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Answered7 years ago

What happens to my Thailand Elite visa if I exit and re-enter before it expires?

Brandan ******
asked Oct 8, 2019
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Hey everybody! Sorry its my first time here, got a question to ask!

I have a Thailand Elite visa due to expire in Feb 28 2020.

If I were to exit the country on say, 20th Feb 2020, and come back on 21st Feb 2020, do I get a 1 year stamp?

If I do, am I allowed to stay in Thailand till 21st Feb 2021, or do I need to exit Thailand on 28th Feb 2020 when my Thai Elite visa expires?

Thanks!
Answer summary
The user inquires about the implications of exiting Thailand just before the expiry of their Thailand Elite visa. Specifically, they want to know if re-entering Thailand would grant them a new one-year stay, despite their visa expiring on February 28, 2020. Community responses suggest that while one could potentially receive a new one-year stamp, all Elite benefits would cease upon expiration of the membership. It's advised to confirm with Thailand Elite staff due to inconsistent reports.
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Tod *********
Tod *********
we're done. You got as good of an answer as you're gonna get. (y)

I guess you'll find out in Feb 2020 ;)
Bruce *********
Bruce *********
I have the 20 year Elite Superiority Extension.
Peter ********
Peter ********
Bruce Collard should have saved some money then and got a TEN YEAR one hahahah when I buy things now i say "Just 5 years warranty thanks "
Bruce *********
Bruce *********
@Tod ********
, I'll be brown bread in 20 years mate
Tod *********
Tod *********
and I guess in 20 years you can see if you get the extra last year when the elite program you're on runs out ;)
Bruce *********
Bruce *********
You might get a one year permission to stay, but Thailand Elite will write to you to tell you that they have written to immigration and you will be overstaying. Whether you get away with it is another question.
Brandan ******
Brandan ******
OP
@Martin ******
thats bad news for me😔
Martin *******
Martin *******
That seems to be the consensus from a large thread on ThaiVisa.com . Once your Thailand Elite membership expires you are on overstay irrespective of the "admitted until" stamp.
Brandan ******
Brandan ******
OP
@Bruce ********
ahhh I see!! Its so hard to stay here in Thailand 🤨
Tod *********
Tod *********
You need to be talking to the thai elite staff about this.

There are conflicting reports. Certainly ALL of your elite benefits will stop when the elite membership runs out.

BUT

The way the visa is issued IF you exited/re-entered just before the visa expired you would get stamped in for a whole new year (so until Feb 2021)

BUT

The elite people will tell you that you can't do this.

I'd say IF you're going to get another elite visa from them don't do it. BUT if' you're gonna walk away and not do anything else with them, then you're out nothing and should do it.
Peter ********
Peter ********
@Brandan *****
discount for renewal is 4%
Peter ********
Peter ********
@Brandan *****
Thailand Elite will tell you that you will be on overstay from the date your membership expires regardless of the permitted to stay stamp in your passport.
James ********
James ********
@Brandan *****
its worth the effort
Brandan ******
Brandan ******
OP
I guess its pretty similae to the METV, where 1 day before the METV expires, the person re enters and gets a 60 day stamp, where he'll stay for additional 59 days after the METV expired!
Brandan ******
Brandan ******
OP
@James **********
thanks for your suggestion!

However, land borders does not issue 1 year stamp, only airport issues that! I guess I'll have to fly and find out!
James ***********
James ***********
yes, maybe try the re-entry at a land border...

you might get lucky or just plead ignorant.

Worst case scenario they would let you in visa exempt for 30 days.
Brandan ******
Brandan ******
OP
@James *******
thanks sir! I guess I'll just exit before visa expiry, re-enter and get a 1 year stamp and just live with it!
James ********
James ********
@Brandan *****
try the reentry trick...just might get the added year Free.
Brandan ******
Brandan ******
OP
@Tod ********
there is actually discount?? I'm really stucked as to what to do..

whether to try my luck and exit like a month before the expiry and re-enter to get a 1 year stamp and just stay though it till 2021, or to just quietly exit on the day of expiry 😞
Tod *********
Tod *********
@Brandan *****
100% they will say your entry stamp will expire when your elite program expires (which is b/s), AND they will HAMMER you to sign back up (often giving you a really good discount to do so) .
Brandan ******
Brandan ******
OP
@Tod ********
Thank you so much I get it now!! I'll make a call to Elite contact tomorrow, I guess they'll say something like you said, but either way I'll try my luck 😞

Thanks so much!!
Tod *********
Tod *********
@Brandan *****
you are confusing a couple things

VISAS don't let you STAY in thailand, they let you GET in.

It's the entry stamp that you get FROM a visa that lets you stay here. All a visa does is dictate to the immigration officer that IF they let you in they have to let you in for the number of days that particular visa allows. Like 60 days for a tourist visa, or 90 days for a non-immgrant visa or one year for a non-immigrant visa with an A suffix, etc
Brandan ******
Brandan ******
OP
@Tod ********
Thanks so much for your advice!

I am not going to extend or get a new Elite visa, I think I'm going to exit before the expiry and get a fresh 1 year stamp, BUT

Just genuinely worried about the stay from then till 2021 Feb! Do the immigration at suvanabhumi follow the "stamp" or the "visa"?

I mean when I am exiting Thailand eventually on Feb 2021, will the officer allow me to exit since I have the stamp, or will he charge me for overstaying for 1 year since my visa expired but I do have the stamp??

A big thanks once again for your replies and advice!

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