Overstay In Thailand

[blossombkk]

Hi to all,

My daughter was on a student visa until december 1st. 2011. She is no longer a student. I know I'd have to pay 20,000 tb fine upon leaving the country.

She will be leaving the country anyway in august 2012. my question is: does it matter how long she is overstayed? is it better to leave the country now for a neighboring country? are we eligible for another "punishment" except the 20,000 tb fine?

[Crossy]

From:-

Best case scenario, arrive at the airport, pay 20k Baht fine, get overstay stamp, fly home. This is by far the most likely.

Up to and including:-

Worst case scenario, get stopped by the police for something minor, required to produce passport, get found on overstay, arrest, lock up in the Immigration Detention Centre, court appearance, fine, deportation, life ban from entering Thailand.

Or anywhere in between. Whilst the worst case rarely happens it is there as a possibility, it is of course entirely up to you (actually your daughter).

Note, you don't indicate her age, children up to 12 (I think) cannot overstay so there's no fine or possibility of arrest.

[PoorSucker]

The overstay fee is 500 baht per day with a maximum of 20.000 baht.

Best is to pay at the airport when leaving.

If she gets caught before leaving she will be arrested, appear before a judge and deported after paying the 20.000 baht.

Waiting until August is a very very bad idea.

Tell her to buy a ticket to a city with a consulate and get a tourist visa.

A double entry tourist visa will give her 180 days if utilized correctly.

[blossombkk]

thank you both very much for your advise. she is 15 yrs old. i guess the best would be to take her out to a neighboring country soon.

[lopburi3]

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.

http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/en/doc/Immigration_Act.pdf

As said payment of fine in amount of 500 baht per day up to max 20k will settle the matter but by law there could be jail time imposed if they ever decided to do so.

[CharlieH]

If you take her out DONT do it via a Land border, do it via the main Airport.

[blossombkk]

If you take her out DONT do it via a Land border, do it via the main Airport.

Why is that??

[CharlieH]

If you take her out DONT do it via a Land border, do it via the main Airport.

Why is that??

The main Airport is used to handling overstay and its no real big issue there, if you go to a small land border you might walk into a nightmare and given how things can vary so much in Thailand you might get someone who simply has you arrested and passed to someone who does know how to process it.