32 Day Stay In Thailand?

[spacedcowboy]

Hi

I've just worked out the total length of my stay in Thailand due to my Flights (internal flight & a 18 hour stopover in Bangkok Airport) will be 32days.

Can anybody with experience of this in 2012 let me know of any of the problems with immigration this may cause when I attempt to leave,

Am I'm being overly concerned?

Can I just pay the overstay on departure?

Will this create any unforseen circumstances for re-entering Thailand.

Should I arrange a 60 day tourist visa before I depart UK and swallow the extra expense.

Will flying to Singapore trigger a new 30 day Visa on re-entry to Thailand (I was considering doing this anyway)

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[MrRealDeal]

2 day overstay wont be a problem and a LOT cheaper than the visa

[spacedcowboy]

2 day overstay wont be a problem and a LOT cheaper than the visa

Great thanks

How much is the current overstay rate per day?

I've been told the immigration ignore the first day overstay.

[MrRealDeal]

I'm not exactly sure but it's somewhere around 500 bht

[FritsSikkink]

Will flying to Singapore trigger a new 30 day Visa on re-entry to Thailand

Yes

[Lite Beer]

You need a Visa or face being refused entry to the flight from UK.

[theoldgit]

You need a Visa or face being refused entry to the flight from UK.

Yes, that's going to be your biggest problem, as Lite Beer says if you haven't got a visa you will probably be denied boarding.

I would certainly get a visa, it's easy to get and will negate any problems when you're at the airport in The UK.

[lopburi3]

A visa would not be much more expensive than a two day overstay (same official price of 1,000 baht) and would provide insurance you can board aircraft for departure and provide an extra margin for any flight change/delay (amazing how many tourists find a reason to stay a few days longer at the last minute).

[IMA_FARANG]

You'll probably be o.k., but understand:

1. The overstay fine is 500 Baht per day.

2. They MAY excuse you first the first day but it is NOT a hard and fast rule and is at the discretion of the immigration officer. So it is possible that 32 days will cost you a 2 days overstay fee. Don't just assume you'll get the first day free.

3. Technically, the airline may require you to have a Thai visa or an onward ticket (out of Thailand) within that 30 day window from when you are stamped into Thailand. You have a 32 day window. The airline you fly here on could require you to purchase a ticket out of Thailand for that reason. I don't think they will, because it's only 2 days...but you never know.

4. You do not get a visa when you enter Thailand, visas are given by Thai consultates. What you get, if you qualify, is a visa exempt entry waiver good for 30 days. This waiver is granted to certain nationalities.

5. Everytime you exit Thailand that 30 day waiver ends when you leave. If you re-enter you can get another 30 days. So if you're going to Singapore anyhow, it would be smart to make that trip one day BEFORE your 30 days ran out...and save yourself the overstay fee. But that's up to you.

[lopburi3]

Actually it is a hard and fast rule - there is no overstay change if not more than one day when departing from an airport - but more than one day all overstay days will be charged (so 2 days would be 1,000 baht).

[spacedcowboy]

Great, thank you all for your help.

I'm planning on purchasing a airline ticket to Singapore or Laos to break up the visit which I will produce on my arrival at Heathrow check-in (thats if I find a cheap flight offer.

Many thanks.