vermin on arrival

1 hour ago, GroveHillWanderer said:

So we do have a documented figure for excess deaths - and it's 2,400.

 

Even if all of those excess deaths were due to CoVid-19 (and there's no evidence that they were) then it would still be a really low amount compared to most other countries in the world and especially western countries.

That's only for March. Would have started in November so thousands more.

16 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

1.  Some have personal relationships in Thailand, including marriage and children but unable to legalize stay with closed borders.

2.  Some have homes here and normally live here most of year.

3.  Some have drained available funds and can not afford the costs involved for transportation that may be totally lost without any travel.

4.  Some are very concerned about moving from a low COVID location to extreme pandemic areas.

5.  Some have normal employment here but unable legalize due border crossing issues.

6.  Some just like Thailand.

7.  Some are probably eating the wrong berries.

8.  Some live only for today.

Some need to travel within the region but currently aren't allowed to due to travel and visa restrictions.

7 hours ago, Surelynot said:

If the spread of the virus has been contained within Thailand (no one knows for sure).....then there must be almost zero immunity in the population.

 

If the virus is re-introduced, without a vaccine, Thailand could find itself in the same position as the USA and the UK currently find themselves.

It most probably was not. It probably spread pretty well from November through March and there should be a fair amount of immunity here. I would expect there is some reservoir of mild/asymptomatic cases here. However, long term this attempt at 0 case suppression policy will hurt Thailand and expose the population if no vaccine is developed.

6 minutes ago, david555 said:

Meaning those have to go ask to immigration for it , not as before  doing nothing as under amnesty , probably for ….a fee of 1900 ?

 

But hey !….. you are ok for another month....

No it's 30 days "amnesty". They are saying that after Oct. 31 you must ask for it, but anyone can now tell that this amnesty will most likely be continuously extended every 30 days as long as the borders in Asia are closed. Three times threats were made by immigration and 3 times amnesty has been given and extended. There will be the usual farcical song and dance every month.

"Phuket Immigration Deputy Chief Lt Col Udom Thongchin this afternoon told The Phuket News that he was aware that the Immigration Bureau had requested that the ‘visa amnesty’ be extended through to Oct 31.

However, he added that he had yet to hear confirmation that the extension had been approved.

“We are waiting to hear that the Prime Minister has approved the extension. That was supposed to happen by 4:30pm today,” he said......For those who would like to stay longer than October they can file for visa extension with immigration and do so before Oct. 31 So, good luck.”"

But hey, you guys who think that Thailand has been excessively generous and overly lenient on all of those whose lives have been crushed feel free to get your pitchforks and torches and lead the charge to cause us more hardship. Thanks for the empathy. A continuous extension until the situation normalizes in the region is the only sensible and compassionate thing to do.

8 hours ago, geriatrickid said:

   The reality in Asia is that only the data from Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and Singapore is reliable.

I would narrow it down to HK, Singapore, and South Korea.

I have been following Taiwan religiously since I need to get back to my home there. The epidemic is currently minuscule there, but IMO the case data there is totally fraudulent (similar to Thailand except that the mortality figures in Taiwan may be pretty accurate). I have written long posts about that elsewhere, based on following Taiwan News newspaper on a daily basis.

Japan there is also alot of evidence that there data is off, especially in the early stage when they were trying to cover things up due to their hopes for having the 2020 summer Olympics. Other posters have also commented on the bad data there.

2 hours ago, Zikomat said:

 You probably have titanium balls. I have waited until the last Tuesday announcement which never happened. Then, on Wednesday, I was forced to spend 10 hours in the line of Pattaya immigration office. 

Me too. I was at MTT. Kudos to Ventenio. Best to you Ziko.

2 hours ago, checkered flag said:

For most part the plan worked.

At least they only got 1900 from me. After this, not a chance they get any bribe money from me.

2 hours ago, JUAinBKK said:

Have you actually done the reserch to empirically support your statement that foreigners “present little income to the government”?  Can you also say that foreigners present little income to Thailand?  If either is yes, please share that supporting data.  I have many people who are anxious to see the evidence so they can make significant changes to their economic modeling systems.  Thank you and we will take No Adequate response with data as you are as your name insists.  Thank you for this opportunity.

The Thai chamber of commerce thinks we do. They said they thought it was stupid to push us out when no tourists are coming in. They want amnesty to be extended.

7 hours ago, audaciousnomad said:

 

Knowing how severe the libel/defamation laws are here, it would be absolutely insane for the Herald to print this without any shred of truth. Falsely suggesting that the highest ranking govt official in the Kingdom has approved a legal order is surely bordering on criminal under the laws here.
Noting that, I expect sometime this week we will all see that there is indeed some truth to this extension announcement.

website is based in Australia. I think that is a way around it.

10 minutes ago, HandsomeTallFarang said:

No, there was an email with the word “unlimited extentions” which implied you could just keep renewing until they start allowing tourists in the old way and border runs were back to normal. If that’s the case then I can’t complain. 

The only thing I know of about that was an immigration official talking in the phuket news. It seems Gen. Pornchai was the source of this rumor.

https://www.thephuketnews.com/tourists-to-get-unlimited-30-day-extensions-to-stay-after-visa-amnesty-ends-77201.php

"PHUKET: Foreigners staying in the country on any form of tourist visa will be allowed to repeatedly renew their permits to stay with immigration for periods of 30 days at a time after the ‘visa amnesty’ ends on Sept 26, the Immigration Bureau announced today Sept 3.

Gen Pornchai explained that any tourists unable to return home after Sept 26 due to illness are to apply for an extension to stay by applying at an Immigration office and presenting a medical certificate to prove they are unfit to fly."

1 minute ago, HandsomeTallFarang said:

I was under the impression that there are “unlimited” tourist visa extensions every 30 days until the borders are open or until further announcement.. you didn’t waste anything because you can go and get another one every month, I thought?

Evidently that was an immigration official talking out his butt since both the US embassy and MTT told me there was no directive for what would happen after Sept 26.

1 minute ago, 2530Ubon said:

I'm not convinced, why did they issue a notice that monday would be acceptable to apply for a further extension of stay, due to the long queues? Why was this not reported yesterday (according to the source, Prayut approved it on Friday) and why aren't any of the mainstream media covering this? I'll be slightly annoyed, as i've wasted a perfectly good extension, but grateful that there seems to be movement on allowing people to stay. Perhaps this will lead to a longer term solution (IF it is true.)

 

On a side note, at least we'll all have something to fret and talk about now. I was wondering what would happen to TV without some amnesty gossip to muse over...

CW sent everyone home Saturday morning. Why would they do that if amnesty wasn't extended? I think the reason it took so long is that the people running this country aren't very competent as the leaders elsewhere in the region (Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan spring quickly to mind). I doubt it will lead to a long term solution. They will just keep the pressure on us to bribe or leave.

17 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

Take a look at the income tax implications of having a US Green Card.  Not to mention the health care (among other) costs of living in the USA.  Thailand's program looks pretty good in comparison.

Fair points, but if you have 1 million dollars lying around spare those may not matter.

Delusional...the US gives green cards for 1 million dollars in investment. Do they think Thailand is as desirable? Granted I prefer it here, but certainly not if I had 1 million in spare cash. At least, in the US they don't reserve the right to revoke it. Absolutely farcical.

6 hours ago, Fromas said:

Rules evolving.

Quite true. When I got my under consideration stamp from MTT, I asked what to do about my next covid extension after I get my valid to stay stamp on Oct. 21. The officer told me, we don't know yet. Wait for an announcement. The government is doing the whole thing by the seat of their pants.

11 minutes ago, Jackcwba said:

do I need to print this out or Just show it on my phone ? When I arrive ?

My understanding is they want both. OMG I think they want a print of the ss of the e-mail. I think I need to go back and do that now.

3 minutes ago, Adam219 said:

you can check it on the previous page, there is a button to check appointment, it only requires your passport number. It will show your booking ref.

Yes. Just tried it. Thanks.

3 minutes ago, audaciousnomad said:

I don't get an email or a text.

I didn't get a text either. Only an e-mail. The appointment from website is missing the immigration Booking number

I got mine instantly. Don't know if that page will be enough since I read elsewhere in Report from BKK temp center that they not only want a print out of that e-mail but they also want to see the e-mail on one's smart phone. I just got through downloading outlook and went to print shop to get a copy made of the e-mail.