Ever been jailed or blacklisted for overstay?
[QUOTE=El Culion]With all due respect, I beg to differ. There is actually a sign at the Airport just past the Immigration check points saying, '1 day overstay, NO Charge, 2 days = THB 1,000', or words to that effect.
However, I want to re-emphasize that it's not a wise thing to do. The consequences if caught anywhere else are just too severe.[/QUOTE]First: much to do about nothing.
Second: overstay, then watch what day they start their yellow felt tipped calendar count from, first day of arrival is inclusive. That's why they changed it in 2005. "too many farangs with no brains for math. First day is a day here, last day is a day here. " (thais) confusing? You should have been here ten years ago.
Third: the only guy I have ever heard of getting rocked for overstay (and I have known many overstayers, heh) was some super rich brit that didn't want to wait for the overstay desk (just too busy or too coked out, whatever) and tried to change the stamped visa dates in his passport. (freakin brilliant or what? ) he went to jail.
As nic said, it's not an issue, and if you speak thai, it's less than that.
Lots of websites try to gain traction for themselves and say ooooh oh, scary scary, blah blah about overstay, but have zero examples to back it up. "do not overstay your visa or you will go to jail" umm, yeah, well if you say so, sure, thanks. (I have 10 overstays myself, spread over 3 passports. Last one was for 57 days 11, 400 baht: all I had were hospital docs from a motorbike accident and a bunch of goofy sorry looking smiles. Nobody even flinched, still don't. Acquired three more 1 year multiple entry nonimm be visas since then too.) are we catching on here yet?
Ok, quickly, show of hands: how many of you guys have known anyone that has ever been jailed or blacklisted for overstay? See? Thought so.
Take a Chance, Take a Chance on You!
You can also be "checked" by the police if you are a car accident and they are called to the scene or if you were in a club/bar/establishment that was raided by the police (as happened recently in Hell Club). Interesting that this question has generated these responses but the poster that posted the original question asking for assistance/advice has not responded to the advice he has been given, so no one knows what his friend’s decision will be. One can be cavalier about over staying their time in Thailand thinking nothing will happen and the likelihood is that nothing will happen to you but the people that ended up in Jail and paid unnecessary fines for over staying their VISAs were probably thinking nothing would happen to them too.