Extension To Non-imm 'o'

[tutsiwarrior]

I believe that I brought this subject up a couple of years ago. But I'm not sure if things have changed since then.

Over the past 6 years I've done repeated non-imm 'o' visas from overseas Thai embassies to allow for any contingincy as I 'officially' permanently reside with my wife in our house in Suphanburi but work elsewhere. Rather than obtain another one year 'o' visa I would like to extend the present one with a multi-entry facility in perpetuity or until I can learn enough thai language to apply for PR. Let's say that I am normally resident outside of Thailand but close enough to do the application and etc.

The question is...if I apply for an extension, do I have to leave my passport with immigration until the extension is obtained (can't travel outward without it)? I know that extensions are not given on the spot and due to my work schedule I can't hang around in Thailand for more than a week at a time. How long would I have to hang in Thailand to obtain the extension and would there be a multi entry facility attached to the extension to allow working abroad with multiple entries?

I want the world but expect nothing...

[Axel]

I assume your 'O' is based on marriage. Should not be difficult to extent for one year's stay.

Once you have this you can apply immediately for a multi-re-entry permit (Baht 3800) which is has same validity as the extention.

But the first time application might take 2 months. When application is presented you will receive a chop that says "under consideration" and is in fact a 1-month extention of stay. After this 1 month you might get another "still under consideration", come back in one month. During that extention periods a re-entry permit is also only valid for the consideration time.

Once done the extentions for 3 consecutive years on the same original 'O' you can go for PR.

[lopburi3]

There are three things you need to consider:

1. Applications are normally only accepted after you have been present in country 60 days of a 90 day permitted to stay. You do not seem to qualify so it will take exception sweet talk to even extend your stay.

2. You need to be physically present each year during the same 30 day period (60-90 days after your entry prior to first application) in order to submit your new application and if done in Bangkok between 40-45 days later for pickup. You will have passport and can travel with a re-entry permit during that time.

3. If you do this process upcountry the time between application and pickup can vary from a few days to many months so would be very hard to do with your travel.

I suspect you may be able to work it out by explaining exactly what is going on with your work schedule. Charm mode on.

[tutsiwarrior]

cheers folks

looks like I would have to be residing in country to do the extention which I cannot do (would only be in country for 1 - 2 weeks at a time when on assignment elsewhere) which is reasonable...the thais wouldn't want to extend a temporary arrangement if I wasn't around to justify the extension...

pretty much like 2 years before...

[Axel]

Guess, your trips are too long at each time.

For the first application you must come in person. After that, you can send somebody BUT your p/port must show that you are here.

I do it every year with the 'B'. Apply, get a re-entry and come back on time to check what's going on. New stamp, new re-entry and off again. Once you got the annual extention, you have peace for one year or the remainder of it.

[tutsiwarrior]

Guess, your trips are too long at each time.

For the first application you must come in person. After that, you can send somebody BUT your p/port must show that you are here.

I do it every year with the 'B'. Apply, get a re-entry and come back on time to check what's going on. New stamp, new re-entry and off again. Once you got the annual extention, you have peace for one year or the remainder of it.

OK...lets say that I have a non-imm 'o' and have been working elsewhere...I come into Thailand and immediately go down to the immigration office to apply for an extension, lets say within a month of the visa expiration. How long are the immigration folks gonna hang onto my passport? Lets say that the max that I can stay in Thailand is 2 weeks for work purposes. Is re-entry automatic or is it a separate application with similar delays?

My concern is about doing the extension application in a few days while on holiday in Thailand then going back out to work elsewhere...

[lopburi3]

Immigration never takes your passport for an extension of stay - you report one day and spend an hour or two and then 40+ days later go again to get your stamp if done in Bangkok. If done upcountry you normally have to report every 30 days until it is ready. But you have your passport.

To obtain a re-entry permit is another office (in Bangkok) and costs 1,000 baht for single entry. This may take several hours if a line of people. It can also be obtained at airport after check in at an office in Terminal 1 (check in early if you use that option).

[Axel]

If you are outside of Thailand for too long each time, you have a problem.

But let's go through the procedures:

Get a non-imm 'O' (single entry is sufficient) and on arrival you will be allowed to stay for 90 days.

After 60 days, i.e. in the last month apply for extention. Should you travel in between, keep your 90 days up by applying for a re-entry - permit.

When you apply bring all documents, photocopies (each copy signed by yourself), take the wife along. Once your application is accepted the officer will stamp your passport with the mentioned "under consideration - come back by ....[date]", initials this and hands everything to the superior who double checks and signs. Now your stay in Thailand, or if you travel get a new re-entry

and make sure you are back by the mentioned date.

On such date go again and you receive either your extention, or more likely a "still under consideration" stamp which asks you to come back at a certain date. Again if you travel, get a new re-entry and be back by the date mentioned.

The final stamp you really want reads "Extension of stay permitted up to (date 1 year from original entry). That's when you apply for your final re-entry permit, either single at Baht 1000 or multiple at Baht 3800. If you expet more than 3 trips during the remaining period, the multiple is obviously cheaper.

Your passport gets never out of your eyes while dealing with the extention-guys. For the re-entry, if done in the morning they might ask you to come back in the afternoon to pick your p/port and re-entry up.

Or as lopburi3 said, re-entry can be obtained at the airport. The counter is in terminal 1 behind check - in row 6 just on the side before entering the immigration restricted area. At this counter tey also want to see your boardingpass, i.e. business only when you are actually travelling.

[Maestro]

But let's go through the procedures:

Get a non-imm 'O' (single entry is sufficient) and on arrival you will be allowed to stay for 90 days.

After 60 days, i.e. in the last month apply for extention. Should you travel in between, keep your 90 days up by applying for a re-entry - permit.

Axel, I was wondering about that. I know all about the re-entry permit when on an annual extension of stay, and when one’s application is under consideration, but I was unsure if a re-entry permit is also obtainable to keep the 90 permission to stay of a single-entry non-O visa alive. You’ve answered that now.

Tutsiwarrior, there seems to be a way for you after all. You have not said how long at a time you are abroad for your work and how flexible you are in getting to Thailand on specific dates two or three times a year for your annual applications of extension. Let’s assume that you are abroad 6 weeks at a time, followed by 2 weeks in Thailand, and make this hypothetical calculation (PDF document, 10kB)

If you have Excel on your computer, you can load this Excel sheet (18kB) and change the variables (highlighted in yellow) to reflect your situation.

The iffy part is item 13 in the chronology. In another thread, Lopburi mentioned that nowadays Bangkok usually approves after just one 30-day “under consideration” period, whereas a provincial immigration office will give one or more additional “under consideration” periods, of varying lengths (10, 15 or 30 days)

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Maestro

[lopburi3]

Bangkok approval is normally after one 40-45 day extension - upcountry they seem to extend 30 days as a normal wait and then give again if not ready.