The disgraceful attitude of Airport Immigration

[HHTel]

My mother was due to go back home early Thursday morning with KLM. Because of the Pakistani problem, her flight was cancelled and new arrangements made for a Thai flight to Hong Kong on Friday where she would pick up the KLM flight to Amsterdam.
I took her to the airport yesterday and left her with her 'minder' (she's wheelchair bound) and assumed everything was fine.
It appears that she was 'detained' by immigration and ordered to pay for 2 days overstay (1,000 baht). She had no Thai cash and anyway, she refused to pay on the grounds that it wasn't her fault. She showed the paperwork confirming the cancellation and the new arrangements but they insisted that she still has to pay. She said that she was shouted at by the first officer who went away and brought further officers who carried on browbeating her telling her it's her responsibility and she has to pay.

This to a 94 year old lady in a wheelchair. They eventually let her go with a warning after putting some stamps in her passport (I'll get her to send me a pic of those).

So much for the help and discretion of some. Absolutely disgraceful!

[Big Boy]

Very harsh under the circumstances, but correct application of the law - something that is rare here.

I'm glad they saw sense in the end, and let her off with a slapped wrist.

[HHTel]

I agree with the technicality but thousands were left stranded at the airport. I believe there are still some 2,000 still waiting to go home. In my mother's case, if it was her fault then normal steps would have been taken. However, because of the short time involved, there was no way at all to clear it with immigration in Hua Hin and still make the journey to catch her alternative flight.
Of course, many would not be traveling on the last day of their visa so I would guess that immigration will grab the opportunity as in my mother's case to get some money to replace 'No Tipping!'

[Thistle]

Firstly i agree with HHtel,absolutely disgraceful.
Does the law actually state that if someone overstays their visit due to unprecedented circumstances that they will still be fined??
Surely in this case it was not the fault of the individual, but an incident created by outside influences.
So if the reported 4900 people delayed at suvarnabhumi were in the same position,they were all fined because of overstaying their visa in LOS??
BB,you state correct application of law,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,but is that really the case,surely common sense must prevail at some point,and yes i know TIT!!!

[PeteC]

Some of those 2,000 still sitting there will have to pay as well I would think. Forget about reimbursement for the overstay fee from any airline, as acts of God and acts of war are not their responsibility per the last airline agreement I was familiar with, although many years since I last looked at one.

[HHTel]

You're quite correct, Pete. In this situation, it's not the fault of the airline as has been shown by airlines searching out 'affordable' hotels for their stranded passengers. When it's the airline's fault, then the airline will pay for hotels, food and possible compensation. In this case --- NO!

[Nereus]

You need to write a polite letter to the "Postbag" letters to the editor at Bangkok Post. You can use a nickname to be published, but must put your name and address on the letter(email). These ***ks need pulling up at each opportunity.

Once again the "Big Joke" is no where in sight, not much to be gained by harassing old ladies!

[caller]

Contact Drummond!

[RCer]

Frankly, this pisses me off. I probably would have earned a night or more in the Hilton.

[hin]

My rude experience was about 15 years ago - Immigration considered me responsible for extending even fho incapacitated in the hospital. They said if not able to get to them their expectation is that you delegate somone to take care of it for you before the VISA expires. Even if not having any local acquaintances or contacts

[Big Boy]

I'm not condoning what they did, just saying a very rare attempt to implement a simple law in Thailand is nice to see.

Of course, it wasn't her fault, and neither will it be the fault of others. Unfortunately, in this instance the Immigration Desk is the shady tree, and all of these vicious criminals are reporting to them. I'm surprised they're not offering to accept 500 Baht fine, or 200 Baht tea money.

This country is so messed up in law enforcement. As I said previously, I'm delighted common sense prevailed, but I hope it wasn't because she was 94 and wheelchair bound. I hope the common sense prevails across the board.

[oakdale160]

This is disgraceful, A wheelchair-bound 94yr old lady treated like a criminal.
I do shake my head whenever posters write about Thai officials --"Why don't they use their common-sense?"
If you don't have any, you cant use it.

[STEVE G]

In 2010, I got caught up in that Icelandic volcano that caused massive flight disruptions and at that time, the Government of the day gave a general amnesty for visa overstays.

[Big Boy]

We had politicians in charge in 2010

[dtaai-maai]

Frankly, this pisses me off. I probably would have earned a night or more in the Hilton.

Says the guy who keeps insisting that the letter of the law should be applied...