Haris & Associates Phuket Thailand Legal Blog

The issue of overstaying has become common recently as a result of the new rules that are recently passed by Thai authorities on the offense. below the new rules, one will notice himself or herself prohibited from the kingdom for overstaying. The longer you stay within the country, the longer the ban on you from coming into Thailand all over again.

If you discover yourself frequently returning to Thailand, whether or not for leisure or business functions, then it’s a decent plan to teach yourself about overstaying. you would possibly not be doing it, however you’ll build an error that might find you overdoing your welcome within the Kingdom. because the penalties area unit severe, it’s best to know what overstaying is and what you’ll do to avoid consequences.

What is Overstaying?
The name is really obvious. You commit this act after you stay beyond the time allowed by your visa to you. within the case of multiple re-entry visas, you don’t leave the country on the date that your visa needs you to in order to get an exit stamp on your passport. If you’ve been asked to leave, say, on the 20th of a particular month, however you opt to remain for a bit bit then you’re overstaying.

Why do folks stay in Thailand? The circumstances vary from person to person, and also the reasons are totally different in each scenario. However, that doesn’t justify the very fact that you can still face serious consequences particularly once the new penalties are enforced starting March this year.

How to Avoid Overstaying
Ignorance of the law isn’t an excuse. It’s your obligation as a traveler to abide by the principles and laws that the country has imposed on your stay or visit to the kingdom of Thailand. Here are ways in which you’ll avoid overstaying:

• Leave on or before the date on your visa
It’s best to arrange your holidays or business visits in a very manner which will allow you to leave prior to you’re being asked to. If you’re needed to go away on the 20th, why not try and leave on the 17th if possible? Unless you’ve got serious business to attend to, in the future won’t matter the least bit.

• undergo the requisite steps to extend your visa
Circumstances might need you to remain longer than what’s allowed, for certain reason. The Kingdom’s government acknowledges that, and really offers you an avenue to achieve permission to remain longer in Thailand. Visit the immigration department and acquire an extension to your visa, and you must be fine. You’ll got to pay some fees, of course.

Getting your visa extended isn’t a tough method. The penalties that wait you’re even tougher than stepping into line to buy a visa extension.

If you’re presently in Thailand and you’ve overstayed, whether or not deliberately or accidentally, contact immigration officers to settle the problem. because the new penalties aren’t nevertheless enforced , you’ll solely expect to pay at the most THB20,000, counting on however long you’ve exceeded your allowed range of days to remain within the Kingdom.