Is it really possible to be here with 6 years overstay

[Mino]

I know how it feels to be in overstay as I was myself few months ago. Go out, pay the fine, back with the proper visa. This weekend I come to meet a friend in Isan and, in his little town, he has a guy with 6 years overstay. Is that really possible that someone can "hide" here with a huge overstay? 

[DrJack54]

Yes.

Not sure what the record is but my guess longer than 6yrs.

Edited December 17, 2022 by DrJack54

[Lucky Bones]

6 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Yes.

Not sure what the record is but my guess longer than 6yrs.

Agreed.

It's all just a matter of applying oneself.????????

[proton]

If you have no respect for the law and are stupid or desperate enough yes, he will get caught out eventually

[mikeymike100]

If you are out in the 'sticks' as it were, then quite possibly, just don't go to Phuket or Pattaya?

The smart BMW's will catch you?????

[Mino]

33 minutes ago, mikeymike100 said:

If you are out in the 'sticks' as it were, then quite possibly, just don't go to Phuket or Pattaya?

The smart BMW's will catch you?????

Yes. My friend told me he never moved from the small town for years. 

[OneMoreFarang]

I live in the middle of Bangkok since more than 20 years. I don't remember that anybody official ever checked my passport. Exceptions are of course immigration and airport.

For renting or something like that they normally only ask for the picture page of the passport.

So I guess the answer to your question is: Sure, and IMHO the risk is not high that you get caught. 

[OneMoreFarang]

37 minutes ago, proton said:

If you have no respect for the law and are stupid or desperate enough yes, he will get caught out eventually

What would you do if you had already a year or two overstay and you want to stay in Thailand, i.e. because of your family. I think with that overstay there is no legal way to stay here or even go away and return sometime soon.

So I guess some guys just stay and hope for the best.

[1FinickyOne]

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

Not sure what the record is but my guess longer than 6yrs.

I had a friend who never extended unless he wanted to leave and then just paid the 20k.. he rarely left in the course of 20+ yrs. 

[BE88]

12 minutes ago, Mino said:

Yes. My friend told me he never moved from the small town for years. 

Living without going out in a small town in Issan is like feeling in confined prison, did he tell you why he doesn't renew his visa?

[proton]

21 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

What would you do if you had already a year or two overstay and you want to stay in Thailand, i.e. because of your family. I think with that overstay there is no legal way to stay here or even go away and return sometime soon.

So I guess some guys just stay and hope for the best.

what do they do when the passport runs out as well?

[Mino]

20 minutes ago, BE88 said:

Living without going out in a small town in Issan is like feeling in confined prison, did he tell you why he doesn't renew his visa?

Even my friend doesn't know. 

[Mino]

11 minutes ago, proton said:

what do they do when the passport runs out as well?

I don't know the answer, but I think when you renew it at your Embassy, they doesn't care your status.

[Liverpool Lou]

44 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I live in the middle of Bangkok since more than 20 years. I don't remember that anybody official ever checked my passport. Exceptions are of course immigration and airport.

For renting or something like that they normally only ask for the picture page of the passport.

So I guess the answer to your question is: Sure, and IMHO the risk is not high that you get caught. 

Any time you've handed your passport over for a bank transaction it's been checked, they don't tell you that, though.

[Liverpool Lou]

24 minutes ago, proton said:

what do they do when the passport runs out as well?

Renew it.

[KhunLA]

In 20+ yrs, I don't recall any official asking to see my PP.  Could have been an overstay easily that whole time.

[FriendlyFarang]

19 minutes ago, proton said:

what do they do when the passport runs out as well?

He won’t travel abroad anyway, so not really important.

 

 

Police never randomly asked to see my passport to check my permission to stay stamp, I would say the chance to be caught on overstay is nearly 0 if you never reported your current address to immigration.

Thus I would expect that there are many people with decades of overstay.

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, proton said:

what do they do when the passport runs out as well?

What's the problem about it running out if you never use it?

[OneMoreFarang]

47 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Any time you've handed your passport over for a bank transaction it's been checked, they don't tell you that, though.

I do online banking. Maybe I needed the passport some time ago when I set this up, but I don't remember.

I didn't have to go to any bank for years.

 

And in general I am sure people are able to find ways to do things, i.e. with the Thai wife or a farang friend. The risk of being deported happens if there is a random unexpected check somewhere. If a person knows they have an expired visa, then I am sure they know how to avoid certain foreseeable issues. 

 

[proton]

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

What's the problem about it running out if you never use it?

You cannot leave, cannot show it at a bank, cannot present it at a hospital or a hotel, Dead man walking

[3NUMBAS]

yes easy to do if you live in a shack in the boonies somewhere  .you  could do it for decades if you dont get  grassed up by locals

[richard_smith237]

Theoretically... Of course its possible to stay here long term on an overstay. 

 

How would anyone catch you ???

 

I never carry my passport anywhere, so even when the BiB have asked I’ve not had a passport at hand to show them. 

 

Thus: theoretically - someone on an overstay only gets caught IF the immigration computer flags them and they are targeted.... OR if someone turns them in of they are causing problems and draw the attention of the Police etc... 

 

 

I think theoretically, it would be extremely easy for an overstayer to remain in country for a long time. 

Their issues arise when they need to travel or do anything official. 

[FriendlyFarang]

14 minutes ago, proton said:

You cannot leave, cannot show it at a bank, cannot present it at a hospital or a hotel, Dead man walking

Most of them probably have a Thai spouse, so they can just their spouse's bank account, and their spouse's ID card when checking at a hotel.
Actual limitations with an expired passport:

- Can't renew their driving license, so when ending up in a police checkpoint they have to pay a fine for no license, but I guess many of them live out in the sticks, there are just no traffic check points.

- Can't fly

- Hospital visit might be problematic, but I assume this can somehow be handled.

[proton]

11 minutes ago, FriendlyFarang said:

Most of them probably have a Thai spouse, so they can just their spouse's bank account, and their spouse's ID card when checking at a hotel.
Actual limitations with an expired passport:

- Can't renew their driving license, so when ending up in a police checkpoint they have to pay a fine for no license, but I guess many of them live out in the sticks, there are just no traffic check points.

- Can't fly

- Hospital visit might be problematic, but I assume this can somehow be handled.

Rather me than him, personally I would report him

[Mac Mickmanus]

It would be an extremely stressful existence , knowing that everyday could be your last day in Thailand and sitting there waiting for a knock at the door from immigration and you could be in IDC that night and the next stop is your home County and a lengthy ban from going back to Thailand 

[OneMoreFarang]

45 minutes ago, proton said:

You cannot leave, cannot show it at a bank, cannot present it at a hospital or a hotel, Dead man walking

Almost the same as trying above without a valid visa.

[Lucky Bones]

45 minutes ago, 3NUMBAS said:

yes easy to do if you live in a shack in the boonies somewhere  .you  could do it for decades if you dont get  grassed up by locals

Got it in one.????????

[sadmoneysnow]

I had my passport visa status checked by police when entering Phuket by bus. It is the only time I have had my visa status check in Thailand, if I was on an overstay I would have been <deleted>

[DrJack54]

22 minutes ago, proton said:

Rather me than him, personally I would report him

I'm interested.

What the heck would it have to do with you? 

Rhetorical question.

You have shown colours already. 

[proton]

1 minute ago, DrJack54 said:

I'm interested.

What the heck would it have to do with you? 

Rhetorical question.

You have shown colours already. 

I despise over stayers and those with illegal extensions, just makes it harder for the rest of us doing things legally and respecting the law. I would report anyone breaking the law by overstaying for years, up to me.