What should my friend do to avoid issues re-entering Thailand after traveling to Hong Kong while waiting for her Non Imm B visa?

Jul 17, 2018
6 years ago
Sander ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER
I have a very specific situation here and hoping somebody can weigh in on the situation...

I posted a few days ago about my friend changing her TV into a Non Imm B visa. She must go pick up her Non Imm B visa on July 30th. She also has a trip booked to go to Hong Kong tomorrow. While in Hua-Hin she went to immigration to purchase a re-entry permit, and they told her that because she was on a 30 day extension from her original 60 day TV, she couldn't get a re-entry permit. Now back in Ratchaburi, she asked immigration here and they insisted that she can indeed travel to Hong Kong with a re-entry permit as long as she comes back before July 30, when her TV 30 day extension runs out. They gave her a re-entry permit and stamped her passport with the stamps in the photo. The thing is, she doesn't have a Non Imm B visa in her passport yet, it will be put in after she comes back (still under the 14 day consideration period at the moment), but the re-entry stamp mentions a Non Imm B. What are the chances that she'll have issues when trying to re-enter? It would be a shame if she lost progress on changing her tourist to Non Imm B visa...
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A user shares a complex situation regarding their friend's travel. The friend is transitioning from a tourist visa to a Non Imm B visa but faces confusion about travel and re-entry permits due to her current visa status. While one immigration office stated she couldn't obtain a re-entry permit due to being on a 30-day extension, another office issued her one. The concern is whether her re-entry into Thailand will be smooth given that she does not yet have the Non Imm B visa in her passport.
Sander ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Alright, thanks again for the advice guys, appreciate it
Tod *********
@Sander **************
, as robert said, have her take her receipt with her when she comes back and she'll be fine to get stamped in for the date she's got on her current stamp
Robert *******
The moment she applied for her Non Immigrant B visa, she got a NEW stamp with the text: Extension of Stay is under consideration and a date. That is her current allowed stay, all other Extensions or Visa's are used and not valid anymore.
Lucy *********
@Tod ********
yes good point. Thank you for the information. It's a very specific situation so it probably doesn't happen much.
Tod *********
@Lucy ********
It's a TOTALLY valid reason to have a re-entry permit. If you left and came back on a new entry stamp they'd deny your Non-B visa for sure :O
Tod *********
@Lucy ********
you're still ON your current entry stamp until you go back for the results.

personally I think they shouldn't have stamped that re-entry permit with a Non-Imm stamp but with your receipt you won't have a problem.

In reality not all that many people leave during the 2 week under consideration period
Lucy *********
@Tod ********
ok I see. I was just wondering if it is really possible to leave the country with a re-entry permit while my visa is still being processed - and that there wouldn't be an issue on returning when passing through immigration (because the visa has not yet been granted) But it seems like a valid situation to get a re-entry permit with these circumstances.
Tod *********
@Lucy ********
they put that "get a re-entry permit" stamp on the receipt because what ever current entry stamp you're on; 30 day visa exempt, 60 day tourist visa, or a 30 day extension you have to STILL be on that stamp when you go back for your results.

Meaning you can't leave the country and come back in on a different entry stamp. That's why you need a re-entry permit, the current stamp you have has to stay "alive" (valid).
Robert *******
Lucy Leibold If it's about you, than from who is the picture with the re-entry permit as shown earlier?
Lucy *********
The subject in question is myself!
Lucy *********
@Tod ********
I see here on your reciept that there is also a stamp to say contact immigration for re-entry permit before leaving the country. Does that apply to leaving the country during the time the visa is being processed? And if you don't mind me asking, did you leave and come back during that time, if so was it straightforward at immigration?
Robert *******
Thanks for that.
Tod *********
@Robert ******
, when people apply for "conversions" from a 30 day visa exempt entry stamp or a 60 day tourist visa to any Non-Immigrant Type visa inside the country they don't get any stamp in their passport. They only get it stamped on their receipt which says come back for the results on xx date like this.
Robert *******
Let her bring the receipt with here, it should be no problem.
Sander ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER
The NEW stamp "under consideration report back July 30" is only on the receipt, not in her passport. Is the re-entry stamp that she purchased today still valid for her current situation or is it possible that immigration may have incorrectly given her the re-entry? She plans to leave tomorrow and come back after 3 days.
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