Quick question. I'm on a triple entry tourist visa from Vancouver, Canada. The original visa itself says "enter before 15 January 2016", and my last stamp from the extension of my second entry says I'm permitted to stay until January 15th.

So if I do my visa run on the 15th will I be allowed back in on my 3rd entry? Or should I do it on the 14th so it is "before" the "enter before" date on the original visa?

Thanks!

15th will be fine but always a good idea to do a day early in my opinion in case of problems

"enter before 15 January 2016"

I say do it by the 14th!

15th is still OK

Although it says 'enter before' you can on or before the 15th.

• You have until midnight on the 15th to re-enter.
• It's a good idea to enter at least a day early in case you get held up and can't enter before the 15th.
• Entry after the 15th and you'd only be granted a 30 day stay.

"enter before 15 January 2016"

I say do it by the 14th!

Fortunately I am not alone with understanding this wording the way you do.

Also this question comes up in the forum any other week or so.

BUT indeed the 15th is the last day the visa can be used.

Edited January 12, 201610 yr by KhunBENQ

I stand corrected

Yes the 15th is fine but why not go the 14th. One day cannot make a big difference. Sleep in,

miss the van, van breaks down. Who knows what twist of fate could trip you up.

I like to go two days early just to be sure.

When they say "enter before" they mean "enter on or before". This has come up before.

OP you are correct to check "enter before" date and give it priority before the extension expiry date.

In some cases, there has been instances where the extension date overuns the "enter before" date. e.g. extension until 16 January 2016.

Of course, in that case if you attempt to enter on 16 January 2016, you will be denied entry using the third part of the Tourist visa, and only qualify for visa exempt stamp, if you are eligible for it.

Edited January 12, 201610 yr by meltingpot2015

Geez. some posters are introducing even more complexity by mentioning "midnight".

I would say technically, you are allowed to re-enter on or before 23:59:59 on 15 January 2016.

Practically, aim to re-enter on 13 January or 14 January; It'll be a lot more relaxed and enjoyable trip.

Edited January 12, 201610 yr by meltingpot2015

Practically: you have until Friday to do a border run and have another 60 day of permission to stay (optional +30)

Edited January 12, 201610 yr by KhunBENQ

Geez. some posters are introducing even more complexity by mentioning "midnight".

I would say technically, you are allowed to re-enter on or before 23:59:59 on 15 January 2016.

And you would be technically wrong!

• The stroke of midnight marks the end of a day.
• Midnight is the mid point between two dates.
• Until midnight means before midnight.
• At 23:59:59 you still have 1 second before midnight to use the visa.

"Until midnight on the 15th" is universally understood to mean before the end of the 15th day. Nothing complex. I was simply clarifying that the OP has the whole of the 15th day to enter.

The "enter before date" means you must enter before midnight on that date.

So in theory you could enter at 11:59 on the 15th and still be able to get that final entry.

However, I wouldn't do that as it is cutting it to close

On the 14th is much better.

"Until midnight on the 15th" is universally understood to mean before the end of the 15th day. Nothing complex. I was simply clarifying that the OP has the whole of the 15th day to enter.

That is what more people would understand.

This "ENTER BEFORE" is plain stupid!

Singapore: "Visa issued date", "Visa Valid Till"

Cambodia: "Issue date", "Expiry Date"

Vietnam: "Valid from", "until"

Myanmar: "Valid from", "Valid until"

UK: "From", "Until"

USA: "Issue Date", "Expiration Date"

Edited January 13, 201610 yr by KhunBENQ

"Until midnight on the 15th" is universally understood to mean before the end of the 15th day. Nothing complex. I was simply clarifying that the OP has the whole of the 15th day to enter.

That is what more people would understand.

This "ENTER BEFORE" is plain stupid!

Singapore: "Visa issued date", "Visa Valid Till"

Cambodia: "Issue date", "Expiry Date"

Vietnam: "Valid from", "until"

Myanmar: "Valid from", "Valid until"

UK: "From", "Until"

USA: "Issue Date", "Expiration Date"

I assume you mean visas issued by other countries.

I have not seen a Thai visa sticker that said anything other than enter before on it. Stamps done before they started using stickers said something else.

I have a stamp done by the Houston consulate in June of 2007 that says " This visa must be utilized before xxxx date" which is almost as vague as enter before. I am certain I could of entered on that date and used the visa.

I assume you mean visas issued by other countries.

Yes, all taken from sample pictures on the net.

Visa for Schengen "states":

"Valid for" "Schengen States" "From ", "Until"

(and wording for other languages)

(states? United States of Schengen )

Edited January 13, 201610 yr by KhunBENQ