stephen tracy

This is according to @RichardBarrow. People arriving at Muang Thong Thani are being told the facility is closed and to come back tomorrow. Imagine how bad that place will be tomorrow if it opens. 

My visa also expires on 2 April but after watching some tourists' videos and pics of what is going on at this place, I've decided just to overstay. It looks like the perfect place to get infected. I cant believe that at the very least theu don't seem to care about all the staff that have to work there every day. 

I just watched an Italian’s tourist’s experience at the new visa extension facility, and it looks to me that if you are healthy when you enter the place, you may well not be by the time you’re in the taxi home. To be honest, the cluster infections that are inevitably now happening there are enough to make me opt for an overstay and take may chances with that. The staff there, who would have been by now exposed multiple times, will now be the prime infectors to anyone who has to spend the day there. Does anyone have any experience with other offices outside Bangkok that are any better? I was thinking about Krabi.

14 hours ago, Welshpete said:

No confirmation of received email first 2 applications denied due to protocol within 12hrs, now 5 days overstay if I receive the letter Monday,

I received mine this morning so it looks like they're still issuing over the weekend. Sit tight. To be honest, even though I now have one, I'm not even sure if I want to go and do it because looking at the crowds of people at CW, it looks like a perfect way to get infected. I also read that some people waited all day, only to be told to come back again the next day because they were so overwhelmed. And that was after the opening of the spillover place. BTW, does anyone know whether you have to print the letter or can you just show it to them on your laptop/phone etc?

13 hours ago, daveyboy69 said:

used this email and comes back saying not monitored anymore

Use this one: [email protected]

13 hours ago, ivor bigun said:

British Embassy not reporting or answering ,i dont believe it ,they are fantastic ,wonderful ,legends in their own lunchtime. you think a chocolate spoon is useless,well compared to the British embassy it is the hight of usefulness.

They are actually responding. This was there response to me, so I have sent a pic of the additional page now:

Dear Stephen,

Are you requesting this extension because COVID-19 has disrupted your travel plans? If so, I need a clear photo of the stamp with the visa expiration date. Please send it through and we will be able to issue you the visa extension support letter.

Best regards,

Lalita

Consular Assistant

British Embassy Bangkok|14 Wireless Road, Lumpini, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
???? +66 (0)2-305-

Hey Jack, I emailed them on Wednesday and just heard back from them this afternoon. I didn't get the letter because I forgot to add the visa expiration date stamp, which they told me as soon as I sent, I would get the letter after that. I sent it about an hour ago so I assume I'll get it on Monday at some point. But it looks like they are issuing them. I also don't have a flight cancellation but they didn't care about that. They didn't even ask. My TV also runs out on 2 April so might see u at CW. Hang tough!

14 hours ago, elviajero said:

Why?

Was born in the UK but left when I was years old, have no living family anywhere, and my two best friends live in Spain, which is a no-go for me right now. Not even sure I can get in. If I go back to the UK on the remaining flights, it will probably be very expensive. Not just that, I actually really hate the UK, always have. Hated going back to visit relatives when I was a kid. 

14 hours ago, elviajero said:

Short answer; IMO no.

 

They have announced extensions for anyone trapped in the country so why would they not prosecute someone that hasn't applied for an extension? They have two choices; blanket amnesty or provide formal permits to stay (emergency extensions), and - at this time - they have gone for the latter. Choosing not to leave and not applying for an extension that results in overstay is not an option.

I'd say right now it's my only option. 

13 hours ago, Zikomat said:

Same story here at Jomtien immigration today. Was on tourist visa, extended it for 30 days on 19.02. Waited in the long line with hundreds of people. Refused extension - letter from embassy needed (to be honest - did not expect something else from these awful people).Got 7 days extension only. Let’s hope Thailand gets totally shut down during this week so they will have no choice but to extend my stay. 

They'll still probably charge everyone. It wouldn't surprise me even they upped the daily overstay fine to 1000/day

14 hours ago, Canuck1966 said:

????????????????

Thanks @Canuck, amid all this stress due to visas/travel restrictions etc, It's good to have a laugh. Otherwise you'd cry

BP: "All inbound air passengers must have Covid-free certificates", and insurance 

16 hours ago, Sheryl said:

From the CAAT website updated yesterday:

 

"1. Where the Ministry of Public Health defines any territory outside Thailand as a Disease Infected Zone of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID–19) Outbreak, or where Department of Disease Control defines any territory as an Ongoing Local Transmission Area, the passengers with the travel history in the last 14 days in such Disease Infected Zone or Ongoing Transmission Area must be subject to quarantine and any other measures for the prevention and control of communicable diseases as imposed by the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand....."

 

(It does not list the countries, just references the MoPH website which is nto yet updated but of course could be at any time).

 

Nothing about citizenship. 

 

Once again bad reporting.

This is also not bad for staying updated. It covers all of Asean: https://www.aseanbriefing.com/news/coronavirus-asia-asean-live-updates-by-country/

16 hours ago, Sheryl said:

"citizens of these countries " ??

 

I very much doubt that is actually how the rule is worded.

 

More likely people (of any nationality except possibly Thai nationals) traveling from these countries..

 

That is how the rules have been worded so far.

 

I certainly hope so as I am traveling to the Poipet/Aran border crossing today.

 

No update so far on https://ddc.moph.go.th/viralpneumonia/eng/index.php

That's what I was wondering. My visa expires on 2 April but I need to be back here as I had a recent operation here and the doctor wants me around so he can do follow-up consultations for the next month or so. I have a UK passport but haven't been to the US (or Europe) for about a year. 

Hey, yep, I have a similar dilemma (UK passport), My current SETV will expire on 2 April. I have decided to hold of booking anything until the last minute as I don't want to buy a ticket/book hotel etc. and the find out that country has now imposed restrictions. The situation is changing every day so this time next week may look worse. For now Vientiane looks like an option. I suggest waiting as long as you can before booking anything... without overstaying, obviously. 

14 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

No e visas is what I have read about. Apparently still possible to apply for a visa at a Vietnamese embassy or consulate.

Yeah, I was thinking of trying the consulate here in Bangkok, I just worry that I might get a nasty immo offocila in Hanoi who may just decide to make my life <deleted> cuz I have a UK passport. I"ve been to Hanoi twice in my life and both times the immo officers were really not so nice. Rude actually. 

13 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

Vientiane is not as crowded as before since they started requiring appointments a year ago. See: https://thaivisavientiane.com/#

The first available appointment is for the 26th.

It might get busier at nearby embassies and consulates due to corvid 19 since many people might be changing their travel plans due to it.

 

Many thanks as always J! 

Hi all, I was wondering if people could share recent experiences in SE Asia Thai consulates to obtains SETVs or other visas. I was planning to go back to Hanoi (where I got my last SETV) in a couple of weeks but I’ve just read that UK citizens are now on the travel restriction list for Vietnam.  I read 3 reports, all saying people flying from UK will not be allowed in, and I’ll be flying from Bangkok and haven’t been to any afflicted countries in years, but I’m not sure I want to chance it all the same. They might just see a UK passport and refuse, regardless of where you fly in from. Anyway, I was now thinking of going to Vientiane, but in past (years ago) when I got visas there it was always rammed full of people and total nightmare, but I’m wondering also if the virus panic means there are less people traveling and hence less queuing and hassle etc. Anyone got any recent experiences?

16 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

The paper T.8 form may be handed out on the plane, it's definitely available on arrival. or you can download it and fill it in before/during your trip.

 

https://www.caat.or.th/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/T8_form.pdf

 

See page 19 (of 20)

Thanks for this, @mtls2005. One less thing to hopefully not worry about. Just found out that Vietnam has added UK to travel ban for VOA and I've already booked my ticket. I read that you can still get a visa from the Vietnam embassy but I have my doubts about whether that will suffice on arrival

15 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

Maybe the were giving giving you info for a citizen of Vietnam since that is required for them.

Google translate of the requirement on the page for them to apply for a tourist visa. "The hotel reservation has been paid and the dates match the trip schedule above." Source: http://www.thaiembassy.org/hochiminh/en/services/7442/80803-For-Vietnamese-passport-holder-|-Dành-cho-người-có.html

Ah ok. That makes more sense given the requirement you sent the link for before. I think I might give HCMC a go then after all. It's not for another 5 weeks but I'll post a report on my experience after I do it to confirm. Thanks again. 

16 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

Not needed in HCMC. See: http://www.thaiembassy.org/hochiminh/en/services/7442/80804-For-Non-Vietnamese-passport-holder-|-Dành-cho-ngườ.html  And no reports of it being needed.

Hi Joe, thanks. Now I'm confused. I wrote to them to ask if this was for sure a requirement, and they wrote back saying not only was it a requirement, they wanted to see receipt of payment. Hmmmmmm. Maybe I'll email them again. 

15 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Think you will find Saigon equally relaxed as Hanoi. Many good reviews about that joint. As for accom bookings that has not been an issue from the threads I have read and personal experience (all be it many yrs ago). In any event you can book accom that has free cancellation fee. Such as Agoda. Obtain print out of booking. Not hard.

 

Aha, there's the rub! They said they would not accept a booking, only an actual receipt showing payment. I bit crazy but some of the other SE Asia consulates now have this requirement on their website. I think KL and Penang now both ask for that. When I lived here years ago, it was never this strict. But that was pre-junta. I assume these new guidelines have been introduced since the coup. I might get the visa in Hanoi and then fly to Saigon just to check it out as it seems a shame to go the Vietnam twice and not see it. I can always then fly back to BKK from there an ditch my other return. Thanks for your replies by the way!