Excellent point and, yes, I did. They said it's very unlikely to be until the week before my collection date so given I will be home from the 22nd it should be fine. However, we have a video call with the immigration agent tomorrow to kind of look round the house and so I think the chances of them doing it in person is quite low. Thank you for highlighting though.
if there is one thing I have learnt in life it's that if you need guidance on something administratively precise then pose the question to a number of sources and cross reference the responses. I absolutely asked the immigration officer, I also asked the Immigration Volunteer. I am also asking on here so as to improve my chances of getting it right. So far two sources agree and ironically the immigration officer's is looking the most unreliable (original re-entry stamp covers the whole UC period).
To be honest I wasn't really worried about the first trip. My main question is can I get a further re-entry permit for the second trip where I come back on the 22nd April or is there some rule that while the UC period is still in effect and the previous visa has expired that I can't apply for a further re-entry permit?
Quick update, I went to Blue Tree to get a re-entry permit. I had spent some time trying to clarify with the guy who appeared in charge yesterday what could and couldn't be done there. I left believing I could only get a multiple entry stamp in Phuket Town and single re-entry in Bluetree. Anyway it appears that we got our wires crossed as I went back to today to apply and ticked multiple entry on the TM8 form on the off chance they gave it to me and it went through with no issues. Interestingly the multiple entry stamp finishes 2 days after my previous visa finishes (90 days after I arrived in Thailand) so I get an extra 2 days for what it's worth too.
Great very helpful. Well I think based on convenience (Bluetree is 5 minutes away and I find the queues later in the day are non-existent) I will just do a few re-entry permits until I apply for the extension then I'll apply for a multiple entry on the 1-year. Thanks again for your help though. Very useful indeed.
Stuart Cumming I actually have a fresh passport so not that I want to waste it but I am also not short on pages. When I apply for the 1 year extension can I apply for a multiple entry in that step or is that a further step and / or stamp?