Ranong Immigration Office

[lawaeng]

Hi

I last arrived on an OA visa and have a 1 year stamp to stay until Oct 2012.

However, my multi entry visa (not ext.) expires 6 April 2012... so I plan to leave and enter Thailand again on 5 April.... and get another 1 year stamp again on arrival.

Rather than fly somewhere like HK or Singapore, I was thinking of going to Ranong/Burma border to visit the Andaman club.

QUESTION: will the IO at Ranong easily issue a 1 year stamp or do they only issue 30 or 90 days ? Has anyone actually done this using an OA visa?

Thanks

[lopburi3]

It is not easy anywhere as officer has to reset date stamp but you should receive the normal allowed on year stay. Can't say if anyone has done so there as most people would not be making normal travel to that location with one year stays.

[lawaeng]

Thanks for quick reply lopburi... i was just reading about the long long cues at the suwanaporn airport so thought a land border might be better.

Also, once i use the last entry (visa then expired) can i get a re-entry permit at any immigration office or does it have to be at Bkk. Would Ranong offer them, or again is it something they would not normally have to do?

[lopburi3]

You should be able to obtain the re-entry from an immigration office in the location you reside (normally it is the place you obtained your extension of stay but in your case you obtain on each entry). Whoever issues may want some proof of your living in there area.

[melvinmelvin]

re Ranong; The main immigration office/police is in the city itself, not at any of the borders.

You mentioned AndamanClub

This border crossing is about 3-4 or 5 kilometers north of the City,

the immi office at the Andaman Club pier is normally manned by only 1 or 2 imm officers.

Guess the result would depend quite a lot on who is actually on watch when you enter from Burma.

If you use this border crossing I would at least check with the chaps on watch before leaving LoS.

(the boat trip to Burma and back takes less than an hour).

Another border point would be to take a longtail boat to Burma/Victory Point

from the pier close to the fish market in Ranong.

The imm. office at this pier is normally manned by more officers than the Andaman Club one,

so assumably the collective knowledge is greater there.

Again, would check with the officers before leaving LoS.

[thuisinthailand]

You certainly need to check on the IO at the Andaman Club pier. Last time we went there, we were supposed to get a stamp until April 11, but the stamp said April 8. So he gave us 3 days less than we should have had. We only discovered this too late (were already on the road again), and 3 days is not a big deal, but anyway, check before if you can seems a good idea to me.

[lawaeng]

Many thanks lopburi, melvin and thuis for the advice/replies

I am now of two minds to risk it... as it’s a long way to drive just to ask the IO officer a question. If I had the right tel number I would (try) to call of course, but even then it may be a another story on the day.

Flying is such a drag, expensive and queues at the airport... thought it might make a nice change.

Hopefully someone will reply who has got the 365 day retirement stamp there :-)

Thanks again everyone