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Overstay issues

Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2019 1:57 pm
by jd1965
I'm trying to solve a huge problem. For reasons that I will only devulge via pm my passport ended up at Calmette hospital in PP. As a result I am currently on a 22 month overstay. Spent 26 months living like a dog on the streets. Have recently been fortunate enough receiving help from a friend who has not only put me up in his residence, but has also provided me with a job and a small salary. I was finally seeing some light at the end of the tunnel and got into touch with my consul (no Belgian embassy in PP). I have come to the conclusion that it was pointless trying to retrieve my original passport from the hospital ($7000 worth of overstay fee which I will never be able to raise).
The idea was to get my embassy in Bangkok to issue me a temporary passport and to try to get an exit visa by convincing an immigration officer at a sleepy border crossing to accept some tea money in order to let me leave Cambodia, apply for a new passport in Bangkok and become legal again. In other words I'd have to stay in Bangkok for a month or so until the new passport arrives. I would be able to afford that with my bosses help.
I contacted my consul again requesting an application for a temporary passport and he sent the request on to Bangkok asking for permission.
This morning I received an email from him telling me that the request was denied and to take up the matter with Bangkok myself. The reason they gave me was that as my passport isn't lost or stolen they cannot issue me a travel document to get me out of the mess I find myself in.
Does anyone on here have any useful advice on how to get out of this?
Please note that giving myself up at immigration is out of the question. I have no desire to return to my home country after living as an expat for 21 years. I have a life here, work here and am in a relationship that I don't want to walk away from. I love this country, I consider Cambodia as my home now.
Any advice is greatly appreciated. Either pm me or discuss in an open thread. Thank you.

Re: Overstay issues

Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2019 2:07 pm
by John Bingham
jd1965 wrote: Fri Sep 20, 2019 1:57 pm Please note that giving myself up at immigration is out of the question. I have no desire to return to my home country after living as an expat for 21 years. I have a life here, work here and am in a relationship that I don't want to walk away from. I love this country, I consider Cambodia as my home now.
Any advice is greatly appreciated. Either pm me or discuss in an open thread. Thank you.
Anyone overstaying more than 30 days is liable for deportation so whether you give yourself up or get caught you will likely be banished and not allowed back for 5 years.

Re: Overstay issues

Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2019 2:08 pm
by Kammekor
Looks to me you're looking for a unicorn and there's no way you can solve this matter without a significant amount of money.

Even if you'd pay the 7000 USD for your overstay you'd have to buy off the blacklisting coming from a 22 month overstay if you want to continue living in Cambodia.

Re: Overstay issues

Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2019 2:24 pm
by John Bingham
Plus presumably paying whatever bill you left at Calmette along with your passport.

Re: Overstay issues

Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2019 2:44 pm
by jd1965
There is no way that I can raise the overstay cash.
As for the passport, I refuse to give in to scams and blackmail. Calmette is rebound for pulling that one on many expats before.

Re: Overstay issues

Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2019 2:52 pm
by Anthony's Weiner
jd1965 wrote: Fri Sep 20, 2019 1:57 pm I'm trying to solve a huge problem. For reasons that I will only devulge via pm my passport ended up at Calmette hospital in PP. As a result I am currently on a 22 month overstay. Spent 26 months living like a dog on the streets. Have recently been fortunate enough receiving help from a friend who has not only put me up in his residence, but has also provided me with a job and a small salary. I was finally seeing some light at the end of the tunnel and got into touch with my consul (no Belgian embassy in PP). I have come to the conclusion that it was pointless trying to retrieve my original passport from the hospital ($7000 worth of overstay fee which I will never be able to raise).
The idea was to get my embassy in Bangkok to issue me a temporary passport and to try to get an exit visa by convincing an immigration officer at a sleepy border crossing to accept some tea money in order to let me leave Cambodia, apply for a new passport in Bangkok and become legal again. In other words I'd have to stay in Bangkok for a month or so until the new passport arrives. I would be able to afford that with my bosses help.
I contacted my consul again requesting an application for a temporary passport and he sent the request on to Bangkok asking for permission.
This morning I received an email from him telling me that the request was denied and to take up the matter with Bangkok myself. The reason they gave me was that as my passport isn't lost or stolen they cannot issue me a travel document to get me out of the mess I find myself in.
Does anyone on here have any useful advice on how to get out of this?
Please note that giving myself up at immigration is out of the question. I have no desire to return to my home country after living as an expat for 21 years. I have a life here, work here and am in a relationship that I don't want to walk away from. I love this country, I consider Cambodia as my home now.
Any advice is greatly appreciated. Either pm me or discuss in an open thread. Thank you.

For reasons that I will only divulge via pm
Sorry , no advice other than divulging by pm only means someone else will post your reason for not picking your passport back up from the hospital.

My speculation is that you skipped out on an unpaid bill. My youngest brother left his passport at a motorcycle rental place on one of Thailands islands. The motorcycle was stolen from his hotel more than likely in concert with the rental company, he went back to the motorcycle rental place and asked for his passport back "so he could change hotels", they kept a photocopy. When he went to board the ferry back to the mainland an hour later the police were waiting for him and the theft of his rented motorcycle quickly changed from him being a victim to him being a thief. He left the island shortly later but there was not much negotiating on how much he paid for the lost scooter as the police were firmly on the side of the rental shop.

I note that Calmette Hospital is a public hospital managed by the Ministry of Health and funded by the Cambodian and French governments.

Re: Overstay issues

Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2019 2:57 pm
by fax
jd1965 wrote: Fri Sep 20, 2019 2:44 pm As for the passport, I refuse to give in to scams and blackmail. Calmette is rebound for pulling that one on many expats before.
Pulling what? You had some kind of medical problem, they took you in and treated you. They possibly saved your life. You produced your passport with a promise to pay for their services when you could. You couldn't, instead you spent "26 months living like a dog on the street" and now you have a 22 month overstay. What exactly have they "pulled"?

Your life is shit because of spiraling consequences from your own actions. You should pay Calmette for saving you when you needed it. There is no other expat involved. There is you and Calmette and you owe them.

Re: Overstay issues

Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2019 2:59 pm
by Kung-fu Hillbilly
Sometimes we need to realize when it's time to suck it up and go home.

Re: Overstay issues

Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2019 3:04 pm
by phuketrichard
1. Easy to leave Cambodia and get into Thailand without a passport
2, BUT you will NOT be stamped into Thailand so your in Thailand illegally
3.Your embassy wont issue you a temp doc / passport to travel on without a police report and said report will show which border you entered at. But since you did not enter Thailand legally.....well you cant do that,now can ya...?

So if you want follow this route and enter Thailand illegally a new fake passport that can be used to travel on and with correct stamps, will cost ya about $10-15,000. IF you know the right people

The other route
suck it up, pay ur fine
BUT your than deported and I would image your then "persona non grata" for Cambodia

But at least your free to travel legally and go back home, get a new id, ( more than just changing ur name and getting a new passport) new passport and return to Cambodia

Your embassy wont help ya at all.
You fucked up... no solution.

Re: Overstay issues

Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2019 3:19 pm
by CambodiaGerman1
I'm sorry, but for such a post I just have no understanding. If you have to go to hospital for a longer period of time - for whatever reason - that can happen, only if you get help and do not want to pay the bill - and that's the case here, then I can not feel sorry for you.

To ask the embassy for help with a scam, really ridiculous. Then also write that Cambodia has become home - well, anyway, the way of life and the traits of the Cambodians have already passed. If you live here for so many months without visas - you should not be surprised about the logical consequences.

Surely the hospital will soon turn on the police and than our name on all list - to all border around Cambodia...