Re-Entry Permit (TM-8) questions

[hhfarang]

I've only been outside Thailand once since moving here and that was 9 years ago on a multiple re-entry visa I got at the same time I got my visa in the U.S (valid for the first year). I like to have everything ready and correct when I go to Immigration to speed along the process with as little stress as possible and I've never taken them TM-8 before so I want to get this right.

I'm filling out form TM-8 and it has a section about my visa that says:

"My previous visa for Thailand is of the category of"

Then it has check boxes of which I ticked "non-immigrant visa" as that is what I have (for reason of retirement).

Now the questions... the following section is the "issued at", "date", "month", and "year"

- Are they asking for information pertaining to my original visa issued 10 years ago in the United States, or are they wanting information from my last extension in September 2013?

... and the next section: "I arrived in Thailand on","date","month","year"...

- Are they asking for my arrival date in 2004 after I initially received my visa in the U.S., or are they asking for the information on the arrival/departure card stapled in my passport which has the date in 2005 of the only time I've left (and returned to) the Kingdom?

One additional question:

- Do I need to take anything with me besides:
- the TM-8
- my passport (do they need a copy, if so, every page and arrival card or just first page?)
- a photo
- the fee (1000 baht?)

Thanks

[Nereus]

Now the questions... the following section is the "issued at", "date", "month", and "year"
- Are they asking for information pertaining to my original visa issued 10 years ago in the United States, or are they wanting information from my last extension in September 2013?

Yes, your original visa, it is the only "visa" that you have.

and the next section: "I arrived in Thailand on","date","month","year"...

The last date you arrived in Thailand, the same date that is in you arrival / departure card.

my passport (do they need a copy, if so, every page and arrival card or just first page?)

Copy of passport main page, visa, last entry stamp.

Photo and 1,000 Baht. It is pretty painless, and they will copy anything else depending on which day of the month it is. You can also now get one at Swampy, but for me I rather have one all the time and get it each year I renew my extension.

[hhfarang]

Ok thanks, one more clarification on the visa issued, at and date.

My visa was actually issued in a previous passport in the U.S. but I entered Thailand, activating it about a month later. I don't know where the old passport is with the original visa stamp in it so the exact date it was issued in the U.S. may not be possible to come up with.... so if I use the date it was activated or entered Thailand and say it was issued in the U.S., will that pass muster? When I got the new passport the immigration officer wrote a full (hand written) page in my new passport that I assume is some sort of explanation (with Thai dates), then on the next page there is a small visa stamp that they did at that time that has "Non O-A" written by hand and hand written dates of my first arrival on the visa and the first admitted to stay date one year later. I got the new passport in the first year I was here so this was all done at my first extension.

[Nereus]

When I got the new passport the immigration officer wrote a full (hand written) page in my new passport that I assume is some sort of explanation (with Thai dates),

The date "should" be included in the above. It must be correct as you have had years of extensions in your current passport. Just use that date and I am sure they will tell you and change it if its wrong.
Don`t forget to sign each page of your copies.

[huahin4ever]

Then it has check boxes of which I ticked "non-immigrant visa" as that is what I have (for reason of retirement).

Now the questions... the following section is the "issued at", "date", "month", and "year"

- Are they asking for information pertaining to my original visa issued 10 years ago in the United States, or are they wanting information from my last extension in September 2013?

I don't know if it is correct or not, but I have normally used the date for my latest renewal when I've submitted my TM8. I guess it doesn't hurt to fill out two forms if they have a different opinion at the Immigration. This form is quite easy to fill out.

[hhfarang]

Lomu, have an opinion?

[Big Boy]

While we're waiting for Lomu, what I do is fill in as much as I can. When we get to Immigration, my wife takes what I've done to the lady sat by the photo copy machine. She sorts everything out, takes copies of what I need, and fills in any gaps in my paperwork - never had a problem when I've stepped through the doors. I think the ladies sat outside the office are brilliant.

[lomuamart]

Agree with Nereus in as much as the date of your original visa should be stated on the stamp in your current passport.
If it's written in Thai, get the missus to translate it and maybe you can work out if the year and month are correct.

[hhfarang]

Ok, so you agree that the date is the original visa date, not the last extension and also with what Nereus said that the date of entry into Thailand is not the 1st entry using that visa but the last time I entered.

[lomuamart]

That's what I always put down - two separate dates.

[hhfarang]

And the result (for anyone else interested and so I remember for next time if there ever is one):

I found my old passport with the actual visa in it so for:

Visa place of issue: I wrote the Royal Thai Consolate, Coral Gables, FL, U.S.A.
For date of issue: I used the date the visa was activated or the date of my first arrival in Thailand on it.
Passport copies: (I took every page) They only wanted the Id page, the page that showed the last time I entered thailand, and the last page with my last extension on it. They didn't want the original visa page (from my old passport) or the handwritten one where it was transferred to my current passport.

I had an extra TM-8 with me with everything but those dates filled in just in case, but it was not needed, and Big Boy, I intended to take your advice and ask the girls out front but there was a bigger crowd waiting to talk to them than there was inside, so I just went in and took a number that was one number away from the one being served. I was called almost immediately and was in and out in about 10 minutes total. I have never understood the complaints about immigration here. They have always been nice, polite, professional, efficient, and friendly with me. Always a very good experience.

FYI, I asked two questions:

I asked if I needed to report upon return as some have said and the officer told me no, just to always report 90 days after return or at next extension date, whichever comes first.

My passport expires almost 6 weeks before my 2015 extension is due so I asked if I should get a new passport before I come for my next (2014) extension, and he said no but I would be given an extension only until my passport expired and then my extension date would be reset to a year from that date.

[lomuamart]

Glad it worked out.
The law changed last year with regard to getting an annual extension and the validity of passports. Previously, your extension could only be given until the passports validity date expires but on production of a new passport you'd be given the extra time.
As I mentioned on another thread, I've got that "extra time stamp" in my passport so when I produce the new one it'll be interesting to see whether they honour it - the law changed about 2 weeks after I did the last extension in Sept 2013.
I'll only ask once!!