One Year Visa Holders Beware.

[Mason45]

I went to the immigration office today for my 90 day stamp, the officer told me that I was well over as I hadn't reported for the previous 90 days. I explained myself but it was water of a ducks back. It goes like this my one year visa expired early this year so I renewed it and they gave me a bridgeing visa whilst it was getting processed, I never thought of submitting a TM 47 form as I thought the bridgeing visa over rode the old one year visa and the new one year visa would supersede both. Anyway the end result was 2,000 baht fine and its been entered on my passport Im furious as it was a genuine over sight by me and I thought a stern warning would've have been more appropiate. I never said much at all my wife spoke to the officer in Thai, I was aware that the overstay rate is 500 baht per day so I just stayed in the background. Ive been going to Thailand for many years, Ive never breached any of their immigration laws before and I think the fine and black mark on my file is very harsh for an innocent mistake. Any suggestions?

[Axel]

I am not sure, what you mean by a "90 day stamp".

There are two things with immigration

a) permission to stay until (date) which must be extented if you wish to stay longer

'b) report of address if you stay longer than 90 days. This is done on the TM 47 and no stamp in PP.

Fines are Baht 500/day for overstaying (max. 20,000) and 2000 for not reporting every 90 days.

I know, it can be hard, but them are beaurocrats...

Edited April 24, 2006 by Axel

[desmond]

I think the 2000 bht fine is reasonable and legal, after all, it is your own fault but I don't think there is any 'black mark' as long as the fine is paid.

For me, I missed a few times and I paid the fine. Each time, they made a stamp of my pp.

[lopburi3]

You did not report as is required and you paid your fine (which is not overstay and has nothing to do with 500 baht a day). The criteria for reporting is a stay of more than 90 days and 90 days from the previous report.

There are a lot of people who have had to pay that fine recently so it is not going to effect your stay in any way. Just don't let it become a habit. The only time you are exempt from the address report is when you leave the country. In that case the 90 day clock starts again on the day you return.

[Mason45]

You did not report as is required and you paid your fine (which is not overstay and has nothing to do with 500 baht a day). The criteria for reporting is a stay of more than 90 days and 90 days from the previous report.

There are a lot of people who have had to pay that fine recently so it is not going to effect your stay in any way. Just don't let it become a habit. The only time you are exempt from the address report is when you leave the country. In that case the 90 day clock starts again on the day you return.

Im not being critical of the officer doing her job but surely she could've checked the database on the immigration computer, I was in the Suan Plu office two times late December and once early January. No one visited me or made contact with me so I presumed all was well. We own our own home and I haven't changed address for two years. My main point of contention is repercussions when applying for my next one year visa as far as the two grand goes lets just say just put it down to another learning experience.

[lopburi3]

Don't let it worry you. It is not going to be a problem later. But remember that the only way to report is the TM47 form. Being in the building does not put your home at the same place as previously reported. And unless they are looking for you (not good) they are not going to be knocking on your door asking where your report is.

Really, don't worry about it.

[Mason45]

Don't let it worry you. It is not going to be a problem later. But remember that the only way to report is the TM47 form. Being in the building does not put your home at the same place as previously reported. And unless they are looking for you (not good) they are not going to be knocking on your door asking where your report is.

Really, don't worry about it.

I totally agree Lop but every detail that was required when applying for a renewal was with immigration at this time. I sense a lack of communication between departments. When I was renewing my one year visa surely the officer could've said " do you realise that you must also complete a TM47 even though you're visa is about to expire." You know just a little customer relations goes a long way. Anyway thank you for your advice, you're one of the very few guys who gives a balanced view on logic and law in these forums.

[Rhys]

M Mason is this you? A mutual friend in the Bahamas is doing well.

[Mason45]

M Mason is this you? A mutual friend in the Bahamas is doing well.

Sorry Rhys, Mason is the street where my original home is. I'm living in Bangkok these days as fot the Bahamas I'm not even sure where it is. lol

[sierra01]

Why don't you make a complaint to our ex great leader, say it was an 'honest mistake', he knows all about them.

[happymanme]

ok lop just to get this straight if i do a visa run every 90 days for my imm b that does instead of the tm47 form.am i understanding you correctly also i presume that on an imm b that i do in fact have to leave the country rather just reporting somewhere in country.

thanks allan

[lopburi3]

ok lop just to get this straight if i do a visa run every 90 days for my imm b that does instead of the tm47 form.am i understanding you correctly also i presume that on an imm b that i do in fact have to leave the country rather just reporting somewhere in country.

thanks allan

You do not do 90 day address reports if you do not stay more than 90 days. On are visa entry you are restricted to 90 days or less. So there is not address reporting requirement. Only when you have an extension of stay do you start the address reporting.

You just posted in another thread you have been here for one year and visa about to expire. Seems a little late to be asking but yes, you have to exit every 90 days unless/until you meet the conditions for extension of stay from Immigration (basically work permit/pay in the amount for your nationality).