What would happen to us foreigners if or when the country gets sealed up?

[emptypockets]

16 hours ago, Don Mega said:

My extension is good till july 2021... hopefully this flu virus blows over by then.

How does that work with a 12 month extension? Or a non O multi as I have? You are assuming you can do border runs? Might be a little optimistic relying on those if the borders are closed which is a distinct possibility.

[emptypockets]

11 hours ago, drbeach said:

Some of us are also on non-Os because we run businesses or work in neighboring countries but have a Thai wife and/or can't or don't want to gather 400K to put in the bank.

 

Now assuming that this situation drags on for an indefinite period of time, with no flights running and all borders closed...then I may be looking at having to do the same thing.

 

Tourists can easily go home (if there are flights running) as there is nothing to tie them down here, but people like us have families here and can't just abandon them for uncertainty back home and possibly being separated for months, or longer.

 

I don't want to speculate because that just leads to more uncertainties...I personally think the Thai government will be forced to deal with this by granting temporary extensions...should practically all flights be cancelled and all borders closed.

 

That's a big if. It may not quite go that far.

 

Even if it does...they may quietly still allow border runs at Phu Nam Ron...whereby you pay them the money while your passport makes a journey across the border, with you waiting at the cafe next to Thai immigration.

Here for 7 years so far. leaving next week taking the wife with me. I don't buy the 'can't leave because of family' nonsense.

That's only due to lack of planning, or caring. Sorry to be so blunt about it.

[DrJack54]

2 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

How does that work with a 12 month extension? Or a non O multi as I have? You are assuming you can do border runs? Might be a little optimistic relying on those if the borders are closed which is a distinct possibility.

12 month extension based on eg retirement then business as usual. As for the non o multi then you have an issue.

[DrJack54]

Just now, emptypockets said:

Here for 7 years so far. leaving next week taking the wife with me. I don't buy the 'can't leave because of family' nonsense.

That's only due to lack of planning, or caring. Sorry to be so blunt about it.

Many folk even with wife or in my case defacto 7 year cannot take off tomorrow. 

Would take time to get her visa to OZ.

Don't make it sound like walk in the park.

Think your comment re "lack of planning" is very offensive. 

 

[emptypockets]

7 hours ago, WalkingOrders said:

I just renewed a type O retirement one year extension, but I doubt Thailand would ever lock me out of immigration.

I doubt they would lock you out. But it is well within their powers to refuse an extension. Anything can happen. That's why we are non-immigrants with all the innuendo that goes along with the name. Unless you have PR or citizenship you have the same rights as any other tourist. Basically none.

[DrJack54]

Just now, emptypockets said:

I doubt they would lock you out. But it is well within their powers to refuse an extension. Anything can happen. That's why we are non-immigrants with all the innuendo that goes along with the name. Unless you have PR or citizenship you have the same rights as any other tourist. Basically none.

Geezus. Get over yourself. These are serious times and you post scaremongering. Show me where in Thai law currently they can refuse extension with correct docs.

 

[emptypockets]

Just now, DrJack54 said:

Many folk even with wife or in my case defacto 7 year cannot take off tomorrow. 

Would take time to get her visa to OZ.

Don't make it sound like walk in the park.

Think your comment re "lack of planning" is very offensive. 

 

Feel free to be offended, that wasn't my intention. I didn't mean to sound a heartless <deleted>. But reality is reality.

Your partner has little chance of getting a visa to Oz now by herself. Although the wording of the latest announcement did say Australian citizens, permanent resident or family members can enter Oz may be a chance for you. It may extend to defacto's - ask the question, I really don't know

My wife got permanent residency 4 years ago. We planned well. And you are right it wasn't a walk in the park. We had to jump through a lot of hoops. And we did, and I'm glad we did. All good now. it gives us options.

Good luck Jacko.

[Dumbastheycome]

It surely  is an issue  now  for those  that  are  facing  the impending  need  for legitimate compliant border hops when  so many  border crossings  are being  blocked or  becoming points of  exit  only.( In effect)

 

 

 

[emptypockets]

2 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Geezus. Get over yourself. These are serious times and you post scaremongering. Show me where in Thai law currently they can refuse extension with correct docs.

 

I'm sure there will be a clause somewhere that says 'at the discretion of xyz'. Not scaremongering but we are now in uncharted waters. As is the rest of the world.

Nobody, and I mean nobody, on this forum knows what will happen in a week, a month or a year. Make a plan NOW. And be prepared.

[emptypockets]

2 minutes ago, Dumbastheycome said:

It surely  is an issue  now  for those  that  are  facing  the impending  need  for legitimate compliant border hops when  so many  border crossings  are being  blocked or  becoming points of  exit  only.( In effect)

 

 

 

And will probably escalate in the short to medium term as politicos of all persuasions have to be seen to be doing something, even communist leaders.

[Dumbastheycome]

1 minute ago, emptypockets said:

I'm sure there will be a clause somewhere that says 'at the discretion of xyz'. Not scaremongering but we are now in uncharted waters. As is the rest of the world.

Nobody, and I mean nobody, on this forum knows what will happen in a week, a month or a year. Make a plan NOW. And be prepared.

Perhaps  you could  acknowledge  that  your  departure  was  decided  and organized well prior  to the  current  issues  facing  others  now?

 

[DrJack54]

2 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

Feel free to be offended, that wasn't my intention. I didn't mean to sound a heartless <deleted>. But reality is reality.

Your partner has little chance of getting a visa to Oz now by herself. Although the wording of the latest announcement did say Australian citizens, permanent resident or family members can enter Oz may be a chance for you. It may extend to defacto's - ask the question, I really don't know

My wife got permanent residency 4 years ago. We planned well. And you are right it wasn't a walk in the park. We had to jump through a lot of hoops. And we did, and I'm glad we did. All good now. it gives us options.

Good luck Jacko.

Whoop De do. My partner has been to OZ several times on one year multi. Been to most places in AU. She would need to apply for new tourist 600.

You just happen to have different situation. Your self centric. I have another term for that. It's called.....

[emptypockets]

10 minutes ago, Dumbastheycome said:

Perhaps  you could  acknowledge  that  your  departure  was  decided  and organized well prior  to the  current  issues  facing  others  now?

 

Mine was decided at 10 am Thailand time this morning. Not hard to organise flights on the internet. Yesterday I was due to fly to work in another country. It all changed, as I said, at 10am this morning. Not sure what your point is.

if I thought it was necessary I could PM you the bookings but its not.

Edited March 18, 2020 by emptypockets

[emptypockets]

1 minute ago, DrJack54 said:

Whoop De do. My partner has been to OZ several times on one year multi. Been to most places in AU. She would need to apply for new tourist 600.

You just happen to have different situation. Your self centric. I have another term for that. It's called.....

Intelligent? Able to plan? Capacity to have resources to be able to act?

Stop the name calling , it makes you sound resentful, jealous and childish. You do your thing...we will do ours.

[Dumbastheycome]

3 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

And will probably escalate in the short to medium term as politicos of all persuasions have to be seen to be doing something, even communist leaders.

Which  could  mean jumping  from  frying  pan into  the  fire ?

Communist leaders? I think  that ideology  died already.  But the  pseuedo  socialist ones are  very  quiet.

It  is the  pretentious  Totalitarians  who are stridently covering quivering rectal sphincters  about  now.

 

 

[Dumbastheycome]

7 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

Mine was decided at 10 am Thailand time this morning. Not hard to organise flights on the internet. Yesterday I was due to fly to work in another country. It all changed, as I said, at 10am this morning. Not sure what your point is.

Lucky you. Maybe.

[emptypockets]

1 minute ago, Dumbastheycome said:

Lucky you. Maybe.

Not sure what the maybe is all about. But thank you anyway. I did edit my earlier post offering to PM you the booking. Its not hard at all to book and pay online. 10 minutes work and 26,000 baht later you have an economy fare to Sydney and a domestic fare to your final destination. Wifey is a bit upset as I'm travelling business class. 55555 and not paying for it.

[emptypockets]

Opps there's a hiccup. Nokair have just sent an email cancelling the flight to DMK from Surin due to COVID-19. No problem we'll drive. I wonder if this is a sign or more problems ahead

[Mulambana]

22 hours ago, Adbro1 said:

But what if the UK goes into total lock down. How do the Thai authorities deal with us? 

Even with a total lock down, citizens will be allowed to enter. May be quantined but cant refuse citizens from entering the country. More problematic will be finding a flight. Flights will be severly restriced and may be few flights in a week with expenive ticket prices. 

Edited March 18, 2020 by Mulambana

[Dumbastheycome]

20 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

Not sure what the maybe is all about. But thank you anyway. I did edit my earlier post offering to PM you the booking. Its not hard at all to book and pay online. 10 minutes work and 26,000 baht later you have an economy fare to Sydney and a domestic fare to your final destination. Wifey is a bit upset as I'm travelling business class. 55555 and not paying for it.

Sorry. Did  not  see  the  edit but  I  can believe . So  business  class  for you and  wifey. Good  deal ! lol

[scorecard]

10 hours ago, ChomDo said:

A couple of days ago there was news about Thai immigration giving 30 day extensions to anyone who's flight back home is cancelled due to lock down (it was talked about here in TV but don't remember the specifics). Just assuming/speculating they would continue to do so? As from what I remember, you do need to get papers from your embassy for that purpose first.

 

I also have a flight back to my home country in May, but the whole of Europe is in shut down and possibly will be so in May too. Airlines would give the option to postpone the flight to a later date, so I'm hoping that Thai immigration would keep extending +30 days for anyone who's stuck here for this reason. I'm not sure what other options there could really be? Would presume Thailand has to go into lock down and close it's borders at some point as well and then we would probably get more info.

You mention May 2020.

 

I guess many folks are wondering / have concerns about how long the current circumstances will last, for many reasons, many of us (all over the world) have deadline dates on visas and many other items. I have Thai PR and I'm now concerned about being able to renew my exit/re-entry stamps, and get a renewal of the 5 year entry in my red police book which is needed in August 2020.

 

I well understand that nobody knows what's really ahead for any country and when the situation might start to go back to 'normal'.

 

Has anybody seen any expert comment (from anywhere) on a forecast of when things will start to relax and there can be more open travel etc., etc?

 

Please share...

 

 

[jacko45k]

14 hours ago, billsmart said:

I'm worried, however, that as things start going downhill, the processing in Chiang Mai might grind to a halt.

Why should that happen? 

[Curt1591]

If one needs to return to a locked down home country, it's time to check with your embassy. There should be some repatriation protocol. 

[wotsdermatter]

21 hours ago, ChipButty said:

I dont think any country will stop it's citizens going home the problem will be getting there flight are being cancelled left right and center.

Two days ago, Monday 16th MArch, I posted what Prime Minister Trudeau made public.  In part, Canadians are allowed to return to Canada, of course, but that all airlines worldwide will refuse to board ANYBODY, even Canadians, who show symptoms of the COVID-19 virus.

'nuf sed.

[faraday]

On 3/18/2020 at 12:35 AM, darrendsd said:

Why do people ask these questions? Do posters really expect other posters to know the answers?

 

The simple truth is until announcements are made nobody knows 

 

 

So they can speculate,argue, & then start moaning about Thailand, how they've been living here for 20 years, when in fact they've been here on a package holiday, once.

[billsmart]

1 hour ago, jacko45k said:

Why should that happen? 

Processing at immigration or anywhere else might become delayed or even halted if the office involved has been compromised with COVID-19.

[jacko45k]

Just now, billsmart said:

Processing at immigration or anywhere else might become delayed or even halted if the office involved has been compromised with COVID-19.

Well let us hope not and if so contingency plans are made. 

[balo]

Expats who reside in a different country than their own will just have to follow the local laws , nothing will happen, they can't kick you out if all the countries are in lockdown.  

Edited March 18, 2020 by balo

[Lacessit]

There are always options. Just a matter of working out the best one for you.

Right now, it pays to be an introvert. Social distancing is no burden for us, and we have time to think.

[soalbundy]

On 3/18/2020 at 12:50 AM, david555 said:

Even those with proper visas example 1 year ret ext . can not be sure in such case if the immigration high boss keep those extension's  running 

What would be the point of that? That is just a panic post. Those of us who have been here for years pose no more of a threat than an average Thai.