Major new crackdown on visa overstay in Thailand starts today

[lust]

I was on overstay for 2 years. About 5 months in, I was caught by immigration police at the airport while returning to Bangkok from Phuket. Took my dog to the ocean for her first time.

I paid a fine to the 4 immigration officers who were waiting for me, to avoid going to IDC and having to spend a load of cash buying another flight. After, I was escorted to a taxi and went home. I was told that I will need to pay the fine again when I decide to leave the country legitimately. I figured since I paid the fine, I might as well get my money's worth and stayed for an additional 20 months.

I cleared my overstay yesterday. No problems. No interrogation. The guy was whistling a song while writing my receipt.

I feel that Thai people really don't care about overstay, but they are told to care so that it can generate revenue for the country while also getting their affairs in order.

It's nice to clear up the overstay though, and now I qualify for a long term visa for when I return.

You are the type of people that give the rest of us a bad name.

Why don't you "man up" and follow the laws of this nation?

He did didn't he? Or at least he did ultimately.

He paid the fine at the airport, as per Thai law. He can now return to Thailand in full accordance with Thai law.

He broke the rules and was dealt with by the system.

No, he continues to flaunt that he Overstayed and only paid a fine. That his buddy policeman knew about his status and did nothing. And when confronted about his criminal behaviour he resorts to offering "english" lessons. Once again against the law since obviously he doesn't have a work permit.

His type is the reason the Thai Government is making it more difficult for all of us. Defend the criminal if you want, that's up to you but the rest of us can also have our opinion.

The fine is the penalty. What do you not understand?

Yep, I'm flaunting it. Doing my dance. Because there is nothing that you can do, but have your blood pressure rise knowing that I'm free laughing at you. I love rustling your jimmies! Let me know if you want those English lessons. Or perhaps you might need some other lessons in life.

[lust]

I was on overstay for 2 years. About 5 months in, I was caught by immigration police at the airport while returning to Bangkok from Phuket. Took my dog to the ocean for her first time.

I paid a fine to the 4 immigration officers who were waiting for me, to avoid going to IDC and having to spend a load of cash buying another flight. After, I was escorted to a taxi and went home. I was told that I will need to pay the fine again when I decide to leave the country legitimately. I figured since I paid the fine, I might as well get my money's worth and stayed for an additional 20 months.

I cleared my overstay yesterday. No problems. No interrogation. The guy was whistling a song while writing my receipt.

I feel that Thai people really don't care about overstay, but they are told to care so that it can generate revenue for the country while also getting their affairs in order.

It's nice to clear up the overstay though, and now I qualify for a long term visa for when I return.

You are the type of people that give the rest of us a bad name.

Why don't you "man up" and follow the laws of this nation?

He did didn't he? Or at least he did ultimately.

He paid the fine at the airport, as per Thai law. He can now return to Thailand in full accordance with Thai law.

He broke the rules and was dealt with by the system.

No, he continues to flaunt that he Overstayed and only paid a fine. That his buddy policeman knew about his status and did nothing. And when confronted about his criminal behaviour he resorts to offering "english" lessons. Once again against the law since obviously he doesn't have a work permit.

His type is the reason the Thai Government is making it more difficult for all of us. Defend the criminal if you want, that's up to you but the rest of us can also have our opinion.

The fine is the penalty. What do you not understand?

Yep, I'm flaunting it. Doing my dance. Because there is nothing that you can do, but have your blood pressure rise knowing that I'm free laughing at you. I love rustling your jimmies! Let me know if you want those English lessons. Or perhaps you might need some other lessons in life.

To bad your son has to grow up with you as a father. ..... enough said.

"Too" bad

First lesson is free!

[Merylhighground]

His type is the reason the Thai Government is making it more difficult for all of us. Defend the criminal if you want, that's up to you but the rest of us can also have our opinion.

How so? I've never had any difficulties getting a visa thanks to having a legitimate job in Thailand, nor many, many others.

If you find it difficult to get the correct paperwork I'd take a longer look at your own circumstances and act on changing them so you face less difficulties instead of blaming others.

The initial given reason the Thais began to clamp down on visas, particularly visa 'runners' a decade or so ago was due to an imagined/real increase of illegal foreign workers who were supposedly hitting the borders every 30 days then hitting the language centres/boiler rooms to work without the proper documentation.

If memory serves me right they first declared that you couldn't have more than three back to back permit on entry stamps followed by a limit on the number of tourist visas allowed in a six month period

Some claim this was just an excuse for the Thaksin regime to screw more visa fees out of tourists, which also increased greatly in price at this time, then the goal posts seemed to shift every few months.

[JLCrab]

Youtube direct from IMMigration -- seems THEY think heretofore too many thought overstay was a big joke:

< snip >

So they think making a funny cartoon about the new crackdown is the best way to dispense with that image?

Maybe they did an assessment of the mentality of the typical overstayer and figured that was the best way to go.

But if you folks want to have a discussion of what the Immigration folks should have done, please go right ahead.

Edited March 20, 2016 by JLCrab

[HooHaa]

Good to hear that from a "big-wig" that the fines are "weak".

Maybe this will spread to other departments of setting the fines.

No mention though of the fine for overstaying 1-89 days. Will this "weak" fine be raised ? I hope so.

Outrageous that foreigners abuse the system in such a manner.

Call it what you will, but these abusers were working within the established rules and Thailand has been in tacit if not outright approval of the situation.

[homeseeker]

Youtube direct from IMMigration -- seems THEY think heretofore too many thought overstay was a big joke:

I have just watched the immigration film about "over-stayers" . It suggests that "over-stayers" do so to make a lot of money illegally such as by way of safe robbery and both credit card fraud and computer fraud.

This is an outrageous allegation for all sorts of valid reasons...... but maybe I have not understood the film....

Any other views???

Edited March 20, 2016 by homeseeker

[bazza40]

No there won't. Scaremongering BS from the realms of fantasy and stupidity.

I can't help feel that Immigration have missed a trick here.

If they were/are serious about reducing numbers of over-stayers, they should have declared a total amnesty, waiving fines, allowing offenders to clear big overstays at any border; if, as many cite, financial problems are a main reason for overstaying then under an amnesty, most offenders could merely have hobbled to their nearest border, cleared, then began to actively address their situations in Thailand with one major worry removed. Now all they'll get is an increase of foreigners choosing not to leave the country ever for fear of a ban and be saddled with an increase of foreigners dying in the Kingdom.

" Be saddled with an increase of foreigners dying in the Kingdom?" Why would Immigration be concerned about that? IMHO, a good thing for the funeral industry.

Edited March 20, 2016 by bazza40

[lust]

Youtube direct from IMMigration -- seems THEY think heretofore too many thought overstay was a big joke:

I have just watched the immigration film about "over-stayers" . It suggests that "over-stayers" do so to make a lot of money illegally such as by way of safe robbery and both credit card fraud and computer fraud.

This is an outrageous allegation for all sorts of valid reasons...... but maybe I have not understood the film....

Any other views???

Real overstayers don't have time to watch cartoons..

[Puccini]

I have a feeling that people on visa run buses today are going to be hassled at checkpoints before they reach the border crossing.

I believe the visa run bus operators are not accepting passengers with an overstay.

[stickylies]

Youtube direct from IMMigration -- seems THEY think heretofore too many thought overstay was a big joke:

< snip >

So they think making a funny cartoon about the new crackdown is the best way to dispense with that image?

Maybe they did an assessment of the mentality of the typical overstayer and figured that was the best way to go.

Not really. It's the classic type of dealing with virtually anything serious here. if it's not childish or plain idiotic it becomes too serious locally also known as "silliout" (sic) and as we all know thai cannot have that (sanook must go on!). life is one jolly circus with alcohol abuse, domestic violence, horror car crashes, blatant corruption and... pesky foreigners overstaying their visas

[stickylies]

Youtube direct from IMMigration -- seems THEY think heretofore too many thought overstay was a big joke:

I have just watched the immigration film about "over-stayers" . It suggests that "over-stayers" do so to make a lot of money illegally such as by way of safe robbery and both credit card fraud and computer fraud.

This is an outrageous allegation for all sorts of valid reasons...... but maybe I have not understood the film....

Any other views???

eskimo's, native americans, "negros" (sic), asians, orthodox jews and aboriginals are not overstayers... they don't appear in the cartoon.

[Merylhighground]

I have a feeling that people on visa run buses today are going to be hassled at checkpoints before they reach the border crossing.

I believe the visa run bus operators are not accepting passengers with an overstay.

I understand (maybe wrongly) that people with overstays of more then 90 days can't clear at a land crossing and have to depart by air. Though I stand to be corrected on this point.

Youtube direct from IMMigration -- seems THEY think heretofore too many thought overstay was a big joke

Which scarcely supports your claim. This silly video which shows the 'criminals' running all over Thailand, committing various crimes doesn't mean the majority of over-stayers are scoff-laws...or are involved in criminal activities.

Edited March 20, 2016 by Merylhighground

[FritsSikkink]

I was on overstay for 2 years. About 5 months in, I was caught by immigration police at the airport while returning to Bangkok from Phuket. Took my dog to the ocean for her first time.

I paid a fine to the 4 immigration officers who were waiting for me, to avoid going to IDC and having to spend a load of cash buying another flight. After, I was escorted to a taxi and went home. I was told that I will need to pay the fine again when I decide to leave the country legitimately. I figured since I paid the fine, I might as well get my money's worth and stayed for an additional 20 months.

I cleared my overstay yesterday. No problems. No interrogation. The guy was whistling a song while writing my receipt.

I feel that Thai people really don't care about overstay, but they are told to care so that it can generate revenue for the country while also getting their affairs in order.

It's nice to clear up the overstay though, and now I qualify for a long term visa for when I return.

You are the type of people that give the rest of us a bad name.

Why don't you "man up" and follow the laws of this nation?

He did didn't he? Or at least he did ultimately.

He paid the fine at the airport, as per Thai law. He can now return to Thailand in full accordance with Thai law.

He broke the rules and was dealt with by the system.

No, he continues to flaunt that he Overstayed and only paid a fine. That his buddy policeman knew about his status and did nothing. And when confronted about his criminal behaviour he resorts to offering "english" lessons. Once again against the law since obviously he doesn't have a work permit.

His type is the reason the Thai Government is making it more difficult for all of us. Defend the criminal if you want, that's up to you but the rest of us can also have our opinion.

The fine is the penalty. What do you not understand?

Yep, I'm flaunting it. Doing my dance. Because there is nothing that you can do, but have your blood pressure rise knowing that I'm free laughing at you. I love rustling your jimmies! Let me know if you want those English lessons. Or perhaps you might need some other lessons in life.

not from someone who can't even sort out a proper visa

[JLCrab]

Fine -- you folks have a good laugh at the immigration folks. No worries. Just a civil annoyance. Big joke. The gang on ThaiVisa knows so-o-o-o much better how they should run their country than they do.

Why don't they ... Don't they realize ... If they had any common sense they would ...

Edited March 20, 2016 by JLCrab

[lust]

Lol^

People that don't overstay are just oozing with knowledge..

[JLCrab]

Lol^

People that don't overstay are just oozing with knowledge..

I actually have very little knowledge of overstay -- never had to have any.

[lust]

Fine -- you folks have a good laugh at the immigration folks. No worries. Just a civil annoyance. Big joke.

Mate, nobody is laughing at immigration. Immigration officers are cool. We are laughing at the all the wannabe gumshoes on here crying about it.

[elviajero]

Good to hear that from a "big-wig" that the fines are "weak".

Maybe this will spread to other departments of setting the fines.

No mention though of the fine for overstaying 1-89 days. Will this "weak" fine be raised ? I hope so.

Outrageous that foreigners abuse the system in such a manner.

Call it what you will, but these abusers were working within the established rules and Thailand has been in tacit if not outright approval of the situation.

How do you measure this "outright approval"? I see people getting caught being detained and deported and those surrendering at the border being fined the maximum under the law/rules.

The problem that has existed for immigration is that the law, made 30+ years ago, tied their hands and they had no choice but to let people back in. And it simply doesn't/didn't make sense to send someone through the deportation process that is standing at the border and willing to pay the fine.

This "approval' is just in the minds of overstayers, due to some corrupt police and the officers collecting the fines at the border not giving people a hard time.

The fact is that the risk was worth the reward due to the lack and long term consequence.

Edited March 20, 2016 by elviajero

[JLCrab]

Fine -- you folks have a good laugh at the immigration folks. No worries. Just a civil annoyance. Big joke.

Mate, nobody is laughing at immigration. Immigration officers are cool. We are laughing at the all the wannabe gumshoes on here crying about it.

I don't know who is a wannabe; The ones that are happy to see the laws tightened or the ones that wanna have the old 20K baht and drop back in the next week maintained. Personalty I don;t care.

[MadDog2020]

Lol^

People that don't overstay are just oozing with knowledge..

Not oozing with knowledge. Just adhering to the laws of the nation we live in.

Not like you criminals.

[fey]

the thais are not used to enforcing laws and regulations. just look at the corruption, rampant prostitution and lookkng the other way.

when they do need to actually put their feet down it comes out in strange ways, like nightclub raids and such. still more show then anything else.

they dont know how to be tough on crime or enforce regulations here. its all a joke. take some tips from the usa if you want to police state.

Edited March 20, 2016 by fey

[Merylhighground]

Fine -- you folks have a good laugh at the immigration folks. No worries. Just a civil annoyance. Big joke. The gang on ThaiVisa knows so-o-o-o much better how they should run their country than they do.

Why don't they ... Don't they realize ... If they had any common sense they would ...

I don't think anyone is laughing at Immigration officials though your cartoon is a nonsense.

The two people I knew personally on lengthy overstays both took it deadly seriously.

One, a younger guy in his late thirties, managed to clear it all up last year after getting financial assistance from his brother, cleared his 4 years, returned to the US, got a new visa, worked in the US for a few months, repaid his brother, got some money in the bank, then found a new job in Thailand and returned just before we left with no difficulties.

He was at times, in a constant state of nerves. Even the sight of a police truck or a copper coming into, or even passing, one of our locals in Bangkok (not an uncommon sight) would be enough to set the sweat seeping from his brow. Eventually he bit the bullet and got his act together.

He couldn't do anything, not check into a hotel, use the bank, take a train....not much of a life....

I don't know how your beloved cartoon guys managed to travel around so much

The other was in a bit of a mess. Little money, elderly, would suffer moments of confusion, no valid passport, 6 years over, a morbid fear of red tape and bureaucracy which is how he got into this mess in the first place.

He just managed to beat the ban by leaving on the 17th of March (if the 20th March really will be the watershed and they don't decide to move the goal posts post hoc ergo propta hoc - after the event).

Luckily for him he had us to take him to task, something, in hindsight, we should have done a long time ago.

As he had no passport we had to waste valuable time in our last few days in Thailand, we'd earmarked for other purposes, making sure he got his ETD from the Embassy as well as lend him money for a flight and the fine which his son returned to me yesterday which gives me a few bob for the Derby this afternoon now He got it all sorted OK though he did get a bit of grief at the Overstay Fine Area while he was leaving; they dithered for a long time only stamping him out thirty minutes before his flight, figuring he'd waited so long already before leaving, another hour or so wouldn't hurt

To suggest either of these two I knew, nor the many who have cleared recently according to Thai law, are/were casually sitting back puffing on Hoyos over a glasses of chilled Sancerre, sneering at Immigration is a nonsense.

For many their existences seemed pretty miserable.

[JLCrab]

You have such lovely friends. I only know from reading on ThaiVisa for years of those who calculated that a 5 year overstay would be 4K per year which would be less than they would spend on a visa/extension regime so they actually come out ahead ... and after they pay the fine they can do a 180 u-turn and start all over.

One advantage of hanging out with but few farang in Thailand is I don't have to listen to the sob stories -- I just read them on here.

That cartoon was produced by the Thai Bureau of Immigration so I guess you don't understand how they don't understand what you understand abut how others understand about what they should understand.

Edited March 20, 2016 by JLCrab

[lust]

You have such lovely friends. I only know from reading on ThaiVisa for years of those who calculated that a 5 year overstay would be 4K per year which would be less than they would spend on a visa/extension regime so they actually come out ahead ... and after they pay the fine they can do a 180 u-turn and start all over.

One advantage of hanging out with but few farang in Thailand is I don't have to listen to the sob stories -- I just read them on here.

That cartoon was produced by the Thai Bureau of Immigration so I guess you don't understand how they don't understand what you understand abut how others understand about what they should understand.

Well, you certainly enjoy judging people. Please educate us with what YOU bring to Thailand? Tell us about your life achievements. You must be so enlightened in that ivory tower.

[JLCrab]

You have such lovely friends. I only know from reading on ThaiVisa for years of those who calculated that a 5 year overstay would be 4K per year which would be less than they would spend on a visa/extension regime so they actually come out ahead ... and after they pay the fine they can do a 180 u-turn and start all over.

One advantage of hanging out with but few farang in Thailand is I don't have to listen to the sob stories -- I just read them on here.

That cartoon was produced by the Thai Bureau of Immigration so I guess you don't understand how they don't understand what you understand abut how others understand about what they should understand.

Well, you certainly enjoy judging people. Please educate us with what YOU bring to Thailand? Tell us about your life achievements. You must be so enlightened in that ivory tower.

I don't judge people. I don't have to. I prefer to avoid them. Based upon what I read on here, that seems reasonable ... and I ain't your mate.

[lust]

You have such lovely friends. I only know from reading on ThaiVisa for years of those who calculated that a 5 year overstay would be 4K per year which would be less than they would spend on a visa/extension regime so they actually come out ahead ... and after they pay the fine they can do a 180 u-turn and start all over.

One advantage of hanging out with but few farang in Thailand is I don't have to listen to the sob stories -- I just read them on here.

That cartoon was produced by the Thai Bureau of Immigration so I guess you don't understand how they don't understand what you understand abut how others understand about what they should understand.

Well, you certainly enjoy judging people. Please educate us with what YOU bring to Thailand? Tell us about your life achievements. You must be so enlightened in that ivory tower.

I don't judge people. I don't have to. I prefer to avoid them. Based upon what I read on here, that seems reasonable ... and I ain't your mate.

Exactly. You come chirping in but then decide to take the "high road" when you are called out. Listen up, guy. You are merely existing. But be proud of that, you have a pulse. You are a reclusive, keyboard warrior that can not provide anything to this forum or this country.

[JLCrab]

I have not said anything personal about anyone posting on this forum but I am a lick-spittle drooling keyboard warrior who brings nothing to Thailand. I am not reclusive -- there are actually Thai people in Thailand.

Thank you -- I'll just stick to what I said.

[Rayk]

I was on overstay for 2 years. About 5 months in, I was caught by immigration police at the airport while returning to Bangkok from Phuket. Took my dog to the ocean for her first time.

I paid a fine to the 4 immigration officers who were waiting for me, to avoid going to IDC and having to spend a load of cash buying another flight. After, I was escorted to a taxi and went home. I was told that I will need to pay the fine again when I decide to leave the country legitimately. I figured since I paid the fine, I might as well get my money's worth and stayed for an additional 20 months.

I cleared my overstay yesterday. No problems. No interrogation. The guy was whistling a song while writing my receipt.

I feel that Thai people really don't care about overstay, but they are told to care so that it can generate revenue for the country while also getting their affairs in order.

It's nice to clear up the overstay though, and now I qualify for a long term visa for when I return.

You are the type of people that give the rest of us a bad name.

Why don't you "man up" and follow the laws of this nation?

Well said!

How is it, "well said"? The guy can't even comprehend English.

Who are you really angry at? The overstayers, or the police that don't care?

I was caught red-handed in the airport by immigration police. 4 of them. If they don't care, why should I?

Does it also make you angry that I have many Thai police friends who were also aware of my visa status but they didn't care and would invite me over for bbq dinner with all their friends and family?

Thai law, and Thai reality are very different.

"I figured since I paid the fine, I might as well get my money's worth and stayed for an additional 20 months."?

It's because of people like you that the rest of us have to jump through hoops in order to extend our annual visas.

Please explain what hoops you have to jump through in order to extend your annual visa?

Is it because of people on overstay that Thaksin raised the retirement amount from 400000b to 800000b, I think not. Is it because of overstayers that your are required to have an income of 65000b if you don't have the 800000, I think not. Is it because of overstayers that you are required to have photos with you and your wife if on a marriage extention, I think not. Is it because of overstayers that teachers' now require a criminal background check, I think not. Should I go on? Please do enlighten us on how an individual on overstay has had any real effect on you getting your annual extension. I can bet in reality you can't because, it hasn't.

Edited March 20, 2016 by Rayk

[dru2]

I was on overstay for 2 years. About 5 months in, I was caught by immigration police at the airport while returning to Bangkok from Phuket. Took my dog to the ocean for her first time.

I paid a fine to the 4 immigration officers who were waiting for me, to avoid going to IDC and having to spend a load of cash buying another flight. After, I was escorted to a taxi and went home. I was told that I will need to pay the fine again when I decide to leave the country legitimately. I figured since I paid the fine, I might as well get my money's worth and stayed for an additional 20 months.

I cleared my overstay yesterday. No problems. No interrogation. The guy was whistling a song while writing my receipt.

I feel that Thai people really don't care about overstay, but they are told to care so that it can generate revenue for the country while also getting their affairs in order.

It's nice to clear up the overstay though, and now I qualify for a long term visa for when I return.

You are the type of people that give the rest of us a bad name.

Why don't you "man up" and follow the laws of this nation?

Well said!

How is it, "well said"? The guy can't even comprehend English.

Who are you really angry at? The overstayers, or the police that don't care?

I was caught red-handed in the airport by immigration police. 4 of them. If they don't care, why should I?

Does it also make you angry that I have many Thai police friends who were also aware of my visa status but they didn't care and would invite me over for bbq dinner with all their friends and family?

Thai law, and Thai reality are very different.

"I figured since I paid the fine, I might as well get my money's worth and stayed for an additional 20 months."?

It's because of people like you that the rest of us have to jump through hoops in order to extend our annual visas.

Please explain what hoops you have to jump through in order to extend your annual visa?

Is it because of people on overstay that Thaksin raised the retirement amount from 400000b to 800000b, I think not. Is it because of overstayers that your are required to have an income of 65000b if you don't have the 800000, I think not. Is it because of overstayers that you are required to have photos with you and your wife if on a marriage extention, I think not. Is it because of overstayers that teachers' now require a criminal background check, I think not. Should I go on? Please do enlighten us on how an individual on overstay has had any real effect on you getting your annual extension. I can bet in reality you can't because, it hasn't.

I think not.

[JLCrab]

The reason that persons on overstay have an effect on other persons living in Thailand is that many circumstances involving visas and extensions depend of declarations being made complete and truthfully or affidavits sworn before Thai or other government officials ... and if the Thai powers-that-be at some point decide that such affirmations are being made by persons who have no problem skirting or ignoring Thai law, they may at some point no longer accept such affirmations and declarations on face value as it has been shown that such persons have no problem in making false declarations.

Edited March 20, 2016 by JLCrab