Taking an over-stayer to a land border?

[nickmanchester2]

My friend lost his passport and by the time he got a replacement passport, his 30 day visa exempt had expired.  

 

He went to immigration and they wrote a letter out for him (i'm not sure what it says) but he told me that they said he can cross any border now he has his passport sorted out and can pay the over stay fee... anyway, its not really about that, I am not on overstay, I have a few days left before I need to leave, but I am wondering if I would get into any trouble if we were to get pulled together (in my car) on the way to the border town (i'm going to let him try and sort out his overstay on his own when we get there... i'll hang back a bit or go first)

 

I think thats all the info I have.

[ubonjoe]

I cannot see how you could get in trouble for giving a friend a ride to the border.

[murphya33]

If you are so paranoid about it, don't do it.

[JackThompson]

I am not sure why he did not pay the overstay fine at immigration.  Hopefully the letter says, "This farang lost his passport, got a new one, was late leaving, but did report himself to us.  If you catch him on the way to the border, go ahead and let him go there, pay, and leave."

 

If not, he could be arrested at a checkpoint on the way to the border, hauled back to the immigration-detention center, and deported.  You could plead ignorance of his situation, and would not be charged for transporting a criminal.

 

But if I had overstayed, I would just fly out.  Today.  A flight anywhere except Laos should work (they sometimes reject boarding to overstayers).  Bummer he will have a Thai overstay-stamp in his shiny, new passport, in any case.  Hopefully it is just for a few days.

[ldiablo72]

Why not post a photo of the letter from immigration here, blocking out any of your friends personal information? I and many others here can either translate it for you or have our wives/girlfriends/boyfriends translate it.

[nickmanchester2]

thanks for replies, I think i'll be ok taking him there.

[Deepinthailand]

If you get stopped and he is arrested for overstay plead  ignorance you didn't know just giving him a lift to border as you needed to go as well.

[elviajero]

You have nothing to worry about as long as you are legal yourself.

[wayned]

Why would anybody take a letter from immigration written in Thai to immigration at a border checkpoint without first understanding what it says.  At least have someone that reads Thai roughly translate it for him!!   Or just bend over and kiss it goodbye!

[bark]

13 hours ago, nickmanchester2 said:

thanks for replies, I think i'll be ok taking him there.

Not sure you should take this chance. Under Thai law he is breaking the rules.

And you know he is illegal.

[DekDaeng]

Tell him to take the bus. A nasty one could also stretch you to no work permit - ?

[4evermaat]

No problems if it is under 90 days overstay.  It is always a good idea for an overstayer traveling with a group (e.g. border run group) to at least let the driver know well in advance they are on overstay.  Have the 500 baht/day cash in hand and it should just be a few minutes in the immigration office.  Who knows, they might not take the money or only some of it with the letter.

 

Each person goes through the line separately, so it is no big deal.

[Deepinthailand]

2 minutes ago, 4evermaat said:

No problems if it is under 90 days overstay.  It is always a good idea for an overstayer traveling with a group (e.g. border run group) to at least let the driver know well in advance they are on overstay.  Have the 500 baht/day cash in hand and it should just be a few minutes in the immigration office.  Who knows, they might not take the money or only some of it with the letter.

 

Each person goes through the line separately, so it is no big deal.

Totaly agree point was if you get stoped on route to border.  Whole new ball game then. But I hope the letter does the trick and all goes smoothly.

[visarunner]

Thai-Cambodian border , my understanding, will not stamp him OUT. I think the max they accept at moment is around 30days.

And near Sa Kaeo there are plenty of check points. 

Nong Khai is still OK, but it's a long way.

 

[Americano555]

I lost my passport 1 day before I had to leave. Went to Lumpini Police Station, and they gave me a paper for the USA embassy. Got a new passport in 4 hours, did a visa run to Cambodia.......didn't pay any fine.  This was 4 months ago.