Immigration police to tighten visa overstaying from March 20

[Bobotie]

I did my 90 day report last week and the office is normally very quiet ..this time thousands of old applications papers on all the desks (really very high piles of paperwork) ..... ALL WERE BEING INSPECTED by immigration staff...something is coming and i dont think its this on 20 March

90 day report has nothing to do with visas or extension of stay. You can still do 90 day report when you are on overstay and the overstay would not be picked up

Really sure about that ? You have to enter the date you entered the country off your arrival card and they do look at your reentry permit...of course they will see if your on an overstay

[Time Traveller]

I did my 90 day report last week and the office is normally very quiet ..this time thousands of old applications papers on all the desks (really very high piles of paperwork) ..... ALL WERE BEING INSPECTED by immigration staff...something is coming and i dont think its this on 20 March

90 day report has nothing to do with visas or extension of stay. You can still do 90 day report when you are on overstay and the overstay would not be picked up

Really sure about that ? You have to enter the date you entered the country off your arrival card and they do look at your reentry permit...of course they will see if your on an overstay

Yes, I'm sure because it happened to me. I was on overstay - although didn't realize it at the time - did the 90 day report and the overstay was not noticed by the 90 day reporting section. It was only noticed months later when applying for an extension of stay.

[sunnyjim5]

I did my 90 day report last week and the office is normally very quiet ..this time thousands of old applications papers on all the desks (really very high piles of paperwork) ..... ALL WERE BEING INSPECTED by immigration staff...something is coming and i dont think its this on 20 March

90 day report has nothing to do with visas or extension of stay. You can still do 90 day report when you are on overstay and the overstay would not be picked up

Really sure about that ? You have to enter the date you entered the country off your arrival card and they do look at your reentry permit...of course they will see if your on an overstay

Yes, I'm sure because it happened to me. I was on overstay - although didn't realize it at the time - did the 90 day report and the overstay was not noticed by the 90 day reporting section. It was only noticed months later when applying for an extension of stay.

Was the extension granted despite "months" of overstay?

[Time Traveller]

I did my 90 day report last week and the office is normally very quiet ..this time thousands of old applications papers on all the desks (really very high piles of paperwork) ..... ALL WERE BEING INSPECTED by immigration staff...something is coming and i dont think its this on 20 March

90 day report has nothing to do with visas or extension of stay. You can still do 90 day report when you are on overstay and the overstay would not be picked up

Really sure about that ? You have to enter the date you entered the country off your arrival card and they do look at your reentry permit...of course they will see if your on an overstay

Yes, I'm sure because it happened to me. I was on overstay - although didn't realize it at the time - did the 90 day report and the overstay was not noticed by the 90 day reporting section. It was only noticed months later when applying for an extension of stay.

Was the extension granted despite "months" of overstay?

Well it's not really relevant to my point that 90 day reporting is irrelevant as they do not check anything, but yes extension was granted

[sunnyjim5]

DELETED

I wonder why many overstayers are paying 20,000 Bht and leaving the country to clear up their mess when applying for an extension(1900 Bht) would, according to to you,resolve the problem of "months of overstay" ?

Edited March 12, 2016 by seedy
troll / flaming

[lkv]

If you have a good enough reason to be in Thailand (not tourism), but say school or work (nonB), it's a different story.

I know of people that cleared overstay of days on ED visas then got the next extension. Well ok not months, but it would not surprise me for Immigration to be lenient in those cases.

Overstay can be cleared in an Immigration office like Chaengwatthana also.

It would certainly make a difference if say one would have a WP still valid in my opinion. Or if they had a Thai wife and it was that kind of extension. Or kids. Or a retirement extension.

The overstayers I know have 1 year...3 years...etc...entered on a visa exempt. That's why they should go to the border.

Edited March 12, 2016 by lkv

[lkv]

Just to add on that, I am sure he did pay the 20K also, he did not avoid it, you can't. It's just that he's paid it in an Immigration office and then paid the 1,900.

[mango66]

hopefully !

Its time that this crooks . over stayers, lawbreakers getting their " Christmas gift ""

[Time Traveller]

I wonder why many overstayers are paying 20,000 Bht and leaving the country to clear up their mess when applying for an extension(1900 Bht) would, according to to you,resolve the problem of "months of overstay" ?

Believe what you want. But i was changing the reason for extension of stay, overstay was discovered by immigration of about 120 days, I paid the fine and was given a new extension of stay. I didn't leave the country and neither did 90 day reporting pick up on that my extension of stay had been cancelled. My whole point was that 90 day reporting is a complete waste of time and resources.

Edited March 12, 2016 by seedy
Quote hidden post

[seedy]

Many Posts Removed - Off Topic / Troll / flaming / Nonsense

[geriatrickid]

C'mon folks, deep breaths and then some rational thought please.

The majority and I mean the very large proportion of illegals and over stayers in Thailand have been and continue to be regional economic migrants from Burma and Cambodia. Yes, there are the expected number of westerners, but there are not as many as people are assuming. Add up the Africans, Nepalese, Indian, South Korean, Philippino, Taiwanese and Japanese illegals & overstayers and you have more of them than "westerners".

I do however expect the illegal westerner communities of Pattaya, Phuket and Bangkok to experience the crackdown. Watch for the condo/apartment unit holders who rent out their units to be targeted as well. The hospitality industry is hurting and in places like Patong where condos are available on the holiday rental black market, those rentals have knocked the wind out of the hotel business.

[jucel]

Too many TV members revelling in schadenfruede.

There are certain members on here who would love nothing more than to see a senior citizen in poor health dumped into the monkey house for overstaying their visa, languishing in a cell!

There must be literally thousands of seniors with expired passports/visas.

Geriatric kid is right too, this isn't aimed solely at westerners, I would think it's mainly aimed at the nationalities he suggests.

[macgver]

The main priority is to clear the asylum seekers and refugees in Thailand. All of them are overstayed since years.

[Kron]

Will be interesting to see what happens after 20^th

In 14 years of dealing with Immigration it is the first time they have actually written to me informing me of a new order.

Not sure if this was an effective use of resources for I guess those who they have a mailing address for are complying with the rules.

[hobobo]

I wager that this new crack down on visa overstayers is going to last no more than 6 months. By that time the officials are fed up dragging elderly(?) guys to the slammer with no money or means to pay the penalties and a ticket home where they have nothing. They will find out that these 'international criminals' are not-so-well-off-guys that simply can't afford paying the fees of visa business.

That's what I think.

BTW, waiting these holier-than-thou people, when I came here first time a decade and a half ago, I needed just to fill an application and got a Non-O next day. So, to all that say one needs to jump all the hola-hoops, it used to be more simple and much easier. What has changed? Not much except the level of nonsense. Those were the times.

Simpleton's analysis

[Bluespunk]

The main priority is to clear the asylum seekers and refugees in Thailand. All of them are overstayed since years.

Not the same thing at all.

[ratcatcher]

I wager that this new crack down on visa overstayers is going to last no more than 6 months. By that time the officials are fed up dragging elderly(?) guys to the slammer with no money or means to pay the penalties and a ticket home where they have nothing. They will find out that these 'international criminals' are not-so-well-off-guys that simply can't afford paying the fees of visa business.

That's what I think.

BTW, waiting these holier-than-thou people, when I came here first time a decade and a half ago, I needed just to fill an application and got a Non-O next day. So, to all that say one needs to jump all the hola-hoops, it used to be more simple and much easier. What has changed? Not much except the level of nonsense. Those were the times.

Simpleton's analysis

"...............when I came here first time a decade and a half ago, I needed just to fill an application and got a Non-O next day."

Really?.........................Lucky duck, just like that?

[Wilsonandson]

He urged all business operators to give information on foreigners working or living in their premises

A private school is a business. Is this the beginning of another witch hunt, raids on schools? The wording of the article suggests not. It seems to imply migrant workers working at a factory. But, the wording is also meant to send some message to all that your only foreigners and not Thai and don't get cosy and settled in to happy Thailand cause big brother will one day crush your bubble. Another keep the farangs in line annoucement from the bib.

[rubl]

He urged all business operators to give information on foreigners working or living in their premises

A private school is a business. Is this the beginning of another witch hunt, raids on schools? The wording of the article suggests not. It seems to imply migrant workers working at a factory. But, the wording is also meant to send some message to all that your only foreigners and not Thai and don't get cosy and settled in to happy Thailand cause big brother will one day crush your bubble. Another keep the farangs in line annoucement from the bib.

Actually it's much more telling businesses to behave according to the law. Businesses are required to report any foreigners who hire apartments or offices. Of course the need to 'urge' implies that the level of automation in Thailand severely lags behind that of Western countries.

[wobalt]

I wager that this new crack down on visa overstayers is going to last no more than 6 months. By that time the officials are fed up dragging elderly(?) guys to the slammer with no money or means to pay the penalties and a ticket home where they have nothing. They will find out that these 'international criminals' are not-so-well-off-guys that simply can't afford paying the fees of visa business.

That's what I think.

BTW, waiting these holier-than-thou people, when I came here first time a decade and a half ago, I needed just to fill an application and got a Non-O next day. So, to all that say one needs to jump all the hola-hoops, it used to be more simple and much easier. What has changed? Not much except the level of nonsense. Those were the times.

Simpleton's analysis

"...............when I came here first time a decade and a half ago, I needed just to fill an application and got a Non-O next day."

Really?.........................Lucky duck, just like that?

Yes just like that. At those days I remember that the Immigration ask me why I only want a 3 months visa, we give you 1 year ,no problem.

[sunnyjim5]

I wager that this new crack down on visa overstayers is going to last no more than 6 months. By that time the officials are fed up dragging elderly(?) guys to the slammer with no money or means to pay the penalties and a ticket home where they have nothing. They will find out that these 'international criminals' are not-so-well-off-guys that simply can't afford paying the fees of visa business.

That's what I think.

BTW, waiting these holier-than-thou people, when I came here first time a decade and a half ago, I needed just to fill an application and got a Non-O next day. So, to all that say one needs to jump all the hola-hoops, it used to be more simple and much easier. What has changed? Not much except the level of nonsense. Those were the times.

Simpleton's analysis

"...............when I came here first time a decade and a half ago, I needed just to fill an application and got a Non-O next day."

Really?.........................Lucky duck, just like that?

Yes just like that. At those days I remember that the Immigration ask me why I only want a 3 months visa, we give you 1 year ,no problem.

Clearly the memory must be failing after all those years !

One year "VISAS" have never been provided by Immigration.

[onni4me]

I wager that this new crack down on visa overstayers is going to last no more than 6 months...

Simpleton's analysis

"...............when I came here first time a decade and a half ago, I needed just to fill an application and got a Non-O next day."

Really?.........................Lucky duck, just like that?

To Hobobo:

Yes, I look things as I see them. Your comment does not seem to bring anything to the discussion either. I've been here long time and seen things change and not always for the better. I'd like them to make it more simple and easier.

To Ratcatcher:

Yes. That was true then. Year 2000 and later I still got a Non-O just doing that. Paying the fee and filling the application. It was a consulate in my native country, not an embassy. My point was to say that it used to be a lot easier and it still could be but now we just need to do more silly bureaucratic moves for it that some seem to get so excited about.

Generally speaking, I've had many dealings over the years and not all pleasant. Different officials interpret the law and regulations differently which I see as an overall nuisance. I would like them to leave married couples and those with families alone once the status quo has been established. At the moment one is never sure what new silliness they come up with next and all the time wasted and money spent on this so-important-nothing I see as a way to tell us that we are not really welcome. Be it a month or decades.

And yes, in my country we have very strict laws upheld but once the status of a married foreigner is established, he or she has the same rights as a native. Including social welfare, work permit, medical care etc. Something what we Farangs can just dream of here. So, if you feel that this country is so lovely in all aspects, I tend to disagree.

[louse1953]

I wager that this new crack down on visa overstayers is going to last no more than 6 months. By that time the officials are fed up dragging elderly(?) guys to the slammer with no money or means to pay the penalties and a ticket home where they have nothing. They will find out that these 'international criminals' are not-so-well-off-guys that simply can't afford paying the fees of visa business.

That's what I think.

BTW, waiting these holier-than-thou people, when I came here first time a decade and a half ago, I needed just to fill an application and got a Non-O next day. So, to all that say one needs to jump all the hola-hoops, it used to be more simple and much easier. What has changed? Not much except the level of nonsense. Those were the times.

What has changed is the thousands of foreigners that rort the system.It is an open joke.As with the old,broke foreigners in detention,a campaign will be run in Murdochs rags to bring these poor sods home,and the taxpayer will pay.Or their pension will be garnished as they have no need of that,living on rice soup in detention.

[billd766]

I did my 90 day report last week and the office is normally very quiet ..this time thousands of old applications papers on all the desks (really very high piles of paperwork) ..... ALL WERE BEING INSPECTED by immigration staff...something is coming and i dont think its this on 20 March

90 day report has nothing to do with visas or extension of stay. You can still do 90 day report when you are on overstay and the overstay would not be picked up

Wrong !

I will leave it to others to explain !

AFAIR from a couple of months ago I went to the Immigration office in Nakhon Sawan with my passport and previous 90 day report. They put my passport into a scanner and that updated the computer which printed out the 90 report form. All I did was sign their copy and it was done.

Perhaps I could have done it by post or possibly by going online. By post I would need to send a copy of my passport and a copy of the last 90 report. On line I have no idea.

In any case either the original or a copy of the passport needs to be seen, so if you are on overstay and have no current visa in your passport then you cannot do a 90 day report either.

Now if you can explain how to complete the 90 day report without passport information it will be interesting.

[dageurreotype]

I wonder if immigration etc will actively go out and check passports for overstay etc.

Interesting times ahead maybe.

Oh I believe the police getting off their <deleted> and enforcing what? 50,000 + Arrest Warrants should be given priority don't you? All this Nationalistic tubthumping is making this insular little country even more backward, and this posted on the same day Prem has come out and told Thais they should be ashamed as being perceived as one of the most corrupt countries in the world. Priorities are not a, er, priority here in LaLaLand.

[dageurreotype]

How many posts will we see '' help i've overstayed, i didn't know ''

i'm not even in the country and i know

What's it to you?

[jucel]

I wonder if immigration etc will actively go out and check passports for overstay etc.

Interesting times ahead maybe.

Oh I believe the police getting off their <deleted> and enforcing what? 50,000 + Arrest Warrants should be given priority don't you? All this Nationalistic tubthumping is making this insular little country even more backward, and this posted on the same day Prem has come out and told Thais they should be ashamed as being perceived as one of the most corrupt countries in the world. Priorities are not a, er, priority here in LaLaLand.

Do people on here believe that Immigration/Police have the manpower & willpower to spend vast resources chasing down people on overstay?

If all the people on overstay are on the poverty line, as is often 'stated' on here, then they will not be able to shake them down for tea money, which is the M.O. of every BIB here.

[dageurreotype]

But [immigration Bureau commissioner Pol Lt Natthorn Prohsunthorn] said the tougher law enforcement was intended to tackle foreigners entering the country illegally, working without work permits, and transnational criminals, while those entering legally and work legally won’t be affected.

I guess that the Commissioner spoke in Thai and unless there has been an error in translation it would seem that the Commissioner said that this new, tougher law enforcement will not be applied to foreigners who overstay after having entered Thailand legally. I doubt, though, that this is how it will work out. Time will tell.

This is a very important piece of info which has appeared to have been overlooked in the usual stampede of those waiting to pounce on their fellow farang with their condemnatory posts. How many 'overstayers' entered the country illegally? Quite possibly a mere handful. But as you say, this may be interpreted differently by Immigration Offices with their hands out. As usual.

[ratcatcher]

I wager that this new crack down on visa overstayers is going to last no more than 6 months...

Simpleton's analysis

"...............when I came here first time a decade and a half ago, I needed just to fill an application and got a Non-O next day."

Really?.........................Lucky duck, just like that?

To Hobobo:

Yes, I look things as I see them. Your comment does not seem to bring anything to the discussion either. I've been here long time and seen things change and not always for the better. I'd like them to make it more simple and easier.

To Ratcatcher:

Yes. That was true then. Year 2000 and later I still got a Non-O just doing that. Paying the fee and filling the application. It was a consulate in my native country, not an embassy. My point was to say that it used to be a lot easier and it still could be but now we just need to do more silly bureaucratic moves for it that some seem to get so excited about.

Generally speaking, I've had many dealings over the years and not all pleasant. Different officials interpret the law and regulations differently which I see as an overall nuisance. I would like them to leave married couples and those with families alone once the status quo has been established. At the moment one is never sure what new silliness they come up with next and all the time wasted and money spent on this so-important-nothing I see as a way to tell us that we are not really welcome. Be it a month or decades.

And yes, in my country we have very strict laws upheld but once the status of a married foreigner is established, he or she has the same rights as a native. Including social welfare, work permit, medical care etc. Something what we Farangs can just dream of here. So, if you feel that this country is so lovely in all aspects, I tend to disagree.

"...."...............when I came here first time a decade and a half ago, I needed just to fill an application and got a Non-O next day."

Really?.........................Lucky duck, just like that?"

"Yes. That was true then. Year 2000 and later I still got a Non-O just doing that. Paying the fee and filling the application. It was a consulate in my native country, not an embassy"

Now the misunderstanding is clear. You failed to originally state that you obtained the "Non-O" in your home country. at a Thai consulate.

What you might have stated is that ...."before I came here I just needed to fill an application in my home country.

Are we agreed? Thank you.

[dageurreotype]

I wager that this new crack down on visa overstayers is going to last no more than 6 months. By that time the officials are fed up dragging elderly(?) guys to the slammer with no money or means to pay the penalties and a ticket home where they have nothing. They will find out that these 'international criminals' are not-so-well-off-guys that simply can't afford paying the fees of visa business.

That's what I think.

BTW, waiting these holier-than-thou people, when I came here first time a decade and a half ago, I needed just to fill an application and got a Non-O next day. So, to all that say one needs to jump all the hola-hoops, it used to be more simple and much easier. What has changed? Not much except the level of nonsense. Those were the times.

Simpleton's analysis

"...............when I came here first time a decade and a half ago, I needed just to fill an application and got a Non-O next day."

Really?.........................Lucky duck, just like that?

Yes. Really.