O-A "retirement" Visa Renewal

[Mr Red]

Background:

-- acquired 1-year O-A "retirement" multiple-entry visa in Ankara, Turkey in Nov 2011

-- entered Thailand on that visa on 23 Dec 2011, stamp says visa expires 22 Dec 2012

-- traveled to US in July-Aug 2012, re-entered Thailand on 8 Aug 2012, and immigration officer stamped as if entering with visa first time -- showed expiration date of 8 Aug 2013

I thought that was just a mistake by the airport guy and I would have to obey the first expiration date. Acquired my incorme letter from embassy ($50) and went to Samut Prakan immigration this AM. Officer there said she could not give me new visa, as old one was still valid, due to the 8 Aug 2013 stamp entry. She suggested I just get a re-entry permit, which I did. Paid 3800 baht for multiple entry re-entry permit in PP which says good until 7 Aug 2013.

So I did not need my income statement or other papers, and ended up getting what was, in effect, an 8-month extension to my original visa for the price of a one year visa. Also did not need the $50 income statement.

I have mixed feelings, but if I can successfully exit/enter Thailand the planned 2-3 times until I have to address this again, I guess I am OK.

Did anyone else have experiences like this?

[ubonjoe]

You could of made a trip out of the country and back last month just before your visa expired and gotten another 1 year entry since your visa was a multiple entry valid for one year.

Since your visa has now expired you need a re-entry permit if you leave the country and plan on returning. You did not have to buy the re-entry permit unless you plan on traveling. A single is only 1000 baht.

[QED]

O-A can effectively be used for up to 2 years. If you do another border run on, say, 21st December you will be stamped back in until 20th December 2013. After that date you must have a re-entry permit as the visa has effectively expired, but you have permission to stay for another year.

To put it more simply, you get a one year stamp every time you enter the country whilst the visa is still valid, so you still have time to get another 1 year stamp. After 22 Dec the visa is not valid, so you will be stamped in up to the latest permission to stay date, providing you have the re-entry permit.

Edit// Just read Ubonjoe's post - I got a bit confused with the dates. Yes it is too late to do another border run

[Jingthing]

Moral of the story: for people to take the bother to obtain a multiple entry O-A visa, make sure to learn how the thing actually works to use it to its maximum value. Cheers.

[IMA_FARANG]

The O A visa you received allows you to enter Thailand and stay here for that first year,

If you are were leaving Thailand within that year you should have purchased an exit re-entry visa from immigration for that exit re-entry.

A single exit re-entry permit costs 1000 Baht, the multi entry one you purchased later for 3800 baht allows unlimited exit re-entries during the time period of your O A visa,

Although you have an O A visa and are not required to do 90 day reporting you still need to purchase an exit re-entry permit when you leave the country and return.

Your O A visa is for people living and residing in Thailand for more than 90 days.

Each time you leave the country you need that exit re-entry permit to keep your O A visa alive.

Actually the immigration was being kind to you... although it's unlikely they would have ....they could have canceled your O A visa because you left the country without that exit re-entry permit.

Both a type O visa and a type O A visa are long term stay visas and are intended for people who are residing in Thailand for more than 90 days.

That's why an exit re-entry is needed if you exit and return.

Always make it a point to show your O or O A visa to the immigration on arrival or departure ... so they realize you have one.

Otherwise they may give you a simple 30 day entry on arrival.

It seems to be that is what happened....the airport immigration person didn't see your O A visa.

Did you write in the O A visa number on the arrival entry form?

And never exit that immigration arrival queue without first checking to be sure you got that right stamp in your passport for your visa.

If you point out their error right there on arrival they can correct it immediately without you needing to go to immigration later to have it corrected,

[Mr Red]

Moral of the story: for people to take the bother to obtain a multiple entry O-A visa, make sure to learn how the thing actually works to use it to its maximum value. Cheers.

Guess I thought I did know how it worked, based on info on the immigration websites and discussions here on TV. It seems to me the original visa was clear -- valid until 22 Dec 2012. However, the airport imm. officer stamped for another year from entry which was a surprise. I do not see this discussed anywhere, yet you act as if it is common knowledge. Are you saying getting a stamp for entry with expiration for another year is standard practice?

If this is so, I guess it would make sense to leave/re-enter Thailand within the last month of the visa validity to get effectively another year.

[QED]

Moral of the story: for people to take the bother to obtain a multiple entry O-A visa, make sure to learn how the thing actually works to use it to its maximum value. Cheers.

Guess I thought I did know how it worked, based on info on the immigration websites and discussions here on TV. It seems to me the original visa was clear -- valid until 22 Dec 2012. However, the airport imm. officer stamped for another year from entry which was a surprise. I do not see this discussed anywhere, yet you act as if it is common knowledge. Are you saying getting a stamp for entry with expiration for another year is standard practice?

If this is so, I guess it would make sense to leave/re-enter Thailand within the last month of the visa validity to get effectively another year.

All of the above, exactly.

[Mr Red]

The O A visa you received allows you to enter Thailand and stay here for that first year,

If you are were leaving Thailand within that year you should have purchased an exit re-entry visa from immigration for that exit re-entry.

A single exit re-entry permit costs 1000 Baht, the multi entry one you purchased later for 3800 baht allows unlimited exit re-entries during the time period of your O A visa,

Although you have an O A visa and are not required to do 90 day reporting you still need to purchase an exit re-entry permit when you leave the country and return.

Your O A visa is for people living and residing in Thailand for more than 90 days.

Each time you leave the country you need that exit re-entry permit to keep your O A visa alive.

Actually the immigration was being kind to you... although it's unlikely they would have ....they could have canceled your O A visa because you left the country without that exit re-entry permit.

Both a type O visa and a type O A visa are long term stay visas and are intended for people who are residing in Thailand for more than 90 days.

That's why an exit re-entry is needed if you exit and return.

Always make it a point to show your O or O A visa to the immigration on arrival or departure ... so they realize you have one.

Otherwise they may give you a simple 30 day entry on arrival.

And never exit that immigration arrival queue without first checking to be sure you got that right stamp in your passport for your visa.

If you point out their error right there on arrival they can correct it immediately without you needing to go to immigration later to have it corrected,

The O-A visa I got initially was a multiple entry visa. Asked several times when got visa and at my 90-day checks (yes I did do them) if I needed re-entry or if the visa itself was enough. Was always told visa was enough.

[QED]

The O A visa you received allows you to enter Thailand and stay here for that first year,

If you are were leaving Thailand within that year you should have purchased an exit re-entry visa from immigration for that exit re-entry.

A single exit re-entry permit costs 1000 Baht, the multi entry one you purchased later for 3800 baht allows unlimited exit re-entries during the time period of your O A visa,

Although you have an O A visa and are not required to do 90 day reporting you still need to purchase an exit re-entry permit when you leave the country and return.

Your O A visa is for people living and residing in Thailand for more than 90 days.

Each time you leave the country you need that exit re-entry permit to keep your O A visa alive.

Actually the immigration was being kind to you... although it's unlikely they would have ....they could have canceled your O A visa because you left the country without that exit re-entry permit.

Both a type O visa and a type O A visa are long term stay visas and are intended for people who are residing in Thailand for more than 90 days.

That's why an exit re-entry is needed if you exit and return.

Always make it a point to show your O or O A visa to the immigration on arrival or departure ... so they realize you have one.

Otherwise they may give you a simple 30 day entry on arrival.

And never exit that immigration arrival queue without first checking to be sure you got that right stamp in your passport for your visa.

If you point out their error right there on arrival they can correct it immediately without you needing to go to immigration later to have it corrected,

O-A visa is multi-entry, no need for re-entry permit. You only need that when you are on permission to stay after the initial 1 year period.

[wayned]

Your orignal visa which was issued in Nov 2011, was valid for entry for 1 year from the date of issue. Each time that you entered during that year you would get aniother 1 year permission to stay stamp. The visa had written on it a expiry date or a must enter by date. When you entered on 23 Dec 2011 you receiveed a 1 year permissin to stay stamp in your passport, it was not a visa, it was giving you one year permission to stay. When you exited and returned on 8 Aud 2012, you again received 1 tear permission to stay until 8 Bug 2013. If you had exited and re-entered before the visa expired in Nov 2012 you would have gotten another 1 year permission to stay. You purchased a re-entry oermit wich will allow you to exit and re-enter keeping you current permission to stay valid unti Aug 2013. If you had exited and re-entered prior to the expiratuion of the visa in Nov 2012, you would have gotten permissionto stay until Nov2013.

To extend your stay in Aug 2013 you must meet the requirements for a retirement visa extension. fIs you are in the country longer than 90 days you must report your address to immigration. The multiple entry O-A visa is actually good for a 2 year stay in Thailand if used correctly.

[moe666]

The O A visa you received allows you to enter Thailand and stay here for that first year,

If you are were leaving Thailand within that year you should have purchased an exit re-entry visa from immigration for that exit re-entry.

A single exit re-entry permit costs 1000 Baht, the multi entry one you purchased later for 3800 baht allows unlimited exit re-entries during the time period of your O A visa,

Although you have an O A visa and are not required to do 90 day reporting you still need to purchase an exit re-entry permit when you leave the country and return.

Your O A visa is for people living and residing in Thailand for more than 90 days.

Each time you leave the country you need that exit re-entry permit to keep your O A visa alive.

Actually the immigration was being kind to you... although it's unlikely they would have ....they could have canceled your O A visa because you left the country without that exit re-entry permit.

Both a type O visa and a type O A visa are long term stay visas and are intended for people who are residing in Thailand for more than 90 days.

That's why an exit re-entry is needed if you exit and return.

Always make it a point to show your O or O A visa to the immigration on arrival or departure ... so they realize you have one.

Otherwise they may give you a simple 30 day entry on arrival.

It seems to be that is what happened....the airport immigration person didn't see your O A visa.

Did you write in the O A visa number on the arrival entry form?

And never exit that immigration arrival queue without first checking to be sure you got that right stamp in your passport for your visa.

If you point out their error right there on arrival they can correct it immediately without you needing to go to immigration later to have it corrected,

Sorry learn the rules, the op was a multiply o-a visa which allows for multiply exits and entries the first year of the visa. Before the visa expires one makes a visa run and gets another year then you need to purchase a re-entry permit to exit and re-enter without loseing your final year. The visa holder must report every 90 days that he remains in the country.without leaving

[lopburi3]

As said above every entry on a valid multi entry O-A visa gets a new one year stay so re-entry permit is only required for travel return after expiration of visa. Also any stay of longer than 90 days requires address reporting to immigration.

[potters]

I have a mulyiple entry retirement visa which expires

on the 15th Jan.

I recently went to the Phillipines and returned on the 25th Oct.

They only stamped it until the 15th Jan on re -entry.

Did i make a mistake not pointing out it was multiple entry.

Can i get the 12 month extension if i leave before 15th Jan?

What do i need?

Sorry bit confused and thick.

Any help gratefully accepted.

[Lite Beer]

It looks like you have a Multi Entry Non Imm O Visa.

Each entry will get 90 days, which is what you got.

Sent from my i-mobile i-note WiFi 9 using Thaivisa Connect App

[lopburi3]

Believe you have a multi re-entry permit for an extension of stay until January 15th so using that got a return stamp for that date.

[potters]

so if o leave before the visa expires will i get another 90 days after the 15th Jan.

taking me past the expiration date.

Thanks in advance.

[lopburi3]

What do you actually have? An extension and re-entry permit or a multi entry O visa from a Consulate? And what are the dates of issue and expiration (use by)?

[potters]

Lopburi,

iI have a Non Immigrant Retirement visa multiple entry

Issued here in Thailand on 5th Jan 2012

expires 15th Jan 2013

Fist issued in Oct 2010 for 15 months

this would be my 2nd extension.

The reason im asking is i dont have

the funds in place yet and wondered

if i got another 90 days then i can get things sorted.

If not what would you reccomend as i wont have the funds in place by the 15th Jan.

[Mario2008]

Since it was issued in Thailand, you have an extension of stay with a multiple re-entry permit and not a multiple entry visa. You will not get an extra 90 days by leaving the country, they will just stamp you in till the 15th of january.

There are 3 ways to qualify for an extension of stay, one is the combined method. That mean you must have a yearly income together with money in a bank in Thailand totalling 800,000 baht. The income can be from abroad and in that case must be certified by your embassy.

With the combined option the money doesn't need to be seasoned.

[lopburi3]

As said you must qualify for another extension of stay or temporary end your retirement stay and obtain another entry or extension type until you can qualify financially. As mentioned an Embassy letter of income along with a back account to meet the 800k per year requirement would not require the money to be in account the normal 3 months. Otherwise a tourist visa or single entry non immigration O visa would likely be issued by a country in the area to give you time to season funds. If you actually have the funds but not seasoned you could even get a visa exempt entry and obtain the non immigrant O visa entry from immigration for 2,000 baht and then extend when meeting the seasoning period.

[potters]

Many thanks for the sound advice

[Hunter88]

I too have a OA visa. If I leave and return I need a re-entry stamp. Each time I return my visa is renewed until the original end date. I have never been given another year. If I leave before my 90 day report I need not make the report as reentering qualifies as a 90 day report. After the 1 year ends I must renew my OA visa for another year. Again a reentry stamp is needed if you leave and return during the 1 year period.

[lopburi3]

But you do not renew your OA visa if doing in Thailand - you obtain a one year extension of stay for retirement. It is not a visa and not called OA. Your re-entry does not equate to a 90 day report because no such report is required if you do not stay 90 days or more - it is day one of a new 90 day count.

[Jingthing]

I too have a OA visa. If I leave and return I need a re-entry stamp. Each time I return my visa is renewed until the original end date. I have never been given another year. If I leave before my 90 day report I need not make the report as reentering qualifies as a 90 day report. After the 1 year ends I must renew my OA visa for another year. Again a reentry stamp is needed if you leave and return during the 1 year period.

Your ORIGINAL visa WAS an O-A. Now you have annual extensions. Assuming your original O-A was a mutli-entry O-A, you COULD have gotten one year stays on each arrival for the limited period of the ORIGINAL validity of your O-A visa. Your O-A visa is no longer valid so saying you "have one" just means you had one and it is in your passport. Your extensions are your current means of staying in Thailand and yes you need reentry permits with that and they only save till the current ending date of your current annual extensions. I started with an O visa, not an O-A, and now am also on extensions for years. We are now in the exact same boat. Cheers.

[Suradit69]

What do you actually have? An extension and re-entry permit or a multi entry O visa from a Consulate? And what are the dates of issue and expiration (use by)?

I think some of the confusion in this thread and, in many threads, is the distinction between being here based on a still valid visa and being here on an "extension of stay" after your visa has expired.

Quite often people speak of going to Immigrations to renew their visas or to get a new visa, when they are actually getting an extension of stay.

[Jingthing]

What do you actually have? An extension and re-entry permit or a multi entry O visa from a Consulate? And what are the dates of issue and expiration (use by)?

I think some of the confusion in this thread and, in many threads, is the distinction between being here based on a still valid visa and being here on an "extension of stay" after your visa has expired.

Quite often people speak of going to Immigrations to renew their visas or to get a new visa, when they are actually getting an extension of stay.

Yes and that's why some of us who regularly post advice here probably come off as tediously pedantic, because it you don't have an agreement on terminology, you're not communicating clearly. Of course its pretty much an endless struggle because some Thai immigration offices themselves also perpetuate the muddied terminology themselves. So for example we're telling you you're applying for an annual extension but your immigration office clerk might be saying you're renewing your visa or more likely you ask to renew your visa and they hand you a form with no comment. We're right. (Ha ha.)

[OJAS]

Of course its pretty much an endless struggle because some Thai immigration offices themselves also perpetuate the muddied terminology themselves.

As do the British Embassy: they insist on calling their letter authorising the transfer of stamps from an old passport to a new one a "visa transfer letter", even though what is to be transferred is a current extension of stay stamp. And I was under the impression that unexpired visas could not be transferred to a new passport in any event!

[jcnbkk]

O-A can effectively be used for up to 2 years. If you do another border run on, say, 21st December you will be stamped back in until 20th December 2013. After that date you must have a re-entry permit as the visa has effectively expired, but you have permission to stay for another year.

To put it more simply, you get a one year stamp every time you enter the country whilst the visa is still valid, so you still have time to get another 1 year stamp. After 22 Dec the visa is not valid, so you will be stamped in up to the latest permission to stay date, providing you have the re-entry permit.

Edit// Just read Ubonjoe's post - I got a bit confused with the dates. Yes it is too late to do another border run

Now I'm confused. I got a multi entry O-A retirement visa in USA in april 23 2012, good to enter until 24 April 2013. Arrived in thailand May 31 2012 and got a stamp in passport that said 31 may 2012 - 30 may 2013. Did a 90 day report at Changwattana in August. Sept 3 went to Cambodia for 2 weeks. No need for exit permit as my visa was multi entry. When I came back across the border they stamped my passport 11 Sept - 10 Dec 2012, (90 days) I tried to ask why It wasn't until Sept 2013 but they said no. I just did my 90 day report Dec 10 and got a receipt and a next report date in March, no stamp. Did some reading, asked others, and the best I can understand is the that the stamps in the passport and the actual visa are two different things and that no matter what I have to renew that visa by its end date of 24 April 2013. Yet I've also seen where others have gotten more time, like you say above, but I don't understand it. Can someone clarify this. Would really appreciate it, want to get as much time as I can from it but want to stay on the right side of the rules.

[ubonjoe]

The immigration officer that stamped you into the country made a mistake. You should of gotten a one year entry.

You should of shown immigration the stamping error while you were at immigration for your 90 day report. They have a desk just for stamp errors.

[lopburi3]

As said entry officer gave you a non immigrant O visa entry of 90 days rather than the O-A entry of one year and you need to visit the correction desk at Chiang Watanna and get it corrected. I would do the correction rather than a new exit/entry without as it might cause more issues if not corrected before a new entry to get a new year stay (before 24 April).