Need A Ruling On 90 Day Reporting

[gavstah]

Heya Sunbelt -

Consider this scenario:

- 26 Oct. '07 - receive one year extension to Non-O (marriage) visa - given a 90 Day reporting date of 22 Jan 08

- Leave Thailand 12 Dec & return on 08 Jan - home for the holidays. Got a re-entry permit issued for this trip.

- 22 Jan, go to Pattay Immigration and submit TM47 for 90 day reporting - all's well and I get a stamp in the back of the passport asking me to return on or before 22 April 08 to renew.

- Arrive at Pattaya Immigration this morning and am told I'm guilty of two weeks overstay, resulting in a 2000 baht fine.

Two things that make me wonder about this:

1) The immigration officer was the same person that I dealt with both on Jan 22 and today. Jan 22 she says "see you in 90 days" - and today it's "Oh, you've overstayed - 2000 baht fine for you"

3) I thought the reentry permit obviated the need for counting forward from the time you reentered the country - if not, what exactly is the reentry permit for?

Any insight into this is appreciated.

Kind regards

[lopburi3]

The count always resets on a TM.6 entry into Thailand. You were not required to make any report on the 22nd but you were required to make your report 90 days after your January 8 entry.

If you did not have a re-entry permit you could not have continued your extension of stay - the re-entry permit keeps your extension of stay alive but has nothing to do with 90 day address reporting.

[gavstah]

The count always resets on a TM.6 entry into Thailand. You were not required to make any report on the 22nd but you were required to make your report 90 days after your January 8 entry.

If you did not have a re-entry permit you could not have continued your extension of stay - the re-entry permit keeps your extension of stay alive but has nothing to do with 90 day address reporting.

Thanks for clearing that up.

[mahjongguy]

Lop, you are correct that he did not need to submit a TM47 two weeks after returning to Thailand, but he did and got (he says) a receipt for it which was stamped "return by April 22" with her signature on it. How can they fine him?

[lopburi3]

Because he was really due to report in early April and was late for that report (you can not report more than 7 days early). The report he made was wrong so the report date from that wrong report was wrong. As with most things legal we are expected to know the rules. In this case it is most unfortunate consideration was not able to be given; as the traveler obviously was trying to do the right thing.

[mahjongguy]

Because he was really due to report in early April and was late for that report (you can not report more than 7 days early). The report he made was wrong so the report date from that wrong report was wrong. As with most things legal we are expected to know the rules. In this case it is most unfortunate consideration was not able to be given; as the traveler obviously was trying to do the right thing.

I hear you, but the error (if any) was theirs. They have the authority to re-start the clock and they did so.

Yesterday I went to Jomtien Immigration, possibly the same officer. I presented her with a TM28, declaring my new address, as I just moved down from Bangkok. She removed my previous TM47 and replaced it with the receipt portion of the TM28, stamped with a refreshed 90 day report date. I don't like the thought that if she did this in error that I could be fined 2,000 baht when I go in July to make a 90 day report.

[lopburi3]

That was a change of address so perhaps they can count that as a visit (and that the reason they replaced your previous receipt). Few people use TM28 so no reporting base on them - most seem to be told just make the change on next TM47. Like many things it is not an exact science.

[RubbaJohnny]

Why do they do

Because they can

How did they get the job isabetter question

How about a campaign fro a Million baht one off bung to the Govt like the Cambodian sceme so you never ever have to deal with the buggers again

1% of revenue to the fotocopy and staplers wholl lose out of course itll never happen

Funny how toxin etc can reside in uk hong kong sydney but then hes got loads of money from Siam

Chok Dee off to report 90 days why not 3 monthly in this moonie part of the planet

Phew calmer now putting a Singha in the icebox for my return

[thaihome]

Once you leave the country, if you have a reporting receipt in your passport it is meaningless and should be torn out and thrown away. If immigration does not do that when I leave, I do so before returning.

The new 90 day reporting starts from your new entry stamp.

TH