Thought I'd share some quick details on my overstay situation to see if it may help other readers.

In Sep 2012, I resigned from my job while in my home country tending to family matters on my mother's passing. My employer required I send the Work Permit so it could be cancelled remotely. Didn't say boo about my Extension of Stay (EOS). Since Sep 2012, I have traveled in/out of Thailand three times on this same EOS which was "valid" until Dec 31 2013; no issues. On the most recent trip here I learned that my EOS became invalid when my employment ended; it was my responsibility to cancel the EOS, and technically I was considered an "overstay".

I decided to do the right thing by going to the One Stop Visa and Work Permit Center with cash, ticket out of country and a letter from my former employer in hand, and fess up. They told me my former employer furnished the wrong letter, so I would have to come back. They actually seemed a little upset that the letter provided to me was dated OCt 2013 -- a year after my employment ended -- and asked to speak with my former employer over the phone. Couldn't happen. But no problem. The next week I repeated above process except acquired the correct letter. When I went back to One Stop, they asked about my situation. What had happened? Why had a year passed before all this? I explained the situation with my mother's passing and resigning abroad. I was told that one option to avoid the B20k overstay would be to leave Thailand and come back after the EOS expired. I received similar advice here. Keep that in mind if you get in this fix. There are risks to doing that approach if you don't leave right away. I need to be here because I'm getting married next month so I said I wanted to cancel the visa and leave the country. They said I would pay the fine at the airport.

At the airport, I was taken aside and asked to explain what had happen. Why was it a year before addressing the visa cancellation. I explained my situation again. I was permitted to leave WITHOUT paying the overstay fine.

It reminded me of some of the first words I ever heard from a Thai girl "Thailand is flexible"...

So I went to Vientiane for my tourists visa. No issue. Stayed at Khampiane Hotel in the city center. Highly recommend. Quality all around. Very clean. Impressed. Negotiated to B1000/night. A couple of real local places nearby to eat Khao Jee Pate and somtum, squeezed in between the more expensive tourist places. I also tried one night at Mixok Inn. This place seemed very popular with backpackers at B600/night. While the staff were so friendly, it's a budget place; rooms a bit small, but nice lobby hang around in.

You did well, others may not be so lucky.