Hi guys,

 

I am a 40 year old male from Canada, unmarried. I have lived in Thailand for 7 years now on a combination of tourist and ED visas.

 

Since I want to stay in Thailand long term and avoid hassles with immigration, I decided that the Thai Elite 5 year visa was right for my situation.

 

Seeing reports on this forum of it taking months in some cases to get processed I decided to go directly to the Thai Elite visa office in Sathorn yesterday.

 

I was greeted very warmly and I filled out the entire application. The final question asks if you have overstayed in the past 3 years.

 

A few months ago (and for the first time ever) I accidentally got my date mixed up and overstayed by 2 days. I paid the fine while extending at CW immigration in Bangkok.

 

The Thai Elite rep who was helping me (and he was extremely nice) informed me that unfortunately my application would almost certainly be rejected by Thai immigration because of this.

 

He went on to check with his supervisor and was told the same and they said they could not proceed with my application. I asked if getting a new passport would solve it and he said no because there was a case number logged in the system.

 

I was basically told, and again they were very nice, that I would have to wait 3 years for this overstay to be wiped out of the system before I could apply for a Thai Elite visa again.

 

My question is has this happened to anyone else? Is this very slight mistake (my first time in 7 years) really enough to reject my application completely?

 

FWIW, I plan to still apply again online because I believe I have nothing to lose. If it is rejected then I will have to explore other visa options. Thanks for reading and any advice :) 

 

 

You’re not the first to get denied over an overstay recently. There are a few people claiming the same here and on Facebook.

 

It was only a matter of time before they came for the Elite visa. Hopefully it stops at overstays and they continue to honor the visa. But the junta is going to junta so flip a coin.

I have only READ accounts on Thaivisa but have read similar accounts to yours. One would imagine a 2 day overstay should not rule you out, however seems harsh but think it is a rule with elite visa. Big problem for small error.

 

Edited May 28, 20197 yr by DrJack54

Are there examples of 1 day overstays? or is it just 2 days and above?

2 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Are there examples of 1 day overstays? or is it just 2 days and above?

I think if its under 24 hours they "let you off". If that's the case I THINK it would be 2day + overstay.

Edited May 28, 20197 yr by DrJack54

I suspect Immigration want a bigger cut of the "tribute" payment (permission to be here, to spend your money into their economy), so are going to keep delaying applications and denying on small infractions until their demands are met.

Edited May 28, 20197 yr by JackThompson

Thanks for the post.

This is very strange as they specifically stated that problems may arise if a person overstayed More then once.

 

Please do update us on how it goes.

With all the technology available along with the traditional methods such as a diary or a piece of paper and a pen, there is no excuse for an "accidental" overstay !

 

 

6 minutes ago, The Fat Controller said:

With all the technology available along with the traditional methods such as a diary or a piece of paper and a pen, there is no excuse for an "accidental" overstay !

 

 

What rubbish !

Accidental overstay can happen to anyone, especially when one leaves and enters the country frequently and is on a busy scheduled.

Denying a visa to someone who had 1 overstay during 7 years is definitely a case of GOOD GUYS OUT. 

 

We had a guy here who posted he got his elite approved recently having 2 overstays  before

i guess better for you to apply online and see what will be the outcome

those people in offices sometimes have no idea what they talking about 

3 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Are there examples of 1 day overstays? or is it just 2 days and above?

At a land border, a 1 day overstay is definitely charged and noted in the passport.

This is the rule 

“more than once”

 

sorry to hear about your situation.  most of us consider a short overstay as a small issue but it sounds like it can be a big issue when applying for the thai elite.  good info for others who might considering getting a thai elite in the future - don't overstay.

 

i spent 8 months a year in thailand for 10 yrs using visa exempt and then tourist visas.  then qualified for extension of stay - retirement when i hit 50 in 2016.  so i experienced part of the crackdown on long stays in the country using SETV's.  i got every one of them in my home country (USA) and i managed to avoid getting denied entry (i was interviewed once but passed their 'test').  it is obviously more difficult now and requires the use of land borders for most entries with a long history like yours.

 

i don't know your particular circumstances, but i was ready to set up a second residence in the region if i did get denied entry.  i don't need to be in thailand all the time and i actually enjoy leaving for awhile.  saigon and manila (fort bonafacio area) were the two areas i was going to choose from in terms of the 2nd home.

 

i was also confronted with this situation for a short period about 10 yrs ago when it was announced that a foreigner could not stay in the kingdom for longer than 180 days a year (using SETV or visa exempt).  that turned out to be nothing but a rumor but i made my back up plan.

 

i hope you can find a solution until you qualify for the thai elite.

 

edit:  maybe getting a lawyer involved could help you.  pay him to pay someone so you get 'extra' service.

Edited May 28, 20197 yr by buick

Seems over the top harsh to me, a single short overstay really isn't such a significant infraction. I guess the "good news" is that they only consider overstays during the last 3 years, so at least you can sit it out.

Posts starting a bickering session have been removed. Time to end it.

3 hours ago, LongTang said:

What rubbish !

Accidental overstay can happen to anyone, especially when one leaves and enters the country frequently and is on a busy scheduled.

Denying a visa to someone who had 1 overstay during 7 years is definitely a case of GOOD GUYS OUT. 

 

The Phillipines will welcome you very warmly!

Just make sure you do not hand over any money until your visa is approved, and even then, double check.

Maybe you should contemplate spending time in the Philippines, , Cebu is a city the size of Chiangmai with all services . I  picked up Cebu as an exemple.

 

No problem to stay at 40 years old  there with tourist visa  extension up to 3 years, Just renew the extensions  when needed. Canadian get 30 days on arrival . Just read the requirement if you are interested..

 

But do not forget to do the extension when needed  as they are serious about this. Overstaying is serious in there.

From Cebu you have flights to Bangkok so you can spend time in both countries until you get you Elite visa in 3 years.

Hope you  find a solution.

 

 

If you have the initial money, you can go to Malaysia, e.g. Penang. I vastly superior country than the dump called Thailand. I don'y understand the lure of Thailand it just boggles my mind. Or wait for three years and then apply again. 

Edited May 28, 20197 yr by onera1961

I overstayed once by two days like you... and was approved but my application was a little while back rules might have changed since

25 minutes ago, onera1961 said:

the dump called Thailand. I don'y understand the lure of Thailand it just boggles my mind.

I DON'Y understand why you hang around the Thailand forum

5 hours ago, The Fat Controller said:

With all the technology available along with the traditional methods such as a diary or a piece of paper and a pen, there is no excuse for an "accidental" overstay !

 

 

Dumb comment. A piece of paper doesn't help you if there is a tropical storm and flights are cancelled for example (as happened to me) life happens and you can have unforseen circumstances it shouldn't define the next years of your life

It was always one of the great barstool myths that an elite visa was a great way to wipe an overstay/blacklist from your record, they wanted your money and could arrange it etc.

Whats the world coming to when you cant believe a good barstool myth anymore.

Wow, you are an honest one.  I would never have considered telling anyone that I had overstayed.  Would have left them to catch me out ... hoping that as with many systems here they don't work.  What is the downside of going back and not claiming you had an overstay?  

1 hour ago, onera1961 said:

If you have the initial money, you can go to Malaysia, e.g. Penang. I vastly superior country than the dump called Thailand. I don'y understand the lure of Thailand it just boggles my mind. Or wait for three years and then apply again. 

Nonsense post. You living in los? Only ask because you post TV a lot. Why are you not living in SH by the name of Penang. Been there one time. Would not stop there for a s**t

23 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

It was always one of the great barstool myths that an elite visa was a great way to wipe an overstay/blacklist from your record, they wanted your money and could arrange it etc.

Whats the world coming to when you cant believe a good barstool myth anymore.

I don't know on what barstools you sit, but in all my years here i never heard this myth..

Furthermore, The connection between Blacklisting and Overstaying is a new one, as till recently it only involved a fine.. I think you must have been daydreaming on your stool then. ????

Apply online through there website.  I had a 2 day overstay 2 years ago and I was approved for the 20 year Visa earlier this month.  

1 hour ago, onera1961 said:

If you have the initial money, you can go to Malaysia, e.g. Penang. I vastly superior country than the dump called Thailand. I don'y understand the lure of Thailand it just boggles my mind. Or wait for three years and then apply again. 

20 million muslims in Malaysia STILL practising sharia law.

Boring S/hole only good for visa runs , thank god I hit 50 and dont need to leave Thailand.

I see your a prolific poster here, yeah I know its hard to cut the cord ????

ENJOY!

 

 

33 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Nonsense post. You living in los? Only ask because you post TV a lot. Why are you not living in SH by the name of Penang. Been there one time. Would not stop there for a s**t

I live in Pattaya (6-month), Las Vegas (3-month), and Benidorm (3-month). 

Just now, onera1961 said:

I live in Pattaya (6-month), Las Vegas (3-month), and Benidorm (3-month). 

Who cares. Your post I quoted was about living in Penang. Give that a try and come back and again refer to Thailand as a "dump" foff