House Visit by Mae Sai Immigration

[Thomaspaul]

I live in Thoeng Chaingrai Province and yesterday about 1pm to Immigration Men from Mae Sai arrived

at my house about 1 pm

The purpose of the visit was to look at my passport because the computer was saying that I had not renewed

my visa in April and that I was on overstay.

I gave it to them with it open and showing ny renewal stamp and 90 day reporting slip

due on Sunday 27th July and said that I was going to report on the 28th

They both looked at it very carefulli and said it must be a computor error and appologised

I am wondering what will happen when I visit Immigration on Monday.??

When I was at Mae Sai back in April I was concerned that on completion I had to ask them what desk to go to to

obtain 90 day slip as they did not insert it or tell me where to go. to get it

If I had not known the system I could of easily walked out with out it.

Which probably explains yesterdays visit

[ubonjoe]

A late 90 day report is not an overstay.

It seems the problem was that their computers did not show your last extension of stay. Perhaps somebody forgot to enter it.

I don't think you will have a problem when you go in on Monday to do your report.

[LuckyLew]

If you have the correct stamp inyour passport it will not be an issue when you go to report. They might take some time correcting their database, but all will be ok.

I had it once where mukdahan never enrerwd my arrival into Thailand and it caused a brief delay, but they sorted it with no issues for me

Sent from my GT-N5100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[moe666]

Remember computers are only as smart as the people entering data or not entering it. On a trip back to the states a few years ago there was a problem with my passport pulled over for a check but in the end all is well the conclusion was that when I had pages added the folks at the Consulate in Chiang Mai had left out some info

[ColdSingha]

so immigration are trying to actively hunt down overstayers now

Edited July 25, 2014 by ColdSingha

[ubonjoe]

so immigration are trying to actively hunt down overstayers now

That would be nothing new. There have been reports in the news of them looking for over stayers before.

[AGareth2]

so immigration are trying to actively hunt down overstayers now

this could be a little worrying

What happens if you do not reside at the address given?

[carstenp]

so immigration are trying to actively hunt down overstayers now

this could be a little worrying

What happens if you do not reside at the address given?

That's is unknown, but you always has to give the immigration the current address you reside.

[uwe_rayong]

Then you can breathe a little longer the fresh air of freedom.

Moral of the story, if you plan to extend your stay illegal better not report your actual address or move.

[uwe_rayong]

so immigration are trying to actively hunt down overstayers now

this could be a little worrying

What happens if you do not reside at the address given?

That's is unknown, but you always has to give the immigration the current address you reside.

That is unkown? I don't think that it is unknown. If you are supposed to renew your visa in April and immigration visits you end of July you'll pack your bag....

[ubonjoe]

so immigration are trying to actively hunt down overstayers now

this could be a little worrying

What happens if you do not reside at the address given?

It would only be worrying if you were on overstay.

If you were not staying at the reported address you could face additional fines for not reporting your change of address it they found you.

[smedly]

so immigration are trying to actively hunt down overstayers now

I have said this will happen on several TVF threads over the past couple of weeks, everything they are doing would be pointless unless they actually start chasing people down and checking, I also expect they will be doing routine checks at entertainment venues bars hotels apartments and performing road stops and pavement stops

[GeorgeIII]

Out of curiosity, Thomaspaul, how far do you live from your immigration office?

They were supposed to check me for my 'O' marriage extension but never bothered - I live 150+ Kms from the office.

Thanks.

"That is unkown? I don't think that it is unknown. If you are supposed to renew your visa in April and immigration visits you end of July you'll pack your bag...."

The Trolls are awake, I see.

[villagefarang]

For the OP, the Mae Sai office is a long drive from Thoeng. The town office in Chiang Rai is much closer and they are usually not very busy. Unless you have another reason for going to Mae Sai I would suggest getting to know the immigration officers at the Chiang Rai branch.

I switched and it cut my drive in half, besides we go into town a couple times each week so we are there anyway. They are linked to the Mae Sai office so no problem with moving paperwork. Check it out the next time you are in town.

[uwe_rayong]

Out of curiosity, Thomaspaul, how far do you live from your immigration office?

They were supposed to check me for my 'O' marriage extension but never bothered - I live 150+ Kms from the office.

Thanks.

"That is unkown? I don't think that it is unknown. If you are supposed to renew your visa in April and immigration visits you end of July you'll pack your bag...."

The Trolls are awake, I see.

What you mean by the trolls are awake? OP wrote that immigration visited him because they thought he had not renewed his extension of stay which ended in April. Luckily he did:

if immigration visits you at home and you have 4 month overstay it is time to say good bye, and that has nothing to do with any changes.

I`m married 23 years in Thailand, immigration promised 2-4 visits over the years, but they came never. I live about 45km from the immigration office..

They still want every year a photo from us in the living room, in the bed room and in front of our house ....

[sgtsabai]

They are checking at certain venues in Udonthani. Polite and either escort farang back to hotel etc. or give him the opportunity to get passport himself. I don't know anybody that carries passport on them and I am sure they already know this.

[crazykopite]

I had immigration turn up at my house once they were in civilian clothes but had there IDs around there necks they were very polite checked our passports had a glass of water and went on there way, there excuse was that they were on the lookout for illegal Burmese workers and I suppose because of the size of the Villa they no doubt assumed we had maids/gardeners they seemed amazed when the wife told them we both looked after the place ourselves for a moment I thought they were going to then insist we had work permits me doing the garden and the mrs doing the cleaning , that was over four years ago and they have never been back. As we live high up in the jungle they did give us a phone number to report anything suspicious .

[Travel Dude]

so immigration are trying to actively hunt down overstayers now

TRY OVERSTAYING in Europe you get heavily fined and can get banned immediately banned for several years. And not only for the country you visited but for the whole of Schengen (25 European countries).

So immigration enforcing the law is nothing new.

[12DrinkMore]

so immigration are trying to actively hunt down overstayers now

this could be a little worrying

What happens if you do not reside at the address given?

It would only be worrying if you were on overstay.

If you were not staying at the reported address you could face additional fines for not reporting your change of address it they found you.

I did not realise there was a requirement for ME to report any change of address, except for the 90 day report.

This requirement afaik only lies with the landlord/business to report when a foreigner comes to live/stay.

For those on a tourist visa, again afaik, there is absolutely no requirement for the tourists to report where they are staying.

[paz]

so immigration are trying to actively hunt down overstayers now

TRY OVERSTAYING in Europe you get heavily fined and can get banned immediately banned for several years. And not only for the country you visited but for the whole of Schengen (25 European countries).

So immigration enforcing the law is nothing new.

Not true. EU is not caring or enforcing overstay. With some tens of millions illegal aliens it would be even kind of hard.

Edited July 25, 2014 by paz

[ubonjoe]

so immigration are trying to actively hunt down overstayers now

this could be a little worrying

What happens if you do not reside at the address given?

It would only be worrying if you were on overstay.

If you were not staying at the reported address you could face additional fines for not reporting your change of address it they found you.

I did not realise there was a requirement for ME to report any change of address, except for the 90 day report.

This requirement afaik only lies with the landlord/business to report when a foreigner comes to live/stay.

For those on a tourist visa, again afaik, there is absolutely no requirement for the tourists to report where they are staying.

Section 37 of the immigration act requires reporting of an address change of more than 24 hours. It is seldom enforced but it is there.

You can be fined up to 5000 baht or 200 baht a day until the act is complied with which is in section 76.

[TheFishman1]

What is the grace period for 90 day report like if it up on the 18 and you go in on the 21 is there a fine?

[laislica]

so immigration are trying to actively hunt down overstayers now

this could be a little worrying

What happens if you do not reside at the address given?

It would only be worrying if you were on overstay.

If you were not staying at the reported address you could face additional fines for not reporting your change of address it they found you.

I did not realise there was a requirement for ME to report any change of address, except for the 90 day report.

This requirement afaik only lies with the landlord/business to report when a foreigner comes to live/stay.

For those on a tourist visa, again afaik, there is absolutely no requirement for the tourists to report where they are staying.

For those of us married to Thais, your wife must also report your presence to immigration on the appropriate form.

Of course, plus any other foreigners who may stay over with you.

[craigp]

so immigration are trying to actively hunt down overstayers now

TRY OVERSTAYING in Europe you get heavily fined and can get banned immediately banned for several years. And not only for the country you visited but for the whole of Schengen (25 European countries).

So immigration enforcing the law is nothing new.

I thought in the UK you were granted asylum, regardless of how many safe countries are passed through. Given benefits and a cosy ride. Even if they find illgals, they are realised on bail and never to be seen again. Is that not why there are hundreds, if not thousands waiting to jump on a lorry and get to the UK from some refugee camp in Calais.

[ubonjoe]

What is the grace period for 90 day report like if it up on the 18 and you go in on the 21 is there a fine?

You can report up to 7 days after the report date which includes the date the report is due. You will well within that on the 21st.

You can also report up to 15 days early.

[ubonjoe]

For those of us married to Thais, your wife must also report your presence to immigration on the appropriate form.

Of course, plus any other foreigners who may stay over with you.

That is not true for very immigration office. In fact it would be very few offices that ask your wife for the TM30 form. My wife has never been asked for it.

Even reporting you guests would be a rarity for it to be enforced. Many offices would probably just tell you it is not needed so they wouldn't have to deal with it.

[12DrinkMore]

It would only be worrying if you were on overstay.

What happens if you do not reside at the address given?

this could be a little worrying

If you were not staying at the reported address you could face additional fines for not reporting your change of address it they found you.

I did not realise there was a requirement for ME to report any change of address, except for the 90 day report.

This requirement afaik only lies with the landlord/business to report when a foreigner comes to live/stay.

For those on a tourist visa, again afaik, there is absolutely no requirement for the tourists to report where they are staying.

Section 37 of the immigration act requires reporting of an address change of more than 24 hours. It is seldom enforced but it is there.

You can be fined up to 5000 baht or 200 baht a day until the act is complied with which is in section 76.

Oh!

I have never done that, along with I guess 100% of other aliens.

Here's the act.

http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/en/doc/Immigration_Act.pdf

[chiangraifalang]

I can confirm this. Had before 3 years or so an delay of 9 days, because i really forgot it. I had to pay 2 000 Baht. I'd never forgot again ;-)

You can report up to 7 days after the report date which includes the date the report is due. You will well within that on the 21st.

You can also report up to 15 days early.

[ubonjoe]

Some off topic and abusive posts and replies to them have been removed.

[John1thru10]

so immigration are trying to actively hunt down overstayers now

TRY OVERSTAYING in Europe you get heavily fined and can get banned immediately banned for several years. And not only for the country you visited but for the whole of Schengen (25 European countries).

So immigration enforcing the law is nothing new.

Actually, that is so rarely enforced in Schengen region that it is almost unheard of. I've seen several long overstays in Schengen region over the years, and they truly were not concerned - even when traveling by air throughout Schengen within those overstay periods. Thailand is obviously not the same.

Please keep the topic to Thai visa and immigration issues, because the mis-stating of other countries policies in comparison with Thailand's is not necessary..and when it's not even accurate, then it's questionable. This is a Thai visa forum.

Edited July 25, 2014 by John1thru10