Caldera

These clowns hold a meeting without sporting face masks? Let's hope Ai Anutin doesn't see that!

It just confirms that the mental effects of severe and prolonged brainwashing in school aren't limited to native Thais. He did go through Thailand's infamous education system, after all.

That said, he seems to be genuinely happy with his life. Good for him!

When planning a trip (any trip), what I'd be worried about is that the situation might change between leaving and coming back, as it's so fluid. Even if there's no outright ban imposed, the likelihood of flight cancellations is very real and often short notice.

"The new case is a 25-year-old Thai man, a tour guide who recently returned from South Korea and was diagnosed with the virus on Feb. 24"

Diagnosed with the virus on Feb 24th and it increases the count on Feb 28th? That's a bad joke.

A special Coronavirus extension stamp would actually be a nice souvenir.

5 hours ago, BritTim said:

I personally think that an announcement that they will resume honouring existing tourist visas would be more effective than introducing an additional flavour of tourist visa.

We live in hope!

2 hours ago, mikebell said:

I've booked a BA ticket to UK in July.  What are my rights if UK stop flights from Thailand?

You have the right to ask Boris - ever so nicely - to evacuate you.

Seriously though, if numbers pick up dramatically, that might just happen.

If I were him, I would be worried, too.

All it takes is a sharp economic downturn, and his "elected" government of assorted dinosaurs, criminals and incompetent oxygen thieves might be blown away.

The prospect of such a downturn in the near future, of course, just got A LOT more likely.

Wow that Korat incident sure seems to have triggered many like-minded idiots and unleashed quite some pent-up anger. I wonder how many more there might be out there?

They might soon be desperate enough to go ahead with it, let's see.

13 hours ago, FangFerang said:

I am currently stranded in Thailand and nearing the end of my 30 day extension to my tourist visa on arrival, 60 days total ending and coming fast.  I work at a private Chinese university in Wuxi, and we have been instructed to stay away until notified otherwise.  As of yesterday they still do not know when the all clear will sound.  They are paying us.  I have my Chinese documentation proving I am under contract until June 30, my work Z visa and contract copy and work permit, but I do not know what to do. I am kin Ubon. 

I don't think Thai immigration would consider you "stranded" in Thailand. While you work in China, it's not your home country, so you could presumably fly to your home country and wait there until you can return to China.

That said, your situation is easily remedied by doing a border run, which would give you another 30 (or 60, with extension) days.

Too bad that the OP didn't mention what kind of "visa" he extended, so we don't even know which counter deserves to be praised for that quick turnaround.

It has always been my impression that some areas of the CW immigration office are more of a zoo than others.

Putting the useless Pence in charge, Trump must really believe there's a low risk. That's reassuring.

2 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

The are only giving special extensions for Chinese that entered on 15 day visa on arrival.

Interesting. How long/often can they now extend their VOA? That sure beats waiving their overstay fine instead.

Thailand wouldn't be amused if other countries advised their citizens the same with regards to holidaying in Thailand. Hypocrites.

Closing schools instead of lowering pollution levels? As things stand, Thai students already don't get the education they need! Yet another ridiculous idea.

The organizers of many similar events worldwide had the good sense to cancel or postpone.

Travel bans and flight cancellations seem to be spreading even faster than the virus, which would make me worry: Assuming that you get to Thailand, who can guarantee that you will be able to fly back home a few weeks later?

In the OP's case, it seems to be a short and probably domestic trip. That's quite a different scenario.

Hua Hin's only charm is that it's sleepy. Once that changes, it will have no appeal whatsoever.

2 hours ago, JoseThailand said:

You can always say that you don't have it. There's no legal obligation to keep an old passport.

True, but there's also no legal obligation for them to give you a visa. If they demand to see your old passport and you don't have it, not getting the visa is the likely outcome.

37 minutes ago, Catoni said:

Should charge the people responsible for pixelating his face with aiding and abetting a criminal. 

    They refuse to help identify the creep. 

Good point. I, for one, would report him if I saw him in Bangkok - if only I could recognize him!

This thread is pointless without having clear pictures of the guy.

"Even the Europeans were following the Chinese lead and shunning Thailand."

That is certainly true. Many Europeans are very cautious by nature, so since this outbreak originated in Asia, many might give Asia as a whole a wide berth until this has blown over. There's also the tiny little problem that travel insurance policies nowadays often exclude any issues related to a pandemic from coverage. The prospect of possibly having to undergo quarantine upon return is also daunting.

If you say so, General Pinocchio. I'll take your word for it.