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What should you do if you receive a wrong entry stamp in Thailand?
Jan 6, 2024
2 years ago
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTERATTENTION ALL MEMBERS; Bad Entry Stamps :/
We have gotten a couple posts where people noticed they got stamped in with bad entry stamps (giving them more time then they're allowed WEEKS after they stamped in :(
Just so EVERYONE is totally clear, IF you get stamped in wrong, (for more time than you're supposed to get when you enter) you CANNOT stay until the date on your stamp.
You are 100% responsible to make sure you're stamped in correctly, so check your stamp BEFORE you walk away from passport control..
One other thing, MOST (but not all) offices will correct a bad air entry stamp for you, although they are not obligated to and can send you back to the entry airport if they want to
BUT
the rule about land entry stamps is; if they're wrong you go back to the border crossing that bad stamped you and get it corrected THERE. As a rule immigration offices inside the country won't correct a bad land entry stamp
Keep in mind IF you run on overstay due to you not paying attention and thinking you could stay here as long as you were bad stamped in for, you WILL be charged overstay, and when you do apply for an extension it will start from the date your real stamp should have ran out on.
One last time people
Check your entry stamp when the hand your passport back to you at passport control. Don't care how busy they are, how tired you are, you want to avoid problems CHECK YOUR STAMPS..
We have gotten a couple posts where people noticed they got stamped in with bad entry stamps (giving them more time then they're allowed WEEKS after they stamped in :(
Just so EVERYONE is totally clear, IF you get stamped in wrong, (for more time than you're supposed to get when you enter) you CANNOT stay until the date on your stamp.
You are 100% responsible to make sure you're stamped in correctly, so check your stamp BEFORE you walk away from passport control..
One other thing, MOST (but not all) offices will correct a bad air entry stamp for you, although they are not obligated to and can send you back to the entry airport if they want to
BUT
the rule about land entry stamps is; if they're wrong you go back to the border crossing that bad stamped you and get it corrected THERE. As a rule immigration offices inside the country won't correct a bad land entry stamp
Keep in mind IF you run on overstay due to you not paying attention and thinking you could stay here as long as you were bad stamped in for, you WILL be charged overstay, and when you do apply for an extension it will start from the date your real stamp should have ran out on.
One last time people
Check your entry stamp when the hand your passport back to you at passport control. Don't care how busy they are, how tired you are, you want to avoid problems CHECK YOUR STAMPS..
TLDR : Answer Summary
This post alerts expats in Thailand about the critical issue of incorrectly issued entry stamps that provide more days of stay than allowed. It emphasizes the responsibility of travelers to check their stamps immediately upon receiving their passport back from immigration. If a mistake is found, procedures differ for air and land entry stamps, with specific guidelines on how to rectify errors. Additionally, the post discusses potential consequences of overstaying due to incorrect stamps and advises on best practices to avoid these situations.
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Harry ********
Surely if this happens, you've no need to do anything other than leave Thailand before the date that you SHOULD have been stamped.
Similarly if you wish to get a 30 day extension, would it not mean that, if you apply before the date you should have on your passport, there shouldn't be a problem as the correct date will be on the immigration computer system, regardless if the officer incorrectly stamped your passport
Similarly if you wish to get a 30 day extension, would it not mean that, if you apply before the date you should have on your passport, there shouldn't be a problem as the correct date will be on the immigration computer system, regardless if the officer incorrectly stamped your passport
Harry ********
Methinks using common sense is a touch naïve....
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Harry *******
careful thinking that's how it works because while it might SEEM like it 'should' work that way, in practice it's gonna work how ever the immigration officer you're sitting in front of tells you it's gonna work like 😮Ellie *******
@Harry *******
, please be careful to say about extension. Some offices would have you go to the entry point to correct your stamp before they accept the extension application if you were stamped in incorrectly, even if you are in the right period.Reply to
Ellie *******
Reply
Cliff *********
Thank you Tod
Mike *********
Great advice I do check at the control as the passport is stamped and handed back 🤔🙏
Nina ********
This just happened to me in Oct 2023 by air into CMX. Came in on a 30 day visa exemption and they stamped it for 90 days. Got it corrected but didn’t catch that it was now stamped to expire Nov 2024 until I went to Immigration to apply for a 30 day extension. Luckily Immigration took care of calling the airport and changed it in the computer and my passport.
Beay ********
Time and time and time again, need to get it hammered in. Any and every time your passport is stamped--for whatever reason--check and check again that it's all fine and good. Don't just get it back and do a 'walk away, Rene'.😉
Mark *********
Thanks
@Tod ********
Dennis *************
I'm surprised, cause I always thought the stamp is binding. So if they stamp too many days and I overstay, it's my fault? But if they stamp me 30 instead of 60 days, I do overstay after 30 days already and this is also my fault? Sounds a bit arbitrary...
(just asking for curiosity, I always check my stamp)
(just asking for curiosity, I always check my stamp)
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Dennis ************
if they stamp you for too many days and you stay when you shouldn't you ARE fined but as a rule if they "short stamp you" (give you a stamp for less time than you would really get) there is no fine if you go get it corrected (as long as it is within the date you would get)Dennis *************
@Tod ********
that makes sense to me. The comment of Stefan Andreas, who was fined after his too short stamp had expired, confused me, but I saw that you just commented it. Thanks for clarification!Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Dennis ************
i'm not saying he didn't get fined, 🙂Reply to
Tod *********
Reply
Hunter ********
I never will forget flying back into DMK after holiday Saigon (HCMC).
The officer at PPC handed me my passport back without stamping it. She (very pretty) was so embarrassed when I pointed that minor detail out to her 🤣
The officer at PPC handed me my passport back without stamping it. She (very pretty) was so embarrassed when I pointed that minor detail out to her 🤣
Hunter ********
@Steve *****
Sadly no... The wife (Thai) was with me at the time and sitting next to me right now 🤣Steve ******
@Robert *********
things could be so different aye 🤣Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Steve *****
&@Robert *********
Let's keep it on topic guyz 😛Hunter ********
@Tod ********
Sorry 🤐Steve ******
@Tod ********
OK 😀Reply to
Steve ******
Reply
Hunter ********
@Laurence *********
Indeed 😉Reply to
Hunter ********
Reply
Paul *********
Check your passport while you are saying Thank You to the officer... Only takes a second ....but remember if it's wrong don't shout about it Thais don't like shouting... Be calm and polite ..
It's the best way to get things done
It's the best way to get things done
Paul *********
@Tour *******
I meant personal loudness directed at an individual... Didn't think I would need to explain that 🤔Tour ********
@Paul ********
don't like shouting, except through music and loudspeakers, just go to any event where they have two people with microphones having a cluster-shout.Reply to
Tour ********
Reply
Mario *********
I had a wrong stamp ounce at airport and officer in Chiang Rai took care of it and sent a paper to Bangkok and a few days later i had to come back to Chiang Rai immigration office and they corrected it, was very lucky.
Ludivine *****
And one more thing, the type of visa, I have colleagues who got a tourist entry stamp instead of non immigrant O. BE CAREFUL!
Rune *******
I carry one of these “elite visas” and when I arrive to Thailand, the assistant follow me through Imigration and first thing on the other side - they always check my stamp in the passport.
Stefan *********
Several years ago I was on a Non O and should have a 90 days stamp but got accidentally 30 days. When I've seen it I was already 32 days in Thailand. I went to CM immigration, had to go to airport to get it corrected to 90 days and was told to pay for 2 days overstay... It always your fault!
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Stefan ********
that makes ZERO sense, if you got stamped in on a 30 day visa exempt entry BUT you really were supposed to be stamped in for 90 days, when you went to correct it you wouldn't have been on overstay if they'd stamp you correctly 😕 so you shouldn't have been fined. As a rule if you're "short stamped" <- stamped in for less time than you would get, as long as you correct it BEFORE your real stamp would run out you shouldn't get fined
Reply to
Tod *********
Reply
Michael *******
If I were on a short trip here (I am not), I might feel it would be ok to simply leave the country before the end of the 30 days that I should have been stamped in for. After all, travellers should know the immigration requirements while planning their travel. What are your thoughts on this?
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTERi would think that if you were bad stamped but KNOW how long you can stay and are not going to get an extension but leave before the actual time you'd get stamped in for it'd probably be okay, however that is RARELY the case 🙁
Reply to
Tod *********
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