Visa "admitted Until" Stamp Error Gives Extra Time - Or Does It?

[EclecticMix]

Hi all,

Hope you can offer some insight...

I am a US citizen holding a US passport. When I entered Thailand from Poipet, Cambodia, the admitted until stamp said 11 May instead of 11 Mar. As a result, I theoretically have a visa for 90 days. I am only planning on staying until Mar 25 which is how long a normal 30 day transit visa with a two week extension would have lasted.

There's a field for "visa class" on the stamp as well and that says W30. I'm not sure if it's a "w" or a Thai character that looks like a "w." I assume the 30 is the number of days the visa is supposed to last.

My departure card also has the same set of stamps and hand written "w30" on it. Then entry date on both stamps does show a clear Feb date so it'll be obvious when I came into the country.

So the questions are... Did I get some sort of visa upon entry other than a transit visa that would give me ninety days? If not, do I need to report the error and get the extension or not? If when I depart, they only look at the admitted until date, it would seem I would be OK. But, if they look at the entry date and realize that I got the wrong stamp upon entry, will they hold me responsible for paying penalties even though the visa says it's good through May?

Thanks for your help.

EclecticMix

[lopburi3]

You do not obtain a visa at the border. If you did not have a visa from a Consulate you were allowed a 30 day visa exempt stamp at the border and must leave when those 30 days are up regardless of what is stamped in your passport by mistake. There is no way you can obtain a two week extension of stay on a 30 day visa exempt entry - seven days is the max. I would suggest you plan a border exit/return this week. That will provide you another 30 day visa exempt stamp and provide the time for your March 25 departure (am assuming you will not have used 90 days visa exempt entry in Thailand during the last six months). Be sure to take your ticket with you

[LivinLOS]

Do US citizens not get a 90 day visa exempt stamp ??

Did they in the past ?? I am sure a yank mate of mine used to do 3 months visa free entry.

[lopburi3]

No and never.

[jstumbo]

Possible that he did 3 entries back to back for his 90 days visa free. But it would require two border runs to do it.

[Briggsy]

jstumbo what ??????????????

[EclecticMix]

Thanks for the info...

I went to the immigration office yesterday and got the stamp in my passport corrected (it now says 12 Mar). I could have spent 1900 baht to apply for a seven day extension but since I'll be up in Chiang Rai, it seems easier, cheaper, and more practical to spend a day in Burma and reenter Thailand to get another 30 day visa exempt stamp. I also confirmed that I will be eligible for another 30 day stamp as the days I was in Thailand with a 60 day tourist visa back in Nov/Dec don't count towards the 90 day limit.

If nothing else, at least I won't get stuck paying a 500 baht/day fine on the way out of the country.

Thanks again.

You do not obtain a visa at the border. If you did not have a visa from a Consulate you were allowed a 30 day visa exempt stamp at the border and must leave when those 30 days are up regardless of what is stamped in your passport by mistake. There is no way you can obtain a two week extension of stay on a 30 day visa exempt entry - seven days is the max. I would suggest you plan a border exit/return this week. That will provide you another 30 day visa exempt stamp and provide the time for your March 25 departure (am assuming you will not have used 90 days visa exempt entry in Thailand during the last six months). Be sure to take your ticket with you

[dr_Pat_Pong]

All's well that ends well.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Do US citizens not get a 90 day visa exempt stamp ??

Did they in the past ?? I am sure a yank mate of mine used to do 3 months visa free entry.

Was he a diplomat on a diplomatic passport ?

[lopburi3]

Unless there has been a recent change USA does not qualify for 90 day visa exempt stay on any passport.

[jstumbo]

jstumbo what ??????????????

That was in reply to LivinLOS's post. He said that he thought he had a mate that got a 90 day visa exempt entry before. I just suggested that maybe he said that he got 90 days visa exempt, but they were not all on a single entry. That he had to make 2 border runs to stay for the 90 days visa free.

[Ireland]

Just posting this here as have got no response to my quetion yet...any help greatly appreciated!

Can you get a 30 day visa exempt stamp at Thai land borders, in particular the Hat Lek/Koh Kong border?

Im leaving Cambodia soon and returning to Thailand via Hat Lek (hopefully). If they do issue visa exemp stamp here (have Irish passport), is it free?

I've heard getting a Thai visa in Phnom Penh is very awkward, and since I only need a 30days visa I hope it wont be a problem getting one there.