Five immigration officers swoop! German on five day overstay arrested outside Pattaya hotel

[No1]

19 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

We all know it's 500 Baht a day which I have paid in the past as have many others but I really think this is over the top for only 5 days I think they should have a grace period of 30 days then arrest him,

The German will be telling all his friends this is worse than the Gestapo 

I was always under the impression they loved charging the 500 Baht fine and it was a way of buying yourself more days in the Kingdom without any need to do more paperwork.  Obviously, this has changed in the recent years. 

I had no idea that they could lock you up for overstaying less than 90 days. 

[Tops]

Crime of the century !!

[Skallywag]

8 minutes ago, No1 said:

I have entered Thailand on visa exemptions and never had a return ticket. Let´s assume for some strange reason he liked in Pattaya a lot and he has read that overstaying costs him 500THB a day and he figures "ok, that is quite affordable. I will stay a bit longer and just pay for the overstay."

I agree.  Too bad there is very little to go by in the story.  I am actually thinking his wife or his boss contacted immigration asking where their husband or employee  is - haha.  And please go find him

That is what would have happened to me at 45 years old.

Am just wondering how a guy at that age can just decide to "stay" longer than he planned on holiday.

When i was 45 and working,  there is no way I could have stayed anywhere "longer" than planned. 

Too many responsibilities and commitments back home

[lapamita]

5 to 12 for the land of smiles, named once before

 

only sad..........

[Tchooptip]

That immigration proceeds to his arrest no one can say anything, in good faith or not he did not follow the rules in a foreign country. But let an anthropometric photo be published in front of a height gauge like a criminal  NO! That's exaggerated, for years on end, with Google everyone will be able to find him in this picture where he looks like some sort of a gangster arrested. Picture that could be later used against him dishonestly. for what? Five days of overstay in a foreign country. The German consul should write a letter to immigration at least to show his disapproval. All I hope is that it will be on the front page of the German press as a warning  how some tourists could be treated in some part of the world.

[maprao]

Meanwhile tourist numbers are down????

Indians the last hope

Strong Baht.

[Odysseus123]

1 hour ago, Sticky Wicket said:

As if Frits gives two figs.

He' s secretly hoping that he dies

 

Ah..Fritz..

 

You would think that they would shut their miserable mouths until the 7th generation.wouldn't you?

 

Thats what their Lutheram Bible tells them what to do.

[Tony125]

6 hours ago, samsensam said:

 

given that guests have to show their passports when checking into a hotel it is a fairly simple task to identify an over stayer.

 

not sure if this really counts as news...

I think it counts as news, bad news. Now  they are going after people who are on just short overstays. Many have asked on Thai Visa can I just stay for a few days and pay fine on the way out with most saying sure no big deal. Now they are going  after even short overstays and probably the 3 year ban for being caught.

[Sumarianson]

Thai government is a joke!

[emptypockets]

6 hours ago, Sticky Wicket said:

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—

     Because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—
     Because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
     Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

Wow, that's original.

Are you speaking out for the overstayers?

[zyphodb]

5 day overstay, got him...  

                             Hah hah hah

                                       That'll teach those forighn devils....

[TEFLKrabi]

We ten to talk lightly of 'overstaying your visa' as if it's OK because we live in Thailand. Anywhere you go, your visa states validity. If you go past that date you're liable to be punished. As mentioned earlier, when you check in you show your passport. If the hotel reports you, good for them. If they don't and they let you stay then they will be fined. I know 5 IO may seem heavy handed but is this about the number of IOs or the over-stayers being caught.

[Beggar]

Can anybody please explain to me why it creates so much uproar if the Immigration does its job? Are here so many posters on overstay?

 

I really want to understand why so many posters have a problem with this. There will be also such checks for foreigners in their home country. So why is it a problem if Thailand does the same? 

[Dice Man]

6 hours ago, Creasy said:

5 days ????

 

And this news ?

 

 

When is this stupid reporting on a single man overstaying by 5 days going to STOP...its not Chicago Gangsters and report on some of the REAL CRIMES that are going on under your noses

[thaibreaker]

25 minutes ago, Tony125 said:

I think it counts as news, bad news. Now  they are going after people who are on just short overstays. Many have asked on Thai Visa can I just stay for a few days and pay fine on the way out with most saying sure no big deal. Now they are going  after even short overstays and probably the 3 year ban for being caught.

Its actually a minimum of 5 years if arrested.

 

This whole thing makes no sense, thais in general are complaining about tourists' absense, while immigration are tightening all rules. In Pattaya thais are really struggling.

 

Dont they get it? Use your brain, immigration officers and your superiors. It is all connected. Dont have to be a rocket science to figure that out.

[Thaidream]

2 hours ago, Yinn said:

What happen your country if people have no visa

In the US- if you overstay for 180 days or less- nothing happens- no blacklist and no fine.  However, if you overstay 181 days up to a year- blacklist one year. Over 1 year- blacklist 10 years.

 

Most  people in the Us  who are illegal never had a Visa and entered  illegaly-  The Immigration police will deport them if found - however, there is no 90 day reporting  by anyone.

 

IMO-  the Thai law is harsh- because if one overstays even 1 day and is stopped by the police- they are blacklisted 5 years.

 

You are right- Thai people do not  think about this issue- it's never on the Thai news or on TV.

 

[Mangkhut]

Approx a year ago the local immigration office called my landlord and warned him that «you have a farang staying in your accomodation and his visa will expire in a few days» And its illegal to have an farang renting if he doesnt have a visa etc etc and according to my landlord they were impolite and abrupt. So theyre harressing thais as well...

[dallen52]

You think they would be paying people to stay here longer???

A five day overstay German has possibly spent more than 25 Chinese and Indian tourists combined, who came in on free visas...

 

Next they will be rounding up the overstays at gunpoint. 

[Falcon]

5 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

To arrest and throw in jail a German guy on FIVE days overstay??? LUNACY!!!! 

Why is it lunacy? What would the German immigration do to a thai who is on overstay? Probably do the exact same thing and rightly so. If you don’t have a visa or your visa is ready to expire, either extend it or leave the country before you overstay and then you can go back to the country again without problem, regardless of what country it is. Overstay and face the consequence.

[dallen52]

10 minutes ago, Thaidream said:

 

 

You are right- Thai people do not  think about this issue- it's never on the Thai news or on TV.

 

So much doesn't get reported on thai TV. 

(Almost as bad as China)

I read more on TVF, and my thai partner has never heard about it..

(Not that she is interested)

[Chazar]

3 hours ago, Yinn said:

Thai supremacist gang? 

We not have in Ranong. Can. You copy from your friend and send the link. I want to see.

Who these people?

 

 

Maybe you should write to,TVF support to stop.

thais are not interest this one. Who care? A German get catch with no visa?

 

This news not from TAT.

 

Yes, I applied and PAID for Australian visa. I want to go 3 weeks, they make me pay 3 months. Must gothe Australian embassy, waste my time.

 

They take my money THEN say no. Cheat me. Scam.

So I not go, I not spend my money in Australia.

i not hate Aussie. Only there embassy.

Lucky you hadnt  tried to live there for 15 years , raised a and supported a  family,  bought a house or  condo invested  millions and then were told  .sorry you dont have 40-65k a month letter even though you could show  the money in a  bank some other  place and for the last 15 years it  had been fine etc

[Sticky Wicket]

35 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

Wow, that's original.

Are you speaking out for the overstayers?

Are you apologising for the Thais ...........just for a change!!

[RJRS1301]

4 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

I get a feeling that people will start being checked on arrival at the airport now 1-2 days overstay for easy immigration statistics hit

?? If entering via Immigration you cannot be on overstay, flying domestically as a tourist you need ID generally passport, so you would get picked up there any way  on any overstay 

[emptypockets]

5 hours ago, bluesofa said:

How do you know 'the guy was knowingly on overstay'? I can't anything that supports that.

 

I'm not defending overstayers, but I can imagine for five days, there's a chance he just forgot his departure date if he was on holiday having a good time.

That's not very responsible I know, but some might possibly forget by a couple of days or so.

For all we know he may have been on a visa exempt entry or may have been here for years.

None of us knows the real motive behind this action.

I seriously doubt it was a simple case of overstay but likely something else much bigger that he may have been involved with that drew attention to him. Note the report said he was outside a hotel, not in one, so I very much doubt the old TM30 registration caused his arrest.

I won't be losing any sleep waiting for the jackboots to come trotting up my driveway.

[Knocker33]

This is getting pathetic. Five of em for a five  day overstay. Obviously not enough farang to pi$$ off and hassle anymore. They have driven them all away with dictorial ways

[Chazar]

3 hours ago, Yinn said:

What happen your country if people have no visa?

As this  is  about "overstay"  this is  what the UK  allows

 

What is the legal position for overstaying?

It is a criminal offence under section 24 of the Immigration Act 1971 to overstay your visa without reasonable cause.

If your visa has expired, you have 30 days to leave the UK voluntarily at your own expense before you face a ban on re-entry. Alternatively, you may seek to rely on the 14 day rule.

The ’14 Day With Good Reason’ Rule

Previous rules allowed for a 28-day grace period without the requirement to make excuse, but any degree of leniency afforded under the grace period was abolished as of November 2016 and replaced by this stricter ‘14-day with good reason rule’.

Under the current rules, for late applications made on or after 24th November 2016, the Home Office will disregard a period of overstaying provided you apply for a new visa, or renewal of your existing visa, within 14 days of your previous visa expiring and that you can evidence ‘good reason’ for having overstayed your visa permission.

What qualifies as ‘Good Reason’?

The Home Office has provided outline guidance on what constitutes acceptable ‘good reason’ for missing your visa expiry deadline. You must be able to demonstrate that there were exceptional circumstances and be able to provide evidence to back up your claim.

For example if you were receiving emergency treatment in hospital, or due to bereavement of a close family member or having a late reply from an educational institution that informed you of acceptance to study.

Unacceptable reasons include forgetting your deadline or being too busy with work or studies.

You would need to support your reason with evidence. A hospital stay for example would require an official letter that states the date of admission and discharge as well as what you were treated for. This must be submitted with your application within the 14 day period.

[RJRS1301]

6 minutes ago, Chazar said:

Lucky you hadnt  tried to live there for 15 years , raised a and supported a  family,  bought a house or  condo invested  millions and then were told  .sorry you dont have 40-65k a month letter even though you could show  the money in a  bank some other  place and for the last 15 years it  had been fine etc

That has nothing to do with being refused a tourist visa to Oz, apples and oranges  

[No1]

6 minutes ago, Falcon said:

Why is it lunacy? What would the German immigration do to a thai who is on overstay? Probably do the exact same thing and rightly so. If you don’t have a visa or your visa is ready to expire, either extend it or leave the country before you overstay and then you can go back to the country again without problem, regardless of what country it is. Overstay and face the consequence.

@FalconFor five days overstay the German authorities would do nothing. Absolutely nothing. Think of it what you want to. It has nothing to do with this case. Overstay and face the consequences? Correct. But they must be clear and consistent so anyone can deal with it. Until now, we had to pay 500 THB for each day of overstay and that was it. Now it is jail and extradition, it seems. Not clear and not consistent.

 

 

20 minutes ago, Beggar said:

Can anybody please explain to me why it creates so much uproar if the Immigration does its job? Are here so many posters on overstay?

 

I really want to understand why so many posters have a problem with this. There will be also such checks for foreigners in their home country. So why is it a problem if Thailand does the same? 

@BeggarThe uproar is not about immigration doing their job. It is a new, never-seen over reaction. I do not want to defend anyone breaching the rules but any reaction from the authorities must be predictable and adequately address the offense. I would think that most posters cannot see that the IO have reacted adequately when locking up someone for 5 days of overstay.
 

[Don Chance]

They are probably using facial recognition technology. The computer alerts immigration when a farang hasn't departed after their visa has expired. They send the image to the facial recognition and find out exactly where farangy is and arrest them!

 

[lkv]

The reason why a 5 day overstay of a single individual is sensationalised this way, is because the current administration has been, for the last 5 years, manipulating Thai public perception.

 

The article above is also written for Thai consumption.

 

They encouraged "Thainess", where Uncle P dressed up in traditional Thai costumes and took selfies with Thai actors, and published countless articles over the years, putting foreigners in a bad light, from Operation "Good guys in Bad Guys out", X-Ray Foreigner, TM30 (what if the foreigner bombs your residence video), foreign overstayers, foreign pensioneers without insurance, and so on.

 

With all the propaganda, nobody cares anymore about "foreigners not meeting visa conditions".

 

This is quite typical in communist or non democratic regimes that wish to hang on to power, so not a big surprise there.