Yesterday, a British man who had overstayed his welcome in the Sisaket region of Isaan was detained. Although he acknowledged to immigration officials that staying too long in the country was improper, he genuinely loved Thailand and did not want to leave.
When searching through their database for foreigners in the area while on patrol, the Sisaket Provincial Immigration Police came upon the name Michael McLaughlin. The 30-year-old British man had overstayed his welcome in the province by two months. On September 21, McLaughlin was supposed to leave the Land of Smiles, but he stayed because he was in love with it.
Mclaughlin was found by immigration police strolling along the Ramkhamhaeng University-Sisaket Technical College Road in the Nong Phai neighborhood.
He was transported for interrogation to the Sisaket Immigration Office. Officers were informed of the man’s crime, but he claimed he loved Sisaket and the nation as a whole and did not want to leave.
Although his confession made the officers laugh, they still had to charge him since the law is the law.
McLaughlin was accused of breaking the Immigration Act by remaining 75 days longer than allowed; as a result, he faces a five-year entry restriction as well as a punishment ranging from 500 to 20,000 baht.
The penalties for overstaying in Thailand are divided into two main types below…
Overstaying foreigners surrender themselves to the officers:
Overstaying less than 90 days will result in a fine of 500 baht/day (maximum 20,000 baht)
- Overstaying more than 90 days will result in a one-year ban from entering the country and a fine of 20,000 baht
- Overstaying more than one year will result in a three-year ban from entering the country and a fine of 20,000 baht
- Overstaying more than three years will result in a five-year ban from entering the country and a fine of 20,000 baht
- Overstaying more than five years will result in a 10-year ban from entering the country and a fine of 20,000 baht
Overstating foreigners who are caught by the officers:
- Overstaying from one day to one year will result in a five-year ban from entering the country and a fine from 500 to 20,000 baht
