Check your stamp when you come in

[Dynalmadman]

Yesterday we returned from a few days touring Angkor Wat, etc and made the crossing at the Poipet crossing (east Thailand, west Cambodia).

I have a Non Imm O-A and just happened to glance at the stamp after passing the IO. '90 days'. Oops. Went back in line to see the same IO and explained that it was supposed to be one year. She looked very confused and argued that 'only 90 days'.

I politely asked her to get her supervisor, and he explained to her the error. It was fixed (with a line out and an initial by her, that has me more than a little worried) and we went on our way.

So, just a heads up, check the stamp, make sure you get the time your papers allow you.

Michael

[Crossy]

Good advice, I always glance at the stamp before leaving the desk.

If you do miss an error it's easily fixed for free (apart from your time of course) at your local immigration office.

[mxyzptlk]

Good advice, I always glance at the stamp before leaving the desk.

If you do miss an error it's easily fixed for free (apart from your time of course) at your local immigration office.

+1

[Tywais]

'(with a line out and an initial by her, that has me more than a little worried)'

That's not a problem. My previous one year extension she stamped the wrong year on it. She saw the error, marked the wrong date out and re-stamped with the correct date and initialed it. Last month got my new extension and no issue with the corrected error.

[Jip99]

This is sound advice that should be either pinned or repeated regularly (in fact it is).

I read a similar post about 4 years ago and have religiously checked since. Whilst errors can be corrected later by a visit to immigration, it is a balls-ache.

I came back from Angkor Wat on one occasion via Chong Chom and on checking the stamp saw I had been given only 30 days.

Despite opening the passport on the extension page AND putting the number on the TM6 form the officer missed it. He was clearly inexperienced and it was fortunate that there was a Cambodian guy working with Thai customs on the entry side - he went off to the exit office to get a 'cancelled' stamp and a new entry was made for the correct date.

I think you will be OK with the crossing out and initial.

[dddave]

I make it a point when filling out my Entry/Departure card to calculate exactly what the stamped date should be and make a small note of it on the back side of the form. That way, I'm not trying to calculate it after having my passport handed back to me.

I'm in & out 30 to 40 times a year and have only caught mistakes a few times in several years but catching the mistake certainly saves time and inconvenience.

[KhunBENQ]

Can't be repeated often enough.

Good that you checked!

[Gonsalviz]

Check the stamp for sure but I have never had a problem if I enter the visa number on the TM 6.

[oncearugge]

Check the stamp for sure but I have never had a problem if I enter the visa number on the TM 6.

That is not necessarily true.

The IO could , inadvertently, forget to adjust the date stamp.

[OJAS]

Had an experience identical to the OP's when I arrived back at BKK from a trip to the UK the day before my OA visa was due to expire several years ago. Fortunately I spotted the error just in the nick of time, and the IO corrected the "Admitted Until" stamp in my passport from 90 days to 1 year without any question or fuss.

In fairness to the IO, his cause was probably not helped by the fact that the London Embassy had chosen to plonk 1 of their stamps right over the letter "A" on the visa, thus completely obliterating it!

Needless to say, I have always, since then, checked the new "Admitted Until" date stamped in my passport diligently before moving away from the immigration booths at BKK.