Overstay ?

[leoedgar]

Hi there

Just checked my passport today to see when I have to make a visa run. I have a type O visa, and arrived on 13 Sep. and my 1 year visa is valid for entry before 28 Jan. 2012. The last time arrived in Marts I got permission to stay for 90 days, and has to make a visa run before these 90 days. I did and got another 90 days and after that went home for 2 weeks “holly day” before I returned on the 13th Sep.

Now I got a shock when I saw my passport today, I only got permission to stay until 12 Okt. So the emigration must have made a mistake at the airport when I arrived, and they just handed my passport back, and I just put it back in my handbag and never looked at before today.

So what do I do now? any suggestions will be appreciated.

[dtaai-maai]

If it was me, I'd approach the nice, friendly, helpful older lady (whose name escapes me) at Immigration and throw myself on her mercy. Unless you know someone who knows someone who knows someone who might be able to fix this for a price.

Basically, you're liable for a little over 30 days overstay fines - 2k per day? Is there a maximum limit? I'm sure someone will know these figures.

It does seem to have been a technical error by the immigration officer when you last arrived, but I'm pretty sure the answer will be that they can allow you to stay for as long as they see fit, and you should have checked your passport yourself.

The last bit is important advice for anyone travelling, though it's too late for leoedgar.
Always, always check the stamp in your passport as soon as it's handed to you.

I hope you get some more useful advice from someone who knows, but I do wish you the very best of luck.

[Nereus]

Hi there

Just checked my passport today to see when I have to make a visa run. I have a type O visa, and arrived on 13 Sep. and my 1 year visa is valid for entry before 28 Jan. 2012. The last time arrived in Marts I got permission to stay for 90 days, and has to make a visa run before these 90 days. I did and got another 90 days and after that went home for 2 weeks “holly day” before I returned on the 13th Sep.

Now I got a shock when I saw my passport today, I only got permission to stay until 12 Okt. So the emigration must have made a mistake at the airport when I arrived, and they just handed my passport back, and I just put it back in my handbag and never looked at before today.

So what do I do now? any suggestions will be appreciated.

It is not unusual for Immigration to enter the wrong date, in fact they have a specific desk in Bangkok to correct such mistakes.

If your quoted visa type and dates are correct I do not believe you have too worry too much. As suggested, get along to Immigration and show them, although I would not throw myself on the mercy of anyone of them in particular.

[Takiap]

DM, not sure where you get the 2K per day overstay fine from, unless it's recently changed. The last I knew, it was 500 baht per day, with a maximum fine of 20K.


As for the OP - You'll need to go to immigration one way or another, because if for some reason you caught being here "illegally", you'll be arrested and deported.

When you arrived in Thailand the last time, are you sure you filled in the box where it asks for your visa number? If not, the immigration officer would probably not have bothered checking to see if you had a visa. It's easy to overlook the little visa number box. I have done so in the past, but fortunately the immigration officer realized I had a visa, and it was him or her that told me always to make sure I fill in the number of my visa, and to check I've been give the correct stamp before leaving immigration.

As DM has pointed out, I can't imagine you'll be able to avoid a fine, but I guess stranger things have happened. You could also try speaking to one of the officers in private


Good luck, and let us know how you get on.

[leoedgar]

DM, not sure where you get the 2K per day overstay fine from, unless it's recently changed. The last I knew, it was 500 baht per day, with a maximum fine of 20K.


As for the OP - You'll need to go to immigration one way or another, because if for some reason you caught being here "illegally", you'll be arrested and deported.

When you arrived in Thailand the last time, are you sure you filled in the box where it asks for your visa number? If not, the immigration officer would probably not have bothered checking to see if you had a visa. It's easy to overlook the little visa number box. I have done so in the past, but fortunately the immigration officer realized I had a visa, and it was him or her that told me always to make sure I fill in the number of my visa, and to check I've been give the correct stamp before leaving immigration.

As DM has pointed out, I can't imagine you'll be able to avoid a fine, but I guess stranger things have happened. You could also try speaking to one of the officers in private


Good luck, and let us know how you get on.

Hi

I had planned to go to emigration on Monday in any case, and yes I filled in the visa number on the entry card as I have noted before that this was important. Yoy are also right about the fine, it is 500/day wich I sertanly not hope they will charge me. I will keep you updated on Monday. Leo

[littlebird]

This happened to me a while back, I only noticed when I went to do my 24 reporting. I was told by Hua Hun immmigration to go back to the airport within 24 hours to get it amended

[GLCQuantum]

Yes, as Takiap mentioned the fines are 500 a day or 20,000 maximum.

You can be overstay here for a year and it really isn't a big deal... only if you get yourself in trouble BEFORE you go to do your visa run.... the you're f*cked when they see your passport.

Just go to any immigration at the border and explain your situation, they won't care about what you're getting at, but WILL care about the money to pay for your overstay. If you went to Hua Hin immigration you are in for a shock, banged up and deported. Just leave the country and pay your overstay and come back on a clean slate.

[leoedgar]

Yes, as Takiap mentioned the fines are 500 a day or 20,000 maximum.

You can be overstay here for a year and it really isn't a big deal... only if you get yourself in trouble BEFORE you go to do your visa run.... the you're f*cked when they see your passport.

Just go to any immigration at the border and explain your situation, they won't care about what you're getting at, but WILL care about the money to pay for your overstay. If you went to Hua Hin immigration you are in for a shock, banged up and deported. Just leave the country and pay your overstay and come back on a clean slate.

Now you are realy scaring me, you don´t think that the emigration will understand that there have been made a mistake ? Leo

[bozzman101]

her name is [Mod Edit - no names on the open forum please. Such information should be shared by PM) short hair bob style normally sits at first desk inside the door

[leoedgar]

her name is [Mod Edit - no names on the open forum please. Such information should be shared by PM) short hair bob style normally sits at first desk inside the door

Hi can you please send me a PM with her name. Leo

[Brit Jim]

Hopefully you can get some sound advice from some of our Visa Experts on here.

Most of the articles I've read on Overstay recommend leaving the country at BKK
Airport, paying the 20k overstay fine, fly to KL, return on a clean sheet. Unless you have very good contacts at HH Immigration I d go for the first choice.

I recently read about some mug in Pattaya that overstayed and went to the Police Station for help.
They locked him up for a week, 20 k fine plus tea money, then deported. More than likely half the storey

Good luck and keep us posted.

I'm sure you will be fine.

Cheers

[Nereus]

WHO says it is an "overstay"? If the dates and visa stated are correct it is NOT an overstay!

There is absolutely no point in going to Hua Hin Immigration expecting to be able to speak with one individual officer.You will be obliged to take a queue ticket like everybody else.

State your problem, be polite but hold your ground. Go there expecting to pay a bribe is exactly why some officials ask for one!

[bozzman101]

kor tod on the blunder have sent a pm !!!!!!!!!!!!

[leoedgar]

WHO says it is an "overstay"? If the dates and visa stated are correct it is NOT an overstay!

There is absolutely no point in going to Hua Hin Immigration expecting to be able to speak with one individual officer.You will be obliged to take a queue ticket like everybody else.

State your problem, be polite but hold your ground. Go there expecting to pay a bribe is exactly why some officials ask for one!

I have called it an overstay, because the permit to stay is only valid to 12 Okt. But as you say the information in my visa is correct, so it´s a mistake at the emigration when I arrive. Of cource I should have checked it, but the last 2 times I made an entry there was no problem, and as you all know, 7 o´clock in the morning with thousands of people comming in, you get your passport back folded and you just rush on. I will follow your advice, and go to emigration on Monday, then we will see.

Thanks all for your advice, even some of them scared me a bit.

Leo

[lomuamart]

Nereus and others have given you sound advice in as much as the situation should be resolvable at HH Immigration. It was a clerical mistake at the airport but it does need to be sorted out so your intention to go to Imm on Monday is correct.
There shouldn't be any fine. Just explain the situation to the officer. I'm sure that your situation happens to others far more often then you think.