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Can I extend my O-A visa from Chiang Mai airport or do I need a visa run?

O-A visavisa extensionChiang Mai immigrationvisa runretirement visaThai visa rulesre-entry permit
Dec 8, 2022
2 years ago
Graham ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I am currently on my initial 12 month O-A longstay (retirement) visa which is due to expire at the end of February next year.

I plan to return to Australia for 1 week in March.

Can I obtain an extension to my O-A visa from the Immigration office here at the Chiang Mai airport OR do I need to do a visa run prior to the expiration of the visa's validity?

Cheers!

Graham Mayger
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user has an initial O-A longstay visa expiring in February and is considering options for either extending it at the Chiang Mai immigration office or doing a visa run before expiration. Comments suggest that an extension can be applied for 45 days prior to expiration but requires sufficient funds and insurance. A border run just before visa expiry for a new stamp is recommended as it simplifies renewal and retains visa validity, with reminders to obtain a re-entry permit for travel.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
  • Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
  • For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
  • Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
  • Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
Stephen *******
Think about getting an O-X from Sydney when your O-A expires. You'll get 5 stamped in for 5 years and can leave money in Australia. Must be Sydney consulate.
2 years ago
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John **********
Bounce out and back just before your visa expires. This will get you another 12 months permission to stay, assuming you have insurance for the 12 months. Make sure you get a re-entry permit before heading home, this will keep the permission to stay date stamped in your passport alive.
2 years ago
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Tony *********
@John *********
 I have a non-O extension which does not require insurance. If I don't renew it or if I leave without a re-entry permit, I don't have a Visa when I return. Are you saying that with a non OA you get another year without renewing it by simply leaving and returning as long as you have insurance?
2 years ago
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Geoffrey ******
@Tony ********
 Tony, Tha NON O-A requires insurance, where as the NON -O does not. Don't know about the NON-OA being able to leave and come back and getting another year. I do know for a fact that both the NON O and NON O-A extension to stay require renewal every 12 months. A NON O is the better of the 2 because no restrictions and or additional requirements are added to it. Have a great day.
2 years ago
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Steve *******
@Geoffrey *****
 The OA doesnt require funds in a Thai bank and you can get 2 years from the visa. Yes does it does require health insurance but most people have that anyway.
2 years ago
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Tony *********
@Geoffrey *****
 yes I agree. I've had a Non O for the last 15 years.
2 years ago
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Geoffrey ******
@Tony ********
 Likewise. Have had the NON O for 9 years.
2 years ago
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Geoffrey ******
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John **********
@Tony ********
 as long as you leave and return just prior to the visa expiring. The OA visa is a multiple entry visa, every time you enter the country you get stamped in for 12 months during the validity of the visa (and assuming you also have 12 months valid insurance)
2 years ago
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John **********
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Graham ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
 thanks John - that is my understanding but I am getting conflicting messages.
2 years ago
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Shayne **********
@Graham *******
 this is the only advice you need to listen to. This is the best, easiest, and cheapest solution.

Please disregard every other comment.

Well done
@John *********
 !
2 years ago
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John **********
@Graham *******
 yep lots of people give bad advice
2 years ago
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John **********
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Benedict **********
After your visa expires on February 28th you will not be able to reenter on that visa, regardless of the date on your admission stamp. The date on your stamp becomes irrelevant once you are stamped out. So even if you leave the Kingdom before February 28, 2023 and get a stamp with a new insurance upon returning until February 2024, once you leave for Australia in March, you will not be able to return because your visa has expired. Also, re-entry permits are only issued for single entry visas. They give you and additional entry or several BUT only until your original visa is valid.
2 years ago
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Brandon ************
@Benedict *********
 you most certainly can get a re-entry permit for your stamp after the visa expires since the visa no longer relevant. You're just keeping your entry stamp alive with it
2 years ago
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Graham ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 I am trying to keep a clear head whilst reading all these comments. As long as I understand what people are trying to tell me I can collate all the information and run it past a visa agent that I know and possibly immigration when I visit them.

I can now understand why people can get confused with policy, procedures and protocol. Eventually I'll have it sorted.

.......and thanks for your help!

Cheers!

Graham
2 years ago
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Graham ********
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Graham ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Benedict *********
 so what is your understanding on extending the O-A visa for the 2nd year. which everyone is telling me you can?
2 years ago
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Benedict **********
@Graham *******
 I will try to explain. Your O-A visa is valid for one year with multiple entries and one year only. If you max your stays out, it can give you a 2 year stay. You just have to time your last entry just before your visa expires. So even if you arrive on the last day, you get a stamp for another year. But the next day your visa becomes useless, it expires. You can stay here for another year according to your stamp but once you leave, you can not come back.

There’s the possibility to extend your O-A BEFORE it expires in Thailand as it has been explained above but you need to have the 800K in a thai bank. The extension, if granted, is a single entry Non-Immigrant O valid for one year and for that there is the possibility of getting a re-entry permit so you can get in and out.
2 years ago
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Graham ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Benedict *********
 .......and so let me see if I understand what you are saying.

My current O-A visa expires on 28 February. The 1 year extension is NOT O-A, but reverts to O only. The O visa requirement is 800,000 in Thai bank (in my name only - which I already have) OR a minimum of 65,000 baht

transferred into that account each and every month ( which I have been doing for the last few months).

Does that entail a visa run or can it be processed at the Immigration Office? Does the extension require a minimun time frame prior to the expiration of the current visa?

I am not too concerned as to whether I get a single re-entry permit or multiple re-entry permit.

Cheers!

Graham

.
2 years ago
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Benedict **********
@Graham *******
 Yes, this is basically it. It can be processed at your local immigration usually at least 45 days before your visa expires but this varies. I still do not think you can get a reentry permit with your visa expired and based on your entry stamp, but I might be mistaken on this one and will check with my visa agent tomorrow. I am in a similar situation myself. My O-A expired end of October and have an entry stamp until September next year. But I am not extending here, will get a new O-A in Europe when the time comes.
2 years ago
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Graham ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Benedict *********
 .......and so you got an extension for another 12 months, but you haven't left Thailand at all?
2 years ago
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Benedict **********
@Graham *******
 I did leave Thailand for some time in the summer. When I came back in October, I did not get an “extension”, I was admitted to stay for 11 months upon entry with my O-A then still valid 3 weeks. (Just to get the terms right 🙂) 11 months was the duration of my insurance I presented to the immigration officer at the airport, thus I got 11 months of stay and not the maximum 12. I have not left Thailand since and actually did not plan to leave because I had the information that a re-entry permit is not possible once your visa has expired. But as I said, I will now check again with my visa agent.
2 years ago
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Graham ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Benedict *********
 my misunderstanding - you are on your initial 1 year O-A visa?
2 years ago
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Benedict **********
@Graham *******
 Yes. But an O-A is always valid for one year, giving you a maximum of 12 months stay from each entry. So actually there is no ‘initial 1 year’. It is one year validity. Yes it can be “extended” in Thailand, but with all the hurdles of a new visa. So yes I am here on my 1 year O-A, maxing out my stay to almost two years, but without actually “extending” the original visa.
2 years ago
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Benedict **********
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Tony *********
Renew it for another year which you can do up to 45 days before expiry and get a re-entry permit which you can use to get back in when you return from Australia.
2 years ago
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Steve *******
@Tony ********
 You cant re-new the OA in Thailand.
2 years ago
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Tony *********
@Steve ******
 oh yes you're right. That's why I have an O.which I converted from a tourist visa in Thailand.
2 years ago
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Tony *********
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Graham ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tony ********
 I don't want to tuck 800,000 baht away in a Thai bank when I am currently on A-O with proof of funds only (in excess of 65,000 baht per month).
2 years ago
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Tony *********
@Graham *******
 I don't understand. If you're using 65k proof of income every month you won't need to deposit 800k.
2 years ago
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Tony *********
@Graham *******
 then let the visa expire and leave the country. If you're only returning for a short time then just get a 45-day entry waiver.
2 years ago
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Graham ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tony ********
 Yes - that is another option!
2 years ago
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Tony *********
@Graham *******
 when you return from Australia if you want to stay long term you will need a visa. So why let the old one lapse and have to go through the whole process again?
2 years ago
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Graham ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tony ********
 that is why I am prepared to do the "border bounce" - get my health insurance renewed, get stamped in for another 365 days, get the re-entry permit, return to Australia. then back to Chiang Mai. and things return to the way they are currently (I hope).
2 years ago
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Tony *********
@Graham *******
 you won't get stamped in for 365 days if you leave and then return. You will get 45 days like a tourist.
2 years ago
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Stephen *******
@Tony ********
 It's an O-A. You get stamped in for 1 year every time you enter during the visa validity, even on the last day. The border bounce in Feb is the right thing to do.
2 years ago
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Tony *********
@Graham *******
 do a border bounce for what? Your Visa expires at the end of February. You will need to renew it before you go to Australia and get a re-entry permit to get back in on the new visa.
2 years ago
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Tony *********
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Brandon ************
in Chiang Mai you can apply for an extension when you have 45 days left on your existing stay. But that will require you to have another year of insurance and also have 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account in your name only.

You'd be much better off doing a border bounce right before your visa expires, and that along with another year of insurance will give you another year stamp in your passport, since you will get stamped in for 1 year every time you enter during the validity of your visa (or as long as your insurance is valid for).

If you do that though, you will need to make sure to get a re-entry permit before leaving to keep your new 1 year stamp alive when you go to Australia.
2 years ago
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Graham ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 thanks Brandon - I am aware of the health insurance renewal and the need for a re-entry permit. I hope to have the health insurance renewed by the beginning of February, then do the "border bounce" mid-February and then get the re-entry permit before I leave in early March.

Cheers!

Graham
2 years ago
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Sid *******
@Graham *******
 Before February 28 he has to leave and re enter to get the extra year . No re entry required. Yes you are correct, when he leaves again in March he will need a re entry permit.

Sorry maybe I was confused as to what he was asking.
2 years ago
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Sid *******
@Graham *******
 If you look at the Visa in your passport it should say multiple entry.
2 years ago
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Brandon ************
@Sid ******
 the visa will have expired by then. What the visa says on it is irrelevant.
2 years ago
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Brandon ************
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Sid *******
@Graham *******
 The first year of OA is multiple entry , so you don’t need a re entry permit.
2 years ago
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Graham ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Sid ******
 - My first year of OA visa expires on 28 February. I am then returning to Australia in March for my daughter's wedding. March will then be in my second year so I am of the understanding that I will require a re-entry permit.
2 years ago
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Graham ********
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