Can I change my OA visa to a Non-O visa by crossing the border?

Visa Types Non-O Visa OA Visa Visa Extensions Border Run Thailand Immigration Expat Visa Process

April 26, 2023

a year ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

Question about changing an oa visa to a non O visa.

I have a valid OA visa that will expire in about a year from now ,2023-04-26.  

I've been told that in 9 months I should go somewhere like Cambodia border without a re-entry permit, cross the border and on the way back, They will cancel the OA visa because I don't have re-entry permit and give me a 1 month tourist visa that will give me time to apply for a new Non O visa.

Has anyone done this before and what was your experience. I would really appreciate to know if what I just said sounds reasonable and would be accepted. I will take my car and  stay a few nights and then come back into Thailand...

 Thanks very much.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The original poster (O/P) sought advice on changing their valid OA visa to a Non-O visa by crossing the Cambodia border without a re-entry permit, potentially receiving a tourist visa upon re-entry. Community responses elaborated that the O/P's current OA visa had already been extended and suggested that instead of rushing the change, they should utilize their extension until it expires in 2024. After that, a border run would allow for a new visa-exempt entry, after which they could apply for the Non-O visa, avoiding the mandatory insurance requirement.

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Tod *********

okay boys and squirrelz 😛 we got it sorted out

The O/P indeed did HAVE an OA (longstay) visa issued from the thai consulate in his home country.

Issued on April 9th 2021, valid until April 8th 2022.

They entered the country May 8th 2021 and were stamped in for the validity of their year mandatory health insurance until April 30th 2022.

On April 5th 2022 they got a year extension at the immigration office until April 30th 2023

Then this year on April 11th 2023 they got a new yearly extension taking them to April 30th 2024..

What they want to do is get OFF these yearly extension which "track back" to the original OA visa because of the 100K USD mandatory insurance requirement. 😮

Now seeing as they already HAVE this year's extension good until April 30th 2024 they might as well stay on it and use it 🙂

SO next year middle of April I'd say they should border bounce (go to the border, stamp out of thailand, stamp in and out of another country and right back into thailand) to get a NEW free visa exempt 30 day entry stamp.

Then they go to their immigration office apply first for the 90 day Non-O visa (which doesn't require insurance) and then after that the year extension. That should take them to about July 2025

Anyway, it took some sleuthing, but we got to the bottom of it and we got the O/P sorted on their game plan 🙂 (y)

We wish good luck to the O/P and hope they enjoy this year extension

a year ago

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Tod *********

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