BritTim

1 hour ago, impulse said:

 

Have you seen what they're charging for tickets?  I haven't checked Qantas, but some airlines are charging enough to have 1/2 the seats empty one way and completely empty the other way, and still make more revenue than they did on normal cheap seat flights.  The flights I checked (USA-Asia, but not for Thailand) are going for $3,500 one way, when it usually cost me $800-1,000 R/T.

 

Cheaper flights exist if you search carefully. From the West coast, for instance, you could try Air Canada via Vancouver and Hong Kong. Around $1,000 if you are flexible about dates.

1 hour ago, Acharn said:

I'm really surprised you found my letter offensive. I wasn't saying anything about you, I was trying to explain a part of Thai culture. Perhaps I should have been more careful about mentioning status. I have usually been associated with rather poor people, and Isaan people, at that. Their status in Thai society is not high, but they have to assign a relative status to me to know how to react with me. What pronoun to use, for example. In old Thailand (I'm talking after World War II here, and early 1970s), at least in the villages, status did not depend on wealth or education so much as knowledge of local rituals (when was the proper time to present an offering to the Goddess of the Fields), knowledge of Buddhist scriptures, esteem of fellow villagers, etc. Status dictated how high you raise your hands when you wai, for example. It can determine which pronoun (in Thai) people use to address you, although I don't think that's likely to arise at our level (if you're the CEO of a company that employs a lot of people I think it would). I think you are assigning a different meaning to the word "status" than i inended. I'm surprised you have never been asked how much you make. Perhaps younger people have learned that foreigners are uncomfortable answering. So I apologize if I offended you. That was not my intention.

I used to be asked how much I earn, but people have stopped asking in the last few years. Actually, I think wealth has become less important recently (unless you are seriously wealthy) than a decade ago. Your behaviour matters more. In view of my age, and the way I dress, people I do not know well tend to use ajarn rather than a second person pronoun when talking to me. My observation, in fact, is that both the very polite pronouns and the coarse ones have become much less prevalent. The Thai language and society have changed a lot.

1 hour ago, SODS said:

This came from the Thai Embassy London this morning

<snip>

This at least has the benefit of clarity, but only those who are extremely determined will be willing to comply.

On 6/23/2020 at 4:35 PM, Letseng said:

But digital nomads are no big spenders. High end tourists are.

I have known quite a number of digital nomads, and they run the gamut from low income to extremely rich. One had sold his development tools to IBM for several million dollars, but continued to sell his services for US$3,000 per day. He spent about 70% of his time in Thailand until the visa situation became too much of a hassle.

9 minutes ago, drbeach said:

Portugal is apparently already letting them in and the rest of Europe won't be far behind. France may be next (starting next month) and the rest of Europe will likely admit Americans if not in July then August. Of course, this is tentative at this stage, but the sources I've been following seem to indicate this.

The world is evolving into two groups: a smaller group that has opted for virus elimination, and a larger group that is giving up and allowing virus transmission with only some minimal controls aimed at moderating the rate of infections. The rules on entering Covid-19 free countries are going to be very different from entry into countries that place little importance on Covid-19 control.

2 hours ago, Sheryl said:

I really do not think the Thai government let alone the Prime Minister personallg has authorized this but if you have any links to that effect pkease post. The info we are getting from both Thai Embassy and local immigration is that medical visas are not being issued and cannot come. 

It seems some people are confusing medical tourism with medical evacuation. One of the exceptions to no entry of foreigners into Thailand is that medical evacuation (for instance from Laos) is still permitted with prior clearance. Of course, this has nothing whatsoever to do with type MT visas.

Estonia is leading the world in many aspects of the digital economy. Thailand is not. Thailand might provide a digital nomad visa in the future (perhaps ten years from now) but do not expect any swift action.

2 hours ago, drbeach said:

My advice is: don't panic. Surely the government won't say: sorry, the amnesty won't be extended even though no land borders are open and there are only a few limited flights out and the only country you can travel to is your own (as is the case right now).

 

They extended the amnesty once, I'm sure they'll extend it again if the circumstances at that time warrant it. Based on the current information, it is not looking likely that land borders with neighboring countries will re-open for general travel prior to July 31. This is based not only on what Thailand is doing, but what the neighboring countries are.

 

You have just under 6 weeks left to figure out what to do. Stay put until around mid-July, by which time we should know where this is heading. Don't overstay beyond the end of the amnesty. Granted, I don't think you'll need to anyway. By the time the amnesty is over, borders should have re-opened (as I said, I believe the current amnesty will be extended, probably by 1-2 months).

I advise you to make no assumptions about an amnesty extension just because it would be convenient for some of the foreigners here. While you may get your wish, there are plenty in authority who take the view that

• those who do not qualify for extensions of their permission to stay should leave; and
• if return to their home country is, for some reason, impossible, a letter from your embassy confirming this is provided to get a special extension, possibly with evidence (such as cancelled flight booking) as additional evidence.

This is a worst case scenario, but a very real possibility.

8 hours ago, w94005m said:

Thanks. I was going to go to the one in Jomtien. Do they need anything other than my passport, bank name and account number? Home branch details?

That should be quite ample.

25 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

I think Qatar Airways will be providing daily service BKK-DOH as of 1 July (or sooner). QR 837 flew today. 

 

Qatar has announced quite a few services opening up as of 1 July, including six (more: already flying to ORD and DFW) cities in the U.S. (not all are dailies).

 

https://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/19/06/2020/Qatar-Airways-resumes-flights-to-US-from-today

 

 

There are other options going east.

 

So pretty easy to leave.

When deciding to leave via Qatar, bear in mind that Qatar, relative to population, has the highest number of Covid-19 cases in the world. Qatar, with a population of less than three million has slightly more confirmed cases than China (though many fewer fatalities).

2 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

They might not open a shop making something and employing four Thais, but they live somewhere, they eat, these all get money to Thais.  If they could get them to pay tax then a town full of DMs could surely support a town full of service jobs.

Of course, digital nomads do pay some taxes, notably VAT on most things they buy.

1 hour ago, Freddie G said:

Wouldn't the online 90 day reporting solve the concern about bank books?

Not if you have been specifically informed that you must do the first 90-day report in person with the requisite financial proof. Luckily, this is not enforced at most immigration offices.

3 hours ago, cada33 said:

In which cities are these kind of visa agents available: I've read Pattaya, Bangkok and Udon but I don't think these visa agents are available in Chiang Mai or other parts of Thailand?

They certainly existed in Chiang Mai in the past, but were a bit pricier than in some other areas.

5 hours ago, LukKrueng said:

I haven't met many, but the few DN I met, all lived like cheap Charlie backpackers.

I have met many digital nomads over the years. They vary a lot in their lifestyles. I knew one who, after selling out his one-man company for several million dollars, continued to act as a consultant on the product (sometimes online, sometimes travelling to the customer) at US$3,000 per day.

5 hours ago, drbeach said:

I agree, although such an opening would probably have to be agreed upon more on a local than national level. My point was that the Burmese government could help solve a pesky problem for some foreigners in Thailand, but on the other hand, Thailand could simply extend the amnesty or revamp it's own policies such as that 30-90 day border runs are no longer necessary. Eliminate multi entry visas with a 90-day stay limitation or make stays valid for 180 days or 6 months, for example. Allow in-country extensions.

I have a horrible feeling that Immigration is going to decide that in-country extensions are already available, albeit not under the conditions some current users of multiple entry visas want. They may eliminate multiple entry visas, and force people either to apply for serial single entry visas or to apply for extensions under the current conditions.

4 minutes ago, yeahbutif said:

But is the 31st July a date allowed so you don't pay overstay? Can a person arrive on a non o. And still change this to a retirement visa even if the non o is on a amisty? Till the 31st? And non o ran out in May? 

A retirement extension (it is not a visa) can be applied for when you are in Thailand on any non immigrant entry. A "Non O" visa gives you a 90-day non immigrant entry on arrival in Thailand. Thus, if you meet all the requirements for a retirement extension, you do not need to change anything. Depending on the immigration office, they may decide not to accept an application for a retirement extension (during the grace period provided under the amnesty) if your original 90-day permission to stay has expired, but that is a different issue.

1 hour ago, transam said:

Savv used to do visa's the same day, months later it stopped, wonder why, Savv hotels, taxis not having customers......????

Increased number of applications, and not having time always to get the applications done the same day was the main reason. Believe it or not, the Thai consulate is not overly concerned about the health of the Savannakhet economy.

24 minutes ago, JimGant said:

For a one year extension based on marriage, yes, your farang marriage license needs to be Thai certified via a Kor Ror 22. But is this also needed for a simple 60 day extension, i.e., your farang marriage license, by itself, wouldn't suffice?

That depends on the immigration office where you apply.

Wife (who must go with you), Thai marriage certificate (and a copy), copies of wife's' id card and house book, 1,900 baht, application form, and possibly proof that a TM30 report has been done.

10 minutes ago, drbeach said:

What do you think the chances are Thailand and Myanmar may agree to open the Phu Nam Ron border for border runners like those on Non-Os say by next month? This would be a welcome relief and regularize the status of many for another 90 days.

In my opinion, the chances of the Phu Nam Ron crossing opening before the end of July are slim. I understand your logic that using that crossing does not really mean leaving and reentering Thailand. If helping those who wanted to do that was a Thai government priority, it would make much more sense to provide a means to do that at an immigration office, rather than trying to stop (quite likely) attempts by those in Myanmar to sneak into Thailand once, in principle, the border is open. By the middle of July, your options may become clear.

It may be allowed in some immigration regions/at some immigration offices. You will need to contact your local immigration office to find out.