I have a friend (really, this is about a guy I know!) who has overstayed. About 18 months overstayed. Came here initially on a tourist visa with plans to marry his GF and then apply for non-Imm O. Relationship broke down. He tried to get his visa extended without success. It was a situation where he got more and more desperate to try to find a way to stay, and failed each time. Now, 21 months after his arrival, he knows he has to leave, but is now deadly scared of what will happen to him at the airport.

To make matters worse (perhaps) he is Pakistani. He is waiting for relatives in Dubai to send him money as his tentative plan is to have the maximum fine on hand when he leaves, and when/if he gets pulled up, pay and leave.

He is in Songkhla and would fly out via Had Yai.

It occurs to me that Hat Yai is an exit point where the mainly Malaysian tourist leave, and thus Immigration may not be used to seeing/dealing with overstayers. Would this be a help or a hindrance?

Having 30 000 baht on his person (the maximum fine), advisable or not?

Chances of being thrown into Songkhla detention centre? Nasty thought.

Advice/opinions please.

The maximum overstay fine is 20,000 baht. If he does not have that in hand when he tries to leave he would certainly have a problem.

Hat Yai's international flights are limited as to where they go. He probably will end up having to go to Bangkok anyway for his flight out and do departure immigration there.

Thanks. I read somewhere recently that the max fine was upped to 30 000.

Hat Yai - Singapore, connecting flight home.

No changes to the maximum fine of 20k baht that is called out in the immigration act that has not been changed since 1979 when it was done.

He should not have a problem paying the fine on departure even in Hat Yai.

He needs to be sure he will be able to transit through the airport in Singapore because he would need a visa if he had to enter there to make his connection.

I paid an overstay the other day at Sadao and have previously paid 20k maximum fine at same border, they are very used to overstay and it will be a five minute formality, dont waste time initially queuing go to little office on the side. The thai lady that fills in the form and takes the money is very polite and maybe will even offer you some fruit whilst waiting through the 5 minute formality, although the immigration boss that signs off is a little more abrupt. Don't argue and you'll be fine, have the cash ready and be a little humble. The only dillemma you have is the moral/ethical one that you make life harder apparently for the outstandding citizen of thaivisa, can you live with yourself