Thailand, Overstay question

JamBur

Hi guys,

My wife and I are heading to Thailand next month for 16 days. As an Irish citizen I have a 30 day visa waiver entry, but she's not Irish so only gets a 15 day visa-on-arrival.

Anyone got experience with a one day overstay? My gut is saying to just go with it...... but I'd hate for it to be an issue.

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JamBur wrote: »

Hi guys,

My wife and I are heading to Thailand next month for 16 days. As an Irish citizen I have a 30 day visa waiver entry, but she's not Irish so only gets a 15 day visa-on-arrival.

Anyone got experience with a one day overstay? My gut is saying to just go with it...... but I'd hate for it to be an issue.

Don't overstay.
Have you looked into crossing the border and returning? Will that extend your visa?

I used to do it in Hong Kong but that was a long time ago.

Tugboats

Its a 500baht fine per day of overstay but they usually don't bother if its 1 day. However be warned that you are giving them an opportunity to fine you and if the rent is due or you stumble across the wrong officer it could get messy

EDIT: She can get a 7 day extension while in Thailand by going to an immigration office. No sure if that would suit ye as it would probably waste a day

Saipanne

JamBur wrote: »

Hi guys,

My wife and I are heading to Thailand next month for 16 days. As an Irish citizen I have a 30 day visa waiver entry, but she's not Irish so only gets a 15 day visa-on-arrival.

Anyone got experience with a one day overstay? My gut is saying to just go with it...... but I'd hate for it to be an issue.

Not a border control to be messed with.

ebbsy

I used to do visa runs to Penang in the 90s ( when I was young ...)

Overstay is 500B fine per day, payable at the airport before departure.

HOWEVER....

Do not be picked up by police after your visa has expired. You could be brought to jail until you pay the fine.

I would suggest that if you have a ticket showing that you will leave Thailand after 16 days then ask immigration when you arrive can you both have 16 days ? I think there would be no problem. When your passport is stamped please check there and then that the dates are correct.

Ed_Stephens

If you can fit it in leave Thailand for a day or two and come back, she'll get another 15 days the second time around too. I think Laos or Malaysia would be the least hassle, the land borders with Cambodia are notorious for scams. You could just book a cheap flight to one of the bordering countries.

Tugboats

Ed_Stephens wrote: »

If you can fit it in leave Thailand for a day or two and come back, she'll get another 15 days the second time around too. I think Laos or Malaysia would be the least hassle, the land borders with Cambodia are notorious for scams. You could just book a cheap flight to one of the bordering countries.

whats the point in doing that when she can get an extra 7 days by paying 1900b and filling out a form at an immigration office?

Ed_Stephens

Tugboats wrote: »

whats the point in doing that when she can get an extra 7 days by paying 1900b and filling out a form at an immigration office?

Because the immigration offices are stupidly inefficient and can make up the rules as they go along. The airport is a much simpler job.

Tugboats

Ed_Stephens wrote: »

Because the immigration offices are stupidly inefficient and can make up the rules as they go along. The airport is a much simpler job.

nonsense. I extended my double entry on two different occasions and no problems apart from waiting a few hours. Its less time consuming and cheaper than leaving the country

Ed_Stephens

Tugboats wrote: »

nonsense. I extended my double entry on two different occasions and no problems apart from waiting a few hours. Its less time consuming and cheaper than leaving the country

Ok so it worked well for you. That doesn't mean it works well for everyone else. Cross border visa runs were a way of bypassing the inefficient immigration offices for years. In any case it's a good excuse to get a few day somewhere else.

Ed_Stephens

Tugboats wrote: »

nonsense. I extended my double entry on two different occasions and no problems apart from waiting a few hours. Its less time consuming and cheaper than leaving the country

Ok so it worked well for you. That doesn't mean it works well for everyone else. Cross border visa runs were a way of bypassing the inefficient immigration offices for years. In any case it's a good excuse to get a few day somewhere else.

Tugboats

Ed_Stephens wrote: »

Ok so it worked well for you. That doesn't mean it works well for everyone else. Cross border visa runs were a way of bypassing the inefficient immigration offices for years. In any case it's a good excuse to get a few day somewhere else.

They weren't. Visa runs were used to extend your stay in Thailand for an extra 30days or to activate your multiple entry tourist. It has nothing to do with inefficiency. Thousands of tourists have no problem getting a 7 day extension at local immigration offices. Many of them even have expat volunteers helping tourists at these offices

Ed_Stephens

Tugboats wrote: »

They weren't. Visa runs were used to extend your stay in Thailand for an extra 30days or to activate your multiple entry tourist. It has nothing to do with inefficiency. Thousands of tourists have no problem getting a 7 day extension at local immigration offices. Many of them even have expat volunteers helping tourists at these offices

I'm just giving options like what the op asked for. I'd rather go to Cambodia or Laos for a few days but up to them.

sleepingghost

One more factor to consider is airlines usually do a check on visa status before you even board the plane in Dublin. If you don't satisfy their criteria they won't even let you fly in my experience.

The standard question is to ask how long you are staying. If over the 15/30 day limit they ask for proof of onward travel or visa extension. As far as I'm aware this is because airlines can now be fined for visa overstays.

I always get grilled by Etihad/Qatar re the above on a regular basis as I work in Asia, stay for a couple of months, but use Bangkok as an entry / exit point. I always have proof of legitmate onward travel . They threatened not to let me fly a couple of years ago because I had no onward airline ticket (I was visiting a factory on the Thai /Malaysian border so was planning to cross by road before traveling onward to Japan). Their risk manager had to approve me boarding.

clever user name

Tugboats wrote: »

They weren't. Visa runs were used to extend your stay in Thailand for an extra 30days or to activate your multiple entry tourist. It has nothing to do with inefficiency. Thousands of tourists have no problem getting a 7 day extension at local immigration offices. Many of them even have expat volunteers helping tourists at these offices

A lot of nationalities can now actually get a 30 day extension at immigration offices. Its the same price as a 7 day one. In fact, I think they just stamp you for 30 days now regardless. This is available most western countries and ASEAN countries. This is a fact, I've done it recently.

I don't know why someone above would suggest that a border crossing is easier than going to immigration. It literally takes half a morning to get an extension, you pay 1900 baht. Depending on where you are it takes most of the day to do a border run, can costs more than 1900 baht. Unless you are from an 'undesired country' its easy

OP, where is your wife from if you don't mind me asking?

If you get to the airport with a one day overstay you will just pay the fine and be on your way. If you get caught (stopped by police etc.) before that you could be in trouble.

JamBur

Apologies for the delay in replying, she is from Romania. I think we'll just post her passport to the consulate in Dublin and pay 35 yoyos for a longer visa. Its probably overkill, but it removes a little niggle from the back of my mind

Ed_Stephens

clever user name wrote: »

I don't know why someone above would suggest that a border crossing is easier than going to immigration. It literally takes half a morning to get an extension, you pay 1900 baht. Depending on where you are it takes most of the day to do a border run, can costs more than 1900 baht. Unless you are from an 'undesired country' its easy

If you read my posts I didn't suggest that it was easier to do a border crossing rather than an immigration office, I said it was an alternative which it is depending on how much time and money the op has and one which I've done myself when I travelled to Cambodia and returned to Thailand.

clever user name

Ed_Stephens wrote: »

If you read my posts I didn't suggest that it was easier to do a border crossing rather than an immigration office, I said it was an alternative which it is depending on how much time and money the op has and one which I've done myself when I travelled to Cambodia and returned to Thailand.

True, it is an alternative. I've done it too, it just takes too long (for my liking) if you've no interest in staying Cambodia.

clever user name

JamBur wrote: »

Apologies for the delay in replying, she is from Romania. I think we'll just post her passport to the consulate in Dublin and pay 35 yoyos for a longer visa. Its probably overkill, but it removes a little niggle from the back of my mind

Yeah if you can that would probably be best! An extension at immigration cost more than that anyways.

Meathlass

I wouldn't take the risk if I were you OP.

http://www.thejournal.ie/thailand-couple-2215421-Jul2015/

clever user name

Meathlass wrote: »

I wouldn't take the risk if I were you OP.

http://www.thejournal.ie/thailand-couple-2215421-Jul2015/

I've overstayed before by mistake (1 day). Its not a problem once you can pay the fine, but if you can't then yes you are taken to jail until you can pay it.

Arbiter of Good Taste

JamBur wrote: »

Apologies for the delay in replying, she is from Romania. I think we'll just post her passport to the consulate in Dublin and pay 35 yoyos for a longer visa. Its probably overkill, but it removes a little niggle from the back of my mind

You were actually contemplating overstaying a visa for the sake of €35? :eek:

adrian522

Arbiter of Good Taste wrote: »

You were actually contemplating overstaying a visa for the sake of €35? :eek:

Don't know why you'd pay €35 when the overstay fine is only around €15. :eek:

Arbiter of Good Taste

adrian522 wrote: »

Don't know why you'd pay €35 when the overstay fine is only around €15. :eek:

I don't know, maybe for a measly €35 I'd like to have the peace of mind of knowing I wouldn't be refused boarding/held up at the airport/worse.

duffman13

JamBur wrote: »

Apologies for the delay in replying, she is from Romania. I think we'll just post her passport to the consulate in Dublin and pay 35 yoyos for a longer visa. Its probably overkill, but it removes a little niggle from the back of my mind

A bit late to the party but depends on where you were going in Thailand as to your best option. I think if your not on a budget what you are doing above is the most efficient option.

I've been in Thailand 4 times and I've not come across many people who do border rums anymore, the local immigration offices are a lot more efficient now than some give them credit for.

killbillvol2

There are different rules around Visa on Arrival (which is what a Romanian citizen would get) than the standard 30 day stamp. It's more likely that they'll ask for proof of a flight out, for example. As others have said, she may not even be allowed to board the flight. Also, you generally can't apply for an extension to a Visa on Arrival.

Just get the tourist visa OP. Much simpler.

Tugboats

killbillvol2 wrote: »

There are different rules around Visa on Arrival (which is what a Romanian citizen would get) than the standard 30 day stamp. It's more likely that they'll ask for proof of a flight out, for example. As others have said, she may not even be allowed to board the flight. Also, you generally can't apply for an extension to a Visa on Arrival.

Just get the tourist visa OP. Much simpler.

you can extend visa on arrival while in Thailand. The fee is 1900b

killbillvol2

It's 1900 baht to extend a tourist visa. A Visa on Arrival generally can't be extended unless you're too ill to travel.

- Visitors who enter the Kingdom with Visa on Arrival generally cannot file an application for extension of stay except in special cases such as illness which prevents them from travelling, etc. They can submit an application at the Office of Immigration Bureau , Immigration Division 1, Government Center B, Chaengwattana Soi 7, Laksi, Bangkok 10210. Tel 0-2141-9889 or at website http://www.immigration.go.th

Link

Tugboats

killbillvol2 wrote: »

It's 1900 baht to extend a tourist visa. A Visa on Arrival generally can't be extended unless you're too ill to travel.

- Visitors who enter the Kingdom with Visa on Arrival generally cannot file an application for extension of stay except in special cases such as illness which prevents them from travelling, etc. They can submit an application at the Office of Immigration Bureau , Immigration Division 1, Government Center B, Chaengwattana Soi 7, Laksi, Bangkok 10210. Tel 0-2141-9889 or at website http://www.immigration.go.th

Link

They changed it couple of years ago to boost toursim. Visa on arrivals can be extended for any reason but it doesnt seem to apply to Eastern European passport holders which is a shame