Arrested for Overstay by Immigration Police

[Banana7]

I have a friend who was arrested by immigration Police for overstay. Basically his passport expired so he was unable to renew his marriage visa/extension. The Embassy has not issued a new passport or emergency travel document. He started the passport renewal process in November 2022, and his passport expired in February 2023.

 

He was jailed upon arrest, then released on bail, has appeared in court 3 times. This last court, yesterday, released him and ordered him resolve the issues with the Embassy within 10 days. However immigration Police came to his home, gave him one hour to pack, and took him to jail, and now he is being transported to Bangkok IDC.

 

How is it that immigration Police get to override a court order or decision? How can he get help?

 

Edited May 3, 2023 by Banana7

[scubascuba3]

See a lawyer, no one here can help

[JoseThailand]

What country does this unhelpful embassy belong to?

[Banana7]

4 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

What country does this unhelpful embassy belong to?

Canada

[JoseThailand]

2 minutes ago, Banana7 said:

Canada

I didn't know they don't issue replacement passports

[bunnydrops]

I listened to  Russian blogger who brought up this problem. He said many that left because of the war were now having problems since it takes 5 months to get a new PP from their embassy. The embassy does not give out temp PPs, and you do not get the new one without turning in your old one.So they have no choice but to return to Russia for the renewal.

[bignok]

Passports can be fast tracked for a fee but normally 6 weeks. He had 6 months. 

[Banana7]

It is the Embassy job to issue passports and emergency travel documents.

 

He even contacted Global Affairs Canada (GAC) back in Ottawa, complaining about the lack of service and also contacted his MP. Upon his arrest he contacted the Embassy asking for advice, no response. He contacted GAC again complaining about no help upon arrest. GAC told him the Embassy was never contacted about his arrest. Then he sent GAC a screenshot of a LINE conversation showing it had been contacted, same day as the arrest, and the message was read by the Embassy staff. Now GAC and the Embassy have been silent for about 2 weeks.

[bignok]

2 minutes ago, Banana7 said:

It is the Embassy job to issue passports and emergency travel documents.

 

He even contacted Global Affairs Canada (GAC) back in Ottawa, complaining about the lack of service and also contacted his MP. Upon his arrest he contacted the Embassy asking for advice, no response. He contacted GAC again complaining about no help upon arrest. GAC told him the Embassy was never contacted about his arrest. Then he sent GAC a screenshot of a LINE conversation showing it had been contacted, same day as the arrest, and the message was read by the Embassy staff. Now GAC and the Embassy have been silent for about 2 weeks.

He had 6 months to get a new passport. 

[swerve]

The Canadian embassy in Bkk issues new passports quickly (2 weeks).  I've had a couple done there.  A friend's son got one done fast last month. Not sure why your friend couldn't renew his in 3 months.  Extension of stays end upon passport expiry.

[Don Chance]

20 minutes ago, bignok said:

Passports can be fast tracked for a fee but normally 6 weeks. He had 6 months. 

Normal processing time is 20 business days. Emergency would be faster and cost more.

There is also a 24 hour phone number to call.

Edited May 3, 2023 by Don Chance

[Banana7]

9 minutes ago, swerve said:

The Canadian embassy in Bkk issues new passports quickly (2 weeks).  I've had a couple done there.  A friend's son got one done fast last month. Not sure why your friend couldn't renew his in 3 months.  Extension of stays end upon passport expiry.

I too am Canadian and I too need a new passport. However I decided to return to Canada to get a new passport because of the lack of cooperation and service from the BKK Embassy, exhibited when dealing with my friend. I don't want to risk being in Thailand with an expired passport, or dealing with uncooperative Embassy staff. Each time I have visited the Embassy, the staff have never been polite to me, never been on-time for the appointment and seem to have a superiority attitude.

Edited May 3, 2023 by Banana7

[Don Chance]

1 minute ago, Banana7 said:

I too am Canadian and I too need a new passport. However I decided to return to Canada to get a new passport because of the lack of cooperation and service from the BKK Embassy, exhibited when dealing with my friend. I don't want to risk being in Thailand with an expired passport, or dealing with uncooperative Embassy staff. Each time I have visited the Embassy, the staff have never been polite to me.

Well if you want to spend $2000 on a flight home instead of an extra $100 and some unfriendly embassy staff that is up to you.

[bignok]

1 minute ago, Banana7 said:

I too am Canadian and I too need a new passport. However I decided to return to Canada to get a new passport because of the lack of cooperation and service from the BKK Embassy, exhibited when dealing with my friend. I don't want to risk being in Thailand with an expired passport, or dealing with uncooperative Embassy staff. Each time I have visited the Embassy, the staff have never been polite to me.

Why do they need to be polite? Just fill in forms and pay fees. Be done in 1 hour. Get within 3 weeks.

[bignok]

4 minutes ago, Don Chance said:

Normal processing time is 20 business day. Emergency would be faster and cost more.

There is also a 24 hour phone number to call.

Express be a lot cheaper than flying home. 

[Doctor Tom]

18 minutes ago, bunnydrops said:

I listened to  Russian blogger who brought up this problem. He said many that left because of the war were now having problems since it takes 5 months to get a new PP from their embassy. The embassy does not give out temp PPs, and you do not get the new one without turning in your old one.So they have no choice but to return to Russia for the renewal.

Tough

[bignok]

4 minutes ago, Doctor Tom said:

Tough

5 months is hopeless.

[Banana7]

10 minutes ago, Don Chance said:

Normal processing time is 20 business day. Emergency would be faster and cost more.

There is also a 24 hour phone number to call.

He did call Global Affairs Canada emergency help line In Canada multiple times. It seems they have no clue what is actually happening in the Embassy and believe everything the Embassy is telling them.

[bignok]

2 minutes ago, Banana7 said:

He did call Global Affairs Canada emergency help line In Canada multiple times. It seems they have no clue what is actually happening in the Embassy and believe everything the Embassy is telling them.

Bus to Bangkok, visit Embassy. Get passport ordered. Why didnt he do that?

[swerve]

1 minute ago, Banana7 said:

I too am Canadian and I too need a new passport. However I decided to return to Canada to get a new passport because of the lack of cooperation and service from the BKK Embassy, exhibited when dealing with my friend. I don't want to risk being in Thailand with an expired passport, or dealing with uncooperative Embassy staff. Each time I have visited the Embassy, the staff have never been polite to me.

Sorry to hear about your friend's overstay problem.  My dealings with the Canadian passport office in Bkk have been positive.  As I said, I have gotten two new Canuck passports from Bkk before (both less than 2 weeks).  I know of a recent Canadian passport renewal in Bkk that took 2 weeks.  Other countries, like UK and US, may take much longer. 

[bignok]

His wife will have to get a lawyer. What is she doing?

[kwonitoy]

1 hour ago, Banana7 said:

I too am Canadian and I too need a new passport. However I decided to return to Canada to get a new passport because of the lack of cooperation and service from the BKK Embassy, exhibited when dealing with my friend. I don't want to risk being in Thailand with an expired passport, or dealing with uncooperative Embassy staff. Each time I have visited the Embassy, the staff have never been polite to me, never been on-time for the appointment and seem to have a superiority attitude.

Between my son and myself I've got about 7 or 8 CDN passport renewals done in Bangkok. All promptly and courteously.

When you start on your last year of your passport is the time to start the renewal process, not 3 months before hand, especially over the Xmas holiday period. Your friend left it too late IMO.

I've found the staff at the Canadian embassy to be very professional and helpful.

With the recent strike at Service Canada you won't get a passport in Canada any quicker than Bangkok. 

[dingdongrb]

Defect to the USA, become a US citizen....  ???? 

 

Then you will have to dick with deal with the US Embassy in Manila to get any social security benefits...but getting a new passport, no issue!

[CharlieH]

MOVED as nothing to do with Thai visas etc.Canadian passport issue.

[scubascuba3]

9 hours ago, bunnydrops said:

I listened to  Russian blogger who brought up this problem. He said many that left because of the war were now having problems since it takes 5 months to get a new PP from their embassy. The embassy does not give out temp PPs, and you do not get the new one without turning in your old one.So they have no choice but to return to Russia for the renewal.

Overstaying would help them avoid a bullet, some people are hidden for over a decade 

[node]

This is strange. All Canadians can enter Canada on an expired passport that is in Service Canada Law. One cannot leave this way, only entered as a Canadian 

He should have just bought his  Ticket show the agent at the airport the law and leave. 

The Thai immigration officer at the Airport would of course questioned this and have him pay the overstay fee and maybe blacklisted. 

[Peterphuket]

12 hours ago, Banana7 said:

Canada

Yes with a president like Trudeau, I can imagine that, always lecturing the  the population but when it comes to following the rules themselves, they are not at home.

[Lee4Life]

12 hours ago, Banana7 said:

He did call Global Affairs Canada emergency help line In Canada multiple times. It seems they have no clue what is actually happening in the Embassy and believe everything the Embassy is telling them.

That is not limited to just the Canadian Government, we had problems with the US Embassy here that went all the way to a phone call with the State Department in Washington DC, they said they had no control over decisions made at the consular or embassy level.

[Old Croc]

I'm calling bs on this one.

Canada is not some banana (!) republic in Africa.  A passport renewal in reasonable time for genuine citizens would be just a formality. It's obvious to me that the OP (or his friend) have issues.

[AgMech Cowboy]

Maybe they thought he was a trucker who protested (has the same name as or similar to someone) last year in the Freedom Convoy. I wish him well. Difficult situation.