What should a friend do after overstaying their visa in Thailand and wanting to re-enter?

Jun 4, 2018
6 years ago
Neil ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
A friend has overstayed by mixing up the Visa period with the entry date stamp. Common enough.... Just pay up and exit!

He arrived in Jan on a visa free entry on an English passport. Left and got a Tourist visa in Vientiane on 5-3-2018....arrived on the 9-3-2018 and was given to the 7-5-2018.

He should be able just to go to Vientiane again and get another tourist Visa for 60 days??? - or just return on another Visa free 30 day.... Correct?

If not correct he will end up stuck in Lao with money problems.... so keen to make sure this is all OK before he pays up and goes.

Any advice appreciated.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A friend of the questioner has overstayed their visa in Thailand after mixing up dates. They are considering going to Vientiane to obtain another tourist visa or returning on a visa exemption. The community advises that he should pay the overstay fine, as extensions won't be granted, and he should either apply for a new tourist visa or return on a 30-day visa exempt entry without problems at the border. There are concerns about his money situation and whether the overstay will affect his ability to secure a new visa.
Peter ********
He may need to show cash on hand to demonstrate he is a tourist who can support himself. Can't tell them he's working here if he is coming in on a tourist visa.
Neil ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Happy ending.... this time....
Neil ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Well, my friend went out at Nong Khai... paid his overstay, got his new Visa and came back in overland with a 60 day stay and a 30 day possible extension.... all easy.. and Vientiane embassy virtually empty... so very quick..... no problems, no questions, no hassles....
Glen-do **********
Yeah I heard it was busy but didn't know it was quite so lax. Especially on the Laos side not needing the proofs etc. Really surprising.
Tod *********
@Glen *******
hands down the Nong Khai border with Lao is the most user friendly land border in thailand. Especially for as busy as they are.
Glen-do **********
Wow nong Khai seems pretty relaxed compared to KL and others
Tod *********
he won't need to show anything to get a tourist visa in vientiane because they don't require any of the 3-proof-ofz, and he won't be asked for anything when he stamps back into thailand at the Nong Khai border because they don't ask for them either.
Neil ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I do not think he is up to anything of that sort.... he has some money owing which will not come for a week or two.... and he has somewhere to stay when he is here... so all simple and legal.... except for the overstay..... but he is doing his penance on that with a large cash payment.... that he was planning on using to survive till his OS money arrived.... after doing his Visa extension this morning.... which didn't happen as is error was pointed out to him...
Neil ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Well, I have bought him his bus ticket and he crosses the border tomorrow morning.... he is on his own now.... done my good deed for the day...
Tod *********
i wish your friend good luck (y)
Robert *******
I just wonder how his money problems would disappear by crossing a border.
Aaron ****************
Buy drugs and bring them back
Neil ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
OK - thanks all - he is being dropped at the bus stop on his way to Vientiane now - and he can make it on his own coming back one way or another from there.....
Tod *********
He's not the first foreigner who never bothered to look at their entry stamp until it was too late.

He just pays the fine when he exits the country, and he can apply for a new tourist visa or come back in on a 30 day visa exempt entry without at problem at the Nong Khai border.
Neil ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
He's overstayed so they won't give him an extension... He has to pay and leave.... So I think he then just goes over the border and then flies back... But does the overstay record in his passport make this difficult?
Lance *******
@Neil *******
I'd say yes. Getting a visa would be the safest option. Someone else might have personal experience but it all depends on the immigration officer on the day when he reenters.
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