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What should I do about my visa overstaying in Thailand after entering on a visa exemption?

Visa Overstay Thailand Visa Problems Tourist Visa Visa Exemption Immigration Advice Visa Extension Process

Apr 7, 2022

4 years ago

Tim *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Looks like I have a big visa Problem. Wondering whether somebody here can help me.

I arrived on 18th february. Before travel I Applied to tourist visa 60 days. But I got the Massage that it was approved on 20th February, after I arrived. 

My Entrystamp in my passport says that my stay is from 18th february to 18th march.

Now they say I overstayed for 19 days which should cost around 10.000 baht.

But I did not overstay because I have a valid tourist visa for 60 days.

What can I do now? Would prefer not to pay the fine. I have the 60 day e visa printed out...

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The individual entered Thailand on a visa exemption but later obtained a tourist visa via email, which they did not use upon entry. As a result, their passport stamp reflects a stay until March 18, and they are now facing a fine for overstaying. The community advises that the entry stamp is what matters, confirming that they have overstayed, and the only options are to pay the fine or leave the country and re-enter using the valid tourist visa.

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Tod *********

@Tim ******

Okay you got mostly correct answers from the other posters (and I deleted the ones that weren't correct).

Sadly for you, you didn't get the visa approved in time to enter thailand (so while you do hold a valid tourist visa for thailand) you DIDN'T use it to enter the country on and you clearly got in on a 30 day visa exempt entry. AND you've clearly overstayed that stamp.

SO while you might prefer not to pay a fine that's not in the cards 😮 ,

IF you wanna stay longer (without leaving and coming back to use your still valid 60 day tourist visa) you need to do exactly what people say, GO to the immigration office pay the overstay fine at 500 baht a day (which as of today is 20 days overstay or 10K baht) and THEN apply for the 'regular' 30 day extension for 1900baht.

OR

You go to the airport, pay the 10K overstay fine, fly out and back in (meeting all the entry requirments again) and this time present your still valid eVisa tourist visa PDF and you'll get stamped in for 60 days,

There is no way to get out of the overstay which you have accrued and are continuing to accrue at 500 baht a day 😕 You didn't enter on a tourist visa (as you weren't approved to even HAVE a tourist visa until after you were already IN the country) you're here on a visa exempt entry,

You got one option of you don't wanna leave; go pay the 10K baht overstay fine and get the 30 day extension for 1900baht. 🙂

4 years ago

Tod *********

and I think on that note with all the excellent advice provided by the posters of the group I believe that

@Tim ******

understands his limited options (both which involve paying the overstay fine) 😕

we're done, good luck to the O/P

4 years ago

Reply to

Tod *********

Martin *******

You are definitely on overstay. The fact you have a visa is irrelevant as you did not use it on your entry.

4 years ago

Holden *********

Totally on overstay. They are right

4 years ago

Michael ********

You most certainly did overstay. You could try to pay the overstay at immigration, then if they let you, apply for a 30 day extension. Then also if they let you, apply for a 60 day COVID extension. Not sure how much of an issue the overstay will be for all of the above.

4 years ago

Ryan ********

@Michael *******

this is exactly what to do.

Also make sure to go early because it could take awhile. and let someone know what you are doing because while they probably won’t arrest you, they could.

4 years ago

Reply to

Ryan ********

Wannikea *********

Your fate is fixed. Pay the fine and then immediately ask for a 30 day extension 1900 baht. You could extremely briefly explain your confusion but it would only be good for sympathy, nothing to circumvent your situation.

4 years ago

Bobby ********

Wannikea Wanblee. I don't think you can get an extension if you're already on overstay.

4 years ago

Wannikea *********

@Bobby *******

I was debating this with myself, the overstay fine paid should put you on good terms till midnight.

4 years ago

Reply to

Wannikea *********

Chris ******

You overstayed cause you entered without visa. Stamp in your passport is the only thing that counts

4 years ago

Jonathan *******

When you entered Thailand, you didn't come in using a tourist Visa. You entered on an exempion giving you 30 days. The stamp in your passport is the only thing that matters.

The fact your visa was approved after entering doesn't matter, you did not enter Thailand using it. You are on an overstay.

As Robert said above, you should leave, pay the fine and try re-entering using the Visa.

4 years ago

Jason ***********

You definitely overstayed, get that taken care of ASAP.

4 years ago

Robert *******

You came to Thailand without any visa and got a 30 day Visa Exempt Entry stamp.

That you have now an e-mail that you can use to enter Thailand does not give you extra stay inside Thailand.

You are on overstay since 18 March as stamped as Admitted to Stay in your passport.

I would say, leave this country, pay the fine and you can come back using the Tourist Visa you got by e-mail.

4 years ago

Reply to

Robert *******

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