BKKTRAVELER

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

You should of went a day or 2 later or you would not of been fined.

The cabinet approved a new ministerial announcement on the 29th that was published in the royal gazette late on the 30th that extended the amnesty to October 31st.

Does it mean that people who did not do their 90 day report during the amnesty actually have until 31st October to do it without fines officially? Got a few people asking me.

Thank you guys for all your answers!

I went with my friend at CW this morning to extend his permit of stay for Elite. It was a mess at first as their queue system was broken and many foreigners were panicking, running around like headless chickens. Anyway, I told the volunteer person (very nice helpful lady) that it was for an Elite visa and after checking with the IOs, she gave us 2 forms to fill and told us to wait a few minutes. We then were directed to an office at the back, very nice IO lady who took care of everything in 5 minutes including 1,900B payment. We then waited and got the passport back shortly after. All was done with a lot of kindness. It took around 20 minutes total. For all who wonder what privileges the Elite visa give, this is one of them: IOs are very friendly and make you skip queues even though it was very busy.

I did ask Elite staff prior if we would need to show a TM30 receipt to get the extension and they said: YES. That it was absolutely necessary. Because of your comments on this thread, I discarded their opinion. The TM30 in question was never brought by the IO. That is one thing that has become annoying with Elite staff, they have a tendency to give wrong information, especially regarding the 6th year extension, saying it is illegal and will get us in trouble. I went many times to CW and each time (before and after I got my 6th year) IOs said it was perfectly legal. I understand they want people to extend as their visa expire but it just didn't sit well with me the way they were trying to scare me. So, in some aspects the Elite staff brings down the value of the visa you pay for in my opinion.

Now, for all the people who for some reason did not renew their visa or get any extension possible yet, the staff at CW said they will open until 10pm tonight and will also open tomorrow apparently. I hope this info will help some.

Last note, all IOs I saw were very focused and polite and seemed to genuinely try their best. I know the immigration system in Thailand is complicated but every time I go to CW I am thankful for the IOs who remain calm and patient when it is very crowded and full with people who are clueless about what they have to bring. One guy just came with his passport and the IOs were explaining him about copies, photos and such that he needed, he somehow got upset, like he thought his passport was enough to get whatever he wanted... I personally would become insane if I worked there, so I think they are actually doing a great job!

Good luck everyone

Thank you very much for your answer.

It's a shame if he has to go to both places but it is what it is I guess...

So, as per your answer it seems it is still at CW. Any idea if he can do his TM30 there in case they ask it? Thank you very much

Yes, sorry I meant his Elite visa is still valid but permit of stay expired during the amnesty. He used to go extend it at CW but is not sure where to go this time.

For a friend,

Where can he go extend his current valid Elite visa in Bangkok? CW or MTT?

Also, in case they ask to make a TM30, which place would it be to do it? Hopefully both at the same place...

Thank you!

I am all set, but my friend was quoted 45k for 12 months volunteer visa (excluding multiple entry), asking to come by Monday before 12pm to make it on time for the amnesty ending.

I don't think it can be done after the amnesty ends, but who knows...

18 minutes ago, alyx said:

Yes I  find that strange as this 90 day report is for all foreigners residing legally in Thailand more than 90 days. But if it comes to the worst and you need this form completed when you renew your visa,  just go to the counter and pay the fine...which  you  will not have to if you leave the country

Yes, thank you. I am not worried as 90 day reports seem more like a formality than anything serious. Can always be fixed with a small fine later on. It just was strange is all.. 

Just to give an update,

I decided to send my messenger early afternoon to do my 90 days report as always. He called us back and said there was a problem so we talked in Thai to the immigration lady officer.

Since I am currently on an expired Elite visa (permit of stay expired later as I left and came back before the visa expired), she said I do not have a valid visa to do a 90 days report.

She said I don't qualify for it, that I can do it again once I have a new visa, Elite or anything else long term.

It is strange as I have done a few 90 days reports since my visa expired and they always did it with no problem. But I guess that was at CW and they were not as serious as here. No mention of TM30 form.

She said that sending a messenger or anyone was not an issue for those interested here.

Last, it was funny the way she was talking, like it is a privilege to go do the 90 days report... I don't know many foreigners who feel privileged to waste their time.

Thank you both for your answers.

Tomorrow is really not a good day for me to go. Is the deadline for doing 90 days report under amnesty set for tomorrow or can it be done within Sept 26?

Hi, I wrote about it in another thread but was not getting any response.

Tomorrow morning I was planning to do my 90 days report in Bangkok, MTT center as I understand it changed location recently.

Here are the details:

- I always send a messenger to do it for me with my passport, previous 90 days report and a new tm47 completed form.

- I do not have a TM30 receipt, is it really needed now to do 90 days reports?

- I was originally supposed to do my 90 days report in June but skipped it because of amnesty.

My question is can I send me messenger tomorrow as usual or are they going to ask him for me to go there myself and ask for a TM30 receipt, which will come with a fine I guess?

Looking forward to your answers, thank you

I am planning to do my 90 days report tomorrow morning.

I always did it by sending a messenger for me with my passport, previous 90 days report and new tm47 completed form. There never was an issue about it.

I do not have a TM30 receipt. Is it going to be an issue for me to do tomorrow with the same process (send messenger and no TM30 receipt)?

Worth mentioning that I had to do this 90 days report in June but skipped it since covid 19 amnesty etc.

Thank you if anyone has an idea about it.

I am in the same boat as you.

I was in my 6th year of Elite visa when Covid started and my permit of stay expired end of May during the amnesty.

I guess I'll have to renew with Elite if I want to stay. Anyone knows of other options? I am not very keen to spend 500k right now as I have many uncertainties and didn't plan to stay beyond 2021. 

I'm also curious about these volunteer visas but feel that it may come back to bite me in the a$$ at some point should I try this path...

3 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

You qualify under the ministerial order that allows you to stay until July 31st since you were in the country on the 26th of March.

You have nothing to worry about.

Thank you very much

3 hours ago, Goethe said:

Your safest course of action is to assume that your permission to stay ends on the date stamped in your passport and to take the necessary action before that date. You gain little by speculating whether or not you are covered by the "amnesty" until 31 July and risk lots of trouble if you are wrong. 

 

Foreigners who have a permission to stay for the purposes of retirement are NOT covered by the amnesty and have to renew before the end of that permission. It would be wise for you to assume the same.

Ok, so let's say I try to take a course of action, What are my options? I am on my 6th year of Elite visa. Obviously, my visa expired last year. How can I renew my permit of stay? I do not see any options for me to renew within Thailand, since there is nothing valid to renew. My only possible option would be if I buy another Elite visa right now to hope it will be all settled within the end of May. But I don't see the immigration forcing me to do so, coughing up 500k or more, it has to be my choice I guess. 

I just don't see what are my options to extend my permit of stay while borders are still closed.

Elite sent an email to their members saying they were included for the 31st of July extension. Then they said to still go to immigration if the members need an extension as they can't guarantee what will be the process once the extension is over on August 1st. 

5 minutes ago, darrendsd said:

You were given 1 year on your last entry by a Government employed Immigration officer - how can you be breaking the law?

 

FYI it is well known and other posters who are on the Elite have posted here that they left just before the end of their 5th year and upon return were given another year

 

I'm on a ED visa and should be leaving on 4th May - i have been given very helpful advise by UbonJoe that I am covered by the amnesty however i'm still going to go to Immigration tomorrow to be 100% certain - you will be given a lot of mis information on this forum by some other members so maybe it's better you visit Immigration to double check to set your mind at rest?

I agree that I'm not breaking any laws, had it confirmed at CW twice. I guess I will have to go back there to make sure about the extension, wish I could have avoided that. But like you, I like to be sure in these matters.

Thanks for your input!

1 minute ago, fishtank said:

Exactly. Permissions to stay and not Visas.

So much confusion as usual .

If I were the op I would phone Immigration and ask them.

I did but they were puzzled and I am not very eager to go there myself right now with the covid situation.

The way I see it is that my Elite visa is basically a very long term tourist visa. As a tourist in this situation, I don't have options to extend to a new visa within Thailand (except renew Elite I guess). This makes me think that I qualify to stay until end of July. Am I wrong to think like that?

1 minute ago, phuketrichard said:

100% wrong

 

there people here on 1 year multi entry NON B visas, non O visas, 90 day o visas, 90 day B visas, tourists visas an 30 day visa exempt stamps

there also people here on 1 year EXTENSIONS

 

I'd call the elite people and ask them

Well, the problem is that Elite seems to be saying that anyone on their 6th year is breaking the law to begin with. I don't think they would be much help in my case.

Thank you!

Thank you for answering, I guess I can stay until end of July then? I'm just cautious when it comes down to immigration

Hi there, so here goes:

I am on my 6th year of Elite visa. I left the country and came back last year just before my 5 years visa expired. The IO at BKK airport gave me a full year and told me it was completely valid. I went to check at CW twice to make sure with different IOs that it was in order and they said yes, just keep doing your 90 days report if you stay here. So, my permission of stay is valid until toward the end of May 2020.

My question is: am I included in the foreigners that will be allowed to stay in the country until July 31st? Because, technically I am on a permit of stay and not a visa. Anyone having an idea on the matter would be very welcomed to share their thoughts.

Thank you!