You have six months from the date of cheque to convert a cheque into cash. The date of the cheque is the date shown on the face of the cheque. After six months of time, the cheque becomes a "Stale cheque".

If you present the cheque to a paying bank within six month period you can collect the cash in following ways.

1. If the cheque's account is a account of paying bank: You can en cash the cheque on same day.

2. If the cheque's account is not a account of paying bank: Depending on the clearing speed of the banking system you may get money on same day/ tomorrow/ or day after tomorrow.

Please refer related questions to understand the cheque handling process in Banks.