Fidel Posted October 10, 2003 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2003 We were thinking of dropping him at Don Muang Airport and telling him to wander around looking confused asking where immigration is...... and wondering why he isn't actually in Stockholm as he had planned. Another plan was to photocopy his old passport with some superimposed valid stamps from someone else's passport and get him to take that to the immigration police claiming he has lost his old one... what do you think? Do you think he can just go to the airport and fly out, paying the 20k? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALHOLK Posted October 10, 2003 Report Share Posted October 10, 2003 Hi! That does make sense. I do assume that lying about the date of entry would be a stupid thing to do though. regards ALHOLK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 10, 2003 Report Share Posted October 10, 2003 he can easily do the can't remember, been here so many times. just NO elaborate stories. They look him up on the computer........may be a bit tricky for them as he only has new passport....but whatever they find, even if it was 10 years ago....the max fine is 20K baht, and leave NOW. If he is humble and polite, there will be no animosity, and he can come back in a day.....with a REAL stamp....then get on with his REAL retirement visa. Just the way I would go. Simple story, got new passport, thought OK, old one no good now, burnt it. End of storyline. Oops, forgot to transfer visa, I must be getting senile, smile, bow, be humble. No tea money, nothing, just an old guy who loves LOS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palatkik Posted October 11, 2003 Report Share Posted October 11, 2003 >you think he can just go to the airport and fly out, paying the 20k? I would have thought so, but today read article below at http://www.pattayaexpats.com/ weekly news round up. Anyone know if there's any truth to this? 2. VISA NEWS ? There are reports that Immigration at Don Muang International Airport is putting departing individuals who have overstayed their Visa in jail overnight. It is not widely reported in the Thai newspapers, but has been reported in newspapers in the USA. This is an abrupt change in policy - normally, with an overstay, if it was not excessive, you could pay the fine at the airport and leave. We would suggest that if you have overstayed your Visa or even your 90 day report requirement, that you go to your local Immigration office and pay the fine before going to the airport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 11, 2003 Report Share Posted October 11, 2003 Thanks Palatkik, but since this is story of a 'report' from a sometimes unreliable source, we can all hope that one of our members may have more first hand knowledge of the situation. While certainly possible, I have to take this with several pounds of salt until I hear something more reliable. But for sure, thanks for the heads up for everyone, So' who's got something more 1st hand ??? Please post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 13, 2003 Report Share Posted October 13, 2003 You need to be very careful when dealing with expat clubs. Many times these clubs are not much more than networking for questionable people getting their hands on other peoples money. It seems they always have something to get your money involved in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spirit_of_town_hall Posted October 13, 2003 Report Share Posted October 13, 2003 I've just had a look on their website. The lady you are referring to specialises in immigration law... Out of interest what sort of fees do Bkk lawyers charge, local lawyers not the Global blue chips that is... I would imagine farangs could save themselves time and money if they sought out proper legal advice prior to settling in LOS. STH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spirit_of_town_hall Posted October 13, 2003 Report Share Posted October 13, 2003 I have met these questionable people as well, they always seem very keen to get their hands on ones business cards. STH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 13, 2003 Report Share Posted October 13, 2003 Yes just remember as a foreigner your passport is a privledge and not a right so if you do have problems there is more than one way to skin a cat. Lets see if they reply to my correspondence. Maybe my dry sense of humor will turn them off. I would not paint them all with the same brush either. You will find many of them need a ring on the finger which does not make them any more honest also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinkas Posted October 14, 2003 Report Share Posted October 14, 2003 Why did the friend of your friend want to convince the British Embassy to return the old passport to your friend? It is the old passport which contains the forged stamp and is evidence, at least in the eyes of the Thai authorities, that your friend has broken the law. Losing the old passport won't help your friend as he would have difficulties transferring his Thai visa/immigration entry stamp to his new passport without it. The solution is to obtain the letter from the Embassy stating the old passport has been impounded, the Immigration Bureau has been accepting this in lieu of the old passport. I think you will find the British Embassy has issued at least 50 (I believe now 150+) of these letters with new passports and there are not hundreds of Brits in jail now. Your friend should call the British Embassy and tell them he is old and confused and didn't realise what was happening and would like to obtain the letter stating his old passport has been impounded and will return his old passport to the Embassy. I think you will find there are large numbers of people who have obtained the letter from their Embassy stating their old passport had been impounded together with their new passport. They went to the Immigration Bureau obtained the replacement entry stamp, then went to the airport/border checkpoint paid their overstay fine and left. Then re-entered Thailand, no problem. The important thing to note from the old passport are the details of their last legal entry into Thailand (ie point of entry, type of visa or whether they entered without a visa, and the date their permit to stay expired) as they will need to tell this to the Immigration Bureau. Overstay will start from the date their permit to stay expires on the date listed in their last legal entry. For example, John enters Bangkok, Thailand without a visa on 01 June 2003, he is given 30 days and his permit to stay in Thailand then expires on 30 June 2003. Since then he has used the services of a visa agent, he will need to calculate his overstay fine from 30 June 2003. If for some reason, the visa agent has obtained a legal exit stamp for your friend and then a fake entry stamp (I know of one case), then your friend is screwed - it is very unlikely that this is the case, but it is a possiblity and something to consider. Your friend should try to find and talk to someone else who has used the services of one of the same visa agent and has been able to leave Thailand. It would also be prudent to talk to a Thai lawyer who has experience in dealing with this kind of problem or at least a lawyer without a connection in the Immigration Bureau who can check your friend's immigration status. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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