Hello. Thanks to excellent advice on this forum, I obtained a new passport while on holiday back in the UK, via the premium service.

In my previous passport, I have both an extension based on work & a (used) re-entry permit. When I re-entered Thailand last week, I was stamped in on a 30 day exemption but the officer hand-wrote the date of expiry of my extension next to the stamp.

My extension expires in June 2015 but I'll likely be starting a new job in May. I know I'm required to transfer the extension at immigration but it would be preferable to extend the exemption by 30 days then convert it to a B after I start my new job. Is this possible?

Could I cancel the WP / extension in my old passport at the end of April, then continue on with the exemption in my new passport, extending it if needed in order to convert it to a B?

Basically I'm trying to avoid the 'open wallet surgery' that is the trip to Laos.

If you entered without a valid re-entry permit and got a visa exempt entry you no longer have a valid extension to transfer.

If you entered without a valid re-entry permit and got a visa exempt entry you no longer have a valid extension to transfer.

The re-entry permit is stamped 'used' & the officer also wrote the date of expiry of my extension next to the 30 day exemption. I understood that this was normal procedure.

If your re-entry permit was still valid when you entered the country you should of been stamped with a permitted to stay date equal to the date your extension ends. The 30 day stamp is a mistake in this case.

Please see the attached scan of the passport stamps I was given on my most recent 2 re-entries into LOS from foreign parts on 7/7/13 and 30/6/14. In each case the IO wrote the date when my then valid extension was due to expire in manuscript - 11/8/13 and 11/8/14 respectively. No 30-day stamps from 7/7/13 and 30/6/14 inserted. You should trot along to your local immigration office ASAP to get the error corrected.

Stamps.pdf

Edited March 29, 201511 yr by OJAS

OK I see what's happened. I got confused as they use the same entry stamp for the exemption. The admitted until date is the 30th June & where it says visa class is written 'B+ (text unreadable)'. I assume I can't wing it with this entry stamp so looks like I'll have to do the visa run.

Cheers.

I was stamped in on a 30 day exemption but the officer hand-wrote the date of expiry of my extension next to the stamp.

If you had a valid extension of stay (that had not been cancelled) and a valid re-entry permit, why were you admitted on a visa exempt entry?

OK I see what's happened. I got confused as they use the same entry stamp for the exemption. The admitted until date is the 30th June & where it says visa class is written 'B+ (text unreadable)'. I assume I can't wing it with this entry stamp so looks like I'll have to do the visa run.

Cheers.

I wonder what you mean with "30 day stamp" in your earlier posts in this topic. An arrival stamp with an "admitted until" date of 30 JUN 2015 and the indication of visa class B+ cannot possibly be a 30-day visa-exempt entry stamp.

Have I not explained my mistake in a simple way or are the mods even trolls on this forum?

I have explained my stupid mistake. I am stupid. OK?

I have checked my old passport & the old 30 day exemption stamps are EXACTLY THE SAME as the stamp I received on entering the country last month, except that the admitted date was to the expiry date of my exemption.

This is the first time I've returned home in 4 years so I I'm not familiar with the system.

Obviously that makes me an idiot in your eyes...What a great forum.

...

I have checked my old passport & the old 30 day exemption stamps are EXACTLY THE SAME as the stamp I received on entering the country last month, except that the admitted date was to the expiry date of my exemption.

...

Your understanding of "30 day exemption stamp" seems to be different from my understanding. To me, a 30-day exemption stamp is an arrival stamp with an "UNTIL" date that is 29 days after the "ADMITTED" date.

Example:

Source: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/678982-30-day-stamp-land-crossing-in-ranong/page-2#entry7000494

P.S. For the nationals of some countries, the UNTIL date is 14 days or another number of days after the ADMITTED date. See http://www.mfa.go.th/main/contents/files/services-20150120-100712-551809.pdf

Edited March 29, 201511 yr by Maestro
added postscipt

I have a valid extension visa that will expire 30April2015 in my previous passport as I also recently got a new British passport and had my previous passport canceled. I am going back to the UK before said visa extension expires and will be applying for a new visa in the UK (new passport). My question is, is it mandatory that I transfer my current visa extension that is in my canceled passport into the new passport, even though I am leaving Thailand soon and the visa will no longer be required once I leave Thailand?

I have a valid extension visa that will expire 30April2015 in my previous passport as I also recently got a new British passport and had my previous passport canceled. I am going back to the UK before said visa extension expires and will be applying for a new visa in the UK (new passport). My question is, is it mandatory that I transfer my current visa extension that is in my canceled passport into the new passport, even though I am leaving Thailand soon and the visa will no longer be required once I leave Thailand?

You should get your extension transferred to your new passport.

You could have problems leaving the country. There have even been reports in the past of people not being allowed to leave because it was not done.