Visa Overstay Fines--what's The Maximum?

[charlenejaidee]

Anyone know what the maximum fine due is for overstay? A frined was on a retirement c=visa with her husband as dependent-- last year in August she got a job teaching and a work permit, so her visa was changed to a work visa, but no-one told her of the change. Her husband went on going for his 90 day report, thinking he was still on a retirement visa, all was fine, until last time, , early this year, when he was told that his visa would come up for renewal at the end of March -- as expected. He got his 90 day and was told to organise a renewal.

When he went last week to do so, he was told that he should have transferred his dependency to his wife's work visa-- the one she hacn't been told she's got as her employer, a Thai had arranged it. Immigration are now telling them they will have to pay fines of 20,000 baht to get her husband onto her work visa until it comes up for renewal in six months' time , then it all starts again! I've read somewhere, but can't find it, that there is a maximum fine for overstay-- can anyone help? I've also searched the forums and can't find anything about dependents on work visas, and have nevr personally heard of this one!

My friends are pretty desperate -- they don't have enough money here to get the husband a retirement visa, and anyway, the money would have to be in for 3 months, by that time her husband will be thrown out of the country, I should think. They have some cash in an account in their own country but the exchange rate is so bad it brings them under the amount they would need, , and the rest of their cash is tied up in an investment, and fallen foul of the credit crunch. Thye have thier own house, and have leased land, so it would be very difficult for them to leave without losing a great deal more, although they are thinking very seriously about it right now, for obvious reasons.

Any practical advice for them would be good.

Charlenejaidee

[ovenman]

I've read somewhere, but can't find it, that there is a maximum fine for overstay-- can anyone help?

It's 20,000 baht.

[Blinky Bill]

Used to THB 20,000 when the day rate was THB200. With the increase to THB500 per day is the maximum still THB20,000.

If the Immigration Officials don't like you it could be jail.

[Frankythai]

Anyone know what the maximum fine due is for overstay? A frined was on a retirement c=visa with her husband as dependent-- last year in August she got a job teaching and a work permit, so her visa was changed to a work visa, but no-one told her of the change. Her husband went on going for his 90 day report, thinking he was still on a retirement visa, all was fine, until last time, , early this year, when he was told that his visa would come up for renewal at the end of March -- as expected. He got his 90 day and was told to organise a renewal.

When he went last week to do so, he was told that he should have transferred his dependency to his wife's work visa-- the one she hacn't been told she's got as her employer, a Thai had arranged it. Immigration are now telling them they will have to pay fines of 20,000 baht to get her husband onto her work visa until it comes up for renewal in six months' time , then it all starts again! I've read somewhere, but can't find it, that there is a maximum fine for overstay-- can anyone help? I've also searched the forums and can't find anything about dependents on work visas, and have nevr personally heard of this one!

My friends are pretty desperate -- they don't have enough money here to get the husband a retirement visa, and anyway, the money would have to be in for 3 months, by that time her husband will be thrown out of the country, I should think. They have some cash in an account in their own country but the exchange rate is so bad it brings them under the amount they would need, , and the rest of their cash is tied up in an investment, and fallen foul of the credit crunch. Thye have thier own house, and have leased land, so it would be very difficult for them to leave without losing a great deal more, although they are thinking very seriously about it right now, for obvious reasons.

Any practical advice for them would be good.

Charlenejaidee

Well It is so:

The fine for overstay is at the moment 500 ThB a day. Before it was for a long time 200 ThB a day, now thus 500 ThB.

The maximumfine is stil 20.000 ThB. This is payable at the moment you leave the country or in your case at immigration.

There is a very dangerous thing avout this all.

If an policeman, immigrationofficer, someone who not likes you, finds out that you have an overstay, he or she may and will arrest you immediatly.

You will end up in jail and brought to court where you will be given a lesser fine.

If you can not pay that fine from court you go back to jail and stay there. Your fine will be reduced with 200 ThB a day, so if the judge fines you 2000 ThB you have to go to jail for 10 days.

But tat is not all. After staying in jail or payment is done you have to go back to your own country, and you stay in jail untill you have a confirmed airticket, Immigration will escort you to airport. So having an overstay might look not such a big problem but can give you a nightmare.

Believe me I am speaking as someone who knows, it happened to me.

[beano2274]

Just a quick question about Overstay

Recently a friend of mine was shopped by his ex GF to the police as he was on Overstay.

Do Thai's receive Cash Rewards if they shop someone to Immigration? I know that in Korea it is

certainly rewarded.

Thanks in Advance

[Thakkar]

Anyone know what the maximum fine due is for overstay? A frined was on a retirement c=visa with her husband as dependent-- last year in August she got a job teaching and a work permit, so her visa was changed to a work visa, but no-one told her of the change. Her husband went on going for his 90 day report, thinking he was still on a retirement visa, all was fine, until last time, , early this year, when he was told that his visa would come up for renewal at the end of March -- as expected. He got his 90 day and was told to organise a renewal.

When he went last week to do so, he was told that he should have transferred his dependency to his wife's work visa-- the one she hacn't been told she's got as her employer, a Thai had arranged it. Immigration are now telling them they will have to pay fines of 20,000 baht to get her husband onto her work visa until it comes up for renewal in six months' time , then it all starts again! I've read somewhere, but can't find it, that there is a maximum fine for overstay-- can anyone help? I've also searched the forums and can't find anything about dependents on work visas, and have nevr personally heard of this one!

My friends are pretty desperate -- they don't have enough money here to get the husband a retirement visa, and anyway, the money would have to be in for 3 months, by that time her husband will be thrown out of the country, I should think. They have some cash in an account in their own country but the exchange rate is so bad it brings them under the amount they would need, , and the rest of their cash is tied up in an investment, and fallen foul of the credit crunch. Thye have thier own house, and have leased land, so it would be very difficult for them to leave without losing a great deal more, although they are thinking very seriously about it right now, for obvious reasons.

Any practical advice for them would be good.

Charlenejaidee

I once foolishly forgot to get a re-entry visa prior to a foreign trip. Upon my return, I was given a visa on arrival and, again, foolishly never looked at my passport. When I went to report myself I was told that I had overstayed my visa on arrival and told to pay 17,000 Bht and given one week to leave the country. The worst part was that I had nearly completed three years and was a mere weeks away from qualifying to apply for a permanent stay. I was told I'd have to play the same 90-day song and dance for three years to re-qualify.

When I returned later to re-apply for a year's visa, I spoke to another officer who was more sympathetic. She said that If I had talked to her on the day, there could've been a happier outcome as she could see that it was an innocent mistake. Let me make it clear that she did not intimate any kind of palm-greasing; simply that some flexibility could be applied seeing as there was no nefarious intent.

Your friend could try to enlist the help of a well-spoken respected Thai (perhaps the headmaster from his wife's school?) to make a respectful request for some leniency. He may still very well have to pay the fine, but his visa would be intact and he may not have to leave the country.

Best of luck to them.

[Tod Daniels]

Believe me if there was a reward for turning in over-stayers, I'd be a millionaire.

Sadly there is no reward offered.

[Drew Aitch]

Overstay is not usually a problem if you get to the departure point and have the cash to pay it. The problem comes if you are caught in the country on overstay. You never know when you might need your passport for something, right?

A good while ago now, my friend went to catch a flight home to the UK to visit parents on a 3 week holiday. It was planned on the day of visa expiry. He got to the airport only to find that his flight had been cancelled. The airline could get him on another flight 4 days later. Disgruntled, he went home and called the folks with the news.

Later the next evening, there was a knock at his door. Standing there with the owner were 2 police officers. Apparently, there had been break-ins on a couple of floors in the building and they were just asking around to see if the residents had seen or heard of anything. My mate said that he hadn't.

The cops asked a couple of polite questions and then thanked him for his time. Just before they left, they asked to see his passport before going on their merry way. Right away, they saw his short overstay. He explained the situation, but was arrested and banged up anyway. He spent 3 nights in a crowded jail cell with a bunch of Africans and a handful of other Farangs. His story was eventually verified, and he was let out with an apology for the inconvenience caused. Why this took so long is anyone's guess.

Imagine if you didn’t have a justifiable reason for overstay. It would have been jail, court case, fine, and flight back home once you had cash to fund it. It's my guess that most guys on massive overstay, are skint. Otherwise, why wouldn't they spend money on a proper visa and a few dollars once in a while for a border run so as to keep their legal status up?

There will be the occasional case derived out of ignorance, but most long term over-stayers know exactly what they're doing!

Aitch

[widget]

I too had to pay a fine for overstay recently. I was told by immigration that the max was 20,000 Baht per person.

[Maestro]

It’s maximum 20,000 Baht if you report to immigration and they allow you to pay the summary fine. If you get caught by the police and they arrest you for overstay, a court will decide on the fine within the limit set by the Immigration Act:

Section 81 : Any alien who stay in the Kingdom without permission or with permission expired or revoked

shall be punished with imprisonment not exceeding two years or a fine not exceeding 20,000 Baht or

both.

--

Maestro

[dbrenn]

Used to THB 20,000 when the day rate was THB200. With the increase to THB500 per day is the maximum still THB20,000.

If the Immigration Officials don't like you it could be jail.

No chance of jail if you voluntarily fly out and pay the fine up to a maximum of 20,000 Baht.

As others hae said, you risk getting banged up if you are caught before leaving.

[beano2274]

Looking at the Immigration Act, it seems that if a Thai person is aware that a foreigner is on overstay, then it is their duty to report the Foreigner to the Police. It seems they can be fined for not informing the Police. So all those wives and girlfriends could also get fined, best idea is not to let anyone know if you are on overstay or not.

[Lite Beer]

, best idea is not to let anyone know if you are on overstay or not.

Best idea is not to overstay.

[Badbanker]

At Suan Plu the other day doing an annual extension and sitting with my friend on the 5th floor who is a senior Immigration Police officer.  I asked the question "more people are overstaying now a days"?  He said yes and we are not happy about this and discussing a new provision in immigration law that will black list people for more than 3 months overstay.

Keep your visa current as it would shock thousands of people if they were black listed and banned from entry!

BB

, best idea is not to let anyone know if you are on overstay or not.

Best idea is not to overstay.

[Maestro]

...Looking at the Immigration Act, it seems that if a Thai person is aware that a foreigner is on overstay, then it is their duty to report the Foreigner to the Police. It seems they can be fined for not informing the Police...

Which section of the Immigration Act is that, please?

--

Maestro