90 Day Report, B2,000 Fine And...

[Somtham]

Today I went for my 90 day report at Mae Sot, Tak Province. These folks are normally very nice and it is always my first option as we live close and it's a beautiful drive. Here's the scenario:

My retirement visa was due to expire on May 31st and my last 90 day report was due to expire on May 25th so I went in to the Mae Sot office on May 2nd to get a 1 year visa extension. The visa was granted and I checked the passport for that before I left the office. What I did not check then was the 90 day reporting slip they staple in the back of the passport. Well...it wasn't changed.

So I figured May 2nd to Aug 2nd was 90 days so today, Aug 2nd, we drove to Tak to check in and the guy at the immigration office hit me with a B2K fine and a stamp in my passport that says I failed to report on time. I was fuming but figured B2k was not bad but when I saw him stamp the passport I was pissed.

So, a few questions.

Is this a big deal? Will it have anegative affect my application for an extension next year? Should I drive to Suan Phluu tomorrow and attempt to get the stamp negated?

I have been straight up with my visas and reporting so this has really bummed me out and I may have a few extra Changs tonight.

Any advice on what to do and comments are welcome.

thanks and here's a copy of the stamps.

[lopburi3]

Your 90 day report was due on May 25 and you reported on August 2. You were late and fined the normal 2,000 baht (rather than the 5,000 baht that could have been charged). No, the stamp should not be a big deal and no you can not get it negated as you did not report.

I suspect you had a misunderstanding of the regulations. You must report every 90 days. The first application for an extension of stay counts as report number one. Never again does an extension of stay count as a report (unless there is a break and a restart made). So now only a new entry into the country would start a new 90 day clock; or the filing of a TM.47 90 day report.

Notification of staying in the Kingdom over 90 days->print this

Procedure and notification

The foreigner makes the notification in person, or

The foreigner authorises another person to make the notification, or

The foreigner makes the notification by registered mail.

The notification must be made within 7 days before or after the period of 90 days expires.

The first application for extension of stay by the foreigner is equivalent to the notification of staying in the Kingdom over 90 days.

[Somtham]

Your 90 day report was due on May 25 and you reported on August 2. You were late and fined the normal 2,000 baht (rather than the 5,000 baht that could have been charged). No, the stamp should not be a big deal and no you can not get it negated as you did not report.

I suspect you had a misunderstanding of the regulations. You must report every 90 days. The first application for an extension of stay counts as report number one. Never again does an extension of stay count as a report (unless there is a break and a restart made). So now only a new entry into the country would start a new 90 day clock; or the filing of a TM.47 90 day report.

The first application for extension of stay by the foreigner is equivalent to the notification of staying in the Kingdom over 90 days.

Thanks Lopburi, guess my ignorance is to fault. Next scenario is this - My new 90 day report is October 30th. Let's say I leave the country October 15th and return November 15th. Obviously I cannot report on the 30th +/-7 days so will a new 90 day clock start on November 15th when I return or will I be looking at another fine?

rgds

[bino]

Your 90 day cycle will begin anew when you re-enter the kingdom. IE - if you re-enter on 15 Nov, you would be due to report on 15 Feb (ish).

DO ensure that you get a re-entry permit stamped in your passport before you leave on 15 Oct.

[lopburi3]

As said it is only due if you are here on day 90 - if outside the country the clock starts again on your return so be careful to count out the 90 days and mark it so you can remember. When you report next time they will check the arrival card/admitted stamp and make there own count.

[Firefan]

A little trick here that might help some: they are not very strict about WHEN you go and report your 90 days - I have several times done it 3 weeks before the date with no comments what so ever(one can also do so up to 7 days after). By doing so one can actually "move" the future reporting dates towards the same date as the extension date (just like the OP had btw). As they give you 3 months from the day you REPORT.

That means that one can do both extension and 90 day reporting at 1 visit at emmigration. The "trick" naturally only works if one does not travel a lot - but in that case much fewer reportings are needed anyway.

Hope makes a bit of sense....

Cheers!

[lopburi3]

The requirement is plus or minus 7 days and I can attest from personal experience that Bangkok has taken that time frame very seriously in the past. In one case Immigration officer asked me to try (to sync with extension) and it was refused.

[raro]

I confess I am also slightly overdue with that 90 days stamp....about half a year to be more precise. Now I just went to Suan Plu for my one year visa and it seems that no one has noticed. There was even a copy of the expired paper among the visa extension documents (some 200 pages in toal I reckon...) but nobody bothered.

Anyways....if I DON'T report, what are the possible consequences?

IF I report, better in Suan Plu, Jomtien or somewhere in Nakorn Nowehere as I am travelling to Isaan next week?

[Somtham]

The requirement is plus or minus 7 days and I can attest from personal experience that Bangkok has taken that time frame very seriously in the past. In one case Immigration officer asked me to try (to sync with extension) and it was refused.

The folks at Mae Sot Immigration are also very strict on the +/- 7 days. As Firefan suggested I think I can do the -7 days for the next 3 reports and then next year the 90 day reporting will match my visa extension date.

rgds

[raro]

I confess I am also slightly overdue with that 90 days stamp....about half a year to be more precise. Now I just went to Suan Plu for my one year visa and it seems that no one has noticed. There was even a copy of the expired paper among the visa extension documents (some 200 pages in toal I reckon...) but nobody bothered.

Anyways....if I DON'T report, what are the possible consequences?

IF I report, better in Suan Plu, Jomtien or somewhere in Nakorn Nowehere as I am travelling to Isaan next week?

bump

[lopburi3]

If a foreigner staying in the kingdom over 90 days without notifying the Immigration Bureau or notifying the Immigration Bureau later than the set period, a fine of 2,000.- Baht will be collected. If a foreigner who did not make the notification of staying over 90 days is arrested, he will be fined 4,000.- Baht.

http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/en/base.php?page=90days