Transcript of the above video:

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing re-entry permits specific to Thai Visas. I got some correspondence from a number of folks not only over the recent holidays but throughout December it seemed like and I don't know if the stars were not in alignment, but a lot of folks seemed to forget to get a re-entry permit before leaving Thailand and therefore resulted in having forfeited their Thai Visa status.

Re-entry permits, to be clear, you may be able to get one issued on a Visa that has already been issued and status conferred for example at entry. What we are talking about here is when you come into Thailand for example on a Visa, for example a Retirement Visa, and you get one year status on that Retirement Visa, that may operate past the validity of the underlying Visa sticker. That means the sticker may expire but you still have for example months on months of status. If you want to maintain that status when you leave, you are going to probably need to go ahead and get a re-entry permit. Moreover, this is also the case with respect to extension of status. So if you come into Thailand for example you have a Business Visa, a 90 day Business Visa for example, you go ahead and deal with Work Permit issues etc. and then you get your one year extension. That extension is what it is. As long as you stay in Thailand over the course of a year you have status, you are fine. If you leave without getting a re-entry permit then that status will die upon official departure from the Kingdom. 

So the thing to remember is re-entry permits. If you are maintaining long-term Non-Immigrant status be it a Business Visa, O Marriage Visa, O Retirement Visa, O-A Retirement Visa, Education Visa whatever and you want to maintain that status once you are gone, you are going to need to go ahead and get a re-entry permit. I have dealt with a few people that forgot to do it in the past few weeks and it can lead to some real problems and a lot of consternation had when they get abroad and then they realize their situation and they may have to deal with an Embassy to get a new Visa reissued. All of this is stuff you just don't want to deal with. Don't forget, get a re-entry permit before leaving the Kingdom in order to preserve your status on your way back in.