Re-Entry Permit With O-A Visa

[sfguy]

I have a type O-A multi-entry visa with a one-year expiration. However, I plan on leaving a couple of times during the year, including February. Even though the Thai Consulate in the US issued the visa and was obviously aware it was "Multi-Entry" I was still warned that I "might" need to apply for a TM-8 Re-entry permit in Thailand before I leave the Kingdom or the entire O-A visa "might be voided." Their words, "might be." Is all of this up to the individual Thai immigration officer?

I'm confused. I thought the O-A multi-entry visa and re-entry permit were the same. Also, does that mean I have to register a TM-47 report every 90 days as well?

[Crossy]

Provided you return before the 'use by' date on your visa you'll be given a 1 year stay.

Any trips out after that date will require a re-entry permit to keep the stay alive.

[lopburi3]

You do not want a re-entry permit for any entry before the expiration date on the visa itself (one year from application) as such an entry would only keep the current permitted to stay time alive - with a multi entry visa you can get a new one year from each entry date so can extend much longer than one year. As said for any entry after expiration of visa a re-entry permit would be required to keep the last permitted to stay alive.