Visa Renewal Into New Passport - Help !

[CBinParadise]

I've had a series of retirement visas (non-imm type O-A) that have been renewed many times over the years, with no problems.

But now, my passport that holds the visas, re-entry permit, re-entry card etc is close (2 months) to expiring and it's ALSO time to renew my Thai visa itself (not just my 90-day report).

I read in a different thread that Thai Immigration will transfer (into a new passport because the old one was full) renewal and multi-entry stamps to a new passport, but nothing else. However in that thread the visa renewal period had not expired.

My question is: will Thai imm renew my existing visa into a new passport, while leaving the original visa in the old passport?

if so, I'd have to carry both passports around everywhere as if they were one --- since my ORIGINAL visa (the one that I applied for from outside Thailand) is still in the old passport. That's no problem, but it seems somewhat odd and much too convenient, considering how things normally work in bureaucracies.

I'm trying to get the best info I can --- like from somebody who's already done this. If it doesn't work as described above, I fear they'll make me leave Thailand and re-start the whole visa application from scratch.

Please, has anyone been through this? Do you know someone who has?

Thanks sincerely

[Lite Beer]

Immigration will transfer Immigration stamps. They will not transfer a Visa.

If you have a valid Visa in your old passport you carry both until it expires.

[Mario2008]

You don't have a valid visa, you seem to have an extension of stay. The process is very simple. Get a new passport and visit immirgation with both old and new passsports and letter you get from the embassy. Immigration will transfer the details to your new passport. Since you don't have a valid visa but are on an extension of stay, you now only carry the new passport. Only if you still have a valid visa would you need to carry both passports.

[CBinParadise]

Thanks, LiteBeer and Mario 2008, this is extremely helpful and reassuring. I didn't mention that my travel requirements are a freaking nightmare already --- so your replies are pure gold. However, the information I needed didn't arrive until 65 whole seconds after my OP --- what took you so long? :^)

Sincere thanks...

[lopburi3]

since my ORIGINAL visa (the one that I applied for from outside Thailand)

The above is key. The non immigrant O-A is only issued outside of Thailand. From Immigration you receive one year extensions of stay for retirement.

Your one year extension of stay stamp will be entered into your new passport and link to original passport/visa noted. From recent reports re-entry permits may not be transferred but not positive on that being general policy or not.

[thaisomchai]

since my ORIGINAL visa (the one that I applied for from outside Thailand)

The above is key. The non immigrant O-A is only issued outside of Thailand. From Immigration you receive one year extensions of stay for retirement.

Your one year extension of stay stamp will be entered into your new passport and link to original passport/visa noted. From recent reports re-entry permits may not be transferred but not positive on that being general policy or not.

I just did the new passport thing and they did transfer my multiple reentry permit into the new passport.

Further . . .upon my return from Singapore last week, the airport Immigration officer waved away ( grumpily) my offer of my old passport open to the original visa I got in Penang in 2003. He just looked at the stamps in the new one and stamped me in.

[lopburi3]

If you have your extension of stay and re-entry permit in new passport that would be all they would ever need to see. The re-entry acts are your permission to enter.

[CBinParadise]

Thanks, thaisomchai and lopburi3 --- this is top-notch information, very much appreciated.

[mahjongguy]

Every time I extend for retirement, the copies needed include the original visa page. Once I move on to a fresh passport, I won't have that page. Immigration will notice the reason and not care?

[lopburi3]

Your new passport will have a transfer entry on the first page with previous passport number and visa information. Just include that in new batch of photo copies. You do not need the actual visa page after obtaining new passport.

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Your new passport will have a transfer entry on the first page with previous passport number and visa information. Just include that in new batch of photo copies. You do not need the actual visa page after obtaining new passport.

Indeed, not a problem. I'm on my third U.S. passport since my original retirement extension of a Non-O visa back in 1998. The current passport only shows the passport number for a lost passport in March 2006, it does NOT even refer back to the original 1998 extension. Reckon there's a computer record of it, tho, at Immigration if really needed. Plus I do have that old passport.

Mac