Missing entry stamp to thailand, so we cannot extend, so our visa is void and out of latest entry date

[sunfruitdan]

Hello, me, my girlfriend and her child got a type 0 immigration visa via a volunteer company we help out at, we went to activate it in laos, which all went perfectly smooth.

We have the laos exit stamps but we do not have the departure card and entry stamp to thailand from nong khai border, i have no idea why they are no in their as we filled in the card to leave laos, handed it over to the border people, got our photo taken etc then we got on our bicycles, we got pointed in the direction to exit by a border worker so we left to enter thailand.

 

So a big issue is we are meant to extend our visa 3 months after activating so we went to do this with the volunteer company but upon checking the passports for the stamps for the first time we noticed it was not in their and neither was the departure card, so we could not extend it. We got told we need to go back to the border to get the exit stamp for the type 0 immigration visa to be dated with when we entered thailand also but the thing is the visa latest date to entry the country on has been exceeded, so we are now worried we will lose the whole visa and get a massive fine for overstaying.

Can anyone give us some advice please as this is just a mistake and we are a bit worried what will occur thanks.

[Fithman]

 

If you have no record in your passports of entering Thailand this could prove to be a major problem. 

 

Your "volunteer company"  should, on your behalf, seek legal advice.

[ubonjoe]

You posted this topic almost a month ago.

You have no choice other than to go back to Nong Khai now and pay for the overstay fine of 500 baht a day after getting your entry stamps sorted out.

If your child is under the age of15 there will be no overstay fine for them.

[OJAS]

The moral of this story is always check your passport carefully immediately upon entry into Thailand, be this by air or, as in this case, overland. Mistakes can then be usually be rectified on the spot by the immigration officer with whom you dealt.

 

When I returned to BKK from a trip to the UK several years ago in order, among other things, to activate the second year of my non-OA visa, the IO initially only stamped me in for 90 days in the belief that it was a non-O visa (understandable since the London Embassy had helpfully obliterated the "A" by plonking a stamp right over it). However, he corrected his mistake by stamping me in for a further year without any ado after I had drawn his attention to it.

[JackThompson]

2 hours ago, sunfruitdan said:

we filled in the card to leave laos, handed it over to the border people, got our photo taken etc then we got on our bicycles, we got pointed in the direction to exit by a border worker so we left to enter thailand.

 

And then you got to the Thai side, and ...???  I am not sure how leaving Laos was confused with somehow entering Thai customs.   Correct answer: Then went through Thai Immigration, filled out our Thai entry form (which has the departure-form attached to it), got our entry stamps, and then entered Thailand.
 

You are an illegal alien who has entered the country without permission.  Best advice I could offer is ...

2 hours ago, Fithman said:

Your "volunteer company"  should, on your behalf, seek legal advice.

... and explain you have never crossed an international border by land before, and did not understand the normal procedure (at every border on the planet, of which I am aware).  Hopefully your passport-history is consistent with this story.

 

You could also go back to Nong Khai, as UJ suggested - he is very knowledgeable on these things.  Bring a competent translator, if you do.  Perhaps contact one of the visa-run agencies who work that border, as they have have good relations with Thai border personnel. 

 

But please keep in mind, you have committed a criminal act (unintentional or not) - this is not like a parking-ticket.  The only benefit-of-the-doubt you have, is that you did get a proper visa, first.  The longer you delay, the more difficult it will be to pass this off as "just a misunderstanding." 

 

I would take a significant amount of cash you are willing to part with, above and beyond the overstay-fine, to preserve your freedom.  If you don't need it all, great.  If you do, it will definitely have been worth having.  Just in case things go south, keep friends in the loop who can help you if you are arrested.  Someone who can at least bring you decent food while you are in detention, and who can keep your family appraised as to your situation, would be a huge help.

 

I am sorry if this sounds harsh, but border-security and foreigners / visas are a touchy issue in Thailand at this time.  Your event coincides with an ongoing crackdown.  I honestly wish you the best of luck.