What are the risks and consequences of overstaying a visa in Thailand?

Friend of mine went for an extension yesterday at CW. He mentioned his flight home was 4 days after the visa expiry date. The IO said to ‘just pay the overstay’.

That kinda bad advice from the people who run it, causes this mai pen rai attitude

I took this screenshot this morning - every single time someone comes on here and says it's ok to overstay even for a short time, just pay the fine on the way out, Im going to post it.

And beware of the early morning flights.

If you can get stamped out by midnight your ok

If not your on overstay.

I think they should come down on people more severely. Big fines and bans. Everybody knows the rules and you should abide by them. Ok mistakes can happen but many deliberately overstay.

The process if getting arrested: Police jail till you go court, could take a few days, Judge will give you a fine most of the time lower that the 500 Thb a day but it depends on the judge. Than transport to Immigration Detention Center, it is a jail not a hotel. From there you can buy a direct ticket to your home country, be aware that only your National Carrier has the duty to transfer you, other carriers can just refuse to sell you a ticket. If the flight is booked and paid by yourself, Police guide you to the incheck desk, than into the plain, your papers and passport are handed over to the Captain. Police wait at the gate till plane leaves. Don't be shy, everybody on the plane will know that you brought into the plane under Police guidance. On arrival in your home country you get your papers and passport back from the Captain. It is for sure not a holiday experience you want to have.

It should be noted that turning yourself in means showing up at the immigration office, OR at the passport control desk to stamp out of the country by land or air. Do this and you CANNOT be banned for an overstay of under 90 days, no matter what they threaten.

Now, getting caught out for something else while on an overstay is not the same and if the officers want to play hardball with you, you can actually be arrested, prosecuted, deported and banned for 5 years on a single day overstay.

I agree with Cody 100%, DON'T risk getting caught out on an overstay, go get your extension, border-bounce for another visa exempt entry OR go to a thai consulate and BUY a visa.

Right now the thai consulate in Penang said they will look with a critical eye at people applying for tourist visa applications who have overstay stamps in their passport. At present it is the ONLY thai consulate that has mentioned this.