This is simply to assist others who might still be overstaying and fearful of surrendering and legitimising their status. It is in no way a boast or gloating and although again no doubt it will provoke the usual flaming posts so long as it helps someone who is frightened about their own situation it will be worth it. I cleared an extremely long over-stay at Suvarnabhumi last month and I went to Chaeng Wattana yesterday and asked their advice as I had a ticket purchased to go to Laos to apply for a tourist visa (I am a few years shy of the retirement age requirement in Thailand). I did however have a medical certificate as am being treated for a lung infection and my doctor had advised against long haul flight (I know that the flight to Vientiane is very short!). Anyway despite being incredibly nervous I eventually (Approx 3hr wait) saw the I/O and explained my position and said that I didn't want to cause any further problems with my permission to stay etc and that I would follow whatever advice they gave. There were 2 people at the desk the officer and a translator. The upshot was that they were willing to provide me with a 30 day extension to my waiver and did not in any way treat me with anything but politeness and professionalism, mixed perhaps with some curiosity. They further said that if my treatment was going to be extended I should let them know and I might be able to get a medical visa/exemption? They did not dwell on the overstay as it was cleared. So again for those who might read this and are not legal you really should take this chance to sort the matter out before the proverbial hammer falls. As a side note I dressed neatly and I was very polite, indeed I was prepared to fly out on Monday had they not granted the extension. Perhaps it was the fact that I said that I had come for advice rather than demanding the extension that might have set the stage for a pleasant exchange (I had completed the extension form but had left the number of days requested blank. - the only thing they very cursorily looked at was the medical certificate which they returned to me without photocopying or anything further demanded). It can be a very daunting prospect but it seems that so long as you try to do things right they are prepared to help. So I hope that this helps somebody who might be worried about their own position.

Before the flames arrive and turn this into a 10+ page [off-topic] thread, I would like to personally thank you for this report. I want to confirm the sequence of events as I am a bit confused.

1) You cleared the overstay at Suvarnabhumi airport last month.

a) Did you actually fly out and come back in as part of the clearing process? How much time did you spend out of the country?

The way your post was written, I get the impression that you cleared the overstay but did not actually have to leave the country. Was wondering how that worked.

how much was the overstay fine? Did you have to sign anything at the overstay office out of the ordinary? What did they say?

2) When you came back, did you come back on any type of visa or was it visa exempt? If so, what visa?

3) what nationality is the passport you used?

I flew out from swampy to KL I had to sign a lot of paperwork both on exit and return. Came on Visa exempt but explained that I was easy for marriage docs to be sorted oiy. I paid 20k overstay fine. My stamps were transfered into may new passport at airport.

British passport sorry for spelling errors doing from the back of a taxi.

Should have the waiting for marriage docs not easy for...

Hi gilo, Good for you. Can only imagine how you must have felt.

Don't worry about the critics, none of their business. Hope your medical situation improves.

Hi gilo, Good for you. Can only imagine how you must have felt.

Don't worry about the critics, none of their business. Hope your medical situation improves.

Obviously your attitude towards the people at Immigration helped you and the fact that you were decently dressed probably made them feel that you are an "okay person" not some lazy, dirty, smelly, foul-mouthed Ferang....you know the type? I see them at CNX Immigration every time I go there and quite honestly they give we FARANG a very bad reputation.

A 30 day extension on a visa exempt is the norm now, (it came into effect 29 August). The harsher rules for overstayers are not yet being enforced, (as you found out when you left the country). So essentially your experience is no shock and no news, just what will continue to happen until the new overstay laws are passed.

Thanks for sharing.

My best to you

Yes thanks for posting but as you did this last month prior to the overstay rules being enforced (not sure if currently or not) someone doing this now might have a totally different experience - like getting a 5 year ban

Their have been a very lot of people of screwing the system but as long the law says 20k for overstay I have absolute nothing against overstayers.

The fine is 20k and so be it.

To the OP good luck and I hope your health improves.

Yes thanks for posting but as you did this last month prior to the overstay rules being enforced (not sure if currently or not) someone doing this now might have a totally different experience - like getting a 5 year ban

Not yet, banning still await approval.

For what it's worth when I was leaving the overstay desk at Suvarnabhumi having signed two sets of notifications (one stating a 10 year ban and the other one being the lifetime ban) I asked as to when they would become operational to be told simply "in the future', They did not seem to have a specific date already authorised, which perhaps supports Ubonjoe's opinion that it will need cabinet approval. However for those who are overstaying it would be inadvisable to needlessly delay. As some may recall in late July it seemed as if it had come in and suddenly things became significantly more difficult to clear up until it settled down again as the order was not supposed to be in force.Without formally calling it an amnesty period, in practice that currently seems to be the case. It is very generous of them to allow this and I wouldn't want to be caught on an overstay once it does get approval as I would imagine that they would reasonably expect over-stayers to legalise their status in the kingdom during this period and they may therefore take a dim view of those who do not use this window of leniency.

11 years. There really is nothing to say, is there?

I have found immigration officials to be friendly , courteous and professional. The original poster is correct -dress neatly and treat Immigration officials with respect. Ask questions and ask for help. Thai immigration has made my stay here easier. I am not afraid of authority as i have nothing to hide.

Yes thanks for posting but as you did this last month prior to the overstay rules being enforced (not sure if currently or not) someone doing this now might have a totally different experience - like getting a 5 year ban

Won't happen. They're desperately scrapping around for tourists from anywhere and many expats are already leaving. What with the country being under a military dictatorship, footage of beach vendors manhandling those having the temerity to sit on their own towel doing the global rounds, they can do with less negative publicity. And throwing people out of the kingdom would be the coup de gras.

Regardless of certain posters thoughts on the aforesaid. The perception is already out there.

A off topic and inflammatory post has been removed,