Children no longer exempt from over stay fines.

[merijn]

Phuket Immigration has informed me that children with over stay are no longer exempt for the overstay fine and have to pay the fine same as adults.

The fine has to be paid by the person traveling with the child.

According to Phuket immigration this is mandated from Bangkok immigration and introduced nationwide at the same time as the 90 day reporting requirement in the province where your address is registered. (as mentioned in other topics)

I could not find an official ruling for this change yet but it is confirmed by the head of immigration.

Hopefully other people can get confirmation on this from other provinces.

[ubonjoe]

The no overstay fine for those under the age of 15 is based upon the civil code that limits the punishment for minors.

I don't think that has been changed.

Something that serious would of been put out as a notice on the immigration website and there has not been one.

The one about having to report where you do your extension is really nothing new. It has been that way since they assigned offices for extensions and started enforcing it.

They change appears to be that they will not allow it if you are traveling around the country. That though can be overcome by doing a mail in report if the assigned office allows it.

[stevenl]

@ the OP: yesterday Phuket immigration announced that, but today this has been retracted already by the same Phuket immigration.

[merijn]

@ the OP: yesterday Phuket immigration announced that, but today this has been retracted already by the same Phuket immigration.

Thanks for the heads up.

I have to check this as I did not hear anything from the immigration boss that this is retracted.

BTW it was announced to us last week.

As i was not in the office today i have to check it later to get confirmation about this.

[Time Traveller]

@ the OP: yesterday Phuket immigration announced that, but today this has been retracted already by the same Phuket immigration.

It seems that Phuket immigration realized they were breaking the law and quickly backtracked.

[CiaranO]

The usual crooks in Phuket immigration trying to make extra money.

When one scam fails or they get caught they try a new one.

[stevenl]

@ the OP: yesterday Phuket immigration announced that, but today this has been retracted already by the same Phuket immigration.

Thanks for the heads up.

I have to check this as I did not hear anything from the immigration boss that this is retracted.

BTW it was announced to us last week.

As i was not in the office today i have to check it later to get confirmation about this.

Looking forward to your confirmation of the retraction.

[Gent0]

Last week on Sunday 11th Jan I drove across the Thai border at Sadao on my way to Penang to apply for an ED Visa for my 13 year old son (he will be 14 yrs on the 5th Jan).My son attends an international school and they provided me with all the necessary paperwork

In Sadao it was very busy at the immigration, long queues. I was behind my son when he presented his British passport to a female officer, she spent about 30 seconds and then slammed the passport down and told us that we must go to the overstay office,

We found the office where there were two female officers, one behind a desk and the other dressed in an almost black uniform and wearing a side arm.

My son spoke to them politely in Thai, They asked me why my son had overstayed for so long I started to explain that I understood that he was young enought to have overstay exemption and that we were on our way to Penang to apply for his Visa....they were already shouting at us before I could finish my sentence, The Officer at the desk was frantically thumping calculator keys and presented to me a figure of 52,500 baht and told me I must pay that for 105 days of overstay ! I explained again that my son was only 13 ....trying very hard not to lose my cool as I am obviously aware of the 20.000 baht limit on that length of OS. They carried on shouting in Thai and English and the woman at the desk made a stamp in my sons passport for overstay and wrote in 105 days (this was calculated from his last entry 30 August 2013.......she lost 365 days in her excitement)

Anyway the officer in black told me that there are 'new rules' and now my son has a black mark in his passport that would affect him when he applied for re entry....I was overwhelmed at their unpleasantness.

That was it they said no more about money so I picked up the passport and left .....to start at the back of a long queue again.

We successfully obtained his Visa in Penang and went back through Sadao (my kid was terrified and asked if we could find another border post) but I had no time. The young officer on re entry was very pleasant and chatted to my son in Thai he said nothing about the overstay stamp and stamped us in with a smile.

[Cyama]

Last week on Sunday 11th Jan I drove across the Thai border at Sadao on my way to Penang to apply for an ED Visa for my 13 year old son (he will be 14 yrs on the 5th Jan).My son attends an international school and they provided me with all the necessary paperwork

In Sadao it was very busy at the immigration, long queues. I was behind my son when he presented his British passport to a female officer, she spent about 30 seconds and then slammed the passport down and told us that we must go to the overstay office,

We found the office where there were two female officers, one behind a desk and the other dressed in an almost black uniform and wearing a side arm.

My son spoke to them politely in Thai, They asked me why my son had overstayed for so long I started to explain that I understood that he was young enought to have overstay exemption and that we were on our way to Penang to apply for his Visa....they were already shouting at us before I could finish my sentence, The Officer at the desk was frantically thumping calculator keys and presented to me a figure of 52,500 baht and told me I must pay that for 105 days of overstay ! I explained again that my son was only 13 ....trying very hard not to lose my cool as I am obviously aware of the 20.000 baht limit on that length of OS. They carried on shouting in Thai and English and the woman at the desk made a stamp in my sons passport for overstay and wrote in 105 days (this was calculated from his last entry 30 August 2013.......she lost 365 days in her excitement)

Anyway the officer in black told me that there are 'new rules' and now my son has a black mark in his passport that would affect him when he applied for re entry....I was overwhelmed at their unpleasantness.

That was it they said no more about money so I picked up the passport and left .....to start at the back of a long queue again.

We successfully obtained his Visa in Penang and went back through Sadao (my kid was terrified and asked if we could find another border post) but I had no time. The young officer on re entry was very pleasant and chatted to my son in Thai he said nothing about the overstay stamp and stamped us in with a smile.

Did you have to go to Sadao immigration office (not the overstay office) to have this sorted out before crossing the border? I know a couple with 3 OS kids (less than 15 yo) who went to Vientiane, Lao PDR to apply for their kids' visas. At Nongkhai border checkpoint, they were asked to go to Nongkhai immigration office. After the paperwork and fees (about 100+ baht ) their kids' passports were stamped. They went back to Nongkhai border and to Vientiane, got their kids visas and came back to Thailand without any trouble. I will be doing a similar trip early next month with my son who is on OS (turning 15 in Aug) to apply for ED visa so I am trying to find out as much info as I can.

[Time Traveller]

Last week on Sunday 11th Jan I drove across the Thai border at Sadao on my way to Penang to apply for an ED Visa for my 13 year old son (he will be 14 yrs on the 5th Jan).My son attends an international school and they provided me with all the necessary paperwork

In Sadao it was very busy at the immigration, long queues. I was behind my son when he presented his British passport to a female officer, she spent about 30 seconds and then slammed the passport down and told us that we must go to the overstay office,

We found the office where there were two female officers, one behind a desk and the other dressed in an almost black uniform and wearing a side arm.

My son spoke to them politely in Thai, They asked me why my son had overstayed for so long I started to explain that I understood that he was young enought to have overstay exemption and that we were on our way to Penang to apply for his Visa....they were already shouting at us before I could finish my sentence, The Officer at the desk was frantically thumping calculator keys and presented to me a figure of 52,500 baht and told me I must pay that for 105 days of overstay ! I explained again that my son was only 13 ....trying very hard not to lose my cool as I am obviously aware of the 20.000 baht limit on that length of OS. They carried on shouting in Thai and English and the woman at the desk made a stamp in my sons passport for overstay and wrote in 105 days (this was calculated from his last entry 30 August 2013.......she lost 365 days in her excitement)

Anyway the officer in black told me that there are 'new rules' and now my son has a black mark in his passport that would affect him when he applied for re entry....I was overwhelmed at their unpleasantness.

That was it they said no more about money so I picked up the passport and left .....to start at the back of a long queue again.

We successfully obtained his Visa in Penang and went back through Sadao (my kid was terrified and asked if we could find another border post) but I had no time. The young officer on re entry was very pleasant and chatted to my son in Thai he said nothing about the overstay stamp and stamped us in with a smile.

Their (immigration) behaviour suggests that they receive some commission for the overstay money they collect. Some people not aware of the policy maybe beleive they have to pay 50k or more when confronted with these angry ugly shouting immigration officers....

this kind of stuff just confirms Thailand as a totally 3rd world kleptocracy.

[paz]

To be fair there to be said however that anyone that still chooses to use Sadao / Dannok when the predatory attitude of some officer (not all) is well known, does that by own will. And that they folded the bluff very quickly no real pressure was given in this case.

[AnotherOneAmerican]

Take a photo (or video) of the immigration officer/s on your phone and record the conversation.

Tell them you will report them for corruption to the Junta.

Why is anyone polite to these crooks?

[merijn]

@ the OP: yesterday Phuket immigration announced that, but today this has been retracted already by the same Phuket immigration.

Thanks for the heads up.

I have to check this as I did not hear anything from the immigration boss that this is retracted.

BTW it was announced to us last week.

As i was not in the office today i have to check it later to get confirmation about this.

Looking forward to your confirmation of the retraction.

Today confirmed that it is not Phuket immigration who will be fining children but that Phuket Airport is fining the parents from children with overstay.

Looks like that airport immigration is doing this on their own.

[stevenl]

@ the OP: yesterday Phuket immigration announced that, but today this has been retracted already by the same Phuket immigration.

Thanks for the heads up.

I have to check this as I did not hear anything from the immigration boss that this is retracted.

BTW it was announced to us last week.

As i was not in the office today i have to check it later to get confirmation about this.

Looking forward to your confirmation of the retraction.

Today confirmed that it is not Phuket immigration who will be fining children but that Phuket Airport is fining the parents from children with overstay.

Looks like that airport immigration is doing this on their own.

Thanks.

I have not seen any reports of that yet, so for the moment I have my doubts.

[RJJ]

Sunday 18 January my wife and two kids (11 and 9) were charged 1000 baht each for 2 days over stay.

She was expecting this and had the cash on hand.

Travelling on Aussie passports and visa on arrival.

[Mario2008]

@ the OP: yesterday Phuket immigration announced that, but today this has been retracted already by the same Phuket immigration.

Thanks for the heads up.

I have to check this as I did not hear anything from the immigration boss that this is retracted.

BTW it was announced to us last week.

As i was not in the office today i have to check it later to get confirmation about this.

Looking forward to your confirmation of the retraction.

Today confirmed that it is not Phuket immigration who will be fining children but that Phuket Airport is fining the parents from children with overstay.

Looks like that airport immigration is doing this on their own.

Airport immigration at all international airports (BKK, Phuket, Chiang Mai etc) form their own immigration division within immigration and do not fall under the local immigration office. They report to different headquarters.

[merijn]

Today confirmed that it is not Phuket immigration who will be fining children but that Phuket Airport is fining the parents from children with overstay.

Airport immigration at all international airports (BKK, Phuket, Chiang Mai etc) form their own immigration division within immigration and do not fall under the local immigration office. They report to different headquarters.

Uuuuh Yes i know that, That's why i mentioned that Phuket airport immigration was fining and not Phuket immigration them self.

[gemguy]

The no overstay fine for those under the age of 15 is based upon the civil code that limits the punishment for minors.

I don't think that has been changed.

Something that serious would of been put out as a notice on the immigration website and there has not been one.

The one about having to report where you do your extension is really nothing new. It has been that way since they assigned offices for extensions and started enforcing it.

They change appears to be that they will not allow it if you are traveling around the country. That though can be overcome by doing a mail in report if the assigned office allows it.

Today, I called my immigration agent and told him I am renewing my child's passport.

I asked him if I needed to have anything stamped in the new passport or transferred into the new passport.

He told me nothing has to be done.

Same as the last 2 times the child entered Thailand on his foreign passport and received a 30 day tourist.

So in effect he has way overstayed 2 times ...... but ...When leaving Thailand there was no issue at all when leaving the country.

Each time I gave the child's passport to the immigration agent and he took the passport to the immigration officers and after returning the passport he told me it is all OK and the child can leave with no problem and re-enter with no problem.

He told me the immigration officers, at the airport, will see the data on the computer and the child is considered void...come and go as you please with the child.

So far so good.

As for the official - official status I really do not know and even the immigration officials out at the Immigration office at Changwattana tell me the same thing....

Do not worry as the child is a child and there will no fine for overstay ...even if the tourist visa that he entered on is long finished and over 1 year overstay.

Cheers

[casualbiker]

Sunday 18 January my wife and two kids (11 and 9) were charged 1000 baht each for 2 days over stay.

She was expecting this and had the cash on hand.

Travelling on Aussie passports and visa on arrival.

In which case your kids were overcharged as they are exempt!

[stevenl]

Sunday 18 January my wife and two kids (11 and 9) were charged 1000 baht each for 2 days over stay.

She was expecting this and had the cash on hand.

Travelling on Aussie passports and visa on arrival.

In which case your kids were overcharged as they are exempt!

Now are they? See earlier mention of changes to that in this thread.

[casualbiker]

Sunday 18 January my wife and two kids (11 and 9) were charged 1000 baht each for 2 days over stay.

She was expecting this and had the cash on hand.

Travelling on Aussie passports and visa on arrival.

In which case your kids were overcharged as they are exempt!

Now are they? See earlier mention of changes to that in this thread.

yes. Because as Ubon stated there has not been a change in the regulations. This is just made up <deleted> by phuket airport immigration (presumably)

[merijn]

Sunday 18 January my wife and two kids (11 and 9) were charged 1000 baht each for 2 days over stay.

She was expecting this and had the cash on hand.

Travelling on Aussie passports and visa on arrival.

In which case your kids were overcharged as they are exempt!

Now are they? See earlier mention of changes to that in this thread.

yes. Because as Ubon stated there has not been a change in the regulations. This is just made up <deleted> by phuket airport immigration (presumably)

Changes or not but when you stand at the airport with overstay and they demand that you pay the fine you don't have much choice.

Off-course i expect that you will teach them the rules but do you think that you will win on time to make your flight?

I hope for you but i doubt it.

[casualbiker]

Sunday 18 January my wife and two kids (11 and 9) were charged 1000 baht each for 2 days over stay.

She was expecting this and had the cash on hand.

Travelling on Aussie passports and visa on arrival.

In which case your kids were overcharged as they are exempt!

Now are they? See earlier mention of changes to that in this thread.

yes. Because as Ubon stated there has not been a change in the regulations. This is just made up <deleted> by phuket airport immigration (presumably)

Changes or not but when you stand at the airport with overstay and they demand that you pay the fine you don't have much choice.

Off-course i expect that you will teach them the rules but do you think that you will win on time to make your flight?

I hope for you but i doubt it.

Fair enough .. you pay up.. me I would insist on talking to a supervisor and video the conversation. I would also ask for the change in regulations in writing!

Hopefully someone will do that!

[merijn]

Changes or not but when you stand at the airport with overstay and they demand that you pay the fine you don't have much choice.

Off-course i expect that you will teach them the rules but do you think that you will win on time to make your flight?

I hope for you but i doubt it.

Fair enough .. you pay up.. me I would insist on talking to a supervisor and video the conversation. I would also ask for the change in regulations in writing!

Hopefully someone will do that!

No I don't have to pay up as i don't have or ever had any overstay.

But i wish you luck with videoing your "supervisor" discussion.

My experience tells me that you will be surprised with the way it would end up.

[stevenl]

Sunday 18 January my wife and two kids (11 and 9) were charged 1000 baht each for 2 days over stay.

She was expecting this and had the cash on hand.

Travelling on Aussie passports and visa on arrival.

In which case your kids were overcharged as they are exempt!

Now are they? See earlier mention of changes to that in this thread.

yes. Because as Ubon stated there has not been a change in the regulations. This is just made up <deleted> by phuket airport immigration (presumably)

Changes or not but when you stand at the airport with overstay and they demand that you pay the fine you don't have much choice.

Off-course i expect that you will teach them the rules but do you think that you will win on time to make your flight?

I hope for you but i doubt it.

Fair enough .. you pay up.. me I would insist on talking to a supervisor and video the conversation. I would also ask for the change in regulations in writing!

Hopefully someone will do that!

And you really think this would happen and have a positive result for you? Dream on.

[simon43]

but that Phuket Airport is fining the parents from children with overstay.

Excellent earner to add to the fast track immigration line revenues.

I'm going to ask airport immigration if I can pay to stand next to the immigration counter with an advertising sign for my hotel

(They would probably say yes...)

[OZEMADE]

All of these Immigration officers (Locations) that are charging for kids under 15 yoa should be reported to Immigration Bangkok.

It is just corruption and at the moment Bangkok Immigration take a dim view of the practice, along with the military.

They will then, you would hope, at least send out a memo to these locations, if not all Immigration officers re the correct procedure.

[Mario2008]

Normally it is only a possible case of corruption if no receipt is given.

[paz]

No I don't have to pay up as i don't have or ever had any overstay.

But i wish you luck with videoing your "supervisor" discussion.

My experience tells me that you will be surprised with the way it would end up.

Knee jerk reaction from someone probably used to bend over..

if one's right and victim of extortion, he should stand and in the end will prevail. Because they they are wrong and risking in doing it.

[casualbiker]

Sunday 18 January my wife and two kids (11 and 9) were charged 1000 baht each for 2 days over stay.

She was expecting this and had the cash on hand.

Travelling on Aussie passports and visa on arrival.

In which case your kids were overcharged as they are exempt!

Now are they? See earlier mention of changes to that in this thread.

yes. Because as Ubon stated there has not been a change in the regulations. This is just made up <deleted> by phuket airport immigration (presumably)

Changes or not but when you stand at the airport with overstay and they demand that you pay the fine you don't have much choice.

Off-course i expect that you will teach them the rules but do you think that you will win on time to make your flight?

I hope for you but i doubt it.

Fair enough .. you pay up.. me I would insist on talking to a supervisor and video the conversation. I would also ask for the change in regulations in writing!

Hopefully someone will do that!

And you really think this would happen and have a positive result for you? Dream on.

And what exactly do YOU THINK would happen, pistol whipped, shot, hacked to death with a stapler!

I tend to find if you know the rules and confront them they soon pull back.