Brad Smith I’d listen to your wife. She seems to be a lot more clued up and regionally aware than you are. As for continuing your hissy fit and boycotting Thailand for Cambodia? Knock yourself out! I’m sure the Thai economy won’t collapse as a result.

Get real Brad. I’ve looked through most of this post and the replies, so I’ll summarise things and not repeat the good advice you’ve already been given:

1. You are not behaving like a tourist and your Vietnamese wife has been identified as being a suspicious entrant to Thailand this year.

2. As a result you are now having a hissy fit because your completely flawed plan has collapsed. What was OK last year isn’t going to work this year.

3. You seem oblivious to the fact that the U.S.A. Is not the centre of the Universe and that World affecting events happen elsewhere, which can have an effect on your plans.

Advice:

Get up to speed with the situation you are in and make new plans. If you still intend to spend time in Thailand this year and find planning overly complicated, visit a visa agent and preferably one with a legal department, and see if they can assist you.

For the amount they cost, I would say it’s more convenient to get a multi-entry permit rather than a single entry. It would give you peace of mind. If something occurred elsewhere, while you are in Thailand, you just need to buy a ticket out, go to the airport and leave. You don’t have the added distraction of getting a re-entry permit. Anyway, the decision is yours and the costs are:

single re-entry = 1000 baht

Multiple re-entry = 3800 baht

Laura Todd Some people are fixated on getting their re-entry permits at the airport but until you’ve seen the setup there it’s a no brainer to kill two birds with one stone and get it at the same time as you get your extension. You’ll get the full 12 months that way too.

The only reason I can see you might want to get a re-entry permit at the airport is if you didn’t get a multi-entry permit while you were getting your extension and either only got a single re-entry then or didn’t get one, maybe thinking you wouldn’t require it?

Simply put: your re-entry permit is valid for the period left in your extension. If you buy a multi re-entry you can leave and re-enter multiple time during the life of the extension. If you buy a single re-entry permit you can depart and arrive once during that period as the single re-entry expires when you re-enter Thailand.

I got my multiple re-entry at my local Immigration office at the same time I got my Non-O extension based on retirement so I can’t comment of getting it at the airport. However I am aware that the marriage extension has a lot more hoops to jump through before it is granted than a retirement extension so I would bear this in mind with regard to your return date lest you not have enough time to renew the extension.

Ian Hojo learn from your experiences and stop blaming everyone else for your situation. You didn’t pay for the advice you took. I’d advise a Non-O based on retirement for your next visit but be prepared to jump through some hoops to get a bank account and your 12 months retirement extension. If you are after a Yellow House Book, Pink ID card and driving licence too, be prepared to jump through some more. Land of Smiles so smiling gets you further than tantrums.

I got a Non O retirement extension in late November together with a multi re-entry permit. I’ve left and returned to Thailand on three separate occasions since with absolutely no issues from Immigration at Suvarnabhumi, other than a smile when I am handed back my passport and documents.

Different country and visa, but I did mine in Kazakhstan, later last year. I initially sent a copy of my entry stamp as proof of location and got requested to show my Kazakh work permit, which I possessed. I sent a copy of it and I received my 90 day Non-O visa within 2 working days from the start of the process. Applied Friday evening and received the visa on Tuesday evening.

Smuggle yourself into another country with no entry border stamp? Out of the frying pan into the fire! Not a recommended option.

Paweł Chruściel You’re clearly stuck in a rigid, Soviet mindset if you think my answer is useless. It is offered as an option and was also directed at the author of the question. If he wasn’t able to do it at the airport, where else would he do it and would he require further questions? I’ve seen people posting similar questions when they’ve just done their extension but not a simultaneous re-entry permit. Yes, it does happen.