@Sean ****

was this chap convicted of a crime though. Many spend time behind bars here, and no case is taken before a court. Which sounds the case here also. In which case he was a month or two overstay, payed 20k fine and deported. Blacklist you'll get an A4 sheet given with the details, printed, with just a few spaces for them to enter your name, passport number, total days overstay, duration of ban, and date/signatures, even in thai language its quite obvious the contents. I think aussie lad might have slipped the net here. Apply for a visa firstly, that's a clue, but not a guaranteed answer. Do we know that thai embassy's recieve the blacklist even ? You'd be surprised....

@Kieron ******

it's all just character building anyway. But use it positively.

That's what they tell the riff-raff to put them off applying. Makes it seem more high end, exclusive. You'd probably get rejected Brandon.

@Bradley *********

interesting to know. I gone for Elite now, as I had nearly 5 years of the worst immigration record, basically overstay on nearly every visa, just due to carelessness and stupidity and bad planning. Oh, and a 1 year ban after the only serious overstay, just after covid. But I'd bought a house here, had a girlfriend, 3 cats and a dog, and was terrified of being turned away the next visa run. But i still like to know my options, then and now. So about £600-800 return flights back to UK ? 5000 for the visa ? London consulate ? Then a few nights in a neighbouring country then short haul flight into soft airport or land entry. So maybe £1000 per visa all in ?

@Dan ******

ah OK. I understand completely. And living on Samui myself for 5 years now. You are back here now? I can plug you into a friendly language school here, who can facilitate visa runs/bounces too. Worked for me for 2 years, inc overstays, multiple land entries and all sorts, when everyone else said "no, cannot". But nearly 5 years in total, I had to get Elite to carry on. They processed that for me too. I'd bought a house here and didn't want to get locked out.

@Kieron ******

sounds proper wrong. Please answer as much as you can. Private message if you can. what was the actual crime charge ? Did you go to criminal trial at law court, in front of a judge ? No cctv of you finding the phone that night? Who stopped/searched you ? Police ? Pattaya police ? In uniform ? How many ? What was their initial request ? Money ? 300k ? There on the street ? The phones owner was with them ? Surely there were many people in the area 6pm in pattaya ? But they accurately picked you out ? Phone was unlocked ? How long before they took you to police station ? In what way did you disrespect the police ? It could be simple as that. I know two guys busted, one was decent, struck a deal, paid up and shipped out, other one was a dick, spent two years in nick.

How much money did you have in your bank at the time? What price of accommodation were you at ? Do you think you were targeted or unfortunate and random ? I think maybe a simple hustle got out of control, maybe driven by you, and once you cross the line it's hard to come back. Another thai fella was instantly offering 1million baht cash to the arresting officers, they refused, into police station, press and camera crew waiting for the snapshots, station chief not playing ball, they wanted him. Then he's on the front of newspapers and websites and social media and there's a lot of people need pleasing once you get there. I always have 50k cash in my safe just incase small problems. And a reliable friend back home who has been versed, and can ping 1million at the drop of a hat. He'd also get on a flight and deliver it in person 12 hours later such is the importance of not crossing over that threshold into a police station, which is when shit gets formal. You got to pay everyone in authority on duty. Someone's day off ? They hear there's been an arrest. Ker-ching. They want money or life becomes difficult again. You get a court date, you're paying a judge too. Back on the street, most cops will accept quick surprising low amounts, I'm surprised that corruption goes on. But obviously prices go up if you farang, paying money in nice hotel/villa etc, but hold your ground, make them doubt.

@Dan ******

hold on. You've been here 6 weeks only ? 😳

@Bradley *********

interesting to hear. No gap inbetween whatsoever ? And when was this please ?

@Dan ******

marriage can get messy. Best avoided. You only need 2 years. So education visa, thai language, intermediate followed by advanced, 9-12 months each year. and a few months of tourist visa. Make sure you apply for your retirement visa in good time and get ducks in a row. Just use and agent. Otherwise you can be left waiting a few months and you don't want to be stuck in Vietnam waiting for a visa. Although not the end of the world. Speak.to an agent. Money well spent. Two years is easy.

Try to speak to an agent here that could grease the palms at a soft border point, to increase likelyhood or even guarantee re-entry. Try to get at least a 60 day tourist visa from a neighbouring country, if not another METV. Then re-enter and explore education visa. 9-12 months, for 40-50k. What part of Thailand you stay now ?