Overstay Fine At Cw; New Fine Calculation; Retirement Extension Used If Possible.

[creck]

Last year was the first time that I had been in Thailand without spending some time every couple months (or less) visiting some other country on business. I was now retired. When I realised that for the first time the encumbrance of 90 day reporting applied to me, I was already at the maximum of 20,000 THB fine. I decided that there was no advantage of sorting it out then, but left it and decided to go for my extension of stay and pay the fine in one hit at CW immigration at the end of my year. I had a one year multiple entry Non Imm. ‘O’ in my passport from KL.

So as my year ran out, I prepared my papers for extension of stay as supporting a Thai wife and had 20,000 THB in my pocket. The officer in CW was quite quick and firm. I cannot take your fine he said, you must leave Thailand pay the fine, and come back. I was surprised since I was quite sure I had read of posters on TV paying the fine in CW. However, I know Thailand too well to argue and duly went on my Visa run.

90 days later I return to CW to get my extension of stay, only my TM7 and the bank book had needed updating from the preparation I had made before. By chance it was the same officer. He leafed through the papers and said “you are over 65 and have more than 800,000 THB in the bank, you should use a retirement visa. It is easier for you and for me.” He handed back most of the papers and started to fill in another form for me. Explaining that he could issue on the same day and I would not have to wait 30 days for a stamp in my passport. I was not given a choice. He was right of course. In about 30 minutes we were out with a new whole year’s stay stamp in my passport.

So:

1. Do not expect to be able to pay an overstay fine at CW. I am not sure if it was just that officer or the fact that it was at maximum.

2. The fine calculation has now changed – 5,000 baht for one day and 200 baht for each extra day not making a 90 day report. At least that is what the note now affixed to my passport says. Beware of a long overstay! After three months you are over 20,000 and it keeps going up. Is that a correct understanding?

3. Don’t try to make a ‘Thai wife’ extension of stay if you qualify for a retirement extension. At least CW can’t be bothered with the hassle.

[lopburi3]

1. You never do 90 day reports using 90 day visa entry. You seem to be talking about overstay.

2. 20k max fine is for overstay - did you forget to leave after 90 days while on that multi entry visa? In that case you must leave (CW can only accept fine and arrest/deport you - they normally let you leave yourself if they believe you are honest).

3. The fine for late 90 day address reporting (more than 7 days) is 2,000 baht if a simple misunderstanding. They can charge up to 5,000 baht by law however and there is a 200 baht per day until paid provision which AFAIK has not yet be defined or used but would appear to be if you are unable or refuse to pay.

[creck]

1. You never do 90 day reports using 90 day visa entry. You seem to be talking about overstay.

2. 20k max fine is for overstay - did you forget to leave after 90 days while on that multi entry visa? In that case you must leave (CW can only accept fine and arrest/deport you - they normally let you leave yourself if they believe you are honest).

3. The fine for late 90 day address reporting (more than 7 days) is 2,000 baht if a simple misunderstanding. They can charge up to 5,000 baht by law however and there is a 200 baht per day until paid provision which AFAIK has not yet be defined or used but would appear to be if you are unable or refuse to pay.

1 yes you must be right! I never got an extension of stay at end of my first 90 days. - shows how confused I was.

2 Not exactly forget - it was just that my passport previously was always restamped by returning from working trips and I could ignore the short date in my passport.

3 It all seems clear now - I must have sounded OK to the officer telling him I never used the entry stamp just the Visa date previously. He must have looked back in my passport and seen it was true.

Thanks for making it clear. I was more lucky than I realised.