Non Imm 'o' Border Crossing

[kimamey]

I'm suffering from a bit of confusion over my visa. I've looked through a lot of posts on here which have pointed me in the right direction but there's a few things I would like to check on.

I'm 58 and from the UK. I live with my Thai gf but we aren't married yet although we have the paperwork for that and will do it soon. I've got a multiple entry Non Imm 'O' visa based on retirement which started on 3rd December 2012 and I arrived on 11th December. As I understand it now I can't do 90 day reporting until I get an extension to that visa which will have to be before 3rd December 2013. I don't have the financials in place at the moment to do this although that will change shortly.

I think I'm right in saying that I can just go out of the country and then return and I will get another 90 days. As far as I can tell I don't need a re entry permit. My plan at the moment is a trip to Lao either via Chong Mek which I've done before or through Nong Khai.

One other point, can I take a car over the border as I'm thinking this will save a bit of time?

Many thanks for any help.

[MJCM]

Mulitple Entry means exactly that, so yes you can leave any time you want (until the visa is still valid) and when you come back you will get another 90 Days.

If you (a couple of days before 3rd December 2013) make a border run and come back into Thailand, you again get a 90 Days stay, and thus give you some more time to get your financials in order.

Ps: The extension based on marriage needs to be done in the last 30 days of your stay, so you can do it somewhere in February 2014 (if you exit before 3rd December 2013 and come back the same day eq Visa Run)

PsPs: No idea about taking the car

PsPsPs: Extension of Stay you get from Immigration locally here in Thailand and to be able to leave the country and to keep your extension "alive" you need a re entry permit, BUT if you got a Multiple Entry Visa from an Embassy or Consulate outside of Thailand, you don't need to worry about re-entry permits , 90 Day Address reporting etc etc

Edited March 1, 2013 by MJCM

[kimamey]

Mulitple Entry means exactly that, so yes you can leave any time you want (until the visa is still valid) and when you come back you will get another 90 Days.

If you (a couple of days before 3rd December 2013) make a border run and come back into Thailand, you again get a 90 Days stay, and thus give you some more time to get your financials in order.

Ps: The extension based on marriage needs to be done in the last 30 days of your stay, so you can do it somewhere in February 2014 (if you exit before 3rd December 2013 and come back the same day eq Visa Run)

PsPs: No idea about taking the car

Thanks for that.

It appears that I might finally have got things right although I've thought that before and been wrong.

I'm sure I've seen posts on here about people driving over the border but I can't find them at the moment but I'm sure someone will know.

[MJCM]

<snip>

I'm sure I've seen posts on here about people driving over the border but I can't find them at the moment but I'm sure someone will know.

Maybe ask this question in the Motor Forum or the SE-Asia Forum ???

[Thanyaburi Mac]

I'd sure NOT bother with taking my car to Laos if all I wanted to do was a quickie border run for another 90 day stay in Thailand.

First off you'll need the car "passport" from your local Land Transport Department office in Thailand, easy enough to get.

Next, you'd need to process the Thai, then Lao, customs paperwork at the border, takes some time, altho not a whole lot unless there's a bunch of cars crossing.

Then get the Lao insurance, cheap enough, but still, be careful about driving there.

Just simpler to do a visa run without taking your car along with you.

Mac

[kimamey]

<snip>

I'm sure I've seen posts on here about people driving over the border but I can't find them at the moment but I'm sure someone will know.

Maybe ask this question in the Motor Forum or the SE-Asia Forum ???

I may try that. I don't know why I can't find anything about it with a search. I know I've read posts on the subject before.

[mahjongguy]

The OP said "I've got a multiple entry Non Imm 'O' visa based on retirement". Perhaps he actually has an O-A visa. That would change everything.

[MJCM]

^ Yeah a year stay instead of 90 days

[MJCM]

<snip>

I'm sure I've seen posts on here about people driving over the border but I can't find them at the moment but I'm sure someone will know.

Maybe ask this question in the Motor Forum or the SE-Asia Forum ???

I may try that. I don't know why I can't find anything about it with a search. I know I've read posts on the subject before.

Try this search term in Google: site:thaivisa.com/forum car+laos

[lopburi3]

But he also said another 90 day stay so it is not an O-A in that case.

1. Only if car is in your name and you have title can if cross border - and as said will be a lot of paperwork involved and take much longer than a simple go/return by public transport. You do not have to remain in Laos any time beyond entry/exit.

2. You can extend during the last 30 days of any 90 day entry. You can extend for retirement with 800k/65k or Thai wife (after marriage) with 400k/40k but retirement is easier if you have the funds.

[kimamey]

The OP said "I've got a multiple entry Non Imm 'O' visa based on retirement". Perhaps he actually has an O-A visa. That would change everything.

I put Non Imm 'O' because that's what I've got but it's a good point as many people don't seem to know about them. I only found out by accident.

One of the reasons for not getting one this time as far as I can remember was because it seemed likely that it would be difficult to prove my financial situation due to it being a bit complex. The 'O' from the consulate in Hull seemed to fit a bit better at that time.

[kimamey]

But he also said another 90 day stay so it is not an O-A in that case.

1. Only if car is in your name and you have title can if cross border - and as said will be a lot of paperwork involved and take much longer than a simple go/return by public transport. You do not have to remain in Laos any time beyond entry/exit.

2. You can extend during the last 30 days of any 90 day entry. You can extend for retirement with 800k/65k or Thai wife (after marriage) with 400k/40k but retirement is easier if you have the funds.

Thanks. It looks like the car isn't the best option. I had a feeling it might not be but I thought I'd check first.

[snairb]

an aside but i thought if you did a land crossing you only get 15 days but above implies a multiple re-entry visa can get 90

having recently done kl and back could have saved a fortune if above correct let alone the time involved

[lopburi3]

If you have a visa you get the time of entry permitted by that visa (non immigrant 90 days or 1 year for O-A and 60 days for most tourist visas). The 15 day entry is for those without a valid visa making a visa exempt entry.

[snairb]

oh dear silly me thats 2 trips to kl and to make things even worse a week before last trip i was in nong khai and walked as far as i could across the f bridge

thanks for info