I've just been issued with a new passport. My old passport has a 3 month permission to stay stamp (non-imm which runs out soon.

I plan to do a visa run to Vientiane to get a new tourist visa. Do I need to transfer my 3 month permission to stay stamp to my new passport or is it ok to exit without it?

I do not want to extend the 3 month to 12 months.

Thanks

As long as just a visa entry (3 months for non immigrant) you just present both passports at exit point and it will be taken care of there.

As long as just a visa entry (3 months for non immigrant) you just present both passports at exit point and it will be taken care of there.

It's the stamp you get at Chaengwattana for 3 months, which you then go back to extend for 12 months.

Thanks for your help.

What stamp at Chiang Watanna? A visa entry is normally issued on arrival at a border/airport - not at Chiang Watanna. If you are talking about conversion to one year extension of stay non immigrant visa entry stamp from a tourist or visa exempt entry that would have to be transferred at Chiang Watanna prior to exit the same as an extension of stay and a re-entry permit obtained.

As you are talking about getting a tourist visa do not know what you currently have however.

What stamp at Chiang Watanna? A visa entry is normally issued on arrival at a border/airport - not at Chiang Watanna. If you are talking about conversion to one year extension of stay non immigrant visa entry stamp from a tourist or visa exempt entry that would have to be transferred at Chiang Watanna prior to exit the same as an extension of stay and a re-entry permit obtained.

As you are talking about getting a tourist visa do not know what you currently have however.

It's a non-immigrant B visa for 90 days issued at Chiang Watanna. It was issued in connection with my employer as the first part of the process to get the full year visa.

I don't want to extend it I just want to leave Thailand and return with a tourist visa.

Thanks

Edited November 8, 201213 yr by Bridle69

Border is likely to notice and require it be transferred I fear. If it was not issued by Chiang Watanna in an extension of stay process there would not be an issue - but as they will be looking closely you may be asked to return for transfer.

Thanks very much.

I have done it several times at different border crossing:You hand in your old and your new passport and they transfer the stamps from your old to your new passport and stamp you out at the same time;takes 5 minutes. No hassles, no questions asked.

I have done it several times at different border crossing:You hand in your old and your new passport and they transfer the stamps from your old to your new passport and stamp you out at the same time;takes 5 minutes. No hassles, no questions asked.

Really? So you think I won't have to go to Chiang Watanna?

A normal visa entry would not require transfer at immigration - but you obtained a special visa for extension of stay and that will likely be noticed and expect border would not want to take action on it and ask you to return to Chiang Watanna. You can try border - they may accept your having changed plans but would not be able to say you will be successful. Maybe.

An update:

I went to Chaengwattana to get my visa transferred into my new passport. They said it couldn't be done there it had to be done at the border. (I've since heard it can be done at Chaengwattana, but not in the nornal immigration area, on one of the higher floors apparently.)

I went to the border on the way to Vientiane, where I was stopped and told to go back to the immigration office a mile or so down the road. It took about 3 hours. But all fine in the end: I got to leave Thailand and I got to the Thai embassy in Vientiane before 12:00 and next the day pick up my new tourist visa.

Unless on an extension of stay from immigration the current procedure is to exit using both passports and paperwork is done at exit point. Nong Khai, having an nearby immigration office, seems to require you travel there rather than doing at the actual exit point.