Need Help (Fairly Urgently) - "missed" Immigration When Prev. Departing Bkk And Need To Return Soon

[erini86]

Hiya,

This is my first post on this forum, as I'm kind of at my wit's end as to what to do! Really hoping someone can give me some advice! I need to return to Thailand for a wedding on the 15th December but I'm not sure if I'm going to have trouble being allowed in, as I somehow (accidentally) didn't go through immigration when I was in Bkk in July this year. This is what happened:

Flew domestic Phuket > Bangkok with Bangkok airways. At Phuket airport, told the check in lady to check our bags through to our international flight to Sydney from Bangkok. Asked if we needed to know anything about connecting once we got to Bkk, told no just ask airport/ airline staff.

Get to Bangkok airport, had never departed from there before, so no idea where anything is or where I needed to go. Didn't need to collect luggage so didn't go to the baggage claim area, went and asked airport staff where to go - showed my flight itinerary etc. Followed instructions of several airport staff until we finally reached a QANTAS transfer counter... Gave the employee our travel itinerary, passports etc. She printed out boarding passes and then directed us to our gate... We went straight there and after a bit of waiting around boarded our international flight from Bangkok > Sydney... Didn't pass through immigration anywhere, didn't have our passports stamped, didn't have departure cards taken. I only really realised that we hadn't gone thtough immigration once we got on the plane and I was putting out travel documents, passports etc away and then it was too late to do anything and I was totally confused... No idea how it happened, I know it shouldn't have been possible, but it happened! From Sydney, I caught another flight home to Adelaide.

Once we got back, I then commenced the saga that is trying to ensure that Thai Immigration has a record of my leaving, so that I am not recorded as overstaying and won't have problems re-entering. I have spoken to every person in every Thai Embassy in Australia, Australian immigration, Australian embassy in Bkk and the list goes on... Kept getting the same responses to call someone else, or that it was impossible that I hadn't gone thought immigration. Finally the colsular officer at the Thai embassy in Canberra instructed me to write a letter explaining what had happened, include boarding passes etc to prove we returned, and send to them. Then they were going to pass this onto Thai immigration... That was months ago, and I haven't had a response. When I called again, I was told I would just have to keep waiting.

My problem is that my best friend is getting married on the 16th December in Bkk and I need to be there for that, so I need to book flights soon etc etc. I really don't want to arrive in Bkk and have major problems at immigration... Does anyone have any advice/ suggestions for me? As well as mu Australian passport, I also have a British passport which I have never used to enter Thailand, if that may help me at all?

I would REALLY appreciate any help or advice, as I've been trying to chase this up for months now and it's cutting it very close.

Many thanks

Erin

[TommoPhysicist]

Get a new passport, problem solved.

No Thai entry or exit stamps in the new book.

If they notice in the computer ...... must be operator error.

[erini86]

Thanks :-) So will using my British passport instead of my Australian passport work in that case? I highly doubt I'll be able to get a new Australian passport in that time...

[simple1]

Get a new passport, problem solved.

No Thai entry or exit stamps in the new book.

If they notice in the computer ...... must be operator error.

Biometrics embedded with the Australian ePassports may cause an issue if you follow this advice at Thai immigration. It will not be put down to an operator error

Edited November 19, 2012 by simple1

[erini86]

But how about if I use my British passport instead? I don't want to do anything "dodgy", I just want to be let in the country to see my friend get married! :-(

[Mario2008]

Relax, it was a mistake and immigration will recognse it as such, but it will need some rectifying as the airport staff did clearly not follow procedures. Your boarding pass and immirgation records of the passenger list will show that you left the country at the airport.

Can't tell you how they will react to this, but might be beter to contact Suv. airport immirgation directly: [email protected] also tell you also contacted the consul but didn't recieve a reply yet.

It this email address takes to long, I know a couple of other ones you can try.

[erini86]

Haha, I know, I'm in panic-mode a bit becuase I had expected to hear something back by now, and it's less than a month until I need to leave. I HATE flying, so airports make me nervous at the best of times! I have literally made phone call after phone call over the last few months, without being given any real response, so I'm just a bit stressed and over it now. Thanks for the advice, I will try that email address.

Edited November 19, 2012 by erini86

[KHR1010]

Use your British passport and you will not have an issue at all.

[erini86]

@Global Moderators

That email didn't work, bounced back.

[Mario2008]

Use your British passport and you will not have an issue at all.

Immigration does soemtimes notice that one is using a different passport, normally that is not a problem. In this case it will be if notice, and only more questions wil be asked.

[Mario2008]

@Global Moderators

That email didn't work, bounced back.

You should use the PM function: Go with you mouse over the member name of the person you want to PM and click send message.

[noob7]

After the check in on Phuket, where did you have to go? To the right or to the left?

I know it from Thai Airways flights, people in transit in Bkk get checked out in the international departure area, on the right side of the counters.

But they board the plane with the people, only going to Bkk, departing through the left (domestic security check, only).

So....?

Edited November 19, 2012 by noob7

[ljerams]

Assuming you didn't pass Immigration at Phuket, it is clearly a Bangkok Immigration mistake that they will rectify when you reach Bangkok and ask them to please sort it out. There is usually a Supervisor there who can use his brains._.. Last time I was leaving, I was told I had a problem, "oh said I have Immigration made a mistake in my new passport because I have done nothing? The old passport details were transferred by Immigration Head Office and approved by the Captain so why is there a problem?" They quickly stamped my exit date and handed back my passport.

[chainarong]

Did you get your passport stamped at Sydney on arrival or did you go through Auto fast track, there should be an arrival indicated at Oz immigration, Go see your local member of parliament , you can only be in one country at a time,I know how you got stuffed around , flights from Perth to Bkk via. Phuket , Phuket to Bkk is domestic one, same problem . hope this helps.

[chainarong]

Thanks :-) So will using my British passport instead of my Australian passport work in that case? I highly doubt I'll be able to get a new Australian passport in that time...

I am getting a new one now, takes about 14 days all up.

[harrry]

Mario. WOuld it be a good idea to advise him to ensure he has at least 20000baht in case they classify it as overstay. Thai immigration seems to consider it your fault if they mistamp and you stay longer. I think they may do the same here.

Edited November 20, 2012 by harrry

[Mario2008]

That would be a posibility and might be wise as it is unknown how immirgaiton will handle it. But let's first wait and see if he gets an answer from immigration.

[harrry]

It would be a very good idea to carry copies of the tickets with which he left Thailand. I definitely would not lie on the visa aplication when asked when you last visited Thailand.

Edited November 20, 2012 by harrry

[dksharron]

Years ago, and maybe still today: Immigration checks names to birth dates.

If you get a new Aus. passport, your name and birthdate will be the same.

If you use your British passport, whether they check names to birthdates in different country's passports or not, I do not know.

You do not want to fly in and be at their mercy.

The one poster who mentioned that you should contact directly to Immigration here, by email and by phone, is the best idea.

Even if you are right in everything you did, you are still wrong, and that is how they will see it. 20,000 is only the beginning.

[harrry]

Even though they are diferent depatments it may be helpful to write or email the Thai Embassy in Australia and explain the situation. They may be able to help and at least this shows you tried..

[erini86]

I didn't overstay though... I left when I was supposed to, and the only reason I ended up where I did was because I went exactly where I was told by airport staff.

I didn't get an entry stamp to Australia because I'm Australian so I didn't need one. Hindsight- should have asked for one on arrival back in Australia, but didnt think of it after 24 hours travelling with gastro!

I HAVE written a detailed letter to the Thai embassy in Australia and hadn't received a response, hence my posting here, as my trip is only a few weeks away.

I tried contacting thai immigration in Bkk by phone and email and it was highly unsuccessful and frustrating... Just a lot of hand balling and being told to ring someone else, or just being told no I can't help you, or getting someone who couldn't speak English.

Like I mentioned before, I don't want to do anything dodgy, i want to ensure everything I do is legal! I didn't do anything wrong in the first place, so I'm not planning on starting now!

I just got an email this afternoon saying someone has been appointed to my case (I think from thai embassy here) and she is following up for me... I should know something in a week or so.

Thanks everyone for the advice. Fingers crossed it all works out... Im very fed up by now. Funnily enough my date of travelling back was friday the 13th! Haha!

Erin

Edited November 20, 2012 by erini86

[Mario2008]

The right phone number for immigration would be to simply dail 1111, the government information line. They will connect you to an English immigraiton officer who will answer any questions you have.

You being outside of Thailand might be a probem, but normally if things are complicated they will ask your phone number, look things up, sort things out and call you back with the correct information.

[NewlyMintedThai]

This is a nice loophole to know about for people who might need to leave the country in a hurry (and in a quiet sort of way, if you know what I mean)...

[erini86]

Hmmmm... yes, it is a bit of a worry really! I'm pretty sure I couldn't do it again if I tried! The first 3473485734567348795 people I spoke to actually wouldn't believe me that it happened "No... no, you must have gone through immigration but you didn't realise that's what it was", "well that's just not possible..." etc.

[Chicog]

Hmmmm... yes, it is a bit of a worry really! I'm pretty sure I couldn't do it again if I tried! The first 3473485734567348795 people I spoke to actually wouldn't believe me that it happened "No... no, you must have gone through immigration but you didn't realise that's what it was", "well that's just not possible..." etc.

Mistakes happen. Our cricket team was on its way to Britain on Turkish Airlines, and during the layover a couple of Indian lads went off shopping and while looking for a bog, opened a door walked through and it shut behind them. They found themselves outside the terminal. They went to find a way back in and were promptly arrested for trying to enter the country illegally.

No-one knew what had happened to them and as you can imagine it was a source of much concern. Eventually people worked out they hadn't boarded the second plane, traced it back from there and found they'd been arrested without charge or paperwork and just dumped in a Turkish detention centre without any communication.

It took about a month to get them out.

[mickjn]

I would not worry just book your next ticket and go.Do you think that is all done when your go to immigration in LOS.They know in your case 9 hours before you arrive plenty of time to rectify their mistake

[weescotsguy66]

How did you get on?

[jacktrip]

should have cleared immigration in phuket for an international flight out, not bkk.

you dont clear immigration if its just a connecting flight and your not leaving the airport.

did you clear immigration in sydney, or just waltz in there too?

you have an uncanny ability to circumvent incompetent immigration counters me thinks. might as well ditch the passport as well.

I didn't get an entry stamp to Australia because I'm Australian so I didn't need one.

i smell a troll

Edited December 16, 2012 by jacktrip

[BusyBee123]

should have cleared immigration in phuket for an international flight out, not bkk.

you dont clear immigration if its just a connecting flight and your not leaving the airport.

did you clear immigration in sydney, or just waltz in there too?

you have an uncanny ability to circumvent incompetent immigration counters me thinks. might as well ditch the passport as well.

I didn't get an entry stamp to Australia because I'm Australian so I didn't need one.

i smell a troll

It's the same at Samui, check your bags through to uk at Samui airport then go through gate 6 which has immigration, nothing preventing you going to the domestic lounge and skipping immigration you still all get on the same plane! Bkk air try to stop accidental attempts to go through domestic gates by issuing you with a sticker when you get your boarding pass so you are easy to spot and they make you stick it on there and then, nothing to stop you taking it off but why would you?

[Dork]

I didn't get an entry stamp to Australia because I'm Australian so I didn't need one.

i smell a troll

Why do you smell a troll? If an Australian (or New Zealander) enters Australia they don't even need to speak to a human. Just scan their passport at the Smartgate and go through - so there is definitely no stamp.

Edited December 19, 2012 by Dork