Overstay Problem

[phuketsiam]

I was working for Thai company with a work permit. Prior to that I was working with a work permit for a different company, but had a Non O visa on the strength of Thai wife and enough income (from my job). When I switched companies, they canceled by Non O and issued me a non B instead. Then they laid me off. Because I needed a new passport, mine was due to expire in a few months, they said they would keep on the books for a further two weeks so I could get a new passport before I canceled my Non B and had to leave the country. I got my new passport today, and the company now tel me I have to go and cancel my Visa and pay the overstay because I didn't cancel in the 7 days required by law, it transpired that the company made a contract with me saying they would keep me on the books, and then informed immigration immediately anyway. Not much I can do about that now, but now I have my old passport with visa valid until mid July, and new blank passport. I plan to leave Thailand anyway, going back home, but what is the best track. Do I

1) Go to immigration, cancel may visa, do a vis run and pay the overstay, come back in tourist visa while finalize everything and leave for home.

2) Just stay another 2 weeks or so on my old passport with stamp, check out at BKK airport in 2-3 weeks time hope they notice that the stamp should have been canceled.

I have been here nearly 6 years, worked for 3 companies, 2 of them BOI and never had any overstay or visa problem. I am keen to preserve this clean record as my wife is Thai and we will return at some point.

anyone got any good advice

Thanks

[bino]

I had a similar situation. I filled up my passport and had to get a new one here in Bangkok. The embassy stamped my old passport with a stamp that said:

"This passport in which insufficient visa pages remain has been succeeded by passport No ******* and may be used when presented with the succeeding passport for the sole purpose of presenting any visa that may continue to be valid."

When I left the country next time I went on the date in my old passport. I presented both passports. They stamped me out in the old one, without raising an eyelid or saying a word.

Edited May 20, 2005 by bino

[Gary A]

Since you have been in the country that long with no infractions I think it be to your benefit to simply go to immigration and tell them what happened. Eat a little humble pie and explain that you didn't understand the procedure. You have been here long enough that you understand that being humble goes a long ways.

I was working for Thai company with a work permit. Prior to that I was working with a work permit for a different company, but had a Non O visa on the strength of Thai wife and enough income (from my job). When I switched companies, they canceled by Non O and issued me a non B instead. Then they laid me off. Because I needed a new passport, mine was due to expire in a few months, they said they would keep on the books for a further two weeks so I could get a new passport before I canceled my Non B and had to leave the country. I got my new passport today, and the company now tel me I have to go and cancel my Visa and pay the overstay because I didn't cancel in the 7 days required by law, it transpired that the company made a contract with me saying they would keep me on the books, and then informed immigration immediately anyway. Not much I can do about that now, but now I have my old passport with  visa valid until  mid July, and new blank passport. I plan to leave Thailand anyway, going back home, but what is the best track. Do I

1) Go to immigration, cancel may visa, do a vis run and pay the overstay, come back in tourist visa while finalize everything and leave for home.

2) Just stay another 2 weeks or so on my old passport with stamp, check out at BKK airport in 2-3 weeks time hope they notice that the stamp should have been canceled.

I have been here nearly 6 years, worked for 3 companies, 2 of them BOI and never had any overstay or visa problem. I am keen to preserve this clean record as my wife is Thai and we will return at some point.

anyone got any good advice

Thanks

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[Crossy]

Personally, I would be tempted to just present the old passport (with the 'valid' visa) on the way out.

If you do get rumbled at the airport, you can still pay the fine.

Next time, don't let the company cancel a perfectly good non-o just because they don't understand how to attach a work permit to it. Been there and got that T-shirt.

[phuketsiam]

Thats the way I was thinking, I explained to them about the Non O, but they did it anyway, suppose i'm not the first or the last