Overstay

[Noel]

This post appeared on SCT, anyone have any firm info to confirm or deny?

"Hello,

yesterday I heard that the office to pay the fines for your overstay at Don

Muang Airport (behind passportcontrols) has been closed and moved to

downtown BKK.

Which means that you have to go to downtown BKK to pay your fine, which

could lead to missing

your flight. (Now I know that some people do not have any problems with

missing a flight, but

anyway ... :>)  )

The guy's friend, who told me, had to do this for an overstay of only two

days.

Could anybody confirm this change of Thai Immigration in handling overstay?"

[dr_Pat_Pong]

I haven't heard of this little gem. I hope that it isn't correct, coz Immigration is not the best place to be if they turn nasty. I will make urgent enquiries and get back to the thread asap.

[bangkok-bob]

Any new news on this paying your overstay charges at Suan Plu as opposed to Don Muang????

[Eddiee]

yesterday I heard that the office to pay the fines for your overstay at Don

Muang Airport (behind passportcontrols) has been closed and moved to

downtown BKK.

No way they would stop overstay payments at the airport this would cause havoc with tourists missing their flights etc....

[Noel]

yesterday I heard that the office to pay the fines for your overstay at Don

Muang Airport (behind passportcontrols) has been closed and moved to

downtown BKK.

No way they would stop overstay payments at the airport this would cause havoc with tourists missing their flights etc....

...and nor would they stop 'showing' in Go-Go's, close bars down 'early', hype up visa fees and qualifying requirements, scrutinize passports far more carefully, now would they... ?

It could well be someone trying to wind people up and the claim is not true, but suggesting the authorities would not do so for fear of inconveniencing farang strikes me as naive in the extreme.

On this board there should be a regular stream of members passing through Don Muang.

Perhaps someone could waste a few moments by asking?

[Kan Win]

On this board there should be a regular stream of members passing through Don Muang.

Perhaps someone could waste a few moments by asking?

vote that you do that, why members ????????

Why not you.............................

:cool:

[Kan Win]

On this board there should be a regular stream of members passing through Don Muang.

Perhaps someone could waste a few moments by asking?

I vote that you do that, why members ????????

Why not you.............................

:cool:

Sorry folks,

missed out the "I" in the above post

[Eddiee]

fear of inconveniencing farang strikes me as naive in the extreme.

Noel closing down go go's is a little bit different to causing major air delays including Thai airways (Run by the Government) losing time and money because of all the hold-ups it would cause.....

Noel I would suggest you think before you write or are u too busy in the go go's ???

[Noel]

On this board there should be a regular stream of members passing through Don Muang.

Perhaps someone could waste a few moments by asking?

vote that you do that, why members ????????

Why not you.............................

:cool:

As I live in Thailand and have no need to go out for a quite a while yet, I regard your 'vote' that I should as inappropriate.

I was, perhaps mistakenly, under the impression that people who post here had to be members and some may be coming in and out of Don Muang.

Had a bad hair day?  ???

[Noel]

fear of inconveniencing farang strikes me as naive in the extreme.

Noel closing down go go's is a little bit different to causing major air delays including Thai airways (Run by the Government) losing time and money because of all the hold-ups it would cause.....

Noel I would suggest you think before you write or are u too busy in the go go's ???

I cannot remember the last time I went to a Go-Go, whatever relevance that has.

Perhaps you could check out the facts rather than come out with glib opinions and snide remarks.

That said, it could be that the Thai Authorities would welcome your input as to how not to inconvenience people who have broken their laws...  

[dr_Pat_Pong]

We'll know for certain about the overstayers booth at the airport in a little while. I really doubt that it is shut. Are Immigration gonna let you, as an overstayer, catch a cab to Suan Plu to settle up. I don't think so, nor are they gonna provide an escort officer to accompany you.

[Noel]

We'll know for certain about the overstayers booth at the airport in a little while. I really doubt that it is shut. Are Immigration gonna let you, as an overstayer, catch a cab to Suan Plu to settle up. I don't think so, nor are they gonna provide an escort officer to accompany you.

I totally agree and look foward to people who otherwise might inadvertently get themselves into all sorts of problems being enlightened and therefore forewarned.

We can always get into a 'mass debate'  about what might be, but what we need is definitive answers, not conjecture as to what the Thai Authorities may, should or would not do.

We need to know what the real situation is.

PS. Should this all turn out to be a hoax, then may I say what a sad specimen the 'friend' of Frans Jansen [email protected] is.

Regardless, I hope it is not the case as it would not bode well for all farang.

[PK2]

We'll know for certain about the overstayers booth at the airport in a little while.

So what's the truth here? Is the booth closed or is this thread a hoax? There's a similar story on http://www.pattayaexpats.com/  Newsletter for Oct. 5, 2003  but just a report? Anyone got any first hand knowledge?

[george]

We'll know for certain about the overstayers booth at the airport in a little while.

So what's the truth here? Is the booth closed or is this thread a hoax? There's a similar story on http://www.pattayaexpats.com/  Newsletter for Oct. 5, 2003  but just a report? Anyone got any first hand knowledge?

This is just an nasty hoax. I have just confirmed with Thai Immigration at Don Muang Airport, that it's no problem at all to clear overstays at the airport prior to departure. There is no interrogation or detention for 24 hours as the rumor says.

The fee for overstay is 200 Baht per day with a maximum of 20,000 Baht (regardless of how long your overstay is, as long as your passport is valid).

You must have a valid passport (not expired or damaged or with fake stamps). The process takes about 10-20 minutes.

The phone number to Immigration Bureau at Don Muang International Airport is:

0-2535-1111 (just ask for departure Immigration).

Hope this helps.

[bangkok-bob]

you're a star George, I have to visit these chaps once APEC is over with. I'll be 20K lighter.

[sanuk]

Hi all,

I need some real facts. I have been in Bangkok now for 2 and a half years and on overstay for that period. I need to get back to the UK urgently. I have contacted the British Embassy and the Thai Immigration at Don Muang to find out what happens. Both of them have told me. That I have to surrender myself to immigration and be detained at the detention center for up to 4 days until I have to go to court. I will be fined between 3-5000 baht and deported. I do not want to goto one of these jails I have a valid reason for my overstay, and I am not one of Thailand's un-desireables. Who is right ? Is the British Embassy right, or is the last post correct in what they say. Go to the airport pay the 20K as long as I have a valid passport with no fakes which I have.  Then leave.

Please help. I am desperate now. At the moment I'm now afraid of even leaving the house in fear of being arrested and I live 40k's outside of the city.  I have enough money to pay the 20k and able to get a 1 way flight out.

Cheers ... M

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Go to the airport with the 20,000 pay and go home. Be careful, because if they catch you before you get there, it will be IDC. Good luck. Remember, they'd rather have the money than the body.

[Guest IT Manager]

Oh Noel...you beast... give him a break he is retired after all.

[Noel]

Oh Noel...you beast... give him a break he is retired after all.

Well you may think this is a laughing matter, as indicated by your affected Katoey prose, but to some people it certainly is not, especially in the current climate.

An acquaintance of mine was faced with coming to terms with the overstay problem about eighteen months ago.

His overstay was over two years.

He had been told that Don Muang could be somewhat problematic with such an overstay so he took his chances at Poipet. There was a slight fuss but he paid the 20k, went out and came straight back in.

A fortnight later he tried to leave via Don Muang and his problems started when the stamps were noticed. He was ushered aside and locked in a room for an hour or so prior to being interviewed.

He was asked all sorts of questions about where he had been staying, how he had funded his stay in Thailand, had he been working, etc, etc.

He was told he would have to appear before a court and explain himself before being allowed to leave the Kingdom. He would be detained until he appeared in court.

He naturally did not welcome the idea and therefore kindly offered to make a handsome donation to the charity of the Immigration Officers' choice.

Being caring and sharing types, they accepted his donation of some 15,000 Baht plus his non-'genuine copy' designer watch. Those were essentially the only 'valuables' he had of any worth to the designated charity.

There seems to be some smart-arsed tossers involving themselves in this thread, probably because they are tourists with nothing better to do, other than drift away in a totally unachievable dream of living in Thailand.

I could not give a tinker's cuss about such sad sorts, but why they have to bother injecting their pointless and cynical venom in a subject that could have serious consequences for some leaves me shaking my head.

The only message that is clear from this thread is that, like it or not, the Thai have their laws and have every right to prosecute and police them to the letter.

Crying foul or blubbing that they were never so picky before so it is 'unfair' are gripes best confined to the playground or Nanny's lap.

Trying to scorn the potential plight of others is less than cheap and shows the calibre of the pathetic worms who get a kick from delighting in the misfortune of others.

Moreover, anyone inventing stories so as to make people who have been unwise live in trepidation need to ask themselves why they feel the need.

What a bunch of ######s...