Overstayer looking to fix visa before Aug 12 -- advice?

[stayedtoolongoops]

Hello, my friend is looking to fix his overstay. He has been here for about 3 years and is confused about what to do given the recent crackdowns. He is well enough off and wants to right the wrong he has done. His plan is to go to Laos by plane next week and pay the 20,000 baht fine, and get a tourist visa, and get an education visa once he has fixed his current one and returned back to Thailand. He intends to start doing whatever is necessary to stay within the law, but I am concerned that he may not be able to return if he exits. He does not want to post this, so I am looking for some opinions. Will he get blacklisted if he leaves? Will he be denied re-entry? Is it too late and he should just stay like he is now? Thank you for the kindness.

[Mario2008]

He better leaves and deals with it overstay before the new rules come into effect. Than he will be in much more trouble than he is now.

Best is to leave as son as possible, with the paperwork to get an ED-visa straight away and not to return on a visa exempt entry or tourist visa, and leave and return by air.

No guarantees, but he should be OK.

[Arkady]

Yes, he should fix this as soon as possible. The closer to the cut-off date the greater the risk of individual immigration officers using their discretion to stamp something nasty in his passport.

[thaibreaker]

I think Mario2008 has the best solution for your friend, but one other option could be this, if he needs a bit more time to gather his papers for a new ED visa:

Leave the country as soon as possible, pay the overstay fine at the airport, and fly back to his own country.

Then buy a cheap package trip to Thailand after a few days, for a duration of a week or two. He should not be blacklisted, but better come back to Thailand before Aug.12th. He has a return ticket, and will most probably having no trouble getting in to Thailand.

Then he has 30 days to fix his paperwork for his new ED visa, and stay legally here.

[al007]

Leave as soon as possible, try to pick a busy time at the airport, have the 20,000 ready, and maybe a spare 5000, just in case required to oil the wheels

Once out the issue of overstay is closed

There have been no reported incidences of prolems on long term overstayers leaving at the moment, and being such an emotional topic I am sure we would have heard

One can then return legitammly, and start again, however if it were me I would try and stay out for a couple of weeks or so, and definately not out and straight back, tempting fate too much, we make some of our own luck

It is nice to hear of people facing and dealing with the potential proplem before it is too late

I think the horror stories may begin after the beginning of the grouse shooting season (Aug12 )

[dddave]

Leave as soon as possible, try to pick a busy time at the airport, have the 20,000 ready, and maybe a spare 5000, just in case required to oil the wheels

Once out the issue of overstay is closed

There have been no reported incidences of prolems on long term overstayers leaving at the moment, and being such an emotional topic I am sure we would have heard

One can then return legitammly, and start again, however if it were me I would try and stay out for a couple of weeks or so, and definately not out and straight back, tempting fate too much, we make some of our own luck

It is nice to hear of people facing and dealing with the potential proplem before it is too late

I think the horror stories may begin after the beginning of the grouse shooting season (Aug12 )

Why would you suggest someone bring an extra "5000 to oil the wheels"????

The maximum overstay fine at this time is B20,000

The person pays the B20,000 and gets a receipt.

The person proceeds into departures; that's it...end of story.

[NoBrains]

3 year overstay they blacklist not already ? Some tricks are possible......

[shaurene]

Well, what I have been reading regarding the new rules and his situation, he has been here 3 yrs and overstayed, that long will show the authority's he did not give a shit for the rules and I truely believe he will be black listed from now not after the dead line. I think he is screwed good and proper. Puket are not waiting for the deadline they are implementing the new rules now.

It is all a bit silly, Thailand needs tourists for their revenue like all other Asian country's and on the other side they are kicking them out and refusing entry.

The authority's are going to hurt a lot of Thais as most of the guys are taking care of Thai family's, if they cannot stay or come back most will not send money to their G/F.

[mrtoad]

3 year overstay, and then people wonder and complain why immigration are clamping down. Another example of why what is happening, is happening. These are the people that are making it difficult for the people who do want to stay here and live by the rules.

[belg]

with a bit of bad luck, overstayers might already be detained & blacklisted before the new rule starts... anyway, new rule... the old rule was doomed to change, 20.000 baht to fix many years of illegal overstaying / working, way too cheap

[tubby johnson]

What's with all these posters hiding behind "my friend has visa troubles"? It should be nothing to be ashamed of. Just admit candidly that it's you, not some imaginary friend. Honesty will save the day.

[stephenwithaph]

3 year overstay, and then people wonder and complain why immigration are clamping down. Another example of why what is happening, is happening. These are the people that are making it difficult for the people who do want to stay here and live by the rules.

What nonsense. I see this kind of post all the time from people on here. This point is a ridiculous one for 3 reasons :

1. Suggesting there is a link between illegal overstayers and visa legislation in this country is crazy. Are you really suggesting Thai politicians and civil servants are all sitting around saying to eachother "well if we just didnt have any overstayers then we would reform our visa rules".....lol. I dont think so. You are giving them way too much credit by suggesting they know better but just arent doing it because some people overstay. Overstayers surely dont count for anymore than lets say 5% of immigration here (Western I mean). Are you suggesting Thai officials base their whole immigration policy around such a small percentage of people breaking it. Well i hope not and dont think so anyway.

2. What country doesn't have overstayers ?!............ are we suggesting that visa rules can only be reformed in a country if/when there are no overstayers. If on that basis then no country would ever change their immigration policies because there will always be overstayers.

3. An overstayer has very little negative impact on the Thai state. There is no social system here, if you live here then you pay for everything. Pretty much only the roads you walk on could count. Even from a visa side of things....compared with actually getting visas an overstayer would have to be here maybe 2 - 3 years before the 20,000 that will eventually pay in fines is less then the equivalent visas they should of got. While overstaying or even not overstaying a foreigner cannot take anything away from a Thai national or the Thai state. if someone overstays lets say 1 year then the Thai state is still up in regards to money. The only negative possibility is if we are talking pure morals and principle.

Saying things like "These are the people that are making it difficult for the people who do want to stay here and live by the rules" sounds all good but I invite anyone to actually think does it really make it harder or perhaps there are other reasons. By suggesting such a small percentage of people are spoiling it for everyone lets Thai officials off the hook too easy.

End of speech...lol

[Si Thea01]

What an absolute joke. What is wrong with people. "My Friend", always my friend, never me. "Your Friend" has been here allegedly on a three year overstay. Obviously didn't care about the laws of Thailand before but now, at the last minute, is supposedly worried as to what he should do. First off, if it is not you then I suggest your friend grow a pair and ask his own questions. Secondly, don't overstay and thirdly, abide by all the rules.

We all understand that many things in Thailand are interpreted far differently to the way we from the West look at things so stop bagging your host country. Next, he now intends to follow the rules. Bet if there was no change he would still be on an overstay and continue to flout the rules. Then we have those of you who are still looking for loop holes in another attempt to circumvent what the authorities have now put in place.

Please give me a break. Your "Friend deserves everything he gets and only has himself to blame if he is blacklisted and not permitted to return. I am far from being a goodie, goodie but after travelling back and forth to Thailand for over 10 years and now retired here for the past two years, I found that by adhering to the rules I have not experienced any problems and live a very comfortable life. Even if their laws seem a bit harsh, remember, you, who elected to live here, did so for your own reasons and did so of your own volition, no one forced you.

Instead of complaining and looking of ways around the system, just run with it. Sure, some things might not quite suit us but if everyone did their homework before leaving on jet plane then maybe we would have a lot less people complaining about their stuff ups and host country.

[John1thru10]

3 year overstay, and then people wonder and complain why immigration are clamping down. Another example of why what is happening, is happening. These are the people that are making it difficult for the people who do want to stay here and live by the rules.

What nonsense. I see this kind of post all the time from people on here. This point is a ridiculous one for 3 reasons :

1. Suggesting there is a link between illegal overstayers and visa legislation in this country is crazy. Are you really suggesting Thai politicians and civil servants are all sitting around saying to eachother "well if we just didnt have any overstayers then we would reform our visa rules".....lol. I dont think so. You are giving them way too much credit by suggesting they know better but just arent doing it because some people overstay. Overstayers surely dont count for anymore than lets say 5% of immigration here (Western I mean). Are you suggesting Thai officials base their whole immigration policy around such a small percentage of people breaking it. Well i hope not and dont think so anyway.

2. What country doesn't have overstayers ?!............ are we suggesting that visa rules can only be reformed in a country if/when there are no overstayers. If on that basis then no country would ever change their immigration policies because there will always be overstayers.

3. An overstayer has very little negative impact on the Thai state. There is no social system here, if you live here then you pay for everything. Pretty much only the roads you walk on could count. Even from a visa side of things....compared with actually getting visas an overstayer would have to be here maybe 2 - 3 years before the 20,000 that will eventually pay in fines is less then the equivalent visas they should of got. While overstaying or even not overstaying a foreigner cannot take anything away from a Thai national or the Thai state. if someone overstays lets say 1 year then the Thai state is still up in regards to money. The only negative possibility is if we are talking pure morals and principle.

Saying things like "These are the people that are making it difficult for the people who do want to stay here and live by the rules" sounds all good but I invite anyone to actually think does it really make it harder or perhaps there are other reasons. By suggesting such a small percentage of people are spoiling it for everyone lets Thai officials off the hook too easy.

End of speech...lol

They are suggesting that constantly here, yes They blindly repeat propagnada, because they hope it will give them a higher standing somehow for doing so. And a lot of them tend to be older people with right wing views from back home, as well. The UK is no stranger to irrationally blaming their problems on Muslims, for example. The crackdown is completely related to the coup, politically - it attempts to blame the huge, historical problems that Thailand faces (which caused the violence to errupt in recent years), onto westerners. The problem isn't a crushing class system, complete lack of education or oppotunities, no social system, etc - the problem is the 'evil westerners' who don't have the right tourist visa. Next, the problem will be any foriengers remaining after that. What they really hope, is that if poor Thais have no one else to compare themselves to in their daily lives, that they will be more subservient again. If they could get rid of the internet in general, they would do that too. And yeah, most of these guys here aren't very aware of history or politics - they just see Thailand as a place for cheap beer and bar girls. They've 'earned' it, they say a lot.

[Hippos]

If you overstay in most countries you will receive more than 20,000 baht worth of punishment! If you can't organize a proper visa for yourself then sort your life out.

[KarenBravo]

Do you really think that a Thai embassy will issue a tourist visa right after a three year overstay?

What's more, do you think the immigration officer will honour it?

Pretty obvious that the "friend" isn't a real tourist.

[PoorSucker]

Your friend should read this thread.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/740634-thai-immigration-bureau-to-blacklist-all-overstayers-of-more-than-90-days/

[John1thru10]

If you overstay in most countries you will receive more than 20,000 baht worth of punishment! If you can't organize a proper visa for yourself then sort your life out.

Except for every country in Europe, and except for the fine part and punishment part. But...yeah...sure.

[Luxfare]

3 year overstay, and then people wonder and complain why immigration are clamping down. Another example of why what is happening, is happening. These are the people that are making it difficult for the people who do want to stay here and live by the rules.

What nonsense. I see this kind of post all the time from people on here. This point is a ridiculous one for 3 reasons :

1. Suggesting there is a link between illegal overstayers and visa legislation in this country is crazy. Are you really suggesting Thai politicians and civil servants are all sitting around saying to eachother "well if we just didnt have any overstayers then we would reform our visa rules".....lol. I dont think so. You are giving them way too much credit by suggesting they know better but just arent doing it because some people overstay. Overstayers surely dont count for anymore than lets say 5% of immigration here (Western I mean). Are you suggesting Thai officials base their whole immigration policy around such a small percentage of people breaking it. Well i hope not and dont think so anyway.

2. What country doesn't have overstayers ?!............ are we suggesting that visa rules can only be reformed in a country if/when there are no overstayers. If on that basis then no country would ever change their immigration policies because there will always be overstayers.

3. An overstayer has very little negative impact on the Thai state. There is no social system here, if you live here then you pay for everything. Pretty much only the roads you walk on could count. Even from a visa side of things....compared with actually getting visas an overstayer would have to be here maybe 2 - 3 years before the 20,000 that will eventually pay in fines is less then the equivalent visas they should of got. While overstaying or even not overstaying a foreigner cannot take anything away from a Thai national or the Thai state. if someone overstays lets say 1 year then the Thai state is still up in regards to money. The only negative possibility is if we are talking pure morals and principle.

Saying things like "These are the people that are making it difficult for the people who do want to stay here and live by the rules" sounds all good but I invite anyone to actually think does it really make it harder or perhaps there are other reasons. By suggesting such a small percentage of people are spoiling it for everyone lets Thai officials off the hook too easy.

End of speech...lol

They are suggesting that constantly here, yes They blindly repeat propagnada, because they hope it will give them a higher standing somehow for doing so. And a lot of them tend to be older people with right wing views from back home, as well. The UK is no stranger to irrationally blaming their problems on Muslims, for example. The crackdown is completely related to the coup, politically - it attempts to blame the huge, historical problems that Thailand faces (which caused the violence to errupt in recent years), onto westerners. The problem isn't a crushing class system, complete lack of education or oppotunities, no social system, etc - the problem is the 'evil westerners' who don't have the right tourist visa. Next, the problem will be any foriengers remaining after that. What they really hope, is that if poor Thais have no one else to compare themselves to in their daily lives, that they will be more subservient again. If they could get rid of the internet in general, they would do that too. And yeah, most of these guys here aren't very aware of history or politics - they just see Thailand as a place for cheap beer and bar girls. They've 'earned' it, they say a lot.

What complete nonsense. I guess you don't have a valid visa or do visa runs do you? The laws have been too lax for too long and quite rightly they're tightening them. I have a valid visa, it's not easy but it's only once a year so why should some think they're above following the laws of this country?? Typical Westerner arrogance is what I come up with.

[John1thru10]

3 year overstay, and then people wonder and complain why immigration are clamping down. Another example of why what is happening, is happening. These are the people that are making it difficult for the people who do want to stay here and live by the rules.

What nonsense. I see this kind of post all the time from people on here. This point is a ridiculous one for 3 reasons :

1. Suggesting there is a link between illegal overstayers and visa legislation in this country is crazy. Are you really suggesting Thai politicians and civil servants are all sitting around saying to eachother "well if we just didnt have any overstayers then we would reform our visa rules".....lol. I dont think so. You are giving them way too much credit by suggesting they know better but just arent doing it because some people overstay. Overstayers surely dont count for anymore than lets say 5% of immigration here (Western I mean). Are you suggesting Thai officials base their whole immigration policy around such a small percentage of people breaking it. Well i hope not and dont think so anyway.

2. What country doesn't have overstayers ?!............ are we suggesting that visa rules can only be reformed in a country if/when there are no overstayers. If on that basis then no country would ever change their immigration policies because there will always be overstayers.

3. An overstayer has very little negative impact on the Thai state. There is no social system here, if you live here then you pay for everything. Pretty much only the roads you walk on could count. Even from a visa side of things....compared with actually getting visas an overstayer would have to be here maybe 2 - 3 years before the 20,000 that will eventually pay in fines is less then the equivalent visas they should of got. While overstaying or even not overstaying a foreigner cannot take anything away from a Thai national or the Thai state. if someone overstays lets say 1 year then the Thai state is still up in regards to money. The only negative possibility is if we are talking pure morals and principle.

Saying things like "These are the people that are making it difficult for the people who do want to stay here and live by the rules" sounds all good but I invite anyone to actually think does it really make it harder or perhaps there are other reasons. By suggesting such a small percentage of people are spoiling it for everyone lets Thai officials off the hook too easy.

End of speech...lol

They are suggesting that constantly here, yes They blindly repeat propagnada, because they hope it will give them a higher standing somehow for doing so. And a lot of them tend to be older people with right wing views from back home, as well. The UK is no stranger to irrationally blaming their problems on Muslims, for example. The crackdown is completely related to the coup, politically - it attempts to blame the huge, historical problems that Thailand faces (which caused the violence to errupt in recent years), onto westerners. The problem isn't a crushing class system, complete lack of education or oppotunities, no social system, etc - the problem is the 'evil westerners' who don't have the right tourist visa. Next, the problem will be any foriengers remaining after that. What they really hope, is that if poor Thais have no one else to compare themselves to in their daily lives, that they will be more subservient again. If they could get rid of the internet in general, they would do that too. And yeah, most of these guys here aren't very aware of history or politics - they just see Thailand as a place for cheap beer and bar girls. They've 'earned' it, they say a lot.

What complete nonsense. I guess you don't have a valid visa or do visa runs do you? The laws have been too lax for too long and quite rightly they're tightening them. I have a valid visa, it's not easy but it's only once a year so why should some think they're above following the laws of this country?? Typical Westerner arrogance is what I come up with.

I have a valid visa, thanks. That just doesn't make me blind. You do come up with typical western arrogance, yes.

[PoorSucker]

Please stop highjacking this thread for personal bickering.

Posts removed.

[berriev]

A friend of mine was picked up by police and found to have overstayed by 11 months. He was subseqeuntly taken to immigration in Amnat Charoen and fined 3000 Baht. End of story

[John1thru10]

A friend of mine was picked up by police and found to have overstayed by 11 months. He was subseqeuntly taken to immigration in Amnat Charoen and fined 3000 Baht. End of story

End of story, but then what? And, 3000 baht? Did you mean 30,000?

Do you know what happened for your friend in the aftermath of it?

[Globeman]

What's with all these posters hiding behind "my friend has visa troubles"? It should be nothing to be ashamed of. Just admit candidly that it's you, not some imaginary friend. Honesty will save the day.

Honesty can land you in prison. And it isn't dishonesty to conceal your personal business from a roomful of strangers under aliases - it's just smart.

[siampolee]

belg post # 10

With a bit of bad luck, overstayers might already be detained & blacklisted before the new rule starts... anyway, new rule... the old rule was doomed to change, 20.000 baht to fix many years of illegal overstaying / working, way too cheap

The crux of the matter is that in truth many ''overstayers'' have blended and merged into the system and their local community, the U.K has many illegals despite all sorts of wonderful controls and gadgetry much like the rests of Europe and certainly the Americans as well as the Australians and I think to a lesser degree new Zealand too.

Those who are on long overstays as I've already said ''have blended into their local community and its system of operation'' thus they are not going to be rushing out into the open waving flags and beating drums to declare their presence. the cure is fine however prevention would be better.A simpler system of processing visa applications and issuance would have been the panacea cure all to this current rash of hysteria.

I'll bet a pound of gold to a pound of effluent there will soon be an enterprising Thai who will put in a place and operate a ''visa issuance system'' to ease assorted visa problems etc.

[mrtoad]

The sense of entitlement is bewildering.

Judging by the amount of posts that support the breaking of immigration and WP laws, as well as overstays, there appears to be a lot of people here that are circumventing or trying to flout the law.

[peterb17]

Think your ' friend' is going to have problems- was at Jomtien immigration yesterday to get re- entry permit.

Super efficient did not take long- but ALL the staff are now wearing uniforms- medals & all. Seems a better organised service.

Stuck on the front of the desks are the new rules about overstay.

But as other posters have said- how on earth can you overstay 3 years and not think about consequences.

I have a horrible suspicion that your friend will not be back- and if he has family here that's not good news.

[John1thru10]

Leave as soon as possible, try to pick a busy time at the airport, have the 20,000 ready, and maybe a spare 5000, just in case required to oil the wheels

Once out the issue of overstay is closed

There have been no reported incidences of prolems on long term overstayers leaving at the moment, and being such an emotional topic I am sure we would have heard

One can then return legitammly, and start again, however if it were me I would try and stay out for a couple of weeks or so, and definately not out and straight back, tempting fate too much, we make some of our own luck

It is nice to hear of people facing and dealing with the potential proplem before it is too late

I think the horror stories may begin after the beginning of the grouse shooting season (Aug12 )

You're right about everthing, except one thing. A week or two out is not enough anymore. That is the OLD system. If he has an overstay marked in his passport (especially that long, but even shorter), they will definitely see this when he re-enters - no matter what kind of visa returning with. Many reports at this time, of people being refused entrance even with a brand new visa. Visa is a not a guarantee of entry. The days of just paying the fine and then re-entering, are gone now.

Overstayers exiting at this time (and some time ahead) should have plans to live somewhere else for a good, long time. IF he is blacklisted, then just forget about it. Try Cambodia, or Laos, if SE Asia is somehow important. That's just the way it is now, so if it's an emergency plan, then plan to be safe.

[tubby johnson]

What's with all these posters hiding behind "my friend has visa troubles"? It should be nothing to be ashamed of. Just admit candidly that it's you, not some imaginary friend. Honesty will save the day.

Honesty can land you in prison. And it isn't dishonesty to conceal your personal business from a roomful of strangers under aliases - it's just smart.

Your first sentence makes sense, but the reason most of us post candidly on this forum is that we use aliases to begin with. I'm sure Globeman is not the name your parents gave you at birth. My tummy isn't that tubby either.

If the OP won't post forthright and honest comments, then he can only expect skepticism from the rest of us.

[stevenl]

3 year overstay, and then people wonder and complain why immigration are clamping down. Another example of why what is happening, is happening. These are the people that are making it difficult for the people who do want to stay here and live by the rules.

What nonsense. I see this kind of post all the time from people on here. This point is a ridiculous one for 3 reasons :

1. Suggesting there is a link between illegal overstayers and visa legislation in this country is crazy. Are you really suggesting Thai politicians and civil servants are all sitting around saying to eachother "well if we just didnt have any overstayers then we would reform our visa rules".....lol. I dont think so. You are giving them way too much credit by suggesting they know better but just arent doing it because some people overstay. Overstayers surely dont count for anymore than lets say 5% of immigration here (Western I mean). Are you suggesting Thai officials base their whole immigration policy around such a small percentage of people breaking it. Well i hope not and dont think so anyway.

2. What country doesn't have overstayers ?!............ are we suggesting that visa rules can only be reformed in a country if/when there are no overstayers. If on that basis then no country would ever change their immigration policies because there will always be overstayers.

3. An overstayer has very little negative impact on the Thai state. There is no social system here, if you live here then you pay for everything. Pretty much only the roads you walk on could count. Even from a visa side of things....compared with actually getting visas an overstayer would have to be here maybe 2 - 3 years before the 20,000 that will eventually pay in fines is less then the equivalent visas they should of got. While overstaying or even not overstaying a foreigner cannot take anything away from a Thai national or the Thai state. if someone overstays lets say 1 year then the Thai state is still up in regards to money. The only negative possibility is if we are talking pure morals and principle.

Saying things like "These are the people that are making it difficult for the people who do want to stay here and live by the rules" sounds all good but I invite anyone to actually think does it really make it harder or perhaps there are other reasons. By suggesting such a small percentage of people are spoiling it for everyone lets Thai officials off the hook too easy.

End of speech...lol

They are suggesting that constantly here, yes They blindly repeat propagnada, because they hope it will give them a higher standing somehow for doing so. And a lot of them tend to be older people with right wing views from back home, as well. The UK is no stranger to irrationally blaming their problems on Muslims, for example. The crackdown is completely related to the coup, politically - it attempts to blame the huge, historical problems that Thailand faces (which caused the violence to errupt in recent years), onto westerners. The problem isn't a crushing class system, complete lack of education or oppotunities, no social system, etc - the problem is the 'evil westerners' who don't have the right tourist visa. Next, the problem will be any foriengers remaining after that. What they really hope, is that if poor Thais have no one else to compare themselves to in their daily lives, that they will be more subservient again. If they could get rid of the internet in general, they would do that too. And yeah, most of these guys here aren't very aware of history or politics - they just see Thailand as a place for cheap beer and bar girls. They've 'earned' it, they say a lot.

Everybody his own thing, but the tightening of the visa interpretations was already announced by the Shinawatra government.