Passport Stamp

[Lantern]

I haven't seen this info on the forum, so I will relate it here, I think I was almost turned round at BKK cos of this.

When leaving Phuket last year the fellow on the immigration desk didn't stamp my passport with the departure stamp. As it was my first trip I missed spotting his mistake.

On arriving at BKK end of this August I handed my passport over to the girl on the desk only to see her thumbing through the pages with a strange look on her face. "Problem?" I asked. "Big problem" says she and promptly gets on the phone. Shortly this guy arrives and also starts thumbing through the passport.
The arrival stamp from last year was the ONLY stamp in the damm thing. He then procedes to pick up the phone and I imagine a bunch of burly Thai's coming to escorting me back to the plane, or someother worse nightmare, like a night in the BKK Hilton.

I think it was the shock of this image in my mind that made me remember the boarding pass, I had spotted earlier, that was still in my travell pouch from last year, and clearly showed me boarding Thai Airways at Phuket for a flight to Singapore on Sept 16th.

After showing them this there were smiles all round and I was waved through
but when I think what could have happened.
I certainly made sure I got the exit stamp this year.

[Dodger]

I thought this recently, because we just popped up to Ranong and over to Mynamar for a visa run. I went to Andaman Club resort for a few days and took Gee and mini dodge with me. Leaving Thailand they stamped Gees passport out of the country but upon returning, they just looked at her and waved her through immigration. But she has a stamp out and not one returning, I suppose she is Thai so less problem but thanks for your post, as I will keep the arrival paperwork in her passport just in case.

[Schmeen]

Years ago I arrived at Logan in Boston and got frog marched into a room at immigration.

My crime?

The last time I had left the USA had been during the TWA strike (1985?) and the scab staff they had been using hadn't handed over my departure card to be processed by immigration.

A long stand off ensued, where their statements that I had never left were rebutted with "How can I be coming in if I've never left?"

Fair play to them they saw the funny side and again I was saved by the ticket stub and the boarding pass that were still in my possession. I also had some stamps in my passport that showed I'd been into several other countries shortly after that visit.

Like you it could have been a lot stickier.

[Spector]

Latern Maybe after check in at Phuket you went through the domestic departure lounge by accident. I have noticed a big hole in their in-transit procedures with flights that have both domestic and international passenger.

Basically at check in you’re given your boarding card for BKK and another boarding card(s) for your onward connections as well as an in-transit sticker. You are then either directed left or right to the departure gates. Left is domestic and right is international. If you didn’t put your sticker on your shirt then no one would be the wiser leaving Phuket. When arriving at BKK…with your sticker firmly attached you go through a security checkpoint to the international departure gates. All they look at is your passport picture, boarding card and the in-transit sticker on your shirt. Great for over stayers to get out of the country

[MajorTom]

Originally Posted by Spector

All they look at is your passport picture, boarding card and the in-transit sticker on your shirt. Great for over stayers to get out of the country

I managed to sod away my departure card last week when i was leaving from BKK. Knew i had it somewhere in my bag but when they asked for it at the gate (KLM) i said no have, just to see what happened.
They did not let me through before i could show it.

[driv]

I'm still logged into the 'sates passport system at least 5 times.

I worked for a vip, whereby I often went through regular immigration to get IN to the country - but then left on his whim. (No exit paperwork).

I often felt this would cause problems in 'the future' but it never did.
I always told immigration officials of my previous visits and they always told me..... (after checking their screens) - no problem!

I guess when you are at that level - you have a 'special' system of making paperwork go away........


Ah - if only, a regular guy could have that power......

[Mojo42]

I know this is a slightly different question; but it still relates to passport stamps. I understand from other threads that it's a good idea to keep one's passport in the hotel safe and carry a photocopy around. I was planning to make the photocopies at home - then this post made me wonder whether the photocopy that I need to carry around should include the Thai immigration stamp which would render any UK copies useless and mean that I should photocopy my passport when I get to Patong.

[Masterwoodsman]

Originally Posted by Mojo42

I know this is a slightly different question; but it still relates to passport stamps. I understand from other threads that it's a good idea to keep one's passport in the hotel safe and carry a photocopy around. I was planning to make the photocopies at home - then this post made me wonder whether the photocopy that I need to carry around should include the Thai immigration stamp which would render any UK copies useless and mean that I should photocopy my passport when I get to Patong.

Exactly, better to photocopy your passport once you are here then you can copy the photo page and also the page with the entry stamp.

[MrDK]

Originally Posted by Masterwoodsman

Exactly, better to photocopy your passport once you are here then you can copy the photo page and also the page with the entry stamp.

... often the hotel will take a copy of your passport for their own records .... simply ask them to make a set more for you.