Phuket

thaitan · #1 19-07-2007, 15:07

All of my trips to LOS i have stayed the 30 days which my tourist visa allowes. But all my trips have been with Thai Airways as they have many flights which allowed me to work this out perfect. But my next trip i want to book flights with a cheaper airline but with the flights they have it don't work out. I can stay for 28 days or 31 days. I know it's a 200 baht fine a day for over staying but i also heard you can be jailed for over staying just 1 day. I really want to stay the 31 days. Anyone got any advice should i risk it?

nacha · #2 19-07-2007, 15:14

i would buy a extra visa, so you can stay up to 60 days

better than getting jailed 55555

you have written that you booked a cheaper flight, i´m sure this will cover the costs of the visa!

LivinLOS · #3 19-07-2007, 15:15

Its 500 baht fine and a stamp to the passport..

Why not just get a tourist visa ??

faultytowers · #4 19-07-2007, 15:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by thaitan

All of my trips to LOS i have stayed the 30 days which my tourist visa allowes.

Anyone got any advice should i risk it?

I am guess that you mean "visa exemption" which is the stamp at the airport , so why not get a 'proper' tourist visa from the Thai embassy in Australia that will give you 60 days.

Nicke · #5 19-07-2007, 15:18

Apply for a tourist visa before you travel, or extend your visa when you are staying here at Immigration office. I dont want to recommend overstay, althought no big problem, but it is still illegal by law.

However, I have heard cases where immigration dont extend and just tell people to pay overstay instead.

thaitan · #6 19-07-2007, 15:25

I can only get 5 weeks off from work thats why i don't apply for 60 day visa. And i thought why go to the trouble of getting one just for 1 day. Can you tell them when you arrive and just pay the 500 baht so their is no trouble? Or is it better to do it when you leave?

pablo · #7 19-07-2007, 15:32

I think that they may still offer 7 or 10 day extensions at Thai Immigration.

Last time I used it, the cost was around 2000 baht.

When the junta, took over the government...and all the immigration rules started getting fuzzy and confusing and "frightening", I went for the 60 touris day visa.

Shortly after the coup, there was a "visa run" bus that was stopped, and some of the tourists (detained), by Immigration, for having expired visa's. I think one of the guys, was only over by a day or two.

Just not worth the worry.

The 7 or 10 day extension, costs almost as much as the 60 day tourist visa.

Pablo

faultytowers · #8 19-07-2007, 15:34

"Some" airlines require proof of onward travel 'within' 30 days if you do not have a 'proper' visa ( most are no problem but you 'may' just hit the wrong one).

LivinLOS · #9 19-07-2007, 15:42

Yes you can get a 7 day extension in Phuket town or Patong for 1900 baht + 2 passport pictures and a waste of time queueing about.

Overstay is a very small risk.. But it is a risk.. Why break the law when its easy for you to not do so.. Imagine you have a problem on your last night ?? Fancy a night in cells, immigration detention centre, deportation and blacklisting ?? The chance is negligible but I know 1 person who it happened too.. 10 days in the detention centre with 100's of burmese (in one large room), no edible food, a hole in the floor for a toilet.. sleeping on a urine covered floor !! Deep joy !!

Also as FT points out many (most ??) airlines wont even let you board the plane to come here without an onward ticket within 30 days ?? The immigration official could also deny you entry at the airport.

All because you wont get a tourist visa ??

nacha · #10 19-07-2007, 15:52

well, i think LLOS has written everything....

but it is very interesting to read "stories" from the prison

a place where i never want to go! (even not in my country 55555)

thaitan · #11 19-07-2007, 15:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

Yes you can get a 7 day extension in Phuket town or Patong for 1900 baht + 2 passport pictures and a waste of time queueing about.

Overstay is a very small risk.. But it is a risk.. Why break the law when its easy for you to not do so.. Imagine you have a problem on your last night ?? Fancy a night in cells, immigration detention centre, deportation and blacklisting ?? The chance is negligible but I know 1 person who it happened too.. 10 days in the detention centre with 100's of burmese (in one large room), no edible food, a hole in the floor for a toilet.. sleeping on a urine covered floor !! Deep joy !!

Also as FT points out many (most ??) airlines wont even let you board the plane to come here without an onward ticket within 30 days ?? The immigration official could also deny you entry at the airport.

All because you wont get a tourist visa ??

Thank you for your reply. I will stay 28 days.

TanMan · #12 19-07-2007, 19:49

All really helpful advice here... None of it taken.

Spector · #13 19-07-2007, 19:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by TanMan

All really helpful advice here... None of it taken.

Sure he did...He's not going to apply for a Tourist visa and has decided
an overstay is not a prudent thing to do.

TanMan · #14 19-07-2007, 20:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spector

Sure he did...He's not going to apply for a Tourist visa and has decided
an overstay is not a prudent thing to do.

He "really" wanted to stay 31 days. When given the option of a tourist visa or an extension, he decides to stay 28 days (not even 30?). You call that taking advice? I call it someone that might not like paperwork...

winbo · #15 19-07-2007, 22:33

The overstay fine is now 500 baht.day. When I ledt Thailand on June 5 I was one day late. I arrived at immigration, with trepedation, with 500 baht in hand and a sad story about miscalculation. I had no chance to tell my story because the agent said "one day free". That made my day.

Pentire · #16 19-07-2007, 22:50

Yes, that's correct Winbo. Stay one day over and it's no fine.
Stay two days or more over and you are fined 1000 Baht plus 500 for every day over the two.

Five times now I have overstayed my 30 day stamp by one two or three days but it's no big deal, I just pay the fine and have a overstay entry in my passport. Now 48 times I have arrived & departed Thailand and these overstay stamps are yet to cause me grief.

MajorTom · #17 20-07-2007, 00:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

Also as FT points out many (most ??) airlines wont even let you board the plane to come here without an onward ticket within 30 days ?? The immigration official could also deny you entry at the airport.

I came in with Thai-air a couple of weeks ago, on a one way ticket from Copenhagen. No visa, no questions or problems.

LivinLOS · #18 20-07-2007, 08:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by winbo

The overstay fine is now 500 baht.day. When I ledt Thailand on June 5 I was one day late. I arrived at immigration, with trepedation, with 500 baht in hand and a sad story about miscalculation. I had no chance to tell my story because the agent said "one day free". That made my day.

Only at SW or DM..

Not at any overland borders or regional airports.

LivinLOS · #19 20-07-2007, 08:59

Did you have a visa ??

Amazed if thats on a 30 day visa exempt stamp !! I seem to get asked every time.. One didnt even like my printed e-ticket.

MajorTom · #20 20-07-2007, 14:02

No Visa.

For some reason i have never been asked for an onward ticket. Can be worth mentioning that all entries without visa has been through airports. They didn't even ask for it when i got in trouble with the "too many days in six months" rule a while ago.

Also, i got my ticket on SMS from my company. Even if i had a onward/return ticket, wonder if they would like a text message..

Nanook · #21 20-07-2007, 14:33

Well in line with the "overstay" subject, I think I read somewhere on this forum that with the standard 30-day visa stamp you must be careful too. However, I tries Thaisvisa.com, but it is not clear to me. Here is my Thai trip history:
November 2006: stayed 6 days.
March 2007 : stayed 8 days.
May 2007 : stayed 8 days.

So in total 22 days.

Now I fly in on September 19 and want to stay for about 18 days. Can I just take the regular 30 day stamp they give you at the airport? Or should I apply for a visa before?

Thanks for your advice!

LivinLOS · #22 20-07-2007, 14:51

yeah your fine.. depending on when in March that may or may not count.. But either way you get 90 days in 6 months.

Nanook · #23 20-07-2007, 15:18

Thanks LiL.
I was there from March 3rd to 10th. So quite early in the month. Guess I should be OK, right?
Next tour most probably around New Year. Maybe I should get a visa for that one?

nacha · #24 20-07-2007, 15:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nanook

Well in line with the "overstay" subject, I think I read somewhere on this forum that with the standard 30-day visa stamp you must be careful too. However, I tries Thaisvisa.com, but it is not clear to me. Here is my Thai trip history:
November 2006: stayed 6 days.
March 2007 : stayed 8 days.
May 2007 : stayed 8 days.

So in total 22 days.

Now I fly in on September 19 and want to stay for about 18 days. Can I just take the regular 30 day stamp they give you at the airport? Or should I apply for a visa before?

Thanks for your advice!

why do you count the days of the previous trip?!
I thought that at every new entry you get a 30 day visa??