One of my friends overstayed in Australia and in the Philippines.
Australia
When leaving Australia, border control at Sydney airport told him to wait. A few minutes later another officer took him to a room and told him he’d been very naughty and wouldn’t be allowed back in for the next three years.
They gave him his passport back with an exit stamp and he could board his flight out without any further trouble.
Philippines
A couple of years later he found himself overstaying his visa in the Philippines. He hadn’t noticed it was only a three week visa and his vacation was for an entire month.
On the night before he was flying out the cops pulled him over while he was sitting in the back of a taxi with two lady friends. One officer looked at his passport and saw his visa had expired.
He told him that he was going to take him to the police station and it was going to be a long night and maybe even jail and prison, blahdiblah.
Lots of talking and threats, but after a few minutes he realized the guy was just stalling. He passed him $50 and they were on their way again.
The next morning at the airport my friend had just given his last pesos to the girls (they needed a bus ticket) when immigration told him he needed to buy a special exit sticker for expired visas. That was another $50. Good thing there was an ATM.
Again, no problem with his passport and he could fly out without further ado.
Lessons learned
- Check how long your visa is valid and don’t overstay.
- If you do overstay and you have a ticket out, it doesn’t have to be a super big deal. At least it wasn’t in the noughties in the Philippines and Australia.
- Carry some cash. In some countries a discreet bribe can keep you out of jail. Watch out for cues and pay before more cops get involved and want a slice. Bribing is illegal and can get you into more trouble. That night in Manila my friend made a judgement call, and for him it worked out.
