British Woman Arrested at Phuket Airport for 207-Day Visa Overstay

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Phuket Express

 

A 45-year-old British woman has been arrested and detained, at Phuket International Airport after authorities discovered she had overstayed her permitted entry by  207 days, immigration officials confirmed on 7 April.

 

The arrest took place at approximately 11:30 by immigration officers at the airport’s international terminal. The woman, whose identity has not yet been released by authorities, was preparing to depart the country when officers flagged her passport and identified the significant overstay.

 

 

Immigration officials stated that the woman had been in breach of Thailand’s immigration laws, having remained in the kingdom well beyond the period permitted. 

 

It remains unclear why she overstayed or whether she had made any attempts to report her status or rectify the issue with immigration authorities prior to her arrest.

 

-- 2025-04-08

 

 

 

 

[ChipButty]

Why not just stamp her passport and stick here on the plane with a 10 year ban? let somebody else deal with her, 

 

[ukrules]

1 hour ago, ChipButty said:

Why not just stamp her passport and stick here on the plane with a 10 year ban? let somebody else deal with her,

 

They make up their own laws in Phuket and based on dozens of such reports - it is designed to inflict maximum penalty, pain and cost  on the overstayer.

Remember - this demonstrates exactly how much they love us!
 

[impulse]

1 hour ago, ChipButty said:

Why not just stamp her passport and stick here on the plane with a 10 year ban? let somebody else deal with her, 

 

Maybe she didn't have the 20K baht fine.  If they started waiving that, more of them would overstay and just turn up at the airport when they decided on their own that it was time to leave.

 

 

[watchcat]

1 hour ago, ChipButty said:

Why not just stamp her passport and stick here on the plane with a 10 year ban? let somebody else deal with her, 

 

 

If she doesn't have any money for the flight back , Iuntil she have  I would  recommend the IDC until she has some.

 

[ChipButty]

5 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

Maybe she didn't have the 20K baht fine.  If they started waiving that, more of them would overstay and just turn up at the airport when they decided on their own that it was time to leave.

 

 

Thats the only thing I can think of, they dont have the 20 grand, but is she doesn't have it now then she will never have it, 

[Tropicalevo]

1 hour ago, ChipButty said:

Why not just stamp her passport and stick here on the plane with a 10 year ban? let somebody else deal with her,

 

13 minutes ago, ukrules said:

 

They make up their own laws in Phuket and based on dozens of such reports - it is designed to inflict maximum penalty, pain and cost  on the overstayer.
Remember - this demonstrates exactly how much they love us!

 

For goodness sake - she broke the law.

Why should she be let off?

As far as I know, the overstay law applies everywhere in Thailand.

Not just in Phuket.

[impulse]

2 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Thats the only thing I can think of, they dont have the 20 grand, but is she doesn't have it now then she will never have it, 

 

Maybe.  Or maybe she has an ATM card, or relatives that can Western Union her the funds.  If they just gave up and let her through, they'd be denying her the opportunity to be creative in raising her fine.  And set a poor precedent.

 

[ChipButty]

2 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

 

 

For goodness sake - she broke the law.

Why should she be let off?

As far as I know, the overstay law applies everywhere in Thailand.

Not just in Phuket.

Yes, Im well aware she broke the law, to detain her seems pointless, 

[Bert got kinky]

 

I am shocked that someone could possibly overstay their visa in Thailand.

How on earth was she able to stay here for so long without doing a 90 day report?

 

 

[impulse]

17 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Yes, Im well aware she broke the law, to detain her seems pointless, 

 

But if they let her through, every overstayer would show up at the airport with no cash and plead poverty.

 

This is a good cautionary tale.  Bring 20,000 with you if you're on long overstay.  If you do, chances are you'll make your flight.  If not, you'll be arrested and buying a new last minute plane ticket will probably cost a lot more than 20K.

 

You'll get an overstay ban either way. 

 

It would have been good info had the OP detailed why she was arrested and not just fined and sent on her way.

 

[ChipButty]

3 minutes ago, Bert got kinky said:

 

I am shocked that someone could possibly overstay their visa in Thailand.

How on earth was she able to stay here for so long without doing a 90 day report?

 

 

They obviously don't do it,