Children reminded about overstay fines

PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Immigration Office has issued a reminder that foreign children over seven years of age who overstay their permits to be in Thailand – whether in their own passport or included in a parent’s passport – face fines of 200 baht for each day they overstay. Pol Lt Col Paisan Deedoykhar, Inspector of the Phuket Immigration Police, said, “This new regulation was introduced in June this year. Before that, only foreign children over the age of 14 faced fines. Many of the cases we have had involve students who forget about this new rule.” He added, “Many students also forget to contact the Immigration Office for re-entry permits before going abroad, so their long-stay visas are canceled, they are stamped into the country for only 30 days when they return, they have leave again to apply abroad for a new long-term visa and, if they overstay the 30 days, they face fines of 200 baht a day.” Col Paisan said that foreign children on long-term visas who want to leave the country and later return should contact the Phuket Provincial Immigration Office or the Immigration Department at the Phuket International Airport. They may do this at any time before leaving, or at the airport when they go through Immigration. For more information, call the Provincial Immigration Office at 076-212108 or 076-221905.