What would be my best option for the following situation?

My 12 month non O visa expires in mid November. I need to make a border run next week which will take my permission to stay up

to about 20 December. However i will be overseas all of December. Would it be best to make another border run just before i head off

overseas which would take my permission to stay up to about mid February.Also would i need to get a re entry permit as my my visa actually expires in November.

I intend to apply for a visa extension based on retirement when i get in January.

I don,t know if i am going about the best way so any advice would be appreciated

Either that or a new non-O visa while abroad, what ever is more convinient and cheaper for you.

Weight a border run against applying for a new visa. The re-entry permit is of course cheaper than a new visa.

I suggest you do another entry just before your visa expires and then get a re-entry permit for the 90 day entry you will get. That way you will have a non immigrant visa entry to apply for your extension in January.

Thanks Mario and Ubonjoe. Your replies prompt and very helpful and very much appreciated.

I suggest you do another entry just before your visa expires and then get a re-entry permit for the 90 day entry you will get. That way you will have a non immigrant visa entry to apply for your extension in January.

But doesn't the re-entry permit become invalid as soon as the visa upon which it was issued expires?

I suggest you do another entry just before your visa expires and then get a re-entry permit for the 90 day entry you will get. That way you will have a non immigrant visa entry to apply for your extension in January.

But doesn't the re-entry permit become invalid as soon as the visa upon which it was issued expires?

A re-entry permit is not issued for visas.

They are issued for for a permit to stay. They are valid for the length of that permit to stay.

I suggest you do another entry just before your visa expires and then get a re-entry permit for the 90 day entry you will get. That way you will have a non immigrant visa entry to apply for your extension in January.

But doesn't the re-entry permit become invalid as soon as the visa upon which it was issued expires?

Many people get confused with the 'enter before date' and think it is the expiry date of a visa (e.g. Non 'O' TR 60) they bought outside Thailand. On arrival the PP holder is given an entry stamp or as UJ says a 'Permit to Stay' with an expiry date of that Permit to Stay, in most cases extending well beyond the 'enter before date'. If the PP holder attempts to enter after the 'enter before date' and depending on the country he/she comes from they will only get a short term Visa Exempt entry stamp.