Please Read! My Visa hel_l!

[Callanbkk]

Hey! I have just had a problem with my multiple entry student visa (non-immigrant) I got it in UK before I came to study here, and have had to renew it or whatever it is they do to it every few months or so. My visa stamped said it expired on the 24th March, however I went back to the uk in december and when I came through the airport, the guy there stamped my passport saying that I had until feb 8th. I thought he made a mistake, until I went to renew my visa (thinking it was going to expireon March 24th!) and I found out that infact when I left Thailand it cancelled my current visa and when I re-entered Thailand, the new stamp (Feb 8th) was actually the new date! To put shit on my cake even more, I have been fined 500 baht per day (luckily the lovely government sets a 20,000 baht maximum!) So today I had to go to get a visa to laos, and on the 7th I have to go to Laos to get a 30 day thai tourist visa so I wont be arrested when I go to pay my fine! Then I need to go back to University to get some papers, then try and apply for a new student visa so I dont have to make border trips all the time! Yet another great system from Thailand, I think it is because of all the smart people working in the government!! Hope I dont get arrested between now and then. Oh another thing, for Thai's it costs 600 baht for a visa to Laos, but if you come from a wealthy country its 1400 baht! I currently have no passport as its at the Laos embassy, and I have to collect it tomorrow! How shit is this? Has anybody every had a problem similar to this? Please reply!

[wtk]

i dont think you understand what different visas do for you and the system as whole

first of all, with tourist visa you get a 60 day stamp and you can extend it for 1900 baht at immigration for 30 more days.

thais dont need visa to laos

visa to laos is $35 which is roughly 1200 baht

it is standard that the embassy takes the passport for a day

and i hope your passport is at the thai embassy in laos, and not in laos embassy anywhere

[spongeman]

i dont think you understand what different visas do for you and the system as whole

That says it all.

[Jimjim]

You "thought he made a mistake"?

Whatever they stamp, that's the date you have to go by. You really are green behind the ears in this international travel business, aren't you? Your visa should still have been valid, it's just the date by which you have to exit or extend your entry. So, yes, I'm sure others have had this problem if they have been utterly inexperienced and ignorant about how the system works. The only mistake was made by you, callanbkk.

[loong]

If you were on a multi -O and returned to Thailand within the validity, surely you should have been given 90 days? Or did you get an unnecessary re-entry permit? You should have checked the stamp in your passport at the airport and told the officer if you thought there had been a mistake.

So today I had to go to get a visa to laos, and on the 7th I have to go to Laos to get a 30 day thai tourist visa so I wont be arrested when I go to pay my fine!

You really should do some research on Visas and validity in Thailand - a 30 day tourist visa? I'm pretty sure that there is no such thing. A single entry tourist visa allows you to stay in Thailand for 60 days.

You haven't paid your fine yet? Immigration will not allow you to exit Thailand without paying the fine, so make sure that you take the cash with you or you may well be arrested at the border.

[spongeman]

Usually one would check their stamp the minute the immigration officer gives the passport back?

Otherwise you are living in a fantasy world.............

[Jimjim]

Having read it a second time, he probably got the wrong stamp, but he should have not just gone off thinking the officer "made a mistake," as there's nothing you can do if you walk away with the wrong stamp, it's official then. Make sure the first time, and they can actually change it right there.

As for 30 day tourist, he means 30 day visa exempt, for sure.

[Jim's_a_Thai_Fox]

mate, sounds like your student visa was a 12 month visa that was not multiple entry and as soon as you left the country in Dec it became void and your re entry into Bangkok you got a 30 day 'visa on arrival' which you mistakenly thought was a new 3 month extension of your education visa. It s the same thing If you have a single entry non immigrant B visa (like the vast majority of teachers in LOS) - if you leave thailand for any reason for any amount of time, you MUST visit a thai immigration office first and pay for a departure stamp (cost is either 1000 or 1900) but at least you are allowed back in on the same visa and not just given a 30 day Visa on arrival - I am guessing this is what happened to the OP.

Sounds harsh, but it pretty much a 'som nam naa' - Basically you wer in overstay since the 8th. You could have just gone to Laos under your own steam, left thailand at Nong Khai and you would have had to have paid 20,000 THB in fines to the thai office there. Once in Laos, you could either return back to thailand that same day and get a 15day visa on arrival or gone to the thai embassy in vientiane dropped off your passport and got it back the next days with a for a 60 day tourist visa...

i know of one guy who got confused and went from Chiang Mai to the Laotian border and back across to thailand that same day n as he incorrectly thought he could get a 60 tourist visa by just crossing the bridge and coming back. only when he got home did he realise what a tit he was and that he should have gone to the thai embassy in Vientiene to get the tourist visa. He could have gone to Mai Sai (3 hours away, not 13) and have gotten a 15 day Visa on arrival!

[Jim's_a_Thai_Fox]

OP,

just read your post again - you say you have left your passport at the Laos embassy in Bkk in order to get a Laos visa? Why? You can cross the border at nong khai and pay 1400Bhat for a 30 day visa.

You said your education visa was multiple entry... are you sure? Maybe it had expired for that year... or maybe it was a 12 month single entry...

Sorry to read about your crap, but it does seem that the Thai system seems to be 'playing by the rules' on this one...

All the georgie

[Lite Beer]

OP,

just read your post again - you say you have left your passport at the Laos embassy in Bkk in order to get a Laos visa? Why? You can cross the border at nong khai and pay 1400Bhat for a 30 day visa.

You said your education visa was multiple entry... are you sure? Maybe it had expired for that year... or maybe it was a 12 month single entry...

Sorry to read about your crap, but it does seem that the Thai system seems to be 'playing by the rules' on this one...

All the georgie

I really have not got a clue what he has.

By going over the border and returning he would only get a 15 day entry stamp. Not a 30 day Visa.

[loong]

OP,

just read your post again - you say you have left your passport at the Laos embassy in Bkk in order to get a Laos visa? Why? You can cross the border at nong khai and pay 1400Bhat for a 30 day visa.

You said your education visa was multiple entry... are you sure? Maybe it had expired for that year... or maybe it was a 12 month single entry...

Sorry to read about your crap, but it does seem that the Thai system seems to be 'playing by the rules' on this one...

All the georgie

I would advise anybody that has a convenient Lao consulate nearby to consider getting the Visa there. It can be a nightmare at busy times queuing to get the form, filling it in, queuing to hand in the form and then waiting to get your passport back.

One time I went, it was so busy, by the time I'd queued to exit Thailand, waited for the bus, got the Visa and queued and entered Laos it had taken 5 HOURS. That was an exceptionally busy day though.

[lopburi3]

Believe you actually had an ED visa (single or multi entry) that had been extended by immigration until March 24th. You then departed Thailand without obtaining a re-entry permit. On your return in January you had no visa for entry so were provided a 30 day visa exempt entry and the February 8 date stamped into your passport. You failed to take any action to legalize your status and have been on overstay since that date. You will not be allowed to exit Thailand without paying your fine and you may be arrested if you try. You must pay the fine and leave immediately. You should plan to obtain a new ED visa and return using that so that you can start your extension of stay process again (if still a student). Be sure to have school paperwork with you.

It would be much safer to use Bangkok airport to depart as they are used to overstays and much less chance of regular police stopping you. You could end up in jail for a bit if found in a passport check before getting to the border.

[Tod Daniels]

Actually reading this forum BEFORE you ran into problems, and/or asking your questions earlier could have prevented your lack of understanding in the visa rules here. They are by no means beyond anyone's scope of understanding, (including even your limited grasp).

While you state your visa was a multiple entry non-o-type ed visa or what you are calling a "student visa", your understanding of how it works was the missing link in the equation. I especially find this well thought out bit of your post insightful in its total lack of understanding of even routine visa rules: "...and have had to renew it or whatever it is they do to it every few months or so"

If in fact it was a multi-entry non-immigrant type O-ED visa (and not a single entry); the way it works with that type of visa is; EITHER you leave the country every 90 days and get another new 90 day stamp at the border when you re-enter, OR you go to Thai Immigrations and apply for an extension of stay for another 90 days.

Unfortunately, going the later route (to thai immigrations), in effect nullifies your multi-entry visa, forcing you to continue the extension of stay route for the validity of the original visa expiration date (or as you stated one year). ALL the thai language schools I've spoken to know this, so I would imagine a university would as well.

Obviously when you came thru Suvarnabhumi you were given a 30 day "visa exempt" stamp, otherwise known as "free-2-stay-30-day" stamp, as you come from a country which doesn't require a visa to enter the glorious "Land 'O Thais", AND the immigrations official saw that your previous visa had been given an extension of stay and you had not purchased a reentry permit to keep it alive.

As I said, even if you have a multi-entry non-immigrant type O-ED visa, the FIRST time you decide to extend it inside the country, it is in effect canceled, and you are on an extension of stay ONLY. Not purchasing a reentry permit before leaving would have canceled that extension of stay the day you left the country.

ANY where; be it a university or one of the plethora of thai language schools in this country would have been able to give you advice about your visa had you asked before your started running amok of the rules.

While I am no fan of either this pissant country nor it's ever smiling yet diminutive people, with that being said; it's their country, so their rules. Learn them, follow them, and for the most part you'll be left alone.

FYI; Lao PDR has had the "sliding scale" visa fees in effect for a LONG time now.

Although I concur, purchasing your Lao visa BEFORE you hit the border can cut down the wait time during peak hours.

Ahh, well, I guess at least you're getting a good education on following rules, and asking questions. Good for you.

Welcome to thailand, when you leave please turn out the light.

[tartempion]

Actually reading this forum BEFORE you ran into problems, and/or asking your questions earlier could have prevented your lack of understanding in the visa rules here. They are by no means beyond anyone's scope of understanding, (including even your limited grasp).

Rubbish

Anyone on something different than a tourist visa has a hard time to understand the rules:

What's a non-Immigrant-O visa?

What's an extension of a non-O, why would I need such a mysterious thing in my passport?

How should I know that my visa, sorry extension, is void if I have a trip to Hanoi and need a RE-ENTRY PERMIT to safeguard said extension?

Ah you say, there is Thai visa who makes it all clear for the idiots who have no clue how Thailand clear-as-water regulations works

Lets be serious, it's a forest of regulations, one more stupid than the other.

The latest one tbeing hat you only can get a re-entry permit at the immigration office assigned to your lieu of residence, brilliant.

[Callanbkk]

Believe you actually had an ED visa (single or multi entry) that had been extended by immigration until March 24th. You then departed Thailand without obtaining a re-entry permit. On your return in January you had no visa for entry so were provided a 30 day visa exempt entry and the February 8 date stamped into your passport. You failed to take any action to legalize your status and have been on overstay since that date. You will not be allowed to exit Thailand without paying your fine and you may be arrested if you try. You must pay the fine and leave immediately. You should plan to obtain a new ED visa and return using that so that you can start your extension of stay process again (if still a student). Be sure to have school paperwork with you.

Ahh yes, I think you got it. My post does look confusing actually. Luckily I spoke to my grandad (step-grandad) and he has a friend in the Thai Embassy. I got my passport today with my Laos visa inside it. Unfortunately he wants to drive me to laos (5-6hours!!) He will pay my fine wherever we need to. Can we do it at nong khai? Yes I have my papers from Uni with me ready for when/where I can obtain my new ED visa. I have learned my lesson this time. If I suspect anything wrong I will go check with the embassy right away to check, to avoid fines, and any possible arrests! Thank you everybody for writing too! Very useful and I appreciate it.

[Callanbkk]

Actually reading this forum BEFORE you ran into problems, and/or asking your questions earlier could have prevented your lack of understanding in the visa rules here. They are by no means beyond anyone's scope of understanding, (including even your limited grasp).

While you state your visa was a multiple entry non-o-type ed visa or what you are calling a "student visa", your understanding of how it works was the missing link in the equation. I especially find this well thought out bit of your post insightful in its total lack of understanding of even routine visa rules: "...and have had to renew it or whatever it is they do to it every few months or so"

If in fact it was a multi-entry non-immigrant type O-ED visa (and not a single entry); the way it works with that type of visa is; EITHER you leave the country every 90 days and get another new 90 day stamp at the border when you re-enter, OR you go to Thai Immigrations and apply for an extension of stay for another 90 days.

Unfortunately, going the later route (to thai immigrations), in effect nullifies your multi-entry visa, forcing you to continue the extension of stay route for the validity of the original visa expiration date (or as you stated one year). ALL the thai language schools I've spoken to know this, so I would imagine a university would as well.

Obviously when you came thru Suvarnabhumi you were given a 30 day "visa exempt" stamp, otherwise known as "free-2-stay-30-day" stamp, as you come from a country which doesn't require a visa to enter the glorious "Land 'O Thais", AND the immigrations official saw that your previous visa had been given an extension of stay and you had not purchased a reentry permit to keep it alive.

As I said, even if you have a multi-entry non-immigrant type O-ED visa, the FIRST time you decide to extend it inside the country, it is in effect canceled, and you are on an extension of stay ONLY. Not purchasing a reentry permit before leaving would have canceled that extension of stay the day you left the country.

ANY where; be it a university or one of the plethora of thai language schools in this country would have been able to give you advice about your visa had you asked before your started running amok of the rules.

While I am no fan of either this pissant country nor it's ever smiling yet diminutive people, with that being said; it's their country, so their rules. Learn them, follow them, and for the most part you'll be left alone.

FYI; Lao PDR has had the "sliding scale" visa fees in effect for a LONG time now.

Although I concur, purchasing your Lao visa BEFORE you hit the border can cut down the wait time during peak hours.

Ahh, well, I guess at least you're getting a good education on following rules, and asking questions. Good for you.

Welcome to thailand, when you leave please turn out the light.

Ahh thanks mate, yes I'm 21 and pretty ignorant of the immigration rules. Thanks for writing back, I learned one key point from your post which I'm very greatful for. If I leave the country and come back, I need to get a "re-entry visa" man if I knew that before it would have saved a whole lot of trouble (and money!) If I knew I was gonna have the problem I would have read on here first, however I only found out a few days ago about my problem, and then came to thaivisa straight away. I'm amazed by how many people have helped me! Thanks again!!

[Callanbkk]

OP,

just read your post again - you say you have left your passport at the Laos embassy in Bkk in order to get a Laos visa? Why? You can cross the border at nong khai and pay 1400Bhat for a 30 day visa.

You said your education visa was multiple entry... are you sure? Maybe it had expired for that year... or maybe it was a 12 month single entry...

Sorry to read about your crap, but it does seem that the Thai system seems to be 'playing by the rules' on this one...

All the georgie

Hey yes, your right, the multiple entry had expired for that year and when I went to the visa place (at sathorn) they just extended my right to stay (I thought it was extending the multiple entry bit!) My problem was not getting a "re-entry visa" when I came back from UK. Few!! Thanks!

[lopburi3]

Yes you should be able to pay the fine at Nong Khai but you might have to do it at the official immigration office just before the border office - they will tell you.

[Callanbkk]

Yes you should be able to pay the fine at Nong Khai but you might have to do it at the official immigration office just before the border office - they will tell you.

Thank you man! You've helped explain alot of things for me! All the best, Callan!

[Callanbkk]

You "thought he made a mistake"?

Whatever they stamp, that's the date you have to go by. You really are green behind the ears in this international travel business, aren't you? Your visa should still have been valid, it's just the date by which you have to exit or extend your entry. So, yes, I'm sure others have had this problem if they have been utterly inexperienced and ignorant about how the system works. The only mistake was made by you, callanbkk.

Yes I agree its my mistake. However, just so you can understand my "ignorance" I looked at my passport and I had 2 stamps, 1 for march 24th and 1 for feb 8th. I foolishly assumed that the dates were in my favour! Also my school wrote on my papers to go extend my visa on march 24th (I think they didnt see the feb 8th stamp). I've spent many years (well, 6 of my 21 years alive! ) in Thailand (holiday's, boxing and now education) and this is the first problem of this nature that I have ever come accross. I guess as this is the longest period spent here at one time. Thanks to other posts, I now now clued up on what to do.

[Jim's_a_Thai_Fox]

OP,

just read your post again - you say you have left your passport at the Laos embassy in Bkk in order to get a Laos visa? Why? You can cross the border at nong khai and pay 1400Bhat for a 30 day visa.

You said your education visa was multiple entry... are you sure? Maybe it had expired for that year... or maybe it was a 12 month single entry...

Sorry to read about your crap, but it does seem that the Thai system seems to be 'playing by the rules' on this one...

All the georgie

I really have not got a clue what he has.

By going over the border and returning he would only get a 15 day entry stamp. Not a 30 day Visa.

Mr Lite Beer, just to clear up matters, I meant that he could get a 30 day Laos visa simply by rocking up to the Laos border at Nong Khai - just wanted to clear up any confusion there.... as for sure, the last thing he would want to do would be to spend the hassle of getting a Laos visa from the Embassy in Bangkok to only simply return back across the friendship after 20 mins in order to get an additional 15 day Thai 'visa on arrival'... THAT would be goofy!!

Anyway, it seems cleared up - the Laos visa on Sunday afternoon took me 15 mins - I can bet anyone having had to wait 5 hours for one will subsequently apply for the following one at the Laos embassy in Bkk.... fair enough

[moe666]

Good for Callan, he took responsibility for his lack of knowledge of the Thai visa system. One of the first rules of international travel is to understand the immigration rules and laws of the countries you are visiting.

[madjbs]

Rubbish

Anyone on something different than a tourist visa has a hard time to understand the rules:

Name a single country where there are not numerous different types of visas and immigration rules.

Have you actually lived anywhere other than Thailand and your home country?

Ignorance is NOT an excuse....

[fishhooks]

Ignorance is NOT an excuse...............madjbs

Yes, he made a mistake and maybe even his topic title was a tad 'juvenile'

But for goodness sake give the guy a go.

This section of T.V. is all about asking questions, and is heavily populated with even the most senior members with long membership and hundreds of posts not understanding all the rules and ramifications.

The mods do a fantastic job of helping all of us, but let's not turn this into a schoolroom with punishment for getting something wrong!