A recent crackdown by Phuket's Immigration Office has led to the arrest of seven foreign nationals who significantly overstayed their visas. The operation, conducted over ten days from July 23rd to August 1st, 2024, was aimed at tightening immigration controls and ensuring the safety and regulation of foreign residents on the island.

 

Mr. Muhammad, a Pakistani national, topped the list with an astounding 1,377 days of overstay. Egyptians Mr. Hesham and Mr. Moustafa were next, exceeding their legal stays by 213 and 204 days, respectively.

 

Three Nigerian nationals also found themselves in trouble: Mr. Bright with 599 days, Mr. Onyeanya with 118 days, and Mr. Chinedu with 53 days of overstay. Lastly, Mr. Min Paing from Myanmar overstayed by 46 days.

 

Each of these individuals is now facing charges, illustrating the serious stance Phuket authorities are taking against visa violations.

 

The penalties for overstaying can include fines, detention, and deportation, depending on the severity of the case.

 

This clampdown is part of a broader effort by Thai immigration to maintain control and security, especially in popular tourist destinations like Phuket. With its beautiful beaches and vibrant nightlife, Phuket attracts thousands of visitors annually, making immigration control crucial for public safety and order.

 

The Immigration Office stated that these actions signal the beginning of a more rigorous oversight regime. "We want to make it clear that overstaying is a serious offence," a spokesperson revealed to the Phuket Express. "These measures are here to ensure everyone abides by the law, making Phuket a safer and more pleasant destination for all."

 

Authorities encourage anyone facing visa issues to come forward and resolve them legally, avoiding severe repercussions. As Phuket continues to welcome international visitors, the message is clear: adhere to the rules or face the consequences.

 

Source: The Phuket Express

 

-- 2024-08-02

 

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It would be interesting to know how they caught them, also where the long overstayer got their money from to stay here for nearly 4 yrs.

Seven?.....There must be more than that in every bar, restaurant and cafe you walk in.

3 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

Seven?.....There must be more than that in every bar, restaurant and cafe you walk in.

Nonsense..............................

2 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

Nonsense..............................

 

 

Estimating the exact number of overstayers in Thailand can be challenging due to the nature of the issue, but various sources and reports provide some insights.

 

As of recent years, estimates of the number of foreign nationals overstaying their visas in Thailand suggest there are more than 100,000.

10 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

It would be interesting to know how they caught them, also where the long overstayer got their money from to stay here for nearly 4 yrs.

Immigration has a lot of undercover officers in tourist areas.  Easy to follow a suspicious person to their residence, then get info from the landlord.

15 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

 

Estimating the exact number of overstayers in Thailand can be challenging due to the nature of the issue, but various sources and reports provide some insights.

 

As of recent years, estimates of the number of foreign nationals overstaying their visas in Thailand suggest there are more than 100,000.

More nonsense .....link please. 

28 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

It would be interesting to know how they caught them, also where the long overstayer got their money from to stay here for nearly 4 yrs.

Most of them get grassed up, they are usually up to something dodgy

Nice to see, two of them are them , Well Heeled,  Middle Eastern tourists,

TAT and the Government so wanted. 

36 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

More nonsense .....link please. 

DYOR

1 hour ago, brianthainess said:

It would be interesting to know how they caught them, also where the long overstayer got their money from to stay here for nearly 4 yrs.

 

One of the same multitude of ways every other person gets their money and stays here for years... the difference is they just overstayed their visa

53 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

 

Estimating the exact number of overstayers in Thailand can be challenging due to the nature of the issue, but various sources and reports provide some insights.

 

As of recent years, estimates of the number of foreign nationals overstaying their visas in Thailand suggest there are more than 100,000.

Interesting stat. I have not heard this before, I assume that number includes all those that overstay for a couple of days before they leave? I am sure that would make a significant proportion of that total

I just researched it, the total number of overstayers in any one year is estimated to in the range of 10,000 to 20,000 or more, but this number can fluctuate based on various factors such as changes in visa policies and global travel trends.

Where did you get the 100k number?

44 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

More nonsense .....link please. 

a few quick searches show the numbers to be much lower

While exact numbers can vary, it's known that thousands of travelers overstay their visas in Thailand each year. The Thai Immigration Bureau has reported that there are often several thousand cases of overstays annually. For instance, in some years, estimates have suggested that the number of overstayers could be in the range of 10,000 to 20,000 or more, but this number can fluctuate based on various factors such as changes in visa policies and global travel trends.

 

The estimate of 10,000 to 20,000 overstayers in Thailand is a rough figure based on various reports and news articles covering immigration and visa issues over the years. This range reflects general trends rather than precise, up-to-date statistics. For example:

• News reports and updates from Thai immigration authorities sometimes mention the number of overstayers in this range.
• Immigration-related discussions and travel advisories occasionally provide rough estimates based on available data.

The very tippy top of a very big iceberg 

46 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

DYOR

Why, the need for that. If you already have the information, why not share? Answer: You just made it up.

1 hour ago, ChipButty said:

Most of them get grassed up, they are usually up to something dodgy

Concerned citizens doing their duty for the good of the nation.

Each of these individuals is now facing charges, illustrating the serious stance Phuket authorities are taking against visa violations.

 

Serious right 😅, they haven't started on the thousands of Russian's,  pat on the back for seven individuals seems rather zealous, guess it is better than getting mud for sitting behind a desk.

Nigerians up to no good again. Just one post, just one, about an honest nigerian here, please

Great yield! 7 overstayers caught within 10 days!

Not even 1 a day for an island size of Phuket. 

Some seriously good hide and seek champions there 😀

12 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

Nigerians up to no good again. Just one post, just one, about an honest nigerian here, please

I have heard their drug deals are an accurate weight.......... Will that do? 

6 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

I have heard their drug deals are an accurate weight.......... Will that do? 

think our understanding of the word 'honest' may be a little different :)

2 hours ago, brianthainess said:

It would be interesting to know how they caught them, also where the long overstayer got their money from to stay here for nearly 4 yrs.

I was thinking the same, myself. If they could afford to live then surely they could afford a trip to the border or even an agent.

2 hours ago, Will B Good said:

Seven?.....There must be more than that in every bar, restaurant and cafe you walk in.

Yeah 7.. but it took them 10 days to find those 7.. Even as a foreigner it is easy to see where immigration needs to make checks at to catch the most illegals. Why is it so hard for Thailand?

Just now, thesetat2013 said:

Yeah 7.. but it took them 10 days to find those 7.. Even as a foreigner it is easy to see where immigration needs to make checks at to catch the most illegals. Why is it so hard for Thailand?

 

 

Could be wrong.....but a biggly proportion might be caught on the QT and released after some negotiations have taken place.

July 31 - meeting with "volonteers" 

August 2 - seven overstayers

No corelation? I don't think so!

 

PS: Volonteers should always wear brown bandana with a star upside down.

In Puket!!! Not Pattaya or any in the interior, or any where else in Thailand? Must of been a real tough sting operation. 

Many thanks to the Thai police for doing a great job and keeping the kingdom safe and clean. In my home country in Europe, illegal migrants can roam the streets for years without deportation.

Does anyone know where I can contact immigration to report overstayers? 😜
 

1 hour ago, Polaky said:

Each of these individuals is now facing charges, illustrating the serious stance Phuket authorities are taking against visa violations.

 

Serious right 😅, they haven't started on the thousands of Russian's,  pat on the back for seven individuals seems rather zealous, guess it is better than getting mud for sitting behind a desk.

Russians and Ukrainians. 😁

7 minutes ago, Average_Punani_Enjoyer said:

Many thanks to the Thai police for doing a great job and keeping the kingdom safe and clean. In my home country in Europe, illegal migrants can roam the streets for years without deportation.

Does anyone know where I can contact immigration to report overstayers? 😜
 

You now made me curious. What is your home country?