Thai Immigration Not Stamp Entry Into Thailand

[bapak]

We have a student who obtained an Ed Visa in Penang and returned by train from Butterworth to Hua Hin yesterday. The border crossing was at Padang Besar, where she handed her passport over to the Malaysian Immigration who stamped Exit Stamp, then passed on to Thai Immigration who shortly later handed her passport back to her.

She did not check her passport until arrival back in Hua Hin and to her surprise her Visa had not been marked "Used" nor was there an Entry Stamp. So now in Thailand without legal status.

Checked Hua Hin and Bangkok Immigration. Same response... Cannot do anything. She will have to go back to Padang Besar and sort it out.

For those not familiar with Padang Besar, Malaysian Immigration on one side of the line and Thai on the other side. Can you imagine the FUN she will have when she arrives at the station.

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Was her Thai ARRIVAL CARD stamped with a date of entry. If so, then it's probably entered into Immigration's system so she should be OK when she returns to the border to get an Entry stamp also in her passport.

Would be nice if someone from the school could also go with her.

Mac

[Mario2008]

The problem is probably that she is not entered into the system, that is why Bangkok cannot correct it as there is nothing to correct.

[bapak]

Was her Thai ARRIVAL CARD stamped with a date of entry. If so, then it's probably entered into Immigration's system so she should be OK when she returns to the border to get an Entry stamp also in her passport.

Would be nice if someone from the school could also go with her.

Mac

Completed Arrival Card was not stamped.

We have give her a letter in English/Thai.Bahasa she can show to explain situation.

[bapak]

Was her Thai ARRIVAL CARD stamped with a date of entry. If so, then it's probably entered into Immigration's system so she should be OK when she returns to the border to get an Entry stamp also in her passport.

Would be nice if someone from the school could also go with her.

Mac

Completed Arrival Card was not stamped.

We have give her a letter in English/Thai.Bahasa she can show to explain situation.

The outcome...

Train arrives at Padang Besar... and she see Thai Immigrationofficer. She gives him explanation letter in Thai. Response.. cannot do nothing here. Have to go back to Penang. Malaysia officer standing nearby.. she give him letter in English. He says come with me. He took her to Thai Immigration office on the railway platform and spoke to the Thai boss. Immediate action of stamping her into Thailand.

The Malaysia officer commented to her that this happens very often.

Not allowed to leave station and waited for about 6 hours for train back to Hua Hin.

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Well, good, case closed, and many thanks to the Malaysian Immigration guy, and the Thai Immigration boss.

And a reminder to me, and all, check your passport before leaving the "stamping grounds."

Mac