What should I know about the validity of my O-A visa and re-entry requirements in Thailand?

Jan 15, 2020
5 years ago
Scott ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Quick question as I’m waiting on immigration at BKK to figure out my O-A visa. The valid until date in the top right of the visa is the date I must enter Thailand by correct? Which I did. My first entry was 17 Jan 19 and I’m trying to get stamped in again for one year but they’re telling my visa is expired due to the date in the top right corner. Never mind I have a stamp that says admitted to stay until 12 October 20 as that’s the date I came back from a trip to Laos. I left Thailand 5 November and I’m back today, within the first year so I did not need a reentry visa. Is that correct?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is inquiring about the validity and re-entry rules for their O-A visa after experiencing complications at immigration. They entered Thailand with the visa on January 17, 2019, but were informed that their visa had expired on December 9, 2019. Despite having a stamp allowing them to stay until October 12, 2020, they were confused about their eligibility to re-enter without a re-entry permit. The community clarified that the visa's validity is determined by its grant date and expiration, and any entries after the expiration would require a re-entry permit, indicating it is crucial to understand the visa dates and requirements to avoid issues at immigration.
Scott ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Visa exempt. It sounded like he said if I had insurance he would’ve stamped me in for a year, or for the duration of the insurance if less than one year. But since I didn’t have the reentry permit that also made no sense to me.
Robert *******
i would like as you understand all now, what is the outcome with the Immigration, What kind of entry did you get?
Scott ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Along with the immigration guy you have all made that abundantly clear to me now. I’m not sure how I didn’t understand that part but I surely did not. Thanks, feel free to close the thread.
Scott ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
So this my first entry on this visa. It started my one year correct? One year of multi entry.
James *********
@Scott *******
any re-entry after 9th December 2019 requires you to have personally purchased a Re-entry permit before you left Thailand the last time, in order to keep your permission to stay until October 2020
James *********
@Scott *******
multi entry only applies to the time in between the valid from to valid until dates on the original big Visa sticker
Glen *********
@Scott *******
your multi entry doe NOT start when you first enter...its starts on the date the Visa was granted, and finishes 12 months from the grant date )not entry date)...so if you leave and return ANY time after 12 month of the grant of the visa, then you require at entry permit to use any existing permitted to stay previously provided.
Scott ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Anyone have the document about the insurance for the O-A visa starting October 31, 2019 and NOT for visas approved before that?
Scott ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
The first year is multi entry correct? I did not purchase a reentry visa when I left to the states last year and I did not get a reentry visa when I went to Laos. I was allowed back in both times with no problem. I entered on this visa the first time on 17 January 2019. It is multi entry for one year correct? Today is not one year from the first use of this visa.
John **********
You wouldn't have an extension of stay stamp. If you'd entered on say 18th Dec 19 you would have a normal stamp with a date of 18 Dec 20. If during that year you wanted to leave and re enter you could have done so with a re entry permit. The multiple entry coming with the visa is only good while the visa is valid
Scott ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Correct
Ron *******
@Scott *******
your visa finished 9th December 2019. It's done, finished. You should of bought a reentry permit the last time you left Thailand in order to keep the october 2020 stamp alive you received on your last entry
Robert *******
You did leave and used the visa to re-enter Thailand and got a stamp with Admitted until 12 Oct 2020. If you did leave with a re-entry permit, which you bought at Immigration or on the airport before boarding the plane, you should be stamped in until 12 Oct 2020, If you did not buy a re-entry permit like this example, you can only get a 30 day Visa Exempt Entry
Scott ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Then tell me please how we get 2 years out of an O-A visa? Following your logic I can’t even get one year from this visa.
Robert *******
Does not matter how many times you like to enter, the validity of the visa stops at 23:59 on 9 Dec 2019 and from that moment it is nothing more than a memory in your passport
Scott ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
These dates are on the visa itself, the big sticker that covers one whole page. Not a stamp.
Scott ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Isn’t that the date I need to enter Thailand the first time by, between those dates?
Robert *******
If you valid until date is 9 Dec 2019, the visa became invalid from that moment and can NOT be used to enter Thailand today.
Scott ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Now they’re trying to tell me I need insurance which is not correct as my visa was issued prior to 31 October 19.
James ********
What was the O-A visa date?
Scott ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *******
valid from 10 dec 18 to 9 dec 19. I must activate this visa between these dates correct? I came in on 17 Jan 19.
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