What options do I have for my Non-Immigrant O-A visa before it expires?

May 3, 2018
7 years ago
David **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi All!

I have a USA passport with multi-entry Non-Immigrant O-A VISA based on retirement issued by Thai Consulate in Los Angeles. The "enter before" date on the VISA is August 9, 2018. I last entered Thailand on March 13, 2018 and received a one year entry stamp admitted until March 12, 2019. I am leaving for the USA on May 7, 2018 from Chiang Mai and will likely not be able to return until September 2018. I would like to avoid going through the entire VISA process again if possible. What are my options? Thank you in advance and heres hoping for some consensus on this one :) Cheers!
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is seeking options for maintaining their Non-Immigrant O-A visa issued for retirement before the visa's 'enter before' date and current entry stamp expire. Responses suggest options such as obtaining a re-entry permit to preserve the current entry stamp until March 2019 or applying for a new year-long multi-entry visa after exiting Thailand. Several commenters also shared personal experiences and clarified the limitations around the types of visas and permits available.
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Joe ***********
The new visa stickers may say 'Valid Until'
John *****
Yes...thank you for that. Mine is a new one. Noticed that since I arrived about 3 weeks after the initial visa approval, my 1 year stay was recalculated as reflected on the admitted until date stamped on my passport..
John *****
May I ask where the "enter before date" is on the visa? I checked my visa and didn't see any on mine.
Joe ***********
This has come up before and discussed. At that time my friend and another similar case went like this. Her O-A first year expires Oct 1, 2018. She went to Singapore in late April (only a few weeks ago)... she came back and was stamped in with one year. So her second year will expire in April 2019. She then went to Krabi Immigration and bought a Reentry Permit. She will leave Thailand on June 6 and will not return to Thailand until after the 'enter before date' (first year expiry). Krabi Immigration discussed this with her and said her second year until April 2019 would be preserved.

Seems to me while the OP has little time to do this... A one day flight - to KL and return in about 8 hours - At the KL airport - enter Malaysian Immigration - then go back through - stamp out of Malaysia. Then the return flight lands at Bkk and he is stamped in until May 5, 2019.

I have done the 8 hour turn around at KL Airport myself for other reasons.

Alternately - take a one day land border run on May 5.
Bruce *****
I had same situation and got a one year multi entry stamp at Hua Hin for thb 3800 very simple and valid for one year then 45 days before that expires you need to do a proper renewal bank state medical etc
Tod *********
There is no such thing as a one year multi-entry permit. They are issued for only as long as your "admitted until" stamp or your permission to stay stamp is valid for.

Even if the O/P gets a re-entry permit before they leave, when they return to thailand they will get stamped in until March 2019 because that is their current stamps expiration
Tod *********
your options are

get a single re-entry permit before you fly out which when you return will stamp you in until March 2019.

OR

dont' get a re-entry permit and when you're out of the country apply for another year-long, multi-entry Non-Immigrant Type O-A visa
Alan *******
Until I saw Tod’s answer, I would have said you can buy a reentry permit for 1000 baht, either at Promenada, or at the airport. And that should preserve your visa. But I’m sure Tod has a good reason for saying otherwise.
Tod *********
i edited my terse reply to say "limited options" ;)
Tod *********
You will be out of the country when the visa itself expires (so you will not get the second full year free by exiting/re-entering just prior to the enter before date on the visa).

AND

your current admitted until stamp has too much time on it to apply for an in country yearly extension, because you can only do that when you have 30 days or less left on the stamp and you have until march 2019 :O

Remember you would need a re-entry permit when you fly out in May in order to get stamped back in for the expiration of this current stamp March 2019 because the multiple entry part of your visa expires on August 9th.
Tod *********
You have limited options :/
Alan *******
“YOU HAVE NO OPTIONS!”
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