Visa Extension Confusion

[AlaskaDave]

I have a triple entry Tourist Visa issued in the U.S. on August 17, 2011. I entered LOS on Sept 22, did a visa run to Mae Sai on Nov 18 and am now nearing the end of that second 60 day visa period, which is, Jan18th. I went into the Ranong immigration office to buy a 30-day visa extension yesterday. My tickets out of Thailand are for April 17th so somehow I have to get an extra month in country, hence the desire for an extension.

The friendly immigration officer I spoke to told me, yes I could extend my visa with the proper form along with the 1900 baht fee. His office was so busy that afternoon he suggested I might have better luck in Hua Hin where I'll be in a couple of days. So far, so good. But he also told me that I must leave the country before 16 February despite the fact that a 30-day extension should give me until Feb 18th! This is because my Tourist Visa has an Enter Before date of February 16, 2012. That's where my confusion stems from.

My understanding was that that date was the date by which you had to use your first 60-day Tourist Visa. Apparently I was wrong. The Enter Before date, according to him, is the latest date any of your Tourist Visas can be used. After I make that last visa run my final 60-day entry will expire on April 15th or 16th, just a day or so short of my departure date.

Can anyone clarify this? Or, maybe no clarification is needed. It's going to be inconvenient to change my flight to accommodate the 1 day gap between my current scheduled departure date and this newly imposed limit. It's always good to think this stuff through fully before getting stuck but I did not understand the true meaning of the Enter Before date on the Tourist Visa before yesterday. Perhaps others reading this forum will learn from my little problem.

Next fall I will enter Thailand with a Retirement Visa or whatever they're calling it now. That should make this problem academic, at least for me. Of course I'm absolutely certain there will be pitfalls and setbacks with that visa too.

Thanks for any replies...

[lopburi3]

You can stay until the 18th but to use that visa for another entry you must enter before the 16th as it is stamped. All entries must be made by that date is the meaning - you can complete an entry extending beyond that date or just not use all allowed entries but that date is vital for usage.

[wayned]

Your last entry has to be before Feb 16 as that is the day your visa expires. When you re-enter they will give you 60 days permission to stay. You can extend that 60 days for anothet 30 days at immigration in Thailand for 1900 baht. That should give you plenty of time to make your flight. If you overstay and do not extend, the fine will be 500 baht per day. The visa is like a bus pass and you must use it before it expires!

[AlaskaDave]

Goddamn it - that's what I learned from the Thai Immigration guy. Why do they make it so difficult for me to stay here to spend my retirement income, I wonder?

Thanks for commenting

You can stay until the 18th but to use that visa for another entry you must enter before the 16th as it is stamped. All entries must be made by that date is the meaning - you can complete an entry extending beyond that date or just not use all allowed entries but that date is vital for usage.

[NancyL]

Don't worry AlaskaDave -- the Thai officials want you to come here and spend your retirement income. That's why they have the O-A visa or an O visa with a 12-month retirement extension. Assuming you meet the financial requirements, it is fairly easy to obtain these visas and keep extending them for years without ever leaving the country. It will be much less hassle to spend your retirement income once you have a "retirement" visa.

Yes, there are pitfalls and hassles. The major pitfalls occur when people leave the country without obtain re-entry permits and thus abandon their "retirement" visas or if they want to play games to meet the financial requirements. The major hassle is checking into the local immigration office for a free report if you remain in the country for 90 days.

[IMA_FARANG]

Yes, he is absolutely correct.

That enter before date on triple entry visa is the date the visa expires.

You must use ALL 3 ENTRIES before that date.

Getting an extension of 30 days on one or all entries you use doesn't change that enter before date.

That's why you have to be careful...you can be fooled by that triple entry visa name.

People get caught that way all the time....but it is the rule.

So if you see that person again at immigration later...thank him or her...for trying to avoid you not getting the full value out of your triple entry visa.