A Norwegian couple that are neighbours need some advice.
They come every year for 4 months.
They both have retirement visas which they renew each year.
They renewed their retirement extension last March (2013) to expire March 2014.
They obtained a single entry re -entry permit at the same time.
They left to spend summer in Norway in April 2013
They returned to Thailand, using the single entry re-entry permit in November 2013,
When they returned to Thailand, they booked a one week trip to Myanmar and enquired at immigration about how they would be stamped back into Thailand, the immigration officer told them everything was in order and they didnt need to do anything more, they will be stamped in with permission to remain up to the expiry of their retirement extension in March, then they can renew it in preparation for their next visit in the winter of 2014/5. Immigration didnt mention that the single entry re entry permit had already been used, and my neighbours didnt hadnt noticed that the re entry permit was a one time use only. they were not aware that multiple re entry permits were available.
So when they came back last week from their Myanmar trip, they were told they have no retirement visas any more and they were stamped in for one month only, to the middle of Feb. I guess it must have been a visa on entry thing.
Their flight to Norway is not until the end of March, and at the moment they understand that they must leave the country for a visa trip at the end of the 30 days.
To compound matters his wife fell and broke her leg last week and is unable to travel for a while.
They are an elderly couple and somewhat agitated and upset by their predicament.
What can they or immigration do to ease their pain.
1. can they convert the 30 day stamp back to the non-imm. and retirement extension.
2. can they get a 30 day extension on the 30 day stamp from immigration to take them up until the middle of March, and then another 14 days to take them up to their departure date.
3. will a doctors letter excuse them from a visa run, should that be necessary.
4. could immigration retroactively change the single entry re entry to a multiple and re instate things as they were?
any suggestions as to how this lovely couple can sort this mess out?
Thanks.
Advice for 30 day visa change
Re: ADVICE FOR 30 DAY VISA CHANGE
Sorry to hear about the predicament, but to try and answer your questions:
1. Yes, they can convert.They must apply to HH Imm for a single entry O visa and must do so with at least 15 days remaining on their current entry stamp from Myanmar. They will have to show that they qualify and those qualifications are the same as for the extension.
They then should be issued with the O visa, good for 90 days. They then apply for the annual extension within the last 30 days of the then current permitted to stay stamp. Proof of qualification has to be provided again.
Timing is crucial with their flight leaving at the end of March. They'll have to get a move on as they'll need another 60 days here after the O visa is issued.
I hope the above is clear.
2. They won't get the extensions necessary to the 30 days. The maximum Imm will give is 7 days, once only.
3. Extensions can be given on medical grounds but I must admit that I'm not 100% sure how they work. My advice would be to see Imm on Monday and ask them what they need by way of medical proof etc. I would think that any medical extension will only be available for the lady, not the man who will have to cover himself another way.
4. No, Imm won't change the re-entry permit. Even if they did, there wouldn't be the requisite entry/permitted to stay stamp from Myanmar - ie it reads 30 days now. Airport Imm are likely to pick up on that - it'll be on their departure card as well.
The couple shouldn't panic. There are ways around this but again I strongly advise the husband to visit Imm asap and talk to them.
Good luck.
1. Yes, they can convert.They must apply to HH Imm for a single entry O visa and must do so with at least 15 days remaining on their current entry stamp from Myanmar. They will have to show that they qualify and those qualifications are the same as for the extension.
They then should be issued with the O visa, good for 90 days. They then apply for the annual extension within the last 30 days of the then current permitted to stay stamp. Proof of qualification has to be provided again.
Timing is crucial with their flight leaving at the end of March. They'll have to get a move on as they'll need another 60 days here after the O visa is issued.
I hope the above is clear.
2. They won't get the extensions necessary to the 30 days. The maximum Imm will give is 7 days, once only.
3. Extensions can be given on medical grounds but I must admit that I'm not 100% sure how they work. My advice would be to see Imm on Monday and ask them what they need by way of medical proof etc. I would think that any medical extension will only be available for the lady, not the man who will have to cover himself another way.
4. No, Imm won't change the re-entry permit. Even if they did, there wouldn't be the requisite entry/permitted to stay stamp from Myanmar - ie it reads 30 days now. Airport Imm are likely to pick up on that - it'll be on their departure card as well.
The couple shouldn't panic. There are ways around this but again I strongly advise the husband to visit Imm asap and talk to them.
Good luck.
Re: ADVICE FOR 30 DAY VISA CHANGE
Many thanks for your detailed and encouraging reply.
I will take them to immig. on Monday and report on how they get on.
I will take them to immig. on Monday and report on how they get on.
Re: Advice for 30 day visa change
We went to immigration this morning, took a ticket, waited our turn and when called he explained the situation to the officer. No problem he was told. We can change the 30 day tourist visa to a single entry non-imm."O", and then we can put a years retirement extension on that. Lets see your documentation please.
He didnt have any documentation, such as photos, proof of address, with him, and the proof of income would necessitate letters to a bank in Norway, a trip to the Norwegian embassy in Bangkok followed by a certified translation.
No problem, they said, for a "service charge" of B.5000 per passport, we can expedite the process, we will refer to the documents you provided last year, and do the whole renewal and extension right now. He paid the fees, left his and his wifes passports with the officer and was asked to return this afternoon.
We returned this afternoon to pick up the passports, which had been stamped with a single entry non-imm "O" valid for 90 days, this had been stamped as used, and a one year extension based on retirement given, valid until April 2015, so he hasnt lost any days by the early renewal, there was also a single entry re-entry stamp.
he is over the moon with this result, it has saved him and his wife a trip to Bangkok, and multiple visits to immigration and most importantly, given them the peace of mind to enjoy the remainder of their stay without an immigration problem hanging over their heads.
The wisdom or foolishness of paying extra service charges can be debated ad infinitum, but in this case, for this couple at least, it was worth it.
At all times, the officer was friendly, made useful suggestions and was helpful.
A heads up also for those with new passports and the need to transfer an original visa into the new passport, there is a new sign posted saying that in order to transfer a visa into a new passport, a confirmation letter from ones embassy is necessary, to confirm that the identity of the passport holder is genuine I suppose ??
and thanks again lomuamart.
He didnt have any documentation, such as photos, proof of address, with him, and the proof of income would necessitate letters to a bank in Norway, a trip to the Norwegian embassy in Bangkok followed by a certified translation.
No problem, they said, for a "service charge" of B.5000 per passport, we can expedite the process, we will refer to the documents you provided last year, and do the whole renewal and extension right now. He paid the fees, left his and his wifes passports with the officer and was asked to return this afternoon.
We returned this afternoon to pick up the passports, which had been stamped with a single entry non-imm "O" valid for 90 days, this had been stamped as used, and a one year extension based on retirement given, valid until April 2015, so he hasnt lost any days by the early renewal, there was also a single entry re-entry stamp.
he is over the moon with this result, it has saved him and his wife a trip to Bangkok, and multiple visits to immigration and most importantly, given them the peace of mind to enjoy the remainder of their stay without an immigration problem hanging over their heads.
The wisdom or foolishness of paying extra service charges can be debated ad infinitum, but in this case, for this couple at least, it was worth it.
At all times, the officer was friendly, made useful suggestions and was helpful.
A heads up also for those with new passports and the need to transfer an original visa into the new passport, there is a new sign posted saying that in order to transfer a visa into a new passport, a confirmation letter from ones embassy is necessary, to confirm that the identity of the passport holder is genuine I suppose ??
and thanks again lomuamart.
Re: Advice for 30 day visa change
That is good news. Nice to see a happy ending story once in a while. Perhaps good idea to get a multiple entry reentry permit just to be on the safe side. Pete 
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