Non-O Imm Retirement issue at CW

[phkauf]

I received my initial Non-O Immigrant visa from the Thai Consulate in NY 10-Nov 2015 and it expires 9-Nov 2016, so I got all my paperwork in order for my First Extension at CW. However, they told me that since I recently entered the Kingdom in mid-Oct and have a 3-month Visa thru mid-Jan 2017, I cannot apply for my 1 year "retirement" extension until mid- December.  They seemed to indicate that the expiration of my original visa on 9 Nov 2016 would not be a problem, something I find a bit hard to believe given how scrupulous they are with rules and timing.

Also another complication for me is that  will be out of the Kingdom for 3 weeks in November returning after my original Non-O has expired, but still within the timeframe of the most recent entry visa. The Immigration Officer told me to fill out a TM8 form and submit it when I leave from Swampy so that I will not have the same issue when I return.

Does all this sound right? Or will I have an issue when I return and try to get my new Non-O Immigrant (Retirement) Visa since my previous one expired?

 

[ubonjoe]

Your visas expiration date means nothing once you enter the country. A visa only allows you to enter the country after that you are on a permit to stay.

Immigration was correct. You cannot apply for an extension of your permit to stay until the last 45 days of your 90 day entry.

You can get a single re-entry permit (1000 baht) that will keep the remainder of your 90 day entry valid when you return from your trip.

[lopburi3]

You permitted to stay stamp is what extension and allowed stay is based on - visa validity is just for entry - so yes there will not be any problem doing extension after visa expires.

 

But your return will be after visa expires so you must obtain a re-entry permit (TM.8) prior to leaving to keep your current permitted to stay through mid Jan 2017 alive on your return.

[phkauf]

Thanks for helping to clear this up. I'm just trying not to make any mistakes with the Byzantine Immigration Rules. Both of your explanations are far more understandable than those I was given at CW. 

 

Another quick question from something I picked up in another thread: once I have my extension in place, I then will need to get some type of multi-entry permit as well? 

 

 

[lopburi3]

To return after getting an extension you require a re-entry permit but there is no need for a multi re-entry unless you plan more than several trips each year.  Cost is 3,800 baht for the multi so some feel it is worth it even if not planning more than one or two trips as will not have to get again.  But it is not required - I have not had such a permit for the last decade as do not travel from Thailand anymore.  

[phkauf]

Great. Thanks again.

I will be making a number of trips from Thailand over the year, so a Multi-Entry is what I will need. Another line and wait at CW - oh joy!

[ubonjoe]

6 minutes ago, phkauf said:

Great. Thanks again.

I will be making a number of trips from Thailand over the year, so a Multi-Entry is what I will need. Another line and wait at CW - oh joy!

If you get one now it will only be valid until January when your 90 days end. If you are only making one trip you only need a single re-entry permit.

You can also get one at either airport on departure from the country.

[Suradit69]

1 hour ago, phkauf said:

Thanks for helping to clear this up. I'm just trying not to make any mistakes with the Byzantine Immigration Rules. Both of your explanations are far more understandable than those I was given at CW. 

 

Another quick question from something I picked up in another thread: once I have my extension in place, I then will need to get some type of multi-entry permit as well? 

 

 

"  I'm just trying not to make any mistakes with the Byzantine Immigration Rules.  "

 

Simply because you don't understand something doesn't make it byzantine. You are confusing your visa used to enter the country with your permission to stay. You are allowed to apply for an extension of stay 30 to 45 days before your permission to stay expires, depending on which office you use. Quite simple really.

 

Any re-entry permit you obtain is only valid until your current permission to stay expires. Wait until you are given the extension before applying for a multi-re-entry permit.

[phkauf]

Thanks Joe. I will get the multi-entry after I return from my trip in November. The same time I get the extension. Then it is good for 1-year as well, correct?

[ubonjoe]

5 minutes ago, phkauf said:

Thanks Joe. I will get the multi-entry after I return from my trip in November. The same time I get the extension. Then it is good for 1-year as well, correct?

The re-entry permit will valid until the date your extension ends.

[phkauf]

Great. Thanks again!!

[KhonKaenKowboy]

I thought you got a new year every time you re-entered during the first year of an O-A for Retirement.  That's how you get almost two years out of the first visa.  What am I missing?

[elviajero]

15 minutes ago, KhonKaenKowboy said:

I thought you got a new year every time you re-entered during the first year of an O-A for Retirement.  That's how you get almost two years out of the first visa.  What am I missing?

You are right, but the OP has a Non 'O' visa not an Non 'O-A'.

[KhonKaenKowboy]

4 minutes ago, elviajero said:

You are right, but the OP has a Non 'O' visa not an Non 'O-A'.

why would anyone do that if they were over 50?  seems like if they would give one; they would give the other?  They told me at Kalorama they don't even issue 90s for retirement....then she said "do you want to do it the easy way?"  smooth sailing after that.

[elviajero]

10 minutes ago, KhonKaenKowboy said:

why would anyone do that if they were over 50?  seems like if they would give one; they would give the other?  They told me at Kalorama they don't even issue 90s for retirement....then she said "do you want to do it the easy way?"  smooth sailing after that.

The Non 'O-A' is only available from your home country or country of official residence. Personally I would get a Non 'O-A' if it was available or a choice, but many people organize their visa in Thailand or from a Thai Embassy/Consulate in a neighboring country in which case they can only get a SE Non 'O'.

[TBKK]

I would like to clarify an issue with the rules for a O - A retirement visa multiple entry.

I understand that you get a new year every time you enter the country  the first year of your retirement visa but I am not sure if the multipe entry permit expires on the date of my origingal retirement visa or the or the date of my visa extension every time I enter the country. 

 

[elviajero]

4 minutes ago, TBKK said:

I would like to clarify an issue with the rules for a O - A retirement visa multiple entry.

I understand that you get a new year every time you enter the country  the first year of your retirement visa but I am not sure if the multipe entry permit expires on the date of my origingal retirement visa or the or the date of my visa extension every time I enter the country. 

 

• A re-entry permit is not linked to the original visa in any way. 
• When you make the last entry using the visa (ideally towards the end of the visas validity) you'll get permission to stay for 1 year. If you want to exit/re-enter during that year you need to buy a re-entry permit which will expire on the same date as the 1 year permit to stay.

[DogNo1]

FWIW, I am now doing my extension of stay and re-entry permit on separate days.  The super long waiting time required to do both on the same day plus the difficulty of getting transportation back to the city from CW after 4:30 make that the best option for my limited patience.  I do my 90-day reports by mail though.  They're simple to do that way.

[KhonKaenKowboy]

I do the same thing Dog...Keep It Simple...many on here don't understand that...and don't get me started on the people with two passports always trying to manipulate the system.  I've done two RE at CNX for midnight flight, twice in the last few months...never again at regular Imm.  You can get a multi at the airport, too.

[lopburi3]

8 hours ago, TBKK said:

I would like to clarify an issue with the rules for a O - A retirement visa multiple entry.

I understand that you get a new year every time you enter the country  the first year of your retirement visa but I am not sure if the multipe entry permit expires on the date of my origingal retirement visa or the or the date of my visa extension every time I enter the country. 

 

Your question is about O-A visa or muli re-entry permit?  Not the same thing.

1.  Multi entry O-A visa issued by Consulat 2 May 2016 with validity to 1 May 2017 would be a new one year permitted to stay on any entry between those dates - so if enter 1 May 2017 would be permitted to stay until end of April 2018.

2.  Multi re-entry permit keep current permitted to stay until date alive for any entry up to that date.  So if now permitted to stay until May 1 2017 each entry would get that as your permitted to stay until date.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

21 hours ago, DogNo1 said:

FWIW, I am now doing my extension of stay and re-entry permit on separate days.  The super long waiting time required to do both on the same day plus the difficulty of getting transportation back to the city from CW after 4:30 make that the best option for my limited patience.  I do my 90-day reports by mail though.  They're simple to do that way.

 

I typically do my annual retirement extension and a re-entry permit to go along with it each year at Chaengwattana BKK.

 

Arrive at their opening time at 8:30 am or soon thereafter, and usually am out and done by around lunch time. Try to avoid going on Mondays and Fridays as mid week typically seems less busy.

 

 

[TBKK]

15 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

Your question is about O-A visa or muli re-entry permit?  Not the same thing.

1.  Multi entry O-A visa issued by Consulat 2 May 2016 with validity to 1 May 2017 would be a new one year permitted to stay on any entry between those dates - so if enter 1 May 2017 would be permitted to stay until end of April 2018.

2.  Multi re-entry permit keep current permitted to stay until date alive for any entry up to that date.  So if now permitted to stay until May 1 2017 each entry would get that as your permitted to stay until date.

My question is about multiple entry O - A retirement visa.

I believe what you are saying is that if I have a multiple entry O - A retirement visa issued 2 May 2016 with validity to 1 May 2017, the re-entry permit issued with the visa is valid until 1 May 2017 and I would have to buy a new re-entry permit after 1 May 2017.

In other words, if I was permitted to stay until the end of April 2008, the expiration date of the re-entry permit issued with my original would not change.

Is that correct?

[KhonKaenKowboy]

Yes..you get free reentry until the expiration of the visa.

[elviajero]

1 hour ago, TBKK said:

My question is about multiple entry O - A retirement visa.

I believe what you are saying is that if I have a multiple entry O - A retirement visa issued 2 May 2016 with validity to 1 May 2017, the re-entry permit issued with the visa is valid until 1 May 2017 and I would have to buy a new re-entry permit after 1 May 2017.

In other words, if I was permitted to stay until the end of April 2008, the expiration date of the re-entry permit issued with my original would not change.

Is that correct?

No.

• A re-entry permit is not issued with a ME 'O-A' visa. It isn't needed because the visa allows for unlimited entries.
• If you have permission to stay until Apr 08 and buy a re-entry permit it will be valid for use until April 08.

[lopburi3]

You do not use a re-entry permit if you have a valid multi entry visa for the time you will next enter.  

 

A re-entry permit only provides a new entry for the current permitted to stay leave date - it has nothing to do with any visa and does not extend your stay beyond the date you currently must leave Thailand.

[phkauf]

Once again I am kind of lost in the bamboo here.

The visa I am looking to get is the Non-Imm O for reason of retirement. This visa only allows me to stay in the Kingdom for a period of 1-year. Since I plan on traveling outside the Kingdom multiple times, I also require a Multi-Entry Permit( is that the correct terminology?).  The cost for each is 1,900 THB for the Non-Imm O Visa and 3,800 THB for the ME Permit. I would need to get the Visa first at CW and then get the ME permit after the Visa is approved.  Is all this correct?

 

What's confusing me are all the mentions of other types of Non-Imm Visas and permits. Above Elviajero mentions a ME "O-A" visa, is that different than the "Retirement" Visa and in what way?

[ubonjoe]

6 minutes ago, phkauf said:

Once again I am kind of lost in the bamboo here.

The visa I am looking to get is the Non-Imm O for reason of retirement. This visa only allows me to stay in the Kingdom for a period of 1-year. Since I plan on traveling outside the Kingdom multiple times, I also require a Multi-Entry Permit( is that the correct terminology?).  The cost for each is 1,900 THB for the Non-Imm O Visa and 3,800 THB for the ME Permit. I would need to get the Visa first at CW and then get the ME permit after the Visa is approved.  Is all this correct?

 

What's confusing me are all the mentions of other types of Non-Imm Visas and permits. Above Elviajero mentions a ME "O-A" visa, is that different than the "Retirement" Visa and in what way?

You can only get a 90 day non immigrant visa entry (category O) at immigration based upon retirement for a fee of 2000 baht.

Then you can apply for a one year extension of stay (not a visa) based upon retirement at immigration for a fee of 1900 baht. After you have the extension you can apply for a multiple re-entry permit for a fee of 3800 baht.

You can a apply for a non-oa long stay visa at a Thai embassy or official consulate in your home country or country of legal residence. The OA visa allows unlimited one year year entries for one year from the date of issue. Info on the basic requirements are here: http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/4908/15385-Non-Immigrant-Visa-"O-A"-(Long-Stay).html

[Evilbaz]

The last one year permission to stay, in the last couple of days before the "enter before date" expiry of the Visa then gives you a further year to stay, but does not come with a free re-entry permit like the first year.

You have to buy a single or mutiple re-entry permit from your Local Immi office, if you wish to leave the Kingdom and keep the second year "permission to stay" alive, or it will be lost on leaving.

 

[phkauf]

Thanks again Joe and Evilbaz! I think I get it now.

[TBKK]

On 10/29/2016 at 1:03 AM, Evilbaz said:

The last one year permission to stay, in the last couple of days before the "enter before date" expiry of the Visa then gives you a further year to stay, but does not come with a free re-entry permit like the first year.

You have to buy a single or mutiple re-entry permit from your Local Immi office, if you wish to leave the Kingdom and keep the second year "permission to stay" alive, or it will be lost on leaving.

 

OK.........now I understand.

My ME O - A retirement visa will give me multilply entry for one year from date of issue.

If I have permission to stay after expiration date of origingal visa, then I have to buy re-entry permit.

Thanks.

 

One further question, does anyone know how long the health certificate is valid when applying for a ME O - A visa.

One of the people at the Thai Consulte told me one month, but other people have told me 3 months and 6 months.

It doesn't give this information on the website of the Thail Consulate.

In other words, if I obtain a health certificate notorized on April 1 2017, do I have to apply for new ME O - A visa before May 1, 2017 ( 1 month), July 1, 2017 ( 3 months) or Oct. 1, 2017 ( 6 months)?