drbeach

To the OP, clearly you were wrong. I don't understand the point of these posts, which are very quickly refuted.

I believe that Thailand's policy so far has been more generous than Indonesia's and there is a good chance that a further amnesty extension or some other kind of policy will be implemented, allowing stranded foreigners to continue staying legally until things get back to normal.

Say what you want about Thailand but it's not always greener on the other side.

Also, there are FAR more foreigners in Thailand than Indonesia, therefore, for the Indonesian government to "clear out" foreigners, is less of a task than Thailand, not withstanding the logistics of getting foreigners out of remote islands, but my guess is very few are likely to be in such a situation. The vast majority are in Bali and Jakarta, places with international airports and at least some flights out.

14 hours ago, Postmaster said:

Indonesia  !!!  Why would you go there ?  The weather and the total climate is <deleted>.  It rains every day.  The food is <deleted>.  Its all Muslims,  They don't like us.  Jakarta roads are at constant gridlock.  Indonesians are not welcoming they are fully gowned up.  No flesh anywhere.  Try anywhere but Indonesia.  I never go back there again !!!  There Internet security is non existant. Sorry guys you are rubbish there.

True to some extent perhaps, but not across the board. I think if one chooses to live in Bali or a majority Christian area they'll be welcomed and able to live quite a happy life. Although the infrastructure is not as good as Thailand and driving standards are even lower than here.

Indeed it rains a lot of the time but at least it's warm to hot year-round, same as Thailand but in contrast to Vietnam, for instance, which has a dreadful climate north of Nha Trang (cold, mostly cloudy, drizzly winters and hot extremely humid summers with occasional rain and chance of a typhoon during the height of summer).

Jakarta roads gridlocked and even worse than Bangkok? Check.

20 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

So, it sounds like the borders are going to remain closed for the foreseeable future. Or else why go through this procedure?

I think that's a foregone conclusion. That being said, perhaps the borders may re-open in a limited capacity in 2-3 months from now (at least for Thais and Cambodians) but even if that were to be the case, removing belongings now makes sense. I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving my stuff behind anywhere, even for a day, let alone several months or possibly longer.

21 minutes ago, yuyiinthesky said:

Actually, Cambodia did even better than Vietnam, zero deaths.

 

And Cambodia and Vietnam have kind of reopened its borders, for example so that kids living in one country near the border can go again to the schools in the other country.

 

And if you have a visa, and fly to Cambodia, you can enter. Not an easy process yet but doable. Much more common sense there than in panicking Thailand - and much less Covid-19.

Realistically you can't enter Cambodia. From Thailand you'd have to fly to Korea and then catch a flight down. Getting a visa in the first place is complicated and then come the covid tests, insurance, testing again on arrival and so forth.

Little known fact is that Thailand has also kind of unofficially opened some of it's borders to neighbors - Three Pagodas Pass is allowing Burmese across. As usual, they are restricted an approx. 3km radius from the border. No vehicles are allowed, nor are Thais permitted to go in the other direction.

Therefore, your Vietnam/Cambodia example is very similar - and I am almost certain the flow is one way (as in Thailand's case). No Vietnamese student goes to school in Cambodia, but probably some Cambodian kids go to school in Vietnam. Equally, Burmese, Lao and Cambodians in border regions may attend Thai schools, but no Thai attends school in the neighboring country (except in the case of Malaysia). So what this means is - it's a one way from from poorer to richer, more developed country. As is the case pretty everywhere in the world.

Good for them. Finally. Thais have been so extremely timid and placid, if you will, throughout this crisis when in European countries and America, some of which have seen fewer restrictions people and businesses have protested and rioted. In other words, it takes a lot less for a westerner to go stand up for their rights than a Thai/Asian.

I don't quite understand the mentality. Why are Thais so obedient towards the government? I mean, the government doesn't actually have nearly as much power, or resources, as say the American or European governments. People, perhaps out of fear, just do everything they're told to, when during normal times, the authorities can't even stop someone riding a motorcycle against the flow of traffic.

Maybe I answered my own question - it's fear and belief in authority that breeds this almost unquestioning compliance in this part of the world.

On 7/14/2020 at 12:29 PM, vermin on arrival said:

I know Vietnam has pay system for 2 or so months at a time, does it have an amnesty as well? Laos is just having people pay overstay $2 a day indefinitely, right? 60 a month is the rouighly the same as 1900 baht extensions.

Vietnam has an amnesty running until July 31. Extended for one month from the original end date of June 30.

13 minutes ago, KhaoNiaw said:

They're not talking about permanent residency. It's illegally obtaining nationality through corrupt district officials who will create them an ID. It's been going on for years and you hear about arrests every now and then. This sounds like a really big operation though. 

WHat? Can I do the same? LOL...not that I'd want to risk getting caught...but just saying. Why is this being allowed. Surely these people are taking an enormous risk, are their citizen details even recorded in a computer?

5 hours ago, GalaxyMan said:

I'd like to know how 250 Chinese got Thai permanent residency rights. My understanding is that only 100/nationality can receive it each year.

Maybe they didn't get it all in the same year.

2 hours ago, pookondee said:

OP, Maybe you could divulge if its one of the big name chain type appartment complexes at various locations?

 

Im sure many would be interested to know.

And then others might be able to confirm if its just a one-off, or happening everywhere.

 

Its a worrying development if this spreads and becomes the norm.

 

That would just about be curtains for me if this is just being directed at farangs only.

But it would not suprise me in the least.

Well, foreigners of any nationality, but even then, a worrying trend if true.

Why not rent a house? I'll never ever rent, buy or even stay in a condo again, given the experiences people have shared here. None of this nonsense applies if you rent a house, perhaps on the outskirts of a city.

17 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Wrong

You can apply for a 60 day extension with any type of entry. 

 

To the OP you can apply for a 60 day extension but some offices may say no.

When I was on a non-B, they didn't approve my application for a 60 day visit wife extension. They said I was on the wrong visa. This was back in February 2018 at CW. However, it's possible they thought I wanted a 12 month extension because they had us fill out all the paperwork like that form where you write down how you met your wife. I didn't question the rejection because my non-B multi was expiring, I had a business trip to Myanmar coming up and decided just to go to Laos first for a non-O, so never did do the 60 day extension. In fact, if I had, I would have found myself wasting money on the extension and a possible re-entry permit. I decided a few days in Laos to get a new visa would make more sense.

12 minutes ago, JensenZ said:

 I'd say it's way more than a "rumour".

 

I would way it's a certainty that there will be an extension as nobody can fly anywhere right now. What would you expect them to do with stranded tourists who cannot get home? Lock them up?

Exactly. The only country that did seem to haul away all foreigners, back in March or April I think it was, was Cuba. They forced all foreigners into quarantine while awaiting flights out of the country.

Highly unlikely a country like Thailand would or even could, do the same. Aside from the obvious beating to it's reputation, the logistics would be impossible. Plus Thailand has far, far more foreigners than Cuba. And for what?

I think people should just calm down and stay put (but with a solid "just in case" plan). 15 days is a long time and I think something will be announced by next week. Even more likely now that the government seems to be keen on slowing down the arrival of newcomers and flights, in light of the incident in Rayong a few days ago.

1 minute ago, Donga said:

Excellent reporting and handling of the situation.

Having been back in Australia six weeks, got to say I feel much less safe here than in Thailand.

The Thais have done a marvelous job, and I have every confidence they will continue to control Covid-19.

Those folk who question and jeer from the sidelines ought to get out more.

What? That last statement sounds very authoritarian. Nobody should question anything? Where did you go to school Nakorn Nowhere high?

6 hours ago, LALes said:

I flew BKK-Phuket on Monday.  Piece of cake.  Only thing different was empty middle seats and masks.  Flight was surprisingly full.  Even 3 across in a few rows.

I thought they ended the social distancing restrictions on domestic flights.

12 hours ago, Paiman said:

It is good if you have a Thai pick you up at the airport. They get the feeling you are taken care of and won't bother you too much.

That was almost necessary back at the beginning in May (except when flying into Bangkok) but is no longer the case now.

On 7/12/2020 at 3:26 PM, bluesky1234577 said:

Right, it is almost impossible. But, the thing is I need to go out to change my visa type....

No you don't. Agents can fix your issue if you are willing to pay the price. However, even that may not be necessary. Speak to immigration first and in the worst case scenario, send your passport off to an agent.

It was only a matter of time before westerners were booted out of the Koh Rong islands too, after they were effectively evicted from Sihanoukville starting around 2017.

7 hours ago, holy cow cm said:

This is soooooooo BS ludicrous. It is a golf course for Christ Sakes and she works at the golf course. Sort of like being at a fire dept and getting wet. 

Or getting burned.

19 hours ago, problemfarang said:

No the reason at nonthaburi was because my visa is expired. For both extansion and 60 days.

 

But CW said its not a problem

 

I have no idea anymore. I accept that will leave the country and try to come back again. Seems there is no other solution

 

Thursday will try CW first for 1 year if not, 60 days.. if not.. nothing to do.. go laos 14 days get non-o come back thailand 14 days... 

You'll receive an extension.

You certainly won't be getting into Laos anytime soon. So forget that option.

On 7/13/2020 at 5:03 PM, ubonjoe said:

I think there is about a 100% chance of it. They would of already said it would not be extended by now. No cabinet approval of no amnesty is needed.

Cabinet meeting tomorrow may give us an answer.

And that would presumably mean if it's extended, someone like myself can thus wait until near the end of the extended amnesty to go for my 60 day visit wife extension, since it starts on the day of application? If so, that would be swell.

The 1-year extension can thus wait for a couple of more months.

Funny all these late mask mandates. Many US states, then Canada, Iran and now the UK all within the past few days/weeks.

Meanwhile, in the Czech Republic, no longer required when outdoors since May 25. In Vietnam, mostly not required in public anymore since May or June (except in a few businesses and to board flights and of course on board).

5 minutes ago, WuhanVagabond said:

What "papers in order"? THe IO claimed Visa Amnesty = overstay and excludes one from consideration for other visas. This is clearly untrue; so I don't see why you think this is a "benefit" to me. 

 

I was stunned it was right in the open with all the non-uniformed workers right there. I thought this kind of thing was more on the down low. I mean, they were literally funneling people to this IO.

Stop complaining. Pay the money or make arrangements to leave. You can't have it both ways.

On 7/11/2020 at 7:37 AM, young Farrang said:

most likely end of amnesty. 

 

I read somewhere you need to deposit $3000 in a cambodian bank account in order to enter, is there some more information regarding this requirement?

Yes it's still in effect. But even getting to Cambodia will be challenging. You'd have to transit via Seoul!!