I am about to clear 8 years overstay. Do I need a lawyer just in case?

[D3030]

I don't think a lawyer would be of much help.

You will need to show both passports on departure from the country unless you lost or had your passport stolen. If lost or stolen you will need a police report and a letter from the embassy stating that you lost it and etc.

The fine will not be more than 20k baht. You will though more than likely be banned from entering the country for 10 years under the new overstay rules that came into effect on the 20th of this month.

That's great. Your advice is not to take professional advice? Could you pls publish your credentials so you appear to be more than just an anonymous expert on Thai laws. Anyone facing serious consequences should seek the best help their money can buy

Sounds like excellent advice Joe provided..

I recently contacted a couple of lawyers.. One advised to fly out clear visa, then return on a clean slate.. The other, a more reputable lawyer group, gave the same advice, but offered for a 100000 baht fee, to be escorted to the airport with a guarantee to have no problem flying out.

So what can a lawyer really do for an overstayer besides take his money?

[BritTim]

I don't think a lawyer would be of much help.

You will need to show both passports on departure from the country unless you lost or had your passport stolen. If lost or stolen you will need a police report and a letter from the embassy stating that you lost it and etc.

The fine will not be more than 20k baht. You will though more than likely be banned from entering the country for 10 years under the new overstay rules that came into effect on the 20th of this month.

That's great. Your advice is not to take professional advice? Could you pls publish your credentials so you appear to be more than just an anonymous expert on Thai laws. Anyone facing serious consequences should seek the best help their money can buy

Sounds like excellent advice Joe provided..

I recently contacted a couple of lawyers.. One advised to fly out clear visa, then return on a clean slate.. The other, a more reputable lawyer group, gave the same advice, but offered for a 100000 baht fee, to be escorted to the airport with a guarantee to have no problem flying out.

So what can a lawyer really do for an overstayer besides take his money?

I agree with one caveat. Although the services of a lawyer (or consular assistance) are unlikely to be needed, I would still have phone numbers handy in case things become sticky in unanticipated ways. If nobody, including immigration, was able to find a record of the original entry, legal assistance really might be of value. Then the OP might be fighting an illegal entry charge which I think means arrest.

[geronimo]

Overstay of 8 years in Thailand? You should know better than come here and ask for advise as to whether you need the help of a lawyer.

No sympathy from me.

He is not asking for sympathy, just information. People like you would do well not to post!

[KonaRain]

You guys are amazing in knowledge..

Good luck to the O.P.!

Alohz

[novo58]

surely the OP can provide an " approximate " date of original entry to assist Immigration in their search for his "records", also what point of entry , even maybe what airline.

These may help immigration search thru their mountains of paperwork(most likely by now re-cycled and re-used as photocopy paper) to find details of his original entry.

I do though have to wonder ....................................why have such people left it till AFTER 20th March to clear their overstays.

Also if he has no passport with an entry stamp, and immigration cant find any records from 8 yrs ago .........................is it possible immigration will just accept that his original entry was in actual fact 8 yrs ago( as he is admitting ) , fine him accordingly, perhaps ban him - perhaps not and be satisfied that he is now leaving the country ???

[jucel]

This isn't aimed at "farangs" overstaying.

Over the last month or so a lot of westerners have cleared their overstays, and 99% have had no problems with immigration on their departure.

In fact most were pleasantly surprised by the professional and pleasant manner in which they were treated!

[Time Traveller]

Hey Timetraveler, I only worry about myself...I

Just have no use for these deadbeats,that

Make things difficult on the other of us who

Play by the rules

Wrong. You'll still need to do all the same reporting and stuff immigration demand regardless of whether these "deadbeats" we're on overstay or not. Your life won't be any easier

[ubonjoe]

Several posts and replies to them have been removed. If you have nothing useful or helpful to post do not bother to post or they will be removed without notice.

Again

And again.

[mrfaroukh]

Well I can just say if you were smart enough you would have done it before 20th March that means 12 days back and you just had to pay 20 000 and not be black listed for reentry to Thailand. The find may still be 20 000 in your case be not sure if you have to serve some jail time to. But you will probably will not be able to enter Thailand for the next 5 to 10 years.

Well done.

[Jackieiam]

That's what the Embassy always does. Good luck to you anyway. i cleared my overstay without telling my embassy because i know Thaivisa.com offers much better suggestions.

[Nemesis7]

Best of luck. No offense but its was your part of responsibility to keep a copy of the report, not of the embassy and for sure not the Immigration have access or reason to have your lost passport copy record. However airport is your best bet.

[up-country_sinclair]

All things considered, I wouldn't be surprised if the OP ends up in jail or only has to pay the 20,000 Baht. Either way, I hope he returns to provide details on what transpired.

[Ghostnigel]

They should have a record of my police report I made 8 years ago. I gave it to the Embassy in order to get a new passeport.

You could maybe go to the police and make a new report that you have just lost your old passport, you get your report, and by the time they find out, you would be long gone, and will have left the Kingdom. And you won't be comng back for 10 years at least....its might be worth a try.

[BritTim]

They should have a record of my police report I made 8 years ago. I gave it to the Embassy in order to get a new passeport.

You could maybe go to the police and make a new report that you have just lost your old passport, you get your report, and by the time they find out, you would be long gone, and will have left the Kingdom. And you won't be comng back for 10 years at least....its might be worth a try.

I would not go so far as to say one should never lie to officialdom. However, doing so is a serious business. You had better have a damn good reason, and be sure the lie cannot easily be discovered. In this case, a one-day-old police report would not be very consistent with an eight-year-old passport. Further, it helps the OP little. The important information is the passport number used for the original entry. If he knows that, no police report will be necessary (I think). If he does not, a false police report is not going to facilitate the process of finding the record of his entry.

[anotheruser]

There appears to be a whole bunch of serial overstayers of late on here.

Why have so many left it until after March 20th to go,and leave themselves open to a lengthy ban,which I think could well be the case for the OP.

The cream always rises to the top.

[jarvostar]

I don't think a lawyer would be of much help.

You will need to show both passports on departure from the country unless you lost or had your passport stolen. If lost or stolen you will need a police report and a letter from the embassy stating that you lost it and etc.

The fine will not be more than 20k baht. You will though more than likely be banned from entering the country for 10 years under the new overstay rules that came into effect on the 20th of this month.

What if you lost your passport and your country haven't got an embassy in Thailand?

[ubonjoe]

I don't think a lawyer would be of much help.

You will need to show both passports on departure from the country unless you lost or had your passport stolen. If lost or stolen you will need a police report and a letter from the embassy stating that you lost it and etc.

The fine will not be more than 20k baht. You will though more than likely be banned from entering the country for 10 years under the new overstay rules that came into effect on the 20th of this month.

What if you lost your passport and your country haven't got an embassy in Thailand?

Arrangements would have to be made to have a emergency travel document sent from the embassy that has responsibility for Thailand. Or perhaps they could apply for a passport and have it sent to them.

They could also get a emergency certificate issued by the MFA so they could leave the country. See: http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/4909/15375-ISSUANCE-OF-EMERGENCY-CERTIFICATE-(EC).html

[jarvostar]

I don't think a lawyer would be of much help.

You will need to show both passports on departure from the country unless you lost or had your passport stolen. If lost or stolen you will need a police report and a letter from the embassy stating that you lost it and etc.

The fine will not be more than 20k baht. You will though more than likely be banned from entering the country for 10 years under the new overstay rules that came into effect on the 20th of this month.

What if you lost your passport and your country haven't got an embassy in Thailand?

Arrangements would have to be made to have a emergency travel document sent from the embassy that has responsibility for Thailand. Or perhaps they could apply for a passport and have it sent to them.

They could also get a emergency certificate issued by the MFA so they could leave the country. See: http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/4909/15375-ISSUANCE-OF-EMERGENCY-CERTIFICATE-(EC).html

I am a Cameroonian who had been and is currently teaching in a private Thai school for 3years now. About 9months ago, my school took on someone to handle visa issues on behalf of the school. He took the Visa extension money ; got a fake visa and ran away. Right now I'm stuck with a fake visa which implies Im 9months overstayed. My school wants to destroy my passport and those of the other 2 English teachers who are also concerned. The school got us police reports to show that we lost our passports. The other two English teachers will go to get an emergency travel document to go back to the UK but for me, I don't know where to go to since I haven't got an embassy and I don't want to be banned.Please help if you have an idea on what can be done. Thanks.

[johnatong]

I don't think a lawyer would be of much help.

You will need to show both passports on departure from the country unless you lost or had your passport stolen. If lost or stolen you will need a police report and a letter from the embassy stating that you lost it and etc.

The fine will not be more than 20k baht. You will though more than likely be banned from entering the country for 10 years under the new overstay rules that came into effect on the 20th of this month.

What if you lost your passport and your country haven't got an embassy in Thailand?

Arrangements would have to be made to have a emergency travel document sent from the embassy that has responsibility for Thailand. Or perhaps they could apply for a passport and have it sent to them.

They could also get a emergency certificate issued by the MFA so they could leave the country. See: http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/4909/15375-ISSUANCE-OF-EMERGENCY-CERTIFICATE-(EC).html

I am a Cameroonian who had been and is currently teaching in a private Thai school for 3years now. About 9months ago, my school took on someone to handle visa issues on behalf of the school. He took the Visa extension money ; got a fake visa and ran away. Right now I'm stuck with a fake visa which implies Im 9months overstayed. My school wants to destroy my passport and those of the other 2 English teachers who are also concerned. The school got us police reports to show that we lost our passports. The other two English teachers will go to get an emergency travel document to go back to the UK but for me, I don't know where to go to since I haven't got an embassy and I don't want to be banned.Please help if you have an idea on what can be done. Thanks.

I believe the nearest Cameroon Consulate is in HK

Honorary Consulate of Cameroon in Hong Kong

18th floor, Caltex House 258 Hennessy Road, GPO Box 9746, Wanchai, Hong Kong

(+852) 2525 2005

You should attempt to contact them for advice.

Do not allow your passport to be destroyed.

Sorry to say but you will probably be deported from Thailand

[lopburi3]

Believe you need to contact your Embassy in China - they appear to cover Thailand and from Wiki reports it can take months to get a new passport even when you have one - hopefully they can provide paperwork for you to return to Cameroon faster than that.

Address: China, Beijing, Chaoyang, Sanlitun East 5th St, 三里屯东5街7号 邮政编码: 100600

Phone:+86 10 6532 1828

[Ghostnigel]

They should have a record of my police report I made 8 years ago. I gave it to the Embassy in order to get a new passeport.

You could maybe go to the police and make a new report that you have just lost your old passport, you get your report, and by the time they find out, you would be long gone, and will have left the Kingdom. And you won't be comng back for 10 years at least....its might be worth a try.

I would not go so far as to say one should never lie to officialdom. However, doing so is a serious business. You had better have a damn good reason, and be sure the lie cannot easily be discovered. In this case, a one-day-old police report would not be very consistent with an eight-year-old passport. Further, it helps the OP little. The important information is the passport number used for the original entry. If he knows that, no police report will be necessary (I think). If he does not, a false police report is not going to facilitate the process of finding the record of his entry.

He has run out of options, that was just one on offer, nobody is forcing him to take it....if he wants sound advice, Thai Visa is the last place to look....a lawyer is the best option, we all know that.

[bkk6060]

8 years seems abusive and it is people like you that make things harder and harder for those of us who follow the rules.

That being said, I hope there is a good reason to be sympathetic.

If you are a decent guy otherwise, good luck.

[ubonjoe]

I don't think a lawyer would be of much help.

You will need to show both passports on departure from the country unless you lost or had your passport stolen. If lost or stolen you will need a police report and a letter from the embassy stating that you lost it and etc.

The fine will not be more than 20k baht. You will though more than likely be banned from entering the country for 10 years under the new overstay rules that came into effect on the 20th of this month.

What if you lost your passport and your country haven't got an embassy in Thailand?

Arrangements would have to be made to have a emergency travel document sent from the embassy that has responsibility for Thailand. Or perhaps they could apply for a passport and have it sent to them.

They could also get a emergency certificate issued by the MFA so they could leave the country. See: http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/4909/15375-ISSUANCE-OF-EMERGENCY-CERTIFICATE-(EC).html

I am a Cameroonian who had been and is currently teaching in a private Thai school for 3years now. About 9months ago, my school took on someone to handle visa issues on behalf of the school. He took the Visa extension money ; got a fake visa and ran away. Right now I'm stuck with a fake visa which implies Im 9months overstayed. My school wants to destroy my passport and those of the other 2 English teachers who are also concerned. The school got us police reports to show that we lost our passports. The other two English teachers will go to get an emergency travel document to go back to the UK but for me, I don't know where to go to since I haven't got an embassy and I don't want to be banned.Please help if you have an idea on what can be done. Thanks.

Losing your passport and getting an emergency travel document will not help an overstay due to the fake extension. Immigration will still find that you are on an overstay since they would not have any record of it. The school is going to have to take responsibility and try to sort things out with immigration.

The nearest embassies for Cameroon are in Beijing and Tokyo. In order to get a new visa you will have to return home since you cannot get one anywhere else.

[Wilsonandson]

I am a Cameroonian who had been and is currently teaching in a private Thai school for 3years now. About 9months ago, my school took on someone to handle visa issues on behalf of the school. He took the Visa extension money ; got a fake visa and ran away. Right now I'm stuck with a fake visa which implies Im 9months overstayed. My school wants to destroy my passport and those of the other 2 English teachers who are also concerned. The school got us police reports to show that we lost our passports. The other two English teachers will go to get an emergency travel document to go back to the UK but for me, I don't know where to go to since I haven't got an embassy and I don't want to be banned.Please help if you have an idea on what can be done. Thanks.

*Before you make travel arrangements, calm down, deep breathes.*

-Ok.

https://embassy-finder.com/cameroon_in_singapore_singapore?page=7

1/Look at this website

2/Find people who have similar problems as you.

3/Email them.

4/See what they did.

They must have the answer.

Chill dude

[johnatong]

I am a Cameroonian who had been and is currently teaching in a private Thai school for 3years now. About 9months ago, my school took on someone to handle visa issues on behalf of the school. He took the Visa extension money ; got a fake visa and ran away. Right now I'm stuck with a fake visa which implies Im 9months overstayed. My school wants to destroy my passport and those of the other 2 English teachers who are also concerned. The school got us police reports to show that we lost our passports. The other two English teachers will go to get an emergency travel document to go back to the UK but for me, I don't know where to go to since I haven't got an embassy and I don't want to be banned.Please help if you have an idea on what can be done. Thanks.

*Before you make travel arrangements, calm down, deep breathes.*

-Ok.

https://embassy-finder.com/cameroon_in_singapore_singapore?page=7

1/Look at this website

2/Find people who have similar problems as you.

3/Email them.

4/See what they did.

They must have the answer.

Chill dude

You clearly failed to note that that consulate is CLOSED and that the last comment is dated 2016 (read it ! ) and there are no answers to questions posted on that site.

[D3030]

I wonder how come somebody could overstay for such long years? Thailand isn't a country where one can survive without working and practically there's no job available for a foreigner other than teaching which isn't well paid either. I wonder what keeps people in the country to overstay for so long with hardly any chance for a good career.

Retire from a job at 40 years old, like from one of the services of the U.S. Armed Forces, and you're good to go for a long stay in Thailand..

You get a fairly good monthly income for the rest of your life.. And in most cases, it's also more than enough to qualify you financially for an O-A visa when you turn 50 years old.

And no need to supplement your income by working... Unless you have the desire to party like it's 1999..

[johnatong]

I wonder how come somebody could overstay for such long years? Thailand isn't a country where one can survive without working and practically there's no job available for a foreigner other than teaching which isn't well paid either. I wonder what keeps people in the country to overstay for so long with hardly any chance for a good career.

Retire from a job at 40 years old, like from one of the services of the U.S. Armed Forces, and you're good to go for a long stay in Thailand..

You get a fairly good monthly income for the rest of your life.. And in most cases, it's also more than enough to qualify you financially for an O-A visa when you turn 50 years old.

And no need to supplement your income by working... Unless you have the desire to party like it's 1999..

How would you suggest someone, legally, spends 10 years in Thailand before returning home for an O/A visa ?

[Merylhighground]

I am a Cameroonian who had been and is currently teaching in a private Thai school for 3years now. About 9months ago, my school took on someone to handle visa issues on behalf of the school. He took the Visa extension money ; got a fake visa and ran away. Right now I'm stuck with a fake visa which implies Im 9months overstayed. My school wants to destroy my passport and those of the other 2 English teachers who are also concerned. The school got us police reports to show that we lost our passports. The other two English teachers will go to get an emergency travel document to go back to the UK but for me, I don't know where to go to since I haven't got an embassy and I don't want to be banned.Please help if you have an idea on what can be done. Thanks.

Under no circumstances allow the school to destroy your passport.

Go and get it off them;, give them any story, leave and have nothing else to do with them.

If your passport is still valid, get to the airport, pay the 20,000B and get out as soon as you can, while it still seems there may still be a degree of leniency being shown by Thai Immigration officers to people trying to voluntarily clear their over-stays.

I wouldn't try and make them swallow any long, drawn out, difficult to prove stories either.

It would probably would be best to take all it on the chin, pay up, and get out.....at worst any ban you may have put on you would only be 1 to 3 years which will soon pass.

Good luck.

Edited April 2, 2016 by Merylhighground

[elviajero]

I am a Cameroonian who had been and is currently teaching in a private Thai school for 3years now. About 9months ago, my school took on someone to handle visa issues on behalf of the school. He took the Visa extension money ; got a fake visa and ran away. Right now I'm stuck with a fake visa which implies Im 9months overstayed. My school wants to destroy my passport and those of the other 2 English teachers who are also concerned. The school got us police reports to show that we lost our passports. The other two English teachers will go to get an emergency travel document to go back to the UK but for me, I don't know where to go to since I haven't got an embassy and I don't want to be banned.Please help if you have an idea on what can be done. Thanks.

Under no circumstances allow the school to destroy your passport.

Go and get it off them;, give them any story, leave and have nothing else to do with them.

If your passport is still valid, get to the airport, pay the 20,000B and get out as soon as you can, while it still seems there may still be a degree of leniency being shown by Thai Immigration officers to people trying to voluntarily clear their over-stays.

I wouldn't try and make them swallow any long, drawn out, difficult to prove stories either.

It would probably would be best to take all it on the chin, pay up, and get out.....at worst any ban you may have put on you would only be 1 to 3 years which will soon pass.

Good luck.

• It sounds like they have a fake permit to stay in their passport which if discovered at a border could end up in an arrest.
• At this time there is no known leniency and we have to assume that someone with a 9 month overstay will get banned.

Unfortunately this person is in a very difficult position and without the help of the school, or a Lawyer to fix things with immigration is going to find it hard to leave without getting a ban.

[BuckBee]

I wonder how come somebody could overstay for such long years? Thailand isn't a country where one can survive without working and practically there's no job available for a foreigner other than teaching which isn't well paid either. I wonder what keeps people in the country to overstay for so long with hardly any chance for a good career.

Retire from a job at 40 years old, like from one of the services of the U.S. Armed Forces, and you're good to go for a long stay in Thailand..

You get a fairly good monthly income for the rest of your life.. And in most cases, it's also more than enough to qualify you financially for an O-A visa when you turn 50 years old.

And no need to supplement your income by working... Unless you have the desire to party like it's 1999..

How would you suggest someone, legally, spends 10 years in Thailand before returning home for an O/A visa ?

2 elite visas .