audaciousnomad

18 minutes ago, xvend said:

You guys in in for a rude awakening as I went through this on Friday:

 

For People on Tourist Visas:

 

You can only get this extension if you already had a flight booked out of the country that has been cancelled, or if there are no flights available out of Thailand to your own country.

 

This is the only way to get the extension, not I don't want to go home, not I'd rather stay in Thailand, not it's too expensive for me to travel, etc.

 

Just because you didn't get one does not mean the rest of the people here will not either. Everyone's situation is different. Thanks anyway for the update on your particular experience. ????

On 3/19/2020 at 12:29 PM, drbeach said:

I think it's totally unpredictable but my hunch is that the worst will occur within the next 30 days, with improvements to be seen by 60 days from now. Already, China is slowly getting back to normal. I take my cues from the almost simultaneous shutdowns in the region and globally, which are occurring now for the next 2-4 weeks. This means a gradual improvement can be anticipated after mid-April in some regions, but it's too unpredictable to say now. I would advise sticking it out for at least a month but preferably 2 if possible.

The Wildcard in all of this is Songkran. It's a big deal for Thais to go home to their provinces and reunite with their families, whom they sometimes might only see a few times a year due to work commitments in Bangkok. So, it's a big ask to say...no, don't go see mom, dad, granny, gramps, no matter what. Family here is the center of one's life, even AFTER marriage. That may be to Thailand's detriment as it does not bode well for social distancing objectives.

The general prescription for most of us is "Don't touch your face."
For Donald it should be "Don't open your mouth...EVER."

13 minutes ago, artiz said:

Probably safe to assume that the situation is unprecedented so the response from immigration probably will be too. All sorts of 'exotic' stories will emerge here no doubt... Point being, they are very unlikely to chuck anyone out as every country bordering Thailand is now closed anyway. The world is locking down basically. They will remain evasive by default... meaning we will simply have to go to our local immigration offices when our visas are up for renewal... case by case. No surprises there then?

Good luck everyone!

They won't chuck us out....BUT, they will demand overstay fees once you leave. 500THB/day gets expensive really quickly.

45 minutes ago, vermin on arrival said:

Not a chance. I would be a moron to do that. My brother's family is in quarantine. My parents, who I usually live with when I am there, are in total seclusion since they are extremely elderly and infirm, and the epidemic will be <deleted> storm there. Also, after 20 years in Asia, I currently have no private insurance since I have not needed it. The long flight and and time in US airports would be perfect places to catch the virus with the terrible preparedness there. Screw them and their stupid advice. What's the big deal to give a letter to help expats out of the country long term? Lazy sobs.

Exactly. I am in the same boat as you. 9 years though.  I have no confidence in the system over there. Mike Pompeo can go and suck a dick. Trying to tell us to "come home", but when we get there...no one's gonna give a rat's ass about us "uninsured".  I'd rather take my chances out here where I have a fighting chance. Over there, I'd end up dead, bankrupt, or both! AND I might end up taking family members down with me!

29 minutes ago, bbi1 said:

What does that exactly mean? If you are on a tourist visa and have already applied for a 30 day extension you can get another 30 day extension WITHOUT going to your embassy and getting a letter fom them? Or is it for people who haven't already extended? That part is not clear.

How I interpret it is if you already did 1, then your next option is 2(a letter from your embassy). If both 1 and 2 are not available to you, then your last option is 3...which you are at the mercy of the immigration officer handling your case. They will decide whether to grant you an extension on top of your extension, based on their judgement of your overall situation.

3 hours ago, TK8783 said:

HELLO,

 

we are a german family with 3 kids and entered Thailand on March, 4th.

Our travel plan was to spent 1 week in malaysia for holiday and then again go to Thailand. But cause of the virus we cannot do this any more. Our visa runs out on April 2nd, but home flight already cancelled. I think cause of the news we do not have to extend our visa or what is your opinin

Where in Thailand are you? Near the city or on the islands?  I suggest you can do an extension for 30 days. It is 1900baht each person.  BTW...is it Moritz?

8 minutes ago, Misterwhisper said:

That may be. But what good is it to foreign visitors who must present their coverage to immigration on arrival (i.e. BEFORE they enter the country)? I also doubt that the Kasikorn and Bangkok Bank policies cover $100,000 minimum as required.

 

I might be wrong. if you have more information, please share.

The Civil Air Authority of Thailand has issued an official advisory to all airline operators of these new entry requirements, with specific instructions to deny boarding. Therefore, they wouldn't even make it onto the plane to begin with.
Direct Link to their guidance document:
https://www.caat.or.th/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/CAAT-COVID-19-Practical-Guideline-18Mar20-1.pdf

On 3/17/2020 at 3:50 PM, aldriglikvid said:

While at first I was a bit doubtful when my close friend told me he could extend again with 30 days (while being on his 30 days extension already), I saw it first hand today. 

 

The only thing Jomtien Immigration needed to "bypass the rules" was a "visa extension declaration"  

 

I contacted my embassy in bangkok and requested said document and was met with the reply that this is not given for just flight cancelations. 

 

I'll figure my self out of this mess, somehow. 

 

Cambodia och Malaysia is closed for border runs. Can't fly anywhere...

SAME EXPERIENCE FROM A U.S. CITIZEN WHO INQUIRED AT HIS EMBASSY TODAY. HERE'S THE RESPONSE:
 

21 hours ago, aldriglikvid said:

I asked them and the price was 25 000 for a 30d extension and 30 000 for a 60d extension (on top of your current extension). 

25000THB ???  That is extortionary! LOL  I'll take my chances for 30 days and 1900THB.  ????

Thanks!

3 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

With a letter from a person's embassy it is possible to get a 30 day extension after the standard 30 day extension.

I assume more than one could be done if a person could get the letter.

Thanks Ubonjoe. My guess then is that for a fee this agency will take care of getting said letter and do the extra extension, thereby saving a person two trips to immigration. It must be one of those "hardship letter" situations. Which this virus does seem to qualify as.

This agency in Chonburi claims to be able to help extend Tourist visas for 60 and 90 days due to Covid.
Anyone know if there is truth to their claim? I haven't found any such extension available on the govt websites. I am aware the standard extension available is 30 days for 1900baht.
https://www.facebook.com/Expatgold/?hc_location=ufi

On 2/23/2020 at 1:36 PM, lovesthespicy said:

Is the Cambodian border near Siam Reap ok to reenter from?  I've got a METV was gonna go over there and check some stuff out for a day and come back with GF if it was. 

The word on the street is that they will force you to stay at least an extra night if you use that border. So if you need a quick same-day bounce, don't go there.

2 hours ago, Scott3000 said:

 

See my post above, on page #102, for my own recent history in Thailand, which has a lot in common with yours. Since 2016, I've spent 5-6 months outside of Thailand each year, except 2018, when I got a job in Thailand, with a legal contract & Non-Immigrant B visa.

 

While that type of plan does not guarantee success for anybody's future entries -- including yours or mine -- I think you can get the idea: Thai immigration seems to be content if you don't "settle" in their country. They made life difficult for me when I tried to remain here continuously on tourist visas & visa exempt. When I spend several months outside the country each year then return via carefully chosen points of entry, they don't apply so much pressure. 

T

Thanks! By "carefully chosen" do you mean you don't fly into BKK or DMK? ????

24 minutes ago, BritTim said:

There are two reasons for land entry:

• Most land crossings only apply the official written rules relating to denial of entry. For this reason, with a visa, you are almost sure to be admitted as long as you are in compliance with the law. Some airports also seem to be OK with a visa, but
• If you are denied entry at a land crossing, you are simply told to return back across the border to the country you just crossed from. When denied at an airport (although, with a visa, this is unlikely at some airports) your fate is less predictable. In the worst case, after being locked up for a couple of days, you might be forced back to your home country.

You cannot safely return by air for a visa exemption (even at airports which only apply official rules). That is why it is best to plan your visa runs such that you will be entering by land if your application for a visa fails.

Thanks. I understand.  I think I will do my extension end of this month, then use my two land border bounces(plus extensions) for 2020, which will effectively give me 150 days in 2020, and then fly out and just cool off for 6+ months before returning(likely with a TR visa from outside). 

What do you think? Would that be a long enough cooling period given that I've been here since last Sept?  Sorry for so many questions, this is the longest time I will have ever spent here! ???? 

28 minutes ago, BritTim said:

Long stay tourists should be looking at getting visas to extend their stays. Since achieving the visa (especially tourist and education visas) is always uncertain, the land based visa exemption is your security blanket for those occasions where the visa application does not pan out.

If you believe you might stay another year in Thailand, this is going to be difficult. A possible plan is to fly to Kuala Lumpur for a tourist visa, returning by land. Later you could fly to Yangon, returning by land via Myawaddy/Maesot. If either of these visa runs is unsuccessful, you can still enter visa exempt.

Thanks again BritTim. Wealth of knowledge!

Do you suggest re-entry by land because there is less scrutiny there compared with airport entry points? That said, the only land entry from Malaysia is Padang Besar which you indicated is not to be utilized?

Cheers BritTim!

So I should be able to do my extension this month and then another land border bounce next month if I understand you correctly. If so, thanks and that's good news. ????

Would you shed some light on "other plans for extending"?  The only methods I know of are to leave and re-enter, or apply and pay a fee for extending (once per entry).  Therefore, I don't see any "other plans" that would extend my visit as a tourist. Are there others?

***Question regarding the 2 border entries per calendar year rule***

I searched and did not find an answer to this specific situation.

Arrived beginning Sept 2019 VE, 30 days
Extended at Immi., 30 days

Land border bounced early Nov VE, 30 days

Extended at Immi., 30 days

Land border bounced before 31Dec, 30 days

At this point, planning to do Immi extension another 30 days before end of Jan2020. So that would put met at 180days.
1. Will I be allowed to land border bounce since it is now 2020, a new calendar year?
2. Will my 180 days have any impact on my plan to do another border bounce?
3. Will I be asked to leave and don't come back until next year?

Thanks. Just want to get an idea to be prepared to make some moves if necessary.

2 hours ago, BritTim said:

No. The whole process at Ban Phu Nam Ron is a mild scam which you cannot circumvent. If allowed to do everything yourself, it would be a maximum of US$10 plus 100 baht, but you are obliged to pay off the officials.

Thanks BritTim. 960baht it is then.  I guess all things considered, it is better than the situation at all the Cambodian border posts. ????

On 9/16/2019 at 12:25 PM, ubonjoe said:

No problem to it the same day. 

At Ban Phu Nam Ron you will pay about 950 baht for transport across no mans land and back again that includes 500 baht for a Myanmar border pass.

No need for a photo and no full page visa sticker. Just a couple of small departure and entry stamps.

Thanks for these details ubonjoe.  I've done the Mae Sai run in the past, and the desk there accepted $10USD or 500 baht.  Do you know if the same can be done at Phu Nam Ron? E.g. Could I pay 460baht for the service, and $10 for the border pass?