benden25

For some added context.  The last overstay was in 2015, neither were over 90 days and there's no blacklist stamp (or anything similar) in my old passport.   It's also a US passport if that matters and I had no issues in any other country with that old passport.  I used to be up to date on this site/Thailand immigration news but it's been so long and it seems like the laws/regs change yearly.   

I am planning a trip to Thailand to visit some friends in October.   In a previous life (i.e. when I was younger and much dumber) I had two overstays in Thailand, don't remember the exact time frame but both were 20,000 baht payments on the way out of the airport.    I haven't been back in about 4 years and am already on a new passport with a few stamps from Vietnam (2 weeks) and Cambodia (1 week).   Will I have any issues going through BKK with a tourist visa?   Any advice?   

I use the Magic Jack app to call the US. Call quality is perfect and its free to call home, you can all anyone regardless if they have the app or not.

'Update: I arrived in Thailand yesterday with a 60 day TR. Immigration officer never even asked about the overstay, gave me my new stamp and sent me on my way.

Follow up question: All the immigration officers were wearing colorful floral shirts, is this just for Songkran? It did make them a lot more approachable and comfortable than the BIB uniforms.

I ended up getting a tourist visa, I explained my situation to the Thai Consulate and they said as long as I had a valid visa there wouldn't be any reason to deny me entry. I fly out tomorrow so we will see what happens. Thank you everyone who helped out!

Hi benden25, thanks for your post, it does demonstrate the need for a contingency plan.

I was saved, when my cards were pickpocketed, by having a pre-paid ATM card, always kept separately (in a sock), which I could also top-up over the internet.

I also always have a return air ticket, just in case.

Good luck on your return to the LOS, the new passport suggestions, seems to be a good idea.

A new passport is a good idea but due to time constraints it just isn't feasible at this time. I had actually signed up for a prepaid Visa Travel card for this upcoming trip, my plan is to only keep a days worth of cash on it any one time.

I usually buy return airfare as well but on this particular trip my plans were to do some traveling all over Asia so I booked one way for that trip.

I recently overstayed 89 days, I went to the airport paid my 20,000 baht fine and was sent on my way with nothing other than the standard overstay stamp. I have been away from Thailand for 4 months, will I have any issues getting back into the country either on a tourist visa or visa exemption (US Citizen). I never had an overstay before this other than a one day.

Before I get the usual "holier than thou" posts about me being the worst person in the world for overstaying: I experienced a very serious problem with my bank account and it took nearly three months to get all my money back. It was the worst few months of my life always worrying when I would walk by a cop. My GF and her family helped me out as much as they could. I know I broke the law, I paid my punishment. If your just going to post the usual juvenile rubbish, skip this post. Just looking for useful info.

I think he should drop the word "mass " maybe the word miniscule is more appropriate now .

There were at least 10,000 surrounding the building, where the mentioned meeting was being held, today. I wouldn't say that was "miniscule".

Okay, beaten to it.

Compared to the "millions" Suthep keeps going on about, 10,000 is very miniscule. Have you seen the other protest sites? There might be 100 people left at Asoke.

How could the residents accept entry and exit of the elevator when knowing up or down movement could occur at any time.

Was an accident waiting to happen, and it did happen.

As motor-bike riders dice with death unneccessarily with their speeding and not wearing safety hats, so these elevator users did the same. No sympathy there.

Really, no sympathy?

Are you really shocked that the holier than thou members of Thai Visa don't show sympathy?

I don't need PTP to tell me this, I just use the eyeball test. All the main protest sites are empty around the city Monday-Friday and then swell up slightly on the weekends. The government is not sending the police in because they don't want to cause an international incident. They along with everyone else, including Suthep, knows this was the least successful protest in history and it is all but over. No need to start a riot between the few thousand that remain and the police.

This is why I always take the stairs in my building. Lord knows when the elevator here was even last inspected, if ever.

I find it interesting/amusing the number of people who can't seem to remember the date when their visa/extension expires. I thought that would have been on of the more important items to commit to memory.

I find it interesting/amusing the number of people who post on here with their holier than thou attitude. How does it feel to be perfect in life and never make mistakes?

I find it interesting/amusing the number of people who post on here to gloat and boast about their overstay "mistakes".

Gloat and boast? Actually I am posting about a positive experience with Thai immigration due to the massive amounts of condescension and negativity on these forums that ultimately confuse many newcomers to this country who are human and due make mistakes. But carry on with your internet tough guy attitude, you win you are the coolest person here!

welcome to our country, you are welcome to spend all your money, use it to build up a business, live here for the rest of your life, marry a thai person but you are not allowed to have an opinion different from ours.

So your mad because Thailand won't let you commit an act deemed illegal by the government? Whether you agree with it or not it is an illegal activity. What would happen in your own country if a foreign visitor (whether they are tourist, studying, working or even married to a citizen) violated the law? In most countries they would be deported or serve time in jail along with massive fines.

I think tipping people outside of hotels, restaurants, etc. should be discouraged for 2 reasons:

1. Many are offended by it, and consider it just some farang trying to flash his money around. (even if that is not your intention, they see it that way)

2. Those that do take it will expect it from the next guy, and if it isn't offered, you'll be labeled "Cheap Charlie".

It really depends on the person and the situation. If done with a smile a gesture of friendliness most are not offended by it and simply see it as another silly thing that foreigners do. In my 10 years of living, working and traveling here I have found not too many people (even at tourist hot spots) expect tips, they are almost always grateful that they got anything. It really depends on the persons attitude towards the employee.

Pleased the overstay issue was reasonably painless; small detail, if you are attending business meetings here, then you should be on a non immigrant 'b' business visa, not a Tourist Visa.

If by any chance you are also working here, as well as doing business, then you need a Work Permit on the risk of imprisonment, fine and deportation if you are caught working without one.

No idea as to your specific circumstances, but do be careful re visibly working here (even if your remuneration is made outside of Thailand).

I originally came here as a tourist (after living and working here legally for 10+ years) but was recently presented with the chance to purchase a business here in town. No money has changed hands so far and when it does I can assure you it will all be within the confines of Thai Laws.

For a few days, you wouldn't need to exit, though I'm surprised they should have 'knocked off' one day.

But you have a very important business meeting, yet you're on a tourist visa? I assume immigration don't know that?

My important business meeting is to purchase a business here in Bangkok. Immigration will know about it soon enough.

I find it interesting/amusing the number of people who can't seem to remember the date when their visa/extension expires. I thought that would have been on of the more important items to commit to memory.

I find it interesting/amusing the number of people who post on here with their holier than thou attitude. How does it feel to be perfect in life and never make mistakes?

I was planning to go to immigration to get my 30 day extension today (tourist visa), thinking it was the day my visa expired, but it was in fact 3 days ago. Not sure what to do I talked with several members of this website about my options and got several different answers from do a border run to report to immigration. I have a very important business meeting tomorrow so a border run wasn't feasible. Today I ventured down to Imperial World Lad Phrao, I decided to wait till the morning rush was over, so I went around 2pm. Paid my 1000 baht fine (they knocked off one day), paid for the extension and was on my way. Overall it was a very fast and efficient process rather than having to make the journey to Gov Complex.

Why not just go to Penang and get a 60 day tourist visa? Its a quick one day process and Penang is an awesome city to explore.

Amazing there is still support for Suthep here from TV members.

You think he has said and done more than enough for men in white coats to come a and take him away and then he STILL manages something even more outrageous.

Its not just support either, the man can do no wrong in some of these people eyes. It's borderline creepy how much support this guy has by some people on here. I can only imagine what his unelected peoples council would look like at this point, North Korea comes to mind.

Sounds like something Suthep would do to incite fear in the citizens in an attempt to win them over to his side. As an outsider I have no allegiance to either side but the longer Suthep is leading the charge, the worse its going to get. The guy is time bomb just waiting to go off.

What an utterly disgusting and ill-thought post. This beggars belief, it really does.

A leading red shirt has threatened to abduct the General's daughters if there is a coup. He said they could be taken 'dead or alive'. Par for the course for ThaKsin's Black Shirts.

Thaksin Shinawatra's was notorious for intimidating the press whilst he was Prime Minister, and he was notorious for crushing dissent. Amnesty International reported that 18 human rights defenders were either assassinated or disappeared during his first term in office. Anecdotal evidence suggests that some of the so-called drug dealers that were assassinated during his watch were in fact political opponents.

Yes, Thaksin will stop at nothing.

His black shirts have also been active during these protests and it is quite clear that once you let the lowbrows of the leash, spraying bullets around is just the kind of activity that would please their master in Dubai.

Thailand's future can not afford to be under the control of Thaksin's nasty political machine and the malicious, dangerous people it creates.

I think pointing the finger at Suthep sounds to me like Thaksin propaganda personified. Unbeliebvable/

Of course it does because anyone who doesn't agree with Suthep is clearly being "bought off". Isn't that the way the script usual goes with the Dems here? The majority who vote for the PTP are just poor, uneducated farmers who don't know any better. That's the line I keep hearing over and over again. What was that about propaganda again?

Neither side wants foreign tourists getting involved (even if they are legal citizens). God forbid this turns ugly, hundreds of people could lose their lives and it would be nothing more than a bullet point in most major western papers. But the first time a foreigner is killed or badly injured it becomes front page news on every newspaper around the world. Regardless of which side ends up winning this (both are equally corrupt) they are going to need the help of foreign nations (especially the UK, Australia and the US) to run this country. The last thing they need is dead tourists on their hands.

Sounds like something Suthep would do to incite fear in the citizens in an attempt to win them over to his side. As an outsider I have no allegiance to either side but the longer Suthep is leading the charge, the worse its going to get. The guy is time bomb just waiting to go off.

Yes, of course!; because nothing encourages people more to leave their homes and join a protest than knowing that they may be shot at for doing so.

What gets them to join a protest is when they have a complete lack of faith in the security of their nation and the fear of a lawless society where people can't go to a coffee shop without getting shot at.

Any attempt to shut down air travel will be met with military intervention.

That's the line that was drawn by the military some time ago.

Shouldn't that be the duty of the police?

In most countries around the world it would be the duty of the Military or a similar government agency.