A friend has overstayed for 2 years.  (European Passport).

  She wants to leave Thailand and go back to Europe to live.

 

Is it better that she books her one-way flight and pays 20,000 at Suvarnabhumi Airport ?  

  or, would it be better for her to go to The Immigration at Chang Wattana and pay it there first ?

 

If she goes directly to the airport for a one-way flight, because its 2 years overstay, will she likely be detained for questioning and being told-off for a few hours that she will miss her flight?

or do you think the whole thing is the same process as overstaying a few days and just takes 10 mins ?

 

What is the chance that they may refuse her to leave Thailand and detain her ?

  - She got scared because another foreigner told her that recently the Thai Immigration is making people pay MORE than 20,000 baht.  (sometimes a 100,000 baht!!)

I'm sure this is just a made up story, but has anyone else heard about immigration charging MORE than 20,000 ?

 

She is aware she will get a 3 year ban.  (But she isn't worried about that).

 

Thank you for your help.

Edited October 7, 20196 yr by easybullet3

I think the general consensus on this is pay the fine at the Airport.

 

Surrendering to the authorities 'in country' (i.e. at Chaeng Wattana) while considered more favorably regarding future visits (length of ban) your friend is still on a significant overstay and could be arrested - there is less chance of this occurring when surrendering at Suvarnabhumi Airport. 

 

Your 'friend' needs to give herself sufficient time to clear the fine (allow for at least an extra hour i.e. check in 3-4 hours early), your friend would need to have the 20,000 in cash and be very humble and apologetic. 

 

Your friend will likely receive a 3 year ban from Thailand. 

 

I've not heard or read of any reports of Immigration asking for more than the 20,000 baht for an overstay fine when surrendering, although the news doesn't surprise me, the gall of some of those in positions of power is sometimes quite astonishing. In this case they would just be chancing their luck and hoping a 'weak person' crumbles and gives in to an easy pay day / back hander. 

 

 

 

Edited October 7, 20196 yr by richard_smith237

1 hour ago, easybullet3 said:

Is it better that she books her one-way flight and pays 20,000 at Suvarnabhumi Airport ?

Yes.

 

It’s very straightforward at the airport. As long as she has the 20K fine she will be allowed to leave. When the IO at passport control sees the overstay she will be sent to the overstay desk. They won’t care why she overstayed. They will stamp her passport with an overstay stamp confirming the 20K fine paid and she will be banned from the country for 3 years.

I'd impress on her to book flight asap and don't do anything to catch the eye of the police, such as riding a bike without a helmet.

I'd impress on her to book flight asap and don't do anything to catch the eye of the police, such as riding a bike without a helmet.

Why? they don't check your passport

Several off topic and inflammatory posts and replies to them have been removed.

 

Now back to the OP: She absolutely need to avoid going to a immigration office. She could be sent to the detention center and be deported.

Leaving from an airport is the only viable option. She will need have 20,000 baht for the overstay fine. She needs to allow extra time for clearing the overstay at immigration. She will be banned from enter the country for 3 years for overstay of more than one year.

If she goes over 3 years the ban will be 5 years.

If caught and deported it would be a 10 year ban.

 

Edit: And now some more have been removed.

4 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

8 hours ago, daveAustin said:

I'd impress on her to book flight asap and don't do anything to catch the eye of the police, such as riding a bike without a helmet.

Why? they don't check your passport

Can and have.

9 hours ago, daveAustin said:

I'd impress on her to book flight asap and don't do anything to catch the eye of the police, such as riding a bike without a helmet.

That's good advice, generally speaking, but after she has managed to stay on overstay for 2 years undetected by the inept plod, it might come a bit late? ????

Thanks everyone for the good advice here  ????

 it is all very useful and at least now I can tell her what to do.

 

Very appreciated  ????

 

Big joke said there was no overstayers before, so this post is not true.

1 hour ago, Caldera said:

undetected by the inept plod,

 

Yes, shift the blame from her to them.  

 
Yes, shift the blame from her to them.  

Bring in better stay options for under 50 and there'll be no overstays. See I've just solved the problem

If she can;tr pay the fine they levy on her at immigration right there and then she will be refused permission to board the plane ... simple as that. Two years overstay! No sympathy from me. 

Just now, Tropposurfer said:

If she can;tr pay the fine they levy on her at immigration right there and then she will be refused permission to board the plane ... simple as that. Two years overstay! No sympathy from me. 

EXACTLY

Not so far mentioned, but I believe she should make sure to book a flight to her own (passport) country not a 3rd country. 

go a few hours early
get it out of the way

10k a year bargain
3 year ban no worries could probably do with the break

11 hours ago, daveAustin said:

I'd impress on her to book flight asap and don't do anything to catch the eye of the police, such as riding a bike without a helmet.

she has made it two years already.. im sure she has figured that out.

 

but yes, airport, early, with cash.

do not present at chaeng wattana

Edited October 8, 20196 yr by metempsychotic

 

13 minutes ago, Tropposurfer said:

If she can;tr pay the fine they levy on her at immigration right there and then she will be refused permission to board the plane ... simple as that. Two years overstay! No sympathy from me. 

 

13 minutes ago, Captain 776 said:

EXACTLY

cant imagine why anyone would require either of your opinions, let alone your sympathy. 

1 hour ago, Suradit69 said:

Yes, shift the blame from her to them.  

Her overstay is on her and that will be dealt with when she leaves. I have no desire/intention to "blame" her, now that she has decided to rectify her wrongdoing.

 

Thailand having as many overstayers as they have as well as countless other issues due to a complete lack of professional policing is a related, unresolved matter. Blame for that doesn't need to be shifted: It is, quite naturally, the inept plod and those who oversee Thailand's police farce who are to blame for this.

 

I hope that clarifies things.

 

2 hours ago, JohnnyBKK said:

Big joke said there was no overstayers before, so this post is not true.

I'm sure it's  him that works at our local post office now????????????????????????????

Edited October 8, 20196 yr by happy chappie

27 minutes ago, metempsychotic said:

 

cant imagine why anyone would require either of your opinions, let alone your sympathy. 

Tropposurfer said NO sympathy.

Edited October 8, 20196 yr by wgdanson

10 minutes ago, wgdanson said:

Tropposurfer said NO sympathy.

yes, i read the post, thank you.

I would have the 24,000 Bht fine ready  (wink wink) & go direct to the airport 4 hours before departure. Be well groomed & polite.

Do not go to any Immigration Office. They are entitled to lock u up

4 hours ago, metempsychotic said:

4 hours ago, Tropposurfer said:

f she can;tr pay the fine they levy on her at immigration right there and then she will be refused permission to board the plane ... simple as that. Two years overstay! No sympathy from me. 

 

4 hours ago, Captain 776 said:

EXACTLY

cant imagine why anyone would require either of your opinions, let alone your sympathy. 

No sympathy here, its people like her that have made unwarranted problems for us that stay here LEGALLY ! 

Just flag one possible issue. Many of the check on desks don't open until 3 hours before ETD. Get there very early, sort out where the check in desk will be and be at the front of the queue. 

I flew Qatar three weeks ago and arrived early 5 hours before ETD and was still about 50th in the queue. After checking in there was a massive queue at security with lots of Chinese delaying things. 

That was all before I got to Immigration. 

 

10 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

Several off topic and inflammatory posts and replies to them have been removed.

I'll never understand why people have to write inflammatory posts. Or the other stuff about lack of sympathy, etc. She was only asking the best way to handle it and it was given. I hope she has a good trip.

12 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

16 hours ago, daveAustin said:

I'd impress on her to book flight asap and don't do anything to catch the eye of the police, such as riding a bike without a helmet.

Why? they don't check your passport

But they can ask to see it, as you are supposed to carry it all the time. If that happens she may need to have an extra few hundred baht, just in case.

But they can ask to see it, as you are supposed to carry it all the time. If that happens she may need to have an extra few hundred baht, just in case.

if my aunt had balls she'd be my uncle.

 

 

I've been stopped 12 times the last 2 years, not once have they asked for a passport

 

3 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

if my aunt had balls she'd be my uncle.

 

 

I've been stopped 12 times the last 2 years, not once have they asked for a passport

 

So what?

 

You must be a bad rider or driver to be stopped 12 times in 2 years.