My mate has used one entry on a double entry.

He's back from offshore soon but only in country 4/5 days

Is it possible he can come in on a VOA and effectively "save" his last entry when he's in country a long time?

I told him I doubt it very much

not normally but who knows on the day,

if he had had time left on his original permitted to stay stamp he could have obtained a re-entry permit to keep this permitted to stay stamp alive and use that for this few days visit, it would have depended on the amount of time he was away for, hindsight is always too late to help

I would at least try - don't fill out the visa number and specifically ask for Visa Exempt 30 day stamp due to the short visit.

Even if it works the next time he comes in the immigration officer could count it as an entry on the visa which could cause unexpected problems down the line.

Is it possible he can come in on a VOA and effectively "save" his last entry when he's in country a long time?

As others have suggested, he can try to get a visa exempt entry. Not visa on arrival, that is something different.

Thanks gents. He qualifies for retirement visa next man and will be working most of the time till then I think. He'll be ok

He may only get a 30 day visa exempt entry it if his tourist visa has expired. He needs to check the enter before date of his visa.

It might be also that even if he is able to get an exempt entry that his visa would be expired before he enters the next time.

There have in the past been a few reports of being able to do this, but it is very unlikely.

He can try but frankly the chances of being allowed to do it range from slim to none at all.

Does he realize that, even if he is one his second entry he can EXTEND that entry at his local immigration for 30 days at the cost of 1900 Baht?

On a double entry tourist visa you get a 60 day entry stamp for both entries.

Both of those entries can be extended at your local immigration for 30 days by paying the 1900 Baht fee for each.

That allows you to get 180 days (basically 6 months) off that double entry tourist visa.

It can be done this way:

first entry = 60 day entry stamp plus 30 day extension

second entry = 60 day entry plus 30 day extension.

Of course, as I said, it will cost you 1900 for each extension.

And you will need to leave country and return to activate your second entry on the double entry visa.

i had a double entry 60 day tourist visas. I went to the Hua Hin immigration to get the 30 day extension because i was leaving 3 weeks after the first visa would expire and i did not want to bother with a border run.

they canceled both entries of my double entry visa. In this situation it did not matter because I was leaving anyway.
I wonder if i would have had to make a specific request of them to not cancel my 2nd entry?

He may only get a 30 day visa exempt entry it if his tourist visa has expired. He needs to check the enter before date of his visa.

It might be also that even if he is able to get an exempt entry that his visa would be expired before he enters the next time.

he has 4/5 month left on it

i had a double entry 60 day tourist visas. I went to the Hua Hin immigration to get the 30 day extension because i was leaving 3 weeks after the first visa would expire and i did not want to bother with a border run.

they canceled both entries of my double entry visa. In this situation it did not matter because I was leaving anyway.

I wonder if i would have had to make a specific request of them to not cancel my 2nd entry?

Don't need a specific request, they made a mistake.

I had no problem at Swampy,in July. I I used my 1st Tourist visa in April and didn't put the visa number on the landing card in July,when I returned and just needed a 30 day visa exemption.

Came back in Sept and put the TR Visa number,again no problem,got the 60 days. Just make sure he comes back before the expiry date,as mentioned before.

Cheers

P.S Just extended it today for 30 days at Chang Wattana,again no problem.

I had no problem at Swampy,in July. I I used my 1st Tourist visa in April and didn't put the visa number on the landing card in July,when I returned and just needed a 30 day visa exemption.

Came back in Sept and put the TR Visa number,again no problem,got the 60 days. Just make sure he comes back before the expiry date,as mentioned before.

Cheers

P.S Just extended it today for 30 days at Chang Wattana,again no problem.

CHeers. Will send him your reply mate