Usual ill thought out new regulations on overstay open to abuse

[Scouse123]

We should have known the new regulations allegedly coming into force in March would be impractical for use, unclear and wide open for wrong interpretation and abuse by the powers that be.

It starts by laying out the penalties and whether or not a person voluntarily hands themselves in or are caught by the authorities, both of which incur very different penalties. It goes on to state that if they are charged and prosecuted with a crime, the higher penalties can be applied.

All so far, so good. fairly clear.

We now enter into the ' tea money zone ' because as everyone knows it's all down to ' interpretation ', and for all the complaining, very few who are in the country or who are regularly here and have girlfriends/boyfriends/family ties will want to be blacklisted.

They will opt to ' pay the fee ' which then just adds another string to the bow to the endemic corruption which is already on every level of law and order in the country. It solves absolutely nothing just gives already corrupt people more opportunity to be even more corrupt.

The questions therefore are; Will it keep out the ' dark elements and mafias ' answer; No, they will just pay as it's the costs of doing business. Will it deter them from coming? No, again. Those who break the law seldom care about new laws or regulations. Will it encourage people to stay within the law and ensure they have correct visas and paperwork to stay in the country? Possibly. However, if they intend to start handing out bans for these types of offences, what about the tourist who overstays by a couple of days or a week or two? He/She are normally good people but let's say they just get ' wrapped up in the moment ' or are too busy enjoying themselves as young ( and not so young ) people do it Thailand. Let's face it, Thailand encourages foreigners to spend their cash as much as possible at every twist and turn. It has got to be one of the most hedonistic places on Earth.

What about the guys who genuinely mix up their documentation and are on work permits or who are let down by the authorities in returning paperwork etc leading to overstay, these things happen and regularly!!

Are they to be fined, banned or charged a boatload of money ' under the table '?

So, in essence, it is the ' small fry ' who will be caught in the web, not the intended deliberate lawbreakers.

Please don't say that these unfortunates will be treated ' leniently ' or ' with understanding ' as the guys in charge, (immigration), are exactly the same ones many TV members have problems with entering the kingdom with the immigration officer on the day and their interpretations of visa stamps, what constitutes too many visits in a certain period, too many entry and exit stamps at border crossings etc.

This is just a tiny part of the problems that can and will occur if these new rules are implemented.

Mind you, if they are focussing public attention and the news on these ' bad foreigners ' they are taking attention away from the real issues such as a collapsing economy, a fishing dispute with the EU over slave labour, an airline on the brink of a worldwide ban on safety issues, murders of foreigners with increasing regularity, gun crime completely out of control, human trafficking, the insurgency in the South etc.

[ubonjoe]

Ongoing topic here New Overstay Rules Announced By Immigration

No need for another one.

This one