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How can I avoid issues with Thai immigration regarding my visa stamp at entry?

Thai Visa DTV (Digital Visa)Visa Exempt Entry Stamp Issues Immigration Procedures E-Visa Passport Requirements Travel Tips for Expats

Oct 27, 2024

a month ago

Tim ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Reminder to check your entry stamp right away. I just got stamped with a 60-day visa exempt while the DTV sticker is in the second page of my passport. Turned around immediately and the immigration officer corrected it after pointing out the visa. She then told me to show the visa page next time. I guess they can’t see you have a visa in the system when they scan your passport after all…

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TLDR : Answer Summary

An expat shares an experience where an immigration officer mistakenly stamped their passport with a 60-day visa exempt instead of acknowledging their Digital Visa (DTV) sticker. They corrected the error on-site, leading to discussions in the comments about the importance of having a printed copy of visas, as immigration officers may not see the visa in the system immediately. Several comments emphasize the need to print travel documents for easier verification during immigration processes.

DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES

Take the basic DTV Qualification Test to see if you're eligible for the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV).
For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
Explore recent discussions by using the DTV Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.

Roberto ****

Happened to me the 1st time too

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Kelsey ********

Is it 60 days upon arrival for some passports now? Wondering about UK and Canada. Thanks

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Tim ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Kelsey *******

Yes, without a visa you’ll get stamped in for 60 days now.

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Kelsey ********

@Tim **********

thanks for the reply!

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Kelsey ********

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Graham *******

Imm relies on paper for everything.

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Wannikea *********

A reminder to PRINT OUT your DTV or in the case of a sticker visa, point it out to the IO. They stamp thousands of passports a day and can easily overlook these things if not made aware. Murphy's law.

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Paulie ********

They can see that you got a visa in system as when I entered to activate my DTV I was still on a 60 day METV so showed up I had to visas the lady was confused called her boss over explained the situation and away I went

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Tim ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Paulie *******

In this case obviously not…

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Tim ***********

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Nin *****

They can, because i came in on an evisa a few months ago and didn’t have it ready to show them (I got a 60 day e visa and they just changed it to 60 days on arrival so I didn’t care about the évisa) . The immigration officer asked me to show my évisa.

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David ********

well that’s swapping a 60 day for a 60 day. Probably just wanted to keep the line moving

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Nin *****

he asked for my visa tho, he could have just stamped me in but he knew I had one is the point I’m making

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Nin *****

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Kevin ********

If you have a DTV as an e-visa it actually tells you that you MUST prontnthe visa and keep with passport anyway.

If people don’t read that and understand then more fool them. They don’t even need to accept it as an email on your phone as that is not a print out as instructed as silly as that sounds. So if they say no to email it’s on you…

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Nin *****

doesn’t say anywhere in my email to print it, and they let me through without. What’s the point in having an evisa if you have to print it out?

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Anonymous ******************

it tells you when applying.

First thing I did was print out 5x copies of my e-visa, one folded up with my passport to show and spares with my other documents.

I also downloaded the PDF to my phone, not relying on email attachments incase I couldn't get a signal, or that wasn't acceptable.

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Wannikea *********

it says to print it out on the evisa website popup during the application process.

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Nin *****

@Wannikea ********

yeah I didn’t memorise that, I’m a busy lady 😂💁🏼‍♀️

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Nin *****

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Kevin ********

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James ********

thank you for sharing this ✅

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Nin *****

that’s not in the confirmation email then. Cool

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Nin *****

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Kevin ********

I suggest you read it all again. It specifically says PRINT

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James ********

AVOID the hassle...PRINT OUT the Evisa email to show airline AND Thai Immigration Officers upon arrival.

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Nin *****

i understand the point you’re trying to make, however finding somebody with a printer is the hassle for me 😂 but im referring to you saying that it says you must print it. In my email, it doesn’t say anywhere that it needs to be printed. I’m wondering if you got a different email to me? I’ve seen lots of people saying it had to be printed so wondering why my email doesn’t state that

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James ********

in all the activities since COVID-19 between Thai Immigration office and those who are seeking to enter Thailand, it has been recommended to have the Evisa email printed to show proof of your Thai Visa to Thai Immigration officers on arrival. As a Moderator on several forums, that has been my advice.

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Nin *****

🙏🏻 managed to get through Phuket with it on my phone, I’ll bear it in mind for when I next leave

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James ********

glad you were able to enter Thailand ✅

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James ********

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David ********

Ya and print it. She didn’t like me showing on my phone but she accepted it

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James ********

ALWAYS print out the Evisa. Helpful assistance for airline and Thai Immigration Officers upon arrival.

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Kevin ********

you are lucky. And if in a bad mood would have said no.

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David ********

lol doubt they’d say no and send me all the way back to America. Cmon.

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Kevin ********

no they would simply stamp 60days

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David ********

I think you’re being overly dramatic. No one prints things anymore. She didn’t really care she really just didn’t want me messing with my phone until I told her I was pulling up the visa.

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Kevin ********

oh please, you clearly haven’t been in Thailand then.

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Andy **********

there have been reports of immigration officers, messing around with peoples phones, trying to scan the QR code on your visa, causing hold ups, every time I arrive in Thailand my phone battery is dead, always better to have a printed hard copy, don't make problems for yourself, the Thais love paper, they haven't quite got on to saving the rain forest just yet 😂🇹🇭😎

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John *******

Um, people still print things. Better idea is to print and paperclip it to your passport. You could just as easily run out of battery on your phone

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David ********

millennials and below don’t own printers

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John *******

- Millennial as well and I too don't own a printer. However, I usually find a way to print important documents, when needed. Usually just have the hotel front desk do it for me. My DTV is physically attached to my passport (not an e-visa), so doesn't impact me, but I wouldn't want to be handing over my phone to an IO.

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John *******

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Roxanne *********

Why are the Thai immigration officers doing this? Did you tell them you have a DTV? I swear this is the second incident I've seen the last 48 hours of Thai IOs stamping DTV holders 60 days entry.

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Paul *******

@Roxanne ********

It's not in their computer system, that's why. It's because they're overworked, lazy or assume foreigners are coming in without a visa. Nothing to do with it being a DTV. I've been stamped in, incorrectly on visa exempt on at least 2 occasions while holding a non-O multiple entry visa just in the past 18 months alone and that was before I got the DTV.

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Kevin ********

@Roxanne ********

they are doing it because unless the visa is IN your passport it is down to you to present the visa by way of a printed copy of the PDF you received. Otherwise they don’t know if you have a visa or not so the assunption is 60 days most of the time.

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John *******

even when the visa is in the passport, it is still good practice to inform the IO

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John *******

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Todd *********

@Roxanne ********

if you do t tell them you have it, they will just stamp you in exempt

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Greg ********

@Roxanne ********

The DTV is new. They see hundreds of people passing through. They are under pressure to keep processing time to a minimum after high profile visits from politicians. Passports often are quite full with visas and stamps for regular travellers. As suggested it is easy enough for the holder to point out the visa to help the IO a little. It is what experienced travellers do.

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Greg ********

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Mike ***********

Yeah always show your visa haha.

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Cliff *********

Exactly.

Good catch.

Calculate the 180 days beforehand….

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Dan *******

Just a suggestion, I have an E-Visa, what have done the past few years is to print it out, fold it up and paper clip it to the second page of my passport.

Doing so makes it quick work to show an airline, and to hand it to immigration. I leave it in my passport until I return to my homeland just in case any questions arise

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Tim ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

if you have an evisa yes. I have the visa sticker in my passport.

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Jonas *************

@Tim **********

well mention it and show it to them the page up of the Visa...

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Jonas *************

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