AUTHORITIES will bar visitors who overstay their visas from returning to Thailand for between one year and a whole decade. The longer the overstay period, the longer will be the re-entry ban.
Starting from August 29, the ban will be imposed on any foreigner found to have overstayed his or her visa or visa-exemption period.
The Immigration Bureau decided to mete out such tough punishment after the current penalty, a maximum fine of Bt20,000, had apparently failed to serve as a sufficient deterrent.
Last year, a total of 70,715 foreigners were charged with overstaying their visas. Between January and June this year, the number of visa overstayers reached 30,359.
More here: Heavy new penalties await visa overstays - The Nation
Snip.....A Chinese woman arrested on charges of overstaying said she had come to Thailand to make a living, not to commit any crime.