Departure Stamp But No Entry Stamp...

[skippyhandelman]

My wife and stepdaughter have six month validity, 3 entry tourist visas. My wife and stepdaughter departed Thailand on September 5, 2008 at Padang Basar. They didn't receive entry stamps from Malaysia (apparently the custom guards were chatting them up) and they didn't receive entry stamps when they re-entered Thailand (waved through). All of this occurred the same afternoon. They have only the Padang Basar departure stamps on their passports. Regrettably, I did not go with them or look at their passports upon their return.

Since my wife and I thought her tourist visa was expiring next week (she entered Thailand before me), we went to the Immigration Office in Hat Yai to get a 30-day extension. My stepdaughter and I planned to make a border run together to use our third and final entries. At the office, we learned about this snafu. The official said my wife and stepdaughter have to leave Thailand immediately. He was very nice about this. So, what do we do now?

If my wife and stepdaughter go back to Padang Basar, can the oversight error be explained and fixed (as the official explained in imperfect English, I think)? Can my wife obtain a 30-day extension? Will my wife and stepdaughter be allowed to return to Thailand that day? Am I looking at two 20,000 baht overstay fines? Should I see a lawyer in Hat Yai, where we live?

[NHJ]

do they have the departure card stamped or did they fill the arrival card with the visa number? if so this can traced to an officer mistake.

if not, they entered thailand illegaly and so might be arrested for this crime, better check with sunbelt as they are professionals.

[skippyhandelman]

They have blank arrival-departure cards. It's definitely an officer mistake and the immigration officer thought it could be fixed at the Padang Basar border, but arrest is my concern definitely. It's really preposterous.

[ubonjoe]

They have blank arrival-departure cards. It's definitely an officer mistake and the immigration officer thought it could be fixed at the Padang Basar border, but arrest is my concern definitely. It's really preposterous.

I think I would do what the immigration officer suggested. But I would go with enough money to pay the overstay and maybe some extra for tea money.

As far as arrest goes I would think that it would of happened when you went to immigration if it was going to happen.

[sniffdog]

If you never officially entered Thailand, you cannot leave.

It's my guess that you have to fix at the 'offending' border control.

I remember a guy who was joining us from Koh Samui to Penang (he came all the way from Bangkok by van) on a visa trip. At Pedang the officer noticed he didn't get an entry stamp at Don Muang. Then said 'you're not here so you cannot leave' and told him to go back to Don Muang to fix it.

Maybe another lesson (#256) to check all your stamps before leaving the booth.

[opalhort]

Just asking out of curiosity:

Is it really possible to run through 4 mistakes by Imm officers?

1. enter MY - no stamp

2. exit MY - no stamp

3. enter TH - no stamp

4. no filled in TM 6 card

Am I missing something here?

opalhort

[Lite Beer]

Just asking out of curiosity:

Is it really possible to run through 4 mistakes by Imm officers?

1. enter MY - no stamp

2. exit MY - no stamp

3. enter TH - no stamp

4. no filled in TM 6 card

Am I missing something here?

opalhort

It does stretch the imagination a bit. To be honest I would say it was impossible.

Hopefully the OP will get back to us with the outcome.

[skippyhandelman]

Okay, back on the forum.

As it turns out, they never actually went to Malaysia (i.e. Malaysian immigration) and, of course, "returned" to Thailand without any Malaysian stamps. The Thai border guard waved them back through, as they had never "left". All of the blame on the missus and the kid. And yes, preposterous.