A Filipina woman who had entered and exited Thailand 26 times has been caught overstaying in the country for over four years. Thai police discovered her during a routine inspection aimed at curbing immigration-related offences.

 

Police Lieutenant Colonel Suriya Phuangsombat led an investigation targeting areas in Bangkok where foreigners frequently gather. On June 16, officers inspected a local church and noticed a woman acting suspiciously. When asked to present her passport, she could not provide one, prompting further investigation.

 

The woman, identified as Mary, 42, had last entered Thailand in early 2020, obtaining a 30-day visa exemption on 2nd March 2020, which expired on 31st March 2020. Since then, there had been no record of her applying for a visa extension, meaning she had been illegally staying in the country for over four years.

 

Authorities charged her with "being a foreigner staying in the kingdom after the permission had expired." She was informed of her rights and handed over to the Immigration Office for further legal proceedings and repatriation.

 

Picture courtesy: Talk News Online

 

Lt. Col. Suriya emphasised that foreigners must enter Thailand through legal channels and obtain the correct visas. They must also report their residence to immigration officers as stipulated in Section 37 of the Immigration Act of 1979. Those wishing to work in Thailand must apply for the appropriate work permits.

 

Employers found hiring foreigners without a work permit face hefty fines of up to 100,000 baht according to the Royal Decree on the Management of Foreign Workers’ Employment 2017. Additionally, homeowners are required to notify the Immigration Bureau when a foreigner stays at their property.

 

Thailand’s stringent immigration policies serve as a reminder to adhere to legal entry and residency rules, ensuring that foreigners maintain proper documentation and visa status while in the country.

 

Picture courtesy: Siam Rath

 

-- 2024-06-17

 

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Methinks that there is a big gap in the Immigration system if she overstayed for 4 years and went in and out of the country 26 times. The rules need to bed changed if they cannot implement the current rules. 

44 minutes ago, webfact said:

officers inspected a local church and noticed a woman acting suspiciously.

She was informed of her rights and handed over to the Immigration

Crikey, I hang out at churches regularly, thought I'd be safe. 

 

Filipino or Filipina?

7 minutes ago, Celsius said:

Filipino or Filipina?

Filipino is male fillipina is female.

I'd love to know what "acting suspiciously" means in Thailand

police in the church?

that is beyond any #$@#$ 
even during wars churches were somehow "can't touch this"

Unspeakable!

Dates seem to match up with Covid. 
 

4 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Crikey, I hang out at churches regularly, thought I'd be safe. 

 

cottageing? 

OMG, those suspicious Filipinas are violating the immigration law of Thailand once again? 

4 hours ago, peterpaintpot said:

Methinks that there is a big gap in the Immigration system if she overstayed for 4 years and went in and out of the country 26 times. The rules need to bed changed if they cannot implement the current rules. 

I think the 26 in & outs preceded the last one........after that she didn't leave for 4 years. hence "overstay".

44 minutes ago, Jenkins9039 said:

I'd love to know what "acting suspiciously" means in Thailand

Worshipping imaginary beings.🙂

Targeting a Catholic Church because “foreigners” gather there sounds very much like targeting Philippine nationals.

 

Its rank racial profiling but I guess that’s pretty much standard here.

What a despicable crime! Did it make international news headlines? I watched the BBC World news earlier, and there was no mention of it...... must be fake news or the BBC would have picked up on it! 🤔🤪

Of course this is inaccurate as all people with valid entries converted to the covid exemption before March 30th 2020 (think it was about the 26th when the country declared the emergency measures) so I'm guessing she didn't start doing the 60 day extensions when they were available in country for 1900 baht, I can't remember when that started again think it was either late 2020 or early 21

Funnily enough, the first lass I ever 'bar-fined' in LOS was a lovely Philipina in Pattaya in 1987. I was on the way to a two year posting in Greece of all places - it was suggested by a mate that I may wish to stopover in LOS, as my chances of finding 'love' would be slim in Greece. Back then I couldn't speak a word of Thai & was shocked when a b/g spoke better English than most squaddies. Doubt she was a serious church-goer though. Even weirder, Greece is listed as a "hardship" posting & Officers were given a fully paid return ticket to 'anywhere' every six months, in return for putting up with such "hardship'. No prizes for guessing where I chose to get over the "hardship"....

What is worse in a racist country like Thailand?

 

1. Foreigners overstaying in Thailand, or

 

2. Thais overstaying in the EU?

 

Answer:

Since, Thais needs a schengen visa to go to the EU, it is more likely for them to overstay 🤣

5 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Crikey, I hang out at churches regularly, thought I'd be safe. 

 

Better to hang out in gogo bars because foreigners never go to them

5 hours ago, webfact said:

A Filipina woman who had entered and exited Thailand 26 times has been caught overstaying in the country for over four years. Thai police discovered her during a routine inspection aimed at curbing immigration-related offences.

On the ball as usual...

And the Thai obsession with "overstay" snags another victim. Filipinas seldom have any money, so she will have to languish in prison. A disgusting waste of time and life.

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Employers found hiring foreigners without a work permit face hefty fines of up to 100,000 baht according to the Royal Decree on the Management of Foreign Workers’ Employment 2017.

Instead of following people to church, they should follow them into the Thai businesses that hire them

 

How did she finance her 4 year stay ? 

6 minutes ago, Felton Jarvis said:

And the Thai obsession with "overstay" snags another victim. Filipinas seldom have any money, so she will have to languish in prison. A disgusting waste of time and life.

Maybe.. The fine caps out at 20k doesn't it then obviously need the money for a flight home so probably 30k needed, I wouldn't be shocked to know they have savings around this amount if shes working in a language school or freelancer without addiction issues.

5 hours ago, Celsius said:

Filipino or Filipina?

Both are correct, Filipino covers both sexes, Filipina is specific for females only.

The party is over.  

1 hour ago, Jenkins9039 said:

I'd love to know what "acting suspiciously" means in Thailand

Probably displaying a furtive reaction to the presence of Immigration officers.

1 hour ago, NativeBob said:

police in the church?

that is beyond any #$@#$ 
even during wars churches were somehow "can't touch this"

Unspeakable!

Why?  Are worshipping offenders granted immunity whilst in their club houses?

4 yrs pfffftt…. Just a beginner

Note the cunning disguises of the IO's.

6 hours ago, peterpaintpot said:

rules need to bed

Yeah, there might have  been some bedding involved 🤣