Visa Overstay

[honoluabay]

What's the max for 17 week overstay? Baht that is heard it wAs 10000. Is this right. ?

[Dancealot]

The Min is 20K, the Max is doin' time....

Good luck

[beano2274]

Why have you overstayed a visa? Money issues or laziness?

If you leave via the airport it is okay, you can however be arrested on the way to any border crossing or the airport and then you go in front of the judge and spend time in IDC.

[Lite Beer]

500 Baht a day with a maximum of 20,000 Baht

[Nautilus05]

I was recently in this situation a few days ago, although with a longer overstay than yours. You'll pay 20,000 baht, but make it 21,000 to make things more comfortable.

Also, realize you're the one in the wrong, you're the illegal immigrant, and you're the one who could potentially spend 2 years in prison if the immigration officer doesn't like you. Due to that, dress respectfully. While I was in the overstay office, I seen people walking in as if they were just coming off the beach. I couldn't believe it. I spent 3000 baht on a new shirt and pair of pants just for the VISA run.

Be apologetic, be respectful, dress nicely, and don't question the immigration officer. Seen one guy do that, and the officer put him in his place rather quickly. Other than that, you should be fine. Just make sure you get to the border before you get caught being illegal, and you'll be fine.

Picking up another VISA at a Thai embassy in a neighboring country it no problem. If anything, I wouldn't be surprised if there's an internal policy within Thai immigration saying if someone is clearing their overstay, just approve their VISA without question. The government wants people to clear their overstays, and be here legally, so if you do the right thing and clear it, they're not going to punish you for it and will approve the next VISA without issue. The government doesn't want people too scared to come clean, and clear their overstays.

[notmyself]

I seen people walking in as if they were just coming off the beach. I couldn't believe it. I spent 3000 baht on a new shirt and pair of pants just for the VISA run.

Saw the same thing on Samui just over a week ago though dress code has always been somewhat lax. A couple turn up still wet from the beach.. he's got a wife beater on and she has a bikini and no shoes.. 16k overstay each and not a problem.

[Nautilus05]

Sounds like you chose that WRONG path knowingly.

Easier and better to stay on track, :-)

True enough. Live and learn. :-)

Never again will I overstay. Way too frightening and stressful for a guy like me.

[lopburi3]

Flame (personal name calling) and replies removed.

[cycloneJ]

I posted this here last week 27 Feb when i was at the Ban Pakkard/Prum (Chanthaburi) border to have info transferred from old to new passports.

I would not recommend this type of behaviour

If anyone reports a missing Frenchman, this could be the first clue

I will add here - there was a shout of "way to go, Froggie" from a man in the queue

and as an added extra, free entertainment from a French man about 35 who refused to pay an overstay in rather loud tones, 15 January was the applicable date. He stepped back from the counter, grabbed his crotch and made (described politely) a rude pelvic gesture at the female immigration officer. I suspect he will be in their company a while, I got away quickly and didn't see the outcome.

[mickjn]

First day nothing,second day 1000baht,from then on 500 baht a day until your reach 20000 baht.Max is 20000

[Crossy]

First day nothing,second day 1000baht,from then on 500 baht a day until your reach 20000 baht.Max is 20000

Note that this applies at the airport only, land crossings start charging 500 Baht a day from day one.

[lopburi3]

Only if you leave by airport on the first day is there no charge. If you leave the second day you will be charged for 2 days overstay.

[mickjn]

I posted this here last week 27 Feb when i was at the Ban Pakkard/Prum (Chanthaburi) border to have info transferred from old to new passports.

I would not recommend this type of behaviour

If anyone reports a missing Frenchman, this could be the first clue

I will add here - there was a shout of "way to go, Froggie" from a man in the queue

and as an added extra, free entertainment from a French man about 35 who refused to pay an overstay in rather loud tones, 15 January was the applicable date. He stepped back from the counter, grabbed his crotch and made (described politely) a rude pelvic gesture at the female immigration officer. I suspect he will be in their company a while, I got away quickly and didn't see the outcome.

I think it has changed a bit now where you go up stairs,I am pretty sure last time when I got it wrong by one day he just told me to go through and see the 3 ladys at the desk behind him.Those ladys were great just a mistake ok no fine.I would have liked to been there when the French Man was playing up,

[dantilley]

Only if you leave by airport on the first day is there no charge. If you leave the second day you will be charged for 2 days overstay.

Interesting, is that to avoid awkward situations with late night flights and people getting delayed checking in, thus coming through just after midnight on their first overstay day?

[lopburi3]

Yes.

[dantilley]

I was recently in this situation a few days ago, although with a longer overstay than yours. You'll pay 20,000 baht, but make it 21,000 to make things more comfortable.

Why would you pay extra on top of the normal overstay fine?

[Nautilus05]

I was recently in this situation a few days ago, although with a longer overstay than yours. You'll pay 20,000 baht, but make it 21,000 to make things more comfortable.

Why would you pay extra on top of the normal overstay fine?

To help ensure I didn't end up in the IDC?

[dantilley]

That's what the overstay fine is for.

[Nautilus05]

That's what the overstay fine is for.

No. The law states maximum 20,000 baht fine, 2 years in prison, or both. Even with paying the fine, the immigration officer is still within their legal right to chuck you in the IDC if they'd like. They never do, but they can.

Besides, what's 1000 baht? It's nothing, and definitely didn't hurt anything.

[inthepink]

It's a stupid idea. Absolutely no reason to attempt to bribe immigration officials in such a situation, You never know, if you come across an honest one you could just make things worse.

[Nautilus05]

You never know, if you come across an honest one you could just make things worse.

What exactly would they do? Throw me in prison for counting out a stack of 20 bills wrong? If he called me on it, I would have just played dumb and said, "sorry, I must have counted wrong".

[inthepink]

OK, if you're just going to hand it over without making a point of giving them an extra thousand then I agree, there is no downside to your approach. I still wouldn't bother personally, simply because it's not necessary.

[dantilley]

The downside is the wasted money (it serves no purpose whatsoever and doesn't help at all), and it encourages corruption in an area in which there wasn't any previously.

[Nautilus05]

The downside is the wasted money (it serves no purpose whatsoever and doesn't help at all)

We'll have to agree to disagree on that one. I think it helps turn a pissed off immigration officer who's tired of dealing with idiots like me, into someone just a tad more pleasant towards me. Considering how much power he has over my life at that particular juncture, I'd say a simple 1000 baht is more than worth it.

and it encourages corruption in an area in which there wasn't any previously.

Right, because there was never any corruption throughout the Thai police / immigration before people like me came along. Most definitely.

[Mario2008]

That's what the overstay fine is for.

No. The law states maximum 20,000 baht fine, 2 years in prison, or both. Even with paying the fine, the immigration officer is still within their legal right to chuck you in the IDC if they'd like. They never do, but they can.

Besides, what's 1000 baht? It's nothing, and definitely didn't hurt anything.

Immigration cannot sentence you to jail, only a judge can do that.

The policy is that you pay the fine and thus prevent being brought before a judge, (who by all reports would impose a lesser fine than immigration does).

[dantilley]

^^ Not with paying overstay fees there isn't, at least not on a wide enough scale for it to be reported on. There might be if people start randomly throwing money around for no reason though.