I'Ve Missed Something-Retirement/Multiple Re-Entry

[bluebluewater]

I took a little trip to my local immi office this morning to get a multi re-entry permit and somehow I think they got it wrong but perhaps I don't understand what I thought I did

Office: Pathum Thani . . jeez, what a mess . . smallish office, not hint of a queue, every immi person stopping to help/interfere/kibtz on every request put in front of all of them . . SOP I know

My O-A from the States was issued on Jan, 2010, valid till Jan 20, 2011, multiple entry . . I did take a few trips out of Thailand and every time I stamped back in the immi officer extended my visa for a year including the trip I took in December 2010 when I left LOS on 7 DEC and came back in on 18 Dec and was stamped back in till 17 Dec, 2011 . . I took another trip a month later in Jan 2011, leaving on 16 Jan and came back on 19 Jan which I thought would extend me out till Jan 18, 2012 and indeed that is what the immi folks at Swampy did "permited till 18/01/12"

This morning I go to get my multi re-entry permit that I thought would also make me good to come and go till that 2012 date but NO - the stamp tells me I have a re-entry permit valid until 17 Dec, 2011 and length of stay for the same date . . I did ask about the differences in the dates and why would that be but I might as well be talking to this computer or my foot . . "Immi at Swampy make a mistake" . . I was nice and kind and my tail was wagging but to no avail

Am I completly wrong in what I thought I was going to get as far as the multi and the visa being valid until mid Jan, 2012? If not, what options/ course of action might I take?

I'm sure I've messed up on some of the important "technical" jargon

Thank you for your help

[lopburi3]

They apparently did not seen your last permitted to stay stamp and based there re-entry permit on the December entry in error. It should be corrected - either by them or appeal to Bangkok as it is wrong and could cause serious issues if you travel.

[bluebluewater]

Hmmmm . .

I pointed it out to them . . provided copies . . pointed it out to them again, passport in hand

Their eyes & ears were closed to say the least

Possible appeal? That office does not seem like a good bet. Can anyone tell me more about an appeal to BKK?

[Mario2008]

Most immigration offices are reluctant to correct the mistake of another office. Best bet would be to go to Bangkok and sort it out there. They have a special desk that deals with wrong stamps.

[JimGant]

"permited till 18/01/12"

Your last stamp at Swampy actually said "admitted until 18 Jan 2012" right? Otherwise, if it looked like what you quoted, something's out of whack, which maybe is what put Pathum Thani off track.

If that lost month doesn't screw with your travel plans, I sure wouldn't fight traffic and bureaucracy in Bangkok to try and fix it.

But what about your next "one-year" stay? Getting another O-A? If so, I hope you had planned to leave for home before 17 Dec (I guess you could get a 7-day extension). Or, getting a one-year extension at Pathum Thani? I guess that nice new shiny re-entry stamp, complete with its own number, and an official "length of stay until 17 Dec 2011" makes those dates now official..... Just your luck, however, some clown at Pathum Thani would find that Swampy "Admitted until 18 Jan 2012" -- and tell you 'you're too early for renewal -- come back in 30 days.'

That's when I'd kick in the place...

[TerraplaneGuy]

Just a general newbie question here: If you get a 1-yr retirement extension (on O or O-A visa) can you always get that as a multiple entry, so you can come and go throughout the period?

TG

[bluebluewater]

If you are willing to pay the 3800 Bt you certainly can

[Sophon]

Just a general newbie question here: If you get a 1-yr retirement extension (on O or O-A visa) can you always get that as a multiple entry, so you can come and go throughout the period?

TG

The extension is not a single or multiple entry, it's just a permission to stay in Thailand. But you can protect the extension by buying either a single (1,000 baht) or a multiple (3,800 baht) re-entry permit. A re-entry permit will keep your extension alive if you leave Thailand, without it the extension will die when you depart.

Sophon