BKKTRAVELER

Has anyone ever been issued a 90 day report that was less than 90 days?

I used an agency for my extensions for the past year and a half and I just realized my latest 90 day report is ending on my last day of permit of stay instead of the usual 90 days. Which is about 45 days less than 90 days.

I asked the agent about it and they said it was normal. It didn't sound normal to me as when under Covid extension, their 90 days report was always beyond my extension's validity.

I am not blaming them, for the record. I just want to know if it is something new or just odd.

Anyone had experience with this?

Thanks as always

15 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

This snippet of email I received from friend that obtained non o volunteering.

The info comes from lawyer in Bangkok. Only pass it on as a curiosity. 

 

he explained the volunteer visa was a scam roght from the top as it doesnt even derive from immigration or the department of business as the work visa does. 

 

it will be interesting to see if i get grief when comes time for retirement visa

Well, hopefully not. When visa amnesty came to an end, Covid 19 was full on and immigration told us to get a "proper" visa at any cost or we would get kicked out. I didn't qualify for any except Elite, so went with the Volunteer that was recommended to me by CW staff as a valid way to stay...

Now, I feel like a criminal for doing just that.

Go figure...

14 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Does not explain why they have been issued. 

That excludes having obtained non o volunteering at some point. 

 

 

 

I don't know, but my volunteer visa during my stay seems to be the reason I can't extend anymore.

8 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

That's interesting.

It's my understanding is that it's all about how you entered Thailand.

 

If that was with tourist visa or visa exempt then you could apply for covid extension. 

 

If you (for example) had obtained a non O retirement that does not rule you out for covid extensions, provided you did not enter with the Non O.

I was told by agents that the fact that you got a non o visa during your stay would indeed compromise any further Covid extensions, regardless if you arrived on exempt or TR visa.

1 minute ago, BritTim said:

I should not bite on this, but I cannot control myself. Western countries also fail to recognise the tremendous benefits foreigners bring to their countries.

 

It is politically beneficial in almost all countries to demonise foreigners, and you can say almost anything to back up your attacks. There tends to be a grain of truth in the justifications for the xenophobia, but statistics do not overall back up the arguments in practice.

 

Most migrants to the US mostly fall into one of two categories: students and economic migrants. The economic migrants are demonised, but they end up being a net benefit to the economy. They are overwhelmingly aged under 35, energetic and ambitious (a self selecting group of the kinds of people that have made countries like the US dynamic for the last 300 years). Every successive wave of immigration is attacked when it occurs, but economic migrants have only ended up being bad for the recipient country in one special case of which I am aware: the enforced transportation of slaves. That ended up, on balance, being bad for several reasons, one of which is that it was no longer a self selecting group of ambitious individuals.

I don't think it's fair to compare westerners in Thailand with Mexican immigrants in the US. 

We are not here to take jobs away from Thai in lower tiers. Most of us are here to enjoy our life here as the conditions are better while spending our money in places where it matters.

I understand immigration has to enforce policies, but they just don't make sense to me while the country is still suffering from a lack of tourists it financially needs.

3 hours ago, BritTim said:

Most countries, including first world countries, have a certain amount of paranoia over foreigners. Why expect Thailand to be different? Sure, benefits foreigners bring to the economy far outweigh the rare cases where they cause serious problems. However, that is not the way government officials, and most of the public at large, think. Look at how they overreact to the idea of some foreigners overstaying their permissions to stay while causing absolutely no other issues. It is the tribal instinct that we have inherited from the stone age.

I understand your point, but not many countries rely on tourism as much as Thailand. The overall economic situation is still precarious and they should recognize that. That's all I'm saying.

3 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Though since starving for tourist, I don't think they'll be turning anyone away.

That would be logical thinking but I don't they are going that far. I can see immigration at airports turning people away as easily as they did pre Covid without realizing it is actually hurting their own country (hotels, restaurants, shops, travel agencies etc.).

Also, if they wanted to keep foreigners in as they are desperate for tourists, they should not have stopped Covid extension and would have alerted each immigration office to offer them to foreigners at all cost. They get income from these extensions and foreigners stay here and spend their money here.

Clearly, this is not their angle. Go figure...

Tell them you go to travel as a tourist in Thailand. Anything further will set you back.

If they ask why you spend this much time here, it's because you love it so much, Thailand is the best country. Use your Thai (Prathay Thai dee teesud nei loke blablablah)

If they ask for financial proof for your stay, have more cash than needed ready.

You better have a hotel booked for a few nights. A condo would defeat the purpose.

Have a smile during your "interview" as if you actually came to enjoy some well deserved holidays in Thailand.

Good luck.

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

You entered on TV. Did the agents you contacted give you a reason for no covid extension possible for you? 

 

@BKKTRAVELER this report from OP does not sound promising. 

Indeed, I contacted Key Visa but they do not seem to be able to help me either.

8 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

When this one first did the rounds (in a news article I cannot find at the moment) she admitted to trafficking and took police to her house and showed them 4 more packages.

 

 

Oh.. That explains more indeed.

Many suspicions, but how did the boyfriend get a free pass? Let's start with that.

You can travel on visa exempt which will allow you 30 days, with an option to extend for 30 more days.

You can also apply for other visa types if you qualify for them once inside the country.

1 hour ago, ChristianPFC said:

I went today. MRT to Chatuchak, van number 10 (destinations only in Thai) for 26 THB to Goverment Complex entrance, free shuttle.

 

Get TM.7 from information, but even after asking for affidavit I didn't get one. Did others get the affidavit at information or from officer? Fill out forms, get queue number 10:41. Lunch break 12-13, my number is called 14:01.

 

Before even opening my passport (How did they know I'm here for Covid extension? Because they saw the 60 days on the form?), the lady tells me the extension will be valid from today. My current stay expires on 9 Mar, and I want to spend another 60 days in Thailand and then return to Germany, so I told them I will come back on 8 Mar. Officer asked for TM.30. I had a screenshot (i.e. I took a optical picture of my landlord's computer screen when she registered me), but she said I should print it out when I come back.

 

By chance, it was the same counter, but I don't remember if the same officer, as my 30 day extension a month ago (did not ask for TM.30).

 

The reason the extension starts from the day I apply is because it's a change from tourist visa to Covid extension, the officer said. A knowledgeable friend said the first Covid extension is from day of application, all further extensions are added to the end of permission to stay.

 

I want to maximize my time in Thailand, better to spend another day going to Immigration and getting two weeks more. On the other hand I like to do things well in advance, but that did not work out in this case. If going one day before expiry does not work (e.g. if they insist on an embassy letter), I will be in a rush to leave the country!

 

Bus 66 (Southern Bus Station - Government Complex) and 166 (Victory Monument - Government Complex - Muang Thong Thani) now pass right in front. Frequency between 20 and 40 minutes between busses.

 

I should have asked for another set of forms at information, so I can fill them out in the comfort of my home and save time in CW!

 

Thanks for the report, I hope it all works out for you.

Don't forget the 4th test to go back to their home country (in many cases currently). Get your noses ready gentlemen!

You should be able to do so at CW in Bangkok. It should be the same in Jomtien.

Affidavit will be provided. I don't have the link, but others may be able to provide it.

Health insurance or flight out of Thailand should not be required (flight out has been in the past at CW according to reports). An ATK Covid test may be required to enter the immigration office though.

In practice, 90 day report is for anyone staying in the country for up to 90 days, but others will confirm if you have to do it or not.

Please let us know how your extension went, it may help others.

14 hours ago, thaisail said:

I never felt that way about that Cambodian official. I really feel that he was trying to help me. He used his own money from his own bank account to pay his government for my E-Visa before receiving any money from me. He asked me for only $47 and he had to pay $36 for my E-Visa. He even sent me a scan of his ID card so that I could see that he was not trying to rip me off. So his "service charge was only $11. While the Singapore Bank charged $20 and the official's own bank in Cambodia charged him another $10. That is why I sent $50 to him and then he only received $40. I didn't have to put the exta $10 into his bank account in Phnom Penh but I promised to send him $50 which was $3 more than he asked for. I also invited him for a drink at our hotel because of how nicely he treated us. He never came by for a drink in the end and I regret this because he saved me hundreds of dollars by offering to help out with my visa so I would not have to spend 3 days in Bangkok going to the Cambodian Consulate. So please do not call it a bribe because I do not feel it was that way. 

I understand your reaction and he did truly do you a favor. It still remains a bribe unfortunately. A service costs 36$, but you are asked to pay 47$ by a government official knowing he'll pocket the difference. It's just 11$ and is practical, I get that. And if you have lived in Asia more than a few months, you get used to it quite easily.

Again, I'm not criticizing. I would have done the same thing as you and would have felt it was a great opportunity. I'm glad your trip turned out ok and that you made it back here with not too much hassle.

40 minutes ago, Klonko said:

Even at Suvarnabhum,  immigration officers may not be familiar with the Elite visa. Fortunately, my wife could pick up the suitcases from the belt while the IO was studying the rules for quite some time. He did not ask a colleague, probably afraid to loose face. Maybe Elite's transfer service would help.

Don't you have access to Elite personnel at the airport to help you, despite your membership?

5 hours ago, FriendlyFarang said:

Not required, the article is just wrong.

Some office are requiring that you show emails from your embassy that they do not issue these letters anymore.

OP, like DrJack54 mentioned, which immigration office are you dealing with?

Assuming that you are already on an Elite visa, here is my experience:

5-6 years ago, I agreed to join friends for a "fun" weekend" in Poipet. It was not fun and I don't recommend anyone to go there, but that's not the point.

I was on Elite at that time and when I went to immigration back to Thailand, the IO at the desk was scratching his head. He had never seen that visa. I tried to explain as best as I could but he was very confused. He called a female manager and she was puzzled as well. They listened to me but had to be sure. She went to find a book (with handwritten instructions I guessed) and went through the pages. They found something relevant but were thinking they had to give me 90 days only. I kept telling them it was a 1 year permit of stay and so the manager made a phone call. 5 minutes later she came back and I got my 1 year. They were very friendly and polite, but just clueless.

So, you might encounter the same problems. But ultimately it will be ok. In case they are not sure what to do, my advice is to just call Elite and ask them to talk to IOs if possible. And make sure you get 1 year.

Good luck.

20 minutes ago, Antiparovian said:

Is there such thing as a Legit Agency? Ask your local Immigration Office about "legit agency" I would be interested to hear their answer.

They would probably say nothing. In reality, the bribe money customers pay and that is shared between the agency and immigration makes everyone happy...

2 hours ago, zyphodb said:

Yes but maybe not so many in Phuket...

 

True, I haven't been there in many years due to bad attitude. I hope things have changed but remain skeptical.