Tourist Visa holder, what would you do if..

[arfandy]

Thai Government announces total lockdown of country, and you are one of the holder for Tourist Visa 60 days, and you had just extended your Tourist Visa to another 30 days.

 

Does this mean there is no way to extend anymore of Tourist Visa? Because i assume that Tourist Visa 60 days can only be extended once for another 30 days, then you must apply for another Tourist Visa outside of Thailand? (Visa border run is not possible too)

 

Will there be some kind of leniency for short-term foreigners during the time of global pandemic? 

 

I really hope Thai Government would not take such extreme measure as to completely lockdown the country like China did.

[ubonjoe]

There are already 30 day extensions for those that cannot travel to their home country or cannot get a new entry by doing a border run.

You need a letter from your embassy requesting it.

[DrJack54]

OP, imo there are two/3 groups of folk in Thailand. The expats on extensions etc. Then the tourists. Then the grey area in the ones in between. 

I'm in the first group. So will remain in Thailand. 

If I was a tourist I would have gone home weeks ago.

Actually, being OZ that's a good example. If I go home now I need self isolate for 14 days. As of 5pm today Singapore need same. 

It's a changing landscape. In addition the airlines are closing routes.

If folk can return home country prob good idea. 

This is not necessarily over in next few months.

[arfandy]

2 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

There are already 30 day extensions for those that cannot travel to their home country or cannot get a new entry by doing a border run.

You need a letter from your embassy requesting it.

Thanks. But does it mean i must travel down to Bangkok once in every month (assuming this lockdown isnt stopping anytime soon) just to get letter from embassy and apply another 30 day extension at chaeng wattana?

 

You know that people live outside of Bangkok will want to avoid Bangkok since this covid hits harder in Bangkok.

[ubonjoe]

14 hours ago, arfandy said:

You know that people live outside of Bangkok will want to avoid Bangkok since this covid hits harder in Bangkok.

If your embassy would send the letter to you by mail you could do the 30 day extension at your local immigration office.

[DrJack54]

50 minutes ago, arfandy said:

Thanks. But does it mean i must travel down to Bangkok once in every month (assuming this lockdown isnt stopping anytime soon) just to get letter from embassy and apply another 30 day extension at chaeng wattana?

 

You know that people live outside of Bangkok will want to avoid Bangkok since this covid hits harder in Bangkok.

Think Buriram is first area in lockdown.

If your on tourist visa why can't you go home. Currently Thai government has not locked down country.

[arfandy]

11 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Think Buriram is first area in lockdown.

If your on tourist visa why can't you go home. Currently Thai government has not locked down country.

My wife is due on April 3, 2020. Then our newborn will need at least 10 days to get Thai birth certificate, another 1 week to mail it back to northern so someone can register his name into the house registry, send it back to us, we do his passport, i translate thai birth certificate into English and legalized it, then apply for temporary passport to return to home country.

 

The whole process, if done in timely manner will take as fast as 29 days, assuming no delay from post office and third party translation & legalize service.

 

I can leave before my home country gets on lockdown but that mean i'll be leaving my wife and unborn baby behind. Our return ticket is dated 15 May 2020 and tomorrow as per schedule i should go to chaeng wattana for another 30 day visa extension. However last night, Malaysia government has officially announced country lockdown and Malaysia is our transit for return home. Meaning there is a possibility for our ticket cancellation and another visa extension.

[clonetom]

For TR-60 holders, the leniency in Chiang Mai is currently (March 16th) multiple 30 days extensions (20 days with your application and another 10 days only need to bring your passport) for those who cannot return to their countries

[jackdd]

3 minutes ago, clonetom said:

For TR-60 holders, the leniency in Chiang Mai is currently (March 16th) multiple 30 days extensions (20 days with your application and another 10 days only need to bring your passport) for those who cannot return to their countries

No embassy letter required?

[clonetom]

Embassy letter required, sorry

[Tanoshi]

20 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

There are already 30 day extensions for those that cannot travel to their home country or cannot get a new entry by doing a border run.

You need a letter from your embassy requesting it.

Many Embassies don't/won't issue such a letter Joe.

Same as many don't/won't issue a letter to state your retired, sometimes requested by certain Thai Embassy/Consulates.

 

The Thai authorities seem under the assumption that if it's in a Police Order then our Embassies should be complying.

[ThaidDown]

6 hours ago, arfandy said:

My wife is due on April 3, 2020. Then our newborn will need at least 10 days to get Thai birth certificate, another 1 week to mail it back to northern so someone can register his name into the house registry, send it back to us, we do his passport, i translate thai birth certificate into English and legalized it, then apply for temporary passport to return to home country.

 

The whole process, if done in timely manner will take as fast as 29 days, assuming no delay from post office and third party translation & legalize service.

 

I can leave before my home country gets on lockdown but that mean i'll be leaving my wife and unborn baby behind. Our return ticket is dated 15 May 2020 and tomorrow as per schedule i should go to chaeng wattana for another 30 day visa extension. However last night, Malaysia government has officially announced country lockdown and Malaysia is our transit for return home. Meaning there is a possibility for our ticket cancellation and another visa extension.

If married apply for additional 60 days to visit wife.

[lapcevics]

Similar problem, I'm here on 2 months tourist visa and I already did a 30 days extension. 

I'm really only a tourist, and my 90 days is expiring March 26. 

My flight back home is March 24, but today air France sent an email that flight will probably be delayed or cancelled for now..  

 

So problem is not with my Country ( Serbia), I am allowed to come back, but with the cancelled flight. 

 

So what can I do? I don't want to make an overstay but it's not my fault. 

 

Will they tolerate this, or can I extend Visa for 30 days more with a proof that flight was cancelled or ..  :/

[clonetom]

The letter was issued by the Chinese Consulate General CM within 5 minutes for a Chinese citizen

[Max69xl]

2 hours ago, clonetom said:

For TR-60 holders, the leniency in Chiang Mai is currently (March 16th) multiple 30 days extensions (20 days with your application and another 10 days only need to bring your passport) for those who cannot return to their countries

And how many "can not' return home? There's a difference between "can not' and don't want. 

[Maestro]

1 hour ago, lapcevics said:

My flight back home is March 24, but today air France sent an email that flight will probably be delayed or cancelled for now..  

 

If the flight is cancelled Air France must arrange an alternative flight for you with another airline, at their expense.

 

In the meantime, you should check already now with your embassy about the letter required by immigration for a 30-day extension in case of necessity.

[lapcevics]

 At the moment flight is ok, but they wrote this: 

In this particular context, our flight schedule is impacted and our operations will be significantly reduced as from Monday, 23 March 2020.
If you have a trip planned in the next few days, we cannot guarantee that your flight will operate normally, and you return flight could be affected 

 

So I guess I'll wait until March 23 and see what will happen. 

 

And..  Serbia doesn't have an embassy in Thailand so I can't do anything about that letter   ????

 

[lapcevics]

Ok, I think this information solved my current problem, maybe someone else will have same situation so: 

 

<link removed>

 

No overstay fine for tourists caught up in virus outbreak

[ubonjoe]

9 minutes ago, lapcevics said:

Ok, I think this information solved my current problem, maybe someone else will have same situation so: 

That article is from January and I have not heard of any fines actually being waived.

[lapcevics]

Damn. Back to the drawing board then.

 

It seems like a logical move in this situation, isn't it kind of unfair to charge overstay fee if we are just stuck here against our will   ????

[Letseng]

8 hours ago, Max69xl said:

And how many "can not' return home? There's a difference between "can not' and don't want. 

Many EU countries evacuate their nationals. Austria has started. They collect their ppl from around the globe. Register with your embassy.

[Maestro]

11 hours ago, lapcevics said:

Serbia doesn't have an embassy in Thailand so I can't do anything about that letter

 

Apparently, the Serbia Mission in Jakarta, Indonesia attends to the needs for consular services by Serbian nationals in Thailand if this information is up-to-date.

https://www.visahq.de/en/serbia/embassy/thailand/

[lapcevics]

Thank you.

Yes, I found out about that in the meantime, I explained them my situation in an email and waiting for response. 

 

And.. I never saw Bangkok so empty, I'm here every winter for many years.. 

 

On my flights few days ago from Bali to Singapore then Bangkok it was 10 passengers. Power of media spreading panic..  

 

[Max69xl]

12 hours ago, lapcevics said:

Damn. Back to the drawing board then.

 

It seems like a logical move in this situation, isn't it kind of unfair to charge overstay fee if we are just stuck here against our will   ????

You have to check with the airline for alternative flights like it said in your earlier post. If you don't, then you're on your own. 

[Max69xl]

7 hours ago, Letseng said:

Many EU countries evacuate their nationals. Austria has started. They collect their ppl from around the globe. Register with your embassy.

I live here, I'm not going anywhere. 

Fact is, every tourist will be able to go back home, but maybe not on their scheduled flights. 

[DrJack54]

14 minutes ago, Max69xl said:

You have to check with the airline for alternative flights like it said in your earlier post. If you don't, then you're on your own. 

Agree. There are flights available but things are changing rapidly. Au has just raised travel to level 4. Folk that don't live in Thailand should be endeavouring to return home asap and certainly not wondering what embassy can do or asking hypothetical questions such as waiver of overstays etc. You currently have an option. 

[ubonjoe]

4 hours ago, Maestro said:

 

Apparently, the Serbia Mission in Jakarta, Indonesia attends to the needs for consular services by Serbian nationals in Thailand if this information is up-to-date.

https://www.visahq.de/en/serbia/embassy/thailand/

It is correct according to page 185 of 413 pages in this PDF file from the MFA. 

http://www.mfa.go.th/main/contents/files/information-20200312-171143-180792.pdf

 

[Millcx]

On 3/16/2020 at 5:48 PM, ubonjoe said:

There are already 30 day extensions for those that cannot travel to their home country or cannot get a new entry by doing a border run.

You need a letter from your embassy requesting it.

Money Money Money .... Total joke ... Brit Embassy or should I say Nepal comfort home should make a few bob on photocopy letters

[Max69xl]

2 minutes ago, Millcx said:

Money Money Money .... Total joke ... Brit Embassy or should I say Nepal comfort home should make a few bob on photocopy letters

Then go home with your scheduled or alternative flight. The letter from your embassy is about getting a 30 days extension because of cancelled flights due to the Coronavirus outbreak. You can always skip the letter and apply for an extension at your local immigration office. Cost, ฿1900.

[buknecerze]

On 3/16/2020 at 5:48 PM, ubonjoe said:

You need a letter from your embassy requesting it.

Has anyone done this successfuly? Is there a law or some reference to official statements?

 

I don't wan't to be rude, just a bit cautious because of the serious matter.