Extra 3 Months On Non O Multiple Entry?

[Dutchbike]

Here's my situation:

Last visa issued 20-12-2011 (Savannaket Laos) Non-O multiple entry ( married to a Thai)

use before 19-12-2012.

1 entry: 21-12-2011 coming from Laos

2 entry: 15-03-2012 coming from Singapore

3 entry: 11-06-2012 coming from Cambodia

4 entry: 07-09-2012 coming from Cambodia

I thought after that last border run (07-09-2012 valid until 05-12-2012) i should get a new visa, but during that last run a immigration officer tolded us i could get one more stamp ( 3 months) on this visa.

Now the time time is near for a new visa/or stamp, my wife called him,( he gave us his card) he tolded we could go to the border (CHONGCHOM) and before entering Cambodia call him so he could take ( another) look at my visa, ( my wife gave him all the dates as written above) if i can get another 3 months stamp.

Is it this worth the try ( or better say, a 250 km drive???)

If i would get another 3 months stamp it would mean my visa was good for 15 months.

I have my doubts about that extra 3 months, but mayby someone here has got a similar experience.

Thanks in advance

[The Dude]

He tolded you correctly. enter b4 that useby date and you grab 3 more months

[lopburi3]

Any exit and return before the end of 19 December will get a new 90 day stay. But I would advise doing it on the 18th or before because of the English language "use before"? Although I have not seen any report in the last few years this used to be questioned by some immigration officers who understood we normally would equate to before that date rather then before then end of that date.

So if you cross/return on 18th or before there should not be any concern and you will get a new 90 day stay.

[Dutchbike]

@ the Dude and Lopburi 3 thanks for the superfast reply,

I always was under the impression that i could use my visa only 4x3 months good to know this info.

[lopburi3]

Visa can be used as many times as you want during the one year it is valid and each entry gets a new 90 day stay.

[el jefe]

You actually need to get the new stamp by 5/12/12 as that's the day your current 3 month stamp expires. That would give you a little less than 15 months. Of course, then you could go back on 18/12/12 to get the full 15 months.

[wayned]

You need to do it on or before 5/12/2012, the expiration os your current permission to stay, otherwise you will be on overstay after the 5th.

[IMA_FARANG]

Yes it's possible.

I myself had a 1 year Non immigrant multi entry O visa.

Note carefully that "must be used before" date which is normally one year after it was issued.

From what you said that date is apparently December 19th for you.

To get another 90 day entry you exit Thailand (making sure you get that Thai exit stamp).

Cross the border into a neighboring country....apparently that will be Cambodia for you, but Laos or Malaysia will do as well....then immeadiately turn around and re-enter Thailand.

On re-entry you will get another 90 day entry stamp....even though your multi entry visa has only one day left before it will expire.

That 90 day "permitted to stay until....(stamped date here)" stamp.... keeps you in Thailand legally even though the visa expires one day after you get that entry stamp.

Of course, that is the last entry on that visa....and you obviously cannot extend an expired visa.

But that's how you milk every drop out of that one year multi entry visa....stretchiing it to 15 months.

I would do it one day before your visa's expiration date....in your case Decenber 18th....just so the immigration doesn't think your visa is already expired as he or she might think on the 19th of December.

By the way....when using either Cambodia or Laos for this "border run" you will need to get a visa from that country and have at least one free page in your passport for your Cambodian or Laotian visa.

[SantiSuk]

And watch out for the request for another $20 (or its baht equivalent) from the Cambodian border guards as you get stamped back out of Chong Jom. Refuse politely ('sorry money finished') or try and walk away. It doesn't happen at Choam Sa Ngam (south of SiSaket) by the way.

Why Cambodia does not crack down on the local scams that set in stone foreigners bad views on the whole country's ethics is beyond me*. Authorities clearly know it happens - why else have prominent signs "No payments required here" at the exit immigration booths of Phnomh Penh airport. They must have stamped down on it at the airport but perhaps they don't give a toss what the typically more budget-oriented 'overlanders' think!

*I find Cambodians to be fine people outside the usual corrupt quarters of the high and mighty. Their border antics are something that even the more pervasively corrupt Thais have not emulated.

[ubonjoe]

You can also get another 60 days out of your extra 90 day entry by going to immigration and getting a 60 day extension to visit your wife.

[Dutchbike]

A lot of replies and good info thanks everybody!!

Indeed.... i will have to get my new stamp before (or on) 5 december, to go back again on the 19th december to get another entry of 90 days just wins me 14 days and not worth the effort and money.

I knew that you can use a multiple entry visa as many times you want, but thought the maximum stay would be 12 months, that "extra" 3 months is good to know.

i did my border run at that Cambodian border quite some times and Chong Chom border ( or Kap chaoeng) is a very laid back border, Hardly used by farangs, almost no waiting time, it attracks loads of Thai ( brought there by those grey minivans) which are all in a hurry the loose there money in the big casino resorts located just after the bordercrossing.

.

A border run costs me 1200 thb for the Cambodian visa and another 300 thb for leaving Cambodia the same day (if you stay one day in Cambodia you don't have to pay that 300 thb)

Mayby that's a ripp -off ???? well for 300 thb i don't want to make a scene. i'm perfectly happy with this border,

In Cambodia you can take a motorbike taxi ( or walk) to a market, not very special but some shops there have a good collection of very cheap DVD's (the latest movies) and i'm a big fan of movies so always paying that shops a visit and.funny to notice they already recognice me.

Again many thanks for all the info,

.