Can we have a thread here advising us about overstaying in Thailand.? 

It seems even the guys in this forum are at a loss what to do now. 

I was actually advised by a woman in a travel agency in Pattaya to overstay and just pay the fine.

Maybe they will be more lenient on overstaying now. 

Or maybe not, if you can't give a valid reason why you can't just return to your country. 

I'm from UK and I guess I have no valid reason not to go home. So I guess I would not qualify for an overstay anyway. 

Would going to my embassy help at all? 

 

Seems noone knows what the hells going on right now. 

A trip to the British embassy will be of no help at all. You won't even get in without an appointment and even then the opening hours are very limited. 

There's a real opportunity here for the Thai government to offer some goodwill to visitors and expats who cannot comply with leaving before permitted stay expires. If border runs, visa runs and return to home countries is not possible then a 30 day grace period on all permitted stays could be offered with no financial or blacklist penalty. I was stuck here for 3 days over permitted stay due to the Iceland volcanic Ash cloud closing European airspace in 2010 and no penalty was applied for overstay. 

20 minutes ago, theVenerable said:

 

It seems even the guys in this forum are at a loss what to do now. 

where are you ?

 

 

10 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

where are you ?

 

 

I'm in Pattaya now
I assumed that would eb the easiest way to do a visa run.. But they are not even offering Visa runs to cambodia anymore.

We leave for France via Frankfurt on 30 March! Visa expires same day! Flight already cancelled (Lufthansa) Went this morning from Hua Hin to Myanmar border, it’s closed! Def not going to be able to leave and prob would prefer to stay another 30/60 days! Anyone any ideas? Being told need letter from UK embassy to get an extension? That’s not going to happen! 6 weeks for an appointment 

3 minutes ago, theVenerable said:

I'm in Pattaya now
I assumed that would eb the easiest way to do a visa run.. But they are not even offering Visa runs to cambodia anymore.

My understanding is that most visa runs have been stopped due to low numbers wanting to use them. They cancel rather than taking a van with three people. There was a reliable post earlier today to the effect that a run to Ban Laem went this morning.

1 minute ago, Nick Pym said:

We leave for France via Frankfurt on 30 March! Visa expires same day! Flight already cancelled (Lufthansa) Went this morning from Hua Hin to Myanmar border, it’s closed! Def not going to be able to leave and prob would prefer to stay another 30/60 days! Anyone any ideas? Being told need letter from UK embassy to get an extension? That’s not going to happen! 6 weeks for an appointment 

Demand that Lufthansa provide you with an alternative. That might mean leaving early. Lufthansa may want to refund rather than reroute you. Do not accept that.

4 minutes ago, BritTim said:

My understanding is that most visa runs have been stopped due to low numbers wanting to use them. They cancel rather than taking a van with three people. There was a reliable post earlier today to the effect that a run to Ban Laem went this morning.

Well nothing is reliable anymore
Cambodia have stopped issuing visa is another thread on here made a few hours ago.
It's impossible to do a visa run without a visa.

So which is it?
Can I do a visa run or can;t I?

This is an utter nightmare

Edited March 20, 20206 yr by theVenerable

16 minutes ago, theVenerable said:

I'm in Pattaya now
I assumed that would eb the easiest way to do a visa run.. But they are not even offering Visa runs to cambodia anymore.

Your'e tourist, go home. BA still have flights.

Why on Earth should the British Embassy help visa runners that cheat the system?

6 minutes ago, theVenerable said:

Well nothing is reliable anymore
Cambodia have stopped issuing visa is another thread on here made a few hours ago.
It's impossible to do a visa run without a visa.

So which is it?
Can I do a visa run or can;t I?

This is an utter nightmare

Nope you can't. And if you would find a way you would not be able to get back into Thailand with it's new health cert. and insurance rules.

We have to wait for the govt. to come with a solution which they are working on.

4 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

Your'e tourist, go home. BA still have flights.

Why on Earth should the British Embassy help visa runners that cheat the system?

EXACTLY
That's all I was asking
So the only hope is to overstay.

the reason I don't wan't to go back to the UK is I would be staying at my brothers overcrowded house with his family

5 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

Your'e tourist, go home. BA still have flights.

Why on Earth should the British Embassy help visa runners that cheat the system?

Going to keep pumping out this I am ok and your not hate tosh to the bitter end....Nice... 

3 minutes ago, fforest1 said:

Going to keep pumping out this I am ok and your not hate tosh to the bitter end....Nice... 

Well.. I didn't like it
But at least it got to the point I suppose

Edited March 20, 20206 yr by theVenerable

I'm in the same situation.  I already extended my visa exemption by 30 days, which is up next week. 

 

No way I'm going back to the US with how bad it's gotten there.  Much safer to stay in the islands here for now.  I plan to go to Trat to see if an immigration officer will give me a 2nd extension based on the risk of flying.  If not, I'll just pay the penalty I suppose.  20K thb isn't too unreasonable to be able to stay here.

4 minutes ago, alw22 said:

I'm in the same situation.  I already extended my visa exemption by 30 days, which is up next week. 

 

No way I'm going back to the US with how bad it's gotten there.  Much safer to stay in the islands here for now.  I plan to go to Trat to see if an immigration officer will give me a 2nd extension based on the risk of flying.  If not, I'll just pay the penalty I suppose.  20K thb isn't too unreasonable to be able to stay here.

Assuming your not arrested on overstay and taken to the IDC.

What are the downsides or risks when overstaying for quite some time? Say if someone overstayed for say 20 days, how would that reflect on wanting to return to visit Thailand once again? Then again, during these kind of situations, its all cost/risk reward.

2 minutes ago, JacobD said:

What are the downsides or risks when overstaying for quite some time? Say if someone overstayed for say 20 days, how would that reflect on wanting to return to visit Thailand once again? Then again, during these kind of situations, its all cost/risk reward.

You can overstay 90 days until you're temporarily banned.

6 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

Assuming your not arrested on overstay and taken to the IDC.

Is it really that likely? I don't plan on doing anything else that's illegal or draws attention.

7 minutes ago, alw22 said:

Is it really that likely? I don't plan on doing anything else that's illegal or draws attention.

Who could possibly say, with hotline numbers being promoted for locals to "phone in", a simple checkpoint,  a minor accident,  the possibilities are endless.Most of which are beyond your control.

9 minutes ago, alw22 said:

Is it really that likely? I don't plan on doing anything else that's illegal or draws attention.

It would seem quite unlikely in the current climate. Though I do wonder, when they have all the info at hand (with the hotels registering guest information), does it get pro-actively enforced?

1 minute ago, jacob29 said:

It would seem quite unlikely in the current climate. Though I do wonder, when they have all the info at hand (with the hotels registering guest information), does it get pro-actively enforced?

Yes, I was wondering about the hotels etc.

Well I guess I'm royally ******

1 hour ago, theVenerable said:

Can I do a visa run or can;t I?

I just checked the Cambodian e-visa site, and it appears still to be issuing visas. That would mean using Poipet/Aran (the only land crossing from Thailand that accepts the Cambodian e-visas) which is risky at the best of times. If you get the e-visa, my guess is that there are no casino buses running now. Thus, you would need to use time consuming regular public transport to get there, or an expensive taxi. If desperate, it is probably worth a try.

1 minute ago, theVenerable said:

Yes, I was wondering about the hotels etc.

Well, I reckon I'm going to find out the answer to that in the coming weeks ????

16 minutes ago, alw22 said:

Is it really that likely? I don't plan on doing anything else that's illegal or draws attention.

How long have you been in the country?

Never underestimate how inhuman and unsympathetic Thai immigration and police are.

They couldn't give a <deleted> if they are condemning you to death in the IDC

40+ degrees in there now and packed to the rafters.

One person with whu flu could wipe out hundreds in a few days.

Thais do not care or have empathy for anybody.

The only time you see a Thai cry is when money is involved.........even at a funeral 

If you do get a knock on the door or find immigration outside, just open the door and cough violently in their direction.

It might make them leave in a hurry and give you chance to do a runner!

13 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

Who could possibly say, with hotline numbers being promoted for locals to "phone in", a simple checkpoint,  a minor accident,  the possibilities are endless.Most of which are beyond your control.

Obviously anything is possible but that doesn't mean the risk can't be estimated.  Overstaying in Thailand isn't that uncommon yet I haven't heard many horror stories about going being arrested and sent to IDC, so that would lead me to believe the risk is fairly low.

4 minutes ago, alw22 said:

Obviously anything is possible but that doesn't mean the risk can't be estimated.  Overstaying in Thailand isn't that uncommon yet I haven't heard many horror stories about going being arrested and sent to IDC, so that would lead me to believe the risk is fairly low.

I know a few people with 5 + years of overstay so it is possible.

However the immigration will have no clue about them as their records will be in some dusty storage facility 

The new overstayers will be easier to find as their current location will be more up to date on their database

 

KEEP PLENTY OF MONEY AVAILABLE. You need to be able to pay your way out before you get processed

Edited March 20, 20206 yr by Canuck1966

5 minutes ago, alw22 said:

Obviously anything is possible but that doesn't mean the risk can't be estimated.  Overstaying in Thailand isn't that uncommon yet I haven't heard many horror stories about going being arrested and sent to IDC, so that would lead me to believe the risk is fairly low.

Well then I suggest you peruse the Thai news forum. See if you are of the same opinion given the recent arrests and public flaunting of those caught. Also remember if caught you may face a ban too.

1 minute ago, CharlieH said:

Well then I suggest you peruse the Thai news forum. See if you are of the same opinion given the recent arrests and public flaunting of those caught.

I think they will have enough on their plates in the next few months to be actually targeting, but they never turn down the chance for a nice photo opp