Over staying your visa

[machangezi]

As I understand, it used to be Thai Baht 200/day, maximum 20K. To avoid arrest, one needs to exit at the airport (pay the maximum 20K if overstaying let's say 8 months).

A friend of me nephew, on Ed visa, didn't fucking bother to extend his visa for 8 damn months. Now he wants to avoid arrest and exit safely.

Does anyone know how this should be done and how much would it cost him?

macha

[Little Chuchok]

It will cost him a max of THB20,000.They will "get" him on leaving the country.No drama,just pay the fine.

The fine now is THB500 per day.They even have a special counter at CM Airport for paying the fine.

If he gets caught before he leaves an Airport or gets to a border crossing,he will probably be arrested.

[machangezi]

^ Thanks LC mate.

[klongmaster]

The fine now is THB500 per day.

yea...funny that...the daily rate has gone up but not the maximun fine...amazing Thailand...

[stroller]

It's gone up to 500/day, and applies to all official exit points.
An international flight is safest, on land journeys cops and immigration both do road checks on the way to the border crossings. It would be rather unfortunate to be arrested and deported on one's way out -it happened before.

[stroller]

^
Max fine is still 20k.

[keda]

It's gone up to 500/day, and applies to all official exit points.
An international flight is safest, on land journeys cops and immigration both do road checks on the way to the border crossings. It would be rather unfortunate to be arrested and deported on one's way out -it happened before.

Seem to recall something like that happened last year, resulting in the arrest of a number of people who were on their way to the border with expired visas, and more than one of them ended up doing time.

Still, anyone know if having made it to the safety of the border and paid the penalty, a comment is entered into the offender's passport (likely)? And then, does payment buy forgiveness, much like an Indulgence, or are there examples of consequences at a later time, when applying for a visa or extension or other privilege?

[Little Chuchok]

Usually, it doesn't matter.You are free to come back in.Personally, for a big overstay,I would change my passport before I entered again....just in case.

BTW,I have an overstay of ten days in my PP.No problem getting back in.

[stroller]

I was pulled out of a bus for 6 weeks overstay, and was told I would be deported. Of course, heading towards the border at the time, I had the due fine in cash on me, and a couple of hours later, having been fed sickly sweet cups of coffee and cigarettes, I was driven to the checkpoint to settle the matter and sent on my way - with an official receipt for the amount payed, all above board. But I wouldn't bank on this a second time.

And no, no consequences in any shape or form. But this is, of course, not a guarantee, you never know what some irrate official with an upset stomach or after an argument with his gf might make of it.

[dirtydog]

My mate had a long overstay, so he got to Don Muang with 20k baht and his flight ticket in his sweaty hand, the immigration held him till 15 minutes before his flight saying they had never heard of this 20 k baht limit and kept telling him he had to pay 500baht perday and owed them 50k baht or goto jail, think they were trying it on

[Mr Earl]

My mate had a long overstay, so he got to Don Muang with 20k baht and his flight ticket in his sweaty hand, the immigration held him till 15 minutes before his flight saying they had never heard of this 20 k baht limit and kept telling him he had to pay 500baht perday and owed them 50k baht or goto jail, think they were trying it on

That would be scary! The accommodations at the immigration jail aren't too comfy. I know! From what I've heard they haven't improved in 30 years.
They love locking up foreigners and scarring the poo outa you.

[Wallace]

What I don't understand is why people overstay for so long in the first place. Surely, if you know you're going to pay a big fine, why don't you just go to the border when your visa is up and get a new stamp/visa, or whatever you need? I doubt there are many reasons (other than lying in hospital dying) that would prevent you from sticking to the rules, shit though they may be.

[paulg]

I wonder will those who have used up their ninety days of VOAs and are desperate be tempted to overstay for a few months. Twenty thosand bath is a lot of money but probably cheaper then a trip to Vientiene or Malaysia.

Not worth the risk, if you ask me, but there probably are people desperate enough to do this.

[Mr Earl]

^ I can see why some people might not bother.
Most people don't carry their passport all the time. I don't.
I you were living happily out in the boonies raising chickens it would be unlikely anyone would bother for years.
Making visa runs does add up to a fair piece of change over a few years.

I'd be afraid of getting blacklisted.
(though I wasn't after a 6 month overstay 30 years ago)

I kind of like making the visa runs. It's a good excuse for a change of scenery every 90 days.

[stroller]

It's not so much 'fun' when you have to do it every 30 days.
If you intend to stay for a year or more, it's a simple cost calculation + the risk, of course. (No, not talking about myself)

[keda]

Usually, it doesn't matter.You are free to come back in.Personally, for a big overstay,I would change my passport before I entered again....just in case.

BTW,I have an overstay of ten days in my PP.No problem getting back in.

4 years ago the resident moron at the London embassy refused to give me a 3-month visa on account of a 1-day overstay (no fine) which was due to a flight delay.

Never been back since, went to Brum for a non-O and then upgraded this end.

[Little Chuchok]

I overstayed by 10 days.Payed the fine,went to Singapore,got a visa and came back in.No prob.

the guy in London must have been a right twat.I'm sure that immigration here are using overstay fines as a legit bit of income.I mean,they have a special little counter in CM so you can pay them.Their eyes lit up like xmas trees when they said I had to pay 'em 5 thou.

[paulg]

I must say that the members of this forum seem a much more sensible bunch then those on other Thai forums. Normally when somebody posts about overstays on other forums yoy usually get tons of replies saying how they will end up in prison and never be able to set foot in Thailand again.

[Thetyim]

Normally when somebody posts about overstays on other forums yoy usually get tons of replies saying how they will end up in prison and never be able to set foot in Thailand again.

There is a big difference between what the law states and what is implemented.

[klongmaster]

It's a good excuse for a change of scenery every 90 days.

delicately put ME: one takes it that ones better half is a closet member of TD!..

[stroller]

If you get caught incidentally, you have a bit of a problem. You will very likely end up in immigration detention with the possibility of being deported. A waste of time and money at the least.

It is not a sensible thing to do.

[Little Chuchok]

^exactly.A couple of years ago,I asked a CM Immigration officer the same question.he said no problem if you don't get caught.he said that as rule of thumb,they don't care about overstay,but if you get caught in a road check etc,then be prepaired for some ugly stuff.