I know that in normal times, a quick trip to the airport would be in order, paying the 20,000 baht fine on the way out, hoping not to be stopped by police before getting to the airport. Does anyone have an idea how to proceed in these covid times?

Nothing has changed for overstays.

On departure from the country with an overstay longer than 90 day they will be banned from re-entering the country for one year after paying the 20k baht maximum fine.

 

I have hear that its nice to swim in Mekong River this time of year. 

1 minute ago, 2 is 1 said:

I have hear that its nice to swim in Mekong River this time of year. 

 

For a Lao citizen who never wants to re-enter Thailand, that could be the best solution. It avoids the 20,000 baht fine, and may allow bypassing quarantine in Laos as long as you can avoid the Lao authorities to reach your home village. It would be a very bad idea for a Lao citizen who might need to enter Thailand again in the future.

My wife's family are Lao and many of them work in Thailand.  Without condoning it, I can safely say that they have regularly overstayed and returned to Laos over a land border (usually Chong Mek).  They would absolutely not have been able to pay a significant fine, and I don't believe they have ever been banned, as they usually come back.  I can only guess that a blind eye was turned or a "private" arrangement was made.  

 

I guess one just has to leave legally and accept the consequences.

15 hours ago, BritTim said:

 

For a Lao citizen who never wants to re-enter Thailand, that could be the best solution. It avoids the 20,000 baht fine, and may allow bypassing quarantine in Laos as long as you can avoid the Lao authorities to reach your home village. It would be a very bad idea for a Lao citizen who might need to enter Thailand again in the future.

Absolutely not a good idea!  Why do you think Laos now has Covid-19 cases?  It's because of Lao and Thai citizens illegally crossing the Mekong and land borders, and thus avoiding virus checks and quarantine. I'm happy to support jail time for such selfishness ????

10 minutes ago, simon43 said:

Absolutely not a good idea!  Why do you think Laos now has Covid-19 cases?  It's because of Lao and Thai citizens illegally crossing the Mekong and land borders, and thus avoiding virus checks and quarantine. I'm happy to support jail time for such selfishness ????

How many Lao guys have a lazy 20k in hand. Would be lucky to have 2 bob.

54 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

How many Lao guys have a lazy 20k in hand. Would be lucky to have 2 bob.

I think if they had 20K they wouldn't be here....

56 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

How many Lao guys have a lazy 20k in hand. Would be lucky to have 2 bob.

The Laotian cars I see in Khon Kaen are usually very expensive Range Rovers etc.

You could try talking to one of the agencies that specializes in visas for workers from neighbouring countries to see if they could  help. The girlfriend's brother has been in Thailand for 6 years just doing border runs to Cambodia every 30 days. Since Covid and the borders being closed, he's used an agency that gets him extensions and his passport stamped. It costs him a fair bit more than doing border runs but he's working and doesn't want to go back to Laos. 

47 minutes ago, KhaoNiaw said:

You could try talking to one of the agencies that specializes in visas for workers from neighbouring countries to see if they could  help. The girlfriend's brother has been in Thailand for 6 years just doing border runs to Cambodia every 30 days. Since Covid and the borders being closed, he's used an agency that gets him extensions and his passport stamped. It costs him a fair bit more than doing border runs but he's working and doesn't want to go back to Laos. 

 

A Lao national is quite capable of sorting this out themselves with the immigration office and don't need an agent.

 

I see plenty Lao nationals extending stays  in Kalasin at the Immigration office and before that Khonkaen and Sakon Nakhon.

3 hours ago, simon43 said:

Absolutely not a good idea!  Why do you think Laos now has Covid-19 cases?  It's because of Lao and Thai citizens illegally crossing the Mekong and land borders, and thus avoiding virus checks and quarantine. I'm happy to support jail time for such selfishness ????

I understand why you feel that way, but I think it shows a lack of appreciation of the likely alternative. Basically, the alternative is imprisonment in the IDC, working off the assessed fine (admittedly less than 20,000 baht when set by the court) at 200 baht a day while incarcerated, and then deportation and quarantine within Laos. Probably, this is going to be two to three months during which his family starve.

 

It is difficult for us, privileged citizens of a first world country, to appreciate the challenges faced by those who are less fortunate. Yes, circumventing health checks at the border could  possibly (not likely at the current time) mean you are spreading Covid-19, but this needs to be balanced against the consequences to you and your family of being locked up for months.

51 minutes ago, Scouse123 said:

 

A Lao national is quite capable of sorting this out themselves with the immigration office and don't need an agent.

 

I see plenty Lao nationals extending stays  in Kalasin at the Immigration office and before that Khonkaen and Sakon Nakhon.

 

He's working illegally and prefers to have as little contact with immigration officials as possible. It was just an idea for someone in an apparently illegal situation. The agencies dealing with MOU workers often have a very good immigration contacts and could possibly help with the overstay situation. Wouldn't hurt just to ask. 

1 hour ago, KhaoNiaw said:

You could try talking to one of the agencies that specializes in visas for workers from neighbouring countries to see if they could  help. The girlfriend's brother has been in Thailand for 6 years just doing border runs to Cambodia every 30 days. Since Covid and the borders being closed, he's used an agency that gets him extensions and his passport stamped. It costs him a fair bit more than doing border runs but he's working and doesn't want to go back to Laos. 

Right, all he needs to do to employ the services of an agent is just to cash in some of his investments. Seriously, he might be able to borrow money for such a purpose from a loan shark, but that will be a case of out of the frying pan into the fire.

3 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

How many Lao guys have a lazy 20k in hand. Would be lucky to have 2 bob.

Laos guys without any money to pay the overstay fine, ended up in immigration jail. They will then be deported at the border after spending time in immigration jail. 

44 minutes ago, BritTim said:

Right, all he needs to do to employ the services of an agent is just to cash in some of his investments. Seriously, he might be able to borrow money for such a purpose from a loan shark, but that will be a case of out of the frying pan into the fire.

Costing the girlfriend's brother 5,000 baht per month or two months at the moment, I can't remember which. There are agents that deal only with the MOU countries and price accordingly. When he was doing his monthly border runs, the vans only carry nationals from those countries. 

On 6/22/2021 at 10:48 AM, ubonjoe said:

Nothing has changed for overstays.

On departure from the country with an overstay longer than 90 day they will be banned from re-entering the country for one year after paying the 20k baht maximum fine.

 

Under ASEAN rules are citizens of member states allowed free movement between member countries?

On 6/22/2021 at 10:48 PM, Scouse123 said:

A Lao national is quite capable of sorting this out themselves with the immigration office and don't need an agent.

 

I see plenty Lao nationals extending stays  in Kalasin at the Immigration office and before that Khonkaen and Sakon Nakhon.

 

I'd go one step further and say that there's no place in the equation for the OP, other than a bankroll function.  There's Lao folks they can consult who know exactly how to work the system, and through whom.  But it may become a no-win situation without some funds to grease the skids.

 

1 hour ago, Lancelot01 said:

Under ASEAN rules are citizens of member states allowed free movement between member countries?

Unfortunately, current ASEAN rules do not provide for free movement of labour. There is also no prospect of this being possible any time in the foreseeable future.

10 hours ago, Lancelot01 said:

Under ASEAN rules are citizens of member states allowed free movement between member countries?

No.