"why not just pay a fee to the lawyer and have them do it"... because if they falter and don't do it, you are still wholly responsible, not them. Someone posted about a day or two ago about a very similar situation. Promises were broken, goods were not delivered. Now she is in overstay and needs to blow town PDQ.

@Wylie ******

I did my first Non-O marriage based extension with the seasoned 400k. After it was granted, I asked them if for the 2nd, I could have 12 mo of >40k foreign income, as *their* docs in English and Thai spelled out, and they said "we do not do that at this office, you need seasoned 400k". So they made their laws on the spot. Can I change that?

@Wylie ******

they make the "official rules" as they see fit, ad hoc on the spot, kind of cowboys shooting' from the hip...

I recetly read some news about an overstayer getting busted at the airport, on the way out.

You want to deal with marriage based visas, extensions, etc.? Getting an extension now may be a good way to start getting familiar wth the incoming bureaucracy. It is unforgiving. Good luck.

A damaged passport is a damaged passport. Certainly a liability since now it is up to others to make that judgement and they will *always* judge on their favour. Take care of the problem now while you have control of it. Good luck.

@Garrett **********

or the overstayer refused to pay up. I read a few years ago an European lady refused to pay 3 days overstay at a land border and was locked up. Unfortunately, the bureaucracy did not work as it should have and she was "lost" for a number of days... in jail.

@Garrett **********

the news article does not provide other details, but consider this: if the overstayer was leaving the country, why not fine and let him/her go to the airplane? Surrendering to the IO at the airport is strange, but if the airport IO did the same as the town's local IO, he/she would normally not be detained and put in the news. Very strange.

@Bonnie ********

you got it! I still see grown men still acting like 12 yos. No joke.

@Bonnie ********

some folks get in trouble, and others too, as a result of incorrect beliefs. He thought bringing the girl over was like bringing the LOS scene to his bedroom, as if a souvenir. Then they would live together happily ever after. Walt Disney made those fairy tales for children. I feel sorry for those who did not grow up. What happened to these two, if true, is practically tragic. Have seen this several times already, and it does not end well, like a Disney story.

@Moadi *****

$3000 a month sometimes is not enough to cover rent.