1yr extension approval delay surprise directed to UbonJoe

[Tbone999]

I made a new application for a 1yr non-imm-o extension to stay back in late March prior to my leaving for work outside the country (I'm married to a Thai lady and have a 10yr old son, I have had no problems in Thailand and conduct myself in a congenial manner). This will be my 8th extension permit, so I'm not new to the process. I got my single re-entry permit to get back into the country before I left, so as to appear before the immigration before a certain date, so keeping within the law. However, this is a first, I went to the immigration for my new stamp on Monday, 2 days before my current entry stamp will expire (I only returned from work outside the country end of last week), and the officers said my approval had not yet arrived from Bangkok, and to come back Friday to check again. I said at the time, that my current stamp in will finish on Wednesday, and effectively, I will be illegal after that if the police stop and check. They said, no problem. Has anyone else come across this scenario? I know full well that arguing the point will do no good and trying to get something like a letter from them or another stamp for extension would be futile, so accepted the way it has to be. However, I'm concerned that with no further endorsement in writing that my approval hasn't arrived yet, for the police and immigration, how am I supposed to accept that I have pretty much been advocated to stay in Thailand illegally and it "Won't be a problem?" Previously, when submitting the applications, it took approx 30 days to get the approval from Bangkok, but this time, I can only guess from the upheaval going on right now up North, that it has taken longer, right now, it has been 6 weeks since my application. Any comments?

[ubonjoe]

The report back date is not a permitted to stay date it is just a the date to return to see if your extension has been approved.

As long as your extension is still under consideration you can stay here indefinitely. This is an explanation given by immigration when this issue came up in the past when an immigration office would not give a new report date.

[Tbone999]

Thanks for the quick reply, and I understand that the requirement to show before the date is not a "Stay Until" scenario, but my immigration entry stamp at Bangkok says it's only until 14th May which was in keeping with my original "appear back on" date as it was on a single re-entry permit. My original 1yr extension expires on 14th May.

[ubonjoe]

Your under consideration stamp take precedence over all other stamps.

How early did you do your extension application. It seems odd that your report back date is the same as when your extension runs out.

[sometimewoodworker]

Thanks for the quick reply, and I understand that the requirement to show before the date is not a "Stay Until" scenario, but my immigration entry stamp at Bangkok says it's only until 14th May which was in keeping with my original "appear back on" date as it was on a single re-entry permit. My original 1yr extension expires on 14th May.

as ubonjoe said your permit to stay will continue after the stamped 14th May because the visa is under consideration you will not be illegal on and after May 15th if the extension hasn't been finished.

To give an extreme example if your extension is still under consideration in September (unlikely) you are still legal.

There is only one possible problem and that is if you need to leave the country after 14th May and before an extension has been granted then you loose the extension and are back to square one. You would have to get a new Non-O and start all over again.

[jjp]

Thanks for the quick reply, and I understand that the requirement to show before the date is not a "Stay Until" scenario, but my immigration entry stamp at Bangkok says it's only until 14th May which was in keeping with my original "appear back on" date as it was on a single re-entry permit. My original 1yr extension expires on 14th May.

as ubonjoe said your permit to stay will continue after the stamped 14th May because the visa is under consideration you will not be illegal on and after May 15th if the extension hasn't been finished.

To give an extreme example if your extension is still under consideration in September (unlikely) you are still legal.

There is only one possible problem and that is if you need to leave the country after 14th May and before an extension has been granted then you loose the extension and are back to square one. You would have to get a new Non-O and start all over again.

hi Ubon, Tbone

I was planning to fly home 2 days after my 30 day stamp/ extension of stay should been approved by immigration but reading about these delays that may be a problem.

My question is, If i tell them about my situation,

Can the immigration give me a 2 month under consideration stamp so that i would be able collect the extension when i arrive back. I know i can get the single 60 day extension but i would rather continue with the yearly extension.

thanks for your time

jjp

[Tbone999]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the posts, so, if my original extension application approval hasn't returned as yet, then this will still take precedence over any other stamps, am I correct in reading this? For Ubonjoe, my original extension ran up until 14th April (sorry, I posted the wrong dates). I applied for a new 1yr extension on 26th March and submitted the relevant paperwork. I work offshore and have to work around dates. so, this year, I had to submit a little earlier, get a new single re-entry permit (since my original multiple re-entry would expire before I next returned to Thailand). So, on arriving back on 7th May (appearance due 14th May for approval), I was stamped in until 14th May. If the "under consideration" stamp takes precedence over all other stamps, then I guess I have no problems. Just didn't want the scenario that I get stopped for any reason and banged up in Jail for something that's out of my control. It would have helped if the officer explains this more clearly instead of the "No problem" response.

For sometimewooderworker, Yes, I know it'll be a problem if I exit right now, as it'll cancel my current extension. Not much I can do, but just trying to keep everything in the correct box. But wonder why the application is taking over two weeks longer than normal. What's up in Bangkok?

[ubonjoe]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the posts, so, if my original extension application approval hasn't returned as yet, then this will still take precedence over any other stamps, am I correct in reading this? For Ubonjoe, my original extension ran up until 14th April (sorry, I posted the wrong dates). I applied for a new 1yr extension on 26th March and submitted the relevant paperwork. I work offshore and have to work around dates. so, this year, I had to submit a little earlier, get a new single re-entry permit (since my original multiple re-entry would expire before I next returned to Thailand). So, on arriving back on 7th May (appearance due 14th May for approval), I was stamped in until 14th May. If the "under consideration" stamp takes precedence over all other stamps, then I guess I have no problems. Just didn't want the scenario that I get stopped for any reason and banged up in Jail for something that's out of my control. It would have helped if the officer explains this more clearly instead of the "No problem" response.

For sometimewooderworker, Yes, I know it'll be a problem if I exit right now, as it'll cancel my current extension. Not much I can do, but just trying to keep everything in the correct box. But wonder why the application is taking over two weeks longer than normal. What's up in Bangkok?

April 14th make more sense. They started your 30 days from that date.

The under consideration stamp has been on the forum many times. You will not have a problem.

Your approval will probably be done week.

[ubonjoe]

Thanks for the quick reply, and I understand that the requirement to show before the date is not a "Stay Until" scenario, but my immigration entry stamp at Bangkok says it's only until 14th May which was in keeping with my original "appear back on" date as it was on a single re-entry permit. My original 1yr extension expires on 14th May.

as ubonjoe said your permit to stay will continue after the stamped 14th May because the visa is under consideration you will not be illegal on and after May 15th if the extension hasn't been finished.

To give an extreme example if your extension is still under consideration in September (unlikely) you are still legal.

There is only one possible problem and that is if you need to leave the country after 14th May and before an extension has been granted then you loose the extension and are back to square one. You would have to get a new Non-O and start all over again.

hi Ubon, Tbone

I was planning to fly home 2 days after my 30 day stamp/ extension of stay should been approved by immigration but reading about these delays that may be a problem.

My question is, If i tell them about my situation,

Can the immigration give me a 2 month under consideration stamp so that i would be able collect the extension when i arrive back. I know i can get the single 60 day extension but i would rather continue with the yearly extension.

thanks for your time

jjp

It can happen sometimes that they don't get approved in time. Out of 6 I have done it has only had happened once but my immigration office gave me a 15 day stamp.

Just check to see if it done a week or so before it is due. If not ask them if it is possible for them check and see if can be hurried up a little.

[sometimewoodworker]

Thanks for the quick reply, and I understand that the requirement to show before the date is not a "Stay Until" scenario, but my immigration entry stamp at Bangkok says it's only until 14th May which was in keeping with my original "appear back on" date as it was on a single re-entry permit. My original 1yr extension expires on 14th May.

as ubonjoe said your permit to stay will continue after the stamped 14th May because the visa is under consideration you will not be illegal on and after May 15th if the extension hasn't been finished.

To give an extreme example if your extension is still under consideration in September (unlikely) you are still legal.

There is only one possible problem and that is if you need to leave the country after 14th May and before an extension has been granted then you loose the extension and are back to square one. You would have to get a new Non-O and start all over again.

hi Ubon, Tbone

I was planning to fly home 2 days after my 30 day stamp/ extension of stay should been approved by immigration but reading about these delays that may be a problem.

My question is, If i tell them about my situation,

Can the immigration give me a 2 month under consideration stamp so that i would be able collect the extension when i arrive back. I know i can get the single 60 day extension but i would rather continue with the yearly extension.

thanks for your time

jjp

It can happen sometimes that they don't get approved in time. Out of 6 I have done it has only had happened once but my immigration office gave me a 15 day stamp.

Just check to see if it done a week or so before it is due. If not ask them if it is possible for them check and see if can be hurried up a little.

from what you and Tbone999 say it looks as if my understanding is wrong. So I would like to be sure of the facts.

I had thought that the use of a rentry permit was limited to the extension of stay time. But it seems that Tbone999 got and used a rentry permit during a 30 under consideration period that was after his original extension of stay period ended. Is this correct? And so if given another under consideration stamp with a date then you can get a rentry permit for that period and keep the under consideration, hence original extension of stay?

Sorry if my phrasing isn't clear

[ubonjoe]

from what you and Tbone999 say it looks as if my understanding is wrong. So I would like to be sure of the facts.

I had thought that the use of a rentry permit was limited to the extension of stay time. But it seems that Tbone999 got and used a rentry permit during a 30 under consideration period that was after his original extension of stay period ended. Is this correct? And so if given another under consideration stamp with a date then you can get a rentry permit for that period and keep the under consideration, hence original extension of stay?

Sorry if my phrasing isn't clear

It is possible to get a re-entry permit for the under consideration period.

If they did give another report back stamp it would normally only be for a short period to time. Perhaps like the 15 days I got one time.

It would be up to the immigration office whether they would issue a re-entry permit for that short period of time.