My Thai TR visa was issued in Brisbane, Australia, for 2-entries. The Thai Consulate told me this Tourist Visa was two-months, after which I could get leave and re-enter and get another two months. So four months all up.

But when I came into the country in November, my passport was stamped until December; for one month. The problem is, I assumed they'd given me the two months, and didn't even check the stamp.

Now, it's almost two months since my entry into Thailand, so just yesterday I checked the passport to find out the details of the visa, so I could ask thaivisa.com for tips on re-entry. And this is when I saw the stamp was only for one month!

So I've inadvertently overstayed by a month. It's a completely honest mistake, and I obviously don't want to be black-listed, jailed or deported, so I'd like some knowledgeable advice from someone with experience of this circumstance.

Should I go and queue up at Chiang Mai Immigration and try to state my case, or should I see a lawyer before I go to Immigration? If so, can you recommend a lawyer? Or should I book a return plane ticket to somewhere, and just go to the airport and let them process me there? Or should I call the Brisbane Consulate and find out if I misunderstood?

Thanks.

The immigration office will correct this and re-stamp. You don't need a lawyer, don't need a ticket to fly out, and your consualte would be unable to help even if it was your fault, which is not.

They can be strict and difficult, but they are not there to punish without a reason.

Next time place you visa number on the arrival card, show it and mention to the officer.

Paz, I really appreciate your advice on this matter. Thank you very much. I'll head out to Immigration office near the airport first thing on Friday. Thanks again.

Paz, I really appreciate your advice on this matter. Thank you very much. I'll head out to Immigration office near the airport first thing on Friday. Thanks again.

Spare the trip, they will re-open the 5th

Before lining up anywhere, look at your visa, the one you got in Australia. It has a "must enter by date" on it. You must make both entries on or before that date. When you entered in November, if it was past that date the officer gave you a "30 day "visa exempt" entry and you have been on overstay at the rate of 500 baht/day.

If you entered on or before that date go to immigration and they will fix it. Good luck in the mob, the first day after five days off!

A question to the OP, does Brisbane only allow a double entry or do they also do triple entry too?

Don't forget you can extend each entry by 30 days at Immigration. 1,900 Baht.

Before lining up anywhere, look at your visa, the one you got in Australia. It has a "must enter by date" on it. You must make both entries on or before that date. When you entered in November, if it was past that date the officer gave you a "30 day "visa exempt" entry and you have been on overstay at the rate of 500 baht/day.

If you entered on or before that date go to immigration and they will fix it. Good luck in the mob, the first day after five days off!

Yes, you have to keep an eye on two dates ... the expiration or "use by" date on the visa sticker and the permission to stay stamp you got when you arrived at the airport. Two different dates. Especially if you got the visa some time before you made your first entry, it's possible that you may have had permission to stay in Thailand that extended beyond the expiration date on the visa. Then if you exit on or before the permission to stay ends, your visa may no longer be valid for the 2nd entry.

Also, when your 60 day permission to stay is nearing its end, you can go to an immigration office in Thailand and extend that stay by 30 more days before exiting the country and re-entering for the second 60 days, so if you time it right with a two entry tourist visa you could get 60 + 30 days, exit and come back and get another 60 days that be extending another 30 days for a total of almost 180 days ... but you still have to make sure you do the second border crossing before the expiry date printed on the visa you got in Australia.

Hopefully, if your visa had not actually expired when you came back the second time, then immigrations can correct the 30 day entry you were given and you might be allowed to apply for another 30 day extendion on that entry... although the technical overstay may or may not make the extension a problem at this point.

Edited January 1, 201511 yr by Suradit69