TheFriend

I have to say that I am welcoming the change to 60 days on arrival. It makes my life a bit easier, but it's clearly a subjective opinion. I've been living with my girlfriend in Thailand for 2.5 years, and every so often, it's really frustrating to make it work. All I can do for now are tourist visas. I am still thankful to be here. Luckily, I can work online, but it would be nice to be more a part of society and have a bit more possibilities and rights in these regards. We are both well integrated into society here and working good jobs. Fortunately, I have been working on my computer for over 10 years. However, whenever I look into the possibilities of longer stays, I feel like I am some kind of criminal with all the requirements and comments. I have been living and travelling around Asia for over 8 years, but Thailand is really the wild west for me 😂 But I get it. When I see how many people exploit and abuse the system, it makes me understand the reactions and thoughts. The Thai government really has this double personality. One day, they want to clean up the mess with all the foreigners, and the next day they lick their butts. It sucks to be dependent on the money, I guess. But I have to say, whenever I come here to check some news and after reading some of the comments, it always makes me feel like I am in an active war zone or so 😂. I understand the frustration to some extent, but it still cracks me up all the time. Let's hope for a good outcome. I assume they will remove the single entry 60 days visa or change it to 90 days or so later this year.

In Chiang Mai, there was a sign that said something like "Covid Extension only for Tourist Visa and Extensions".

Great news. I was worried that I gave some of you false hope with the information I got from Chiang Mai. But now I'm relieved ???? Have a good weekend everyone!

I assume IO means Immigration officer? I don't really know the guys position, but I've been at the Immigration office 4 times now withing the last 5 months, and he is always there. He takes care of all the people arriving, organizing documents and answering the VISA questions. He usually knows all the things in comparison to the volunteers that only check if you have all the necessary forms etc. He was the one who went into the main building were all the IOs sit and asked them. In the end, I am not 100% sure what he asked, but he told me afterwards that I can get my second CE. And before that, he told the volunteer that they extended the time period until May. I am just uncertain if he got the information directly from the IO or just assuming it because it always got extended so far.

That's what I thought too. The first woman that checks all the documents (they call them volunteer) said i can't get another covid extension because my extension is until April 11 which is after the march 25 deadline. I tried to explain to her that it to my understanding it doesn't matter because I'm applying within the extension period. I'll get a under consideration stamp and I have to come back in 2 weeks to get my 60 day stamp. And it doesn't matter if they do or don't extend the covid extension program - since I applied within the timeframe. But i think she was new and doesn't know all the rules. So the main guy came over and went into the office to ask etc. He told me that they will extend the program until may and that I can get my extension anyway because I'm within the timeframe. Btw: The first covid extension starts from the date you are applying, at the second covid extension they add the 60 days at the end of your first extension. An advice I would like to give is that if one person says "no" don't turn around and go. I don't know how it is in different cities but in Chiang Mai there are "volunteers" that pre-check your documents. Sometimes they don't know all the up to date information. So always ask for another person or opinion. Have a good day ✌????

I'm at the Chiang Mai Immigration Office now. Applying for my second covid extension. They told me the covid extension date was moved until may. Don't take this as granted because people here always say different things. But the guy that checks all documents even went into the office and asked the main officers if I can get another extension because today is the deadline and my extension is until April 11. I'll get a "under consideration" stamp and have to come back in 2 weeks to get the extension stamp. It was the same with my first covid extension. I think if the covid extension date wouldn't be extended to may they wouldn't give me the "under consideration" stamp. A bit confusing but the important Info i got is that they apparently extending until May.