New Regulations!

[thaisail]

Starting on January 1st, all boats entering Chalong in Phuket have to pay 300 baht harbor fee, regardless if the boat is in Nai Han, Kata or Patong. In the past the Chalong harbor charged only for boats that anchor or moor in Ao Chalong. There is also a new law proposed to charge all visiting boats a monthly fee depending on the length of their boat while the boats are in Thailand. We were told that this new law will not take effect until January 2009 but I would't bet on it taking that long. Documents are already in writing in the Chalong port office. This is certain to keep more foreign sailboats away from Thailand and they will stay longer in Malaysia where the government is yacht friendly. I don't know if this is the correct forum to talk about boat issues but if anyone knows the correct forum to post let me know.

Another thing I just discoverred that upon re-entering Thailand, my 7 month old Phuket born daughter was given 28 days to remain in Thailand which is stamped into her US passport. She does not yet have a Thai passport but holds a Thai birth certificate. Does this mean that I have to sail to Langkawi once a month so that the baby doesn't get fined each time she leaves Thailand? I guess it will be hard to fine her since she holds a Thai birth certificate. You should have seen the Thai immigration officer in Chalong trying to figure out what to do when I was checking out in Chalong in December to leave for Langkawi and my daughter had a US passport without an entry to Thailand stamp in it. He had to call his boss in Phuket City to find out how to handle it!

I was also told by the immigration office that I would get 90 days to remain in Thailand stamped into my US passport if I entered Thailand one day before my one year non immigrant O visa expires. This means that I will get a total of 15 months stay in Thailand on a one year visa. Is this being offered to everyone or is this immigration officer just being a nice guy?

[lopburi3]

1. I suspect she was provided 30 days (visa exempt stamp - day of entry/exit count). Children are not fined for overstay - just a mark in her passport when she leaves. You could also extend her stay on a yearly basis but then she would have to do 90 day address reports.

2. Yes you get 90 days even if the end of your visa validity - so almost 15 months. Just remember you can not leave and return to complete that stay unless you buy a re-entry permit.

[samran]

as lop said, children aren't charged for overstay, so she is fine.

Neverthless, to keep things all legit, you should get a Thai passport for her. Next time you leave thailand, depart on the US one - to close out her stay here - and then return in on the Thai passport. Thai passports are inexpensive and easy to get.

From that point on, always use the Thai passport to enter and leave Thailand.

All the best.