Confused - How does the non-immigrant O visa work?

[tuktuktuk]

I have a non-immigrant, O, multiple entry visa received January 3rd. We arrived in Thailand (BKK) Feb 4th. I received a 90 day stamp there. It was extended 60 days until July 2nd on May 3rd (1600 baht at Khon Kaen immigration). This week we went to Vientiane and the Friendship Bridge border crossing. We crossed into Laos, got the Laos visa on arrival, and after a little shopping turned around, got stamped out and reentered Thailand. They only gave me 30 days until July 21st. I expected a 90 day stamp. For me it's inconsequential since we're leaving for home in the US on July 21st. Is the 90 day vs. 30 day stamp somehow discretionary? Did I only get 30 days because of the prior 60 day extension? Should I have insisted on the 90 day stamp? I would be hesitant to do that given that I really didn't need it. I just want to know for the future. I'm not sure I want to do a visa based on retirement. I'd rather not have a Thai bank account in my name just to avoid US tax complications and it's pretty hard to prove what my pension is since I haven't elected to receive it yet.

I also could report on the procedures and pitfalls of making this crossing if anyone is interested. We did it all on our own without assistance from the agents. Maybe they would have known the answers to the questions I pose here.

[Crossy]

With a multi-entry Non-O that had not passed its "use by" date you should have received 90 days.

Did you fill in your visa number on the TM6 arrival card?

You can get it fixed for free at your local immigration office if it would cause issues.

[tuktuktuk]

With a multi-entry Non-O that had not passed its "use by" date you should have received 90 days.

Did you fill in your visa number on the TM6 arrival card?

You can get it fixed for free at your local immigration office if it would cause issues.

I did fill in the number. That answers my question. Thanks.

[KhunBENQ]

I have a non-immigrant, O, multiple entry visa received January 3rd. We arrived in Thailand (BKK) Feb 4th. I received a 90 day stamp there. It was extended 60 days until July 2nd on May 3rd (1600 baht at Khon Kaen immigration).

? That makes me think.

"We" is you and your Thai wife?

Otherwise Non-O stays are not extended.

You got an extension based on marriage?

And now I don't know what happens if you leave/enter when being under an extension (with a valid visa) as in your case?

Can someone tell?

Your visa really shows an "M" for multiple?

I did fill in the number.

You did?

[tuktuktuk]

I have a non-immigrant, O, multiple entry visa received January 3rd. We arrived in Thailand (BKK) Feb 4th. I received a 90 day stamp there. It was extended 60 days until July 2nd on May 3rd (1600 baht at Khon Kaen immigration).

? That makes me think.

"We" is you and your Thai wife?

Otherwise Non-O stays are not extended.

You got an extension based on marriage?

And now I don't know what happens if you leave/enter when being under an extension (with a valid visa) as in your case?

Can someone tell?

Your visa really shows an "M" for multiple?

I did fill in the number.

You did?

Yes, my wife is Thai and a US green card holder. I guess the extension was based on marriage. The wife handled most of the lengthy discussion with the guy in immigration in Khon Kaen. We had the impression that we could get the ninety day stamp there without having to exit the country. The Thai Embassy in Washington D.C. definitely didn't understand how it's supposed to work either. I've got what I need now and we won't return until after this visa is expired.

I definitely did fill in the visa number on the arrival form. We had seven people and the car and that made for a lot of paper work. You know how it is. We can't go anywhere without everyone tagging along. I'm sure if it had been just me he would have looked more closely at my single form. Maybe I should have done mine standing alone. When I went across the border I knew there is always the potential for trouble and no reentry. I had my credit card and multiple ATM cards and I would have just found my way to the airport in Vientiane and on home to the US. I'm a guest here. They don't have to let me stay.

[KhunBENQ]

I am afraid it's best to go to KK immi again and try to checkout.

As was written above an M visa should have given you a 90 day stamp (and likely without respect to the extension).

[crazydrummerpauly]

A strange sequence of events. You did what is for an 'O' visa an unusual thing - got the extension for 60 days instead of the normal visa-run to pick up the 90 days. That seems to have thrown a spanner in the works. I've had multiple entry Cat 'O's for 7 years and only ever done the 90-day visa runs to get another 90 days - never a problem. I know it sounds simplistic, but by giving you the 30 days after the 60 days they did bring it back into line with the 90-day intervals. Interesting post which seems to have foxed people ? It's a bit late now, but in case it matters in the future - you know you can get another 90 days by leaving on the last day of the 'O' visa - makes it effectively a 15-month visa.

[BritTim]

There is nothing abnormal about getting the 60-day extension. It is also irrelevant to whether the OP has a valid, unexpired, multiple entry Non Imm O visa. Assuming he does, he should receive 90-days on entry. His hair color, dress sense, music preferences, and whether he had extensions of previous entries are completely irrelevant.

[a10ams]

I suspect the 30 day stamp was an error on the part of the immigration officer.

This happened to me once on a Non Imm multi entry O visa at Suv airport.

I never noticed it until I got home.

I went to the local immigration here in Hua Hin and they fixed it for me.

[Mansell]

I had the same coming from Cambodia....I was on my Kawasaki and it was bloody hot so I didn't want to hassle with it. Next time I went to immigration in Phuket the officer sorted it all out telling me the border made a mistake and re stamping my passport and crossing out the mistake and signing it. There are so many people crossing the border from Cambodia that I don't think they care that much and just stamp anything. Going the other way the Cambodian official was very helpful, especially after telling him I didn't have a visa for Cambodia. Hand over the money to him, and sit in this chair in front of this fan while I get your visa. Very helpful and pretty quick.

[elviajero]

• If the visa, issued on January 3rd, is a multiple entry it is valid until January 2nd 2017 and the IO made a mistake. They should have given you 90 days.

If it was a single entry then it was used and finished with when you entered on January 4th. In which case the IO was right to give you 30 days.

Any errors can be fixed at any immigration office.