CrazyExpat Posted September 10, 2009 Report Share Posted September 10, 2009 When applying for a visa to enter Thailand you have a choice of applying for a single entry visa or a multiple entry visa. If you do not plan to leave Thailand during the validity period of your visa, then you need only a single entry visa. A multiple entry visa is much more expensive than a single entry visa. Do not confuse a multiple entry visa with a reentry permit. They are not the same. If you have one, then you don’t need the other. If you hold a single entry visa and leave Thailand during its validity period, then the visa becomes null and void unless you obtain a reentry permit. The reentry permit is available at your local Immigration office. You have a choice with these permits as well. You can obtain a single reentry permit for a 1900 baht fee. You can obtain a multiple reentry permit for 3800 baht. If you wish your single entry visa to remain valid, then you must obtain a reentry permit under any circumstances if you leave Thailand. There are many horror stories about the consequences for failure to obtain the reentry permit. One example occurred when a gentleman living in Thailand on a Retirement Visa wanted to go for a brief visit to Laos. He was told by an Immigration official that there is no requirement for a reentry visa when going to Laos. The Immigration official was mistaken. The gentleman did go to Laos and returned to Thailand without incident. He did not realize that upon entering Thailand again without a reentry permit he had lost his retirement visa ad it had become null and void. He was now in Thailand on the 30-dayprivilege, but he did not know it. 90 days later it was time for him, so he thought, to submit his 90-day address report, a report required from anyone staying in Thailand for more than 90 days. No matter what the expiration date is for the 90-day address report is, when you reenter Thailand with a reentry permit, you are not required to submit an address report until 90 days later. But this gentleman did not have a reentry permit. 90 days after his return to Thailand, now he had overstayed his visa by 60 days. He had no idea until he went to the Immigration office to submit his 90-day address report. That was when he was told he had seriously overstayed his visa and it was explained to him that his retirement visa had become null and void. He was shocked and explained he had only done what an Immigration official had told him to do. That did not matter. He was still required to pay a heavy fine and he had to leave Thailand and start the visa application process all over again. By the time he had completed everything and had a new Retirement Visa, several thousand dollars had been spent and he had suffered through a great deal of aggravation and frustration. If you hold a multiple entry visa, then a reentry permit is not required. When deciding whether to apply for a multiple entry visa or to obtain a multiple reentry permit, do the math. The multiple reentry permit costs 1900 baht. The cost of a multiple entry visa varies from country to country, so it is best to contact your nearest Thai consulate or embassy to inquire about the cost. If it is more cost effective for you to obtain a multiple reentry permit, then you will not need the multiple entry visa. One consideration is the fact that if you hold a multiple entry visa is usually valid for one year. You are granted an additional 90 days upon reentry into Thailand. If you use the visa just before its expiration date, then you will still be granted an additional 90 days upon reentry into Thailand. However, you can do that only once. cc ThailandVisa 2009 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smoker Posted September 10, 2009 Report Share Posted September 10, 2009 Are their any agencies you would avoid? I'd be somewhat nervous to go on a Cambodian visa run with a company I didn't know well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thaimo Posted September 10, 2009 Report Share Posted September 10, 2009 Are their any agencies you would avoid? I'd be somewhat nervous to go on a Cambodian visa run with a company I didn't know well.Most are quite reliable, but ask for recommendations on various Thai message boards. You might also ask a good hotel who they recommend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smoker Posted September 10, 2009 Report Share Posted September 10, 2009 Have you heard any horror stories? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thaimo Posted September 10, 2009 Report Share Posted September 10, 2009 Have you heard any horror stories?When it comes to visa run companies, I've never heard any horror stories. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts