Visa

[udonthani]

I have a one-year retirement visa. I've been in Thailand since March. I've just discovered that I failed to check in with the immigration authorities. Somehow I missed that I was supposed to check in every 90 days. What should I do? I live in Udon Thani. Thanks. bob

[Boatabike]

Woops, this is a tricky situation you got into Bob. I cannot offer anything here but good luck, a lot will depend on your local Imm office, you have broken the visa requirements and could face fines or worse. My suggestion is get a person of good standing (Thai) to go to the office with you and explain the situation very clearly, you are then at their mercy. A lot of sorrys, politness and a good translation may help them decide to be helpful rather than just process you. Good luck. I have been late for mine on occasion but never had a problem, but then i never missed the lot.

[george]

Be sure you have valid a re-entry permit and just cross over to Laos and come back. You do the address reporting on the TM card on arrival. Then start the 90-days-reporting at Immigration within 90 days from that arrival date.

[lopburi3]

If you have a valid multi entry retirement O-A visa issued in your home country you will not need the re-entry permit and will receive a one year stamp on your return. If you have a retirement extension of stay issued by immigration make very sure you do obtain a re-entry permit prior to travel. At that point they "could" find you have not reported and fine you up to 5,000 baht but in the past they have not seemed to check closely. If you just go to immigration and ask to start reporting they should not give you a hard time but normally there will be a 2,000 baht fine for being late.

[sbk]

Be sure you have valid a re-entry permit and just cross over to Laos and come back. You do the address reporting on the TM card on arrival. Then start the 90-days-reporting at Immigration within 90 days from that arrival date.

and pay the fine, forgot that part george!

[lopburi3]

Be sure you have valid a re-entry permit and just cross over to Laos and come back. You do the address reporting on the TM card on arrival. Then start the 90-days-reporting at Immigration within 90 days from that arrival date.

and pay the fine, forgot that part george!

Under the George plan it is not found out and no fine. He would start with a clean sheet and make the first 90 day report 90 days after his return.

[Noel]

Be sure you have valid a re-entry permit and just cross over to Laos and come back. You do the address reporting on the TM card on arrival. Then start the 90-days-reporting at Immigration within 90 days from that arrival date.

But if he does not already have a re-entry permit, would he not have to apply at Immigration and risk being found out?

Perhaps a 'friend' could call his local Immigration Office and ask how the land lies.

In any event, I very much doubt the OP will have much more of a problem than paying a fine, although nothing is certain in this current climate.

Regardless, I wish him luck...

[Axel]

Can only speak for BKK-immigration. The re-entry person would not inquire for the 90-days-report. So George's idea is ok, just leave and come back to start from day one.

OF course, as well can go for the fine, I think it is Baht 2000 plus 500 per day overstay.

[Maestro]

OF course, as well can go for the fine, I think it is Baht 2000 plus 500 per day overstay.

The OP is not on overstay.

The 2000-Baht fine for late reporting of the address and a border run cost about the same, but the former would appear to be less hassle.

---------------

Maestro

[DFCarlson]

If you have a valid multi entry retirement O-A visa issued in your home country you will not need the re-entry permit and will receive a one year stamp on your return. If you have a retirement extension of stay issued by immigration make very sure you do obtain a re-entry permit prior to travel. At that point they "could" find you have not reported and fine you up to 5,000 baht but in the past they have not seemed to check closely. If you just go to immigration and ask to start reporting they should not give you a hard time but normally there will be a 2,000 baht fine for being late.

OK, my understanding is that if I have a multi-entry non-immigrant O-A retirement visa and I leave and return before the "use by" date on the visa I will be stamped in for a year from the date I return, and I will not need a re-entry permit.

My visa has a use by date of March 12, 2007 and my current permission to stay expires on May 12, 2007. Therefore, if I return just before the visa "use by" date then effectively I will be able to extend my stay in Thailand for nearly 10 months without the necessity to renew my permission to stay at the immigration office or show any additional financial resources.

1) Is this correct? It's hard to believe it's that easy.

2) If I get a re-entry permit and return before my current permission to stay expires, will I still be stamped in for another year's stay?

3) What are the best border points to use? Is it necesary (or more desirable) to leave and return by air so that the processing is done at the airport? Are there other land crossing border points anyone might recommend where this could be done at a lower cost without a problem?

Thanks

Dave

[bob4you]

I think that is right. My original retirement visa expired Oct 14 2006, but I took 2 trips to Hawaii and got a 1 year Non O-A stamp for 1 year, last trip I returned Oct 8th 2006 and am good until Oct 7 2007.

[lopburi3]

1. Yes. During validity of a multi entry O-A visa each entry will be stamped for one year. No re-entry permit is required.

2. No. If you return on a re-entry permit the date of that will be used (which would be your previous permitted to stay stamp date).

3. There is probably less chance of error at airport where they are used to O-A visa/one year entry. But any crossing could be used but I would check stamp closely.