Immigration didnt check my visa and gave me a stamp instead.

[jgold]

I came into Thailand yesterday on a double entry tourist visa. The immigration officer didn't check the visa and just gave me a stamp on arrival.

Do I still have 2 entries available on the visa I received?

She didn't put any stamps on the tourist visa and gave me a stay in Thailand different from what I would get from the tourist visa.

[bigt3116]

Just pop to Immigration and they will sort it out, this normally happens if you don't write the visa number on the arrival card.

[ubonjoe]

You can go to an immigration office and they will fix the error.

[jgold]

Thanks for your replies. I don't necessarily need it to be fixed, I will fly out again soon so it doesn't change much.

The tourist visa was issued oct 15. Question I have now is.... so I would have to use up the visa (both entrances) within 6 months of the date of issue or just the first one to activate it?

[ubonjoe]

You have to do both entries on or before the enter before date on your visa.

Are sure you got 6 months validity many location now only do 3 months on a 2 entry visa.

[elviajero]

Thanks for your replies. I don't necessarily need it to be fixed, I will fly out again soon so it doesn't change much.

The tourist visa was issued oct 15. Question I have now is.... so I would have to use up the visa (both entrances) within 6 months of the date of issue or just the first one to activate it?

I assume that you got the TR locally if it was issued on Oct 15 and you've already entered the country. If so it will probably only be valid for three months. And both entries must be used before the 'enter before' thats printed on the visa. If 3 months it will expire (enter before date) on Jan 14.

How long do you plan to be out of the country?

• If you're only going to be gone for a short time and want to maximise your visa then it might be an idea to get the stamp corrected to the full 60 days.
• When you exit you can buy a re-entry permit (1,000 baht) so that when you return the IO will use the re-entry permit and not your second TR entry. He will stamp you back in with the original 60 day 'admitted until' date you got when you first entered with the TR visa.
• That will keep your second TR entry available until just before the 'enter before' date.

[gjoo888]

For future reference, always open your passport to the page with the visa when clearing immigration while entering the country. The immigration officer doesn't know that you have a visa, and you need to point it out to him or her. Also, check to be sure the dates of the stamp are correct before you get too far from the immigration counter.

[oncearugge]

Thanks for your replies. I don't necessarily need it to be fixed, I will fly out again soon so it doesn't change much.

The tourist visa was issued oct 15. Question I have now is.... so I would have to use up the visa (both entrances) within 6 months of the date of issue or just the first one to activate it?

I assume that you got the TR locally if it was issued on Oct 15 and you've already entered the country. If so it will probably only be valid for three months. And both entries must be used before the 'enter before' thats printed on the visa. If 3 months it will expire (enter before date) on Jan 14.

How long do you plan to be out of the country?

• If you're only going to be gone for a short time and want to maximise your visa then it might be an idea to get the stamp corrected to the full 60 days.
• When you exit you can buy a re-entry permit (1,000 baht) so that when you return the IO will use the re-entry permit and not your second TR entry. He will stamp you back in with the original 60 day 'admitted until' date you got when you first entered with the TR visa.
• That will keep your second TR entry available until just before the 'enter before' date.

There is also the risk of the erroneous stamp being noticed on departure which would result in the "correction" of the error and the loss of one entry from the TV.

I would follow elviajero's advice.

[biggles45]

"The immigration officer doesn't know that you have a visa, and you need to point it out to him or her. Also, check to be sure the dates of the stamp are correct before you get too far from the immigration counter"

There is a specific place on the arrival card for you to write your visa number in so that he does know you have one. Agree about checking tho, they do make mistakes.

[1FinickyOne]

You probably do need to get it fixed - happened to me once and my understanding was that the stamp cancelled my retirement visa and then became the only valid visa that I had… I didn't even know until I went to immigration - they were very nice and sorted it out while I waited patiently near all day.

As mentioned above, it was my fault for not pointing out my retirement visa on entry.

good luck.

[DogNo1]

Kenk24: You are talking about your retirement extension, right? Did you have a re-entry permit?

[hawker9000]

Try and remember to always put the VISA no. on your arrival card. I then insert the arrival card into my passport right at the page where the visa is (if I'm using visa exempt, then I put it at the page where'd I'd like the stamp which has on occasion even been a few pages back from the last used page - that's worked!). Last but not least - check the stamp right after you leave the booth so that you can get the situation dealt with right then & there if there's an error.

[Langsuan Man]

Try and remember to always put the VISA no. on your arrival card. I then insert the arrival card into my passport right at the page where the visa is (if I'm using visa exempt, then I put it at the page where'd I'd like the stamp which has on occasion even been a few pages back from the last used page - that's worked!). Last but not least - check the stamp right after you leave the booth so that you can get the situation dealt with right then & there if there's an error.

And they will remove the landing card from the passport so that they can swipe your passport into the computer

The only sure way is to keep a paper clip handy and use it to mark the page where your visa is located AND clearly write the visa number on the landing card

[VBF]

Try and remember to always put the VISA no. on your arrival card. I then insert the arrival card into my passport right at the page where the visa is (if I'm using visa exempt, then I put it at the page where'd I'd like the stamp which has on occasion even been a few pages back from the last used page - that's worked!). Last but not least - check the stamp right after you leave the booth so that you can get the situation dealt with right then & there if there's an error.

And they will remove the landing card from the passport so that they can swipe your passport into the computer

The only sure way is to keep a paper clip handy and use it to mark the page where your visa is located AND clearly write the visa number on the landing card

I also smile and politely point out the visa to the IO, which usually gets a positive response. But you MUST check your dates BEFORE you leave the desk!

[louse1953]

For future reference, always open your passport to the page with the visa when clearing immigration while entering the country. The immigration officer doesn't know that you have a visa, and you need to point it out to him or her. Also, check to be sure the dates of the stamp are correct before you get too far from the immigration counter.

Whilst this is a good tip,i rekon they want the face page 1st,but you could put a marker in the page you want.

[OJAS]

Try and remember to always put the VISA no. on your arrival card. I then insert the arrival card into my passport right at the page where the visa is (if I'm using visa exempt, then I put it at the page where'd I'd like the stamp which has on occasion even been a few pages back from the last used page - that's worked!). Last but not least - check the stamp right after you leave the booth so that you can get the situation dealt with right then & there if there's an error.

And they will remove the landing card from the passport so that they can swipe your passport into the computer

The only sure way is to keep a paper clip handy and use it to mark the page where your visa is located AND clearly write the visa number on the landing card

But if you have followed elviajero's advice and obtained a re-entry permit in so doing, please note that it is actually the re-entry permit number (NOT the visa number) which you should enter on the TM6 arrival card against the "Visa No." field. This is because it is the "Valid Until" date stamped on the re-entry permit that the immigration officer should stamp in your passport as the "Admitted Until" date.

It is probably also a good idea to write the words RE-ENTRY PERMIT after the number on the TM6 card (just as I do when returning from trips to foreign parts during the lifetime of my current retirement extension), so that the immigration officer is clear on what he or she needs to look for in your passport.