Overstaying in Thailand

Overstaying in Thailand can be costly and get you banned. Visa overstay in Thailand is common and new tough laws had been brought in. One of the more common problems in Thailand is the matter of overstaying your visit in Thailand. If you are on overstay then you should contact a lawyer before you are found and arrested in Thailand. 

Depending on how long you have overstayed there may be additional problems such as being banned from Thailand. If you are going to surrender to immigration police, then you are best accompanied by a lawyer. Note that overstaying your retirement visa or marriage visa is also the same when the renewal of the marriage visa or renewal of the retirement visa has not been renewed annually.

Deportation Process

John was caught in Pattaya with an overstayed visa in his passport while he was being investigated for being loud while drunk. He was arrested and taken to the Pattaya police station for questioning. This was on a Saturday night and being the weekend he would have to wait until Monday.

Unlike assault or kidnapping, he would have to wait until Monday to be transported to the Bangkok Immigration Detention Centre. Note that they only move prisoners twice a week from Pattaya to the IDC. From here you will be brought before the court and fined.

The IDC is located in Suan Plu and they hold people who have overstayed their visas or people applying for refugee status. The lockup is normally arranged according to nationalities so as to avoid conflict. There is an Asian side and a Western side. Always take advice from our immigration lawyer in Thailand.

The IDC is open to the public so if you are being deported your friends can take you fresh clothing while they are there. You will have to pay for your own flight ticket home as the Thai government does not pay for this. Normally you can make arrangements with your Embassy as the US Embassy does offer to loan you the money for your flight but will take your passport back to the US until you have repaid them their money.

From here you will only need to carry the cost. This being the cost of your deportation and your airline cost. Once your fines have been paid and you have an airline they will handcuff you and take you to the airport. Note that they will only uncuff you on the inside of the plane so be prepared for some really odd looks from other passengers.

Banned for Overstaying

The new banning rules are now as follows and also not that when you surrender and when they catch you the sentences are different. This can be seen in the banning orders.

• Overstay more than 90 days forbidden 1 year
• If Overstay more than 1 year forbidden 3 years
• If Overstay more than 3 years forbidden 5 years
• Overstay more than 5 years forbidden 10 years

In the case that you are apprehended

• If Overstay less than 1 year forbidden 5 years
• Overstay more than 1 years forbidden 10 years

You can see the difference between being caught with an overstayed visa and simply surrender to the Thai authorities. Speak to an immigration lawyer about your visa issues or a criminal lawyer in Bangkok for assistance when you have overstayed your visa in Thailand.