What are the options for extending a tourist visa in Thailand if it expires soon?

Mar 21, 2018
7 years ago
Bobby ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Asking for a friend. She is on a 60 day tourist visa that ends this Sunday but her flight out of country to go home is Monday night. What are her options? Pay 500b fine at airport? Will this effect her getting a tourist visa in the future? Or can/should she go to immigration here in Chiang rai and get an extension? I am unfamiliar with tourist visas and the processes.

Thanks.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A friend has a 60-day tourist visa expiring soon but has a flight the next day. She can either pay a fine for overstaying if she leaves the next day, or better yet, visit immigration in Chiang Rai to request an extension. It's noted that typically, there is no fine for an overstay of one day when departing the country, but to avoid issues with future visa applications, securing an official extension or doing a border run might be preferable.
Tod *********
and on that note we're done. The O/P has enough information to make a decision on what to do.
เเอนเดรีย *********
I think you can get up to 10 days if you go there and let immigration know what the situation is. Not sure but worth a try. Bot sure on price either. I heard someone doing/asking to do this.
Martin **********
Avoid overstay at any cost. Can give problems for visa in the future, depending where you apply.
Krishn *********
Agree with you
@Martin *********
. But he may b safe it he pass immigration counter in due date, in case his flight have 3-4 hour difference.

Thank you.
Martin **********
@Richard ******
Well Richard Clark, have it your way. If no one has reported, if you trust that it is not well seen, to have one day or 2 months overstay, I am not going to get further in to this. I know I would avoid it at any cost. I seen attitude change in 30 years I come in Thailand, especially with the Military Government, that also has to deal with a lot of scum coming to Thailand. If you not understand that Thailand is the kind of country, they not laugh with people who not respect their rules "up to you". 1900 bht, and I will always stay the nice guy. I am not wasting any more words on this. One day is overstay, as well as 3 months.
Richard *******
@Martin *********
What has that got to do with Immigration, which is what the OP was asking. Also your assertion that people will have trouble is obviously not borne out by the fact that no-one has reported having any trouble.
Ken *********
Richard Clark ไม่เป็นไร โชคดี
Richard *******
@Ken ********
Once again, you do not seem to understand the OP and the replies, we are talking about ONE DAY not a few days or weeks or months.
Ken *********
A few days overstay can get you arrested now. What am I smoking? Nothing. Let me explain:

If you are only a few days over, and cops pull you over, you will probably be arrested now. Even for 3 days? Yes, and held in immigration holding area until you leave. If you don't get caught before you leave, all fine. If you do get pulled over or stopped, you're in for a very unpleasant time. This has changed along with much more severe penalties.

90-day overstay gets you a 1-year ban now. And this:

"Please note that repeated violations of overstaying can hold serious consequences. In the event that you have had a few overstays, your passport could be stamped with a stamp declaring you in violation of the immigration laws and regulations of Thailand."

People make mistakes. But, they actually have cracked down on the loosey-goosey overstay situation.

**************************************************************
Martin **********
You not understand. I would have been in problem on a trip they not wanted to board me on a plane, as i had 50 days before returning. What saved me was the argument, that i had extensions before and no nasty stamp that proved, I always been respectful to the immigration rules. In doubt, this helped.
Richard *******
@Martin *********
Please name a single person who has had a problem with this ????
Martin **********
@Richard ******
you will have that nasty overstay in your passport, that not only looks bad for immigration, but also for your flight company
Richard *******
@Ken ********
We are talking about a single day, not weeks or months.
Ken *********
Well, new rules now. They get serious and ban when it's over 2 weeks or a month. I forget details, but it's more serious now than it used to be. I do personally know someone who was banned for 5-year overstay. But now, it may be a month or so.
Rob *************
Overstayed a couple of times 1-3 days no problem in an out of Thai many times a year, even asked at immigration in Udon once, when my friend was doing his report and told just pay the fine not worth getting an extension. So no problem just go to the desk and say I'v overstayed a couple of days and smile
Tod *********
that is incorrect :/ While overstaying should be avoided, there are no posts or reports on the inter-web where someone had an overstay and had a problem securing a visa to thailand from a thai consulate OR entering the country :/

I am all for recommending people NOT overstay, but there is no reason to scare monger about it.
Richard *******
I would agree not to overstay, but i have yet to personally meet anyone in over 36 years here who has had a problem getting a visa after having overstayed.
Andy ********
Two day overstay isn't a problem just pay the fine
Mike *******
I overstayed one day about 10 years ago or more.had 10years of visas in thailand since.belive you have a one day concession anyway.
Bobby ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
She is flying to bkk Friday night from CR and flying out of BKK Monday night.
Lesley *******
I got fined for a one day overstay at Chiang Rai airport a while back --- and a stamp in my passport....rules might have changed since then. Not even an issue when applying for visas since though.
Bobby ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
She is flying to bkk Friday night from CR and flying out of BKK Monday night.
Tod *********
Okay, lets nip this in the bud. There is no fine when flying out for a single day overstay and in fact you don't even get the 'regular' overstay stamp in your passport, you get a small insignificant stamp that says overstay under 24 hours fine waived.

While an overstay should be avoided, face it they're not the first foreigner to overstay in the history of thailand. A single day is not anything to worry about
Bobby ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Alright thanks everyone. I reckon I've got enough info to pass along and she what she is feeling to do.
Richard *******
To the best of my knowledge they don't charge you for a single day overstay at the airport when leaving, only 2 or more.
Richard *******
Alan Cornwall It has been like this for over 35 years now, never ave to pay for only one day over.
Richard *******
Alan Cornwall They always place the overstay stamp in your passport, they just don't charge for one day.
Ben **********
Best to do a border run, much cheaper, it sounds. Leave country, re-enter on 30 day stamp. No point paying the 1900 at all.
Ben **********
@Bobby ***
Just read an account of someone going over there this week to do exactly this, seemed very simple and quick.
Barry ******
no they usually wont even ask a single thing. If you are asked at the border just say you want to do shopping which is what most people do there.
Bobby ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Will maesai give her a hard time about it when crossing? I've only ever had non-o visas so I really don't know much about tourist and how it goes
Aaron ******
Cheapest is the overstay but it looks bad on the passport. Personally I would just go do the 1900 baht extension.
Giles ****************
There is no such thing as one day over stay. Over stay is over stay. One day.....one year ...same same.
Peter ********
Tod *********
incorrect, an overstay of a single day when flying out has the 50-0 baht fine waived
Paul *********
Has she extended the 60 day tourist visa by 30 already?
Paul *********
@Bobby ***
yes she can it’s 1900 baht
Bobby ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
No, can she do that? How much is that and what is needed?
Barry ******
If in chiang rai just take a short drive to mai sai. Stamp out of Thailand, buy Myanmar pass for 10 USD, do some shopping (alcohol / tobacco is cheap. If you are a foreigner customs won't bother you generally), come back on a visa exempt
Beat *******
one option to avoid: getting arrested on Monday for overstaying before reaching the airport, therefore getting put in detention jail

(low risk, but not 0)
Brian *******
Trip to Mea Sai and do a land crossing? I think that would give her an extra 15 days. I would confirm that though first.
Marco *********
30days
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