On a thread in the Phuket section of the forum there is the story of two Russians who have been apprehended for being on overstay. Here is an extract from the OP:-

"Phuket Immigration Chief, Lt Col Tienchai Chompoo told The Phuket News, “After being questioned they will be [kicked] out of Thailand.

“If we find other cases they will be treated the same. According to the law, if offenders are caught in Thailand without valid permits to stay and have overstayed less than one year they are forbidden from re-entering the kingdom for five years.”

I just wonder if someone,(UbonJoe) has any information that the much advertised changes to the overstay 'law' have now been passed by 'parliament' and have become, infact 'law'.

Immigration Law is different in Phuket. I'm not sure if it is in the entire Province, but in Phuket for sure.

What if you didn't sign the acknowledgement consent paper upon arriving in Thailand?

There is no rule, law and etc. to substantiate his statement. Just bluster.

Even the proposed rules that were never approved did not call for a 5 year ban for an overstay of less than a year.

What if you didn't sign the acknowledgement consent paper upon arriving in Thailand?

Which paper? I arrived recently and only signed the arrival card. Maybe they still have a good stock of these in Phuket.

What if you didn't sign the acknowledgement consent paper upon arriving in Thailand?

Which paper? I arrived recently and only signed the arrival card. Maybe they still have a good stock of these in Phuket.

"Which paper?"

When I recently renewed my extension of stay at Jomtien I had to sign a paper regarding the possible penalties for overstay and others have reported doing the same at other immigrations offices. I think the notification appears posted at some offices and (maybe??) border posts.

If and when the law is ever enacted, I don't think you'd get a pass just because you hadn't signed the acknowledgement. If it becomes law, then it's the law and like any other law, breaking it could have consequences. Ignorance of the law is rarely considered a good defense.

What if you didn't sign the acknowledgement consent paper upon arriving in Thailand?

Which paper? I arrived recently and only signed the arrival card. Maybe they still have a good stock of these in Phuket.

"Which paper?"

When I recently renewed my extension of stay at Jomtien I had to sign a paper regarding the possible penalties for overstay and others have reported doing the same at other immigrations offices. I think the notification appears posted at some offices and (maybe??) border posts.

If and when the law is ever enacted, I don't think you'd get a pass just because you hadn't signed the acknowledgement. If it becomes law, then it's the law and like any other law, breaking it could have consequences. Ignorance of the law is rarely considered a good defense.

All what I said is that there were no papers to sign and no signs when I arrived recently.

I do not hope and do not need to get a pass on anything, but understand your parroting act.

What if you didn't sign the acknowledgement consent paper upon arriving in Thailand?

Which paper? I arrived recently and only signed the arrival card. Maybe they still have a good stock of these in Phuket.

"Which paper?"

When I recently renewed my extension of stay at Jomtien I had to sign a paper regarding the possible penalties for overstay and others have reported doing the same at other immigrations offices. I think the notification appears posted at some offices and (maybe??) border posts.

If and when the law is ever enacted, I don't think you'd get a pass just because you hadn't signed the acknowledgement. If it becomes law, then it's the law and like any other law, breaking it could have consequences. Ignorance of the law is rarely considered a good defense.

All what I said is that there were no papers to sign and no signs when I arrived recently.

I do not hope and do not need to get a pass on anything, but understand your parroting act.

Most of what I said was aimed at the comment by lust ..."What if you didn't sign the acknowledgement consent paper upon arriving in Thailand?"

Sorry if the way I responded implied anything to you beyond what you wrote.

This is the immigration law, valid for the whole country:

Immigration Act B.E. 2522 English translation

This is the section of the law about deporting overstayers.

Section 54 : Any alien who enters or come to stay in the Kingdom without permission or when such

permission expires or is revoked , the competent official will deport such alien out of the Kingdom...

This is the section of the law about banning deported foreigners from entering Thailand.

Section 12 : Aliens which fall into any of the following categories are excluded from entering into the

Kingdom :

...

11. Being deported by either the Government of Thailand that of or other foreign countries...

Well the current reality of 'deportation' is they wait for you to buy a flight ticket (deporting yourself really) from IDC, escort you to the airport for said flight (could be the same day after a quick court appearance), and on touching down you can immediately turn around and come back in to Thailand... debatably sounds worse than it is.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/780211-my-experience-at-idc-for-overstaying/

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/774560-how-does-a-png-blacklist-stamp-look-like-blacklisted-or-not/

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/751762-cleared-11-year-overstay/

Most of what I said was aimed at the comment by lust ..."What if you didn't sign the acknowledgement consent paper upon arriving in Thailand?"

Sorry if the way I responded implied anything to you beyond what you wrote.

No problem, apologies for an harsh reply then.