Advice re. Extension of non-immigrant O-A visa

[Ooladolla]

Hi, I have a retirement visa which expires on 22 January 2016. I entered Thailand in March and am going home to Australia in June. I will be returning in August this year. I then wanted to go back to visit family in January 2016.

I believe my visa will extended on return in August for one year. That is, I can stay until August 2016.

My question is, what happens if I then leave Thailand in January 2016. I won't be back in Thailand until end of February 2016.

Will I be ok with my visa ? Does the August 2016 expiry apply or the original January 2016 ?

Thanks for any advice

[Maestro]

I assume that your visa is valid for multiple entries and says "enter before 22 JAN 2016"

With this visa you can make an unlimited number of entries into Thailand until 22 JAN 2016.

When you enter with this visa again in August 2015, you will again be given permission to stay for one year, eg if you enter on 15 AUG 2015 get permission to stay until 14 AUG 2016. This will be your new permission to stay, not a change of the period for which your visa is valid for entry into Thailand. In other words, your visa is still valid for entry into Thailand only until 22 JAN 2016, ie it will not be valid for entry at the end of February 2016.

However, before you leave Thailand in January 2016 you can get a single-entry re-entry permit for 1,000 Baht at your local immigration office and this will be valid for a re-entry until August 2016, ie it keeps the permission to stay until August 2016 alive. When you enter Thailand with this re-entry permit in February 2016 you will get permission to stay again until August 2016. Enter the number of the re-entry permit in the field for the visa number on the arrival card when you arrive in February 2016.

[wayned]

Also,

You can make a border run in ealy January 2016, just prior to your proposed trip. When you reenter you will get another year, early January 2017.. You then can purchase a reentry permit to take your trip and when you reenter you will get permission to stay ubtil January 2017. The border rubn will get you and extrafive months. Is it worth it? Up to you!

[TheAppletons]

I'll re-phrase what others have said because sometimes this is confusing, even if you know the terms:

a. Before 22 January 2016, you may come and go as you please on your multiple entry visa and will be extended for another year permission to stay when you return to Thailand.

b. After/just before 22 January 2016, you will need a re-entry permit prior to departing Thailand in order to keep your permission to stay valid for your return after 22 January 2016.

c. So if you do leave in August 2015 - and get stamped in until August 2016 upon your return - you'll need to obtain a re-entry permit prior to leaving in January 2016. The re-entry permit keeps your August 2016 permission to stay date valid for your February return trip.

d. You can obtain the re-entry permit at the airport prior to departure or at an Immigration Office.