Doctor's Note For Overstay

[brycat]

Has anyone heard of getting a doctor's note (e.g. saying you've had food poisioning) to avoid paying a <4 day visa overstay fine? I've accidently overstayed my visa and plan to go to Vientiane this weekend to get a 2 month tourist visa. Won't have overstayed more than 4 days by that point. A friend told me if I could get a doctor's note they'd wave the fine. (Not so sure about that.) If so, does anyone know a clinic/hospital in Chiang Mai that has done this for someone?

Also, I'm planning on flying to Vientiane through BKK via Laos Air. Unfortunately, I'll have to take a domestic flight from CNX to BKK first. If I do have pay the overstay fee I was planning on paying it at BKK upon exit to Vientiane. I've done this before (though exiting to the US) and it's fairly painless. What I am worried about, though, is having some sort of trouble when I board my domestic flight. Is there a possibility I could be detained at CNX because my visa is expired even if I tell them I'm going to leave the country that same day?

Any info would be great. Thanks.

[Geekfreaklover]

A friend of mine was able to overstay with a doctors note. But he was involved in a serious motorcycle crash - two broken legs, broken back. He wasn't able to get over the border.

[Lite Beer]

Has anyone heard of getting a doctor's note (e.g. saying you've had food poisioning) to avoid paying a <4 day visa overstay fine? I've accidently overstayed my visa and plan to go to Vientiane this weekend to get a 2 month tourist visa. Won't have overstayed more than 4 days by that point. A friend told me if I could get a doctor's note they'd wave the fine. (Not so sure about that.) If so, does anyone know a clinic/hospital in Chiang Mai that has done this for someone?

Also, I'm planning on flying to Vientiane through BKK via Laos Air. Unfortunately, I'll have to take a domestic flight from CNX to BKK first. If I do have pay the overstay fee I was planning on paying it at BKK upon exit to Vientiane. I've done this before (though exiting to the US) and it's fairly painless. What I am worried about, though, is having some sort of trouble when I board my domestic flight. Is there a possibility I could be detained at CNX because my visa is expired even if I tell them I'm going to leave the country that same day?

Any info would be great. Thanks.

The domestic flight should be no problem. Just smile and pay the 2,000 Fine at BKK.

[brycat]

Yeah, that's my feeling too. I think it would have to be pretty serious injury/illness to warrant a doctor's note that would work. Don't think food poisoning would quite cut it!

[jdinasia]

If it works let me know! I want to try "My dog ate my atm card" as an excuse!

[Lite Beer]

Yeah, that's my feeling too. I think it would have to be pretty serious injury/illness to warrant a doctor's note that would work. Don't think food poisoning would quite cut it!

You never know , but is it worth it?

[brycat]

Was gonna try "the dog ate my passport" excuse but thought they wouldn't buy it. Immigration has no sense of humor when it comes to these things!

[brycat]

You never know , but is it worth it?

Probably not. Just thought I'd see what more experienced people thought. It wouldn't be the first time I was surprised by Thailand's acceptions to the rules.

[PeaceBlondie]

I walked into Chiang Mai immigration one day late, with a Thai doctor's medical statement written in Thai. The officer still wanted to see my wounds. Then she offered me a one week extension for 1,900 baht. Instead, I rode to the border and paid the fine for 3 days, to an officer who refused to read the note. Your mileage will differ.

[brycat]

I walked into Chiang Mai immigration one day late, with a Thai doctor's medical statement written in Thai. The officer still wanted to see my wounds. Then she offered me a one week extension for 1,900 baht. Instead, I rode to the border and paid the fine for 3 days, to an officer who refused to read the note. Your mileage will differ.

What would have happened if you were stopped and your passport checked before you paid the fine at the border? This is the main reason I'm flying instead of taking the bus/ train.

[PeaceBlondie]

I walked into Chiang Mai immigration one day late, with a Thai doctor's medical statement written in Thai. The officer still wanted to see my wounds. Then she offered me a one week extension for 1,900 baht. Instead, I rode to the border and paid the fine for 3 days, to an officer who refused to read the note. Your mileage will differ.

What would have happened if you were stopped and your passport checked before you paid the fine at the border? This is the main reason I'm flying instead of taking the bus/ train.

I never thought of that. Nor did I worry about the extra day in CMai before riding the bus. I dunno. Maybe Nok Lek would have explained it in town, and the tour guide on the bus could have interpreted.

[ubonjoe]

Has anyone heard of getting a doctor's note (e.g. saying you've had food poisioning) to avoid paying a <4 day visa overstay fine?

Why go through all this.

Go to immigration today pay the fine and get a 7 day extension (1900 baht).

That way no sweat no worry.

[brycat]

Has anyone heard of getting a doctor's note (e.g. saying you've had food poisioning) to avoid paying a <4 day visa overstay fine?

Why go through all this.

Go to immigration today pay the fine and get a 7 day extension (1900 baht).

That way no sweat no worry.

Was a good suggestion. Had to pay a 2 day overage (1000 baht) plus the 7 day extension fee (1900 baht). Have until Nov 6th now. Gives me a little more breathing room. Was a tad expensive, but it was my own fault for staying over. Prob take the bus route to Vientiane on Sat instead of flying since time isn't as much of an issue now. I'll save money in the long-run and there should be no worries.

Thanks for the responses everybody.

[Lite Beer]

Was a good suggestion. Had to pay a 2 day overage (1000 baht) plus the 7 day extension fee (1900 baht). Have until Nov 6th now. Gives me a little more breathing room. Was a tad expensive, but it was my own fault for staying over. Prob take the bus route to Vientiane on Sat instead of flying since time isn't as much of an issue now. I'll save money in the long-run and there should be no worries.

Thanks for the responses everybody.

Well worth the money for a good nights sleep.

Don't forget that the Consulate will be closed Saturday and Sunday. By all accounts Mondays are a bit of a nightmare so go early.

[sniffdog]

It is my opinion that even if you have a medical reason, you have to apply for an extension first at the Immigration Office where they will decide if such an extension is appropriate.

I am sure that walking through a border post with just a doctor's note wouldn't cut it.

From Pattaya Immigration:

'Application for extension of tourist visa

Required documents

1. TM. 7 (application must be made in person)

* Passport copy

* Passport picture 4x6 cm

* Application fee 1,900.- Baht

2. Documents required for special cases:

Illness:

* Hospital certificate stating the doctor's examination with the followimg details:

o Kind of illness,

o Whether/How the illness prohibits traveling.

3. Visa Stamp

* Foreigners applying for the first time for an extension of stay are given a 30 day extension from the date of expiry of the original admission, except for citizens of Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Iran, Bangladesh, Nepal, Nigeria, Togo, and Uganda, whose application for extension of stay will not be approved and the applicants are ordered to leave the kingdom within seven days.

* If a foreigner wishes to apply for a second extension after being admitted to the Kingdom for 90 days,

o the applicant is asked to report to the immigration office again in 15-30 days from the date of application, according to case if he produces evidence of necessity of extension,

o the applicant is asked to report to the immigration office again in 15 days from the date of application if the applicant does not produce evidence or documentation. During the period of consideration the applicant is allowed to remain in the Kingdom.

[ubonjoe]

Has anyone heard of getting a doctor's note (e.g. saying you've had food poisioning) to avoid paying a <4 day visa overstay fine?

Why go through all this.

Go to immigration today pay the fine and get a 7 day extension (1900 baht).

That way no sweat no worry.

Was a good suggestion. Had to pay a 2 day overage (1000 baht) plus the 7 day extension fee (1900 baht). Have until Nov 6th now. Gives me a little more breathing room. Was a tad expensive, but it was my own fault for staying over. Prob take the bus route to Vientiane on Sat instead of flying since time isn't as much of an issue now. I'll save money in the long-run and there should be no worries.

Thanks for the responses everybody.

Great

Thanks for letting us know the results.

Glad to help.

Edit: Since you have time you might not want to go to the conulate on Monday. See this topic and have a look at the last page there are 3 reports for this week about Mondays. http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Vientiane-La...sa-t158561.html

[Nacho]

I ended up in the hospital about a year ago needing to have my appendix removed. It happened the morning I was leaving the country and the last day my visa was valid. The next day after the operation I asked my girlfriend to go to immigration for me to get an extension. I was issued the extension but charged a 500 baht overstay. I was quite insulted by this as I was in the hospital getting an operation.

Telling about this to a friend of mine, he told me his story of what happened to him. He fell off the fourth floor of his apartment and broke his back in 3 places, almost died and was in the hospital for quite a few months. While in the hospital the first time his visa expired hospital staff sorted out his extension. the second time it expired they would not issue an extension and said he had to come to immigration on his own. He was in no shape to go, and 2 weeks later he finnally went in the back of an ambulance. When immigration saw that there was no way he would be able to make it to the border, they issued him another extension but still charged him for 2 weeks overstay.

So unless immigration has changed their policies in the last year, a doctors note wouldn't work, unless both my friend and I were just very unlucky.

[snuggzzz]

The 1900 bht fine is perhaps the cheapest option. I broke my right ankle, the Doctor's note 'unable to fly', costly, plus paying for the taxi and back to immigration, then there was a fee for the 30 day extension. It certainly cost more than 1900 bht.

[ubonjoe]

The 1900 bht fine is perhaps the cheapest option.

Its 500 baht a day fine for an overstay. That adds up pretty fast.

[Lite Beer]

The 1900 bht fine is perhaps the cheapest option.

Its 500 baht a day fine for an overstay. That adds up pretty fast.

Yes. Up to a maximum of 20,000 Baht.

The Visa extension fee is 1,900 Baht.

[RickFarang]

You're already broken the law by overstaying. Why compound the problem by lying on top of it? Lying to an immigration officer is a serious offense.

Just pay the fine that will clear things up.

[drunken]

Hi can any one explain me the following please:

If I am issued with one year WP & Visa in Thailand and in the mean time if I dont work with my employer after working for few months and if they dont cancall my WP & VISA and if they dont pay my Tax and social welfare fees after I leave the company.. in this case is it overstay.. ? or .... plese kindly advise.

[Mario2008]

If you are on an extension of stay because of your work, then it would be overstay.

[drunken]

I dint get please explain me once again...

[Mario2008]

When you leave your job, your WP is invalid. The permission to stay in Thailand will also end on the same day you lose your job, if you are on an extension of stay beacause of your job. Not if you are on your first 90 days of stay because you have a single non-B visa or if you have a valid multiple non-B visa or if you are staying in Thailand because of marriage to a Thai national.

In short: if you went to Immigration in Thailand to get an extension of stay for one year your permission to stay ended the day your job ended and you are on overstay.

[ubonjoe]

Hi can any one explain me the following please:

If I am issued with one year WP & Visa in Thailand and in the mean time if I dont work with my employer after working for few months and if they dont cancall my WP & VISA and if they dont pay my Tax and social welfare fees after I leave the company.. in this case is it overstay.. ? or .... plese kindly advise.

I answered your post on another thread yesterday.

You need to make up your mind. If you go to immigration you will have to pay the overstay for sure. And then get a 7 day extension (1900 baht).

If you decide to leave maybe you won't but have the money ready just in case.

[Mario2008]

Drunken, if you just leave the country there is every chance that immigration will not find out about your overstay.

However if you return to Thailand and want to work again, both labour department and immigration might check about your old employment. If they do, you are in trouble. If they don't you're lucky.