Tourist Visa Renewal With Overstay?

[triangular]

I'm on a 2 month + 1 month extension tourist visa from Laos, although I misjudged the expiration date of the first 2 months and now I'm several days late. I am wondering, if I go to pay the fine at an immigration office, will they still renew/extend for the 3rd month or will they tell me I now have no visa and need to leave the country?? I worry about this, I hope somebody has a good answer!

[Crossy]

Others have reported no problem at BKK immigration office. Depends how late 'a few days' is

It is entirely down to the officer you see whether he accepts your extension, gives you seven days, or arrests you (unlikely).

[blade63]

i had 1 day overstay and paid baht 500 fine last week - extended for 30 days...

[triangular]

Ok but whats going to happen if I go to an immigration office to pay that late fee and they DONT give me the extension? I know its up to the officer but when I called the official immigration hotline they said if you are late you cannot extend. If that happens then I'll be in an immigration office with no legal visa and...?

[Krub]

Ok but whats going to happen if I go to an immigration office to pay that late fee and they DONT give me the extension? I know its up to the officer but when I called the official immigration hotline they said if you are late you cannot extend. If that happens then I'll be in an immigration office with no legal visa and...?

And it is up to you to take the risk. On this forum we can only give you related experiences but in the end you take the decision to do what you think best in your situation. You are now on overstay so could bearrested anytime......

Doing a run by air is the safest bet but again if you are caught on the way to the airport.....

[triangular]

I dont worry about getting caught, and I'm not "criminally" late anyway. I don't carry my passport for general ID and police never ask for it when I'm occassionally stopped along with other motorbike drivers just for routine checks. You are right I am only asking for the experience and advice of others who might have been in a situation like this before. I think in most cases they will usually give an "emergency" visa of 5 days to get yourself in order. I've heard that happening at the border before. I'm concerned because the new border run rules are no more than 3 times in a 6 months period, if I still have that right. So now Im on this tourist visa, 2+1 with extension, and if I don't get renewed, I'm not sure I can go back to a boarder for a 30 day renewal, since it's only been the last 2 months (this current visa) since I did my last border run. So that's my situation. Anybody who has advice or experience of anything similar, I welcome it.

I guess its in my best interest to go to the immigration office and try to talk, plead if necessary, to an officer. Honestly and straightforward with sincerity. No reason to do otherwise. But I think I should stay away from any busy, formal offices like the one at the airport, where they probably deal with deportations and the plane so handy nearby.

[lopburi3]

I dont worry about getting caught, and I'm not "criminally" late anyway

Wrong. You can be arrested/jailed and have to appear in court if found out by normal police. If you appear at Immigration they will likely either approve your extension of stay or advise you to immediately leave. Indeed if you have to leave the airport is where you want to pay your fine and they will just take your money/mark your passport and allow you to board your aircraft.

[Digitalbanana]

I dont worry about getting caught, and I'm not "criminally" late anyway. I don't carry my passport for general ID and police never ask for it when I'm occassionally stopped along with other motorbike drivers just for routine checks.

I see a number of red alarm bells in the above statement,

1. You are taking a risk if the above is true. You ARE "criminally" overstaying so are at risk.

2. Not carrying a passport for ID is also illegal.

3. Getting stopped for routine checks on a bike makes points 1 and 2 above all the more worry some and should be corrected ASAP. Just MHO.

Cheers

[triangular]

Well, thank you for all your input. I realize that 1 day overstay is technically "criminal", and I probably shouldnt have put it that way. I'm just saying that a short time overstay is not usually seen as a major issue unless there have been past issues and its more serious. As far as carrying a passport, nobody has ever asked me for that, I don't personally know anyone who stays long term and carries it on their person every time they leave the house, but I do have other valid forms of ID that police accept and prefer that I have.

Please don't get me wrong, I am a resident here, I dont live in a hotel, have a fiancee, etc. I also do realize these are important issues and thats why Im asking what my options and possibilities are. Yes Im a little nervous to go to immigration but I have to, although I think I wont go to airport immigration. Thats just too easy to deny me on the spot. I am pretty sure they do give 5 day passes for emergency situations like that. Just going out and coming back is not a big deal. I just dont know what normally happens in this case cause I've not been on a tourist visa like this before.

[Digitalbanana]

If it was me, I'd leave the country and re-enter either on another TV or a visa exempt entry. The overstay has overruled all other options now. Perhaps others can confer?

[triangular]

Actually paying the fine and getting the normal 30 day extension is no issue at all. Just wanted to let others know. Thats normal according to the officer, but I dont know they would say that if you were as many days late as the extension would already put you. I wasnt that extreme in my tardiness.

[visarunner]

Actually paying the fine and getting the normal 30 day extension is no issue at all. Just wanted to let others know. Thats normal according to the officer, but I dont know they would say that if you were as many days late as the extension would already put you. I wasnt that extreme in my tardiness.

If caught by Police you have put yourself in a very vulnerable position.

Any Judge in Thailand considers Overstay as a serious offence.

Not sure if Immigration Officers will extent a expired visa.

Good Luck.

Edited March 21, 2007 by visarunner

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Ok but whats going to happen if I go to an immigration office to pay that late fee and they DONT give me the extension? I know its up to the officer but when I called the official immigration hotline they said if you are late you cannot extend. If that happens then I'll be in an immigration office with no legal visa and...?

Your 60 days has passed on your tourist visa. Immigration cannot extend an expired visa.

[lopburi3]

I believe the OP just had his stay extended. Immigration Police take a much less strict view of short overstay than would be the case with local police. And they do seem to be able to provide the normal 30 day extension of stay if you pay your overstay. However it is not a recommended approach - but they seem to understand the normal tourists often fail to meet deadlines while on vacation and try to accommodate them if they present themselves in a normal manner.

[triangular]

A few of you are quoting me but still dont see what I said. I just had the expired visa extended, it is not a big deal. Sure going to jail if a policeman in the wrong mood asks you for your passport and you show him an expired visa, but you probably wouldnt be carrying it if it was expired anyway. Regardless, immigration officials are taking these fines all the time, that is the reason for raising the per day fine now. They are making a lot of money on these fines. I dont know how many days late would result in not getting the extension, but they were happy to take the money for my late fine and give me the 30 day extension, although it was extended from the original expiration date, NOT the date I just paid the fines for. If they are really doing any kind of record keeping or background checks when you extend or renew your visa, then they will probably care more about whatever else is on your record in the Kingdom, and otherwise happy to fine you and be on your way.

Everybody knows its illegal to stay beyond a valid visa. That was not the subject of this thread. Now I just want to let others know that if you are late on your 2+1 month tourist visa, you can still pay the fine at an immigration office and get your normal 1 month extension, you dont have to go flying out to get a new visa in fear of being arrested or deported. That was the subject I asked questions about. Thanks for all the input.

[sniffdog]

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Your 60 days has passed on your tourist visa. Immigration cannot extend an expired visa.

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Apparently it isn't that black & white. It happened to me too ... I came three days after the expiry date. The

officer was very lenient and 'backdated' my extension.

But aware, this depends on the officer in charge ... Just give it a try.