Thanks everyone!!! 

3 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Immigration is open 24 hours a day at Don Mueang.

He should allow a extra 30 minutes after checking in for his flight to clear immigration.

Thanks ubonjoe!

Thanks for mostly helpful posts! He's going to fly to Cambodia and pay the overstay at the airport. Does anyone know if it's ok to do that at Don Muang Airport and how early immigration is there(can you call the airport and ask them) since I've heard you need to give them extra time to process it. There's a 6:30am flight that's the cheapest....

2 hours ago, sanmyintmaung said:

I believe he will need to show up at the airport with both old and new passport so that Airport Immigration can calculate the amount of fine he has to pay before allowing him to leave the country.

What if it was lost/stolen the old passport so only has the new? 

A friend of mine has a several year overstay(for what I consider valid reasons, all negative commenters save your vitriol for Trumps' legal team) and he needs to get a new passport before leaving the country. My question is; should he go to Thai Immigration with the new passport and tell them about the overstay or just show up at the airport and present the new passport and say the old one was lost? I'm wondering if Immigration would want to detain him right then and there but also if he showed up at the airport with a new passport even though he's ready and willing to pay the fine would they let him leave then?

Thank you for your(helpful) input! 

23 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

 

Spanish food is incredibly diverse these days. Some of the top rated restaurants in the world are now located in Spain. Not like the old days. And the wine. It can be sublime. And reasonable. People are cool, though it helps alot if you speak spanish. Spain is totally different than Mexico. Decades ago Mexico used to be really nice. Now it is far more expensive than it used to be, and the security issues are not worth it, in my opinion. Spain is fairly safe. Quite scenic. It can be on the conservative side (alot of conventionally minded people) But, expensive like the rest of Europe, unfortunately. 

Damn, you ruined it at the end there...expensive? I thought Spain was supposed to be quite reasonable. How about Portugal then? Thanks for your input!

17 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Personally, I have no alternative to Thailand, that comes even close. For me, Burma would be almost as bad as the Philippines. Never gonna happen. Really poor infrastructure, military is way worse than here, genocidal government, food not as good, difficult to travel, as most hotels in smaller cities will not and cannot accept foreigners as guests, etc, etc. Not even close. The PI sucks. The entire country feels like Tijuana. Food is some of the worst in the world, as the PI people do not have the culinary gene, like the Thai people. Security is horrendous. Always looking over your shoulder. The only reason to be in the PI is the women. And the english skills too. Been to Vietnam a few times. Find alot of the people there to be like cold fish. Just not appealing at all. 

 

So, where else? If I was wealthy, I would probably spend four months of the year here, two months in the US, three months in Spain, and three months elsewhere, traveling around. 

Thanks for the post, can you tell me a bit about Spain? Been to Mexico many times but never Spain, I wonder about the food? Love Mexican food but Tappas...?

Overstay scam:  there was a post not long ago titled: 

Clear a long overstay!?

<removed>

This guy claimed to have cleared a 12 year overstay with a new passport. I contacted him in order to get information for a friend and he put me in touch with someone else who claimed to have a connection in immigration. Then he asked me to email him a photo of my passport so he could "check it out" and see if it was blacklisted already. When I declined he got very aggressive and when I stopped responding to his texts he threatened me. I believe they are running a scam where they try to get ahold of overstayer's passports and then threaten to turn it over to immigration unless money is paid. I tried to report this and that members id to thaivisa but they didn't seem too interested. 

On 6/29/2018 at 1:39 PM, ubonjoe said:

You have to go to immigration to have your permit to stay stamp reinstated in the new passport.

Thanks for your reply! And what if you need to fly out right away for an appointment? 

What if your passport was stolen and you have a new one? 

4 hours ago, Suradit69 said:

Wow.Talk about the pot calling the kettle a bubble dweller.

 

Americans are probably among the most self-absorbed, insular people on the planet. I wonder how many Americans who've chosen to live in Thailand know anything of Thai language, culture or history or, for that matter, anything about North American history beyond a few headline events that were explained to them by Fox News using language suitable to 3rd graders.

 

I doubt most Americans could find Syria or Thailand on a map and a large percentage couldn't find the US.

 

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-much-us-history-do-americans-actually-know-less-you-think-180955431/

 

 

 

Americans are also among the most generous, willing to extend a helping hand people in the world. When you see someone being flown on a private plane for a lifesaving medical procedure it's almost always an American who made it happen. I'm allowed to point out our many flaws because I'm from there(and I know), you like most critics only see the flaws and point them out because it makes you feel better about yourself. 

I think Jak said it best. Some balance(as usual in life) would be best. Ignoring everything outside your immediate circle is not only boring it can also be dangerous but to stick your nose into everyone else's business and even interfere, like my home country the US loves to do is also dangerous...and foolish.

The USA has over 800 military installations in countries all over the world, most Americans don't know this and don't seem to care when they hear it and now we have a clown for president that can't read or speak English. We definitely need to learn how to take care of our own problems and leave others alone more.  

20 hours ago, jak2002003 said:

A happy middle ground would be the best option.

 

To care nothing for anything that does not immediately concern oneself is not just selfish.. its dangerous in ignorant.  This is why so few people here stand up to corruption, crime etc.  If people here did not ignore the problems then there is scope for change and improvement in the future for society, not just an individual.

 

On the other hand, to get overly involved, distressed, stressed and argumentative about issues that don't directly affect us is equally not a good thing.  It is a waste of energy, which would be better spent on doing things to actually improve situations we have some (no matter how small) control over. Lurching from one world disaster, political or social problem to the next, getting into heated arguments, fights and negatively impacting ones life and family, over issues we have realistically not control over is pointless.  

 

On 2/27/2018 at 8:32 AM, tgeezer said:

I did that many years ago by train, we left Thailand and entered Malaysia from the railway platform.  There was no return train in the offing so we re-entered Thailand by a footbridge where locals enjoy free movement accross the border.  The problem was that we needed to take a taxi for quite a long drive to a border post to get a stamp back into Thailand.    

 

So did you go through Thai immigration or just cross into Malaysia at the station?

2 hours ago, smotherb said:

Sorry, DavidB4, I did not answer you earlier. A lot of people find Vietnamese difficult to speak--for me it is easier than Thai. Words are written in characters similar to the Latin alphabet and are only one syllable with no tenses, plurals or possessives; the problem seems to be the six tones. A single one-syllable word can mean several different things, depending upon the tone used. When I was first in Vietnam, the people were much like the Thais are now; those in contact with foreigners spoke some English and those who weren't, didn't. I too was amazed at the English-speaking abilities of the Vietnamese, especially the young--the ones who likely had more Russian than American influence.  I met several young Vietnamese with a very good command of English. One young post-card vendor in front of the Majestic hotel spoke superior English--she had little accent, used complete sentences, including tenses, plurals and possessives.  She pointed out one postcard with a rather lengthy Longfellow quote, and recited the quote perfectly. She, like the others said they learned English in school. The only young Thais I've encountered whose English is as good are half-farang and grew-up speaking English. Anecdotal I know, but impressive.

Thank you kindly for your informative reply!

20 hours ago, smotherb said:

Vietnamese more aggressive than the Thais; learning the language a struggle because the people would not help. I have not seen either of those attributes when comparing Thais and Vietnamese. I've seen more hot-tempered Thais and had much more encouragement to learn Vietnamese--however, my Vietnamese is far better than my Thai, which may account for that difference of opinion.

 

The infrastructure--civil, technical and social--is better in Thailand, and I have family and friends in here. Although, that is about where it stops for me with preference for Thailand.

 

I see the average Vietnamese is more dependable, harder-working; in fact; quite capable. It is easier to do business in Vietnam and you are much safer on the roads. Housing, utilities, food, and drink prices are cheaper and visa hassles are considerably less in Vietnam--a three -month visa costs about $50, the only requirement is six months validity on your passport, and you can get as many back-to-back visas as you like. I prefer the Vietnamese food, especially the availability of good breads, cheeses, beef, coffee and wine. Western-style foods, based on French and Continental cuisine, is common and you can get the meals for you and friends served at the same time. The Vietnamese women are very attractive and not as paunchy as many Thai women--and the Thai piano-stool calves are uncommon.

Good feedback/information thank you! It's been a while since I've been to Vietnam and at the time I was beginning to think they were getting to aggressive also so I'm glad to hear maybe that's changing. I found their language extremely difficult and only learned a few words but it seemed that more of them were learning English than the Thais....how is that now? I totally agree on the food and the women but was concerned the housing might be more than here....not so? Again thanks.

17 hours ago, sipi said:

Nepal would be my second choice.

But I can't be bothered.

Why Nepal?

I have a set I brought with me from the US, new-never used. Not top of the line but decent, don't know what they're worth here...we would both probably have to research it. I have the bag also. I'm located in Bangkok, my email is [email protected]. Cheers, David

How about communicating? I speak enough Thai to get by but I found Vietnamese even more difficult and not many spoke English outside the Hotels and bars. 

Does anyone know of any overstays for longer than 1 year that have not been blacklisted? 

My experience is that the Australia Post normally does show it on their tracking site after they deliver it, did you try checking online yourself?

Dear Nikolas, i am Belgian to, I discussed your situation with another Belgian friend. We may be able to help you, but we want to meet you first. Send me a message.

Good for you!!!

Some of the compassion and understanding shown here lets me know that should I ever need help I would not look for it here! I hope everyone receives that which they've given, in spades.