Confusion over extension of stay, permission of stay, and stamps with Non-O Visa

[CanadianGirl2]

I am currently in Thailand on a 12 month multi-entry Non-Immigrant O Visa that expires in 2015. The visa was granted on the basis of marriage to a Thai national (husband). I am not close to retirement age. My 90 day entry stamp expires in few weeks and I would like to remain in Thailand without doing any border runs.

I have made several visits to my local immigration office but have not received a straight answer. They talked about an extension of stay and border runs but I said that they were mistaken and that I didn’t need to do either of those things (to my knowledge).

I was under the impression that extensions of stay are based on one’s visa expiration date and not when your entry stamp expires.

Am I correct in assuming that I do not need to apply for the 12 month marriage extension at this time since my visa is valid until 2015? Rather I just need to report to immigration every 90 days with TM.47 (FORM FOR ALIEN TO NOTIFY OF STAYING LONGER THAN 90 DAYS) and the supporting documents?

If not, how can I remain in Thailand until my visa expires without doing border runs?

Thank you.

[Lite Beer]

As it stands you have to leave the country every 90 days.

During the final 30 days of any entry you can apply for a 12 month extension of stay based on your marriage.

You could then just report to Immigration every 90 days.

Being a woman that would be relatively easy to do as you do not have to meet the same financial requirements as a man does.

[Upnotover]

I am on the same and unless the rules are different for girls then you will have to do a border run every 90 days. There is no provision to "report" on an multiple non-O (marriage).

[ubonjoe]

You extend your permit to stay you get on entry to the country not your visa. Visas cannot be extended.

As said you can do an extension of stay during the last 30 days of any the 90 day entries you get from your visa.

[thepool]

"I have made several visits to my local immigration office but have not received a straight answer. They talked about an extension of stay and border runs but I said that they were mistaken and that I didn’t need to do either of those things (to my knowledge)."

Suspect the immigration officer(s) were saying get an extension of stay OR continue with the border runs !

(In other words you were given good advise)

As said (Post 4) if you wish to stay and not want to do border runs an extension of stay should be applied for .

[MikeandDow]

you have been give good advice on this forum, why do you not take your husband with you to immigration and ask for an extension of stay,

[CanadianGirl2]

During the final 30 days of any entry you can apply for a 12 month extension of stay based on your marriage.

So I can apply for an extension of stay (Tm.7) now based on marriage (as my entry stamp has less than 30 days left out of the 90) regardless of when my visa expires?

On TM.7 it states “I wish to apply for an extension of temporary stay in the Kingdom for another period of X days”. Is 12 months the maximum I can put or since it's my first time applying it's 12 months from when I first entered Thailand?

Edit. Also, what's the difference between a 1-year single entry extension and a 1-year multi entry extension for someone that already holds a multi-entry visa? I see now that my multi-entry visa was a waste of money since I'm applying for an extension of stay. Don't want to make the same mistake for the extension.

[TerryLH]

"On TM.7 it states “I wish to apply for an extension of temporary stay in the Kingdom for another period of X days”"

Since it asks for the number of days, I think many put '365'.

Yes, just one year at a time.

[CanadianGirl2]

"On TM.7 it states “I wish to apply for an extension of temporary stay in the Kingdom for another period of X days”"

Since it asks for the number of days, I think many put '365'.

Yes, just one year at a time.

Sorry, I edited my post. I just want to know if I can put 365 (since it's my first extension) or if I have to put 275.

[Lite Beer]

Put 365 days

[Lite Beer]

Your Husband will have to go with you and show that he can support you.

Pop along and ask them what they require for this.

There is no multi entry extension.

If you wish to leave the country you apply for a re entry permit.

1,000 Baht single

3,800 Baht multi

[ubonjoe]

During the final 30 days of any entry you can apply for a 12 month extension of stay based on your marriage.

Edit. Also, what's the difference between a 1-year single entry extension and a 1-year multi entry extension for someone that already holds a multi-entry visa? I see now that my multi-entry visa was a waste of money since I'm applying for an extension of stay. Don't want to make the same mistake for the extension.

I suspect somebody at an embassy or consulate. sold you on the multiple entry visa and possibly gave you false info on how it worked.

You really only needed a single entry visa.

As said if you plan on making several trips out of the country you can apply for a multiple re-entry permit (3800 baht) or a single (1000 baht).

[Suradit69]

"...but I said that they were mistaken ..."

Probably best not to tell Immigrations officers that they are mistaken, especially since you then had to come to TV to ask what's correct.

There may have been a communications/language issue that caused confusion, but since you have to deal with them and they do have discretion in dealing with cases, they may or may not always be right, but they're never wrong ... and you may have to deal with the same people for years to come.

As thepool said they were probably stating an either-one-or-the-other case, which would have meant it was you who was mistaken. Generally, they do in fact know very well what they are doing even if it may not always be clearly communicated and it may not always be what you want to hear.

[CanadianGirl2]

Probably best not to tell Immigrations officers that they are mistaken, especially since you then had to come to TV to ask what's correct.

There may have been a communications/language issue that caused confusion, but since you have to deal with them and they do have discretion in dealing with cases, they may or may not always be right, but they're never wrong ... and you may have to deal with the same people for years to come.

As thepool said they were probably stating an either-one-or-the-other case, which would have meant it was you who was mistaken. Generally, they do in fact know very well what they are doing even if it may not always be clearly communicated and it may not always be what you want to hear.

Everything official was related to my husband in Thai, who is 100% fluent in English, so there were no communication or language issues. The immigration officers made no mention of 90 day reporting, which I knew was possible, so I said that they were mistaken and that I didn’t physically have to leave the country if I reported to them.

It wasn’t a big deal at all. All the officers are female and they were quite happy with me since they usually don’t deal with foreign women. I have no problem with telling people they are mistaken and they certainly didn’t take offence to it. I’ve been in about 3 times after that for other things and they are always friendly to me, know me by my first name, and let me skip to the front of the line when they see me come in, so I really don’t think I’ll have any issues with them. Thanks for your concern though.

[CanadianGirl2]

There is no multi entry extension.

If you wish to leave the country you apply for a re entry permit.

1,000 Baht single

3,800 Baht multi

Could I not just use my multi-entry visa to make trips?

[thepool]

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Probably best not to tell Immigrations officers that they are mistaken, especially since you then had to come to TV to ask what's correct.

There may have been a communications/language issue that caused confusion, but since you have to deal with them and they do have discretion in dealing with cases, they may or may not always be right, but they're never wrong ... and you may have to deal with the same people for years to come.

As thepool said they were probably stating an either-one-or-the-other case, which would have meant it was you who was mistaken. Generally, they do in fact know very well what they are doing even if it may not always be clearly communicated and it may not always be what you want to hear.

Everything official was related to my husband in Thai, who is 100% fluent in English, so there were no communication or language issues. The immigration officers made no mention of 90 day reporting, which I knew was possible, so I said that they were mistaken and that I didn’t physically have to leave the country if I reported to them.

It wasn’t a big deal at all. All the officers are female and they were quite happy with me since they usually don’t deal with foreign women. I have no problem with telling people they are mistaken and they certainly didn’t take offence to it. I’ve been in about 3 times after that for other things and they are always friendly to me, know me by my first name, and let me skip to the front of the line when they see me come in, so I really don’t think I’ll have any issues with them. Thanks for your concern though.

But ! What you "knew" was not correct, "90 day" reporting is not required or possible if one has a multi entry "O" visa which requires that the visa holder leaves the country every 9o days !

You are now aware that to undertake 9o day reporting, an extension of stay is required which , apparently the immigration officer told you. Believing the immigration officer to be mistaken was a mistake !

[thepool]

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There is no multi entry extension.

If you wish to leave the country you apply for a re entry permit.

1,000 Baht single

3,800 Baht multi

Could I not just use my multi-entry visa to make trips?

Yes every 9o days ! BUT !

If you receive an extension of stay the visa is history and no longer valid for use !

[ubonjoe]

There is no multi entry extension.

If you wish to leave the country you apply for a re entry permit.

1,000 Baht single

3,800 Baht multi

Could I not just use my multi-entry visa to make trips?

You would not be able to use your visa because you would get a permit to stay date different from your extension of stay when you enter the country. That would cancel out your extension.

[CanadianGirl2]

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But ! What you "knew" was not correct, "90 day" reporting is not required or possible if one has a multi entry "O" visa which requires that the visa holder leaves the country every 9o days !

You are now aware that to undertake 9o day reporting, an extension of stay is required which , apparently the immigration officer told you. Believing the immigration officer to be mistaken was a mistake !

Again, it wasn't a big deal. Calm yourselves. Seems like people on here take more of issue over what I said than the immigration officers themselves.

[CanadianGirl2]

There is no multi entry extension.

If you wish to leave the country you apply for a re entry permit.

1,000 Baht single

3,800 Baht multi

Could I not just use my multi-entry visa to make trips?

You would not be able to use your visa because you would get a permit to stay date different from your extension of stay when you enter the country. That would cancel out your extension.

Can I apply for a re-entry permit after I receive my extension (If say an unexpected trip comes up) or does it have to be applied for at the same time?

[thepool]

1."Again, it wasn't a big deal. Calm yourselves. Seems like people on here take more of issue over what I said than the immigration officers themselves. "

2. " have made several visits to my local immigration office but have not received a straight answer. They talked about an extension of stay and border runs but I said that they were mistaken and that I didn’t need to do either of those things"

Seems clear.

Hope the advice received here has been helpful.

[ubonjoe]

You can apply for a re-entry permit at any time during your extension of stay period.

You can even get one on departure from either of the airports in Bangkok 24 hours a day.

[CanadianGirl2]

You can apply for a re-entry permit at any time during your extension of stay period.

You can even get one on departure from either of the airports in Bangkok 24 hours a day.

Thank you. You have been very helpful.

I will have to ask at the international airports near me, as I'm quite far from Bangkok.

[ubonjoe]

You can apply for a re-entry permit at any time during your extension of stay period.

You can even get one on departure from either of the airports in Bangkok 24 hours a day.

Thank you. You have been very helpful.

I will have to ask at the international airports near me, as I'm quite far from Bangkok.

Some airports only have a re-entry permit desk open when the local immigration office is closed.

I suggest you get a single re-entry permit when you get your extension stamp. That way you will have one in case of an emergency.

Unless you plan at least 3 or 4 trips out of the country the multiple re-entry permit is not worth the cost.

[KevinB]

The very first post was correct - you need to convert your multiple entry - Non-Immigrant O Visa into a permission to stay for 12 months (and meet the conditions - some post indicate the rules are different for women). I've been in the same position but let me warn you do it ASAP as they seem to have an internal rule that your need at least 3- 4 weeks on your current entry permit to PROCESS the PERMISSION TO STAY DUE TO MARRIAGE (or PARENT OF THAI CHILDREN).

I went in with only 10 days left on my Entry stamp and they told me I couldn't do it.

GOOD LUCK - I agree with you Border runs are a real drag.

[KevinB]

UBONJOE POSTED
"I suspect somebody at an embassy or consulate. sold you on the multiple entry visa and possibly gave you false info on how it worked.

You really only needed a single entry visa.

As said if you plan on making several trips out of the country you can apply for a multiple re-entry permit (3800 baht) or a single (1000 baht).

From my recent experience it is clear that (at my Immigration Office) you cannot get an Extension of Stay UNLESS YOU HAVE A MULTIPLE ENTRY NON IMMIGRANT O VISA IN YOUR PASSPORT. So the OP is wrong about only needing a SINGLE ENTRY VISA. I had the Immigration Official at the Thai Embassy I visited to get my Non-Immigrant O Visa inform me Incorrectly. Enter Thailand on SINGLE ENTRY VISA and the officials at the airport stamp it USED - when you get to Immigration you can't apply for the Extension of Stay because you don't have a valid Visa.

What the poster is right about is that when you have your 12 month Permission to Stay you need to get a Multiple re-entry Permit and as others have reported it takes about 15 - 20 mins at the Main International Airport on departure.

[Lite Beer]

To apply for a 12 month extension of stay at any Immigration Office you need a Non Immigrant Visa.

It makes no difference what Non Immigrant Visa.

It makes no difference if it is a Multi Entry or a Single Entry.

[Lite Beer]

2.18 In the case of a family member of a Thai(applicable only to parents, spouse, child, adopted child or child of his/her spouse): Permission will be
granted for a period of not more than 1 year at a time.
(1) The alien has obtained a temporary visa (NON-IM)
(2) Proof of family relationship
(3) In the case of a spouse, the marital relationship shall be de jure (legitimate) and de facto;

[KevinB]

By the way one other observation on this string - there are difference conditions applied to various passports / citizenship and some of the folk responding on TV often forget this. Many passports only get 30 day visas on arrival - some are given 90 days if they ask for it - respectable looking with a fully paid up 3 month return ticket, no problem - dodgy back-packer, difficult. For many passports this is not even an option - 3 and 6 month stays must be based on Visas obtained (and paid for) outside the Country

I live in Thailand when not working on projects overseas and often want to stay with my family longer than one month - If I remember to ask at the airport I can get 2 months no problem (I normally have a 6 month Multiple entry Visa in my Passport) Equally I've never had a problem going into Immigration before my entry permit expires and getting an extension (or just paying an over-stay fine at the airport if I over run a few days). Having multiple entry Visas in my passport has now created another problem for me in boarding a plane bound for Thailand I'm asked where is your current Visa for Thailand - saying "I Don't need one to enter for under a month" (with 4 or 5 old 6 month visas)only causes problems - they have to look it up in a book.

Hence my decision to switch to a 12 month Extension of Stay with Multiple re-Entry stamps.

[thepool]

Kevin

Your post reveals a lot of confusion and misunderstanding.