Retirement Stamp/Visa

[polarityresponder]

I would very much appreciate guidance if anyone has first-hand knowledge of what I am about to ask. My Extension to stay in Thailand for upto one year is due for renewal on 1 February 2011. I am going back to the UK for a short time on 26 January 2011. Simple enough you might think - just go and get the renewal of the extension done prior to leaving the country plus get a re-entry stamp. Not true. Anyway not according to my local(outside of Bangkok) Immigration Office. At first they said just let it expire, don't bother with any new extension prior to your trip and you then don't need a re-entry stamp. After a short discussion this was changed to come back to us a week before you go and get a re-entry stamp and when you return to Thailand, come and see us and get your new extension for 12 months. Seems dodgy to me. Anyone had a similar experience?

[Somrak]

Sorry, i do not see what a re-entry-Visa woud help. Your visa will end at the 1.2.11, with or without a re-entry-visa!?

You shoud extend your visa before you go and then make a re-entry-visa.

[slapout]

If your here on retirement visa, you are allowed to renew it 2 to 3 weeks prior to expiration date, get a reentry and you will be covered. This was done at CM immigration last month.

[Maestro]

polarityresponder, you don't say when you will return from your short trip to the UK but I guess it is after 01 FEB 2011.

Apply for and get your retirement extension now. Immigration offices routinely accept and process applications up to 30 days prior to the expiration of the current permission to stay (Pattaya even earlier than 30 days). This will extend your permission to stay until 01 FEB 2012. Then get a re-entry permit; this will keep your new permission to stay alive when you return from the UK, ie on arrival in Thailand you will get an arrival stamp with permission to stay until 01 FEB 2012.

[Mario2008]

Strange advise. Your permisison to stay ends on Feb 1. You can get an extension of stay from 30 days before that, and the etxtension will start anyway on the 1st of February. Just get the extension of stay comming week and apply for the re-entry permit at the same time and you will be fine. The validtiy of the new re-entry permit should be the same as your new extension of stay. (Just leave out the part of your trip, it only seems to confuse them).