What should I do about the "USED" stamp on my multiple entry NoN-O marriage visa when facing issues at immigration?

Feb 23, 2024
10 months ago
Greetings to all.

I want to share my latest experiences regarding multiple entry NoN-O marriage based visa from Savannakhet.

So, I got my visa at the end of September last year and the first 90 days of my stay was approved by the end of December.

Since I had private reasons, I could not leave in time, so I used the ext. of 60 days (visiting a Thai family) and extended my stay until the end of February.

I used my first border bounce (or is it called a border run, not sure of the correct terminology but you get the gist) to go to Singapore. Well, that's where the problems start...

When I arrived in Singapore, the immigration lady asked me what kind of visa I have for Thailand and why I have a "USED" stamp (which I don't think is really her problem). I said I got it right after first entering Thailand, then she asked me a bunch of private questions and finally allowed me to enter Singapore.

Another inconvenience occurred during Check-in on the way back from Singapore, at the AirAsia counter. Same story again - questions about the "USED" stamp and confused looks from the workers, only this time I was kept aside for about 30 minutes. In the end, they printed my boarding pass and allowed me to board.

The third inconvenience, albeit the shortest, is when entering Thailand at Don Mueang Airport.

The gentleman from the immigration office asked me to show him my visa, even though I duly handed him my passport. I showed him the visa sticker and after a short observation he says: "Oh, this is a Mulitple entry visa. Why does it have this USED stamp, it's a mistake?!" I answer that I don't know, that's how his colleague stamped my visa sticker when I first entered the country.

He granted me entry and returned my passport.

Has anyone had similar experiences? Shouldn't there really be a USED stamp on the ME NoN-O visa?

This situation was stressful for me, and since I have to do a border bounce every 90 days, I believe that I will have the same inconvenience and stress again.

Is there anything I can do about this?

Just to note that I don't have any bad history in Thailand. A total of two proper tourist visas, with one regular extension. All other stays in other countries were also neat, touristy and short, without any bad history.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user shared their experience with a NoN-O multiple entry marriage visa acquired in Savannakhet, Thailand, and the subsequent complications arising from a "USED" stamp on their visa. Despite this stamp, the user has a clean immigration history. Comments from other users provided insights on whether the stamp was a mistake, with several agreeing that it should not appear on a multiple entry visa. Users also discussed their own experiences at immigration and suggested visiting the initial entry office to rectify the issue and avoid future complications during border runs.
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Peter **********
I can well understand why they questioned you in Singapore. They want to assure that you will be able to leave Singapore again just like other countries also check whether you will leave after your visa ends. So they see you do not have a valid visa for Thailand anymore, at least it seems so, and thus they ask questions. Perfectly valid and part of their job. I wish there was working border control in Netherlands… (or should I say “in EU”?)…
Cody *************
I have this visa and I previously tried to go for the 60 day extension (which can only be used once per visa as I understand it) - at immigration the officer told me that if I use the 60 day extension then my visa will be void after that, despite it being multiple entry and still have time left before it expired. She advised me to go do a border bounce instead so I wouldn't lose the remaining time on the Visa and only do the 60 day extension once my Visa is past the expiration date
Немања **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Cody ************
I don't know, I did that 60 day extension right after my first entry and no one told me that the visa would be cancelled. I already entered Thailand last night and got a new stamp for another 90 days.

At which immigration office did they tell you that?
Cody *************
@Немања *********
Chaeng Wattana - I think perhaps that's why you got the "USED" stamp
Немања **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Cody ************
No, I got my "USED" stamp when I first entered Thailand, literally one day after getting my visa. I got it at the Mukdahan border crossing.
Steve *******
It shouldn't have been stamped used. It's a mistake by the Immigration Officer who stamped you in the first time you entered with it. A single entry Non imm O visa would've been stamped 'used'.
Peter **********
Obviously a mistake

It’s valid from 27 Sept 2023

And valid to 28th Sept 2024
Ann ************
I don’t understand why you have to do border bounce???

I just have to report in every 90 days??
Declan **********
@Ann ***********
non-o is 90 days per entry whereas multi non-oa is 12 months per entry. When someone has a non-o multi, they need to border bounce every 90 days to get a new stamp.
Steve *******
@Ann ***********
Yours is a Non Imm OA visa, the OP has a Non Imm O visa. Two different animals.
Brandon ************
@Ann ***********
a multiple entry non-O visa only gives you permission to stay in Thailand for 90 days at a time.
Ann ************
Jan ******************
@Ann ***********
Non O-A is always multiple, for Non O its two options, single or multiple.
Ann ************
@Jan *****************
i was given a choice of single or multiple
Steve *******
@Ann ***********
There's no single entry Non imm OA visa.
Ann ************
@Steve ******
is was given the choice on my application
Steve *******
@Ann ***********
Generic application for all visas. Not available for the OA visa. The OA is a multi-entry entry visa.
Ann ************
@Brandon ***********
i have multiple entry non O-A
Brandon ************
@Ann ***********
oh you're right. I missed the A. Yes you get one year but op only gets 90 days.
Marc *********
Mine never had a used stamp, still does not and im on a new one
Rene ******
It's the problem of Singapore immigration, because they have an extra unwanted foreigner when Thailand refuses you..
Huw ********
This happened to me before on entry to Thailand. The officer at the time crossed out the used stamp and put his signature next to it. It did however cause a problem on my next 90 day border bounce, like yourself. He said, he must of thought it was a single entry and stamped used. They checked the computer for some time and said everything is fine now 😉
Немања **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Huw *******
Did you do a border bounce after that and did you have any problems getting on the plane or getting into Thailand?

Thanks for the info, man. ☺️👍🏼
Huw ********
@Немања *********
I only used it 1 time, after the initial mistake. But it did cause some head scatching. After he signed his name next to the Used stamp I never had any issues entering or exiting.
Harris **********
I think you might need to go back to where they stamped used on it and try to get it corrected, I just looked at my Visa which is same as yours and only stamp on it is the official embassy red stamp
Randy ********
@Harris *********
same here. I just had to take a look to make sure. Mine has the same red stamp.
Harris **********
Randy ********
@Harris *********
yes, that exact same one.

I’m actually going on my last 90 day border bounce this month as my Multiple Entry Non-O expires.

I think on this bounce I may get the used stamp, that’s if they even stamp the MEN-O visa.
Harris **********
@Randy *******
I just did my first bounce in January
Randy ********
@Harris *********
you’re good for another year. Unfortunately, I get to go back Laos and get a new MEN-O in the next few months. Lucky me 😆.
Harris **********
@Randy *******
yes I'm lucky I actually got mine 2 weeks before they closed the door on having proof of funds was very lucky and thankful
Randy ********
@Harris *********
lucky you!! Luckily for me, I have the funds in my account. My only concern is if they ask for it to be in a thai bank. That I will not do. Much prefer it stays in my Canadian bank account. 🤞
Bart **************
My understanding is there shouldn't be a "Used" stamp on multiple entry visas. I do not understand what immigrations in Singapore on the way in has to do with your Thai visa, that part of the story does indeed feel a little strange, but the difficulties you encountered on the way back seem justified to me. Agree with the immigrations officer that the stamp could be a mistake.

Myself, the only time I was ever questioned with regards to either or not having a "Used" stamp was last January in Amsterdam. The lady checking me in saw my re-entry permit, as she does often, only this time the re-entry was suddenly just single. She noticed, and asked me how she could know that the permit wasn't already used. I then showed her the original non-B visa that I used for entering all the way back, which had that "Used" stamp on it. Not seeing that same stamp on the single re-entry, she concluded that it was hence not yet used, and allowed me to board. Here in Bangkok, the IO stamped the permit with the "Used" stamp. None of the five multi-entry permits that I had was ever stamped as "Used", despite having used them all at least once.
Duncanc **********
@Bart *************
Seems this post helps those “overstay isn’t a problem” people to learn that ANYTHING stamped or written in a passport is the business of ALL immigration and airport authorities all over the world.

And it’s exactly the business of a Singapore immigration officer who they admit to Singapore. What other purpose do they exist?

Having said that - I don’t really understand the purpose of the OP: Person with correct visa incorrectly stamped is admitted after further questioning by officials doing their job.

Where is the “inconvenience?”
Bart **************
@Duncanc *********
I think the post is to find out if further inconvenience can be expected at future crossings and whether it can become even more inconvenient than last time: visa assumed void, leaving him just entry on visa exemption, and going through all the processes again costing effort and $$$ to get a new visa.

Agree that overstay stamps can become a problem, as in, you're not showing to country Y that you intend to leave them on time if you didn't at country X, regardless of how country X sees that. However, mistakes by immigrations in Thailand shouldn't be related to his entry in Singapore. In the worst case, he forfeits the visa and falls back to visa exemption.
Bart **************
But I don't know how to fix the problem then. Ideally the "Used" stamp you got there is made undone. Not sure if or how that can be done. You may be able to enter again as any future IO could conclude the same as the last; that the used stamp is a mistake because the visa was supposed to be multiple, and act accordingly. However, and I really don't know this, one could perhaps argue that the "Used" stamp invalidates the visa, regardless of what it used to be whether the stamp was supposed to be there. Hoping that some more senior members in this group can tell you.
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