What should my friend do if he didn't receive an entry stamp upon arriving in Thailand?

September 14, 2022
2 years ago
Alan *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
I’ve got a friend who just arrived through BKK Monday and the immigration officer stamped his father’s passport but forgot to stamp his, handed them both back at the same time so I guess he got confused.

So now he has no entry stamp. I know he can go back to the airport to sort it out but was wondering if anyone has had tbis situation sorted out by an agent in Patts.

If he has to pay for a round trip taxi then waste half a day he’d rather pay a bit more and not deal with it.

Guessing he’ll have to go back in person but wanted to see if anyone knew of a lower hassle way.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A user is seeking advice for a friend who arrived in Thailand but did not receive an entry stamp in his passport. The thread discusses the potential solutions to this issue, including visiting the immigration office in Pattaya or Chaengwattana. Several commenters share personal experiences and suggest that it can be resolved at any immigration office or airport in Thailand, and advise the use of agents for convenience. The community emphasizes the importance of addressing the mistake before the visa-free stay expires.
Mma *******
This happened to me way back in 2004. No stamp in passport; I was in Chiang Mai at the time and went to immigration when I discovered it. They fixed it, no problem. They will make corrections for you at immigration Jomtien.
Steve *******
Go to the Immigration Office in Jomtiem
Otto *********
@Steve ******
No. Don't go there yourself, they're let you bleed financially. Use an agent, but shop around first for their prices, which vary a lot.
Oliver ********
A similar thing happened to me at a land border - they stamped the wrong date so I inadvertedly overstayed by a few weeks - the staff at immigration in Bangkok told me the error can only be fixed at the office where the error was made - so I had to drive back to the same border crossing (+1,000 km round trip) but they let me off the overstay fine.
Alan *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Oliver *******
Ouch, what an ordeal. I unfortunately didn’t check once and they gave me 1 day instead of 60. By the time I noticed I had already overstayed 6 weeks and ended up forking over 20k at the airport.

They also grilled me at the airport saying something like maybe I made some problem that’s why they only gave me one day.

If I had “made some problem” they would have just denied entry.

Then the officer said it’s too late to call that border office and ask.

Think he was just in a bad mood. Finally let me go after paying for their mistake.

Amazing Thailand lol
Christopher ******
One time transiting via Frankfurt to Prague I got stamped but it was super light with barely any ink, in Europe they (a generalization from experience) just stamp anywhere, took me a long time under bright light looking on every page but I found it and then another 10 minutes at border control when I left to show them and explain Etc. Though in Thailand they usually ink up that stamp pretty good lol!
Moon ******
Actually same thing happened to girlfriend of mine maybe 6 years ago. Entering Denmark

She was none EU citizen and I noticed the immigration only looked at her passport but did not stamp it

I'm EU so no problem

Then we were leaving from Finland to Thailand and on the way out the officer was confused. I explained to him and showed him the bording card he just make some notice on the passport and we were off
Garrett ***********
Are you sure he just can't find the stamp in his passport?
Alan *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Garrett **********
He said he didn’t get a stamp, he checked multiple times but he father got his.

He’s heading to Phuket this Sat through BKK, wondering if he can just sort it then or should do it right away
Garrett ***********
@Alan ******
He can do it anytime for his stay expires (if he's American entering without a visa, he'd have 30 days, day 1 being the day he entered).
Alan *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Garrett **********
Great thanks. Will tell him to sort it out when he goes to Phuket then.

Can you do it at the immigration office where you pay for overstays or do you have to go to the arrivals immigration counters?
Garrett ***********
@Alan ******
Can go to main immigration office, don't have to go to the airport.
Alan *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Garrett **********
Chaengwattana? But it can also be done at the airport?
Garrett ***********
@Alan ******
Any immigration office in Thailand, or any international airport in Thailand.
Alan *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Garrett ***********
@Alan ******
Can.Go.To.Eitherrrrrr
Anthony *********
I did that at the Malaysian border once, they got me coming back in and I had to go to the Thai side to get that entry stamp then come back to the Malaysian side to check out once I had that entry stamp. it was fairly simple but not sure how it would go at an immigration office In Thailand but I shouldn't image it will be any different there what happened to me at the border. Just explain what happened thats all you can do
Bob **********
Just go to immigration and they’ll get it sorted
Garrett ***********
@Alan ******
Could go to any office, Jomtien isn't a very friendly office though.
Alan *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bob *********
Right but was wondering if it could be done at Jomtien immigration or he had to go back to the airport.

I’ve seen people in the past say you should go back to the airport but was wondering if it can be done without the hassle of a round trip to BKK
Alan *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Phil Jones Jomtien immigration said today has to be done at the airport
Brandon ************
Just have him go to immigration office in Pattaya with proof of flight etc and see what they say.

Although it's highly highly unlikely for this to happen.
Alan *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
Thanks, yeah it’s rare but had something similar happen to me before where they were supposed to stamp with with 60 days and instead gave me 1.

Back then I didn’t double check like I do now. Had a nice overstay fine when I found out as I was leaving
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