Can I Exit And Reenter Los With 90 Day "o" Visa

[AlaskaDave]

I am currently in Chiang Mai and have a 90-day "O" visa which is valid until Dec 4th. BTW, referring to my earlier thread, the Korean Airlines agent at the Seattle gate, after noting my one-way ticket, did ask if I had a ticket out of the country but I assured her that I had an "O" type visa and intended to stay "a long time". That seemed to please her and she backed off.

So, many thanks for all your earlier help in answering my questions regarding the "O" visa, but now that I'm here I have a couple more questions. Naturally.

1) I want to visit Hong Kong next month. Can I leave Thailand and re-enter a week or so later without losing my 90-day visa?

In general and based on info I obtained in TV forum, my plan is to wait at least 60 days and then get a one-year visa extension based on retirement here in Chiang Mai. In addition, I would then purchase for 1,900 baht a multiple entry permit so I can come and go as I please. But I'm currently in the first 60 days of my "O" visa's validity, which is why I ask the question. The Hong Kong visit is not important and can be delayed if necessary.

2) I know this has probably been covered somewhere in here but when I go to the Chiang Mai Immigration office to request that extension will my proof of income documents, issued a few months ago, still be valid? I used copies of those same documents with the Portland Thai Consulate's office to obtain my visa in the first place. Or should I go to the U.S. Embassy, pay the $50 USD, and get the sworn statement from them first?

Thanks very much.

[lopburi3]

An O visa entry is for 90 days - if you were stamped for 60 days you need to visit immigration and get that changed now.

1. You can obtain a single re-entry permit to keep your current 90 day stay alive on return so a trip is fine as long as you get that first and return before your current 90 day stay expires.

2. You require the Embassy sworn statement for extension of stay in Thailand but normally does not have to be too new. Not sure what you used for visa but it would not normally be the same.

[AlaskaDave]

@Lopburi,

Thanks for the reply. My visa is stamped properly. As I said, it's good until Dec 4th. Presumably I can easily obtain this single re-entry permit here in CM if I choose to travel.

As for question 2, I originally used two statements to prove my income. One is from the U.S. Social Security Administration, the other is from the State of Alaska showing my state pension. I brought the original letters along for use here in CM when the time comes to apply for the retirement extension. The U.S. Embassy charges $50 for a sworn statement, which is highway robbery! This is what I was hoping to avoid.

[lopburi3]

It is a normal notary fee (they are not a local bank where other fees can be used to offset a free service) and that letter is what is required if using income. You can avoid that fee by using 800k in bank account and only have to pay 1-200 baht for bank letter if you wish. But believe for most of us the $50 once a year is not really that much of an issue (although understand you are not alone in objecting to it).

[wayned]

Currently you do not need any proof of income to obtain the affidavit from the US Consulate/Embassy. It is a notarized sworn statement that costs $50. However, you might need the proof when you apply for your extension. It has been reported that some offices do require it in addition to the income affidavit. I use Nakhon Sawan and they require that the affidavit be issued within 30 days of application but do not require additional proof. At least that's what they have required up until now, I'll find out next month when I have to re-apply. Each office has their own interpretation of the requirements. Good luck!

[davejones]

It is a normal notary fee (they are not a local bank where other fees can be used to offset a free service) and that letter is what is required if using income. You can avoid that fee by using 800k in bank account and only have to pay 1-200 baht for bank letter if you wish. But believe for most of us the $50 once a year is not really that much of an issue (although understand you are not alone in objecting to it).

Another point to note is that if you have 800K in the bank for 2-3 months you'll be getting minimal interest in an ordinary account. So the interesting you are losing by not having the money in a higher-interest account will probably be more than $50. So getting the letter from your embassy is still probably the cheapest route.

Count yourself luck, as it's around $80 to get a letter from the UK Embassy.

[ubonjoe]

You can get your income affidavit at US consulate in Chiang Mai. http://chiangmai.usconsulate.gov/service.html

[TerryLH]

"In addition, I would then purchase for 1,900 baht a multiple entry permit so I can come and go as I please."

Extensions cost 1900 baht.

A single re-entry permit is 1000 baht. A multiple re-entry permit is 3800 baht.

[AlaskaDave]

Thanks all for your replies and clarifications.

I was obviously under a false impression about the total costs of getting the extension plus the multiple entry permit. But as several have pointed out, all things considered, it's not such a huge financial burden. A couple of years ago my girlfriend and I did a visa run to Malaysia and when I figured out what that cost to extend my stay for a few weeks it came to about 15K baht. LOL.

I obtained a sworn statement about my residency from the U.S. Embassy in BKK last year when I bought my motorcycle, so I'm familiar with the process. The weird thing is that I'm pretty sure they didn't even look at my supporting documents, as wayned pointed out above. I will, however, bring those docs along to the Thai Immigration when I go for my extension.

[riceyummm]

It is a normal notary fee (they are not a local bank where other fees can be used to offset a free service) and that letter is what is required if using income. You can avoid that fee by using 800k in bank account and only have to pay 1-200 baht for bank letter if you wish. But believe for most of us the $50 once a year is not really that much of an issue (although understand you are not alone in objecting to it).

In Ca I pay $10 for a notary fee. I consider $50 to be highway robbery. It seems to be the trend for the gov to charge for services that used to be covered by our taxes. I recently paid $80 for extra pages in my passport at BK embassy, took all of 10 minutes. It really pisses me off but I'll just bend over and take it because there is no alternative.

[AlaskaDave]

@riceyummm - We're agreed on the highway robbery definition of the Citizen Services we get from our Embassy I reckon. I too paid $80 a year or so ago for those extra pages. Also highway robbery!