Chinese Man Arrested in Phuket After 1,793-Day Visa Overstay

A 55-year-old Chinese man was arrested in Phuket on October 14 after immigration officers discovered that he had overstayed his permission to remain in Thailand by 1,793 days — nearly five years. Officers also seized passports belonging to other people, mobile phones and knives during the operation.

The suspect, identified only as Wang, was detained at around 11am in Karon after officials received information about a Chinese national suspected of violating immigration regulations.

According to The Phuket News, officers tracked Wang to a single-storey rental property in a secluded, wooded area near Kata Hill. The property was accessible by a steep road that ended nearby.

Immigration records showed that Wang entered Thailand on April 2, 2019, using a Thailand Privilege Card visa. His initial permission to stay expired on March 31, 2020, but he subsequently obtained an extension valid until November 16, 2021.

However, officers found no record of any further extension or departure from Thailand. The resulting overstay was calculated at 1,793 days.

During the arrest, officers seized a Thai bank passbook, passports and Chinese identification cards belonging to other individuals, five mobile phones and four knives. The items are being examined as part of a wider investigation.

The Immigration Bureau report also alleged that Wang had left China to avoid charges related to the operation of an illegal gambling establishment. However, the available information did not specify the details of the alleged case or confirm whether an outstanding arrest warrant had been issued.

Wang was taken to the Phuket Immigration Office for identity verification before being transferred to investigators for further legal proceedings.

The arrest follows another major overstay case on the island. On October 13, immigration officers detained a Portuguese woman who had exceeded her permitted stay by 1,807 days. She was found at a restaurant in Phuket while attending a cooking lesson.