No police report. I guess that wasn't so smart, but I grew up in a world where no one called the cops for anything.

So, WU is okay? I thought so, until I read some forums that mentioned they were asked to confiscate passports for overstays. Forums were a year to two years old though.

Thanks.

You must make a police report. ASAP.

It is required if you expect any other authorities to help or believe you.

Maybe slightly off topic, but why would any "tourist" not have some travelers checks as a backup fund? Many Credit Unions, etc in USA will issue for free to members. Keep the backup file elsewhere and leave numbers with someone you trust as well.

Maybe slightly off topic, but why would any "tourist" not have some travelers checks as a backup fund? Many Credit Unions, etc in USA will issue for free to members. Keep the backup file elsewhere and leave numbers with someone you trust as well.

You have to consider the possibility that a backpacker may be carrying everything with him, and stay in places without an in-room safe.

This thread is full of useless hindsights suggestions and 'in the USA' comments.

Fortunately the passport didn't get stolen too.

Good luck OP, sounds like you are getting stressed out, but Thailand wants you to go home as much as you do.

Another bit of hindsight seems apparent, before leaving home, arrange a friend or relative who can forward you emergency funds.

Really sorry to hear what happened to you....Thank God your passport was not taken anyway. Hope all goes well for you.

As you are from the US as am I...you must contact the embassy/consulate and explain in detail your situation. Then get to them and they will be able to arrange Emergency Travel Documents for you and will help arrange to get your return flight changed (you do have one ... right?). Your 'overstay' will be wiped clean (as was mine... 1 week +) with a notice to Thai authorities (in Thai & English that they will supply). You are not the only one who has suffered through this... remember.

You should also have contacted the local Tourist Police... did you? If not do so now. They might do a dam thing for you but at the very least make sure that they put you into the system so that there is some form of paper trail. But they should be able to help you get to your nearest embassy/consulate (in CM is a good one and they are very helpful generally).

As for your ATM/credit cards... this will be a problem as it is for most of us as the issuing banks do not send new ones to your present location (only to your home/account address). However, call your bank and tell them your situation and see what they can do for you. If what you said was true and your credit union is of no help then the embassy/consulate will be able to assist you with emergency funds to ONLY cover your departure costs. It used to be that you could have your 'bank' send a new card to the embassy... but that is not the case any longer (thank you... Osama... however he used to spell his name).

If I can be of any help, just PM me as I have many contacts at our embassy in BKK and so will be able to help.

But the domestic flight from Samui to BKK -- that should be ok? I got the money without a problem. I'm concerned about the domestic flight and that my layover is overnight (although it was said on here that I won't have a problem with paying super early in the AM).

Thanks for the update.

The airline will only look at the photo page of your passport for ID purposes for your flight to Bangkok You will have no problems. Your overstay is very short compared to what other have had.

As ubonjoe said, and don't worry . Your first flight is domestic and you will just need to ID yourself. Besides that by now you have proof that you intend to leave the country, so nobody will be bothered about the short overstay.

In Bangkok just pay for it (500B a day) and you will get a small overstay stamp in your passport but it will be of no consequence should you want to return to the Kingdom.

Edited March 5, 201412 yr by Carib

Thanks so much for all of the help!

In case anyone else has the misfortune of a similar situation, thought I would post an update. I'm back in the states now, with a new bank card, and had no problems leaving. The stress was unwarranted (I never overstay, so it had me particularly paranoid, I know someone who was caught on overstay and spent time in the IDC in Bangkok, and it is not a place I want to risk being at, under any circumstances). I sincerely appreciate all of the help.

I'm not a backpacker. My work requires me to travel constantly. I spend 2-6 months in any given place. At one point this was Thailand, which not only did I fall for, but my boyfriend is Thai. So, now, I return to Thailand to visit him and his family (as a tourist), when I can.

I've never carried travelers checks. I've been traveling for a living for the last eight years. I carry cash and my bank card. I've never had a problem until now.

My passport was not stolen amongst everything that belonged to me, because I had left it with the person I rented my bike from. I've never done this before, in the past, I've always left copies; however, she is a good friend who just acquired several bikes, and I knew she had a solid safe. So, I actually asked her to keep it in the safe, and I drove around with a photocopy of my passport.

Western Union was fine. Bangkok Airways, nor Delta, asked to see the card on which my flight was bought (flight was bought less than 72 hours before departure). I paid the overstay fine and got a new departure card in BKK with no questions asked.

To the comments about my credit union, no, they weren't of much help -- aside from offering to snail mail me a form I could sign and snail mail back, so that they could snail mail me a new card. However, it is very fortunate, that I have a family member who I have given access to my account. They were able to go to the credit union and withdraw the money I needed for my remaining days in Thailand in person. They then sent it to me through Western Union. They were also able to transfer funds to their account, so that they could purchase me a new return flight on their card.

The only thing I wish I would have done differently is that I should have acquired a police report as soon as everything happened. The place I stay on Samui is near a police precinct. Before leaving, on two occasions, there was a police checkpoint set up not too far from my house. I was super lucky on both occasions and was waved through and not stopped or asked any questions. However, for everyone that mentioned a police report, yes, I should have gotten one immediately. It didn't even cross my mind that the police may be able to help, and by the time people mentioned it on here, my visa was expired, so I was scared to enter a police station. But I should have just done it immediately. Everything on my end went super smoothly, but if it hadn't, a police report would have been a genuine life saver.

Again, thanks for all the help!

I am glad every thing worked out in the end.

The police report is very important as you have learned.

Once you had funds you could of applied for a 7 day extension (1990 baht) at immigration to avoid the overstay worry and fine.