Misty

Things have changed a lot. The process for applying is quite involved, there are a number of requirements that apparently didn't exist years ago. And there's an unstated requirement that applicants need to employ an agent and pay "VIP service fees" for the application to be accepted for consideration. We're told this last item became unofficially required two years ago. And suggested agent business cards were distributed at CW last year.

That's unfortunate. No Pfizer booster for her as a medical person? Could it be a distribution problem? Hundreds of thousands of the US's first 1.5m donation were set aside for this purpose.

Similar situation, except a Non-B visa extension. For the last 14 years mine has always came due on 5 Sep. Last year we went to Immigration on 6 August 2020, but the extension was made until 26 Sep 2021. Edited to add that I think the "balloon" may be very big.

Thank you very much for posting! It sounds like this was for either a marriage or retirement visa extension, is that correct? Any idea if Non-B's were also being processed today (would be counter M)?

Thanks very much for this. I agree that they should expire together. But they do not - not even close. Currently I have a work permit recently extended until Aug 2022. And my Non-B extension expires (like everyone during this time period from last year) on 26 Sep 2021. So nearly a year apart. Apparently everyone with an extension done at CW Immigration last year between 21 Jul - 26 Sep was given the same next renewal date: 26 Sep 2021. And Immigration insists renewals this year must be done in a 3 day window prior to that date. It's not clear what will happen at CW Immigration in the 3 days working days prior to 26 Sep 2021. Can they get through all those coming due?

Thanks. The study in my link seems to compare Pfizer with AstraZeneca, rather than Pfizer with Sinovac

I did as you suggested and found the following report. Was this what you meant? Study: Pfizer and AstraZeneca’s protection from delta variant weaker after 90 days A British study finds protection against the delta variant from the Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines weakens within 90 days after the second dose....The authors noted that two doses of either vaccine still gave at least the same level of protection as after getting a natural coronavirus infection.

Any idea what happens if a work permit has already been extended for a year, but the non Immigrant B expires while the holder is in Thailand? For example, Immigration is unable to get through the backlog of thousands of people needing extensions coming on 26 Sep at CW Immigration? It seems unthinkable that this could happen. Yet, we're seeing cases of unthinkable already and we haven't been able to get clarification through the Immigration helpline.

Has anyone received an update on the so-called 3 day policy? I'm still trying to get my head around how CW Immigration could process what could be thousands of delayed visa extensions in a short 3 day window. Are they planning to throw everyone out of the country?

For me, yes, I think foreigners are getting vaccinated with Pfizer because they may expire as they've been taken out of deep freeze (big rush now, as if first Pfizer dose is given now, the Pfizer 2d dose is in 3 weeks - mid Sep, so must have time to line that up before 2d dose expieres). And some foreigner vaccination levels have, at least until now, lagged far behind Thais -- oddly it seems especially Americans. And foreigners may also come from countries which recognize Pfizer, but don't recognize some of the other vaccines on offer.

Medpark told me by phone yesterday that the Expatvac system has been rolled into Intervac, and they have been instructed to start taking foreigners under age 60 who registed under Expatvac in early Aug, whether or not they have qualifying conditions. I'm not sure how much under age 60, however.

You may be onto something. Once the Pfizer vaccine is taken out of deep freeze the clock starts ticking. So the US may have donated a vaccine with a long shelf life, but if Thailand could only store it at a higher temperature, it would expire at some point. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-brief-fda-authorizes-longer-time-refrigerator-storage-thawed-pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine

Agreed. The situation is a bit different in "deep red" Bangkok where company staff may need to travel a fair distance by public transportation to get to work, and not everyone has been able to get even a single dose of vaccination.

Have you tried the Immigration helpline - x1178? If you find anything out, please post back

Friends on the ground in Malaysia say KPMG advised the Malaysian government on this change. If that's true, then yes, they knew exactly what they were doing. Thailand, advised by McKinsey & Co, has come up with its own "high net worth" long term visa program. At this stage, it isn't clear that McKinsey's plan for Thailand is intended to replace the existing retirement or other long term visas.

Seems unlikely. Meetings and conferences are done online in this environment. Many others are waiting for even a first vaccine, and for the chance to travel. As a US tax payer, I care how the Pfizer donation is used - or misused.

Yes, could be. And I guess it's great that at least he can travel. I'll admit I'm not feeling very generous. I'd be feeling more generous towards the good doctor if I'd received even one of those many vaccines. Also if Thai Immigration weren't essentially closed and unable to process NonImm B extensions, preventing any travel. Somehow even a medical conference just sounds like a boondoggle.

So it does. Boondoggle, maybe. And can Thai doctors "work" in Canada?

Not sure if it's a factor, but some countries don't accept certain vaccines for entry.

I agree that all should be treated equally. But the numbers seem to say that foreigners are way behind. Can't say what is happening in Khon Kaen, but perhaps they are trying to catchup the foreigners?

No, across the entire country 7.5% have received two jabs, versus 2.42% (1/3 of 7.27%) of foreigners. https://ig.ft.com/coronavirus-vaccine-tracker/?areas=gbr&areas=isr&areas=usa&areas=eue&areas=can&areas=chn&areas=ind&cumulative=1&doses=total&populationAdjusted=1

Depends on how many Americans are in Thailand. As of 2010 reported figures it was about 40,000. But the acting US Ambassador reportedly estimates the figures now may be closer to 100,000. If his figures are accurate, then it could be less than 5% of Americans have received a shot.

0% of the Americans in my household have received a first vaccine, although all have pre-registered in multiple places including Expatvac . Average age is close to, but not yet, 60. I'm in Bangkok.

How well is the rest of the Government performing seems a good question. I have to wonder about what is going on here:

That's great news. Are the foreigners all over 60 or with underlying illnesses? Or are they taking others now?