Long term overstay - help :(

[D4ZZLER]

First of all , let me start by saying that I am well aware of how stupid I have been regarding this and am well aware that I am currently breaking the law etc. but I have come here for help and advice , not be made aware of the problems I already know I am currently in. So...........

I have been living in Pattaya,for over 4 years now and have been in a proper and loving relationship with a Thai lady for pretty much all of that time. Up until the start of this year I had kept to all the proper visa laws and had never had any problems regarding overstay until January this month.

I am not going to make excuses as I said before but my tourist visa ran out on Boxing Day 2103, with the holidays etc it was almost a week later before I realised this and for one reason and another ( the main one being my current financial situation) I bumbled on regardless with a view to getting it sorted asap. Once I had got some money together.

As background I came here in 2010 with enough money to keep me ticking over for quite a while while doing some work on the Internet to top me up - again without going into details the last 12 months have been a financial nightmare and all I am doing at the minute is struggling by paying rent and eating frugally.

I realise I need to get this sorted asap. By turning myself in to immigration and paying the max fine before flying out of Thaialnd but to be brutally honest I simply do not have the funds to do this and am trying to get by day to day in the hope that I soon will.

I love my partner very much and the thought of having to leave here alone breaks my heart , this is pretty much why I have been living in hope recently that things will get better and I can fix this situation. It may well do but if I am completely honest I have no intention of leaving until I get the necessary funds together , this may take a month or may take much longer.

Trust me , living with this day to day is something of a nightmare,I am not one of the plethora who come here to disrespect the country and flout rules in this regard. The whole situation was exacerbated recently when my ex landlord refused to refund my security deposit of 60 thousand baht when leaving in accord to our contract - obviously with the situation I am in there was absolutely no recourse for this.

I am deeply worried about this but currently there is nothing I can do to fix it. My main concern is Ofc the blacklist , I have done a little research and believe that it is not used until the offender has overstayed for more than 150 days (which is fast approaching) but am unsure of exactly how it works.

If anyone here has any constructive and helpful advise it would be greatly appreciated.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[bazmlb]

Moving to Visa for quick response

[petercool]

The problem is that at any time - until you get to the airport immigration desk - that you are asked for proof of current visa you are vulnerable. Once at the airport, 20K fine is I think still the maximum. I have no experience or knowledge of any maximum overstay days that could lead to black list, but passport change overseas could rectify that once abroad. Good luck and beware of broadcasting your situation as many would turn you in for share of a hefty fine .....

[ubonjoe]

The best option is to but a ticket to a nearby location where you can get a tourist visa and pay the 20k baht overstay fine on departure.

There is no maximum number of days that cause a black listing, The biggest risk is getting caught while on overstay.

[D4ZZLER]

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The best option is to but a ticket to a nearby location where you can get a tourist visa and pay the 20k baht overstay fine on departure.

There is no maximum number of days that cause a black listing, The biggest risk is getting caught while on overstay.

The problem is that at any time - until you get to the airport immigration desk - that you are asked for proof of current visa you are vulnerable. Once at the airport, 20K fine is I think still the maximum. I have no experience or knowledge of any maximum overstay days that could lead to black list, but passport change overseas could rectify that once abroad. Good luck and beware of broadcasting your situation as many would turn you in for share of a hefty fine .....

Thanks for the advice guys - but put simply I honestly don't have the funds at the minute to fix this as posted originally. The only option I seem to have currently is to "keep my head down" until im in a position to fix this I guess.

[JSixpack]

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The best option is to but a ticket to a nearby location where you can get a tourist visa and pay the 20k baht overstay fine on departure.

There is no maximum number of days that cause a black listing, The biggest risk is getting caught while on overstay.

The problem is that at any time - until you get to the airport immigration desk - that you are asked for proof of current visa you are vulnerable. Once at the airport, 20K fine is I think still the maximum. I have no experience or knowledge of any maximum overstay days that could lead to black list, but passport change overseas could rectify that once abroad. Good luck and beware of broadcasting your situation as many would turn you in for share of a hefty fine .....

Thanks for the advice guys - but put simply I honestly don't have the funds at the minute to fix this as posted originally. The only option I seem to have currently is to "keep my head down" until im in a position to fix this I guess.

Borrow the money to pay the overstay. Then wait until you pay back the loan and have significant reserve funds before you come back in.

[MikeandDow]

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The problem is that at any time - until you get to the airport immigration desk - that you are asked for proof of current visa you are vulnerable. Once at the airport, 20K fine is I think still the maximum. I have no experience or knowledge of any maximum overstay days that could lead to black list, but passport change overseas could rectify that once abroad. Good luck and beware of broadcasting your situation as many would turn you in for share of a hefty fine .....

Thanks for the advice guys - but put simply I honestly don't have the funds at the minute to fix this as posted originally. The only option I seem to have currently is to "keep my head down" until im in a position to fix this I guess.

You have made a mistake posting here remember it a public forum you will get the hang in high brigade soon, or the I have help old men before rubbish.

what you need to do is keep a very low profile.

get the money together 20000 baht go to airport pay fine

there is no 150 day barring or black listing that is bullshit

do not take notice of all the bullshit here

[GaryB1263]

You are getting very good advice so far. Don't leave the country illegally. It is possible to do but when/if you come back it is a big problem. This happens many times and the best thing is to get your money together and pay your fine. And then you will have to leave the next day .

[D4ZZLER]

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You are getting very good advice so far. Don't leave the country illegally. It is possible to do but when/if you come back it is a big problem. This happens many times and the best thing is to get your money together and pay your fine. And then you will have to leave the next day .

TY Gary - leaving illegally is something I have no intention of whatsoever. I want to fix this horrible mess as soon as possible.

Mainly I was just extremely concerned about the long term problems regarding this as I never want to live anywhere other than Thailand when I do eventually get this sorted. As I stated originally I have a partner who I have been with non stop for over 4 years now and scurrying off back home leaving her here simply is not an option.

[ubonjoe]

You are getting very good advice so far. Don't leave the country illegally. It is possible to do but when/if you come back it is a big problem. This happens many times and the best thing is to get your money together and pay your fine. And then you will have to leave the next day .

The only way to pay the overstay without paying it at the airport is at immigration. If you did that it would require you to have a ticket out of the country within 7 days and applying for a 7 day extension (1900 baht), There is no leaving the next day.

[stoneyboy]

You are getting very good advice so far. Don't leave the country illegally. It is possible to do but when/if you come back it is a big problem. This happens many times and the best thing is to get your money together and pay your fine. And then you will have to leave the next day .

TY Gary - leaving illegally is something I have no intention of whatsoever. I want to fix this horrible mess as soon as possible.

Mainly I was just extremely concerned about the long term problems regarding this as I never want to live anywhere other than Thailand when I do eventually get this sorted. As I stated originally I have a partner who I have been with non stop for over 4 years now and scurrying off back home leaving her here simply is not an option.

It may not be an option but it's likely the reality,I have a wife and children here and nothing breaks my heart more each time I leave home to go do a stint of work offshore or somewhere else in the world,but I've only gotten what I have now through hard work and 5 years of continuous fly in fly out of Thailand.

We all know it's hard to make a living here unless you have an endless supply of cash to start with or are working for a large MNC on a tidy all expenses package.

Face facts if your income is low and your struggling to pay the bills alone now how will you continue to stay here,the hole IMO will just get deeper.

Man up,either borrow the cash from family or friends or sell what possessions you may have,if your looking for a long term solution then you may need to consider a new job back in your home country for a short period to get your finances back in order.

It may be hard having to leave your GF of 4 years behind,but it would be harder still if you weren't given the chance to ever return here due to your current visa problems.

[balo]

Borrow some money to go back to your home country and get a job . When you are financially safe you can return to Thailand.

Why do you want to live like a poor helpless guy in Pattaya ? What kind of life is this , do you think it will get better in 5 years ?

[handssolo]

• Yip .....you got to leave the land of smiles,

sort yourself out, then come back...

Edited May 8, 2014 by Tywais
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[HooHaa]

i would not long ago have said dont sweat it, but the tide does seem to be turning. i once had a significant overstay, new business poor financial climate, red shirts, bad season etc, i had to concentrate on keeping things on track and a trip out of the country was very low on my priorities until things bore fruit, which thankfully they did.

at that time about a year and a half ago i paid the fine, hopped on a plane and no one blinked. A new non o 3 month visa was issued on demand and everything was hunky dory. i traveled in and out of country 3 or 4 times on business, got another visa, all good.

recently however on two separate occasions as i traveled out of the country for work, immigration has taken note of the overstay and commented before stamping me back in, on one occasion conducting the entire procedure and conversation in thai.

it must be noted that my trips out were for a month at a time, with about a month to 3 months in thailand between them. they were not visa runs.

I thought nothing of it until recently i read about the rayong back to back tourist exemption issues and it seems to me a change is coming, i have heard rumblings from other sources as well, but they are as reliable as the wind.

the upshot of my ramble is a long overstay has been no significant issue, beyond that it limits you when performing simple tasks like replacing a lost atm card (in many cases you cant because they want to photocopy your visa) etc but personally, if i were in your position i would get it sorted before it has a chance to bite you on the ass. i would not be as comfortable with my past situation in today's climate.

no fear mongering, just my recent impressions.

Edited May 8, 2014 by HooHaa

[bigt116]

I am not going to make excuses as I said before but my tourist visa ran out on Boxing Day 2103, with the holidays etc it was almost a week later before I realised this and for one reason and another ( the main one being my current financial situation) I bumbled on regardless with a view to getting it sorted asap. Once I had got some money together.

How can your current financial situation explain the fact you didn't do a visa run 6 months ago ? I note from your posts that you found enough money on New Years eve to go out drinking and watch football, so obviously not so poor back then.

As background I came here in 2010 with enough money to keep me ticking over for quite a while while doing some work on the Internet to top me up - again without going into details the last 12 months have been a financial nightmare and all I am doing at the minute is struggling by paying rent and eating frugally.

What visas have you had for the last 3 years ? If your financial situation has been a nightmare for 12 months, why are you only now acting on it ?

The whole situation was exacerbated recently when my ex landlord refused to refund my security deposit of 60 thousand baht

So until recently you were staying in a 30k a month apartment ! Hardly the signs of financial hardship - you could have moved to a 10k place and had the money for the overstay fine.

Apologies for not being more sympathetic, but it really would appear that you could have sorted this out easily a while ago.

Take care

[NancyL]

The OP doesn't mentioned his nationality, but I suspect he might be British from the way he writes. They have a program called "Fast Track" where you go to the British Embassy with sufficient funds for a return ticket to the U.K. and they'll help you arrange a quick trip thru IDC. You go before a judge where the 20,000 baht overstay fine is vastly reduced. Numbers I've heard are that the fines are reduced down to 5000 - 7000 baht. You spend a few hours at IDC and are taken to Swampy for your flight to Blighty.

You need to show up at the Embassy with enough money for a flight to the U.K. and the probable fine. I don't believe it works if you're planning to go anywhere else except for the U.K. --- but someone more knowledgeable with this program could step in to correct me.

This could make sense for the OP if he plans to return to the old country for a while to improve his fortunes and build up his cash reserves before returning to Thailand.

Edited May 9, 2014 by NancyL

[bigt116]

I am British and can find no mention anywhere of a 'fast track' program from the British Embassy, and given how very little our embassy here does, I would be most suprised if such a program did exist.

[MikeandDow]

I am British and can find no mention anywhere of a 'fast track' program from the British Embassy, and given how very little our embassy here does, I would be most suprised if such a program did exist.

Told you the bullsxit brigade would come out, there is no fast track and do not take this advise, very bad going to IDC

[Mario2008]

Never heard of fast track, but the fact is that if you don't pay your fine with immirgation one is brought before a judge and the judge will normally sentence one to a much lighter fine.

Setback is that you will spend a few days in jail. it can take some time to be brought before a judge, than you have to pay the fine and next you will have to have a ticket to your home country before being released. Immigration can keep you in jail till the plane leaves and also charge you a fee for escorting you to the plane.

In all, often much smarter to pay the fine set by immigration. it is quicker, you don't see the inside of a cel and you don't need a ticket to your home country.

[guzzi850m2]

I know OP don't want to hear this but living here as a poor man is not nice even if you are deeply in love with a nice lady.

I take that you don't have any medical insurance? Living here without that is risky unless you have +500.000 ready in the bank for an emergency and that might not even be enough.

How old are you if you don't mind me asking? If below 65 I suggest as others to go back to your home country and start working towards a good life in Thailand later on.

I work in the oil off-shore industry myself so I am gone app 6 month per year, tough shit but I want to give my son & wife & myself a nice life here, which includes a health insurance plan for the whole family and a private school for my boy. Living here on the "edge" is not an option for me.

I am 52 by the way.

[Lobber]

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You are getting very good advice so far. Don't leave the country illegally. It is possible to do but when/if you come back it is a big problem. This happens many times and the best thing is to get your money together and pay your fine. And then you will have to leave the next day .

TY Gary - leaving illegally is something I have no intention of whatsoever. I want to fix this horrible mess as soon as possible.

Mainly I was just extremely concerned about the long term problems regarding this as I never want to live anywhere other than Thailand when I do eventually get this sorted. As I stated originally I have a partner who I have been with non stop for over 4 years now and scurrying off back home leaving her here simply is not an option.

Sorry mate it sounds to me as if you know what you have ir are doing, and are fishing for money, IF you were going to keep ya head down you would not have posted.

I have no sympathy for overstayers

[MikeandDow]

I know OP don't want to hear this but living here as a poor man is not nice even if you are deeply in love with a nice lady.

I take that you don't have any medical insurance? Living here without that is risky unless you have +500.000 ready in the bank for an emergency and that might not even be enough.

How old are you if you don't mind me asking? If below 65 I suggest as others to go back to your home country and start working towards a good life in Thailand later on.

I work in the oil off-shore industry myself so I am gone app 6 month per year, tough shit but I want to give my son & wife & myself a nice life here, which includes a health insurance plan for the whole family and a private school for my boy. Living here on the "edge" is not an option for me.

I am 52 by the way.

really would like to know what medical insurance, has to do with overstay?

[jaloochapurr]

I feel for you.

I am in same position.

Edited May 9, 2014 by jaloochapurr

[jaloochapurr]

I started another post..

Idc the system.

That is what I will do too.

Straighten this out.

Check it out and real experience advice.

Edited May 9, 2014 by jaloochapurr

[OJAS]

I am British and can find no mention anywhere of a 'fast track' program from the British Embassy, and given how very little our embassy here does, I would be most suprised if such a program did exist.

Indeed not: on the contrary our "darling" Embassy are at pains to point out that under no circumstances are they prepared to bale destitute Brits in LOS out of tight financial holes, period.

However, assuming that the OP is, indeed, a Brit, he might find something useful on the following website as posted on another thread recently:

http://www.turn2us.org.uk/grants_search.aspx

[ubonjoe]

Just to say.

I am not fishing for money.

I do not want sympathy either.

I did overstay and should nit.

what I would like to see is someone with real experience with idc judge and leave post the truth.

If you were to end up in IDC. You would still need the money to pay the reduced overstay fine (10 to 12k baht) and have a ticket out of the country.

If no money then you stay in detention until the fine is paid off at 200 baht a day. If you don't have a way out of the country you could well stay longer.

Since you mentioned social security I assume you are from the US. If you could find the money for the 20K baht to pay the overstay fine.the embassy would loan you the money for your ticket home and enough to live on until you leave they will not loan you the money for the fine. They will put a stamp in your passport stating you are not allow to leave the US until you have repaid the loan.

I suggest you contact your family back home to see if they can come up with the money for the overstay fine. Go home find some work, repay the loan and then when your social security starts you could return as a retiree if you are able to meet the requirements for an extension of stay based upon retirement.

[meatboy]

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You are getting very good advice so far. Don't leave the country illegally. It is possible to do but when/if you come back it is a big problem. This happens many times and the best thing is to get your money together and pay your fine. And then you will have to leave the next day .

TY Gary - leaving illegally is something I have no intention of whatsoever. I want to fix this horrible mess as soon as possible.

Mainly I was just extremely concerned about the long term problems regarding this as I never want to live anywhere other than Thailand when I do eventually get this sorted. As I stated originally I have a partner who I have been with non stop for over 4 years now and scurrying off back home leaving her here simply is not an option.

Sorry mate it sounds to me as if you know what you have ir are doing, and are fishing for money, IF you were going to keep ya head down you would not have posted.

I have no sympathy for overstayers

I am on the same wave length as you NO SYMPATHY at all,some one exactly the same as the op.asked for advice from me and the wife when we lived in the uk.well he didn't take it and as his sister was a good friend of my wife's she felt obliged to help even then when given all the help,getting him out of jail,sending money for a ticket home and paying a hotel bill he still didn't care about his friends and family back home.the op came here thinking he could live it up on peanuts but once your partner see's the light she will soon kick you into touch.to try and beg for money sounds like he has no friends or family that will help him so jail will be the only option and he wont like it in there.you might ask why I am so harsh well I have seen plenty like him that don't deserve to be helped because like he says he wants to come back and how is he going to do that with no money,thailand is not the place to be without money so I am sorry that you have ended up like you have but you have to take a good look at yourself in the mirror and you know where you went wrong,you need to flush all thoughts out of your mind of coming back if they will let you in.

good luck to you,your file is with the rest of them.

[bigt116]

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I am British and can find no mention anywhere of a 'fast track' program from the British Embassy, and given how very little our embassy here does, I would be most suprised if such a program did exist.

Told you the bullsxit brigade would come out, there is no fast track and do not take this advise, very bad going to IDC

Why did you quote me ? I essentially said that there was no such program.

[guzzi850m2]

really would like to know what medical insurance, has to do with overstay?

Nothing but I just try to tell OP that living like he does is very risky. If caught he will go straight to immigration jail, if sick he can't even pay for government hospital bills.

If you are so poor as OP you should be staying home, period.

OP, I hope you get it sorted one way or the other.

[thelongshoot]

Borrow some money to go back to your home country and get a job . When you are financially safe you can return to Thailand.

Why do you want to live like a poor helpless guy in Pattaya ? What kind of life is this , do you think it will get better in 5 years ?

Why shouldnt it get better in 5 years?

Just take the advice given here. You are fine at any immigration point but do not go to an office. Just hold your nerve, find the money, and fly out. I am almost certain, based on personal experience 8 years ago and reading of many people in the same situation, that immigration will not blink an eye.... They will just ask for the 20K and you will not be blacklisted.

I have lived in Thailand for over 10 years, in 4 different provinces and have traveled all over and not once has a police officer asked to see my passport so do not worry about that.

Of course your issue here is finding the money to begin with though.

You are going to get some flack from some posters at some point in this thread. The usual and predictable "You give Ferangs a bad name....You have no respect for the Kindom" etc etc, et al....Just remember that the people who post stuff like this are usualy the very last people on planet earth you would want to have a pint with, and discuss the joys of life. As I said, we all make mistakes. Dont beat yourself up and remember it will get better if you want it to, and work at it.

Then again if you are a doggy whore mongering grotbag of a bloke who spends every penny he has short changing isarn munchkins for anal sex and drinking luke warm chang on the 7/11 steps at 11am on a Wednesday then go fark yourself: you deserve the problems you have right now. I dont think you are that guy judging by your post though. You just seem like a guy that wants to do the right thing, to my mind anyway.

Good luck.