Re entry visa office closed HELP please
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beachyhead
- Member
- Posts: 60
- Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 9:54 am
- Location: Hua Hin
Re entry visa office closed HELP please
I have just been to the immigration office in Hua Hin to obtain my re entry visa as I fly out on the evening of the 8th July, I checked my list of Thai public holidays and new that the 7th and 8th were listed but to my horror the office was closed on the 6th as well. Just spent a few hours trying to contact the head office in BK but no answer, the Airport has told us that re entry is not available at the airport but gave us the immigration phone No. at the airport, guess what ! no answer. Has anyone any information that might help me ? Thank you.
There is only two things wrong with a woman, her face !
I'm afraid that I can't be of much help. I did read that in exceptional circumstances the old re-entry office at the airport might be able to oblige, but I've really got no idea how reliable that information is. The fact that local offices are closed for three working days could be construed as exceptional. I'll bet you're not the only person in this position.
If there's nowhere to issue you one then I'm afraid it's back to square one again.
You don't say what extension you currently have, but assuming it's an annual one on the basis of marriage or retirement, you're going to have to get another Non O and re-apply.
If you're going somewhere where it's difficult to get a Non O, then you can upgrade a 30 day visa exempt stamp or tourist visa to a non-O when you get back. You need to have a minimum of 21 days left on your permitted to stay stamp (move quickly if you're on 30 days) and satisfy Imm of the normal requirements - money, income, marital status etc. You should get a 90 day Non O and then extend it for a year in the normal way during the last 30 days. This may well mean that you'll need two Embassy letters, or letters from your Thai bank etc, or Imm might just do the two things for you in one go.
However it turns out, it's not the end of the world but will be inconvenient if you're not successful at the airport.
Sorry I can't be more positive. It just shows how daft it is that the airport dosn't issue the re-entry permits any more.
If there's nowhere to issue you one then I'm afraid it's back to square one again.
You don't say what extension you currently have, but assuming it's an annual one on the basis of marriage or retirement, you're going to have to get another Non O and re-apply.
If you're going somewhere where it's difficult to get a Non O, then you can upgrade a 30 day visa exempt stamp or tourist visa to a non-O when you get back. You need to have a minimum of 21 days left on your permitted to stay stamp (move quickly if you're on 30 days) and satisfy Imm of the normal requirements - money, income, marital status etc. You should get a 90 day Non O and then extend it for a year in the normal way during the last 30 days. This may well mean that you'll need two Embassy letters, or letters from your Thai bank etc, or Imm might just do the two things for you in one go.
However it turns out, it's not the end of the world but will be inconvenient if you're not successful at the airport.
Sorry I can't be more positive. It just shows how daft it is that the airport dosn't issue the re-entry permits any more.
Re: Re entry visa office closed HELP please
I do not believe that the 8th is a holiday. Wherever you obtained that info has probably got it wrong, and I think that you will find that they are open on the 8th. (NOT at the Airport) Good luck.beachyhead wrote:I have just been to the immigration office in Hua Hin to obtain my re entry visa as I fly out on the evening of the 8th July, I checked my list of Thai public holidays and new that the 7th and 8th were listed but to my horror the office was closed on the 6th as well. Just spent a few hours trying to contact the head office in BK but no answer, the Airport has told us that re entry is not available at the airport but gave us the immigration phone No. at the airport, guess what ! no answer. Has anyone any information that might help me ? Thank you.
May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil know`s you`re dead!
Tomorrow the 7th is the start of Buddhist Lent. The 8th is also a Buddhist celebration, but not a Bank holiday.
http://www.bot.or.th/English/FinancialI ... /2552.aspx
http://www.bot.or.th/English/FinancialI ... /2552.aspx
May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil know`s you`re dead!
May not be a bank holiday but all government offices are closed.Nereus wrote:Tomorrow the 7th is the start of Buddhist Lent. The 8th is also a Buddhist celebration, but not a Bank holiday.
http://www.bot.or.th/English/FinancialI ... /2552.aspx
Nereus, I would take a punt that you can get a re-entry visa at the airport. I know of some cases recently. Get to the airport nice and early and find the main immigration office there.... and be sure to smile.
Chok Dee, Bapak
Actually, I am not in need of one, but you may well be correct. The last time I exited through the Airport, 3 or 4 months ago, there were several notices posted stating that re-entry permits are no longer available.bapak wrote:May not be a bank holiday but all government offices are closed.Nereus wrote:Tomorrow the 7th is the start of Buddhist Lent. The 8th is also a Buddhist celebration, but not a Bank holiday.
http://www.bot.or.th/English/FinancialI ... /2552.aspx
Nereus, I would take a punt that you can get a re-entry visa at the airport. I know of some cases recently. Get to the airport nice and early and find the main immigration office there.... and be sure to smile.
Chok Dee, Bapak
Just as a thought, I really think that anybody that intends staying here long term should include a re-entry permit along with their yearly extension. There are several reasons that may come up that mean you have to leave in a hurry, such as family, sickness or accidents, etc.
May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil know`s you`re dead!
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beachyhead
- Member
- Posts: 60
- Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 9:54 am
- Location: Hua Hin
Thank you all for your replies, I finally decided to make the effort and beat the system and get a marriage visa, not an easy process and it is less than a month old. Being on an economy drive and only leaving Thailand this year for my son's wedding in the UK I didn't bother with the 3,800 Bt multiple entry visa. I checked the internet and found Thai public holidays on the Thai Visa site I think and it said the 7th and 8th so I thought I will pop in on Monday no problem but when I got there the sign was on the door, oh bother i said. Too much to ask if you could register your e mail address with the immigration office and receive up-dates of any changes or closing days ? yeah right.
There is only two things wrong with a woman, her face !
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Wanderlust
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- Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2004 12:27 pm
- Location: Hua Hin
beachyhead,
It might be worth calling 1111, which is apparently a 24 hour number for immigration - if they answer they should be able to tell you if you can get the reentry permit at the airport. Alternatively, the immigration website for the airports is at http://nai.immigration.go.th/home_en.htm (although be warned - my computer/browser warned me that there was malware on that site, but I find it hard to believe!) but I'm not sure it is much help. The immigration offices are definitely closed on the 7th and 8th, as both are designated public holidays, but they should have been open today; again not much help but at least you can feel safe in the knowledge that you were not wrong trying to go today. Given all this I would think you should be able to get a reentry permit at the airport, but call that number and let us know how you got on.
It might be worth calling 1111, which is apparently a 24 hour number for immigration - if they answer they should be able to tell you if you can get the reentry permit at the airport. Alternatively, the immigration website for the airports is at http://nai.immigration.go.th/home_en.htm (although be warned - my computer/browser warned me that there was malware on that site, but I find it hard to believe!) but I'm not sure it is much help. The immigration offices are definitely closed on the 7th and 8th, as both are designated public holidays, but they should have been open today; again not much help but at least you can feel safe in the knowledge that you were not wrong trying to go today. Given all this I would think you should be able to get a reentry permit at the airport, but call that number and let us know how you got on.