Can I renew my O-A Visa by leaving and re-entering Thailand just before it expires?

Feb 8, 2019
6 years ago
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Calum Mackintosh asked in another thread

1. I entered Thailand on an O-A Visa, is it always an O-A Visa.

2. Is it true if I leave and return just before my 1 year Visa expires, that I will get a 1 year Visa renewal. ?

I have renewed my Visa 7 times now. Thank you for accepting me.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The O-A Visa cannot be renewed but can be extended yearly after entering Thailand. Once in the country, holders of an O-A Visa will obtain yearly extensions of stay from immigration instead of renewing the visa itself. Leaving and re-entering just before the visa expires does not grant another year; it simply continues the extensions obtained from the immigration office.
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
A yearly extension of stay that you get from the immigration office <- this is NOT a visa. There is also a re-entry permit on that page to allowing the holder to exit/re-enter the country and not have the extension canceled.
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
A year-long, multi-entry Non-Immigrant Type VISA <- that you get from a thai consulate in YOUR country before you wing your way here.
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
A VISA expires when it expires and a visa or an extension can NEVER been renewed

You could have gotten 2 years out of the O-A visa ONLY while the visa was still valid.

Now that you are on yearly extnesions of stays from the immigration office you CANNOT get another 'free year' by exiting re-entering.

You are confusing a VISA with a yearly extension of stay

you have not been here on ANY visa for the last 7 years. You've been on yearly extensions of stays that you got from the immigration office
Darren *********
Calum Mackintosh it is. I should finally get my extension to stay on Monday, this group has been a great help. ๐Ÿ‘
Darren *********
Calum Mackintosh I think Tod is a not-for-profit entity.
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