VISA & RE-ENTRY STAMP
VISA & RE-ENTRY STAMP
Well, I thought I really understood my Non-Immigrant O-A Thai Visa and multiple re-entry stamp but apparently not !
My non-immigrant O-A visa with a multiple entry stamp was issued to me 3 May 2011 in the US with an enter before date of 2 May 2012. I entered Thailand on 26 May 2011 and Airport Immigration stamped my passport with the correct one year advance "permitted to stay until date" of 25 May 2012. I returned to the US on 20 Sept. 2011 and returned to Thailand on 29 March 2012 with a stamped permitted to stay date until 28 March 2013.
I thought that I had to renew my Thai visa prior to 2 May 2012 ( the enter before date on my visa), so I went to Thai Immigration in BKK today and was told I did not have to renew because my latest passport stamp indicated permitted to stay until 28 March 2013. However they did take my Application for Re-entry Permit into the Kingdom and placed a Non-Imm Re-entry Permit stamp with multiple entry in my passport with a valid until date of 28 March 2013.
My question/concern-
I thought the Re-entry Stamp date should be 2 May 2013 to correspond with the "enter before date" on my visa and not the last "permitted to stay date" in my passport ? Does this date sound correct ? And also, I guess the multiple entry stamp must be renewed every year ?
Thank you in advance for any help in understanding this.
My non-immigrant O-A visa with a multiple entry stamp was issued to me 3 May 2011 in the US with an enter before date of 2 May 2012. I entered Thailand on 26 May 2011 and Airport Immigration stamped my passport with the correct one year advance "permitted to stay until date" of 25 May 2012. I returned to the US on 20 Sept. 2011 and returned to Thailand on 29 March 2012 with a stamped permitted to stay date until 28 March 2013.
I thought that I had to renew my Thai visa prior to 2 May 2012 ( the enter before date on my visa), so I went to Thai Immigration in BKK today and was told I did not have to renew because my latest passport stamp indicated permitted to stay until 28 March 2013. However they did take my Application for Re-entry Permit into the Kingdom and placed a Non-Imm Re-entry Permit stamp with multiple entry in my passport with a valid until date of 28 March 2013.
My question/concern-
I thought the Re-entry Stamp date should be 2 May 2013 to correspond with the "enter before date" on my visa and not the last "permitted to stay date" in my passport ? Does this date sound correct ? And also, I guess the multiple entry stamp must be renewed every year ?
Thank you in advance for any help in understanding this.
Re: VISA & RE-ENTRY STAMP
Imm have done things correctly.
First off, the re-entry permit is there to cover your permitted to stay stamp, not the visa's validy as you can always enter on that as long as it's valid. Your permitted to stay stamp is valid for longer than the visa is - 28th Mar 2013 as against 2nd May 2012. The re-entry permit is there to "protect" that extra time. If you left Thailand on, say, 25th of April, without the re-enty permit, and tried coming back on 3rd May (after the visa had expired), you're stumped. Welcome to a 30 day visa exempt stamp and no more. With the re-entry stamp, you'll always be permitted to stay until 28th Mar 2013 when you re-enter, even though the visa might have expired.
Hope that's clear. Again, Imm have done things correctly and to your advantage.
Couple of other things. Why were you trying to get another visa (OA I assume) from BKK? They can't give you one. You can get an annual extension of stay there, but not a visa like you have now. You'd have to go back to The States for that and go through the whole visa application process again.
EDIT You won't be able to get another re-entry permit to this visa after 28th March 2013 as the visa and permitted to stay stamp have expired. You have no valid visa.
First off, the re-entry permit is there to cover your permitted to stay stamp, not the visa's validy as you can always enter on that as long as it's valid. Your permitted to stay stamp is valid for longer than the visa is - 28th Mar 2013 as against 2nd May 2012. The re-entry permit is there to "protect" that extra time. If you left Thailand on, say, 25th of April, without the re-enty permit, and tried coming back on 3rd May (after the visa had expired), you're stumped. Welcome to a 30 day visa exempt stamp and no more. With the re-entry stamp, you'll always be permitted to stay until 28th Mar 2013 when you re-enter, even though the visa might have expired.
Hope that's clear. Again, Imm have done things correctly and to your advantage.
Couple of other things. Why were you trying to get another visa (OA I assume) from BKK? They can't give you one. You can get an annual extension of stay there, but not a visa like you have now. You'd have to go back to The States for that and go through the whole visa application process again.
EDIT You won't be able to get another re-entry permit to this visa after 28th March 2013 as the visa and permitted to stay stamp have expired. You have no valid visa.
Re: VISA & RE-ENTRY STAMP
OK, so as long as I remain in Thailand I do not have to do anything, other than my 90 day address reporting, until 28 March 2013.
If I decide to take a trip or two outside of Thailand, each time I return airport immigration will stamp my passport with a permitted to stay date of one more year.
If I went on a trip outside the country say in December 2012 and returned 10 February 2013, would airport immigration stamp my passport with a permitted to stay stamp of 9 February 2014 thereby superseding the date of 28 March 2013 that is the "valid until date" on my multiple re-entry permit?
I wasn't trying to get another O-A Visa today in BKK. I simply thought that I had to re-new my current visa prior to the "enter before date" on it which is 2 May 2012.
If I decide to take a trip or two outside of Thailand, each time I return airport immigration will stamp my passport with a permitted to stay date of one more year.
If I went on a trip outside the country say in December 2012 and returned 10 February 2013, would airport immigration stamp my passport with a permitted to stay stamp of 9 February 2014 thereby superseding the date of 28 March 2013 that is the "valid until date" on my multiple re-entry permit?
I wasn't trying to get another O-A Visa today in BKK. I simply thought that I had to re-new my current visa prior to the "enter before date" on it which is 2 May 2012.
Re: VISA & RE-ENTRY STAMP
Correct regarding the first point. Just 90 day reporting until 28th Mar 2013.
Incorrect regarding point 2. Your visa expires on 2nd May 2012. Up until that date, as you already experienced in Sept 2011, you'll get another year's permitted to stay each time you re-enter, but AFTER 2nd May, you won't. The visa's finished.
In other words, you could exit Thailand into Burma or Cambodia, for example, on the 1st May 2012 and re-enter immediately that day and you'd get a new year's permitted to stay until April 30th 2013.
As things are now,exit after 2nd May 2012, and you'll be stamped in until 28th March 2013 as you have the re-entry permit already. If you didn't have that, you'd only get a 30 day visa exempt stamp. You can exit and re-enter as many times as you want up until 28th Mar 2013 and always be permitted to stay until that date. Once the visa's expired (2nd May), you don't get any extra time beyond what you already have.
Basically, as things stand at the moment, you won't be able to stay beyond 28th Mar 2013. You could get a little more time by doing a border run before 2nd May, but it's up to you if you want the hassle for what will give you a stay up until the end of April 2013 - in other words an extra month.
So, if you went on a trip in Dec 2012 and returned Feb 10 2013, you'd be stamped in until 28th March 2013. Once you go past May 2nd, your time here is set.
Incorrect regarding point 2. Your visa expires on 2nd May 2012. Up until that date, as you already experienced in Sept 2011, you'll get another year's permitted to stay each time you re-enter, but AFTER 2nd May, you won't. The visa's finished.
In other words, you could exit Thailand into Burma or Cambodia, for example, on the 1st May 2012 and re-enter immediately that day and you'd get a new year's permitted to stay until April 30th 2013.
As things are now,exit after 2nd May 2012, and you'll be stamped in until 28th March 2013 as you have the re-entry permit already. If you didn't have that, you'd only get a 30 day visa exempt stamp. You can exit and re-enter as many times as you want up until 28th Mar 2013 and always be permitted to stay until that date. Once the visa's expired (2nd May), you don't get any extra time beyond what you already have.
Basically, as things stand at the moment, you won't be able to stay beyond 28th Mar 2013. You could get a little more time by doing a border run before 2nd May, but it's up to you if you want the hassle for what will give you a stay up until the end of April 2013 - in other words an extra month.
So, if you went on a trip in Dec 2012 and returned Feb 10 2013, you'd be stamped in until 28th March 2013. Once you go past May 2nd, your time here is set.
Re: VISA & RE-ENTRY STAMP
Well, I do plan on returning to the US for the winter holidays, so while I'm back there ,should I apply for another Non-Immigrant O-A Visa ??
I was under the impression that once you obtained a Non-Immigrant O-A visa in your own country that you could renew it here in Thailand.
I was under the impression that once you obtained a Non-Immigrant O-A visa in your own country that you could renew it here in Thailand.
Re: VISA & RE-ENTRY STAMP
For sure apply for another OA when back home.
All visas, except in special circumstances which don't apply to you, are granted by Thai Embassies and consulates. By their very nature, they are outside of Thailand.
You may be mixing up another visa with an annual extension to one. This is applied for and granted by Imm here in Thailand. Your OA visa can be extended every year but you're not getting a new visa. Most of us who stay here long-term do this. It's a once a year trip to your local Imm office and hopefully depart a short while later with a year's extension to stay. This can be done ad infinitum. Reporting necessary every 90 days and if you want to go on a trip outside the country, get a re-entry permit.
The usual reasons for the extensions are either for retirement (and you'll meet the criteria for that or else you wouldn't have got the OA visa in the first place - age and financial requirements are the same) or marriage to a Thai. If you want to know more about this option, just ask and we'll fill the details in.
If you were told to go to Imm before your current visa expires and get another year, then that refers to the extension.
All visas, except in special circumstances which don't apply to you, are granted by Thai Embassies and consulates. By their very nature, they are outside of Thailand.
You may be mixing up another visa with an annual extension to one. This is applied for and granted by Imm here in Thailand. Your OA visa can be extended every year but you're not getting a new visa. Most of us who stay here long-term do this. It's a once a year trip to your local Imm office and hopefully depart a short while later with a year's extension to stay. This can be done ad infinitum. Reporting necessary every 90 days and if you want to go on a trip outside the country, get a re-entry permit.
The usual reasons for the extensions are either for retirement (and you'll meet the criteria for that or else you wouldn't have got the OA visa in the first place - age and financial requirements are the same) or marriage to a Thai. If you want to know more about this option, just ask and we'll fill the details in.
If you were told to go to Imm before your current visa expires and get another year, then that refers to the extension.
Re: VISA & RE-ENTRY STAMP
That's all I wanted to do today was just get an annual extension to my Non-Immigrant O-A Visa before the date of 2 May 2012 ( even had a notarized statement of income from my embassy), but when the Immigration Officer saw that "permitted to stay" stamp of 28 March 2013 she said I did not need an extension and took me to an Officer to obtain a renewal for my multiple re-entry permit. Should I have insisted on getting an annual extension to my Visa ?
There must be some farangs living here that have Non-Immigrant O-A Visas with multiple entry stamps that make a few trips outside the country each year and are able to obtain annual extensions here without going back to their home country to obtain a whole new visa ? How do they do it ?
Thanks for taking the time to explain all this. I appreciate it. Like I said, I thought I had all this stuff down !
There must be some farangs living here that have Non-Immigrant O-A Visas with multiple entry stamps that make a few trips outside the country each year and are able to obtain annual extensions here without going back to their home country to obtain a whole new visa ? How do they do it ?
Thanks for taking the time to explain all this. I appreciate it. Like I said, I thought I had all this stuff down !
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Re: VISA & RE-ENTRY STAMP
Glad I looked around before asking the same question. This is exactly the information I am looking for as I will be applying for a retirement O-A visa in the future.
Re: VISA & RE-ENTRY STAMP
OK, I understand now.
The reason Imm didn't allow you to apply for an annual extension is because you were too early. In your circumstances, forget what I said previously about applying before your visa expires (2nd May 2012). It's your permitted to stay date that matters (28th Mar 2013). You can apply for the annual extension within the last 30 days of any permitted to stay date. So, you can apply between 28th Feb and 28th Mar 2013.
Again, Imm have done things correctly and you have nothing to worry about until next year. Your proposed trip back to the States is also OK as you'll be back here before the cut-off date of 28th Mar 2013. If you do go away, make sure you're back in enough time to get your paperwork sorted out to apply for the EXTENSION in time. A month before 28th Mar 2013 would be ideal.
A couple of other things. Firstly, I'm afraid that you'll probably have to get another income letter from your Embassy. There's no hard and fast rule about how old the letter can be, but I reckon that yours will be too old in Mar 2013. Normally, within 3 months of application date is OK. Just try and get it as close to the application date as possible. (I get mine from the UK Embassy one day and apply for the extension the next).
Secondly, I assume you live in BKK? As I said in a previous post, you apply for the extension at your local office. If you live in Hua Hin, it must be done here.
You seem to know the requirements for the annual extension. If you're unsure of anything, ask away. Yes, there are loads of foreigners who get extensions to their OA or O visas. Once you have the extension, there's no need for another visa, ever, as long as you continue to get an annual extension on time. If exiting the country, just get a re-entry permit.
Don't worry. Imm have done everything correctly and I'm sure you'll get your extension next year. Just remember the difference between a VISA and an EXTENSION to one. You'll be getting the latter.
The reason Imm didn't allow you to apply for an annual extension is because you were too early. In your circumstances, forget what I said previously about applying before your visa expires (2nd May 2012). It's your permitted to stay date that matters (28th Mar 2013). You can apply for the annual extension within the last 30 days of any permitted to stay date. So, you can apply between 28th Feb and 28th Mar 2013.
Again, Imm have done things correctly and you have nothing to worry about until next year. Your proposed trip back to the States is also OK as you'll be back here before the cut-off date of 28th Mar 2013. If you do go away, make sure you're back in enough time to get your paperwork sorted out to apply for the EXTENSION in time. A month before 28th Mar 2013 would be ideal.
A couple of other things. Firstly, I'm afraid that you'll probably have to get another income letter from your Embassy. There's no hard and fast rule about how old the letter can be, but I reckon that yours will be too old in Mar 2013. Normally, within 3 months of application date is OK. Just try and get it as close to the application date as possible. (I get mine from the UK Embassy one day and apply for the extension the next).
Secondly, I assume you live in BKK? As I said in a previous post, you apply for the extension at your local office. If you live in Hua Hin, it must be done here.
You seem to know the requirements for the annual extension. If you're unsure of anything, ask away. Yes, there are loads of foreigners who get extensions to their OA or O visas. Once you have the extension, there's no need for another visa, ever, as long as you continue to get an annual extension on time. If exiting the country, just get a re-entry permit.
Don't worry. Imm have done everything correctly and I'm sure you'll get your extension next year. Just remember the difference between a VISA and an EXTENSION to one. You'll be getting the latter.
Re: VISA & RE-ENTRY STAMP
OK ! Now that is how I thought the Non-Immigrant 0-A Visa worked. At BKK Immigration yesterday I was expecting them to give me the Annual Visa Extension based on my visa "enter before" date 2 May 2012 and when they did not , it confused me. But, I see now how the "permitted to stay until" stamp date of 28 March 2013 superseded the date of 2 May 2012.
Actually, it may be cheaper or more hassle free for me to just obtain another Non-Immigrant O-A Visa with multiple entry stamp while I'm back in the US this winter. As I see it, I have that option ?
Yes, I do live in BKK and I'll just chalk up the $60.00 USD income notary fee at my embassy to a learning experience.
Again, thanks for all your assistance, as it not only helped me but I'm sure some others as well.
Actually, it may be cheaper or more hassle free for me to just obtain another Non-Immigrant O-A Visa with multiple entry stamp while I'm back in the US this winter. As I see it, I have that option ?
Yes, I do live in BKK and I'll just chalk up the $60.00 USD income notary fee at my embassy to a learning experience.
Again, thanks for all your assistance, as it not only helped me but I'm sure some others as well.
Re: VISA & RE-ENTRY STAMP
Yes, you can get another OA back home if you prefer.