Same visa type, same situation, but different length of stay stamp

[mangpono]

In 2012 I had a 1 year multiple non-B visa with 3 month stamps each time I entered Thailand. The last time I used the visa, I arrived into Suvarnabhumi about 2 weeks before the "enter before" date (expiration date) on the visa and the immigration officer stamped me only for about 2 weeks - making the visa expiration date and the date I needed to leave by were the same day. I thought it was a bit odd, as I could have been stamped longer if I arrived on an automatic 30 days tourist visa.

This week, the same situation: same visa type, same airport, same 2 weeks before the "enter before" date, but different outcome: I was stamped 3 months. My question: which way is currently the "normal way"? Has anything changed since 2012 that would cause a different length of stay stamp? Or is it up to the the immigration officer?

[sunnyjim5]

An error occurred in the first instance you mention. It could have been easily corrected at an immigration office.

On the second occasion no error was made and you were given permission to stay for 90 days (not three months)

FYI there are no 30 day "tourist visas" only 30 day"visa exempt entries" for those who qualify.

[mangpono]

An error occurred in the first instance you mention. It could have been easily corrected at an immigration office.

On the second occasion no error was made and you were given permission to stay for 90 days (not three months)

FYI there are no 30 day "tourist visas" only 30 day"visa exempt entries" for those who qualify.

That makes sense, thank you. I am happy I was stamped correctly this time, but wish I had known about this sooner, (as I already spent some money on a trip it seems I no longer need to take).

Another minor question: if I enter Thailand any time before midnight on the date of the "enter before" date (example: 20 March), it should be a 90 day stamp? Or must I enter literally before the date on the "enter before" date (enter 19 March if the "enter before" date is 20 March) to get the 90 day stamp?

[sunnyjim5]

An error occurred in the first instance you mention. It could have been easily corrected at an immigration office.

On the second occasion no error was made and you were given permission to stay for 90 days (not three months)

FYI there are no 30 day "tourist visas" only 30 day"visa exempt entries" for those who qualify.

That makes sense, thank you. I am happy I was stamped correctly this time, but wish I had known about this sooner, (as I already spent some money on a trip it seems I no longer need to take).

Another minor question: if I enter Thailand any time before midnight on the date of the "enter before" date (example: 20 March), it should be a 90 day stamp? Or must I enter literally before the date on the "enter before" date (enter 19 March if the "enter before" date is 20 March) to get the 90 day stamp?

You should be OK entering as you suggest on the 20th

Personally I would not plan on a "last minute" entry as there are many reasons for delays occurring !

[elviajero]

An error occurred in the first instance you mention. It could have been easily corrected at an immigration office.

On the second occasion no error was made and you were given permission to stay for 90 days (not three months)

FYI there are no 30 day "tourist visas" only 30 day"visa exempt entries" for those who qualify.

That makes sense, thank you. I am happy I was stamped correctly this time, but wish I had known about this sooner, (as I already spent some money on a trip it seems I no longer need to take).

Another minor question: if I enter Thailand any time before midnight on the date of the "enter before" date (example: 20 March), it should be a 90 day stamp? Or must I enter literally before the date on the "enter before" date (enter 19 March if the "enter before" date is 20 March) to get the 90 day stamp?

• It's important to always check that the IO has given the correct permission to stay when you enter as they do make mistakes. If you know/suspect it's wrong the IO will correct it there and then.
• You can enter anytime before midnight on the date of the 'enter before' date.

[mangpono]

To give an update what happened: I arrived on the "enter before" date. It seemed the immigration officer was unsure also about if the visa was still valid, maybe he wondered the same issue I asked previously about the "enter before", so he asked some of the other nearby officers to take a look. I guess they were not sure, so they asked me to come to the back office and wait while they check the visa.

I saw them looking carefully at my visa with a magnifying glass, apparently the issue was the person who originally wrote the date information on the visa did not write clearly and then overwrote more strongly to write over their error (this error caused me only minor delays in the past). I was told that corrections need a special seal next to the error, showing the error was corrected officially. Only one of the errors had the special seal next to it, so they gave me a choice: wait a few hours at the immigration office for them to verify the visa status and possibly get the 90 day stamp, or ignore the visa and get stamped 30 days exemption.

[chrisinth]

To give an update what happened: I arrived on the "enter before" date. It seemed the immigration officer was unsure also about if the visa was still valid, maybe he wondered the same issue I asked previously about the "enter before", so he asked some of the other nearby officers to take a look. I guess they were not sure, so they asked me to come to the back office and wait while they check the visa.

I saw them looking carefully at my visa with a magnifying glass, apparently the issue was the person who originally wrote the date information on the visa did not write clearly and then overwrote more strongly to write over their error (this error caused me only minor delays in the past). I was told that corrections need a special seal next to the error, showing the error was corrected officially. Only one of the errors had the special seal next to it, so they gave me a choice: wait a few hours at the immigration office for them to verify the visa status and possibly get the 90 day stamp, or ignore the visa and get stamped 30 days exemption.

I remember (years ago) getting a lecture from one of the immigration officers in Mai Sot about this. He pointed out that if i had arrived a day later, ie, on the enter before date, he would not be able to grant me 90 days on return from Burma. It was a non-issue, but a conversation i remember. My visa at the time was a multi non-O

I think he was practicing his English, friendly chat, lots of laughing. Not sure if it is the same now-a-days......................