Visa Exempt Maximum 30 Days?

[turbodog]

I am an American who arrived last month without a visa, but was given 60 days until departure. Did Immigration make a mistake? Thanks.

[terak69]

Yes - wrong stamp & it will be farang's fault - you need to abide by 30 day stamp

[moe666]

Arriving by air without visa is a permission to stay for 30 days. If you over stay 500 baht a day max. 20,000baht

[turbodog]

I appreciate the help, terak69 and moe666. She saw that I had gotten a work visa and some tourist visas in the past, and that I did not have a visa this time so she asked, "You don't have a visa?" Of course, I said I did not. She then stamped me in for 60 days. Since the rules change occasionally, I wondered if she was corrrect in giving me 60 days. I guess not. And now I have overstayed. Any recommendations besides just paying the 500 baht per day? Is it possible a border Immigration officer might not notice? Thanks again for your advice.

[terak69]

I appreciate the help, terak69 and moe666. She saw that I had gotten a work visa and some tourist visas in the past, and that I did not have a visa this time so she asked, "You don't have a visa?" Of course, I said I did not. She then stamped me in for 60 days. Since the rules change occasionally, I wondered if she was corrrect in giving me 60 days. I guess not. And now I have overstayed. Any recommendations besides just paying the 500 baht per day? Is it possible a border Immigration officer might not notice? Thanks again for your advice.

Border officer not notice - that's their best quality, can spot overstay from 300 meters - advice depends on how long you will of overstayed by

[lopburi3]

With no visa number entered into the computer suspect computer will have to show 30 days when checked on exit.

[turbodog]

I hesitate to be cynical and think she did it on purpose, but it was confusing that she specifically noticed I had no visa and asked me about it. I have travelled to many countries in Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas. There are scams everywhere. And I am used to the touts, tuk tuk drivers, bars, etc. But Immigration? Lesson learned. Maybe TAT should put that in the Amazing Thailand brochures. Just because it is stamped in your passport don't make it so.

[lopburi3]

Stamping is a manual job and they have to select from the 30/60/90 stamps and for re-entry have to reset to exact date so it is easy to make a mistake. I do not believe it was intentional as it is there number the supervisors will see when making the correction.

[turbodog]

Thanks, lopburi3. It probably was an honest mistake.

[softgeorge]

Yes - wrong stamp & it will be farang's fault - you need to abide by 30 day stamp

Yes was told at the Thai consulate in Melbourne yesterday that you get a free 30 day visa on arrival. I was after a 1 yr multi as I got but they did tell me about the free 30 day only visa.

[lopburi3]

It is not a visa however - it is a visa exempt entry for 30 days.

[turbodog]

Thanks to everyone who offered advice. I mooched up to the Immigration counter with great trepidation. The guy spent some time looking at all of the confusing <deleted> in my passport, the most obvious being a legitimate stamp to stay longer. He scanned my passport, flipped through the pages at least three times, re-scanned my passport and finally seemed to give up. I had the overstay money ready in my moneybelt and there it stayed, thank Buddha. I am fully aware that I got lucky and I will not make that mistake again.