Non-O visa and extension of stay

[peterh123]

I have a question regarding non-O visa extension. I am sure it has been asked many times before, but I can't find clear information about this particular problem elsewhere, so would appreciate any answers here.

I have a multiple entry non-O visa from my home country which is valid until Aug 14 2014. I would like to apply for extension based on retirement when the visa expires. Not quite sure that is the correct wording, but my home country Thai embassy told me that they would not do a non-O A visa, and that I should apply to Immigration in Thailand when my current visa expires in order to obtain a one year extension of stay permit (presumably based on retirement). Is this understanding correct or did I mix things up here?

The timing is not the best for me as I would ideally leave Thailand to visit my home country between June and September. So I would not be in Thailand mid August when the visa expires. Can the O visa be extended (say 3 months) and can I then later (in October/November) apply for a retirement-based extension?

[TerryLH]

Option 1. Do the 1 year extension prior to going back to your country. You would do that within the last 30 days of any of your 90 day 'permission to stay'. It would require a re-entry permit to keep the new date alive when you returned from holiday. Cost for extension is 1900 baht. Cost for re-entry permit is 1000 baht (obtained prior to travel.)

Option 2. Probably a better option for you. While in your home country, get a single Non Imm O Visa. When you return to Thailand you'll get 90 days. Within the last 30 days of that entry, apply at an immigration office for a 1 year extension based on retirement. Cost for that is 1900 baht.

[ubonjoe]

You do not have to wait for your visa to expire to apply for an extension for stay. You can do it during any of your 90 day entries.

It would be best to get your extension before you make your trip and get a re-entry permit.

TerrryLH's option 2 would not be a good option because you could well have problems getting a single entry non-o now.

A third option would be to do a border run just before you leave in June and get a new 90 entry that would give a you a permit to stay date until September and then get a re-entry permit of that entry. You could then do your extension as soon as you return.

[peterh123]

Bonnie and TerryLH, thanks for your answers.

Does this mean that if I get a re-entry permit and do a border run my date of return would automatically be set to 90 days from the date of re-entry, irrespective of the expiry date of my visa?

With regard to option 1, my current permission to stay expires on April 3. Can I apply for a 1 year extension sometime in March and would that then be valid until sometime in March 2015? Is an extension multiple-entry or do I need to apply separately for that?

[ubonjoe]

You would get the re-entry permit after the border run. The re-entry permit would keep the 90 day entry valid so that when your return you would still have a non immigrant visa entry that you could then extend.

If you did the extension in March it would be valid until April 3rd 2015. Extensions start at end of your most recent entry.

You could do the extension and apply for a re-entry permit that would be valid for the length of your extension. Then just show your old passport on entry after your trip and you would be stamped in until.April 3rd 2015.

When you have a the new passport you would need to go to immigration to have your stamps transferred to it.

[peterh123]

Ubonjoe, thank you for your answers. I think you got me mixed up with somebody else in your last reply. I do not need to change passport. Anyway, I think the safest option for me is to actually apply for a 1 year extension of stay on my current 90 day entry and at the same time apply for a re-entry permit to bring me back into the country.

When I have my extension of stay (this will be my first!) can I then enter end exit Thailand freely or would I need to have it covered by applying for a multiple re-entry permit?

If so, it would make more sense to apply for that multiple re-entry permit already now, right?

[Lite Beer]

You apply for the Multi Re Entry Permit when you receive you one year extension.