Visa (Retirement Type) Non-Immigrant O-A Question Clarification

[BobTH]

Ok, it appears that I didn't properly do my homework. I applied and received my (Retirement Type) Non-Immigrant O-A Visa from the Thai Embassy in Washington DC prior to moving to Bangkok, it was issued on August 9th, 2011 and expired on August 8th 2012. I entered the Kingdom on October 13th so I have a permission to stay stamp dated October 12th, 2012. I initially misunderstood the process, my thinking was that as long as I kept getting the one year extensions of stay that my current visa was ok; and that is where I believe I was incorrect. I was intending on going to Division One Immigration at the Government Complex in Bangkok on Thursday this week to get the Extension of Stay. After talking to another expatriate It appears that I need to apply for a new Visa also. I am putting the documents together today and I believe I have everything I need. I will get the Bank Statement tomorrow using a fixed savings account for the required 800,000 THB that has been there since October 25th 2011. All of the other needed document had all ready been completed for the extention of stay I will just make more copies for the Visa Application. I did the Medical checkup in the USA on my initial Visa application so I am under the impression that I will not need another for this application; Is that correct? It will be a long day I am sure at Immigration and would like advice on which to get a queue card first; the Visa Application or the Request for One Year Extension of Stay? If anyone can direct me in these couple of questions I would greatly appriciate it. I just did my 90 day Notification by mail and it is good through December 19th, 2012 Thank you in advance and Thanks Thai Visa Forum; you have been a lot of help.

[moe666]

You do not apply for a visa at immigration only the extension of stay having said that. was your O-A visa a single entry or mulitply. No medical check is needed for extension of stay. I hope your money has been there since 2011 as Nov. 2012 hasn't arrived yet. Also get a re-entry permit if you have any plannedd trips out of the country single 1000baht multiply 3,800.

I am sure one of the experts will be along later to give you a more detailed run down

[BobTH]

You do not apply for a visa at immigration only the extension of stay having said that. was your O-A visa a single entry or mulitply. No medical check is needed for extension of stay. I hope your money has been there since 2011 as Nov. 2012 hasn't arrived yet. Also get a re-entry permit if you have any plannedd trips out of the country single 1000baht multiply 3,800.

I am sure one of the experts will be along later to give you a more detailed run down

Thanks so much Moe666, That is great news about not having to apply for a visa and only an extension of stay and that was my thinking prior to talking to someone about it. My Visa was an O-A multiple entry but like I stated it expired on August 8th 2012 but my permission to stay stamp is dated October 12th, 2012. Since the Visa has expired I can't do the border run I should have probably done that before it expired but wasn't fully aware of all the rules. Live and learn. I deposited the money in the bank October 25, 2011 last year and it has been there since so it has seasoned 11 months so it should be good to go. After thinking I was going to have to apply for the visa I thought getting the re-entry stamp the same day would be too much but now since you say I don't need to apply for the Visa I will get another multi-entry also and the paper work is ready. I just saw the typo I will see if I can edit it, thanks for pointing that out and for the information.

[moe666]

You do not apply for a visa at immigration only the extension of stay having said that. was your O-A visa a single entry or mulitply. No medical check is needed for extension of stay. I hope your money has been there since 2011 as Nov. 2012 hasn't arrived yet. Also get a re-entry permit if you have any plannedd trips out of the country single 1000baht multiply 3,800.

I am sure one of the experts will be along later to give you a more detailed run down

Thanks so much Moe666, That is great news about not having to apply for a visa and only an extension of stay and that was my thinking prior to talking to someone about it. My Visa was an O-A multiple entry but like I stated it expired on August 8th 2012 but my permission to stay stamp is dated October 12th, 2012. Since the Visa has expired I can't do the border run I should have probably done that before it expired but wasn't fully aware of all the rules. Live and learn. I deposited the money in the bank October 25, 2011 last year and it has been there since so it has seasoned 11 months so it should be good to go. After thinking I was going to have to apply for the visa I thought getting the re-entry stamp the same day would be too much but now since you say I don't need to apply for the Visa I will get another multi-entry also and the paper work is ready. I just saw the typo I will see if I can edit it, thanks for pointing that out and for the information.

I do not believe it expired that was the date you needed to use by with a multiply entry you should be good for 2 years. One of the gurus will be by later for a better explanation. If your visa has expired then you cannot do an extension of stay, wait for lopburi or another expert to come on they can help you better with the date thing.

You need a re-entry permit with any permission to stay as the permission to stay is not multiply entry only visas are multiply entry. If you leave without re-entry permit bye bye permission to stay and start all over. Do it the same day only takes a min.

[Lite Beer]

As you now know you should have done a border run before August 8th.

You now need to apply for a 12 month extension of stay.

You need the bank letter issued as near to application date as possible. Plus the bank book showing the same balance.

Some proof of your address. Medical Certificates are not needed for extensions.

Passport size photo and 1,900 Baht fee.

[BobTH]

You do not apply for a visa at immigration only the extension of stay having said that. was your O-A visa a single entry or mulitply. No medical check is needed for extension of stay. I hope your money has been there since 2011 as Nov. 2012 hasn't arrived yet. Also get a re-entry permit if you have any plannedd trips out of the country single 1000baht multiply 3,800.

I am sure one of the experts will be along later to give you a more detailed run down

Thanks so much Moe666, That is great news about not having to apply for a visa and only an extension of stay and that was my thinking prior to talking to someone about it. My Visa was an O-A multiple entry but like I stated it expired on August 8th 2012 but my permission to stay stamp is dated October 12th, 2012. Since the Visa has expired I can't do the border run I should have probably done that before it expired but wasn't fully aware of all the rules. Live and learn. I deposited the money in the bank October 25, 2011 last year and it has been there since so it has seasoned 11 months so it should be good to go. After thinking I was going to have to apply for the visa I thought getting the re-entry stamp the same day would be too much but now since you say I don't need to apply for the Visa I will get another multi-entry also and the paper work is ready. I just saw the typo I will see if I can edit it, thanks for pointing that out and for the information.

I do not believe it expired that was the date you needed to use by with a multiply entry you should be good for 2 years. One of the gurus will be by later for a better explanation. If your visa has expired then you cannot do an extension of stay, wait for lopburi or another expert to come on they can help you better with the date thing.

You need a re-entry permit with any permission to stay as the permission to stay is not multiply entry only visas are multiply entry. If you leave without re-entry permit bye bye permission to stay and start all over. Do it the same day only takes a min.

Thanks again, all of this can get a bit confusing haha. I can say this, as I stated I did my 90 Notification recently by mail and it is good until December 19, 2012. When I received it back from immigration this past Saturday Sept 22 it had a big red ink stamp on it at the top reading " Please check expiry date of visa In your passport. 12 Oct 2012" This leads me to think I do not need to apply for a new visa. Any hopefully like you said one of the experts here can straighten me out.

[lopburi3]

How many times do we have to say it - you need to apply for a one year extension of stay from immigration prior to October 12th. That is all you need to do - there is no visa requirement once in Thailand. You stay here on extensions of stay using TM.7 form and financials each year. All the other chafe is immaterial as you no longer have a valid visa for a new entry.

Take your filled out TM.7 form/passport to the queue and request "retirement extension" ticket from officer. You will get the slip and be directed to the left side sitting area for your turn. Immigration opens at 0830 sharp and traffic is only moderate going in that direction in morning. If you arrive at opening you should be finished in about an hour or so from my experience.

[bushwacker]

Lopburi is right on the mark. For those that get lost in detail, maybe this might help:

1. Your visa was issued in Washington to enter Thailand. It was good for one year. If you did not enter Thailand in one year then the visa is expired. If you did enter Thailand then the visa becomes used (canceled). Think of it like a ticket to get into a football game. You are now in, the visa has fulfilled its purpose.

2. Upon entering, the Immigration gives you a new stamp and date which expires 1 year from the date of entry.

3. Every 90 days you need to report to immigration as to your place of residence. i.e. where do you sleep at nights. If you are on the Retirement track then you can report in person or by mail every 90 days. YOU DO NOT NEED TO DO ANY VISA OR BOARDER RUNS.

4. 30 DAYS before the one year is up you may go to immigration and request an extension of stay. Or you can be foolish and go the same day of expirey. And of course you can go anytime between the 30 days and expirey date.

5. You only need to request and pay for entry visas if you plan to leave the country for business or pleasure and want to re-enter while keeping the extension of stay alive. I have been here for many years and never had one.

The entire EXTENSION OF STAY process takes me (usually) less than 30 minutes. Last year 12 minutes.

Hope this helps ....

[BobTH]

Very clearly stated bushwacker , I saved your comments for the future. Also special thanks to lopburi3, Lite Beer and moe666. I have it down pat now and lopburi you were correct I had a similar post earlier but after speaking with someone I was not clear about if I had to get another visa, now I know and rest asured no more posts on this subject...lol. I will buy you a beer if I see you at the Check Inn 99 party. I love this site.

[lopburi3]

Your avatar is more confusing than visas.

[Richardhuzala]

My issue is somewhat similar and I'm as confused as hell...

I applied for and received a multiple entry non-immigrant O-A ("retirement") visa from the Thai Consulate in Vancouver, Canada on 31 October 2011 with an "enter before date" of 30 October 2012.

I have flown in and out of the country several times since then...

Enter - 17 Nov, 2011 (allowed to stay to 16 Nov, 2012)

Exit - 01 March 2012

Enter - 23 March 2012 (allowed to stay 22 March 2013)

Exit - 04 Aug 2012

Enter - 10 September 2012 (allowed to stay 9 September 2013)

Exit - TBA but shortly and I will be out of the country beyond 30 October 2012 so I wanted to get an early extension.

I got all the documents in order yesterday (Bank letter, residence letter, etc) and went to Immigration to extend my visa as I have essentially used it for almost a year and assumed that it was near its kill date.

The information guy at the Immigration office said that I could stay in the country until 09 Sept 2013 and there was no need to extend anything BUT that if I left the country before then, I would need a single or multiple re-entry permit to keep the 09 September 2013 allowed to stay stamp valid.

So what I understand is that I will be able stay, according the the Immigration officer, for almost two years on one visa because I have multiple entried.

Does that make sense? or is the guy wrong?

I just don't want to end up being told, when I next travel and return to/from the Land of Smiles, that I'm breaching some rule and have to start the whole bureaucratic process again

[lopburi3]

He is right - you need to extend within the last 30 days or your permitted to stay date (nothing to do with visa date) so that will be due next year in August. But any travel with a return after your visa date of 20 October requires a re-entry permit to keep your current permitted to stay alive (as you will not have a visa for a new entry) so prior to travel get that re-entry permit and you enter that number as your visa number for return (and check that you get correct stamp of 9 Sep 2013 on entry as they will have to manually set it).

[NancyL]

It doesn't help the confusion of newbies when those of us who have been retired in Thailand for years talk about going to the local immigration office once yearly to "renew" our retirement visas.

In truth, our visas expired years ago and what we're doing in that annual visit is extending our permission to stay for 12 months due to retirement.

The timing of when you have to do 90-day reports is independent of the deadline for annual extensions. So, Immigration helpfully stamps "visa expires on (fill in the date)" onto your 90 day report slip if the extension expiration date is before the next date for a 90 day report. Argh! What they should stamp is "permission to stay expires on (fill in the date)"

It's no wonder there's so much confusion about terminology and thus misunderstanding of the visa and extension process!.

[JimGant]

Very clearly stated bushwacker , I saved your comments for the future.

You might want to add a few corrections....

He said:

For those that get lost in detail, maybe this might help:

1. Your visa was issued in Washington to enter Thailand. It was good for one year. If you did not enter Thailand in one year then the visa is expired. If you did enter Thailand then the visa becomes used (canceled). Think of it like a ticket to get into a football game. You are now in, the visa has fulfilled its purpose.

You already stated you had a multi-entry Non Imm O-A visa, but if you hadn't, the fact that it was good for one-year would have shown it to be a multi-entry. Had it been a single entry visa, yes, it would be good for only one entry, and you would get a "used" stamp upon entry. But its validity period would only have been for 3-months, not one year.

Upon entering, the Immigration gives you a new stamp and date which expires 1 year from the date of entry. 30 DAYS before the one year is up you may go to immigration and request an extension of stay.

Had this been a single entry Non Imm O-A visa, yes. However, as has been said many times on this forum, with a multi-entry O-A visa you do a border run right before the expiration date of the visa (not the expiration date of the current permission of stay authorization), then get stamped back in with a new one-year permission of stay. Again, only single entry visas are stamped "used" -- multi-entry visas are exactly as they say, and are good for as many entries as you can manage during the one-year validity period.

The practical results are: With a multiple-entry Non Imm O-A visa, you won't have to visit Immigration for nearly two years after visa issue -- unless you do 90-day reporting in person, and/or you wish to travel during your last one-year permission of stay period -- which would require a re-entry stamp from Immigration. But, finally, after nearly two years, and during the last 30 days of the latest permission of stay -- you need to visit Immigration for your first retirement extension -- using the exact same criteria as if you were on the last 30 days of a 90-day permission stamp from a Non Imm O visa (compared to the last 30 days of your 365-day permission stamp).

Think of it like a ticket to get into a football game. You are now in, the visa has fulfilled its purpose

To expand on Bushwacker....think of it as a season ticket. Plus, with a bonus second season -- as long as you don't leave the country during that second season without a re-entry permit.