Immigration cracking down on overstay, including jail terms

[Big Boy]

I'm not disagreeing Johnny. I always believe rules are there for a reason, and they shouldn't be broken. However, I also believe there needs to be a little flexibility built into those rules to allow for the 'genuine' exceptions. The problem always lies in the definition of 'genuine'.

[johnnyk]

[Name Taken]

Up to the man on duty

Wonder what will be the going rate for a "stay-out-of-prison-card".

Those who abuse the system intentionally will keep doing so. Only the price has gone up a bit. But for some reason most of these abusers seem to have money to burn. Makes life easy in Thailand. Makes life easy everywhere as a matter of fact.

Immigration is not really going to bite the hand that feeds them are they?

For the same reason Pattaya will never get rid of the criminals. If they kick them out the police will no longer be on their pay rolls. And to "serve and protect" families and men alone in their 40s and 50s on their 3-week budget holidays does not generate any serieus extra money, does it?

Sorry a bit cynical today but it really surprises me that so many expats rely on the Thai system to serieusly try to get rid of the "bad farang apples that give the rest of us a bad name". These bad apples are funding the whole system. Not in their interest to get rid of them at all.

After been carried away a bit, back to topic: giving officials the right to send overstayers to jail for one or two nights will not affect the abusers at all. They cannot be bothered with visa runs or extensions. Simply every time pull out 20 grand at the airport and off you go. Under the new rules they might have to pull out 30 and they will.

You're right Roel and i completely agree with everything you have said.

[gcmjack]

have a friend who is on 2 years overstay,,and this is after being imrisned in bkk r 32 days and on his way too immigration paid the police to let him loose,,,my question is,,whats the safest way to get stamp and also be allowed back ion? as he has 2 daughters half thai and a son half thai,,not married,,but has a few bucks now too pay,,,beforte didnt have any cash too sppare for visa,,please only nice replies,,dont need to worry him on the goodie 2 shoes bit,,thanks

[PeteC]

have a friend who is on 2 years overstay,,and this is after being imrisned in bkk r 32 days and on his way too immigration paid the police to let him loose,,,my question is,,whats the safest way to get stamp and also be allowed back ion? as he has 2 daughters half thai and a son half thai,,not married,,but has a few bucks now too pay,,,beforte didnt have any cash too sppare for visa,,please only nice replies,,dont need to worry him on the goodie 2 shoes bit,,thanks

To my knowledge overstay in itself is not normally a reason to be blacklisted. I think it all depends upon what his 32 days in jail were for and how the law and immigration categorize his particular crime. The best way is always the up front way, get a plane ticket out, go to immigration, pay his 20,000 Baht overstay fine and see what happens. Pete

[lomuamart]

I'd agree with Pete. Clear the overstay at the airport, not a land crossing. With an overstay of that length, he might want to have a lawyer with him although I don't think that'll really be necessary.
Allow plenty of time to make the flight as he'll possibly be given a dressing down when he pays the fine. After he's atoned, he should be able to fly to a neighbouring country and get a visa. Some Embassies might not look too kindly on that length of overstay when deciding whether to grant a visa - I'm not certain about this anymore, but Singapore and Phnom Penh would be two that I'd try and avoid as they can be strict at times. Vientianne or KL would be better options, IMO, but there's no guarantee. If he has trouble getting a visa (which is unlikely), just re-enter by land on a visa exempt stamp although that will only allow 15 days stay.

[Huahinian]

I would also consider getting a new passport before applying for a new visa.

[Spitfire]

Yeah, I'd go with the clear the overstay at the airport advice.

However, don't they put some ugly big stamp in your passport saying "Overstay" and by how long? Lomuamart?

Perhaps a new passport after that then while out of the country.

There are many people that are long overstays, even let their passports run out too. It'll probably be a firm lecture from an immigration cop at the airport, but that'll probably be it as it's as if he's handed himself in to them.

[lomuamart]

Yes the overstay stamp goes in indicating how long that has been which is why I mentioned that some Embassies might get a bit cagey about issuing a visa if they see it.
However, the stamp dosn't mean that you'll be refused entry back. I used to have plenty of 1 and 2 day stamps together with some longer ones - but not 2 years - and never had a problem.
It is, however, best to avoid them altogether.

[H2ODunc]

I went with a friend who had a 3.5 year overstay to Penang. He was crapping himself as people were telling him that they were jailing people for overstay now. We flew from Samui to Phuket then from there to Penang. The immigration guy could not have been less concerned. He even joked that the Farang have to pay big fine. He paid his 20,000 baht and we flew to Penang. The next day he got a free 3 month tourist visa and we returned to Thailand. A hassle free trip.