worldfun

Russia actually qualifies both in terms of bilateral visa exception & 'low risk' country so not sure why no flights yet taking off? Russia is always winter in most of the country so should be the right season too ???? Perhaps it's the no alcohol, no bars, high cost minor problem? Hah! Or not enough sputnik vaccines?

The checkpoint seem to be fairly strict checking most/every incoming vehicle but i'm not surprised with the report of minivans coming in without any checks of every passenger as they ply regular routes & cannot afford to wait in line for hours I guess...
Apart from listed options to qualify for entry there's the unlisted option of having 'a valid reason' to enter (regularly) such as can be tracked/reg. via gophuget.com?
I reg. for my last weekend trip to Krabi & Nakorn & that's all I had upon returning but before I got to show that my co passenger showed/said she was fully vaccinated & said 'Yes' when being asked if I was too ???? and in we drove quickly! That was around midnight with a very low traffic volume while peak hours looks like hours being main hurdle more than the actual req. whatever they may actually be enforced as !!
So when will they finally abolish the checking such as was last seen back in Feb?
But actually the thing will change after July 1 is not so much the entry but the EXIT - well after July 14th as the first batch of tourist will be eligible to be  'released' to the real Thailand with all sorts of docs to be proven so how do residents again prove their case to exit (now exit is unchecked but will then become the strictest check & longest que I guess)? 

As I recent Sandbox resident who started skeptical like most I must say covid has been a golden chance to live here & obviously we can only fear of any resumption of mass tourism that erodes current benefits, but as said any changes are bound to happen slow & gradually while specifically the 'raids' on any covid+ venues may be draconian & worrisome!
Main worry is the exit/entry for local residents without vaccination...

who knows how it will be come next week but as of this week there's a bit of a buzz and influx of people on the island but patong is still half dead but the further you move away from the beach front the more options become available with food etc.

phuket town at the other extreme has been fairly normal throughout but farang oriented shops still shut here & there as are major tourist traps like tiger kingdom, water parks, elephant camps etc! National parks, waterfalls on the other hand have actually stayed open and some even can be persuaded to sell 'ordinary' 20bt tickeks instead of the usual specials of 200b hahaa.

then the taxi mafia? oh I wouldnt bet on them being willing to charge friendly now would you?

interesting to see people actually getting to the final step namely an appointment which is (yet) not canceled. Only monday will prove anything ???? Maybe those locations are going to be crowded ... 
I reg. too late I guess early this week & appl. not yet approved!

3000b?? nothing less at state hospitals like vachira? I'd think 1000 or less?

The solution this year was sensors & info for all to know pm2.5 levels so why do anyone feel disappointed with no root cause action?

You want more air spray?
Free masks?

Not happy so move (south) or to another country which clean air policy you can accept ????

tip of the illegal migration iceberg

Tomorrow is the 20th Oct. Can't wait to hear the dreamt up story why the chinese charter jet didn't land at subboomboom airport? political or tourist protesters blocking the landing? 55555

7 minutes ago, MRToMRT said:

An alternative idea might be that they are already here and the gov does not want the press sticking their noses in?

 

aha that might be true actually - anybody checked phuket landings from china? ????

chinese ENGLISH teachers? ????

So can us who applied longterm visa get an extra 30 days too for free please? ???? ~5 months free was nice but we still want more because we follow new normal and spend a lot of money ????

immigration is now confirming extension to 31oct & they also got new helpline 1111 no more 1178?

sweet stuff & don't ask why, ask why not!!!

22 minutes ago, timoti said:

What about people with under consideration stamp? We will have to go again in 2 weeks so then how can we start a new application before this stamp is converted into real visa?

one of the articles linked today mentioned those under considerations would get extensions till 31oct but of course that gives only a few extra days lol ????

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30395273?utm_source=bottom_relate&utm_medium=internal_referral

I guess it's as official as can get finally ???? before getting gazetted

awesome

13 minutes ago, Sambotte said:

Have a link ?

Reuters is not a thai news source & the 'confirmation' is not more confirmed than what phuketnews reported:

"The matter is subject to cabinet approval on Tuesday."

What is new though is that after 31oct no more extensions but instead 60 day paid 'amnesty for stranded tourist'. Interesting ????

Well if it all gets approved tomorrow ...

21 minutes ago, PaynHuaHin said:

https://www.thephuketnews.com/visa-amnesty-extended-to-oct-31-77475.php

"“We are waiting to hear that the Prime Minister has approved the extension. That was supposed to happen by 4:30pm today,” he said." So still not official ????

"Lt Col Udom admitted that he had yet to be informed exactly what happens with all the extensions already approved.

“Foreigners who have applied for an extension but have yet to have the full extension stamped in their passport will be stamped to stay until Oct 31,” he said." Interesting that they for the first time is taking such cases into consideration!

"Asked how he felt about his officers being overworked for weeks making sure foreigners’ applications to extend their permits to stay were being accepted before the Sept 26 deadline expired, to only now have all their hard work rendered pointless by a single decision in Bangkok, Lt Col Udom said, “What else can I do? This is Thailand.” Hahaa what a joke indeed!!!

it now makes sense why the rangers was acting suspicious & aggressive when I last visited that camp/trekking site behind the doi sutep temple - but seem I didn't really fit the profile so was let go...usually easy to come & go at that NP HQ camp

Maybe the confusion stems from this piece of news:

a new category of foreigners allowed to travel to thailand along with the STV scheme - non imm visa holders such as business & perhaps also retirees etc, but need 500k in savnings (last 6 months) ummm...

So maybe it was all fake news in the end... ???? 

Went to ChiangMai immigration (airport) this afternoon & looks like business as usual. Slightly less people around compared to friday I'd say. The agency didn't seem to know or not letting on as I inquired to my 1 year ext. would be from today or 31oct & today was the firm answer! Lol spent few min & then back to the carpart (PTT) where I noticed some weird looking uniform (white & light blue colors) officers (maybe cityhall inspections?) doing the rounds with all the vendors & perhaps some shops...

Then at western restaurant a few clicks away in old city 3 immigration officers were doing some 'inspection' as well umm...

Anyway nothing confirmed as far I know few mentions of PM doing some kind of announcement & amnesty may only cover Non IMM O visa stamps?

News sources not much update referring to bkk hareld and/or richard/twitter:

http://www.buriramtimes.com/visa-amnesty-expected-to-be-extended-to-31-october/

https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/thai-immigration-unaware-of-visa-amnesty-extension-to-halloween/

https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/visa/rumours-of-a-new-visa-amnesty-up-to-october-31

Some reported immigration hotline 1178 is no longer picking up calls? I called for few minutes & yes no answer yet...

So I think nothing going to be confirmed today - maybe check some myanmar sources lol ???? the soap show goes on & on...

2 hours ago, greggraham said:

From the main Thai Visa group on FB:

 

 

really?

meanwhile office at CW quoted as not knowing a thing about any extension. biz as usual? ????