Will a one-week visit to Thailand affect my single-entry non-immigrant visa?

Jun 11, 2024
6 months ago
Ccarly ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi, I am moving to Thailand in July and have a non immigrant visa (single entry). I planned on visiting in a couple of weeks for 1 week. I am from the UK so do not require a visa for 1 week. I am wondering will visiting for 1 week impact my non immigrant visa?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A one-week visit to Thailand will require you to use your single-entry non-immigrant visa for entry. While you may not need a visa for a brief stay, the immigration system might still prompt you to use your existing visa when you arrive. If you enter on your non-immigrant visa, you'll receive a 90-day entry stamp. If you plan to apply for a one-year extension later, ensure your funds are in a Thai bank account for at least two months prior to your application. Additionally, obtaining a re-entry permit when leaving Thailand will help keep your entry status valid for your return.
Brandon ************
It will impact your visa in that you will have to use your visa to enter Thailand. You can politely ask the immigration officer if you can not use your visa, but there have been multiple reports of people with visas (even e-visas that are not in the passport) being forced to use their visa when entering Thailand. They don't hand their printed visa to the immigration officer at passport control, but the immigration officer sees it in the computer and requires the person to use it.

So you should expect you will be using your visa when you enter Thailand. Single entry non-immigrant visas give you permission to stay in Thailand for 90 days. This means you will receive a 90 day entry stamp when you enter. Generally when someone has a non-O visa they will be planning to apply for a 1-year extension. For this extension you will need to have your money in the bank for 2 months at the time you apply. That means if you are using banked money, during your 1-week visit, get your Thai bank account open and your money transferred to Thailand.

When you leave, get a re-entry permit at the airport. This will keep your entry stamp alive, meaning it's not immediately invalid as soon as you leave the country. Then when you return you can enter on the same entry stamp in your passport, and you can go to immigration and apply for your 1-year extension once your money has been in your bank account for 2 months.

You could also let your stamp become invalid when you leave and just apply for a new visa when you return home.
Ccarly ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
thank you for your reply! I am going to work in a school and they have said when I go over, I will meet with someone to get my work permit and visa extension.
Brandon ************
@Ccarly **********
ah. I didn't realize you meant a work visa. I forget that's also a non-immigrant visa. When you first arrive it will be too early for you to apply for your extension. Even the most generous offices only let you apply when you have 45 days or less left.

That means you can get started on the work permit but not the extension. Just make sure you purchase a re-entry permit before you leave Thailand. When you're at passport control at the airport on the way out, tell the officer you'd like to purchase a re-entry permit and they will direct you to the correct place. You'll need 1200 baht in cash.
Ccarly ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
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