Swede dreams turned sour: Swedish man arrested for overstaying visa in northern Thailand

[webfact]

 

The Immigration Police arrested a Swedish man for overstaying his visa by over three years in the Isaan province of Sakon Nakhon.

 

Following an ongoing effort to thwart foreign criminals seeking refuge in Thailand, officers from the Sakon Nakhoh Immigration Office discovered a 49 year old Swedish man, Toerner John Alexander, overstaying his visa.

 

According to the police report, Alexander entered Thailand via Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok on March 14 of 2020. His primary purpose was to reunite with his Thai wife and children.

 

According to regulations, his permissible stay duration amounted to three months, with his visa slated to expire on June 11 of 2020.

 

However, Alexander did not follow the regulations and stayed a further 1,161 days. Immigration Police also discovered that he had already divorced his Thai wife.

The immigration police managed to track down Alexander and arrested him at a rental house on Rat Bamrung Road in the Tart Cheng Chum sub-district, Mueang district, Sakon Nakhon province.

 

by Petch Petpailin 

Photo via Matichon

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/news/national/swede-dreams-turned-sour-swedish-man-arrested-for-overstaying-visa-in-northern-thailand

 

-- Thaiger 2023-08-17

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

[richard_smith237]

13 minutes ago, webfact said:

Following an ongoing effort to thwart foreign criminals seeking refuge in Thailand

13 minutes ago, webfact said:

His primary purpose was to reunite with his Thai wife and children.

13 minutes ago, webfact said:

Immigration Police also discovered that he had already divorced his Thai wife.

 

I'm sure Thailand is now much safer thanks to the hard work involved in taking this hard-core criminal off the streets !!!... 

 

Perhaps this is what the Wife wanted, did she alert immigration ? 

Somewhat dysfunctional if so, the kids will now grow up without a father. 

 

Even if he was divorced, could he have not gone the extension route based on parent of a Thai child ? (assuming he's registered as the father). 

 

Edited August 17, 2023 by richard_smith237

[Celsius]

24 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Perhaps this is what the Wife wanted, did she alert immigration ? 

Somewhat dysfunctional if so, the kids will now grow up without a father. 

In those 3 years he could have followed the simple rules and extend his visa.

 

He could have also applied for a residence permit for his Children in Sweden.

 

Wait.... he could still do that.

 

But perhaps children are better off living in a village without this loser.

 

 

[khwaibah]

When you get to a 19 year overstaying send me a PM.????

[harleyclarkey]

15 hours ago, webfact said:

Following an ongoing effort by the Immigration police to thwart foreign criminals seeking refuge in Thailand...etc 

So now you're a seriously dangerous criminal that deserves the full weight of the Immigration police? 

Seriously? For overstaying!! You need to get a reality check Thai authorities, and concentrate your efforts on real criminals.  

[Bim Smith]

Not sure labelling him as a serious criminal helps. At least that's what I read into it. However overstay by default in the definition of the law does make him at least a criminal. Whilst I don't know his personal circumstances nor mental state of mind he will find little sympathy from those of us who make the effort to remain legal in this wonderful country. It's called personal responsibility and now he pays the price but may not count the cost. His child will though. 

[bbbbooboo]

Hmmm…. Only 3 yrs….. ppffffttt

[SuperSaiyan]

15 hours ago, Celsius said:

In those 3 years he could have followed the simple rules and extend his visa.

After the first 90 days overstaying it was too late.

[CartagenaWarlock]

19 minutes ago, harleyclarkey said:

r overstaying!! You need to get a reality check Thai authorities, and concentrate your efforts on real criminals.  

He is a real criminal overstaying as if it his his own home land. 

[SiSePuede419]

Don't blame the poor guy not wanting to go back to eating pickled fish in a freezing dark, gloomy place where people never smile. ????

[khaowong1]

1 hour ago, harleyclarkey said:

So now you're a seriously dangerous criminal that deserves the full weight of the Immigration police? 

Seriously? For overstaying!! You need to get a reality check Thai authorities, and concentrate your efforts on real criminals.  

Exactly.. 

[spermwhale]

It's actually kind of impressive that he was able to stay that long in Thailand without getting a visa. I mean, he couldn't get a job without a visa. How did he survive without working? What did he do with all his time? 

[Ginner]

17 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

I'm sure Thailand is now much safer thanks to the hard work involved in taking this hard-core criminal off the streets !!!... 

 

Perhaps this is what the Wife wanted, did she alert immigration ? 

Somewhat dysfunctional if so, the kids will now grow up without a father. 

 

Even if he was divorced, could he have not gone the extension route based on parent of a Thai child ? (assuming he's registered as the father). 

 

What I never understand is. he has been here 3 years, using what, for money? The house in the picture doesn't look like a cheap house to rent. Up North, very close for border runs, and like you say: a dependance visa if the children are his...  

[Ginner]

8 minutes ago, khaowong1 said:

Exactly.. 

The real criminals have the money to pay their way out of these situations, until they dismember someone. then there is no hiding place for the IMMI and RTP. They have to been seen to be doing their job.

[RichardColeman]

Probably only nabbed him as he tried to rent a bike to an Arab !

[Walker88]

Maybe I'm wrong, but those officers look to be the Fashion Police, not Immigration, and looking at the Swede's outfit, he is surely guilty.

[rocketboy2]

Ex grassed him up.

But Thailand is a safer place now. 

[sammieuk1]

Turns out he was a turnip all along ????

[DjSilver]

What a loser. First, he is most likely to not have an education, because no educated Swedish man would sink so low to marry anyone fron Isaan. Second, he don't want his child and wife in Sweden, so keeps them in Thailand.

 

Again, I can't stand these losers that have a wife and children in Thailand, and not with them in their country of living.

[Bangkok Barry]

17 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

the kids will now grow up without a father. 

Many do these days, anywhere. In my native UK the divorce rate is approaching 50%. It seems there is a lack of tolerance and many can no longer compromise if need be in a relationship. I and many people I know are in their 60s to 70s and nearly all of our marriages have lasted 30-50 years.

 

And kids growing up without a father figure has consequences. Also, split families means that two homes are needed instead of one, putting an enormous strain on both the housing market and single parents. Most of those struggling and using food banks in the UK are single parents.

 

Bringing the subject back to Thailand, it is common for kids not to be brought up by their father, rather grandparents are roped in as the parents are too busy to be parents. So in this case, not having a father around is far from unusual.

[4MyEgo]

18 hours ago, webfact said:

Immigration Police also discovered that he had already divorced his Thai wife.

Hmmm, I wonder who put the call in ?

[Nickcage49]

3 years? What are these people thinking? Or are they thinking?

 

Go to immigration and get renewed. If you're under 50 make a visa run.

 

Otherwise you're in trouble.

Edited August 18, 2023 by Nickcage49

[Mbaki]

2 hours ago, harleyclarkey said:

So now you're a seriously dangerous criminal that deserves the full weight of the Immigration police? 

Seriously? For overstaying!! You need to get a reality check Thai authorities, and concentrate your efforts on real criminals.  

Your country is any different for illegal immigrants?

[hotchilli]

Unless he was financially screwed I don't understand why he couldn't get a visa with regards to his children?

[Mbaki]

1 hour ago, DjSilver said:

What a loser. First, he is most likely to not have an education, because no educated Swedish man would sink so low to marry anyone fron Isaan. Second, he don't want his child and wife in Sweden, so keeps them in Thailand.

 

Again, I can't stand these losers that have a wife and children in Thailand, and not with them in their country of living.

There is nothing low about marrying a lady from Issan, they are hard working and loyal wives, a lot better than most of your western equivalents.

[stix40]

That's good me and the wife can sleep now knowing that hardened farang is off the streets, well done RTP .

[GinBoy2]

2 hours ago, SiSePuede419 said:

Don't blame the poor guy not wanting to go back to eating pickled fish in a freezing dark, gloomy place where people never smile. ????

I rather like Sweden, a little pricey but not Hell on earth

[erkho]

Outrageous, these guys have really protected the public by this. Excellent work…..what an absolute joke!!!! That guy pointing his finger should be in a clown suit. There is clear consensus on this I see, so I don’t have to use any bad terminology to say what they really are. 

[erkho]

And, for those who are going to say, so your country is different? Hell yes, no Swede is going to wind up getting tracked down and out in jail for overstaying his visa unless he committed a crime in which case he would do his time then be ejected. But this? This is a complete waste of resources and time. A big fat joke.

[rocketboy2]

1 hour ago, Mbaki said:

Your country is any different for illegal immigrants?

Yes, we send a water taxi to pick them up.

Put them up in a hotels

Give them money.

Give food and clothing. 

All free.

Uk, Taking care of all the world. at it's citizens expense.