New Rules At Mae Sai

[camcorder]

The last time I was at Mae Sai getting a visa renewal, in June, there were several notices posted explaining the recently changed, (March 2006), overstay policy. As indicated on those notices the fine for overstaying your visa was 500 Baht per day, but the first overstay day was not charged unless the overstay extended 2 days or beyond. So, according to the posted notices, if a visitor overstayed one day there would be no charge, but if the overstay extended beyond one day the charge would be 1,000 Baht for day two and 500 Baht for each additional day.

Using this information as a guide, and adjusting for my own personal needs, I showed up at the border to renew my visa one day beyond the expiration of my visa.

There are new notices posted now. They state only that the overstay fine is now 500 Baht per day and they make no mention of a 'grace' day. And indeed, no allowance was made for my one day overstay. I, along with several other visitors, were required to pay 500 Baht for the first day of overstay.

I was issued a receipt when I asked for it, but the fine has been paid, the cigar box is filling up, and the odds of a refund are nil.

You have been warned.

[visarunner]

The post has been done wrongly , one day grace period is only valid for air traveling out of Don Muang .

At any land border crossing there is no grace period.

You should stick to the dates in Passport only , of course you are also responsible to check if the Immigration officer has given you the correct entry stamp and dates .

Case of TIT.