visa renewal denied at CM immigration. Visa expires.

[tomahawk]

Today my one year retirement visa expired. I tried to renew it 3 times but was denied because even though I have sufficient income it was not all deposited in bank. I know this is my mistake as every year before I just got letter from consulate. My problem is I don't know what to do now. I jst had motorbile accident and have no mney left for airplane flight even to Malaysia. I ahve new passport and cannot go to Laos. Ii it possible to go to Mae Sai border and reenter with 1 day overstay and pay fine, or will I get arrested. CM immigration is no help at all when I ask what to do. I have plane ticket to America within 30 days if I can stay that long. Does anyone have any advice for me. merry Christmas.

[BritTim]

You can go to Mae Sai or Mae Sot for a visa exempt entry, paying the 500 baht (for one day) fine. There is a small danger of being arrested for the overstay at a road block on the way to the border, but this would be very unlucky and it anyway seems like your only realistic option. Do not delay.

[Nakmuay887]

2 minutes ago, BritTim said:

You can go to Mae Sai or Mae Sot for a visa exempt entry, paying the 500 baht (for one day) fine. There is a small danger of being arrested for the overstay at a road block on the way to the border, but this would be very unlucky and it anyway seems like your only realistic option. Do not delay.

I live up here, they tend to wave foreigners through fine. in over 200 check points I've never been checked or asked for a passport or what I am doing up here. they are used to seeing NGO workers and more interested in Burmese and Karen migrants being in the province illegally. Mae Sot is a safe bet

[ubonjoe]

You could of applied for a 30 day extension, paid the 1900 baht fee and then be granted 7 days to leave the country when it was denied.

As said not a problem to go to Mae Sai for a 30 day visa exempt entry.

[Nakmuay887]

OP if you can get yourself to Mae Sot i'll help however I can. it's not an expensive bus ride here from CM or Lampang, if you need a place to sleep for a night or anything shoot me a PM. always willing to help someone down on their luck however I can. keep me posted please

[tomahawk]

Thank you so much for your kind answers. Nakmuay, thank you especially for your offer. I will plan to go to Mae Sai as it is closer. Merry Christmas to you all.

[mike787]

And reasons like this are why expats are leaving, they get no leniency from Thai immigration.

[DrJack54]

2 hours ago, mike787 said:

And reasons like this are why expats are leaving, they get no leniency from Thai immigration.

What would you suggest Thai immigration do? 

The OP stated he has no money. Yes he had some sort of accident but the requirements for extensions are in place.

[AgMech Cowboy]

18 hours ago, Nakmuay887 said:

OP if you can get yourself to Mae Sot i'll help however I can. it's not an expensive bus ride here from CM or Lampang, if you need a place to sleep for a night or anything shoot me a PM. always willing to help someone down on their luck however I can. keep me posted please

@Nakmuay887  That is a very nice thing to offer. Merry Christmas!!

[sandyf]

2 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

What would you suggest Thai immigration do? 

 

Are you trying to say that 12 consecutive deposits to a Thai bank is the only alternative to an Embassy letter.

One has to assume that 4 deposits of 3 times the amount, or any other combination, just doesn't equate.

[mike787]

39 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

What would you suggest Thai immigration do? 

The OP stated he has no money. Yes he had some sort of accident but the requirements for extensions are in place.

Thai Immigration is xenophobic, consequently extremely punitive with NO mercy.  OP states: "even though I have sufficient income it was not all deposited in bank" . Immigration needs to consider that.  Also, Ubonjoe states: You could of applied for a 30 day extension, paid the 1900 baht fee and then be granted 7 days to leave the country when it was denied.  Thai immigration didn't offer him that; WHY???  They should have. OP has made significant contributions to Thailand's economy.  It would be in Thailands best interest to allow him to stay, it's a win-win outcome.  BUT NOOOOOO!  Immigration cannot see that.

[Jaxxper]

19 hours ago, Nakmuay887 said:

if you need a place to sleep for a night or anything shoot me a PM. 

Nice gesture. ????

[DrJack54]

10 minutes ago, mike787 said:

Thai Immigration is xenophobic, consequently extremely punitive with NO mercy.  OP states: "even though I have sufficient income it was not all deposited in bank" . Immigration needs to consider that.  Also, Ubonjoe states: You could of applied for a 30 day extension, paid the 1900 baht fee and then be granted 7 days to leave the country when it was denied.  Thai immigration didn't offer him that; WHY???  They should have. OP has made significant contributions to Thailand's economy.  It would be in Thailands best interest to allow him to stay, it's a win-win outcome.  BUT NOOOOOO!  Immigration cannot see that.

I didn't read about the "significant contributions". I got stuck on "I don't have enough for plane ticket even to KL...."

Thai imm are not required to provide advice.

Finally I don't see it as "win-win" at all.

Hope the OP can get to border and obtain 30 day ve. 

[bwpage3]

3 hours ago, mike787 said:

And reasons like this are why expats are leaving, they get no leniency from Thai immigration.

Come on.

 

If he is that low on money he shouldn't even be in Thailand.

[bwpage3]

34 minutes ago, mike787 said:

Thai Immigration is xenophobic, consequently extremely punitive with NO mercy.  OP states: "even though I have sufficient income it was not all deposited in bank" . Immigration needs to consider that.  Also, Ubonjoe states: You could of applied for a 30 day extension, paid the 1900 baht fee and then be granted 7 days to leave the country when it was denied.  Thai immigration didn't offer him that; WHY???  They should have. OP has made significant contributions to Thailand's economy.  It would be in Thailands best interest to allow him to stay, it's a win-win outcome.  BUT NOOOOOO!  Immigration cannot see that.

Immigration has rules relating to the income deposits, why should they be lenient for him?

[Letseng]

Where on this earth does any of you find a lenient and helpful immigration office?

 

[UKresonant]

1 hour ago, sandyf said:

Are you trying to say that 12 consecutive deposits to a Thai bank is the only alternative to an Embassy letter.

One has to assume that 4 deposits of 3 times the amount, or any other combination, just doesn't equate.

They do seem to want to keep the facade of having workable procedures in place, but they don't equate to reality in many examples, especially for UK, US, & Australia nationalities.....

 

If I had an accident, and temporarily  could not manually initiate a SWIFT transfer, that would be the income procedure disrupted, just because the transfer arrived a few days late!

 

 

[emptypockets]

Not a bad idea to put the 800k in the bank and not touch it. Solves a few headaches.

[ICELANDMAN]

15 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

Not a bad idea to put the 800k in the bank and not touch it. Solves a few headaches.

And practice the only option in a short time for all

[stephenterry]

16 minutes ago, Letseng said:

Where on this earth does any of you find a lenient and helpful immigration office?

 

Three years ago, the Imm office in Nakhon Sri Thammarat was always helpful. Of course if your partner had a cousin who worked there and provided cookies from 7-11 it made any renewal a cinch. 

 

Which leaves me with the understanding that it's not 'what' you know, but 'who' you know that matters most in Thailand - and probably most everywhere. Also, taking this one step further, I now use a friendly visa agent (at a cost) to act as the go-between at CM. 

[mike787]

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

I didn't read about the "significant contributions". I got stuck on "I don't have enough for plane ticket even to KL...."

Thai imm are not required to provide advice.

Finally I don't see it as "win-win" at all.

Hope the OP can get to border and obtain 30 day ve. 

Thank you for your reply....feelings mutual hope it all works out. Merry xmas.

[Thingamabob]

4 hours ago, mike787 said:

And reasons like this are why expats are leaving, they get no leniency from Thai immigration.

Ridiculous comment. The mistake is his, not Thai Immigration.

[mike787]

3 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

Ridiculous comment. The mistake is his, not Thai Immigration.

I agree to disagree.  THai immigration needs to set a kinder less "xenophobic" example of working with the OP.  He can make significant contributions to the Thai economy much like all expats do.  He is also does not pose any criminal risk, just a normal expat trying to live in thailand. 

Merry xmas!

[Chazar]

4 hours ago, mike787 said:

And reasons like this are why expats are leaving, they get no leniency from Thai immigration.

for me the stupidity is  often they have the money to  live just fine  in Thailand  but  not shown in the ridiculous way the  Thais want it  shown.

[Old Croc]

When an individual chooses to live in a foreign country it is vitally important for them to be aware of the rules and regulations that effect their stay in that country. It is also incumbent on each individual to keep up with any changes affecting that permission to stay. Accidents, illness or disability shouldn't affect that knowledge. 

If a temporary entrant (all of us without PR) can't meet the financial, or other, requirements to stay, they shouldn't be here.  To blame a government department for not being lenient, or expecting social worker type individual rulings from a division of the police is naïve.

The best we can hope for is that one day they will all be better trained, have clear legislation and that they all work consistently and professionally within that framework.

[bobonzo]

1 hour ago, Letseng said:

Where on this earth does any of you find a lenient and helpful immigration office?

 

SamutPrakran officers are excellent and have helped me multiple times

[FritsSikkink]

5 hours ago, mike787 said:

And reasons like this are why expats are leaving, they get no leniency from Thai immigration.

What are you talking about, he can get a 30 day entry from immigration. 

[Suradit69]

5 hours ago, mike787 said:

And reasons like this are why expats are leaving, they get no leniency from Thai immigration.

He has options which give him time to sort things out. Why is leniency required? 

 

If an accident depleted his financial resources, he apparently had no insurance as well.

[Suradit69]

1 hour ago, Chazar said:

for me the stupidity is  often they have the money to  live just fine  in Thailand  but  not shown in the ridiculous way the  Thais want it  shown.

You mean the way it has to be shown since three major foreign embassies refused to issue income letters which facilitated an easy way to "show" income for many years?

[Thaidream]

2 hours ago, bwpage3 said:

Immigration has rules relating to the income deposits, why should they be lenient for him?

Because he is a human being. Sometimes, unforseen things happen.  He may be waiting until the 31st or First for a pension.

 

While I understand Thai immigration has 'rules' there is the letter of the law and the spirit of the law.   They could have easily said apply for an extension and we will deny it and give you 7 days to sort out the situation. They could have suggested a border run or they could have simply made an exception or stamped him in.  

 

Why is it so hard to understand the concept of the Golden Rule- treat others as you would want to be treated.