mesothelium

Southeast Asian societies do not turn on a dime. MFP have definitely outperformed. At least, by even daring to tackle the question of Section 112 reforms, they've cracked open what was previously a taboo topic.

Change in Southeast Asia occurs over generations, not years. Note that, in neighbouring Malaysia, it took 25 years from the time Anwar Ibrahim kicked off his "Reformasi" movement to taking power as Prime Minister.

5 hours ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

The Government made rules so that only the people who genuinely were stuck in Thailand were able to get extensions .

   Local immigration officers did not check to make sure that people were telling the truth in their visa extension application 

Mac, if this is true, then every immigration officer who processed all my extensions at Immigration Division 1 must have been complacent in implementing the regulations, even when my application has been placed "Under Consideration", and presumably must have been signed off by a more senior official in charge.

I'm sitting here shaking my head at the complaints insinuating that Covid extensions were somehow "abused".

The fact is applications for Covid extensions were made available until August 24th 2022 for reasons only known to the decision-makers in the halls of power in the Thai government. It also seems extremely unlikely that the fact that IOs manning the desks were handing Covid extensions out liberally would be a complete mystery to their superior officers.

Most of you more experienced Thailand (or Southeast Asia) hands should really know this - in this part of the world, the regulations, as gazetted, do not always correspond with the reality on the ground. Singapore is probably the only exception to this observation.

On paper, these are some of the most strictly regulated countries on the planet - in reality, things are a lot more laissez faire.

24 minutes ago, rahil627 said:

 

but i think you're right. i remember this being offered before, as a choice: 1900 the normal way with a two-week consideration period or X amount for the "special" immediate service. Maybe that's what the meaning of "special" was...

 

BTW, my under consideration period is three weeks to the day. 

The procedure at CW has varied each time I did my Covid extensions there.

1st extension (February) - 60 days from the date of application (not the end of my previous tourist visa extension). Covid extension stamped in right away.

2nd extension (April) - 60 days from the end of the previous Covid extension. Stamped in right away.

3rd extension (June) - 60 days from the end of the previous Covid extension. Given 3-week under consideration stamp.

4th extension (today) - the same as in June. (3-week under consideration stamp).

At no stage in this process was a "special" expedited service offered. The fee was always 1,900 baht, payable right after the documents were checked and accepted by the IO.

It may be the case that procedures are done much more "by the book" at CW compared with other offices, but this is purely speculative on my part as I have attended no other immigration office.

22 minutes ago, Leon1980 said:

Yes I messaged 2 different agents in Krabi and agreed on 5,000. The other wanted 6,000. I have to go with her tomorrow to the same immigration that refused me yesterday to take photo. Ha.

 

Thanks for all the replies.

You picked the right strategy for dealing with this expeditiously.

I've just seen a YouTube video from a Chinese citizen claiming that he'd tried to apply for a Covid extension in Phuket, only to be told it wasn't possible. After which, he conferred with other Chinese nationals, finding out that an agent was needed to make it possible.

BTW, I applied for a Covid extension a week ago in Bangkok (Chaengwattana) and was given the "Under Consideration" stamp, without using an agent. So, that option still remains if you change your mind about using an agent in Krabi.

5 hours ago, cantdrive55 said:

I was just informed by my visa agent that the covid extension rules had " changed recently" and now getting a 30 day exemption on arrival, will require you to first apply for a 30 day extension before you can apply for a 60 day covid extension.  

 

Anyone know anything about this?  

It has always been this way, from my experience.

I arrived in December 2021 on a tourist visa. 2 months later, when I went to get that extended, I was told I needed to get the 30 day extension first before applying for a 60 day Covid extension.

Keep in mind, the rule has generally been 60 days from the date of application for your first Covid extension, and then 60 days from the end of the previous Covid extension for any subsequent Covid extensions.

Note: The above depends on the office you're applying in and the IO who's stamping you in. I've only ever done my visa extensions in Chaengwattana (Bangkok).

4 hours ago, dj230 said:

He did my last extension no questions asked last time, but I guess I’m staying a bit too long.

How long have you been in Thailand? I came in December 2021 on a tourist visa, did the tourist visa extension, and then two Covid extensions, and am now wondering if that feels like "a bit too long."

3 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

Thanks for the comment, it makes me feel a bit more confident, 30 days would be a pain as I already changed my flight !  If they tell me anything different tomorrow I will post it on here

Cheers, would greatly appreciate an update. I'm headed to Chaengwattana mid-week to apply for a Covid extension so, if you're heading that way too, any field reports would be very much welcome.

1 hour ago, Buffy Frobisher said:

Why not try the online 90 days report? It's easy, and they even send you a reminder email 2 weeks before the next one, which you can do immediately instead of waiting for the exact date. I've done 3 x 90 days now and it's perfect. I'll never go to CW again except for the annual renewal.

The online 90 day report will not work for people who've never filed a 90 day report before. I tried this option several times, unsuccessfully, before I was given this explanation for my rejection:

"Previous notification of staying in the Kingdom over 90 days is not found."

I'd definitely go the online route for any subsequent attempts.

There was a queue system in place in CW when I went to do mine in person about 2 weeks ago. Hand your completed form over to the IO at the information desk and you'll get a ticket for counter A1 (if I remember correctly).

When I did mine, the queue was maybe 30 people deep but moved fast. I was done in an hour.

3 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

First up it would be unusual for anyone with covid extension to need/want a reentry permit.

Hence I have not read one report illustrating it's possible.

My suggestion was in response to fella that posted this.....

 

"I've been thinking of returning home (Penang, Malaysia) for a while to deal with some administrative matters related to my late father's estate". 

 

I can't see why it wouldn't work.

That's it!

The fella in question can ask immigration for a reentry permit and find out if there is any road block.

As for return imm officer at passport control would look at his reentry permit and stamp him in till date on permit. 

Now if you have something constructive to add then go for it.

And, as far as the fella who asked this question is concerned, all this is a theoretical exercise.

I do appreciate the suggestion, @DrJack54. It is a nice idea but, as you said, it is only workable "in principle."

Without any specific instances of people having tried this method and succeeding, the only way I have to test this idea would be to apply for a re-entry permit, leave, arrive back in Thailand, and hope to be allowed in.

Seeing that, at the end of the day, the only person whose opinion really matters is the IO, whose decision making might be influenced whether (s)he's had a bad or good day, this will remain a theoretical exercise.

The idea of travelling to and from Malaysia, just to settle some personal matters, and risking being denied entry back into Thailand, or at least being grilled for hours by an IO and their supervisor, doesn't seem like a great risk-reward to me. 

I'd still likely stick with the original plan of making this my very last Covid extension, returning to Malaysia, and planning a long visit somewhere else (I am a slow traveler) feels more sensible. I'd likely consider Thailand again in the winter once some months have passed and Thailand will feel fresh and new again.

18 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Where does it state that in the requirements to obtain a covid extension. 

 

Reminds me of all the posts along the lines ....."nothing to stop you going home"

Whatever that means. 

The Thai gov have provided option for folk to obtain covid extension. 

 

 

I believe @skatewash's comment was related to the affidavit that you fill in when applying for a Covid extension.

The one where you tick "I am not permitted to enter the destination country or the pandemic situation of Covid-19 is still ongoing." which, if read literally, appears to suggest that one is staying in Thailand only because one cannot travel to a "destination country."

So, it would seem that subsequently applying for a re-entry permit would invalidate this because getting a re-entry permit presumes one is able to travel to a destination country.

I think the question here is about "policy as stated" and "policy as practised" which, as we all know, can be two very different things...

@DrJack54 Not a silly idea at all, in fact, very good fruit for thought. I've been thinking of returning home (Penang, Malaysia) for a while to deal with some administrative matters related to my late father's estate.

I was considering not going for a Covid extension at all when my current one expires (July 1) to give me a chance to do this, and then travel elsewhere.

Now I'm thinking I might just go for another Covid extension and then use the re-entry permit method to go back a week or two to deal with my admin issues.

2 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Stick with that address for your 90 day report and move around Thailand as much as you like. 

You would only need to file a new TM30 if you changed province for your next covid extension. 

Cheers, @DrJack54. Still mulling over if I want to seek another Covid extension or not as I'm feeling the itch to have a change of scene for at least a couple of months.

2 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

You could use the address you used to get your extension or a previous 90 day report.

Thanks, @ubonjoe. The last address I used to get my extension would be the Bangkok hotel I stayed in the night before I went to immigration. So I'll use that, then.

I'm on my second 90 day Covid extension after entering Thailand on a tourist visa in December 2021.

My 90 day report date is coming up on June 1st. I'm going to Chaengwattana to do it in person and making a day trip out of it.

My question is, when I fill in the TM47 form, does it have to line up exactly with my current address as listed in the TM30 database?

I've moved around since my last TM30 report (which was in a Bangkok hotel). The juristic office in my current apartment block is very reluctant to file a TM30 bceause the landlord is overseas, and I've just about given up trying to persuade/force them to do it.

When I do my TM47, should I enter my current address, even though I haven't got a TM30?

Or should I use the last address, which was the hotel?

Or should I use the "stay a night in a hotel" method to get a new entry in the TM30 database?

Or am I way overthinking this?

Thanks for any help you can give!