expiration date mean?

Look at the visa in your passport. It has two dates on it, the issue date, which you say is 02 SEP 2009, and the "enter before" date, which probably is 01 SEP 2010. You say it is valid for multiple entries, which means that on every arrival in Thailand on or before 31 AUG 2010 you will receive permission to stay for one year from the date of arrival. During this period you do not need a re-entry permit.

Now look at the arrival stamp in your passport. This also has two dates: permitted <date> until <date>. You say you arrived on 09 OCT 2009 (<permitted <date>) and you received permission to stay until 08 OCT 2010. This is not the expiration date of your visa. The visa expiration date remains unchanged at 01 SEP 2010. If you leave Thailand and return on or after 01 SEP 2010 without a re-entry permit you will receive permission to stay for only 30 days if you arrive by air or 15 days for arrival by land or sea.

--

Maestro

[jc14all]

...The visa was issued Sept 2, 2009 at Washington DC, I arrived in Thailand Oct 9, 2009 and the expiration date of this visa is Oct 8, 2010. The type of visa is a Multiple-entry O-A long stay visa...I'm going to the immigration office today to get clarification because I don't know what to think???

For your visit to the immigration office it is important for you to know the difference between the expiration of your visa and the expiration of your permission to stay. What does the visa expiration date mean?

Look at the visa in your passport. It has two dates on it, the issue date, which you say is 02 SEP 2009, and the "enter before" date, which probably is 01 SEP 2010. You say it is valid for multiple entries, which means that on every arrival in Thailand on or before 31 AUG 2010 you will receive permission to stay for one year from the date of arrival. During this period you do not need a re-entry permit.

Now look at the arrival stamp in your passport. This also has two dates: permitted <date> until <date>. You say you arrived on 09 OCT 2009 (<permitted <date>) and you received permission to stay until 08 OCT 2010. This is not the expiration date of your visa. The visa expiration date remains unchanged at 01 SEP 2010. If you leave Thailand and return on or after 01 SEP 2010 without a re-entry permit you will receive permission to stay for only 30 days if you arrive by air or 15 days for arrival by land or sea.

--

Maestro

Thanks Maestro for the clarification on issue date and expiration date. It looks like I miscalculated my return date based on the arrival date. So, I will need to renew my visa before I leave. Or, if I take a short flight out of country before 01 SEP 2010, it seem that the re-entry on this multiple-entry visa would meet the requirement for automatic renewal. Otherwise, I will have to get a new visa after the 01 SEP 2010 date. Oh well, I still want to hear what the immigration office in Mae Sai has to instruct on this matter. I hope there is someone there with expert knowledge regarding this matter. I'll let everyone know what my findings are when I get back.

[Lite Beer]

If you do in fact have a Multi Entry Non Imm O-A Visa you can do a border run a day or two before it expires.(Should be late August) You will get a stay of 12 months.

You then get a Re Entry Permit (1,000 Baht). This will keep your stay alive.

When you return on 30th September you will be stamped in until sometime in August 2011.

[Jimi007]

If you do in fact have a Multi Entry Non Imm O-A Visa you can do a border run a day or two before it expires.(Should be late August) You will get a stay of 12 months.

You then get a Re Entry Permit (1,000 Baht). This will keep your stay alive.

When you return on 30th September you will be stamped in until sometime in August 2011.

So you guys are saying the Royal Thai Embassy Washington DC is wrong? They only offer multi entry visas, no single entry. See website here: http://www.thaiembdc.org/consular/visa/Non-Imglong.aspx

[Mario2008]

If you leave and re-enter Thailand before 1 Sept. you will get a new one year permission to stay upon your return. After having re-entered and gotten your new 1 year permission to stay in Thailand you will need a re-entry permit if you want to leave and return while keeping your permission to stay in Thailand alive. If you don't have a re-entry permit you will need to get a new visa (or get a visa exempt entry) when you leave and want to return to Thailand.

The information from the embassy is correct, but only addresses the situation in which one has a single entry O-A visa.

[Jimi007]

If you leave and re-enter Thailand before 1 Sept. you will get a new one year permission to stay upon your return. After having re-entered and gotten your new 1 year permission to stay in Thailand you will need a re-entry permit if you want to leave and return while keeping your permission to stay in Thailand alive. If you don't have a re-entry permit you will need to get a new visa (or get a visa exempt entry) when you leave and want to return to Thailand.

The information from the embassy is correct, but only addresses the situation in which one has a single entry O-A visa.

If you look at the link I provided, the Royal Thai Embassy Washington DC only offers multi-entry O-A visa. No single entry that I can see. So they are wrong?

Link: http://www.thaiembdc.org/consular/visa/Non-Imglong.aspx

[lopburi3]

And you are reading it wrong.

The information is correct - you will lose your permitted to stay on exit without a re-entry permit. But if you have a multi entry visa you obtain a new one year stay on return during the validity of that visa.

The quote is not from the Embassy but from Ministry of Foreign Affairs and applies to both single and multi entry OA visas. If you wish to keep your stay you must obtain a re-entry permit. But when you have a multi entry that will be valid on return you do not want to keep your permitted to stay but want to obtain a new one year stay on entry.

[JimGant]

The quote is not from the Embassy but from Ministry of Foreign Affairs and applies to both single and multi entry OA visas.

The quote is indeed from the MFA, but certainly only applies to a single-entry Non Imm O-A visa. Wash DC's site samo.

The MFA site also contains this glaring error:

Applicant may submit their [Non Imm O-A] application at the Royal Thai embassy or Royal Thai Consulate-General in their home/residence country or at the Office of the Immigration Bureau in Thailand located on Soi Suan Plu,

That a Non Imm O-A visa is not obtainable within Thailand apparently is not sufficient to re-write an otherwise fine-looking web page.

[lopburi3]

As I tried to say it applies to single or multi entry - the key is the last sentence where it says "In the case of leaving the country without a re-entry permit, the permit to stay for 1 year shall be considered void." and that is true. But if you have a multi entry visa that is what you want as you will return to a new one year permitted to stay. It is poorly written with the word "required" not being defined better. It is only required to retain your current permitted to stay time.

[jc14all]

I just returned from the immigration office in Mae Sai with accurate information provided by the the immigration officer on duty. He said since this is my initial year on this multiple entry O-A visa I would not need a re-entry permit but since the date is so near its expiration all I need do is make a border run. If I make a border run between now and (Oct 8, 2010) my visa will automatically extend for one more year (2011) with and expiration date being the date stamp of my re-entry from this border run. They were not concerned with the issue date of this visa (Sept 2, 2009) but their concern is with the arrival date stamp (Oct 9, 2009) as the expiration tracking date.

The tricky part is that in the second year of this extended stay visa if I will continue on with my plans of departing for the states on (August 15, 2010) I am required to obtain a re-entry permit (single 1,000B/multiple 3,800B) prior to leaving the country otherwise, when I return without a re-entry permit it will invalidate my second year extended stay visa status, then and I will be required to get a new visa. In the first year of a multi-entry type visa a re-entry permit is not required, only in the second year of its extension is a re-entry permit required. The next year (third year) then if I wish to extend this O-A status then I am required to show proof financials by income certificate of a monthly income of 69,000B and/or a lump sum of 800,000B deposited in a bank here in Thailand.

The information on the web site isn't exactly incorrect it just doesn't provide enough information regarding whether the visa type is a single/multiple entry. I hope this helps all concerned.

[lopburi3]

The information they provided is wrong (or your or there understanding of it): you will not receive a one year permitted to stay if you return later than the expiration date of your visa (that is the date they will be looking at on any entry made without a re-entry permit). An expired visa is expired. They are thinking of a one year extension of stay that they provide (which would use the October date). But you would have to return with a re-entry permit to keep that permitted to stay time and meet the financial conditions.

If you want two years you must return for a new entry before your visa itself expires. If you want until later you will need a re-entry permit and in October you will have to extend at immigration with full paperwork (or leave).

The income requirement is 65k per month - not 69k.

[Lite Beer]

Lop is correct. You have to enter before 1st September to get another 12 months.

If you enter any later you will get 15 days by land, 30 by air.

[jc14all]

The information they provided is wrong (or your or there understanding of it): you will not receive a one year permitted to stay if you return later than the expiration date of your visa (that is the date they will be looking at on any entry made without a re-entry permit). An expired visa is expired. They are thinking of a one year extension of stay that they provide (which would use the October date). But you would have to return with a re-entry permit to keep that permitted to stay time and meet the financial conditions.

If you want two years you must return for a new entry before your visa itself expires. If you want until later you will need a re-entry permit and in October you will have to extend at immigration with full paperwork (or leave).

The income requirement is 65k per month - not 69k.

I will be making a border run prior to the visa issue date and my expectations are as the officer told me that my visa stay will in fact be extended for a second year (2011). Then I will immediately get a multiple re-entry permit prior to departing on the new second year extension. Yes, you are correct on my typo of income, it is 65,00B per month in income and not 69,000B.

[JimGant]

Semantics is everything in this thread......

my expectations are as the officer told me that my visa stay will in fact be extended for a second year (2011). Then I will immediately get a multiple re-entry permit prior to departing on the new second year extension.

If this means you're going to do a border run prior to your trip back to the States mid-Aug, then you're on the right track. Say this is 10 Aug -- you'll re-enter Thailand and get a 1-year stamp good until 9 Aug 2011. Before leaving for the States, get that re-entry permit, so that when you return to Thailand the end of Sept, you'll be stamped in until 9 Aug 2011. If no re-entry permit, you'd only be stamped in on a 30-day visa exempt stamp.

If this sounds like what you envisioned, great. If not, report back.

[jc14all]

Semantics is everything in this thread......

my expectations are as the officer told me that my visa stay will in fact be extended for a second year (2011). Then I will immediately get a multiple re-entry permit prior to departing on the new second year extension.

If this means you're going to do a border run prior to your trip back to the States mid-Aug, then you're on the right track. Say this is 10 Aug -- you'll re-enter Thailand and get a 1-year stamp good until 9 Aug 2011. Before leaving for the States, get that re-entry permit, so that when you return to Thailand the end of Sept, you'll be stamped in until 9 Aug 2011. If no re-entry permit, you'd only be stamped in on a 30-day visa exempt stamp.

If this sounds like what you envisioned, great. If not, report back.

Jim what you wrote is exactly what I am trying to express. I wish the web site was more explicit. Thanks all for bearing with me through the confusion. Lopburi3, you are are most likely correct on the issue date as the date of importance. I find that even Thais have misunderstandings even communicating in Thai so, I probably misunderstood or the officer misunderstood me but nevertheless, to be safe the issue date should be used as the expiatory date and any action taken to renew or extend should done prior to this date.

[Jimi007]

Semantics is everything in this thread......

my expectations are as the officer told me that my visa stay will in fact be extended for a second year (2011). Then I will immediately get a multiple re-entry permit prior to departing on the new second year extension.

If this means you're going to do a border run prior to your trip back to the States mid-Aug, then you're on the right track. Say this is 10 Aug -- you'll re-enter Thailand and get a 1-year stamp good until 9 Aug 2011. Before leaving for the States, get that re-entry permit, so that when you return to Thailand the end of Sept, you'll be stamped in until 9 Aug 2011. If no re-entry permit, you'd only be stamped in on a 30-day visa exempt stamp.

If this sounds like what you envisioned, great. If not, report back.

Thank you Jim for clearing up what has been lost in translation! What you said now, does make sense... If it was stated that way over two years ago I could have saved a bit of money, but now that I'm on my second visa extension, it doesn't really matter to me anymore...

[Jimi007]

The information they provided is wrong (or your or there understanding of it): you will not receive a one year permitted to stay if you return later than the expiration date of your visa (that is the date they will be looking at on any entry made without a re-entry permit). An expired visa is expired. They are thinking of a one year extension of stay that they provide (which would use the October date). But you would have to return with a re-entry permit to keep that permitted to stay time and meet the financial conditions.

If you want two years you must return for a new entry before your visa itself expires. If you want until later you will need a re-entry permit and in October you will have to extend at immigration with full paperwork (or leave).

The income requirement is 65k per month - not 69k.

I will be making a border run prior to the visa issue date and my expectations are as the officer told me that my visa stay will in fact be extended for a second year (2011). Then I will immediately get a multiple re-entry permit prior to departing on the new second year extension. Yes, you are correct on my typo of income, it is 65,00B per month in income and not 69,000B.

Just wondering, why are you going to get a multi re-entry if you are just going one time. A single re-entry is 1,000 Baht, a multi is 3,800 Baht. So unless you are planning on going out of the country more than three times a year, I don't see the point. But then I have a friend that gets a multi re-entry every year and he hasn't left Thailand in over 6 years. But, he has more money than sense!

[JimGant]

So unless you are planning on going out of the country more than three times a year,

He really doesn't say what his long term plans are, but, unless you're really a 'penny pincher,' that extra 2800bt for a multi re-entry stamp is worth the contingency insurance (obviously, he still has business to attend to in the States, so maybe we can assume this Aug visit won't be the last......).

Anyway, shouldn't you have said: "unless you are planning on going out of the country more than one time during the extension period?" 'Three times a year' doesn't quite compute in differentiating a single re-entry from a multi re-entry permit....(?).

[Jimi007]

So unless you are planning on going out of the country more than three times a year,

He really doesn't say what his long term plans are, but, unless you're really a 'penny pincher,' that extra 2800bt for a multi re-entry stamp is worth the contingency insurance (obviously, he still has business to attend to in the States, so maybe we can assume this Aug visit won't be the last......).

Anyway, shouldn't you have said: "unless you are planning on going out of the country more than one time during the extension period?" 'Three times a year' doesn't quite compute in differentiating a single re-entry from a multi re-entry permit....(?).

Yes, you phrased it correctly. I should have said more two times during your extension period. But 2,800 Baht is about $90 these days. Plus, I don't like giving my money away to either government, Thai or US... And yes all my grand parents were Scottish! A penny saved is a penny earned...