25 Years overstay, World Record or What?

[FarangRed]

I see this guy on another forum asking what to do, 25 years overstay and now he's worried about going legal.

Will he get locked up and blacklisted, is the fuking pope Catholic?

He's got away with it for this long then just carry on as you where.

"In the last 25 years nobody has ever asked to see my passport or visa, but as I said I want to get legal. What would happen to me if I showed up at immigration/or Airport with the 20 K fine and a plane ticket to a nearby country would I be able to come back ? will I got jail ?"

[sabang]

He'll do time in the slammer- the Thai authorities announced they had changed the old '20K maximum fine and out of here' policy last year. I certainly don't have a problem with that.

[Kurgen]

He's probably just a troll, 25 years is a long time. I dare say there are still plenty of ways out of Thailand once palms are greased. No doubt he'll have to get a new passport as his one is at least 15 years out of date.

[sunsetter]

troll, ive met a few on long overstays, they have no intention of going legal, and have no need in their position, one is very comfortable,and shouldve applied for residencey here, go hand yourself in? Dont think so, most likely one of the 4 guests watching the thread is our troll

[Mr Earl]

He'll do time in the slammer- the Thai authorities announced they had changed the old '20K maximum fine and out of here' policy last year.

Do you have confirmation of this? First I've heard of it.

[sabang]

Do you have confirmation of this?

Well, only this-

PHUKET: The Phuket Immigration chief today denied there have been any formal changes in the way Thai Immigration Police deal with foreigners who overstay their permits-to-stay or who are otherwise discovered to be residing in the Kingdom illegally.

Phuket Immigration Superintendent Panuwat Ruamrak admitted receiving “many” calls today following an online media report stating that foreigners who try to depart from Thailand at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport face arrest and detainment if their permits-to-stay have expired by 42 days or more.

The report said people who had overstayed by 21 to 42 days fall into a “gray area” and may face possible arrest and detainment at the discretion of Immigration officers at the intended point of departure.

Those who overstay by fewer than 22 days can pay the fine at the airport and depart without having to worry, according to the report originally sourced to Pattaya One.

Col Panuwat today told the Gazette, “I contacted the legal department at Immigration Bureau Headquarters on Soi Suan Plu in Bangkok, the Phuket Airport Immigration Superintendent and other authorities as well."

“All have assured me that they are still following all the terms of the Immigration Act 1979, enacted on February 29 that year,” he said.

Under the Act, “any alien who stays in the Kingdom without permission, or with permission expired or revoked, shall be punished with imprisonment not exceeding two years, or a fine not exceeding 20,000 baht, or both.”

“I am confused about how this kind of news is spread. It is possibly a misunderstanding,” he said.

Such misunderstandings may be the result of people who overstay not having enough money to pay the fine, a scenario that gives Immigration officers no choice but to arrest and detain them, he said.

Overstay fines in Thailand accrue at 500 baht per day to a maximum of 20,000 baht. As such, the policy does not encourage foreigners with long overstays to legitimize their immigration status once they have passed the 40-day threshold.

The alleged “Suvarnabhumi Crackdown” reportedly targets foreigners who take advantage of this by grossly overstaying their permits-to-stay and then turning up at the airport with 20,000 baht and an air ticket in hand, expecting to fly out of Thailand hassle-free.

Col Panuwat stressed that any new official changes in policy or regulations are posted on the Immigration Bureau’s official website: Immigration Bureau Website.

He encourages tourists with questions to download a copy of the Immigration Act, which is also available online there.

The Phuket Gazette notes that Immigration officers at checkpoints have always had complete discretion on what punitive measures to take with overstays, as specified above.

They can also deny entry to anyone arriving at a border checkpoint for any reason, even if the person arriving is in possession of a valid visa.

This being the case, all foreigners are strongly advised to never stay in Thailand past the date specified in their permit-to-stay and to make sure they comply with all other provisions of Thai Immigration Law.

Phuket NEWS: Phuket Immigration: No change in visa overstay rules

Clear as mud.

[liveinlos]

This is a report and not law. No the sky is not falling and no need for speculation or panic. The Immigration Burea Website has all the facts.

[sabang]

The Immigration Burea Website has all the facts.

You believe that?

[The Master Cool]

the Thai authorities announced they had changed the old '20K maximum fine and out of here' policy last year.

They most certainly have not.

The maximum overstay fine is 20,000b.

[Fondles]

He's probably just a troll, 25 years is a long time. I dare say there are still plenty of ways out of Thailand once palms are greased. No doubt he'll have to get a new passport as his one is at least 15 years out of date.

The guy is saying his passport is still current.

[Davis Knowlton]

^Not a chance.

[sabang]

According to the 'Act'-

Under the Act, “any alien who stays in the Kingdom without permission, or with permission expired or revoked, shall be punished with imprisonment not exceeding two years, or a fine not exceeding 20,000 baht, or both.”

Any long term overstayer hoping to avoid time in the can is basically proceeding on a wish and a prayer.
TIT and all that- his best hope would be the availability of a substantial wedge of tea money.

[Spin]

They should drop the 20,000 baht maximum fine and just leave it at 500 baht per day, every day.

[Thep den]

^ If they did then he's only got a tad over 46 million Baht to find.

[The Fresh Prince]

I worked with a German guy many years ago and when it came to the company getting us work permits it turned out he had 20 years over stay. The fine was only 20,000bt which the company paid for him but as mentioned before, things could have changed.

[aging one]

I think its an urban myth. As davis pointed out if his passport is valid, he would have had to renew it. If it was renewed picking up a long long overstay would be pretty easy. If you are having a new passport processed here there is a very careful check. At least for us Yanks.

[deathstardan]

My mate's currently on over-stay....5 y 6 m. His British passport expired last year and they issued another one, no questions at all. When he does finally decide to leave, he will present his old one with the entry stamp and get the exit stamp in his new one.

Also, I had a French mate with the same problem. He exited last year minus 20,000B.

[Tunaka]

He's probably just a troll, 25 years is a long time.

I feel the same way.

In 25 years....never leaving Thailand, not once, even for one day?

Never accessing a bank account, ever? Basically no I.D.

Troll......

[Looper]

^ If they did then he's only got a tad over 46 million Baht to find.

4.6 Million not 46 million

Probably a reasonable fine for 25 years living it cheap in Thailand on the back of an investment or pension or whatever he was doing for cash without contributing as a tax-payer.

Just can the 20,000 baht limit as Spin says as the fine rate would seem to work out about right.

[Marmite the Dog]

Never accessing a bank account, ever?

Why not? I can't see why overstaying ones visa would prevent them from using a bank account.

[kingwilly]

I think its an urban myth. As davis pointed out if his passport is valid, he would have had to renew it. If it was renewed picking up a long long overstay would be pretty easy. If you are having a new passport processed here there is a very careful check. At least for us Yanks.

Why ? It is none of your countries business (USA et al) if you have a valid visa or not for the country you are living in. (Thailand)

[The Fresh Prince]

I think its an urban myth.

The dude I worked with was certainly no myth, I'll never forget him. Typical old school eccentric German guy. The first time I met him he introduced himself with "HELLO, YA, MY NAME IS HEINZ!!!!!! JUST LIKE ZEE SAUCE!!"

[aging one]

Why ? It is none of your countries business (USA et al) if you have a valid visa or not for the country you are living in. (Thailand)

Dont know willy, but they always include a letter to immigration asking to transfer the visa as well.

[Looper]

Only if you send your old passport in at renewal. If you say you lost it and use a native domicile address for the application to get a new one and get your mate to post it then they won't even know that you are overseas.