Phillip9

53 minutes ago, otissp said:

 

I think the situations might be be different actually. Further clarification should follow the official announcement on Tuesday, I guess.

 

The situation until July 31 has been being referred to as an "amnesty", which I would submit, is actually a misnomer, since the legal lengths of stay were extended to July 31st, and since people covered under the visa extension program are staying legally, they do not need amnesty. Encyclopedia Britannica: "Amnesty, in criminal law, sovereign act of oblivion or forgetfulness (from Greek amnēsia) for past acts, granted by a government to persons who have been guilty of crimes."

 

It sounds like what is happening now might be different, and actually may be a true "amnesty". For example:

 

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1953220/foreigners-can-apply-for-visa-extension-after-july-31

"Foreign visitors still stranded in the kingdom by the Covid-19 pandemic will be allowed to apply for an extended short stay after their visas expire on July 31, the Immigration Bureau chief said on Friday."

 

The nuance turns on the phrase "after their visas expire on July 31st".  If they are saying that the visas/lengths of stay are going to expire on July 31st, but they will not prosecute people who stay beyond that and leave before September 26th, then this would be a true amnesty period and not the same as the current period of time.

 

The difference could be important, not just semantic, because, for example, if one's legal length of stay expires on 7/31 and technically their status becomes an overstay period, it may no longer be possible to do things like apply to extend certain visa types.

 

The representative in this BKK post article also indicated that until 9/26, people could apply for a 30-day extension, which it was stated, would be granted on a case by case basis, based on whether or not the individual proved that they are in fact actually not able to travel home due to COVID. It was not mentioned that other forms of extension could be applied for, and it was also clear in the article that these were based on literally being not able to travel home and being able to convince immigration of this.

 

More clarification should follow the official announcements on Tuesday, I think.

 

Man you are thinking way too much.  Remember these articles had quotes translated from Thai into English.  I’m sure the Thai word for amnesty is completely different and has nothing to do with the original Greek.  A lot  gets lost in the rough translations in Bangkok post articles.

28 minutes ago, Disparate Dan said:

Has anyone worked out why "26th"? It's a Saturday (my local IO is closed then) and not a convenient or obvious 'end-date'.

It just seems an odd choice. Surely 30th would be more logical?

The initial amnesty was approved on April 7th, but it retroactively applied to anyone whose visa was still valid on March 26th.  So this would make exactly 6 months of amnesty.

1 hour ago, acenase said:

The Amnesty is good to have until borders to Laos or Malaysia open up before September 26 so that way they can go to the Thai Embassy and apply for another tourist visa to re-enter Thailand with.  If the Amnesty ends and the borders are shut, then there is no where else to go.

It is very highly optimistic to think the borders will be open by September 26.  They might still be closed September 26, 2021.

2 hours ago, ChouDoufu said:

 

actually what i read is not all clear to me.  it appears this is not another automatic extension for everyone...and that they can "apply" for extensions after the 31st.  it's for tourists who are stranded, unable to return to their home countries.  "home" would be the country printed on their passports and/or another country where they have residency.  those that have the means to return "home" won't necessarily have the option of declining.  there's always the possibility immigration will play hardball, and consider those not actually stranded and unable to leave thailand to be on overstay.

Automatic extension for everyone until September 26.  Only those who can not leave by September 26 will need to apply for a extension—they can apply any time after July 31 until sept 26.  100% crystal clear.

12 minutes ago, Rockbottom said:

The wording here "the Immigration Bureau is preparing to propose a new round of automatic visa extension to the Cabinet" is the same wording used in the Covid-19 video report posted earlier. In my humble opinion, the "new round" will most likely be approved. I tend to agree with the BH on the extension until Sept. 30 when more flights will be in service.

Yeah!  The cabinet approval is just a formality.  We can celebrate now.

9 minutes ago, Keyser Soze666 said:

LOL. Stressed?? I am not stressed at all, if I have to leave (and don't want to go on overstay) then I will leave. Whatever, so what??

Many of us don’t have a safe place to go.  In my case, I face a minimum of 5 weeks of quarantine In my country, and I am not even sure if I will be allowed to go to my home town.  If I do make it home, I will be living in a seriously infected area where the hospitals are overflowing.  Oh, and I am in a high risk group because of my age.  So, yah some of us are stressed.

9 minutes ago, BritTim said:

I think that view is the prevailing view of senior immigration officials. They have a lot of influence, and I though a couple of weeks ago they might well be able to block any further grace period for people to leave. Now, it is unlikely. If they were going to provide no way for people to stay, this needed to be announced by now. I doubt there will be a free amnesty extension. However, providing short extensions on payment of a fee now seems likely. Perhaps, this will be combined with a signed form that states you understand that no further automatic extensions will be forthcoming.

I think the problem is Thai Airways isn’t flying yet.  If they kick everyone out before this state owned airline starts to fly, it will be a national embarrassment.  Everyone’s return tickets would be worthless and  Thailand would just keep their money.

Who would ever fly Thai Airways again if the county that owns the airline kicked you out before you could use your ticket, and then just kept your money?  
 

The press would be awful and it may be the end of Thai Airways.

15 minutes ago, kd2000 said:

 

Make sense. I have forgotten that US gets 30 days not 7 like most countries...

All countries that get 30 days visa exempt on arrival can apply for one 30 day extension.  Not just the US. 

Because the official spokesperson said an extension of amnesty is being considered and an announcement will be made soon.