Visa and Corona

[ChaiyaTH]

How are we going to get our visa's done if this really gets out of hand and they lock down places everywhere? Would you think immigration to offer some solution or show mercy? Previously wouldn't be too worried about a relatively short overstay but nowadays they have these high tech BMW's hunting our asses and old grandma's gossip call about us.

I currently still have 2 border runs left but even those could be closed, as well not preferable to use both of them so early on in the year already.
Not too worried yet but things seem to become quite radical as of today.

Edited March 12, 2020 by ChaiyaTH

[DrJack54]

Easy. Unless you have vested interest here, go home.

[pookett]

It's potentially a big problem. I'm due a run in 3 months and was thinking about this very thing.

Borders closed with an unfriendly immigration, most especially with our lovely(sic) health minister's gormless rant fuelling anti-farang attitudes.

Maybe worth bringing such visa runs forward. Unless immi dept. decide to allow properly reported extensions of stay with a medical certificate added?

 

[justin case]

I'm due in less than a month

[seancbk]

17 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Easy. Unless you have vested interest here, go home.

 

Presumably if you live here this is home.

Of course there will be an amnesty for people who are here legitimately and couldn't get to an immigration office or leave because of flights being cancelled etc.

 

[ToS2014]

7 minutes ago, seancbk said:

 

Presumably if you live here this is home.

Of course there will be an amnesty for people who are here legitimately and couldn't get to an immigration office or leave because of flights being cancelled etc.

 

Of course there will be some 'amnesty' or leniency provided by the Thai IMO to us 'dirty farangs'.  Seems pretty rationale and clear thinking to me (sic).

[Max69xl]

51 minutes ago, seancbk said:

 

Presumably if you live here this is home.

Of course there will be an amnesty for people who are here legitimately and couldn't get to an immigration office or leave because of flights being cancelled etc.

 

People living here long term don't normally do border runs. 

"Of course there will be an amnesty for people who are here legitimately" Of course? 

If flights are getting cancelled I think it's your responsibility to keep yourself informed and get out of Dodge before it gets worse. 

[NoshowJones]

Just don't expect Thai immigration to do anything in our favour, not even if it was the Bubonic Plague.

[NoshowJones]

1 hour ago, seancbk said:

 

Presumably if you live here this is home.

Of course there will be an amnesty for people who are here legitimately and couldn't get to an immigration office or leave because of flights being cancelled etc.

 

Really.

[ChaiyaTH]

I've managed to book a seat on the CM mae sai minivan tomorrow, my visa was due to expire this Monday and do not want to risk more restrictions coming out that day.

Italians are already no longer welcome there too. I should be able to do 30 days extension + 60 days extension afterwards, hope things are a bit normal after that latest.

 

Can imagine it is worse for those who do not have the 60 day extension option and perhaps even used a land border this year already.
Perhaps they should break a leg and get a medical visa extension hehe.

Edited March 13, 2020 by ChaiyaTH

[ChaiyaTH]

1 hour ago, Max69xl said:

People living here long term don't normally do border runs. 

Plenty of people who live in the north and still do the border runs combined with 1-2 tourist visa's a year + live a few months elsewhere.
Know quite a few who do 3 months da nang, 1 month back home and the rest in the north. Seems to work for them.

Edited March 13, 2020 by ChaiyaTH

[cyril sneer]

in a couple of weeks they'll have new information showing it's far less deadly than initial statistics showed, so things should slowly go back to normal

[ChaiyaTH]

25 minutes ago, cyril sneer said:

in a couple of weeks they'll have new information showing it's far less deadly than initial statistics showed, so things should slowly go back to normal

That is what people have been saying for weeks and months now with as a result the current situation. Really can't predict that, it is a 50/50 thing. 
If numbers would jump to many thousands in IC care, lack off general beds for in hospital treatment, it can escalate fast.

In Italy they need tents now already while we are not even speaking about more than 1200 critical patients that need IC like care.
Let alone if we were to get to numbers of 100,000 like in China. In UK some ambulances already need to queue at hospitals for 2 hours, without any virus.

Edited March 13, 2020 by ChaiyaTH

[ubonjoe]

16 minutes ago, pdtokyo said:

i seem to be seeing more posts recently mentioning the 'two border run limit' ... is it a recent change? or some old rule that is now being enforced more enthusiastically?

At land border crossing there is a limit of 2 visa exempt entries per calendar year. With a valid visa for entry there is no limit. 

By air there is no limit.

[Gandtee]

A hypothetical question. What if a retiree is visiting in another country and Thailand bans anyone from that country entering Thailand. How will he renew his retirement extension if it is due?

[Nakmuay887]

3 hours ago, seancbk said:

Of course there will be an amnesty for people who are here legitimately and couldn't get to an immigration office or leave because of flights being cancelled etc.

You willing to bet your future on that? 

[Max69xl]

1 hour ago, pdtokyo said:

Hmmm, a corona thread ... this could be interesting ...

 

... but while the border bouncers amongst us are reading ... could someone enlighten me ?

 

i seem to be seeing more posts recently mentioning the 'two border run limit' ... is it a recent change? or some old rule that is now being enforced more enthusiastically?

 

Not looking for definitive answers ... but they're always welcome of course ... just interested in the history and trying to get a feel for how this practice may develop in future.

 

Post-corona of course.

The 2 land crossing per calendar year limit went into effect December 31 2016. I guess you're not staying in Thailand. 

[BritTim]

39 minutes ago, pdtokyo said:

Thanks for that.

 

Correct! I'm in Oz, three 30 day visa-exempt fly-in trips over 2019/2020 but researching for permanent move late 2020 ultimately on extension by marriage but for as long as possible without the B400k business.

 

I've read a zillion TV posts and simply got the impression the two-crossing limit was being discussed more recently.

 

My guess is the rule is universally enforced ... ie every border IO will count all stamps in current calendar year ? No chance of clocking up 2 at border A and another one at Border B ? 

The limit of two visa exempt entries by land is a firm limit. There are rare cases where it might be relaxed, but only for those living outside Thailand and making short shopping trips into Thailand. There is no limit either on entries by land with a visa or (in principle) visa exempt entries by air. As a practical matter,, tourist entries by air (especially visa exempt) cannot usually be used indefinitely.

 

If come the time you make the move the rules are the same as now, you should get a multiple entry Non O visa to visit your wife. This allows unlimited 90-day entries into Thailand for a year. At consulates like Savannakhet (Laos) and Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) those visas are available without financial proof. Some other consulates will provide them, but require financial proof (which can be in a bank outside Thailand if you wish). Two additional benefits:

1. You can enter Thailand just before the visa expires and get a final 90-day permission to stay, which means the visa actually lasts you for over a year.
2. If you wish, once per entry, you can apply for a 60-day extension of your permission to stay on payment of 1,900 baht (without the need for financial proof). This postpones the need to leave and reenter Thailand for a fresh 90-day entry.

[jacko45k]

12 hours ago, Gandtee said:

A hypothetical question. What if a retiree is visiting in another country and Thailand bans anyone from that country entering Thailand. How will he renew his retirement extension if it is due?

They will not be able to. 

[Max69xl]

4 hours ago, pdtokyo said:

Thanks for that.

 

Correct! I'm in Oz, three 30 day visa-exempt fly-in trips over 2019/2020 but researching for permanent move late 2020 ultimately on extension by marriage but for as long as possible without the B400k business.

 

I've read a zillion TV posts and simply got the impression the two-crossing limit was being discussed more recently.

 

My guess is the rule is universally enforced ... ie every border IO will count all stamps in current calendar year ? No chance of clocking up 2 at border A and another one at Border B ? 

"No chance of clocking up 2 at border A and another one at Border B?"

The answer is NO. 

[asanee]

Amazing things happen here in Th. Since just a few yrs its all in computers, those magic things that keep track of you and your history in TH. Once you´ve reached your 6th entry, a yellow sign will also flash so the IO may ask mor questions.

This should not come as a big surprise to OZzies, as OZzieland does the same. Except they cannot have overland entries.

[norfolkandchance]

On 3/12/2020 at 9:27 PM, DrJack54 said:

Easy. Unless you have vested interest here, go home.

Any ideas how I can get back to Italy.

[brianthainess]

Will make the home visits interesting, mind you one of the IO who visited me reeked of alcohol so much i think the virus would have died 3 mt away.  stay safe all. 

In case Anyone is interested in an oxygen concentrator they are available from Lazada  @17,000 baht. i got sick with temp of 38 in Jan. had to use one on loan from hospital after one week of self isolation i was ok. Bronchitis was my self diagnosis at the time but now i'm not so sure ????

 

 

Edited March 14, 2020 by brianthainess

[OJAS]

17 hours ago, Gandtee said:

A hypothetical question. What if a retiree is visiting in another country and Thailand bans anyone from that country entering Thailand. How will he renew his retirement extension if it is due?

if his current permission of stay (as presumably guaranteed by a re-entry permit) were to expire during the period of any ban, the only course of action open to him eventually would to re-enter Thailand with a fresh non-immigrant visa of the "OA" (only obtainable in his home country, though) or single-entry "O" (probably only obtainable on the grounds of being aged 50+ if he was in an adjacent ASEAN country, though) variety; or, alternatively, with a single-entry tourist visa or 30-day visa exemption for subsequent conversion to a non-"O" visa at his local immigration office, before, in due course, hitting the annual retirement extension of stay trail once again.

Edited March 14, 2020 by OJAS

[Gandtee]

42 minutes ago, OJAS said:

if his current permission of stay (as presumably guaranteed by a re-entry permit) were to expire during the period of any ban, the only course of action open to him eventually would to re-enter Thailand with a fresh non-immigrant visa of the "OA" (only obtainable in his home country, though) or single-entry "O" (probably only obtainable on the grounds of being aged 50+ if he was in an adjacent ASEAN country, though) variety; or, alternatively, with a single-entry tourist visa or 30-day visa exemption for subsequent conversion to a non-"O" visa at his local immigration office, before, in due course, hitting the annual retirement extension of stay trail once again.

Thanks for that. Just as thought. Another good reason not to travel now. At my age I don't think I could stand the hassle now.

[DrJack54]

9 minutes ago, Gandtee said:

Thanks for that. Just as thought. Another good reason not to travel now. At my age I don't think I could stand the hassle now.

Just now New Zealand has just made it mandatory to self quarantine 14 days for anyone entering their country including its own citizens.

Visa issues are going to kick in soon

[ChaiyaTH]

Was very very quiet at Mae Sai today, took me 15 mins to go out and back in. 

 

Bit strange is that I got a brochure for Thai Elite visa handed to me after asking me if I had a child. Makes no sense as a 400k deposit is cheaper.

 

(Same as IO's asking how you can stay so long by using single non o with extensions but not wondering about that when you deposit 400k, no logic).

 

Other than that almost empty roads, terrible air pollution and a suicidal driver as usual. I think these minivan rides are more dangerous than the virus.

 

A few of the other passengers are stranded Americans. Expected more people to make the smart move today as it could be more difficult Monday.

Edited March 14, 2020 by ChaiyaTH

[ChaiyaTH]

Update: Did make it back, he was one of the better drivers but it remains suicidal to me anyways in TH.
I do recommend the Chiang Mai Visa Run dot com service. 

It only costs 990 baht and they go on Wednesdays and Saturdays, you usually arrive right at the border at 11:30-12:00AM and head back at 12:30-13:00, back CM 17:00-18:00. Compared to taking a bus on your own this saves quite a bit of time and no additional tuk tuk or long waiting for the return bus at all.
IO reminded 2 times per year is fine (and even advised people to the possibility to extend at immigration with 30 days more).

They did also have some fire truck in the middle of the border, where cars pass trough, they had the ladders all the way up and were spraying down from there.

Edited March 14, 2020 by ChaiyaTH

[Mulambana]

On 3/13/2020 at 5:06 AM, possum1931 said:

Just don't expect Thai immigration to do anything in our favour, not even if it was the Bubonic Plague.

Why they will favor you (or your group). People living here not on tourist visas will given extensions and if you can get a certificate fom your embassy to exten it further (just like every other nations). 

[Salerno]

On 3/14/2020 at 7:55 AM, pdtokyo said:

I've read a zillion TV posts and simply got the impression the two-crossing limit was being discussed more recently.

I'd say the impression you picked up on is correct and it's being discussed more due to people being refused more, particularly at airports.