Finnish Man Arrested for 10-Year Overstay in Thailand

[jippytum]

Good for him. Anyone who gives two fingers to immigration for ten years

deserves some credit. 

[renaissanc]

On 12/5/2024 at 9:32 AM, webfact said:

Picture courtesy: Press People

 

A Finnish national living in Thailand has been detained by Chiang Mai Immigration Police after overstaying his visa by an extraordinary 3,844 days, equating to more than a decade. The arrest occurred on December 2nd in San Sai District within Chiang Mai Province, following a tip-off that led authorities directly to his location.

 

The man's long-standing evasion of immigration laws ended when officers verified his overstayed status through the Immigration Bureau's database. He was promptly apprehended and now confronts legal proceedings that will culminate in his deportation back to Finland.

 

Following his arrest, the man conceded to initially entering Thailand on a tourist visa and subsequently neglecting to renew or extend it after its expiration. Over the ensuing years, he adeptly avoided law enforcement to dodge capture, underscoring a significant lapse in compliance with Thai immigration regulations.

 

This arrest is part of a broader initiative spearheaded by the Commander of Immigration Division 5, aimed at clamping down on immigration violations throughout the region. Authorities from Chiang Mai are reinforcing their dedication to upholding the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979), ensuring that foreign residents adhere to lawful entry and residency requirements within the Kingdom.

 

The immediate aftermath of the arrest involves preparations for his deportation, as officials arrange for his return to Finland. Under the Thai legal framework, visa overstay is a serious offence, and deportation is not only a typical consequence but also serves as a stringent reminder of the importance of adhering to immigration laws.

 

For many expatriates and tourists in Thailand, this incident serves as a stark warning about the penalties for flouting visa regulations. An overstay of this magnitude is rare, yet it highlights the potential repercussions for those who choose to sidestep legal requirements. The financial implications are significant as well, with fines for overstaying one's visa that can accumulate rapidly.

 

Indeed, the maximum penalty for overstaying a Thai visa could rise to 20,000 Thai Baht, compounded by the legal process and subsequent deportation. Chiang Mai's increased vigilance in enforcing these rules sends a clear message to foreign nationals: compliance is non-negotiable, and the consequences of non-compliance are severe.

 

As this case progresses to a resolution, it underscores the imperative for all foreign visitors to rigorously follow Thailand's immigration laws. While this man's decade-long evasion of the system is an exception rather than the rule, it serves as a compelling narrative for others to ensure that their stay in the country is both lawful and secure, reported Press People.

 

-- 2024-12-05

 

 

I'm wondering how he lived here and stayed under the radar for so long. I need to show my passport often even though I've never had to show it to a policeman over my 40 years here. ... If he doesn't have the money for his deportation, he's going to stay in the airport's detention jail for the rest of his life. I've read that the jail there is the Mother of Horrible Places to be stuck in.

[Gecko123]

4 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Your significant other would know you need a visa to stay... pee them off and bye bye.

Either way she will get to keep everything.

In his case he must've kept her happy or lived a solitary life with little domestic or no travel

 

That's another reason why I'm not a big fan of the marriage visa if other options, i.e., a retirement visa, are available. The marriage visa, besides oftentimes subjecting people to intrusive interviews and home visits, requires your spouse's attendance at visa renewals, and by necessity, requires her to become intimately familiar with immigration rules and procedures. It is far preferable to keep immigration matters close to one's chest, and to manage this as independently as possible, which is yet another good reason for people to learn as much Thai as possible.

 

I'm sure someone will be alone shortly to tell me how sad it is that one cannot trust one's spouse, but the truth is that that may sound hunky dory when things are going smoothly, but when marriages crash in Thailand, it seems to happen suddenly and unexpectedly (like a hang gliding accident) and having someone know you have irregularities with your visa is not something you would want your spouse to know heading into a divorce.

 

Plus, Thai women love intrigue, and at the risk of sounding sexist, they also love gossip, and foreigners, because they're often perceived as outsiders who can be gossiped about with impunity, are juicy gossip topics. Visa irregularities is up there with "I'm wanted in my home country for armed robbery and killing a cop" on the list of secrets you want to keep to yourself if at all possible.

[bradiston]

Seems the data is there in the immigration database. Just needs somebody to run a few queries on it, and they'll get a set of all the overstayers. Surely not that difficult if the data is up to date and reliable.

[G_Money]

1 hour ago, stupidfarang said:

How did he earned his money in Thailand? Please share your insight

If you haven’t figured it out yet your display name is appropriate.

[Scouse123]

2 hours ago, Classic Ray said:

“This arrest is part of a broader initiative spearheaded by the Commander of Immigration Division 5, aimed at clamping down on immigration violations throughout the region.”

 

No, the arrest was as a result of a tipoff, following years of failure to detect his overstay through the cumbersome system of renewals, 90 day reports etc.

 

That's what they meant.

 

But you have to give Immigration the credit and not let the truth get in the way of a good story.

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, Gecko123 said:

 

That's another reason why I'm not a big fan of the marriage visa if other options, i.e., a retirement visa, are available. The marriage visa, besides oftentimes subjecting people to intrusive interviews and home visits, requires your spouse's attendance at visa renewals, and by necessity, requires her to become intimately familiar with immigration rules and procedures. It is far preferable to keep immigration matters close to one's chest, and to manage this as independently as possible, which is yet another good reason for people to learn as much Thai as possible.

 

I'm sure someone will be alone shortly to tell me how sad it is that one cannot trust one's spouse, but the truth is that that may sound hunky dory when things are going smoothly, but when marriages crash in Thailand, it seems to happen suddenly and unexpectedly (like a hang gliding accident) and having someone know you have irregularities with your visa is not something you would want your spouse to know heading into a divorce.

 

Plus, Thai women love intrigue, and at the risk of sounding sexist, they also love gossip, and foreigners, because they're often perceived as outsiders who can be gossiped about with impunity, are juicy gossip topics. Visa irregularities is up there with "I'm wanted in my home country for armed robbery and killing a cop" on the list of secrets you want to keep to yourself if at all possible.

Well said..

[FritsSikkink]

23 hours ago, Felton Jarvis said:

The latest victim of the Thai government 's obsession with "overstay".

What a load of BS, self-inflicted wounds.

[HK MacPhooey]

On 12/5/2024 at 2:22 PM, Denim said:

Man from Helsinki , hesunki.

Finnished

[Sydebolle]

Well, well, how blind are the boys at the immigration then? 

Have a look into your fancy computer screens and run a report of all those who are overstaying. The bureaucracy notes the colour of the underwear and the brand of toothpaste of the alien; every ninety days the entire crowd of non-Thais has to make the pilgrimage to the geeks and still some suspects of other countries manage to go undetected for how long?

What a joke all this is! 

[CANSIAM]

I think all future 'Overstay Crackdowns' threads should cease............incapable of crackdowns....!

[Felton Jarvis]

3 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

What a load of BS, self-inflicted wounds.

The punishment does not fit the "crime".  He had been spending money and contributing to the economy.

I am careful to stick to the letter of the law because I know how much Immigration officials relish making farangs suffer.

[Briggsy]

One would assume he had a friend to sort things out for him, accommodation, banking, transfer of funds, travel.

 

That really is quite a level of resourcefulness to manage over ten years of overstay.

[NativeBob]

One big fella from Ireland doesn't even hide that he has no visa. Happy with recruiting thai girls into online webcam biz and monthly donations to his "big boss" from RTP.

Another one [brit with horrible accent] works as a teacher. Same - no visa, donations, happy hours every weekend. 

 

Sometimes I think there are more overstayers than "legal" foreigners. Nobody gives a flying banana, tbh.

[bradiston]

2 hours ago, Felton Jarvis said:

The punishment does not fit the "crime".  He had been spending money and contributing to the economy.

I am careful to stick to the letter of the law because I know how much Immigration officials relish making farangs suffer.

How do you know that?

[SS1]

On 12/5/2024 at 1:18 PM, G_Money said:

One look at him and I can accurately guess how he earned money in Thailand during his 10 years of overstaying.

 

Curious also what your guess is? Honest and hardworking fella by the way (minus the correct visas and permits). 

[billd766]

13 hours ago, stupidfarang said:

Only reason they found him is someone told immigration. Which once again shows how lacking the immigration computer system is in keeping track of expats and tourists. Or it could be a case of the immigration staff being a sleep at their job, so why not drop the 90 day reporting?

That only works if somebody reports to Immigration for the first time.

 

All that Immigration will know is that he entered Thailand, presumably in Bangkok. If he did no reporting and moved hotels and cities asap it will not be easy to find him.

 

Following on from that, it seems as though the places he stayed did not complete the TM30 form for Immigration as he could perhaps have been traced through that.

 

I wonder where, and how, he got funds from to overstay for 10 years, and indeed how he managed to get credit cards sent to him? If indeed he withdrew money through an ATM.

[billd766]

13 hours ago, mikeymike100 said:

"The man's long-standing evasion of immigration laws ended when officers verified his overstayed status through the Immigration Bureau's database. He was promptly apprehended and now confronts legal proceedings that will culminate in his deportation back to Finland"

 

OK so they got him, eventually, but it took 10 years? Why did it take that long?

Surely with all the safeguards immigration have in place, like 90 day reporting, TM30 etc, they should have apprehended him a long time ago? Or am I missing something?....😆

That only works if you visit an Immigration office.

 

If you never visit the office in the first place and move from province to province, Immigration will have no idea where you are unless you get picked up in a random search, or, in his case somebody dobs you in.

[khunJam]

The Finnish is finished.

[Patong2021]

On 12/5/2024 at 1:18 AM, G_Money said:

One look at him and I can accurately guess how he earned money in Thailand during his 10 years of overstaying.

 Please elucidate.  I take it that he was not a gigolo or go go boy.

[thaibreaker]

On 12/5/2024 at 1:48 PM, Jerry777 said:

Pretty good deal really. I'm sure a few people where i stay are on the overstay for many many years. if older why not? Pay a small fine and the force some airline to fly you back to where you are from.

That's not how it works. You will be arrested, and put in a horrific prison at IDC in Bangkok, and you will be held there until you can pay for your own ticket to your home country, or get some friends or family members to do it for you.

Some overstayers have stayed in this prison for years. Trust me, that is something you'll never forget, and do not want to experience.

[RJRS1301]

On 12/5/2024 at 4:48 PM, Jerry777 said:

Pretty good deal really. I'm sure a few people where i stay are on the overstay for many many years. if older why not? Pay a small fine and the force some airline to fly you back to where you are from.

Authorities will try to get you to pay for the ticket or lock you up until they ?negotiate" with your home country, could be a long time in detention centre 

[stupidfarang]

19 hours ago, Gecko123 said:

 

That's another reason why I'm not a big fan of the marriage visa if other options, i.e., a retirement visa, are available. The marriage visa, besides oftentimes subjecting people to intrusive interviews and home visits, requires your spouse's attendance at visa renewals, and by necessity, requires her to become intimately familiar with immigration rules and procedures. It is far preferable to keep immigration matters close to one's chest, and to manage this as independently as possible, which is yet another good reason for people to learn as much Thai as possible.

 

I'm sure someone will be alone shortly to tell me how sad it is that one cannot trust one's spouse, but the truth is that that may sound hunky dory when things are going smoothly, but when marriages crash in Thailand, it seems to happen suddenly and unexpectedly (like a hang gliding accident) and having someone know you have irregularities with your visa is not something you would want your spouse to know heading into a divorce.

 

Plus, Thai women love intrigue, and at the risk of sounding sexist, they also love gossip, and foreigners, because they're often perceived as outsiders who can be gossiped about with impunity, are juicy gossip topics. Visa irregularities is up there with "I'm wanted in my home country for armed robbery and killing a cop" on the list of secrets you want to keep to yourself if at all possible.

you may want to keep your immigration details "close to ones chest", yet I assure you a thai girl knows all they need to do is call immigration to say you the farang needs to be checked out. 

[john donson]

how did he finance his 10 year stay? banks copy your passport these days...

[quake]

10 year overstay, That's proper, respect. 

Now get out.

 

 

 

[FritsSikkink]

17 hours ago, Felton Jarvis said:

The punishment does not fit the "crime".  He had been spending money and contributing to the economy.

I am careful to stick to the letter of the law because I know how much Immigration officials relish making farangs suffer.

He is an illegal, doesn't matter if he spends money. Works like this in any country.

[Gecko123]

1 hour ago, john donson said:

how did he finance his 10 year stay? banks copy your passport these days...

That's a good point. My guess is he was either using an overseas debit/credit card and/or transferring funds from an overseas account into a trusted third party's domestic account.

[ukrules]

Just a few short years ago nobody cared about overstays and you could pay the 20,000 Baht when you exited the airport and start again the next time you arrived.

 

Wasn't an issue.

[GammaGlobulin]

On 12/5/2024 at 1:48 PM, Jerry777 said:

Pretty good deal really. I'm sure a few people where i stay are on the overstay for many many years. if older why not? Pay a small fine and the force some airline to fly you back to where you are from.

 

You mean...They don't get locked up?

How can that be?

 

[TooPoopedToPop]

2 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

 

You mean...They don't get locked up?

How can that be?

 

They don't get locked up for any length of time if they pay their fine and buy an airline ticket out of the country.