Thai Immigration to Enforce Strict Overstay Rules as of March 20th, 2016

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BANGKOK – Thailand’s Immigration Police have announced that beginning March 20, they will tighten check on foreigners overstaying their visas in Thailand under the military junta’s order announced earlier in November.

Under the order, overstaying in the country for up to five years could face entry ban of up to 10 years in case of prior  reporting overstaying to immigration police.

However, failing to report overstaying and is caught by immigration police, 10 years ban will be imposed even the foreigner overstaying for just a year.

The new rules and regulations on overstaying announced by the National Council for Peace and Order on November 27, 2015 will become effective March 20.

The announcement is aimed at certain group of people who enter the country illegally, working illegally, and stopping transnational criminals.

According to Immigration Bureau commissioner Pol Lt Natthorn Prohsunthorn at the meeting with business operators who employ foreigners to work in their premises, overstayed foreigners are required to report to immigration police before March 20.

Those failing to report will face longer entry ban than those who report, he said.

Meanwhile in Pattaya a Russian and Briton were arrested for a combined four years in overstay, Chonburi Immigration officers captured two Vietnamese and a Syrian on visa and work permit offenses.