Thread: How can I fix my 11 year overstay??

Originally Posted by branddez

I was just wondering what your input was on me trying to stick 10,000 baht into my passport and trying it again at Don Muang or a Land crossing (Say - Koh Kong).

I wouldn't do Koh kong to busy many farang and they're online. 2 years ago I crossed over Surin Chong chom boarder back then he showed me about 10 farang papers that had passed for the week. It's a very quite place with room for negotiation.
There either going to lock you or take money and if your not in the system he's probably going to take some cash and accidentally stamp it so you can go to Cambodia but not put it in the books.
If you enter Thailand again do you think they're going to trace back 11 years. Remember don't be corrupt only be as corrupt after he asks the offer, your setting the bar at 10K when he might have only wanted 5K or full 20K. Don't insult him with a pre bribe let him be the boss and tell you either way your still getting out cheap for what you've done.

Originally Posted by Warrior

I wouldn't think the missing departure card itself is an issue

I don't think so either. An old German who I used to 90 day reports with lost his. Every time he got asked for his Arrivals/Departure card he just shrugged his shoulders and said "no have". Immigration just shook their heads and did nothing. He went back to Germany without any problems.

^ More good advice. Especially about the reason regarding yr ex-wife

Why would going to Cambodia be a solution? His passport would just have an exit stamp from Thailand but no other stamps. He'd face some issues in Cambodia when he tries to fly from there, might he not?

If you do go and tell them your story, they are probably going to ask how you survived all these years. You just said you didn't have money so were you working illegally? That might not sound good to them but who knows if they care. Whatever the case, I would go the legal route. That's just me.

On the other way, if you could somehow get a stamp from Suwannaphum airport into Thailand and a new departure card then hang around for a couple weeks you might be able to fly out as if you just came in on a trip. That would need a connection.

The lack of entry stamp is obviously the issue.

May be get a lawyer, or someone with legal capacity, to go to the immigration and transfer the stamp into the new passport while you hide in the bushes somewhere.

Originally Posted by Necron99

Go to immigration with both passports, a ticket and 20'000 baht.
If you have the money they don't care.

Yep...
Simple and straight forward.
Resolved.

Amazed that the OS max fine in still B20K.

Originally Posted by Rural Surin

Amazed that the OS max fine in still B20K.

Has anything changed since 2006?

Why do I get the feeling you somehow confused them at the airport? Never heard of a problem before. Maybe too much explanation, confusing visa references, letters?

In my experience things go smoothly in Thailand if you adhere to the KISS principle. Keep It Simple Stupid. Say as little as possible and pay with a smile?

Too much talking upsets them and will end up with more trouble for you.

The temp passport was 11 years ago. I think. I'd say forget the temp passport, the temp visa and the complicated story.

Only the original and new passport. 20K. STFU.

Originally Posted by forreachingme

as they do it slowwwww with over stayer

Only because of the paperwork. They're just as keen for overstayers to fuck off as everyone else.

For those of you who know, is leaving via air with a 4 year overstay as easy as buying the ticket,paying the fine, and leaving?

u need the temp passport to show ur entry and immigration needs move that stamp to your new passport, (which they cannot do at the airport)
am sure then its 20,000 baht, thank you an have a safe trip.

Rock up at the airport, tap an immigration officer on the head and say "Oi Somchai, sort this out while I go get a beer. Chop Chop."

Trust me, he'll sort you out.

^ Pissed myself laughing Kurgen you crazy fokker.

Report passport as stolen/lost and plead ignorance

An ex-friend of mine found that it is actually cheaper to go the detention cell route than the pay at airport. He handed himself in to Immigration twice because he had no money (and no friends by that stage) and needed to get back to Australia. His first attempt in Phuket resulted in them telling him "go away papa". His second attempt was via the Australian Embassy in Bangkok taking him to Immigration where he was detained for two nights and faced a judge in court on day three. The judge found him guilty of overstay and fined him 5,000 baht. This was then reduced to 3,000 baht as he had spent two nights in the pokey. Day three saw him being escorted to the airport and put onto his prepaid flight home. He returned a month later.

Originally Posted by Warrior

I have never been in this situation myself, but I have a couple of thoughts:

• I wouldn't think the missing departure card itself is an issue - I have seen them handing cards on BKK to tourists who lost theirs.
• my feeling is that the letter from your embassy is just over the top. BKK customs might not even understand what it says, but since it is not addressed to them, they might have decided that the least risky for them is to send you back to Chaeng Wattana.

Without criminal records, at BKK immigration they basically do not care how long you overstayed, just pay up and they will let you go.

Since you have an old passport showing a formal entry stamp, and a new passoprt that is valid, if I were you I would show up at the airport nicely dressed and shaven, with the 20,000 baht and the two passports. And well on time, since the procedures might take some time and you don't want to miss your flight.
I would not say anything if they didnt ask about it, and if they asked about the reasons for the US to revoke your passport I would tell them there was a small issue with your ex-wife that since then has been cleared. If the immigration officer is a man. If the officer is a female, that explanation doesn't go well, so you might change it into tax issues.

Play cool. Do not be nervous. Imagine they are all naked - that will keep you focused on something else than your nerves.

Warrior - I appreciate your advice - however you seem to have missed the point that I already did what you suggest. No they didn't ask about 'why' my passport was 'revoked' because they don't even know that & they didn't even care anyway. The way the embassy set it up - my new passport is to replace my old (temporary one) - which it does not even say was temporary - just that it is to replace an expired one. No one needs to see or know about the 'revoked' passport unless I bring it up - which I would probably only do at immigration if they wanted to know 'why' I overstayed for 11 years and then yes - I see your point - it doesn't say why it was revoked - so I think your advice about 'tax' problem is an excellent substitute explanation. Thanks for your advice though - I truly appreciate your concern!

Cheers, Branddez

Originally Posted by brisie

Originally Posted by branddez

I was just wondering what your input was on me trying to stick 10,000 baht into my passport and trying it again at Don Muang or a Land crossing (Say - Koh Kong).

I wouldn't do Koh kong to busy many farang and they're online. 2 years ago I crossed over Surin Chong chom boarder back then he showed me about 10 farang papers that had passed for the week. It's a very quite place with room for negotiation.
There either going to lock you or take money and if your not in the system he's probably going to take some cash and accidentally stamp it so you can go to Cambodia but not put it in the books.
If you enter Thailand again do you think they're going to trace back 11 years. Remember don't be corrupt only be as corrupt after he asks the offer, your setting the bar at 10K when he might have only wanted 5K or full 20K. Don't insult him with a pre bribe let him be the boss and tell you either way your still getting out cheap for what you've done.

Brisie - thanks for that excellent tip on Surin Chong chom?? I've never even heard of that border and I've lived here for 16 years!! It sounds like a great idea if I was skint and needed a cheap way out, but that is not my situation. I'd be traveling with a lot of cash/ debit cards and computer/Ipad/smartphone that are quite valuable. That place sounds like a Huge Risk for me getting taken for all my money and belongings. Just saying.

I think if I was skint I'd just go to Poipet and mosey across the border into one of the casinos and walk across without doing any visa stamping at all. Then I'd report my passport stolen upon arrival in Phnom Penh or try to get the visa there at Cambodian Immigration pleading ignorance about how they managed to 'Not' stamp my passport at the border? I've been there before and spent an entire day in Poipet after crossing the border in this manner, it's extremely simple to do (I understand this can be done just as easily at Malaysia crossing and I know it's just about as easy to do at Koh Kong)

Nonetheless - I do have money and I've found a lawyer in a Huge law firm which occupies the entire 17th floor of 2 Pacific Place on Sukhumvit - right next to the Nana BTS station (that's quite a 'prestigious' office building in case you're not familiar with it?) - they have a contact at Swampy Immigration - and they will escort me there and walk me right around Immigration and have 'their man' take care of it (behind the scenes, so to speak) - it will cost me 28K, but I've got the money and too much to lose if sth goes amiss at your border crossing or Thai Immigration for that matter.

The fact is - I'd probably be just fine if I showed up at Immigration with my passports and letter from embassy, but TIT and nobody really knows 100% for sure what is going to happen and 28K is a fair amount to pay to be 100% sure I can get through and return as I will make that back - in the first 2 weeks back at work! I know it looks to many ppl like I'm unnecessarily 'pissing away' 28,000 baht - but being that I'm carrying A Lot of cash on me +++ more value in computer/electronic accessories - I'd just damn well feel better off being Safe than Sorry!!

Cheers, Branddez

Originally Posted by Kurgen

Rock up at the airport, tap an immigration officer on the head and say "Oi Somchai, sort this out while I go get a beer. Chop Chop."

Trust me, he'll sort you out.

LOL - well at least someone has a decent sense of humor!!! 55555!!!

Originally Posted by Merrimack

Why would going to Cambodia be a solution? His passport would just have an exit stamp from Thailand but no other stamps. He'd face some issues in Cambodia when he tries to fly from there, might he not?

If you do go and tell them your story, they are probably going to ask how you survived all these years. You just said you didn't have money so were you working illegally? That might not sound good to them but who knows if they care. Whatever the case, I would go the legal route. That's just me.

On the other way, if you could somehow get a stamp from Suwannaphum airport into Thailand and a new departure card then hang around for a couple weeks you might be able to fly out as if you just came in on a trip. That would need a connection.

Merrimack - good point - Going to Cambodia by air is quite Ok, but I'm not sure how you were reading the land crossing - I think the way she was thinking - I'd get the exit stamp and then the Cambodian entrance stamp and I'd be just as good to go as if I had gone to Immigration or crossed the border with stamp acquired.
Excellent point about the the questions about 'How I survived all these years' - that's exactly my worry - I may just run across the 'wrong' immigration officer and then the 'wrong' judge and they may just decide to make an example of yet another farang who pissed all over their visa/work permit system. Now there isn't One Iota of proof or evidence that Anyone could come up with which could be used as evidence to prove that I worked, however TIT and they could slam me with a fine/ jail sentence/ and clear out my 2 Thai bank accounts if they saw fit to do so!

This is exactly why I feel more comfortable going with a 'high class' lawyer who's meeting me today at a Very Prestigious Law firm located at a Very Expensive and prominent address. They of course, would know ppl and sure - charge me a healthy fee, but no way they're just 'running' off with my money - and I'm safe as can be - no worries no risk. I'd have to be a lot more skint to take a risk of the 'worst case scenario' I laid out there before, cuz it's definitely possible (however unlikely) - I need not risk all my money to save less than 2 weeks salary - nah?? Thanks for the input - to like EVERYONE!!

Cheers, Branddez

Originally Posted by somtamslap

The lack of entry stamp is obviously the issue.

May be get a lawyer, or someone with legal capacity, to go to the immigration and transfer the stamp into the new passport while you hide in the bushes somewhere.

Exactly the precise issue and exactly my final plan. It's being sorted for 2morrow departure. I'll let everyone concerned know the final outcome when/ if I am able to return the very next day!!

Cheers, Branddez

Originally Posted by MeMock

When my passport got stolen I got it replaced within 4 hours and was on a flight that night. I had a police report which I showed immigration at the airport and all was okay.
Perhaps get a police report pretending that your passport has been stolen and then take that with you next time you attempt to fly out of the country.

Yep - but I've discussed this with the American Embassy and they'll be no 'replacing' my new passport as a stolen one. The Head of the Division informed me when I suggested exactly this course of action - that my new passport and letter would include exact details of my old overstay and expiry issues. I can do in Cambodia - but ain't NO WAY - this is going to happen in Thailand!!

Cheers, Branddez

Originally Posted by FlyFree

Why do I get the feeling you somehow confused them at the airport? Never heard of a problem before. Maybe too much explanation, confusing visa references, letters?

In my experience things go smoothly in Thailand if you adhere to the KISS principle. Keep It Simple Stupid. Say as little as possible and pay with a smile?

Too much talking upsets them and will end up with more trouble for you.

Yup - that's what everyone keeps saying, but I didn't say like Anything at Immigration and they Indeed, had a Huge problem with (in particular) - the 11 year overstay and the lack of the old stamp being properly transferred at the Immigration Office!!

This should just go to show everyone that you ought not to believe all these (It's easy as pie - just pay the fee at airport) stories one always reads about and hears. TIT - anything bizarre can happen on Any Given Day - perhaps I just got unlucky, but I assure you I just handed them both passports as instructed by the US Embassy and kept my mouth shut - and I was NOT Nervous at All - the women immediately called over her supervisor and there was NO Way those 2 were going to allow me to pay the fine and leave - ABSOLUTELY NO WAY!! - This is why I'm paying an attorney to sort it out for me - I've seen a LOT of posts here, but NONE of them convinces me that Anybody Really has any concrete experience in this situation - an 11year overstay which may have involved illegal work activity is not your 'Everyday cup of Tea' - even here in Thailand. I don't know for sure what Immigration will do and neither does anyone I've read advice from here. And one thing is for sure ' I don't want to find out just for the sake of curiosity' - I'll just cough up the lawyer's fee and Thank God I didn't roll the dice with my entire life's savings and lose it trying to cheap out of a mere 28,000 bht!! Thanks for the input but you know - you cannot be certain of what is going to happen at Swampy Immigration on a Long term overstay. Take this as an example of proof!!

Cheers, Branddez