Sticky visa situation. Advice greatly appreciated

[greatgatsbee]

Hi all,

I have got myself into a confusing visa situation and would appreciate any advice forum members may have.

In August I changed jobs, but I did not cancel my non-immigrant visa. I went on a month's holiday and while out of the country got my new visa, a non-immigrant F, good for three months that I was told to extend in Bangkok. But when I re-entered Thailand instead of stamping my new visa, immigration stamped my old one. I was then told that I could not extend my F visa because I hadn't entered the country on it.

Now I am concerned that if I cancel the old visa and leave the country my new visa, the F, will be voided as it is only good for one entry. I have a letter confirming my exit date from my previous job, which has now passed. Could they retroactively void the visa and then charge me with overstay?

I may not be explaining this well, but I would appreciate any advice on what I should do next. Do I leave the country and then ask immigration to stamp the new visa upon re-entry? I am really at a loss.

Many thanks

[Mario2008]

Did you had a valid multiple entry visa or did you have an extension of stay with a re-entry permit?

If you were on an extension of stay from immigration with a re-entry permit you should have cancelled your WP and permission to stay in Thailand, which you did not do. Immigration will indeed consider you on overstay at 500 baht a day.

You should not have gotten a new visa while you still had a valid entry into Thailand.

You should cancel your current permission to stay, pay overstay fine and leave the country. Not sure if they will consider the new visa invalid upon entry.

[Gone]

What is an "F" visa?

[stoneyboy]

What is an "F" visa?

For official duties.

[MeowBundit]

Until your F visa still in timeframe and not past date, you can leave and re-enter on F visa. Only a problem is your old visa which you need to cancel. If you have a letter from employee, you better have it with date you visit immigration. Then, do not do any 7-days extension, just fly-back to Kuala Lumpur and activate your F visa. Flights drom Don Mueang by Air Asia, 5 times per day, you can reach airport on taxi from Immigration in 15 minutes drive...

Situation with NON-B/NON-ED - based extensions not clear for many expats... Letter from employee/Letter from school can cancel extension on date letter issued. Ask employer for letter with date you want visit immigration, then you avoid overstay

[greatgatsbee]

Thank you all for your feedback. I will do as Meowbandit suggested.

[technologybytes]

Until your F visa still in timeframe and not past date, you can leave and re-enter on F visa. Only a problem is your old visa which you need to cancel. If you have a letter from employee, you better have it with date you visit immigration. Then, do not do any 7-days extension, just fly-back to Kuala Lumpur and activate your F visa. Flights drom Don Mueang by Air Asia, 5 times per day, you can reach airport on taxi from Immigration in 15 minutes drive...

Situation with NON-B/NON-ED - based extensions not clear for many expats... Letter from employee/Letter from school can cancel extension on date letter issued. Ask employer for letter with date you want visit immigration, then you avoid overstay

A Thai consulate told me that any Visa automatically cancels any previous visa even if it's still in date.

I'm talking about actual visas here and not extensions of stay etc..

[greatgatsbee]

Until your F visa still in timeframe and not past date, you can leave and re-enter on F visa. Only a problem is your old visa which you need to cancel. If you have a letter from employee, you better have it with date you visit immigration. Then, do not do any 7-days extension, just fly-back to Kuala Lumpur and activate your F visa. Flights drom Don Mueang by Air Asia, 5 times per day, you can reach airport on taxi from Immigration in 15 minutes drive...

Situation with NON-B/NON-ED - based extensions not clear for many expats... Letter from employee/Letter from school can cancel extension on date letter issued. Ask employer for letter with date you want visit immigration, then you avoid overstay

One question MeowBundit, would going to Aranyaprathet/Poipet also accomplish the same thing? I was thinking of getting the 7-day extension and doing that trip the following day. If I can't get my previous employer to agree to provide the letter with the date of my immigration visit on it, then I might be facing a hefty overstay fine and don't want to accrue any additional expense.

[happysanook]

Did you had a valid multiple entry visa or did you have an extension of stay with a re-entry permit?

If you were on an extension of stay from immigration with a re-entry permit you should have cancelled your WP and permission to stay in Thailand, which you did not do. Immigration will indeed consider you on overstay at 500 baht a day.

You should not have gotten a new visa while you still had a valid entry into Thailand.

You should cancel your current permission to stay, pay overstay fine and leave the country. Not sure if they will consider the new visa invalid upon entry.

I fail to see how they'll even know about him not working unless he let's them know? The greater chance is they won't even know he hasn't been working.

[MeowBundit]

OP enters on previous visa extension to stay. OP please check twice you sure your F not used? Anyway single entry viva MUST have stamp USED.

If your F really not used, then I recommend cancel your extension with new letter from employer, then, I really recommend fly to Kuala and Why

1. You can easily reach Don Mueang directly from Immigration and fly AirAsia. 5 flights per day.

2. If you lucky you can catch 3000 THB roundtrip ticket, no visa for Malaysia, free stamp.

3. Total cost and mess/headache from flight can be much lower than from Aranya trip, where you will battle touts/Cambo visa scams etc. You spend for flight amount close to Cambo border run... but save nerves.

[Mario2008]

1 off topic post has been removed. Let's stick to the question.

[Mario2008]

Did you had a valid multiple entry visa or did you have an extension of stay with a re-entry permit?

If you were on an extension of stay from immigration with a re-entry permit you should have cancelled your WP and permission to stay in Thailand, which you did not do. Immigration will indeed consider you on overstay at 500 baht a day.

You should not have gotten a new visa while you still had a valid entry into Thailand.

You should cancel your current permission to stay, pay overstay fine and leave the country. Not sure if they will consider the new visa invalid upon entry.

I fail to see how they'll even know about him not working unless he let's them know? The greater chance is they won't even know he hasn't been working.

When applying for his new extension of stay they might very well inquire about his old job and why he didn't cancel that one properly.