Found Out Something New Today At The Immigration Office

[genisis]

today i went to the phuket immigration office to obtain a re-entry permit for my retirement visa, i'm going back home for a short visit.

i was told that upon my return i didn't have to report back for the 90 day check-in on the date i have written down on the slip of paper we keep in the passport, what happens now is you start the 90 day period from the moment you enter thailand.

thought i would share this information to those like me who never knew this, saves a morning out of our precious time, time we can spend on the beach:D

[sbk]

The 90 day reporting begins from the day you re-enter the country and has always been the case.

[Lite Beer]

Yep. The clock starts again when you re enter.

[womblejamie]

Thanks genisis, much appreciated for clearing that up. Some people might have been unaware while the long in the tooth above were already aware!

[wolf5370]

Yep I have back to back 1 year non-imm o multis - never done the 90 day reporting because I'm in and out all the time (at least once in any 90 day priod) - so never needed to

[genisis]

Thanks genisis, much appreciated for clearing that up. Some people might have been unaware while the long in the tooth above were already aware!

its a pleasure womblejamie, in the 4 years i have lived here i have only left the country once, a rather enjoyable trip to Singapore..and i never found out on that occasion. for sure all those other jet setters would be clued up though lol

[Theo007]

I was told that if one is in the country on that date one still has to report. The only time one does not have to is if one is out of the country on that date so the 90 days starts from the return date.

[Jimi007]

I was told that if one is in the country on that date one still has to report. The only time one does not have to is if one is out of the country on that date so the 90 days starts from the return date.

Not quite, you can leave a few days after the date you are to report, see number four.

The official rules specifically says that you do not have to report in person. This is from the Imigration Bureau homepage about 90 day reporting:

1. The foreigner makes the notification in person, or

2. The foreigner authorises another person to make the notification, or

3. The foreigner makes the notification by registered mail.

4. The notification must be made within 7 days before or after the period of 90 days expires.

5. The first application for extension of stay by the foreigner is equivalent to the notification of staying in the Kingdom over 90 days.

[jfchandler]

Back to the main point though....

Regardless of what 90 day reporting date you may be given at the time of your annual extension of stay or thereafter during the year, anytime you leave Thailand and return, a new 90 day clock starts with the day of your return to Thailand, and runs from the date of your new entry stamp. There's nothing new or different about that. It's always been that way, at least in recent years.

And any original 90 day reporting date you may have had, before leaving the country, is superceded by the new date that starts with your new entry stamp upon returning to Thailand.

It doesn't matter if the original 90 day reporting date occurs once you've already departed from Thailand, just so long as you were stamped out before the original date.

All of the above applies to those staying in Thailand on extensions of stay, whether based on retirement or marriage.

Those with actual visas, particularly multiple entry non-immigrant visas such as business or retirement issued at Thai consulates outside Thailand, are not subject to the same 90 day reporting process. Rather, those folks are required to leave the country before the end of the 90 day period, such as thru a border run, and they then get a new 90 day permission to stay when they return to the country.

[iSabai]

Here's one to ponder... This happened to me, I don't remember the actual dates so I made them up just to make my point.

My 90 day report date was scheduled for June 7. But before that, on June 1st, I had gone to PT Immigrations to renew my 1 yr. retirement visa. I figured that I had been to Immigrations, filled out the renewal papers (which includes my address), and gotten the 1 year extension, or permission to stay or whatever. All that was done before my June 7 report date, so I logically assumed that there was no need to do my 90 day report on June 7 because the retirement extension would supercede that.

Just coincidentally, I needed to go back to Immigrations for a re-entry permit around June 14. I had noticed that I still had the paper in my passport that said to do the 90 day report on the 7th, and wondered if that may cause a problem next time I reported. So I asked the girl when I got the re-entry what to do about that slip of paper with the June 7 date. She told me that I still should have reported on the 7th, even though I had the new extension done on the 1st.

She laughed about it, and said she'd take care of it for me, and gave me a new slip of paper with a date 90 days from when I got the extension. But the message i got was that if you have that paper with a date to report, you should report on that date.

And knowing how they use different rules at different times and at different places (I usually report my 90 day in Patong), I no longer trust my logical instincts on these things! If my paper says to report on a certain date, I make sure I do just that!

Edited September 7, 2010 by iSabai

[jfchandler]

Sabai, the issue you raise is a real one, and one that has been addressed and answered here before on TV....

The answer is... leaving the country starts a new 90 day clock. Solely getting a new extension and re-entry permit does not...

Although, from what I gather, if you have a 90 day report coming due near the time of your extension visit, you can and should bring along the necessary paperwork to accomplish your 90 day report during the same visit.

I have almost exactly the same situation this week... My extension renewal is coming due, and it just so happens that my 90 day report deadline is less than a week later. So when I go to Chaeng Wattana later this week, I'm bringing paperwork for the extension, the reentry permit AND the 90 day report.

[digitalchromakey]

Sabai, the issue you raise is a real one, and one that has been addressed and answered here before on TV....

The answer is... leaving the country starts a new 90 day clock. Solely getting a new extension and re-entry permit does not...

Although, from what I gather, if you have a 90 day report coming due near the time of your extension visit, you can and should bring along the necessary paperwork to accomplish your 90 day report during the same visit.

I have almost exactly the same situation this week... My extension renewal is coming due, and it just so happens that my 90 day report deadline is less than a week later. So when I go to Chaeng Wattana later this week, I'm bringing paperwork for the extension, the reentry permit AND the 90 day report.

Important point - making an application for another one year extension of permission to stay does not count as a 90 day report (even though the TM7 application form has your address), you must do a 90 day report as well; only leaving/ re-entering the country restarts the clock.

[jfchandler]

I think that's what I just clearly said...in the post of mine you quoted above.... :jap:

[womblejamie]

Those with actual visas, particularly multiple entry non-immigrant visas such as business or retirement issued at Thai consulates outside Thailand, are not subject to the same 90 day reporting process. Rather, those folks are required to leave the country before the end of the 90 day period, such as thru a border run, and they then get a new 90 day permission to stay when they return to the country.

Current business visa was just over two years ago, renewed after one year at immigration and again recently and I report every 90 days (obviously except if I am not in the country and have gained an exit permit). Also I know of people who are on 'ED' visas (and are actually in education, not pretending) who carry on with just 90 day reports to local immigration. So, they/I are not required to leave the country every 90 days.

[QED]

Those with actual visas, particularly multiple entry non-immigrant visas such as business or retirement issued at Thai consulates outside Thailand, are not subject to the same 90 day reporting process. Rather, those folks are required to leave the country before the end of the 90 day period, such as thru a border run, and they then get a new 90 day permission to stay when they return to the country.

Current business visa was just over two years ago, renewed after one year at immigration and again recently and I report every 90 days (obviously except if I am not in the country and have gained an exit permit). Also I know of people who are on 'ED' visas (and are actually in education, not pretending) who carry on with just 90 day reports to local immigration. So, they/I are not required to leave the country every 90 days.

Yes your actual visa expired just over one year ago, you are now on an extension of stay, and as jfchandler said those on extensions have to report every 90 days.

[iSabai]

Sabai, the issue you raise is a real one, and one that has been addressed and answered here before on TV....

The answer is... leaving the country starts a new 90 day clock. Solely getting a new extension and re-entry permit does not...

Although, from what I gather, if you have a 90 day report coming due near the time of your extension visit, you can and should bring along the necessary paperwork to accomplish your 90 day report during the same visit.

I have almost exactly the same situation this week... My extension renewal is coming due, and it just so happens that my 90 day report deadline is less than a week later. So when I go to Chaeng Wattana later this week, I'm bringing paperwork for the extension, the reentry permit AND the 90 day report.

Important point - making an application for another one year extension of permission to stay does not count as a 90 day report (even though the TM7 application form has your address), you must do a 90 day report as well; only leaving/ re-entering the country restarts the clock.

Okay, that makes sense. And thx for the concise explanation (jfc also).

So then... I am due to leave the country shortly, returning beginning of Oct. My next report date in end of Nov. So my actual next report date would be 90 days from when I re-enter Thailand? Even though (I'm assuming) I will still have the paper in my passport with the end of Nov date in it?

Or will they make this adjustment and/or issue a new slip of paper at the airport Immigration desk? Or should I ask at the airport when I re-enter just to remind them??

[jfchandler]

Womble, I believe QED is correct above... based on what you say...

I don't believe a person can RENEW a BUSINESS VISA inside Thailand. You can obtain a BUSINESS VISA at Thai consulates elsewhere around the world.

I had a B business visa in the past, obtained from a Thai consulate in the U.S. It basically was good for one year plus the final three months of my last entry to Thailand just before the visa expired... After that, I had to go back to the U.S. to apply for/get a new business visa.

I'm not aware that Business visas have extensions of stay, as retirement and marriage visas do...

But there are others around these parts with more expertise on the subject that me...

Current business visa was just over two years ago, renewed after one year at immigration and again recently and I report every 90 days (obviously except if I am not in the country and have gained an exit permit). Also I know of people who are on 'ED' visas (and are actually in education, not pretending) who carry on with just 90 day reports to local immigration. So, they/I are not required to leave the country every 90 days.

[jfchandler]

Sabai, those are good questions... To answer them...

As long as you leave Thailand before your current 90 day report date arrives, you are in compliance.

When you return to Thailand, a new 90 day clock will start with your arrival date.

I also had the slip from Immigration with my 90 day report date. And my date too was superceded when I left Thailand and returned in the meantime. At the airport, they didn't do anything with my slip from Immigration.

But the important part is, they stamped in my passport and departure card a new arrival date...and that's the one that will control your 90 day reporting requirement -- prior slip from Immigration notwithstanding.

As a footnote, however, I believe you should save that 90 day report notice from Immigration with the outdated date, because I believe they will still ask for it the next time your do your next 90 day report.

Okay, that makes sense. And thx for the concise explanation (jfc also).

So then... I am due to leave the country shortly, returning beginning of Oct. My next report date in end of Nov. So my actual next report date would be 90 days from when I re-enter Thailand? Even though (I'm assuming) I will still have the paper in my passport with the end of Nov date in it?

Or will they make this adjustment and/or issue a new slip of paper at the airport Immigration desk? Or should I ask at the airport when I re-enter just to remind them??

[womblejamie]

Womble, I believe QED is correct above... based on what you say...

I don't believe a person can RENEW a BUSINESS VISA inside Thailand. You can obtain a BUSINESS VISA at Thai consulates elsewhere around the world.

I had a B business visa in the past, obtained from a Thai consulate in the U.S. It basically was good for one year plus the final three months of my last entry to Thailand just before the visa expired... After that, I had to go back to the U.S. to apply for/get a new business visa.

I'm not aware that Business visas have extensions of stay, as retirement and marriage visas do...

But there are others around these parts with more expertise on the subject that me...

Current business visa was just over two years ago, renewed after one year at immigration and again recently and I report every 90 days (obviously except if I am not in the country and have gained an exit permit). Also I know of people who are on 'ED' visas (and are actually in education, not pretending) who carry on with just 90 day reports to local immigration. So, they/I are not required to leave the country every 90 days.

Yes business visa and renewed for extension of stay. Valid work permit, etc... The previous business visa (for a totally different business and co.ltd company) before this one went on for three years with extensions of stays