Immigration Questions

I am over stay more than one year for reasons hard to explain. What can I do? Name withheld by request

Answer: According to Immigration law 2522 you breaking the law, all immigrants have to have a valid visa to stay in Thailand but if you voluntarily clear up your overstay you have to show a plane ticket return back to your country of passport issuance and minimum fine is 500 baht per day, maximum fine up to 20,000 baht and 2,000 baht fine for not notifying your address at immigration office; (failure to make a 90day reporting). You have to leave the country within seven days. If the immigration officer arrests you, they will put you in jail, and process this in court, then send you back to your country of passport issuance.

My retirement visa is going to expire in a month. When I got it 11 months ago the rule effect was I could live off of the 800,000 baht held in my Thai bank account and then before my renewal I could replenish my account to bring the amount deposited up to 800,000 baht. Now I hear they have changed the rule and I have to have 800,000 baht in the bank before my renewal. Can you help me and many others, who may be in the same position if we have not had the 800,000 baht in the bank for the three months prior to renewal, and our visas will expire within three months of the change of the requirement? Steve Kant, USA

Answer: The new rule is you have to show income not less than 65,000 baht per month or 800,000 in Thai bank account according to Thai law but for those of you who can not show 800,000 baht in the account before renewal or before applying for a retirement visa inside Thailand you can go to your embassy and ask them to issue you a pension letter or income letter. For example if you have money in a Thai bank account for the amount of 400,000 baht, then you have to have a proof of income letter from you embassy of 32,500 baht per month, so both amounts add up to 800,000 baht per year, then you can apply right away.

This is my first time to Thailand and I want to stay longer but my visa expired two day ago and I want to know if I can stay longer? Merideth Knowles, Ireland

Answer: Yes you can stay longer I suggest you to go to immigration and pay a fine for your overstay, which is 500 baht a day, then you can apply to extend your stay on your visa at immigration office at Jomtien Soi 5. You will get seven days. Take your passport and your return ticket.