Answered9 years ago

How should I handle my expiring visa and passport situation when exiting Thailand?

Non-immigrant O visa Visa transfer Thai visa rules Passport renewal Expat advice

Brad ********

asked Apr 25, 2018

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Greetings all, in need of some advice.....again. I have a 12 month multiple entry non immigrant O visa based on marriage issued at the Thai Consulate in Savannakhet Laos, which is due to expire 19/06/2018. My current passport is also due to expire. I intend to visit the Australian embassy in Bangkok in May to apply for a new passport which will make my current passport invalid, however, to my knowledge my visa is still valid. My Questions are......... 1) Do I use both passports when I exit Thailand, one which will be newly issued & have no entry/exit stamps & invalid passport with current visa? Or  2) Do I need to visit Chaengwattana to transfer my current visa stamp from my invalid passport to my newly obtained passport? Any and all advice appreciated. Big thanks to Tod, Robert and Lloyd for the ongoing stream of invaluable information.

Answer summary

The user is seeking guidance on how to manage their expiring non-immigrant O visa and upcoming passport renewal process in Thailand. They inquire whether to use both old and new passports upon exit or to transfer the visa stamp from the old passport to the new one. The community provides insights that as long as the visa is valid, the user can use both passports for travel, but immigration only transfers visa stamps, not the visa itself.

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Brad ********

Awesome news & information gents, thanks again for all the hard work everyone puts in. I'll do as you advised Tod, & just take both passports to the border when I go to apply for a new Non immi O visa. Any time I can save a trip to Chaengwattana, I feel as though I've been blessed 🤔.

9 years ago

Tod *********

Don't forget IF you border bounce once more before

*****

/2018 you'll get another 90 day stamp on that visa which will take you to 15 months. AND you can extend that by 60 more days under the "visit family" clause at the immigration office without the need for financial proof if you want to for 1900baht.

9 years ago

Damian ******

I went to immigration and they took both passports....i picked them up the next day and had a stamp in my new passport with the same visa. When i got my new non o the man at savvanaket asked to see my old passport.

9 years ago

Tod *********

All the immigration office did for you was make a notation in the new passport that you switched and then they moved the "admitted until" stamp (the entry stamp) into your new passport. You could have done that at the border when you did border bounce to get another 90 day stamp.

9 years ago

Tod *********

IF you hold a valid multi-entry visa from a thai consulate you do not need to go to the immigration office when you get a new passport. You simply show both passports at the border when you stamp out and back in.

9 years ago

Robert *******

As long your Visa is valid you use both passports. Immigration only transfer stamps to new passport, not visa's.

9 years ago