Risks for a 2 days overstay on a 15 days visa on arrival

[Chiron43]

Hello there!
I tried to search for any pre-existing answer in the forum but couldn't find anything.

I am trying to help a friend regarding her situation for an upcoming trip to Thailand.
She is from a country that nationals are allowed a 15 days visa on arrival (VOA) in Thailand.
Unfortunately her return ticket is 17 days after arrival and change is not possible unless loosing the ticket and buying a new one way ticket to her home country.

She plans to book in advance a cheap outgoing flight ticket to Laos on the 15th day of her trip to show it to Thai immigration services as a proof to get her VOA, and also a proof for the flight company at first check-in the day of departure from her country.
So this would sort out the potential problem when entering Thailand and getting the visa.

What we try to know now, is how will react the immigration services the day that she will leave Thailand on the 17th day and showing on her passport 2 days of overstay.
For people coming from countries enjoying the 30 days visa exemption we all know that 2 days overstay is not a big deal and usually just a matter of paying the 2x500THB fee.

But we are wondering if the officers might react differently or more severely for someone who stayed with a 15 days VOA.
I really thank you in advance if you have any time and clear answer or first hand experience about that.

[elviajero]

It should be treated the same as any other overstay.

[Chiron43]

3 minutes ago, elviajero said:

It should be treated the same as any other overstay.

Okay thanks for your insight...
Though I have spent enough time in Thailand to know that one can not assume "it should" is working in every situation ?

[ubonjoe]

There will no problem when leaving the country after paying the 1000 baht fine. Just a small delay while they do the paperwork and the overstay stamp.

If worried about it she could apply for an extension at a immigration office, pay the 1900 baht fee, and be granted 7 days to leave the country after the application is denied.

[billp]

Why doesn’t she just get a single-entry tourist visa in advance? All problems solved.

[ThaiWai]

There must be a form to fill in which will likely require a leave date which will be beyond 15 days. I would anticipate a problem. That based on the fact that I never break rules like this and they give me a problem every time for no reason at all whether I'm am coming or going. 

[ubonjoe]

1 hour ago, ThaiWai said:

There must be a form to fill in which will likely require a leave date which will be beyond 15 days. I would anticipate a problem. That based on the fact that I never break rules like this and they give me a problem every time for no reason at all whether I'm am coming or going. 

I guess you failed to read this in the OP.

 

21 hours ago, Chiron43 said:

She plans to book in advance a cheap outgoing flight ticket to Laos on the 15th day of her trip to show it to Thai immigration services as a proof to get her VOA, and also a proof for the flight company at first check-in the day of departure from her country.

 

[KhaoYai]

Depending on the airline, she may not even be allowed to board. Get a visa!!

[elviajero]

1 hour ago, KhaoYai said:

Depending on the airline, she may not even be allowed to board. Get a visa!!

As long as they show the booked flight they won’t have a problem boarding. 

 

They are getting a visa, they’ll get it on arrival!

 

[BritTim]

Like others, I do wonder why there has been no attempt to get a tourist visa in advance.

[KhaoYai]

3 hours ago, elviajero said:

As long as they show the booked flight they won’t have a problem boarding. 

 

They are getting a visa, they’ll get it on arrival!

 

Yes she is but she intends buying a cheap flight ticket to persuade immigration to give her a 15 day VOA. She clearly has no intention of using that ticket although I admit I am wrong about boarding - if she has that ticket they should let her board.  I can't help wondering if Thai immigration are going to buy this. If her return flight is from Thailand on day 17 which I presume it is, they are being asked to believe that she's going to fly to Laos on day 15, have one day there and fly back on day 17???  They will be used to visa runners doing that but not someone who's flight home is on day 17. As I say, I don't know why a tourist visa was not applied for - what's the difference in price between a flight to Laos and a tourist visa?  Thai immigration may issue the VOA but is it worth the worry?

 

If I don't renew my O visa this year which I may not, I'll have to get a tourist visa for my trip in September which is 33 days I believe - 3 days longer than my visa waiver.  No way am I taking the risk of even a 1 day overstay or refused boarding or entry- just so easy to get a visa.

[elviajero]

23 minutes ago, KhaoYai said:

Yes she is but she intends buying a cheap flight ticket to persuade immigration to give her a 15 day VOA. She clearly has no intention of using that ticket although I admit I am wrong about boarding - if she has that ticket they should let her board.  I can't help wondering if Thai immigration are going to buy this. If her return flight is from Thailand on day 17 which I presume it is, they are being asked to believe that she's going to fly to Laos on day 15, have one day there and fly back on day 17???  They will be used to visa runners doing that but not someone who's flight home is on day 17. As I say, I don't know why a tourist visa was not applied for - what's the difference in price between a flight to Laos and a tourist visa?  Thai immigration may issue the VOA but is it worth the worry?

You're over thinking it. As long as she has a ticket out of Thailand within the 15 days she should have no problem getting a VOA. You don't need a return ticket to your home country.