Extension Of Visa For Time Spent Out Of Thailand

[Mobi]

I have just spoken to a guy with a non- immigrant visa (retirement), and he has just come back from 5 weeks out of the country.

He told me he is going to immigration to tell them he's back and get his visa stamped. I asked him why did he need to do that? didn't he get a re-entry visa when he left? and he said that he did, but he still has to go and report to immigration and they will extend his visa for the 5 weeks he was out of Thailand. In other words, if his original extension was until, say, 30th Sept, immigration will extend that visa by another 5 weeks - to around 5th Novemeber.

I have never heard of anything like this before. Am I going crazy, or is the guy right?

Expert opinions please. Thanks.

Edited May 2, 2006 by Mobi D'Ark

[Axel]

That sounds strange. Either he holds a non-immigrant O - visa (multiple) and gets permission to stay in the Kingdom not exceeding 90 days.

Or he is on an extented permission to stay which usually, for retirees, is granted up to 12 month from the last entry.

As he had a re-entry permit I assume he is on the extention and upon return will only be allowed to stay as long as the re-entry permit says, i.e. the time originally granted.

There is no 'bonus' to be added for time spent outside of Thailand.

[Mobi]

That sounds strange. Either he holds a non-immigrant O - visa (multiple) and gets permission to stay in the Kingdom not exceeding 90 days.

Or he is on an extented permission to stay which usually, for retirees, is granted up to 12 month from the last entry.

As he had a re-entry permit I assume he is on the extention and upon return will only be allowed to stay as long as the re-entry permit says, i.e. the time originally granted.

There is no 'bonus' to be added for time spent outside of Thailand.

That's exactly what I thought. I told him that in more than 30 years of coming and going to Thailand, I have never heard of time added onto visas for time spent out of the country.

he told me that "I learn something new every day", and that he had done it many times.

When I tried to press him on it, he started swearing and told me "I've told you once and I'm not f,,,ng telling you again!"

Well, regardless. I guess I've lost a 'friend', but I'm mighty curious to know if he's full of shit or am I full of shit?

[astral]

Never heard of this before.

If you leave and renter with a re-entry permit that is it.

No extensions for the time you were out.

The 90 day clock starts again, from the time you arrive back.

[desmond]

He is pulling your leg, I never heard of such things, just ignore him.

[Mobi]

He is pulling your leg, I never heard of such things, just ignore him.

He certainly wasn't pulling my leg - he was deadly serious, and said he was on his way down to Pattaya immigration to report in and get his 5 weeks added on.

Lopburi3, please put the seal of authority on this question and tell me the guy is out of his mind. Thanks

[lopburi3]

Did you ask to see his passport? Don't believe anything you hear in a Pattaya bar.

[Mobi]

Did you ask to see his passport? Don't believe anything you hear in a Pattaya bar.

Why does everyone automatically assume the worst when the word Pattaya is mentioned.

It wasn't a bar - he is my neighbour, and we were sitting on my pool terrace at 10 am this morning. he was stone cold sober, and I don't drink.

Do I take your response as a negative then?

[lopburi3]

Anything is possible in Thailand; but let's just say I would not believe it without seeing his passport.

You live in Pattaya and wonder? It may not be accurate all the time but you have to admit this sure sounds like the kind of tale you hear in a bar - and you did quote him as saying "I've told you once and I'm not f,,,ng telling you again!" which does not sound like morning coffee at the pool talk.

[Mobi]

Anything is possible in Thailand; but let's just say I would not believe it without seeing his passport.

You live in Pattaya and wonder? It may not be accurate all the time but you have to admit this sure sounds like the kind of tale you hear in a bar - and you did quote him as saying "I've told you once and I'm not f,,,ng telling you again!" which does not sound like morning coffee at the pool talk.

Fair enough, and thanks for your opinion.

I did ask him what date they had stamped in his passport when he arrived at the airport, and he looked at me in a threatening manner and said: "I don't know - I haven't looked!" So I didn't ask to look at it.

It was his strange and aggressive behaviour which prompted me to raise the issue on the forum.

I guess I'll never know for sure, because I'm not about to have any more coffee mornings with him. My guess is that he forgot to get a re-entry visa and lost his extension - and didn't want to admit it. Hence the aggression when I pushed him a little.

TIT

[monty]

Normally this would be impossible...

But then again, at Pattaya (or should it now be Jomtien?) immigration pretty much anything is possible...

Friend of mine just walked out of there carrying a paper confirming that he was holding a valid non-immigr. visa together with confirmation of address (purpose Thai driver license)...

He does not have, nor did he ever had a non immigrant visa, he's been border-running for the last 3 years...

Seems the only requirement to qualify for that paper were the handover of two purple notes to some undisclosed charity...

Oh, and the department of transport did take that paper at face value, and my friend is now the proud owner of both a car and a motorbike license.

Edited May 2, 2006 by monty

[astral]

I did ask him what date they had stamped in his passport when he arrived at the airport, and he looked at me in a threatening manner and said: "I don't know - I haven't looked!"

A stupid attitude to take.

ALWAYS check the stamp in your passport.

If it is not correct it should be amended asap.

[Mobi]

I did ask him what date they had stamped in his passport when he arrived at the airport, and he looked at me in a threatening manner and said: "I don't know - I haven't looked!"

A stupid attitude to take.

ALWAYS check the stamp in your passport.

If it is not correct it should be amended asap.

Couldn't agree with you more. And this is a guy who I helped out a lot with faxes and emails from my office to get the job that took him away for 5 weeks.

With friends like him......

I have to go to immigration next Monday to do my 90 day reporting, so I'll try and find out once and for all if its possible to get credit for time spent out of the country, as I guess its the only way I'll find out, and as Monty says - anything is possible in Pattaya