I flew into Hat Yai and got 30 day visa to Thailand. Then my friend and I went to Malaysia by car. I got out at the border and got exit stamp. Then went to Malaysian border and as this was the first time, I did not see any body around to help me - I looked around and could not see the immigration point ( there is black tinted glass and a very narrow walkway and no people outside the box to help people). So I went through the customs area looking for people - no people. So in the end I did not get an entry stamp into Malaysia. This was the first time I had gone through this point and my friend stayed in the car. We went to Malaysia for 20 hours and returned in the morning around 11.30 Malay time. Malay immigration saw no entry stamp so I could not get exit stamp. They sent me to Thai border - Thai immigration said they could not give me new entry stamp as I had no entry/exit from Malaysia. So my friend and I went back to Malay border and asked them to give me entry and then I would exit - but because there were many senior people checking the immigration, they refused because it was one day different from the exit from Thailand. We went back to the Thai border but there were also senior people from Bangkok checking procedures so they refused to give me a new entry stamp. They said it was not their problem - no way to fix. Then they told us to go back into Thailand , even though they knew I had no entry stamp. They waved goodbye and said have a good time. So I am leaving Thailand in 6 days and still have no entry stamp. The Thai immigration knew that I entered the country again - they let me enter at the border. Many people have said I will just have to pay a fine (as it is only 9 days since I left and came back). But I am a little scared. The whole incident was very weird as neither immigration point wanted to deal with my 'mistake'. So, what do I do? Will I only have to pay a fine at the airport. I am a 56 year old woman or professional standing and have just got a senior position at a very important university in Thailand. Can anyone give me advice about what will happen when I go to the airport?

So you have a departure stamp now with no entry stamp?

They should of at least canceled out your departure stamp.

I suggest you go to an immigration office to get things sorted out.

You can apply for a 30 day extension of your 30 day visa exempt entry (new rules). Fee is 1900 baht.

They said they could not cancel the departure ( because there was a senior woman from Bangkok overseeing the officers). Thanks for your reply. But I am in Ban Pha at the moment - is there an immigration place nearby? Or is it better I try at Don Meung airport. My international ticket is from Hat Yai. I am flying domestic from Bangkok to Hat Yai and connecting with my flight to Australia (Air Asia) there.

Not sure where you are at. Ban Pha comes up as several possible places. There are immigration office all over the country.

Perhaps look here for an office near you. Address and Google Map location of immigration offices

You will not be able to do it a Don Mueang.

I do not meant to criticize and scare but you did two big mistakes at what is possibly the worst border post in Thailand - Dannok.

First of all you ignored Malaysia immigration until the time to come back. There are many booths there and are staffed 24/7. Also generally Malaysian immigration is courteous and efficient, in fact they did the right thing sending you back, because technically you had entered and stayed in Malaysia illegally, thing for which you could have been charged.

Second once returning in Thailand, you should have recognized your own mistake and begged to have the exist stamp cancelled, but you gave up and left again. You should have asked to see the high ranking Bangkok officer (if that was true), or any other high ranking officer. At that point it would have been better to stay in between borders and be brought food there until either country was to allow you in legally.

Instead you have entered the country illegally, thing for which there is a both jail time up to two years, and Bt 20,000 fine in the Act - section 62, You really have to hope to be able to find an understanding immigration official that will find a way to fix this, but be warned if they are unable to, you can be arrested. The same goes with the friend you've been together, except if he/she is Thai, there is only a fine for that.

This was the first time I had gone through this point and my friend stayed in the car. We went to Malaysia for 20 hours and returned in the morning around 11.30 Malay time. Malay immigration saw no entry stamp so I could not get exit stamp. They sent me to Thai border - Thai immigration said they could not give me new entry stamp as I had no entry/exit from Malaysia. So my friend and I went back to Malay border and asked them to give me entry and then I would exit ...

I don't understand your friend's involvement. He or she stayed in the car and you keep talking about only you getting (or not getting) exit and entry stamps. Was he or she exiting Thailand and entering Malaysia and then re-entering Thailand without getting out of the car or getting stamped in or out or attracting any interest by either country's immigrations?

Then my friend and I went to Malaysia by car. I got out at the border and got exit stamp.

So in the end I did not get an entry stamp into Malaysia. This was the first time I had gone through this point and my friend stayed in the car.

Then they told us to go back into Thailand , even though they knew I had no entry stamp.

Edited October 5, 201411 yr by Suradit69

every time we go to Malaysia with my gf we give them BOTH our passports at 3 different borders we have used, always staying in the car.

thats for departure as well

never had any trouble

ONLY coming back into Thailand does she need to get out of the car to get her thai stamp,

Leaving Thailand she also has to get out and stand inline while the driver does not.

while i can simply pass my passport over from the car.

Immigration was correct, u fcked up

Edited October 5, 201411 yr by phuketrichard

To Paz,

We did not give up. We talked to the senior Bangkok person and she refused to help at all - we were there for nearly three hours talking back and forth with the MOST senior people there at the border. They said they could cancel the exit stamp but they did not know when - we talked to the GENERAL in charge in Thailand and they were very rude - even though my Thai friend was polite and made out I made a mistake. Further, when I went through the Malaysia side - THERE WAS NOONE to tell me where to go. Unlike the Thai exit - the immigration box is very close the road with a narrow walkway and BLACK tinted glass. There was probably someone in the box but there was noone outside to help people who had not been there before - the man in the box probably saw me pass by - but did not stop me or call out to me - I looked around and all the officers were dealing with the cars - I was the ONLY person looking for the box. This was a simple mistake and I have NEVER been through a land border that is so poorly controlled - and I have been through land borders before in Europe - before the Shengen period and in China ( to Laos, Hong Kong and Macau).These land borders have barriers to stop people moving forward and people to assist you to go to the right place. I admit it was a mistake - but it was only a mistake - to phuketrichard - I know this was a mistake - but just telling me this does not assist me. I am getting conflicting information - some people say that when I get to the airport to fly home - there may be a fine - or they may let me go when I tell them the story - they can check with the land border and they will know that the SENIOR women from BANGKOK did know about it and refused to do anything. We tried and tried but noone would find a solution and kept saying " not my problem".

So I am wondering why you didn't ask one of the officers working with the cars to help. Surely, since you have crossed so many countries' borders, you understood that you should not have entered Malaysia without a stamp in your passport. It was a serious error to have done so. You said that your friend "made out" that you had made a mistake. Did you explicitly admit it to the Thai immigration officers? Also, those of us who have traveled extensively understand that when an official or counter customer service person refuses to do something for a long period of time while still talking to you,there is often an alternative, ie. "under the table," way to accomplish what you want. I hope that you can sort this out with an immigration official in Thailand and that this incident will leave you more worldly wise. Good luck.

there is often an alternative, ie. "under the table," way to accomplish what you want

Serious? I wouldn't do nor suggest this. This could massively worsen the hole situation.

Serious? I wouldn't do nor suggest this. This could massively worsen the hole situation.

Actually Dannok has fame that could have helped. Cancelling exist stamps is one of the things that officers are less willing to do, as it's a long and complicated process.

I'm not sure what to suggest to the OP, but I would not just try leaving at the airport. She's fully illegal in country now and can be taken for a good sum by lawyers, fixers, etc.

Well, I don't think that you risk much when you have an impasse with an official to ask, "Can I pay a fine?" Or with a customer service person, "Can I pay a service charge?" We have numerous examples on TV of posters getting what seemed impossible by paying special fines or service charges. Of course, you can't be blatant about it. You must appear as though you are innocent of wanting to offer any improper payoffs. You must be subtle. If the OP goes through a lawyer, part of the fee that she pays will probably include the cost of a payoff of some official. Do some TV members think that corruption isn't a part of life in Thailand? I'm not suggesting that the OP do anything illegal. If an official agrees that a fine will, at his (or her) discretion, solve her problem, it is not in the OP's interest to investigate whether the fine was appropriate.