Mae Sai's visa exempt entry policy

[NorthernRyland]

I was just in Mae Sai to get a visa exempt entry stamp for 30 days and decided to ask the official what their policy was. He said you get 2 entries per year starting from the original entry from your home country where you purchased a visa. I believe it was Joe here that said it was 2 per calendar year (which I'm sure is official and correct) but that's not what the guy at Mai Sai said.

 

What do you make of this? Is this guy wrong or does Mae Sai have a special policy? The guy in front of me from the UK didn't have a visa (he had visa exempt from the airport on his arrival) and was granted a stamp even though the immigration official asked him if had a visa (he got 60 days for free instead of buying a TV in the UK).  Maybe in the case of no visa it's 2 per year?

 

Just curious. Thanks.

[ubonjoe]

It is two visa exempt entries per calendar year at land border crossings. The is no limit when entering by air. 

With a valid visa for entry there is no limit.

I think it was misunderstanding or an officer that did not really know what the rules are.

[sometimewoodworker]

13 hours ago, genericptr said:

The guy in front of me from the UK didn't have a visa (he had visa exempt from the airport on his arrival) and was granted a stamp even though the immigration official asked him if had a visa (he got 60 days for free instead of buying a TV in the UK)

If he stays in thailand for more than the 30 days he should have received then he will be fined for overstaying.

 

The IO's mistakes are your/his problem 

[NorthernRyland]

That's what I suspected but does it really matter what the rules actually are if the immigration officials don't even know? Are we supposed to carry around a copy of the official immigration documents to show them or something? I confirmed multiple times and in Thai even just to be sure and he insisted this. Thanks Joe.

[ubonjoe]

1 hour ago, genericptr said:

That's what I suspected but does it really matter what the rules actually are if the immigration officials don't even know? Are we supposed to carry around a copy of the official immigration documents to show them or something? I confirmed multiple times and in Thai even just to be sure and he insisted this. Thanks Joe.

Here is the topic I did about it. It has a link to the ministerial order in Thai and a translation of it.