Just Returned To Bkk, Advice Needed On Visa Screw Up!

[pekkes1978]

ok, bear with me here..

I arrived at suvarnabhumi a few hours ago.

I have a tourist visa, double entry that I got earlier today from Vientiane

However, I was on a non-imm extension visa which was actually due to expire tomorrow. i also have a multi entry permit for that visa.

so what the immigration officer did was the usual entry stamp in my passport that says im admitted until may 29, visa class: non..(hand scribbled)

so she didnt even see that i had a new tourist visa in my passport . my tourist visa is unmarked (first entry, they would normally write a 1 on it right?), and, if she had seen it, the entry stamp would show that i am amditted until 60 days from today. she stamped me on through, no questions asked, so i just assumed it was all in order, after all, if it wasnt, she wouldve asked me something.

oh, on the ARRIVAL CARD I wrote my new tourist visa number and stated the purpose of my trip as holiday.

I assumed when i got the tourist visa issued at the thai embassy in Vientiane it would automatically cancel my non -imm extension visa. thats why i decided to come back today and not after the 29th.

I didnt think i would need to check my passport , i just happened to when i got back to my apt. so im finding this out just now.

should i go back to subvarnabhumi now or go to the immi. office tmr?

thanks for any advice

[lopburi3]

You can try Immigration tomorrow but you will need to be prepared to leave if they will not change - or obtain a 7 day extension of stay at 1,900 baht. Believe I would just get on a visa run and return with the tourist visa 1st entry at 2,000 baht as a sure thing. Your re-entry permit was still valid so not sure they will want to change it or not. Probably they will - but I prefer to bet on the sure thing.

Edited May 28, 2009 by lopburi3

[ubonjoe]

Go to immigration tomorrow and get it sorted out.

[pekkes1978]

thanks for the feedback. what is the 2000b fee in regards to? i just went on a 2 days visa run, pretty frustrating that i need to turn back around.

[lopburi3]

That was for a border run if you decided to do that rather than visit Immigration.

[johnefallis]

I would try to go back to the airport to make the correction, as this would save face for the error made by the immigration official who failed to match your arrival card and visa. I would try the same officer too if possible. Be polite and maybe even act a little as if it is your mistake.

Then give me the 2000 baht.

John

[pekkes1978]

I would try to go back to the airport to make the correction, as this would save face for the error made by the immigration official who failed to match your arrival card and visa. I would try the same officer too if possible. Be polite and maybe even act a little as if it is your mistake.

Then give me the 2000 baht.

John

hehe. yes, as hard as it might be sometimes, being calm and polite is always the way to go in situations like these.

I was thinking about the long lines, left hand not talkin to the right (immi office vs. immi staff at airport) so i decided not to wait, instead i went back to the airport and find someone to fix the error and...surprisingly enough, they did. they didnt want to admit the foul up of the girl who failed to notice that i had a tourist visa. i should've told her, they said. i apologized. but it's her job to notice trivial things like a full page, brand new tourist visa sticker. i can admit, i should've made a point of telling her i just got the visa though, due to the overlap of dates.

anyway, they adjusted the dates on the stamps, made me sign next to the changes and it's done. so now i'm good for 60 days.

[johnefallis]

I would try to go back to the airport to make the correction, as this would save face for the error made by the immigration official who failed to match your arrival card and visa. I would try the same officer too if possible. Be polite and maybe even act a little as if it is your mistake.

Then give me the 2000 baht.

John

hehe. yes, as hard as it might be sometimes, being calm and polite is always the way to go in situations like these.

I was thinking about the long lines, left hand not talkin to the right (immi office vs. immi staff at airport) so i decided not to wait, instead i went back to the airport and find someone to fix the error and...surprisingly enough, they did. they didnt want to admit the foul up of the girl who failed to notice that i had a tourist visa. i should've told her, they said. i apologized. but it's her job to notice trivial things like a full page, brand new tourist visa sticker. i can admit, i should've made a point of telling her i just got the visa though, due to the overlap of dates.

anyway, they adjusted the dates on the stamps, made me sign next to the changes and it's done. so now i'm good for 60 days.

That's great! Good for you, and thanks for letting us know how it went. Sure a lot easier than a border run.

We're all human, so the occasional mistake is excusable. I hope it went as easily for her.

So how about that 2k baht???

Edited May 31, 2009 by johnefallis