Extending O/A multiple entry visa an extra year

[Kenny202]

Hello. On my first year of my O/A retirement visa and I believe I can extend this an extra year by leaving and re entering the country just prior to my Visa expiring.

My Visa was stamped in November 2014 and I plan to go to Vietnam for a day or three and return. This I am told extends my visa an extra year without the need for the 800k baht, extension process etc. Have a couple of questions.....

1) How long to I have to be out of the country. I believe walk in walk back no longer ok.

2) I believe I have to get a re entry stamp before I leave or I void my O/A visa. Where at Suvanabhumi do I get this done? At the immigration office near the escalator to go upstairs? I read some older posts and some people are adamant I would need a re entry permit if I go out say the 11th month of my initial O/A visa (to extend the extra year) and others say you only need the re entry permit on the second year?

Any help or advice on anything I missed appreciated

[OJAS]

1) No specific minimum period as far as I am aware.

2) So long as you are planning to return from your trip to Vietnam by no later than the day before your OA visa expires in November 2015, no re-entry permit will be needed. Your passport will be stamped upon your return with a new permission to stay expiring in November 2016. So, as you have been told, you will not need to start applying for annual extensions of stay based on retirement until then. You will, however, need to obtain a re-entry permit after returning from your trip to Vietnam should you be contemplating any further trips to foreign parts between November 2015 and November 2016 so as to keep the new permission to stay until November 2016 alive.

Been there and done all that with my original OA visa between 2008 and 2010!

[nzexpat]

Visas are never "extended" !

If you return to Thailand before the easily seen "enter before" date printed on the visa you will receive a NEW one year permission to stay (not an extension)

In fact every time Thailand is exited during the first year of the visa results in a NEW one year permission to stay on return !

If an entry is made immediately prior to the visa expiring a NEW ( not an extension ) one year permission to stay will be granted .

It is the second year gained from the visa which needs protecting with a re-entry permit if travel is intended.

[Kenny202]

Thanks fellers

[NancyL]

Be sure you're reading the "enter by" date on your O-A visa sticker put in your passport by the Thai Embassy or Consulate in your home country and not the expiration date of the permission to stay stamp that was put in your passport when you entered Thailand. That date on your actual visa sticker is the expiration of your O-A visa, not the date on the stamp you received at the airport.

[Langsuan Man]

And for goodness sake check the stamp before you leave the Immigration kiosk

When I came back from Cambodia last time the Immigration officer only gave me 90 days but since I checked it before a left her position, it was easily corrected

[Liquorice]

I'll just add onto what nzexpat said, if you plan to travel during the second year it may be advisable to get a multi entry re-entry permit.

If you don't plan to travel report to your local Immigration office every 90 days.

[Laza 45]

I have just done this... My OA multi entry visa was due to expire March 27/15... I went to Nong Khai.. crossed the border and came directly back.. I'm good until March 24th 2016 now... with 90 day reports... the only thing is there is no re-entry if I leave the country during this extended period.. I would have to get a new visa..

[ubonjoe]

I have just done this... My OA multi entry visa was due to expire March 27/15... I went to Nong Khai.. crossed the border and came directly back.. I'm good until March 24th 2016 now... with 90 day reports... the only thing is there is no re-entry if I leave the country during this extended period.. I would have to get a new visa..

There is no re-entry left from your visa but you can get a re-entry permit to keep you last one year entry valid if you want to travel.

[Kenny202]

My date of issue on my O/A visa is September 26th, 2014. My enter before date is 25th September 2015. I arrived November 2014.

If I go to Vietnam early September and return a week or so before the issue date (26th September) am I ok for the extra year or should I go a month earlier to make sure?

Would like to extend my time as long as possible

[NancyL]

You're OK just so you enter before 25th September. (just like it says on the visa) 24th September is fine! No need to go a month earlier to "make sure" That would extend your stay as long as possible. Be sure to get a re-entry permit if you plan to leave during the year after you get this permission to stay stamp to keep that extra year's stay alive.

[ubonjoe]

As long as you do an entry on or before the 25th of September you will get a one year entry. There is no requirement to do it any earlier than that day.

[jamie2009]

I have a O/A multi you entry visa which expires on December 2015. I have left Thailand a couple of times and I cannot find a stamp in my passport which says my visa has been extended. Do I have to wait nearer the expiry date before it will be extended and how will I know ?

[Lite Beer]

I have a O/A multi you entry visa which expires on December 2015. I have left Thailand a couple of times and I cannot find a stamp in my passport which says my visa has been extended. Do I have to wait nearer the expiry date before it will be extended and how will I know ?

Your Visa will not be extended.

Your permission to stay will be though.

You get 12 months on every entry before ? December 2015

[jamie2009]

I have a O/A multi you entry visa which expires on December 2015. I have left Thailand a couple of times and I cannot find a stamp in my passport which says my visa has been extended. Do I have to wait nearer the expiry date before it will be extended and how will I know ?

Your Visa will not be extended.

Your permission to stay will be though.

You get 12 months on every entry before ? December 2015

Ok I am a bit slow on the uptake but how do I know I have permission to stay as there are no stamps in my Passport when I have returned to Thailand indicating this, I returned to Thailand in February 2015 but no stamp showing February 2016 indicating permission to stay.

[Liquorice]

@Jamie.

The Immigration law only allows aliens permission to stay in Thailand for 90 days at a time unless, you either report to an Immigration office every 90 days or leave the Country every 90 days. There are different types of Visa and 'extensions' that can dictate which method you follow.

A Non Imm O-A Visa is valid for 12 months and is multi entry.

With your Visa you can either report to an Immigration office every 90 days, or leave and re-enter to reset your next 90 day permission to stay. As it's multi entry you can leave and re-enter whenever you want up to the 'enter before date' in your passport.

On each entry it also resets the validity of your Visa back to 12 months.

However if your 'enter before date' (not the Visa expiry date) was say 15th Dec 2015 and you left the Country and re-entered on 14th December, your Visa will be valid for another 12 months, but the multi entry facility ends on that last entry.

Thereafter you either have to report to an Immigration office to receive another 90 day permission to stay, or if you wish to travel you can get either a single or multi entry re-entry permit from an Immigration office. This will allow you to come and go as before but keep your Visa valid.

If you leave the Country without getting a re-entry permit your Visa will have expired and re-entry will be refused on that Visa.

You state you last re-entered Thailand in February. What date?

You need to either report to your local Immigration office 90 days after that Feb re-entry date, which means you have to report again this month, or leave the Country again.

[Lite Beer]

I have a O/A multi you entry visa which expires on December 2015. I have left Thailand a couple of times and I cannot find a stamp in my passport which says my visa has been extended. Do I have to wait nearer the expiry date before it will be extended and how will I know ?

Your Visa will not be extended.

Your permission to stay will be though.

You get 12 months on every entry before ? December 2015

Ok I am a bit slow on the uptake but how do I know I have permission to stay as there are no stamps in my Passport when I have returned to Thailand indicating this, I returned to Thailand in February 2015 but no stamp showing February 2016 indicating permission to stay.

Your Passport will have a stamp from Immigration showing a permission to stay until February 2016.

Or it should have.

[jamie2009]

@Jamie.

The Immigration law only allows aliens permission to stay in Thailand for 90 days at a time unless, you either report to an Immigration office every 90 days or leave the Country every 90 days. There are different types of Visa and 'extensions' that can dictate which method you follow.

A Non Imm O-A Visa is valid for 12 months and is multi entry.

With your Visa you can either report to an Immigration office every 90 days, or leave and re-enter to reset your next 90 day permission to stay. As it's multi entry you can leave and re-enter whenever you want up to the 'enter before date' in your passport.

On each entry it also resets the validity of your Visa back to 12 months.

However if your 'enter before date' (not the Visa expiry date) was say 15th Dec 2015 and you left the Country and re-entered on 14th December, your Visa will be valid for another 12 months, but the multi entry facility ends on that last entry.

Thereafter you either have to report to an Immigration office to receive another 90 day permission to stay, or if you wish to travel you can get either a single or multi entry re-entry permit from an Immigration office. This will allow you to come and go as before but keep your Visa valid.

If you leave the Country without getting a re-entry permit your Visa will have expired and re-entry will be refused on that Visa.

You state you last re-entered Thailand in February. What date?

You need to either report to your local Immigration office 90 days after that Feb re-entry date, which means you have to report again this month, or leave the Country again.

I did my 90 day report at Jomtien today.

[ubonjoe]

I have a O/A multi you entry visa which expires on December 2015. I have left Thailand a couple of times and I cannot find a stamp in my passport which says my visa has been extended. Do I have to wait nearer the expiry date before it will be extended and how will I know ?

Your Visa will not be extended.

Your permission to stay will be though.

You get 12 months on every entry before ? December 2015

Ok I am a bit slow on the uptake but how do I know I have permission to stay as there are no stamps in my Passport when I have returned to Thailand indicating this, I returned to Thailand in February 2015 but no stamp showing February 2016 indicating permission to stay.

It is a small stamp that will look something like this one. It may have slightly different wording.

[jamie2009]

I have a O/A multi you entry visa which expires on December 2015. I have left Thailand a couple of times and I cannot find a stamp in my passport which says my visa has been extended. Do I have to wait nearer the expiry date before it will be extended and how will I know ?

Your Visa will not be extended.

Your permission to stay will be though.

You get 12 months on every entry before ? December 2015

Ok I am a bit slow on the uptake but how do I know I have permission to stay as there are no stamps in my Passport when I have returned to Thailand indicating this, I returned to Thailand in February 2015 but no stamp showing February 2016 indicating permission to stay.

It is a small stamp that will look something like this one. It may have slightly different wording.

entry stamp.png

Problem solved found a stamp but due to the bad hand writing I couldn't read the date, entered 24th Feb 2015 until 14/0216 although it looks like 5,

Next question why do people pay agents to renew their visa every year ? It would be a lot cheaper just too leave the country a few days before and add another year.

[Langsuan Man]

Next question why do people pay agents to renew their visa every year ? It would be a lot cheaper just too leave the country a few days before and add another year.

Because you can only add another year if you have an O-A and then only during the first year

Most people apply for a permission to stay at their local Immigration Office and don't pay agents. You are getting O visa's and O-A visas confused

[ubonjoe]

It is a small stamp that will look something like this one. It may have slightly different wording.

entry stamp.png

Problem solved found a stamp but due to the bad hand writing I couldn't read the date, entered 24th Feb 2015 until 14/0216 although it looks like 5,

Next question why do people pay agents to renew their visa every year ? It would be a lot cheaper just too leave the country a few days before and add another year.

Glad you found it. Buy I would of expected the until date to be the 23rd of February.

Most people are on extensions of stay not a OA visa like you have. They have to go to immigration every year to apply for a new extension.

You will have to do that after the 2 years of total stay you will get from your visa unless you go back home to get a new visa.

[jamie2009]

It is a small stamp that will look something like this one. It may have slightly different wording.

entry stamp.png

Problem solved found a stamp but due to the bad hand writing I couldn't read the date, entered 24th Feb 2015 until 14/0216 although it looks like 5,

Next question why do people pay agents to renew their visa every year ? It would be a lot cheaper just too leave the country a few days before and add another year.

Glad you found it. Buy I would of expected the until date to be the 23rd of February.

Most people are on extensions of stay not a OA visa like you have. They have to go to immigration every year to apply for a new extension.

You will have to do that after the 2 years of total stay you will get from your visa unless you go back home to get a new visa.

Apologies date is 14/12/2015, Problem is my multi entry says says non immigrant but my Visa on the next page says Retirement, confused, what type of Visa do I have ?

[NancyL]

@Jamie.

The Immigration law only allows aliens permission to stay in Thailand for 90 days at a time unless, you either report to an Immigration office every 90 days or leave the Country every 90 days. There are different types of Visa and 'extensions' that can dictate which method you follow.

A Non Imm O-A Visa is valid for 12 months and is multi entry.

With your Visa you can either report to an Immigration office every 90 days, or leave and re-enter to reset your next 90 day permission to stay. As it's multi entry you can leave and re-enter whenever you want up to the 'enter before date' in your passport.

On each entry it also resets the validity of your Visa back to 12 months.

However if your 'enter before date' (not the Visa expiry date) was say 15th Dec 2015 and you left the Country and re-entered on 14th December, your Visa will be valid for another 12 months, but the multi entry facility ends on that last entry.

Thereafter you either have to report to an Immigration office to receive another 90 day permission to stay, or if you wish to travel you can get either a single or multi entry re-entry permit from an Immigration office. This will allow you to come and go as before but keep your Visa valid.

If you leave the Country without getting a re-entry permit your Visa will have expired and re-entry will be refused on that Visa.

You state you last re-entered Thailand in February. What date?

You need to either report to your local Immigration office 90 days after that Feb re-entry date, which means you have to report again this month, or leave the Country again.

Hmm.... Faz, it seems you're confusing a multi-entry O-A with a multi-entry O visa. With an O-A, each entry is stamped for 365 days, with an O, it's 90 days. With the O-A you have to do 90 day reports at the local Immigration office or you could leave, re-enter, get a new re-entry and not have to do a 90-day report (although this is a stupid reason to travel - just to avoid doing 90 day reports). With a multi-entry O visa, you have no choice you HAVE to leave every 90 days and re-enter to get another 90 days permission to stay. No option to simply go to the local immigration office and submit a report.

With both visas, once the date of the actual "enter by" date of the visa has passed, then you have to get a re-entry permit to keep your permission to stay alive when you leave the country.

[ubonjoe]

It is a small stamp that will look something like this one. It may have slightly different wording.

entry stamp.png

Problem solved found a stamp but due to the bad hand writing I couldn't read the date, entered 24th Feb 2015 until 14/0216 although it looks like 5,

Next question why do people pay agents to renew their visa every year ? It would be a lot cheaper just too leave the country a few days before and add another year.

Glad you found it. Buy I would of expected the until date to be the 23rd of February.

Most people are on extensions of stay not a OA visa like you have. They have to go to immigration every year to apply for a new extension.

You will have to do that after the 2 years of total stay you will get from your visa unless you go back home to get a new visa.

Apologies date is 14/12/2015, Problem is my multi entry says says non immigrant but my Visa on the next page says Retirement, confused, what type of Visa do I have ?

That is probably your first entry in December after you got your visa. You will have another one that would be February if you left re-entered the country then.

If you look on the visa sticker you will see non-oa on it in the class or type space.

[nzexpat]

Yet another case of someone not having any idea about what is in the passport !

Here we are hearing about "multi entry non imm" and a (non existent) retirement visa .

Suggest the only way this to be resolved is for jamie2009 to scan and post pictures of what exactly is in the passport. Pics of the "multi entry non-imm" and the "retirement visa" are needed.

[jamie2009]

This is where the I am confused, my stamp on my re entry in February says Non O. I had a a 90 Non O, Sept 2014 to Dec 2014 which I understood was then changed to Retirement Visa giving me 15 months expiring Dec 2015. I also paid for a Multi Entry Permit. The page on my Passport does say RETIREMEN* suppose that's the Thai way of spelling it. I did my 90 day report at Jomtien today, it says THIS NOT AN EXTENSION OF StAY, basically what type of Visa do I have, I understood a Retirement Visa was an O-A Visa which I thought I had.

I did try to copy and paste the page of my Passport but it wouldn't do it.

[jamie2009]

Yet another case of someone not having any idea about what is in the passport !

Here we are hearing about "multi entry non imm" and a (non existent) retirement visa .

Suggest the only way this to be resolved is for jamie2009 to scan and post pictures of what exactly is in the passport. Pics of the "multi entry non-imm" and the "retirement visa" are needed.

Exactly I don't know what's in my passport, I did try and copy and paste my passport but it would paste.

[jamie2009]

Pages from my Passport, help ! Retirement, O, O-A or what ?

[ubonjoe]

This is where the I am confused, my stamp on my re entry in February says Non O. I had a a 90 Non O, Sept 2014 to Dec 2014 which I understood was then changed to Retirement Visa giving me 15 months expiring Dec 2015. I also paid for a Multi Entry Permit. The page on my Passport does say RETIREMEN* suppose that's the Thai way of spelling it. I did my 90 day report at Jomtien today, it says THIS NOT AN EXTENSION OF StAY, basically what type of Visa do I have, I understood a Retirement Visa was an O-A Visa which I thought I had.

I did try to copy and paste the page of my Passport but it wouldn't do it.

You do not have a OA visa. You have a one year extension of stay based upon retirement.

Every time you enter the country using your re-entry permit you will get stamped in until the 14th of December.

You will have to have to apply for a new extension prior to the date your extension ends.