Phuket police arrest Chinese man on 2,823-day overstay

2,823 days overstayed… that’s not an overstay, that’s basically Thai permanent residency without the paperwork. 😂

Arrived as a visitor and apparently decided, “Yeah, I’ll just see how this Thailand thing plays out.”

Eight years later… plot twist: immigration remembered him. 🤣🇹🇭

3 hours ago, jacko45k said:

The headline claims he was arrested over the overstay, and yet there was also a request by the Chinese Embassy, who had been in touch wanting him. Just wondering if he might well still be free to wander, had the Embassy not been after him.

Pretty sure that would be the case.

3 hours ago, jacko45k said:

The headline claims he was arrested over the overstay, and yet there was also a request by the Chinese Embassy, who had been in touch wanting him. Just wondering if he might well still be free to wander, had the Embassy not been after him.

Yes, he could be roaming free. From the photo he could easily pass for a Chinese Thai and , as a result, could blend into the Thai community without raising red flags.

1 hour ago, riverhigh said:

Yes, he could be roaming free. From the photo he could easily pass for a Chinese Thai and , as a result, could blend into the Thai community without raising red flags.

Especially around Phuket Town,

Not quite eight years, thats a serious overstay, better luck next time

6 hours ago, Nemises said:

2,823 days overstayed… that’s not an overstay, that’s basically Thai permanent residency without the paperwork. 😂

Arrived as a visitor and apparently decided, “Yeah, I’ll just see how this Thailand thing plays out.”

Eight years later… plot twist: immigration remembered him. 🤣🇹🇭

After a tip-off

Thailand seems to be a great place to hide for wanted Chinese criminals. Some even gain Thai citizenship while here, quite an accomplishment.

3 hours ago, riverhigh said:

From the photo he could easily pass for a Chinese Thai and , as a result, could blend into the Thai community without raising red flags.

Or, he could have been a farang and blended in with tens of thousands of other farangs -- here on various valid visas, or not..... and not have raised any red flags.

And I bet there are hundreds of farangs -- maybe more -- out there on overstay. Some, for nefarious reasons; others because they've become old and feebled, and no longer can tolerate trips to Immigration.

And how could you be caught? In my case, if I was no longer physically able to go to Bangkok (from CM) to renew/revalidate my LTR visa every five years -- I might just say "scr-w it." By this time, I would have given up driving, and hired a full time driver. Thus, no need to renew my drivers license, thus no situation requiring showing my passport. Same with my banking, where no need to show a passport for ATM withdrawals, or for when the wife does the withdrawing in person from our joint account (established when visa was valid). Anyway, point being -- never having to show your passport should mean you could remain under the radar, with little or no fear of discovery (just don't have an outstanding warrant from your home country, like this Chinese guy did).

Not advocating overstay -- certainly BoI would allow some workaround should I be unable to physically renew LTR visa in Bangkok. But if not....... Hmmmm.