Can I void a multiple re-entry permit at Suvarnabhumi airport before leaving Thailand?

Non-B Visa Non-O Visa Visa Regulations Multiple Re-entry Permit Thailand Immigration Visa Extension Work Permit Cancellation Tourist Visa Thai Marriage Visa Family Visa

Jan 11, 2024

10 months ago

Ly ****

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hello, my multiple re-entry permit expired on Jan 21 on a non-B visa. I have a border bounce flight on Jan 19 (fly out in the morning and fly in in the evening) to be on a 30-day tourist visa in order to change to non-O visa (married to a Thai). 

My question is, can I void the re-entry permit at Suvarnabhumi airport before leaving the country, so when I re-enter on Jan 19 they will stamp me in with the tourist visa?

Thank you in advance.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user is seeking clarification on whether they can void their multiple re-entry permit at Suvarnabhumi airport before leaving Thailand, in order to return on a tourist visa and subsequently apply for a Non-O visa based on marriage to a Thai citizen. The discussion involves complex immigration rules, including the cancellation of work permits and visa extensions, and varies by immigration office policies.

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Tod *********

Okay, you HAVE to cancel the work permit at the office that issued, it AND you have to cancel the extension at the office that issued it

SO that means IF you have an extension issued from the Phuket Immigration office you get the documentation from your employer stating you're stopping work on xxx date, you cancel the work permit at the MOL then you go to the immigration office and cancel the extension.

Some offices won't do "early cancellation" of an extension (which sounds like Phuket is one) meaning when you cancel the extension it's effective that date.

Now as people correctly stated, you really don't need to bounce out and back to get off this Non-B visa extension and on to a 30 day waiver stamp at all. You only need to CHANGE THE REASON for your extension to one based on employment to one based on marriage to a thai.

BUT

to do that you have to cancel the current extension where it was issued. (Phuket)

I think you should be able to go to Phuket cancel the extension and then apply for a 60 day visit thai family extension (because you have a half thai child by a thai father) and that would buy you the time to come back up here, get the documentation together and then apply for the year extension based on marriage to a thai

Now you're I'll fly out and back in idea MIGHT work BUT keep in mind even if the officer at passport control allows you to stamp in on a free 30 day visa waiver stamp rather than the still valid employment extension and re-entry permit when you go to the immigration office to apply for the NEW Non-O visa based on marriage to a thai they will see you never cancelled your previous extension correctly before you left AND that will cause issues for you..

10 months ago

Tod *********

I honestly think the best option is to slog on down to Phuket, get the work permit cancelled, get the extension cancelled, apply THERE for the 60 day visit thai family extension and then come up here to Bangkok and get the stuff ready to apply for the year extension based on marriage to a thai. That will give you time AND it will do the process correctly

10 months ago

Tod *********

Any way you do it you have to cancel that extension (no matter if you change the reason to an extension by marriage OR if you want to bounce out and back and start the process for a new Non-O visa)

They won't give you an extension for another reason and they won't let you apply for a new Non-O visa because you'd still have that 'open' employment extension (even after you stamp out and come back and it runs out it doesn't cancel officially) 🙁

SO slog on down to Phuket, cancel that extension and try to get the 60 day visit thai family extension right then

If you can't get that 60 day visit family extension, then just cancel the extension down there and fly OUT of the country from Phuket. Fly back into Bangkok 🙂 That way you'd get back up here, you'd be on a free entry stamp and the extension would be cancelled too (y)

10 months ago

Reply to

Tod *********

James ********

Let's go at this again...

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

.....Are you NOW on an extension of stay for your Non B ?

..... with a multiple re-entry permit ?

Or...

..... are you on a one year Multiple Entry Non B Visa ?

With your answers to those questions...we can better reply to your questions.

10 months ago

Ly ****

ORIGINAL POSTER

@James *******

Thanks for your prompt reply. To answer your questions and give you more insight on what we went through:

- I am a Vietnamese national currently holding a 1 year Non-B visa that expires on the 21st Jan 2024 (Issued by Phuket Immigration)

- I have a multiple re-entry permit also valid until the 21st Jan 2024

- I am married to a Thai National with Thai Marriage License

- I have a newborn child with Thai Birth Certificate born in Bangkok (where i moved to give birth).

As to the steps we have taken so far:

1. I went to Immigration Division 1 in Chaeng Wathanna to initially check if they could change from my non-B to be non-O. They said i needed to void my Non-B in Phuket first before leaving the country and coming back on the same day with a tourist visa. However we were informed by the kind officer there that we could check with the other officer there at an adjacent counter if he would be okay to void it himself as apparently Bangkok Immigration does have that authority to do so if they wish (this is what Phuket Immigration also told us as well as the officer lady at Bangkok Immigration) but on that day the officer declined and stated it is best we have it voided in Phuket, as that is where it was initially made.

-As a side note, I have prepared all the required documents for the Non-O marriage visa application, it has been checked and confirmed that all is complete and in order by the Immigration Division 1.

2. I checked with Phuket Immigration who has informed me that my work permit needed to be cancelled first (at the labour department) and to state the day that it needed to be cancelled to be the date i am flying out of the country, in this case, the 19th. Upon doing so, the Phuket immigration would then void my visa and stamp in red the final valid date i can stay being the 19th Jan in line with the Work Permit cancellation.

3. Today the Labour department states they can cancel the work permit but that they will only cancel it on the same day (today!) if i was to proceed, they will not pre-cancel like how Phuket Immigration stated they could do. Upon checking again with Phuket immigration to ask if they can instead give 7 to 21 days of stay post cancellation (which we know Bangkok Immigration does, as they had previously given me up to 21 days post visa cancellation when i was changing jobs), however at Phuket Immigration they say that they will only cancel my visa on the day my work permit is voided (so that would be today if i went ahead with it). Which means i would be immediately on overstay from today until the 19th.

4. After checking a little more, i was told i could just leave the country without a re-entry permit and upon my return i would be given a 30 days (visa exempt period) thus avoiding the work permit cancellation and non-B cancellation process altogether. Since my re-entry is valid until the 21st however, it was necessary to cancel it before flying out.

5. I checked with a contact who called immigration at Suvarnabhumi airport today to see if we can request to void the re-entry permit before flying out (at immigration checkpoint there) to which they said yes. However just to double check, my contact also called Phuket immigration to ask them this same question and they said No, that i would need to void my visa with them first...

So this is where i stand right now. I am looking to avoid having to leave the country for more than a day as my issue is i now live in Bangkok and have a newborn that i need to breastfeed. Apologies for the long message, but i figured it would be best to be as thorough as i can with my current situation.

Thank you very much.

10 months ago

James ********

@Ly ***

thank you for your detailed reply

Please be patient as I am conferring with a fellow Moderator on your POSTED reply.

Now that we have a clearer picture of you and your situation.

10 months ago

Reply to

James ********

Will ************

If you have a multi entry permit that expires on 21 Jan and your visa extension is still valid you will be stamped in on Jan19 as a non-b

10 months ago

James ********

Have you been to your local Thai Immigration office and ASKED them for their recommendation... What can you do?

Are you now on an extension of stay with the Non B that you have?

IF you are now married to Thai, is your marriage registered in Thailand?

10 months ago

James ********

Suggest you ask your Thai Immigration office IF you can CHANGE THE REASON for an extension of stay to that of being Married to Thai ???

Do you have the required 400,000 Thai baht in a Thai bank account in your name only now?

10 months ago

James ********

And in rereading your question...

ARE YOU MARRIED TO A THAI MAN?

If you are, there's NO 400,000 Thai baht banked money required.

10 months ago

James ********

The Non B Visa extension of stay that I assume you are now on... and work permit needs to be cancelled before you leave Thailand.

10 months ago

Reply to

James ********

There's NO tourist visa when you do a Bounce out of Thailand and return.

You enter VISA EXEMPT ENTRY and get 30 days STAMP on arrival plus One 30 day extension of stay at your local Thai Immigration office for 1900 Thai baht is available.

10 months ago

James ********

Frankly I don't think it's a good idea to arrive into Thailand by Air ✈️...as you are obviously not a tourist and may be questioned by Thai Immigration Officers upon arrival.

You can do a simple Land BORDER BOUNCE, leaving Thailand and reenter Thailand the same day. And that gives you the Visa Exempt Entry 30 days STAMP plus one 30 day extension available at Thai Immigration office.

10 months ago

Reply to

James ********

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