By Goongnang Suksawa

An American man was arrested at the Phuket International Airport for 21 days of overstay.

 

Phuket Immigration at the airport told the Phuket Express that over the past weekend they arrested the unidentified 40-year-old American man at the international terminal in the airport. He was found to have overstayed for 21 days.

 

The American man was taken to the Sakoo Police Station to face overstay charges.

 

Full story: THE PHUKET EXPRESS 

-- 2024-12-03

 

 

I would be too embarrassed to be one of these officers in this photo, this is the big catch of the day? A short overstayer who shows up at an airport, what a catch guys! lol

Really?  This wasn't just a fine and stamp in his passport?  Has to be more to the story.

The temptation to overstay grows as you feel like a cattle to be herded at the local immigration office after enough time

6 minutes ago, jimmybcool said:

Really?  This wasn't just a fine and stamp in his passport?  Has to be more to the story.

Seem to be a bit of a thing there at the moment.

 

Total knob heads.

He was leaving. 

12 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

I would be too embarrassed to be one of these officers in this photo, this is the big catch of the day? A short overstayer who shows up at an airport, what a catch guys! lol

They're bored, nothing else to do

16 minutes ago, jimmybcool said:

Really?  This wasn't just a fine and stamp in his passport?  Has to be more to the story.

 

As I understand things, if you go to the immigration people before you leave and admit that you are an overstay, then yes, stamp and a fine for 21 days overstay.

If you just try to leave and hope that no one notices, then yes - arrested.

Immigration here on Samui check passports for overstays for foreigners catching the early ferries. They are often on visa runs.

5 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

 

As I understand things, if you go to the immigration people before you leave and admit that you are an overstay, then yes, stamp and a fine for 21 days overstay.

If you just try to leave and hope that no one notices, then yes - arrested.

Immigration here on Samui check passports for overstays for foreigners catching the early ferries. They are often on visa runs.

Way back i the dark ages when I first began visiting I accidentally overstayed like 15 days.  I was so ignorant I didn't even know there was a limit on my entry.  Duh.  Went to go thru immigration and got directed to the side.  Paid a fine and said sorry and left.  My guess is perhaps this guy mouthed off or tried to argue the fine.  Maybe he didn't think they could do anything but make him leave.  But there has to be more to this.

 

2 minutes ago, jimmybcool said:

Way back i the dark ages when I first began visiting I accidentally overstayed like 15 days.  I was so ignorant I didn't even know there was a limit on my entry.  Duh.  Went to go thru immigration and got directed to the side.  Paid a fine and said sorry and left.  My guess is perhaps this guy mouthed off or tried to argue the fine.  Maybe he didn't think they could do anything but make him leave.  But there has to be more to this.

 

 

I agree.

Back in the day, immigration were less desperate for money and publicity.

That seemed to all change about 10 - 15 years ago.

Not sure when, it just seemed to have sneaked in.

8 minutes ago, jimmybcool said:

But there has to be more to this.

For a 21-day overstay, it's usual just to pay the overstay fine and depart.

I'm guessing he couldn't pay the fine, hence he was arrested and will be held until such time the fine is paid.

 

31 minutes ago, JoePai said:

They're bored, nothing else to do

Except enforce their laws?

 

 

1 hour ago, jimmybcool said:

Way back i the dark ages when I first began visiting I accidentally overstayed like 15 days.  I was so ignorant I didn't even know there was a limit on my entry.  Duh.  Went to go thru immigration and got directed to the side.  Paid a fine and said sorry and left.  My guess is perhaps this guy mouthed off or tried to argue the fine.  Maybe he didn't think they could do anything but make him leave.  But there has to be more to this.

 

 

Nobody accidentally over stays,

46 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

Except enforce their laws?

 

 

555 and you believe that

9 minutes ago, JoePai said:

555 and you believe that

Well they clearly did it here, didnt they?

 

Lets bash Thailand because they dont enforce the law. Lets bash Thailand because they do. These topics are so predictable

2 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

 

As I understand things, if you go to the immigration people before you leave and admit that you are an overstay, then yes, stamp and a fine for 21 days overstay.

If you just try to leave and hope that no one notices, then yes - arrested.

Immigration here on Samui check passports for overstays for foreigners catching the early ferries. They are often on visa runs.

 

From what I've read on this here forum, it's the exact opposite.

 

If you go to immigration and admit your overstay, you get fined AND deported.

 

Advice here over the past few years has been to get to the airport ASAP while avoiding any police interactions.  If you make it safely to the airport, you can pay a fine and leave.

54 minutes ago, proton said:

 

Nobody accidentally over stays,

It's quite possible. I overstayed out of ignorance on my first trip (35 years ago?) outside my home country. Just a warning to not do it again. Found out at the airport on the way out.

I once overstayed by 2 days omg crime of the century marched to the naughty section made to wait 30 mins ( enough time to start imagining bad outcomes missed flights ect) eventually my turn why you overstay? I'm so sorry miscalculated sir ok 1000 baht fine plus note on passport never again 

2 hours ago, JoePai said:

They're bored, nothing else to do

Which might be a good thing, if that means serious crime is down

1 hour ago, NoDisplayName said:

 

From what I've read on this here forum, it's the exact opposite.

 

If you go to immigration and admit your overstay, you get fined AND deported.

 

Advice here over the past few years has been to get to the airport ASAP while avoiding any police interactions.  If you make it safely to the airport, you can pay a fine and leave.

 

Yes, and I still believe this is the best option, if your faced with an overstay, for what ever reason.

I would never trust Mr immigration man or an  agent, at your local office.

Go straight to BKK airport only.

pay money and leave.

 

Ps, Look at that photo, 6 goons,  for a 21 day overstay.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, NoDisplayName said:

 

From what I've read on this here forum, it's the exact opposite.

 

If you go to immigration and admit your overstay, you get fined AND deported.

 

Advice here over the past few years has been to get to the airport ASAP while avoiding any police interactions.  If you make it safely to the airport, you can pay a fine and leave.

I believe you are correct, the maximum an over stayer will get charged  is 20,000 Baht, at the airport, for up to 89 days, if you overstay 90 days you will be deported and banned for a year!

If you get caught by the cops or go to immigration and you are on overstay you will be arrested, it is much more serious!

 

3 hours ago, mdr224 said:

The temptation to overstay grows as you feel like a cattle to be herded at the local immigration office after enough time

16 years of telling them I'm married to the same person, living in the same home and doing 60+ address reports it has crossed my mind a few times while sitting in a queue with my numbered ticket hoping I get seen before closing time.

He was just trying to go back home to look for a job so he can come back next year and overstay again.

2 hours ago, quake said:

 

Yes, and I still believe this is the best option, if your faced with an overstay, for what ever reason.

I would never trust Mr immigration man or an  agent, at your local office.

Go straight to BKK airport only.

pay money and leave.

 

Ps, Look at that photo, 6 goons,  for a 21 day overstay.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

The expression on the woman's face says it all.😏

9 hours ago, proton said:

 

Nobody accidentally over stays,

Based on the fact this thread now has two of us who did so it makes your comment look pretty stupid. 

Is there some kind of money involved here. Paper needs news. "Hey get us a good photo of an overstayer".

500 baht. Got yourself a story

11 hours ago, jimmybcool said:

Really?  This wasn't just a fine and stamp in his passport?  Has to be more to the story.

It didn't report that he was on his way out, just that he was at the airport.

11 hours ago, quake said:

Total knob heads.

He was leaving. 

Was he?  Where was that reported?

9 hours ago, Yagoda said:

Well they clearly did it here, didnt they?

 

Lets bash Thailand because they dont enforce the law. Lets bash Thailand because they do. These topics are so predictable

Hear, hear!   And so tedious.

7 hours ago, mikeymike100 said:

I believe you are correct, the maximum an over stayer will get charged  is 20,000 Baht, at the airport, for up to 89 days, if you overstay 90 days you will be deported and banned for a year!

Those who are leaving through the airport Immigration with an overstay pay B20k maximum, regardless of whether the overstay is more than 40days (B500 per day x 40).  Those leaving voluntarily, even with longer overstays, do not get arrested, deported and banned as they're leaving, they pay 20k and are sent on their way with a passport stamp and maybe a flea in their ear.