Overstay question

[5amuk]

Hi everyone! I need a bit of advice... 

 

I arrived from Korea in Thailand on January 18 entering with the standard 30 day exemption visa, and my flight out is on February 18. 

 

So everything is clear, my itinerary was/is as follows:

 

(from Korea to Thailand) 

1: Seoul - 17/1 - 20.35 > Bangkok - 18/1 - 00.50

2: Bangkok - 18/1 - 06.00 > Koh Samui 18/1 - 07.05

 

(from Thailand to Korea) 

3: Koh Samui - 17/2 - 19.45 > Bangkok - 17/2 - 21.15

4: Bangkok - 18/2 - 01.50 > Seoul - 18/2 - 09.10

 

I didn't plan my trip so well, because clearly I'll be over the allowed period of time when I come to leave.

 

Because I'm staying on Koh Phangan, I could pay around 3000 total baht for a visit to an immigration office (including the extension and transport to the office) or pay the 500 baht per day fine which should come to no more than 1000, right? The stamp in my passport says that I should exit on Feb 16th.

 

What would you do? This is my first time doing this, and the only thing that I'm worried about is being blacklisted due to overstay (I'd like to come back some day).

 

I'm also concerned about how long the process would take to pay the fine (as I am flying from Koh Samui > Bangkok, then I will get a flight 4 hours later from Bangkok to Korea, so I can't be held in limbo too long) 

 

Any suggestions and help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading! 

[richard_smith237]

The most commonly option would be to just accept the 2 day over-stay fine which shouldn't take you very long at the Airport - This will be considered as you 'volunteering your overstay'.

 

However, should an immigration officer (or the BiB) stop you during the period of your overstay you will be considered as 'being caught on overstay' and potentially treated more harshly. 

 

If you wish to remain within the law it would be best to obtain an extension, if that is possible to do in Koh Phangan / Samui (Edit: You can obtain a 30 day extension of your visa exempt entry)

 

 

Thus: What you are really asking is - Should you break the law and overstay for 2 days and what are the risks in doing so. 

 

The risk is getting caught, being taken to IDC and deported and banned for 5 years (for a <1 year overstay). 

 

 

---------

 

These rules apply to the Alien giving himself up at immigration  and are as follows :

• Overstay more than 90 Days –   1 year ban from Thailand
• Overstay more than  1 Year  –    3 year ban from Thailand
• Overstay more than  3 Years –   5 year ban from Thailand
• Overstay more than  5 Years – 10 year ban from Thailand

These rules apply to the Alien who is Arrested & Found To Be On Overstay- Apprehended:

• Overstay less than       1 Year  –   5 year ban from Thailand
• Overstay more than   1 Year – 10 year ban from Thailand

 

 

 

[ubonjoe]

You could pay the 2 days of overstay at the airport. It should not take more than a half hour or less to pay it. Instead of lining up for at a desk inform one of the officers before the desk that you have an overstay and they will take you to the overstay desk.

[BritTim]

This is not ideal. Your idea of just overstaying for two days is unlikely to have serious repercussions unless you are arrested for some other reason when already on overstay.

 

In fact, if you can pass through immigration in Bangkok before midnight on the 17th, you may only be stamped with a one day overstay and have the fine waived.

[ubonjoe]

3 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

If you wish to remain within the law it would be best to obtain the 7 day (B1900) extension, if that is possible to do in Koh Phangan / Samui. 

He would get the normal 30 day extension for a visa exempt entry not the 7 days to leave the country for a denied extension application.

It can be done at the immigration office in Samui.

[reenatinnakor]

You will pay 1900 for an extension and be legal and have a clean record... Or 1000 for overstay and have a red mark on screen for when you enter next time. Just depends if you think saving 900 plus travel is worth it or not.

[5amuk]

35 minutes ago, reenatinnakor said:

You will pay 1900 for an extension and be legal and have a clean record... Or 1000 for overstay and have a red mark on screen for when you enter next time. Just depends if you think saving 900 plus travel is worth it or not.

Thank you for all your replies - as Richard said, my question was essentially, should I break the law and overstay for 2 days and what are the risks in doing so.

 

I'll probably just stick with the legal option and extend the visa, I can't really be bothered with the headache of what might happen otherwise. 

Looks like I'll be taking a trip to Koh Samui :)

 

Thanks for all your help :) 

[anon789561]

just pay the overstay fine when you leave. easiest option

[anon789561]

Just now, 5amuk said:

Thank you for all your replies - as Richard said, my question was essentially, should I break the law and overstay for 2 days and what are the risks in doing so.

 

I'll probably just stick with the legal option and extend the visa, I can't really be bothered with the headache of what might happen otherwise. 

 

Looks like I'll be taking a trip to Koh Samui :)

 

Thanks for all your help :) 

good for you. waste your time and money 555. 

[BritTim]

It occurs to me that you are planning to fly from Samui on the 17th. Might it make sense to spend the night of the 16th in Samui, arriving there early enough in the day to get an extension before checking into your hotel.?

[ChiangMaiLightning2143]

Bad idea. Other countries can use overstay stamps as a reasonable condition to Deny entry or reject Visa applications.


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[elviajero]

4 hours ago, 5amuk said:

What would you do? This is my first time doing this, and the only thing that I'm worried about is being blacklisted due to overstay (I'd like to come back some day).

I would get an extension of stay. It is always better to stay legal. You should be able to apply a week or so early and it will give you an extra 30 days from the 17th. 

[5amuk]

2 hours ago, ChiangMaiLightning2143 said:

Bad idea. Other countries can use overstay stamps as a reasonable condition to Deny entry or reject Visa applications.


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Thanks CML2143 & Elviajero, I plan to travel extensively in the near future, so I wouldn't want anything bad going on my passport. 

 

Thanks again :) 

[Suetape]

Legal options or change your travel plans.  

[bkkcanuck8]

13 hours ago, elviajero said:

I would get an extension of stay. It is always better to stay legal. You should be able to apply a week or so early and it will give you an extra 30 days from the 17th. 

I agree with this.  It is always best just to keep a clean record, rather than saving a few baht.  The few day overstay is not an issue now, but one can never fully foresee the future.  There is always the possibility that you might get in the middle of something (witness, accident, etc.) that will require you to talk to authorities during those 2 days - and then you have no good options except paying a bribe or being banned for 5 years (with of course the cost of being detained).