Last year me and my wife stayed two days to much. When leaving Thailand we had to pay the expected fine of totally 2000 Baht. This year when entering Thailand the immigrations officer warned us that it would cost us 10000 Baht each if we overstayed again, unclear if it was for each day.
Our problem are that we are planning to stay two days to much even this time.
Does anyone know if these extreme fine for second time "offence" is true? What are our options? We can't change our tickets. Someone thought that we could pay for extended visa at an immigration office. Any comments on that.
Nonsense. Is this how they welcome their yearly billion trillion (source TAT) visitors?
You pay the same fine as last year or you play safe. Pay a little more and stay legal.
Go to Immigration and extend your (what I presume) 30-day visa exempt stamp with maximum 7 days.
No problem if you show them your flight tickets. Cost THB 1,900 per person. They might as well give you only three days as this will suffice for you to leave. Up to the Immigration officer's discretion.
We are all living in 'the good old days' of the future.
Ralfredo wrote:Does anyone know if these extreme fine for second time "offence" is true?
Can't imagine why anyone would consider the higher fine for a second offense to be extreme. Violating the law once could be attributed to ignorance or circumstance. Violating it a second time is disrespectful, so of course the fine is higher.
I think I've mentioned it somewhere on the forum before. The one time that I overstayed, I had to travel at very short notice. I tried to sort it out when I arrived in Thailand, but was told to pay the overstay fine because it would be easier and cheaper.
Certainly, in my case, I would consider being punished in the same way for the second offence harsh.
Agreed Roel - but in this case there does seem to be some justification as far as Thai immigration are concerned I think. Even if it has simply been meant as a heavy warning.
When entrants to the Kingdom have a return flight date which exceeds 30 days, and are relying on a 30 day tourist entry, they are all 'winging it' IMO, and I really don't understand why.
It is easy enough to either book flights to fall within the 30 days, or to get a 60 day visa before travelling, and to stay within the law and avoid all this hassle - and potential extra cost.
It's really all down to working out the full costs before booking, and taking into account the law.
Roel wrote:Nonsense. Is this how they welcome their yearly billion trillion (source TAT) visitors?
You pay the same fine as last year or you play safe. Pay a little more and stay legal.
Go to Immigration and extend your (what I presume) 30-day visa exempt stamp with maximum 7 days.
No problem if you show them your flight tickets. Cost THB 1,900 per person. They might as well give you only three days as this will suffice for you to leave. Up to the Immigration officer's discretion.
This is the correct advice, just get the 7 day extension
I did it a few years ago and absolutely no problem, so i suggest you visit Immigration and ask.
Courage is grace under pressure and when circumstances change you change your mind.
Just to put this up as an option, there is always the "Border Run." If you are here and doing some traveling why not incorporate a trip close to the border and hop across to get another stamp? Just a thought.
I wouldn't have to manage my anger if people could learn to mange their stupidity!
I don't know if it's still the case but at one time you used to be able to pay the overstay fine in advance so that it would be stamped into your passport and you wouldn't then technically have overstayed. They used to have posters at the airport telling you about it.
I would try to extend at immigration and if that doesn't work, head for a border for a 15 day extension as suggested above.
Thanks all for the advices. We took the safe and legal route and payed 1900 Baht each at the immigrations office for an seven days visa extension. Now back to the pool and some Singha.
[quote="Ralfredo"]Thanks all for the advices. We took the safe and legal route and payed 1900 Baht each at the immigrations office for an seven days visa extension. Now back to the pool and some Singha. [/quote
A sensible decision, enjoy your stay
Courage is grace under pressure and when circumstances change you change your mind.
