British National Arrested in Thailand for 25-Year Visa Overstay

A British man was arrested in Thailand for overstaying his 30-day tourist visa by 25 years, marking a record 9,135 days. He lived in Thailand without legal status, relying on family support and raising a child with a Thai partner. The man is now facing deportation as authorities crack down on illegal stays.

A British national has been apprehended in Thailand for overstaying his 30-day tourist visa by an extraordinary 25 years. The individual, now 60 years old, entered Thailand on January 9, 2000, and managed to evade detection by authorities for 9,135 days. Thai police reported that this overstay is a record-breaking case, surpassing the previous longest overstay of 10 years held by a Pakistani man.

The man was arrested in Chiang Mai, Thailand’s largest northern city, where he had resided for the past 12 years. Previously, he spent 13 years in Bangkok, where he established a family with a Thai woman and had a child. Despite his long-term presence in Thailand, he did not secure employment and has instead relied on financial support from family in the United Kingdom.

On the day of his arrest, Chiang Mai’s immigration authorities were conducting inspections to identify foreigners residing illegally in the city. His name has not been disclosed as investigations continue to determine how he managed to remain in the country for such an extended period without a valid visa. The immigration division indicated that he had applied for a passport renewal in 2018 but failed to extend his initial visa.

The arrested individual faces charges for illegally residing in Thailand and is currently undergoing legal processes at the Chiang Mai City Police Station. Once these proceedings are concluded, he will be deported back to the United Kingdom. This case highlights ongoing efforts by Thai immigration authorities to regulate the status of foreigners in the country and enforce visa regulations more strictly.

In summary, a British man was arrested in Thailand for a record visa overstay of over 25 years. His long absence of compliance with immigration regulations has raised considerable concern among authorities, prompting legal action and imminent deportation. This incident underscores the importance of adhering to visa regulations and the commitment of Thai police to manage foreign residency in the country effectively.

Original Source: www.independent.co.uk