What should newcomers know about overstay and visa regulations in Thailand?

Dec 28, 2018
6 years ago
Axel ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
I saw this sign at Samui Ferry Pier ๐Ÿ˜ณ...
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A comment on a sign at Samui Ferry Pier clarifies that in Thailand, overstay penalties start when the 'admitted to stay' stamp expires, not when the visa itself expires. This distinction is crucial for newcomers to avoid confusion surrounding their legal status in Thailand.
Gregor **********
Gregor **********
and it is wrong: Your overstay does not begin when your visa expires, but when your "admitted to stay" stamp is due. You actually can be legally in Thailand on an expired Visa yet on a valid "admitted to stay" stamp. That's why they contradict their own wording when the write "Check the date that was stamped in your passport". This stamp IS NOT A VISA. More confusion to newcomers, more confusion and complicating the matter
Gregor **********
in the second part, same wrongwording. Immigration doesn't issue any visa (only embassies or consulates do) nor do the extend them. When you have entered the country on a visa, it becomes void or "used"
Michael ********
@Gregor *********
I think they are actually trying to reduce the complication. Yes OK sometimes the terms are wrong (visa vs extension of stay, admitted till date, etc), but if they told people to follow the validity of their original visa, people would think they can stay longer than they can. They would get confused and NOT check the stamp. This happens all the time. So focussing on the stamp (as they mention and call it a visa) is a good strategy. Sometimes the perfectly correct terms don't really matter, as it is as clear as day on the stamp when you have to leave. If I am on an extension of a visa, I still say I have a visa, and so does everyone else.
Robert ********
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