Caldera

Much easier to control a populace while the economy is booming and you can feed them just enough crumbs to keep them in their place.

This economic downturn might be a blessing in disguise - people are finally fed up or even desperate enough to act.

Before speculating how many tourists might come, actually letting tourists back in would be a prerequisite for any recovery.

First I'll wait for the official announcement. Then I'll reevaluate my stay in Thailand and check what options I will have.

1 hour ago, kirbi53 said:

I dealt with an agent in Vientiane for 5 years 

He was great 

At first he charged 11 000 bt for his service + 5000 bt for multi o from Savannakhet with receipt 

Then he rounded the price off to 20000 bt his service 15000 + 5000bt for Multo o visa again from Savannakhet with receipt for the last couple of years

I did not have to go to Savannakhet I had a weeks holiday instead ????

I had to stay in Vientiane minimum 3 days but always made it a week. 

I don't know why you mention this here, considering that the land borders are closed and it's unknown when they will open and which restrictions might apply.

If you currently stay in Thailand on such a multi entry visa and wish to stay beyond the "grace period", you will need to secure an extension in Thailand. Don't bank on being able to go to Vientiane or Savannakhet before September 26th - that might very well not be possible.

Hang in there, Ruth, until a sane president will be around to nominate your successor.

Politics aside, I admire her and wish her all the best in her battle against cancer.

2 hours ago, Sundown said:

So what's the difference from the visa amnesty. Visa amnesty was not an extension, was itself a grace period. So another grace period of 2 months where you can either leave or pay the bribes.

 

Grace period = Visa amnesty extended another 2 months

 

Sorry for the "go home" squad. ????

I think the only real difference is that this will be the final automatic extension, and they will make that very clear.

Yeah, the "go home" squad is probably fuming, they'll have to put up with us for another two months all for free. ????

27 minutes ago, at15 said:

“So we do not propose to extend visas after July 31, but allow for visa requests from August 1 to September 26”

 

leave by sept. 26 would mean the amnesty is extended? there is no way to do a "visa request" in country for a tourist? i think the message continues to be..... get a proper visa or get out now 

The Bangkok Post article (that we cannot link to here) has that crystal clear. Those who intend to leave have to do so by September 26th and don't need to contact immigration. Everyone else needs to secure an extension before that deadline.

I wonder if their $3000 cash deposit has anything to do with that!

I think the reason for calling it a "grace period" instead of another extension is the wording of the original cabinet resolution, which stated that the immigration bureau will set and announce a deadline for complying with the regular rules once the situation returns to normal.

The "grace period" is probably just that. Within that time, foreigners will either have to leave the country or bring their status back into compliance (e.g. by applying for an extension). So it seems they want to make clear that this will be the final automatic installment.

I take note, once again and contrary to what some forum members falsely claim, that the Thai government advises affected foreigners to "wait for updates" - NOT to "pack up and leave".

I wholeheartedly agree with this article. Virus elimination is futile anyway and the cost of attempting it is outrageous.

Better to plan for a manageably low level of infections, as that will allow the economy (including tourism) to reboot. I think a good compromise would be to require a coronavirus test before travel plus health insurance. No silly Certificate of Entry, flight restrictions only from infection hotspots, no quarantine.

2 hours ago, herfiehandbag said:

This isn't "inside information", but as I have posted elsewhere in my personal opinion, (and it is just that) those on tourist visas will have to leave, but there will possibly/probably be a period of grace to allow them to do so (mass departures at them end of July are not really practical); those of us on Non Immigrant O Multiple Entry Visas will be allowed further extensions, until such times as the land borders reopen, but we will of course have to pay. That seems a sensible arrangement, which will solve many problems on both sides of the Immigration Office counter. Perhaps it may be wishful thinking, but it does rather make sense.

I think it's wishful thinking, because Thai immigration doesn't really condone "border runs" for Non-O visa holders, although they've obviously used to tolerate them for a long time. Someone who is doing border runs effectively doesn't "visit" their Thai wife or children, but lives in Thailand with them. Just playing devil's advocate here, of course - I know that there are good and valid reasons for going the visa instead of the extension route.

It's quite telling that the original amnesty didn't make any distinction between different visa classes, unlike the amnesties enacted in neighboring countries.

Whenever the amnesty will end, I think they might have special provisions for people who work here and cannot leave and re-enter to get a new visa. Sad as it is, I don't think they will have special provisions for anyone else. They've made it very clear that they don't mind separating families from their foreign family members, time and again by their actions.