Best option to stay another 15 days....

[SPB65]

Hi all...this is my first post so please be gentle !

I'm trying to figure out my best option to stay an extra couple of weeks in Thailand based on the following :-

I'm currently living in Trang on a 1 year multi-entry Non-O (spouse) visa that is valid until 21st Sept 2014 and my wife and I are looking to move to UK on 5th October.

So far so good. I went to my local immigration office today expecting to get another 90 day stamp that would see me safe until November except they just kept telling me my visa expires on 21st Sept. In the past (using Non-B multi entry visas) it was no problem to get the extra 90 days stamped before the visa expiry date but it seems that's no longer possible unless they were just being difficult for the sake of it (not the first time).

So this leaves me needing to find a way of bridging the gap of two weeks after my current visa expires and flying out of here for the last time. My options seem to be either doing a visa run to the Malaysian border and hoping they let me back in for 15 days or just overstaying, paying the fine of around 7000 Bt and getting told off on the way out. I don't really want to do that but it seems that might be the best bet just avoid the risk of non-entry at the border.

Unless I'm missing something, are these really my only options ? I'm a bit confused since the recent visa rules shake-up and being knocked back by not getting the additional 90 day stay on my current visa.

All good advice warmly received.

Thanks, SPB.

[wayned]

You can get a 60 day extension for "visiting your wife". Go to immigration with your wife, her Id, her house book, a TM7 form and 1900 baht.

[Mario2008]

Immigration was probably telling you you cannot get a 90 day extension, for that you need to leave and re-enter the country and you get a new 90 days. You do not get it by going to immigration and ask them to stamp it. So you could simply leave and return before the visa itself expires and get 90 days again or go for the 60 day extension option.

[SPB65]

Thanks guys, much appreciated.

The thing that confused me was when I last re-entered Thailand on 26th May the immigration officer at Suwannabhumi stamped 21st Sept (approx 120 days and my visa expiry date) into my passport as my next departure/reporting date, not the customary 90 days (which would be around now) which is why I went to Kantang Immigration today. However, I get what you say about the difference between the 90 day reporting at Immigration within Thailand and going out of Thailand and coming back in. All said and done, doing the 60 day extension for the wife visit seems the best bet assuming the grumpy immigration staff play ball (that's never assured).

[Mario2008]

Obviously immigration made a mistake and stamped you in for too long. Have the stamp corected this week and apply for the 60 day extension at the same time or leave the country and come right back in. If you leave it till September you will be on overstay. Their mistake, but you will be hold accountable.

[wayned]

The 60 day extension shouldn't be a problem. You can extend any entry one time for 60 days for "visiting your Thai family". I've done it in the past with no problems.

[SPB65]

I did the 90 day reporting earlier this morning so that should all be okay as far as that's concerned. We'll just go and apply for the wife visit extension before my current visa expires next month. That should be easier and cheaper than going out of the country and coming back in, something I'm so bored of now.

[Maestro]

SPB65, your comment about "90 day reporting" seems to indicate that your current permission to stay is based on a one-year extension of stay expiring on 21 SEP 2014 and that your last entry into Thailand on 26 MAY 2014 was with a re-entry permit. Please clarify whether this is the case.

[wayned]

If you visa is a multiple entry Non-O it sounds like the last time that you entered immigration stamped your passport incorrectly. they should have only given you 90 days not 120. You should never have to do a 90 day report with a multiple entry visa as you permission to stay is only 90 days. IMHO I would go to immigration and get it corrected as soon as possible and not wait until September, if they stamped it incorrectly you could end up with overstay penalties even if it was their fault. You could do the 60 day extension at the same time and still be good for an October departure.

[SPB65]

Yes, I've got an "Extension of Stay Permitted up to 21 Sept 2104".

Would I still be able to extend that with the 60 day wife visit extension ???

I have to say I'm pretty confused by all this even without immigration stamping the wrong date into my passport.

[ubonjoe]

Yes, I've got an "Extension of Stay Permitted up to 21 Sept 2104".

Would I still be able to extend that with the 60 day wife visit extension ???

I have to say I'm pretty confused by all this even without immigration stamping the wrong date into my passport.

The date they gave you is correct. You used a re-entry permit for entry.

You can get the 60 day extension to give you the extra time needed.

[wayned]

The confusing statement in the OP is "1 year multi-entry Non-O (spouse) visa that is valid until 21st Sept 2014" If you are currently on an extension of stay for marriage to a Thai that expires on 21 September and you used a multiple entry re-entry permit to reenter then the date stamped 21 Sept is correct. But that is not a multi-entry Non-O visa, (nomenclature again) it is an extension of stay! The bottom line is that you can get the 60 day extension.

[SPB65]

Yes, you are absolutely right and sorry about all that confusion. I should have read the visa stamps a bit more clearly before jumping to conclusions. It is an extension of stay with re-entry permit. I got a bit mixed up there because all my previous visas were Non-B multi-entries so I was thinking it was the same, but clearly it isn't. Thanks for clearing things up and pointing me in the right direction. A wife extension it is then. I didn't realise leaving would be as much hassle as staying.

[SPB65]

Just out of interest, are these 60 day extensions issued on the spot or processed at immigration's leisure ? My experience of getting my extension of stay and re-entry permit processed last year wasn't good. They took weeks and even then left it until the final hour of the final day to stamp my passport.

[paz]

Just out of interest, are these 60 day extensions issued on the spot or processed at immigration's leisure ? My experience of getting my extension of stay and re-entry permit processed last year wasn't good. They took weeks and even then left it until the final hour of the final day to stamp my passport.

60 days extensions applications are denied or approved immediately. Unlike one-year ones, there is no under consideration period.

[Suradit69]

The confusing statement in the OP is "1 year multi-entry Non-O (spouse) visa that is valid until 21st Sept 2014" If you are currently on an extension of stay for marriage to a Thai that expires on 21 September and you used a multiple entry re-entry permit to reenter then the date stamped 21 Sept is correct. But that is not a multi-entry Non-O visa, (nomenclature again) it is an extension of stay! The bottom line is that you can get the 60 day extension.

Unfortunately, someone commenting on the consequences of using the wrong terms is often accused of being pedantic.

As this thread (and many others) illustrates, it can make a great deal of difference when the wrong term is used.