Uh Oh Mistake-e-o...

[TravelWeary]

Hi, thanks for reading. This is my first post and it's kind of an embarrassing one. Any thought's on this problem would be really appreciated. Okay, this is the situation:

I'm here on a voa stamp with a Canadian passport. The trouble is that the passport is a replacement because I lost my original along with my other personal docs on Samui last year. Because I couldn't provide my original birth certificate the replacement passport is only valid for 12 months, but it can be extended for another four years if I can provide a new birth certificate.

The spot I'm in is that there are now only five months left on this passport and I have not yet replaced my birth certificate (yes, I know I'm an idiot ). This is further complicated by the fact that a financial/family issue back home froze my accounts making it impossible for me to leave the country and I am now on over stay X14 days (although have not exceeded 90 days in the last six months). I have access to my funds again and technically could leave, but I'm concerned that having fewer than six months on my passport will be an issue when I try to enter Laos and again when I try to reenter Thailand to pick up the the birth certificate that I will be applying for admittedly a day late and a dollar short.

I haven't heard back yet as to how long it'll take to get a birth certificate and then an extension on my passport, I could wait it out, but this over stay business is really dodgy and I do not want to stick around any longer than I have to. I'm in touch with the Canadian Embassy here in Bangkok, but they're not exactly forthcoming with brilliant suggestions. I'd like to boot it for the border like NOW, but if I run into trouble with an overstayed passport short a month in validity when I get there I'm gonna be in a real bad spot. I do not want to be refused entry into Laos and then refused reentry into Thailand, I hear the friendship bridge is nice, but I don't want to live under it.

Any thoughts on the best course of action at this point.....? I agree I should have my head examined, real bad call not getting on the birth certificate right away, but you know how it goes, and the family/finance thing was the last nail in the coffin so to speak.

Sheepishly yours,

TravelWeary

[jstumbo]

You also risk getting sent to the IDC if you get picked up on your trip to Laos.

Real tough situation. Personally if it was not going to be too much longer to get your birth certificate and extended passport, I would hang around more on overstay. I think you might wind up with problems with your passport expiring so soon if you try to make a border run now.

[sjaak327]

Yep, I would do the same, renew your passport, clear your overstay with immigration (you need to transfer your leave to remain stamp into your new passport anyway) and have a ticket out + overstay fine ready, leave come back.

[TravelWeary]

Whew, okay. You're probably right. Once the docs are in order should I go to the border to clear up the overstay or just buy a plane/bus/boat ticket and head straight to the nearest immigration office? Thanks for taking the time to answer you guys, I'm getting really worried about it.

[PhilHarries]

You may well find that you are refused exit from Thailand on the basis that your 5 months validity on the passport is not enough to get you entry into Laos. Where that would leave you with respect to your stay in Thailand I have not a clue. It looks like, as jstumbo says, an extended overstay is you best, or least worst, option. Do you have access to enough funds to make it back to Canada? If so the best route would be, ticket to Canada, pay overstay at BKK, get new passport in Canada plus visa for Thailand and return.

[TravelWeary]

Sorry Sjaak, I see that you answered that I should go to immigration with my renewed passport asap in your post.

I'm headed to China for a teaching position that's waiting for me, but I've got a few things that I need to take with me out of Thailand and I reckon I'll train/bus/train with the stuff to Shanghai, but I'm a bit scared to buy a train ticket with my passport and overstay such as it is. Unfortunately it's too much stuff to fly with. The teaching position starts in a month so I've got some time to sort all this out, but I need to kill this month safely before I can head out to meet my friend/employer.

[Tomkagai]

Best thing you can do is get your passport issues sorted in Thailand soonest if you can...pay your overstay...and get out of dodge for a while...

With having less than 6 months on your existing passport, you may be refused exit from Thailand, entry to another country.......

You could try and explain things to Thai immigration, personnally, dont think it will get you anywhere...but ya dont ask ya dont get

Best of luck

[TravelWeary]

Okay, I'm going to get the rush service for the birth certificate, get the passport extended and make for the nearest immigration office with my fine and a ticket to Laos, claiming documentation issues if they question me. Then I'll lay low in Vientiane for as long as possible before returning to Bangkok for my stuff and a quick over country to China. Unfortunately I'm near the end of my traveling budget (that's always the way with these things, isn't it?), so I don't have too much extra cash for anything fancy. Hopefully leave things more or less cleared up.

Thanks for your advice, opinions, and wishes you guys, it's hugely appreciated!

[thaihome]

...and I reckon I'll train/bus/train with the stuff to Shanghai, ...

You plan on taking a bus and train from Bangkok to Shanghai? With a bunch of stuff that is too much to take on a plane?

TH

[jstumbo]

no need to lay low in Vientiane. They will probably let you right back into Thailand if you wanted.

[TravelWeary]

...and I reckon I'll train/bus/train with the stuff to Shanghai, ...

You plan on taking a bus and train from Bangkok to Shanghai? With a bunch of stuff that is too much to take on a plane?

TH

Welcome to the world of few choices, eh? It's only two boxes and two suitcases (no dinette sets or anything), but with the unholy rates for overage on the local airlines it's too much. I'm planning to ship it to Chiang Mai and then bus it across the border, then ship it again to Shanghai. I'm sure it'll be an adventure, but what isn't out here?

Thanks for the tip Jstumbo, that may give me more time and space for the above mentioned crazy venture, lol.

[jstumbo]

I would just ship the stuff to Shanghai. No way I could take a train that far.

[TravelWeary]

I would just ship the stuff to Shanghai. No way I could take a train that far.

I'm beginning to see your logic.... Mainly the bit between Thailand and Kunming looks really complicated! I'll start a new topic regarding shipping to China. Thanks for everybody's thoughts!!

[moe666]

Would I want this guy teaching in my school.

[CosmicSurfer]

Sorry Sjaak, I see that you answered that I should go to immigration with my renewed passport asap in your post.

I'm headed to China for a teaching position that's waiting for me, but I've got a few things that I need to take with me out of Thailand and I reckon I'll train/bus/train with the stuff to Shanghai, but I'm a bit scared to buy a train ticket with my passport and overstay such as it is. Unfortunately it's too much stuff to fly with. The teaching position starts in a month so I've got some time to sort all this out, but I need to kill this month safely before I can head out to meet my friend/employer.

Duhhh .... And How are you getting a China Visa with less than 6 Months on your Passport ???

There is NO VOA (Visa on Arrival) for China.. and can take up to a week to get it in Bangkok.

CS