Recently in Thailand, a woman from Portugal was arrested after she overstayed in the country by more than one thousand and eight hundred days, according to a news article by VnExpress. The Portuguese’s permission to stay in the country expired on January 11, 2021.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…
A Portuguese woman was arrested in Phuket, Thailand, after police discovered she had overstayed her visa by 1,807 days.
The arrest took place on Oct. 13 when immigration officers inspected a restaurant in Koh Kaew, Muang Phuket, as part of a campaign targeting foreign nationals accused of immigration offenses, according to Khaosod English.
When asked for identification, she could not produce her passport, showing officers only a photograph of it on her phone.
Officers then used Thailand’s immigration biometric system to confirm her details, revealing that she had entered Thailand through Suvarnabhumi Airport on March 20, 2020, under a 30-day visa-exemption scheme and later received an extension.
Her permission to stay had expired on Jan 11, 2021. The suspect has been charged with remaining in the country illegally.
Under Thai laws, she faces up to two years in prison, a fine of up to 20,000 baht (US$596), or both for remaining in the country without permission.
According to The Phuket News, an immigration spokesperson said authorities are stepping up checks to find and arrest foreigners staying illegally in the country.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think there are still a lot of foreigners who overstayed in Thailand? What do you think is the main reason why foreigners overstayed there?
You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.
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