On 9/3/2026 at 9:05 AM, KhunLA said:

Classic situation, if I have to explain it, you wouldn't understand it.

Since I'm not a fan of using lawyers or agents for anything in TH, for me to even suggest one, then I obviously think it would be advantageous. Especially if representing you in a local Imm office instead at airport.

Going to a local immigration station is a very stupid advice. Lawter can't do anything, one will be arrested.

3 hours ago, Sheryl said:

i have not heard of people being arrested once at airport, booked onto a flight with boarding pass and then through passing Immigration, assuming able to pay the fine and that there is no arrest warrant out for something else.

I have read this happening in Phuket airport several times but never any other airport in Thailand. I do not know why Phuket Airport Immigration chose to arrest overstayers on their way out rather than allowing them to simply pay the fine, get banned and leave.

2 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

I have read this happening in Phuket airport several times but never any other airport in Thailand. I do not know why Phuket Airport Immigration chose to arrest overstayers on their way out rather than allowing them to simply pay the fine, get banned and leave.

Money perhaps ?

4 hours ago, Explorator en Action said:

I realize you are a moderator, so will not dispute - but I will expand on my comment - I suggest a lawyer to accompany him to the Immigration folks at the airport - because, how many times have you read where corrupt Police have taken an overstayer out of the airport, to a local Police station and demanded payments of sort, only to be brought back to the airport for more 'processing' I can remember reading about a few. Who knows what shenanigans go on in the IO Office in Suvarnabhumi. Do you actually think they will just let him pay 20,000 baht, and blacklist on a 16 year overstay and just waltz out and board a plane?? I don't, opportunity for exploitation is too great. Peace

Immigration is past security. The lawyer will not even get to that point.

9 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

It is also mildly interesting to wonder why, after 16 years, a return to the homeland is being considered.....................financial? health?

Having lived under the radar for 16 years there must be some life event causing that change of heart.

Yeah maybe money finally running out or he has a sniff of an inheritance

He will leave tomorrow...will see how is going.

12 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Must be scary going back to your home country with probably nothing

I went to visit him a few times: and I can assure you that he was in a godforsaken place. He probably never feared being caught where he was, also because he rarely went to the city, from what he told me.