I had to take a last minute trip to Hong Kong last week and i forgot to get a re-entry permit before i went. On my arrival back in to Don Muang i was stamped in with a 30 day tourist visa.

Tomorrow I leave the country for a 2 week holiday in the uk.

I am wondering what is the best option to get my visa and work permit status back to what is was before i went to HK.

I had an extension based on work and work permit. The multi entry O had expired but was extended.

Whilst in the UK i can get another multi entry O no problemo if needed

My question is, when i return to Thailand in 2 weeks is it possible to enter as a tourist for 30 days and then visit saunplou and try and get the extension re-established? or is this a pipe dream?

I am afraid, you have to re-apply. Theoretically, if you arrive on a 30-days-visa exemption you first would have to change the status to non-imm.

Suggest, get a non-imm and talk than to immigration about the problem.

If everything fails they might tel you to come back after 60 days, i.e. during the last month of the 90-day-stay and apply than.

Problem, until all through, you are not allowed to work.

Right now, your Immigration sttus is "30 day entry on arrival" - and it cannot be changed to any other status.

What you need to do is take an employment sponsorship letter and full set of employer's company documents with you to UK, and use these to obtin nother non-immigrant Class B visa - or do whatever you did before to get a Class O Visa.

As long as you return to Thailand before the expiration date of your work permit, when the work permit expiration date arrives, you can revalidate the work permit to match the expiration date of your new entry permit. Once you are within 30 dys of tht expirtion date, you can then apply for a new extension of the entry permit - on whatever basis applies to your situation (either "support of a Thai spouse," or "qualifying employment for a qualified employer."

Cheers!

Steve

Indo-Siam

www.thaistartup.com