Thai authorities set to clarify situation on visa overstay as a result of COVID-19

[webfact]

Thai authorities set to clarify situation on visa overstay as a result of COVID-19

 

FILE PHOTO

 

The Thai authorities are set to make an announcement with regards to the situation of foreigners in Thailand who inadvertently overstay their visas due to disruption to travel and immigration services because of the coronavirus.

 

A meeting between the Ministry of Interior, Immigration Bureau and Tourism Authority is due to be held imminently.

 

Back in January, the Immigration Bureau announced that foreigners who overstayed their visas due to disruption from the coronavirus would not be subjected to the usual finds and potential blacklisting. 

 

At the time of publishing there are no restrictions on travel within Thailand, therefore 90 day reporting is still required. 90 day reporting can also be completed online. 

 

The COVID-19 situation has made the situation for visa runners - people looking to extend their stay in Thailand by obtaining a visa from a neighbouring country - even more difficult.

 

On Wednesday, officials in Malaysia began closing its borders, only allowing foreigners to leave the country.

 

On Thursday, the Vientiane Times reported the government in Laos will suspend issuing visas to foreign tourists. 

 

In Vietnam, the government has also suspended the issuance of all visas to all foreigners, as well as denying entry to travelers coming from the UK and the 26 Schengen countries.

 

*If you are unsure of the situation regarding your own visa due to COVID-19, contact your local immigration office, and if you visit in person ensure you follow the precautionary measures from the Thai government with regards to hygiene and social distancing. 

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-03-19

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[scubascuba3]

Finally maybe some help from Immigration

[keith101]

I was concerned about the border being closed and not being able to do my 90 day out/in next month so contacted Siam Legal who told me i can get a 60 day extension from my local Imm office if needed .

[RandolphGB]

Laos has stopped issuing visas?

[GeorgeCross]

its good to be optimistic but experience has generally proven that once immigration start brainstorming a <deleted>storm soon follows

 

fingers crossed, calm heads prevail this time

 

 

[seeyoujimmy]

22 minutes ago, GeorgeCross said:

its good to be optimistic but experience has generally proven that once immigration start brainstorming a <deleted>storm soon follows

 

fingers crossed, calm heads prevail this time

 

 

Where are they going to get a calm head.

[mickymouse1]

Why the word FIND is widely used in Asia for the correct word Fine as a financial penalty?

[bbi1]

37 minutes ago, keith101 said:

I was concerned about the border being closed and not being able to do my 90 day out/in next month so contacted Siam Legal who told me i can get a 60 day extension from my local Imm office if needed .

Which immigration office is that? So you just turn up at the immigration office and apply for a 60 day extension and it will be granted? Is that for all visa holders of any visa?

[madmitch]

Let's hope we don't get a typical Immigration announcement that asks more questions than it answers.

[Lithys]

38 minutes ago, keith101 said:

I was concerned about the border being closed and not being able to do my 90 day out/in next month so contacted Siam Legal who told me i can get a 60 day extension from my local Imm office if needed .

 

In the same boat. Will ask the local immigration office in bkk very soon if it's true.

[BadSpottedDog]

45 minutes ago, RandolphGB said:

Laos has stopped issuing visas?

I heard that you must get a visa online before. Check for more info using the search bar on the Thai Visa Advice facebook page.

[ColtenSloan]

Interested to see what will happen exactly. I've always had tourist visas for the last 3 years. 

Now I'm just on a visa exempt, which I am due to EXTEND next week for 30 days. 

Been curious what I will do once that time is up, as my flight has been cancelled to Singapore, my travel plans to Vietnam are currently not possible due to Vietnam suspending visas, and now Laos has just stopped issuing visas, so I couldn't even potentially go to Laos for a Thai visa, or border hop. Even the thought of going to Laos for a month or two is now not possible. 

(Canadian citizen btw) 

And no not travelling back to Canada. 

Hmm ????????????

[spiekerjozef]

Still have 30 days on my visa left then I have to do a border hop.

But with the countries around thailand starting closing borders some advice/clarify from immigration would be nice.

[bbi1]

13 minutes ago, ColtenSloan said:

Interested to see what will happen exactly. I've always had tourist visas for the last 3 years. 

Now I'm just on a visa exempt, which I am due to EXTEND next week for 30 days. 

Been curious what I will do once that time is up, as my flight has been cancelled to Singapore, my travel plans to Vietnam are currently not possible due to Vietnam suspending visas, and now Laos has just stopped issuing visas, so I couldn't even potentially go to Laos for a Thai visa, or border hop. Even the thought of going to Laos for a month or two is now not possible. 

(Canadian citizen btw) 

And no not travelling back to Canada. 

Hmm ????????????

Are all flights cancelled to Singapore or just your one flight? I would think there are other flights there still.

[ColtenSloan]

2 minutes ago, bbi1 said:

Are all flights cancelled to Singapore or just your one flight? I would think there are other flights there still.

Yes, but that is something I'm not to worried about, it's the fact of staying in Thailand. 

I was just stating about my travels plans, honestly I wasn't even going to Singapore. That was just a fun flight for when I arrived at the airport. 

But as I was planning a move to Vietnam that is not possible at the moment. 

So than I was going to head to Laos and stay for a month or two see if things calmed down, or go to Laos and get a Thai visa and come back. 

 

Either way I'm very curious to see what immigration will say about overstaying visas. Due to not wanting to travel back to home countries, or not being able tohit up a neighboring country for a visa run/border run. 

[drbeach]

Maybe this is the impetus needed to bring Thailand's immigration system out of the antiquated 1970s ways and into the modern era...extensions should be done online. No more ridiculous 90 day limits on multi entry visas...give us a year stamp. Or at least give us a 90-180 extension stamp done in the office...even if it costs 5000 Baht.

[sapson]

They could simply allow everyone an additional 90 days on their current permission to stay date.

 

No need to panic visit immigration causing them an enormous workload or do anything just the 100% directive clear statement issued and understanding that we all have 90 days extra to our current stamp under this emergency situation...........simple hassle free.

 

Can be reviewed later as the situation unfolds.

[ThailandRyan]

43 minutes ago, mickymouse1 said:

Why the word FIND is widely used in Asia for the correct word Fine as a financial penalty?

Because they are finding your money they want.....lol

[Mavideol]

1 hour ago, keith101 said:

I was concerned about the border being closed and not being able to do my 90 day out/in next month so contacted Siam Legal who told me i can get a 60 day extension from my local Imm office if needed .

and what will be the cost $$$$$$ nothing free here

[Terry B]

50 minutes ago, ColtenSloan said:

Now I'm just on a visa exempt, which I am due to EXTEND next week for 30 days. 

 

And no not travelling back to Canada. 

Hmm ????????????

I have the same exact situation: currently in the Kingdom on a visa exempt, that upon arrival did not intend to extend because I already have a one year visa for India, and wanted to spend a month in the Phillipines as well before returning there. But given the situation, I decided to extend my visa exempt here in Thailand. And it will expire in less than 10 days now.

 

I am self-isolating in my private room, and I am not hoarding, and I am keeping healthy, and I am not in any type of high-risk category, and I have enough money to remain here for the duration of at least a few months.

 

I hoping somehow to extend my tourist exempt again to avoid traveling ANYWHERE for a while. Perhaps even for 2 or 3 months is fine for me. Don't think I'll need it, but the healthcare here is reputed to be just as good as my own county's in America, and at  much lower prices for the same-same!

 

Please let us know how it goes for you when you try to extend!

[vermin on arrival]

I also would extend my visa exempt if they would allow us to do so after our first one. I hope this pans out because I am starting to feel hemmed in by closing borders

 

[GeorgeCross]

1 hour ago, madmitch said:

Let's hope we don't get a typical Immigration announcement that asks more questions than it answers.

 

i'm thinking its going to require a covid19 certificate* but i'm guessing

 

(*on sale 25K baht at my local private hospital)

 

[legend49]

Oh the Smart cars were looking at overtime?

[Grusa]

Went to Jomtien immigration yesterday afternoon.....never seen it so busy! I Have a visitor, a Spanish kid who was at united in Guangzhou. He arrived in Thailand in February, went to Krabi and overstayed, 11 days total. I advised nhom to go to Krabi immigration and sort it.  He did but could not afford the fine and extension! So they let him go, at that point only 8 days overstay.

He got the bus to Bangkok and Pattaya, I picked him up and took him to Jomtien. They looked at everything, and insisted first a TM30 (23 ahead in the queue, but I did it online, and got the confirmation printed next door (50 Baht) , a photo (another 50), Photocopies (10), got the queue ticket for extention (38 ahead! ), got sent to Overstay (11 days@ 500 = 5500Baht) no concessions given! ) and 2½ hours later got an extension for 30 days.....from his original visa date, no concessions even though we asked. Another 1900 baht. So he's fixed, until 6th April. He can't go back to China and he can't go back to Spain, his credit card is lost and his debit card maxxed out. So, the Bank of Mum and Dad is going to have to transfer some money to me, so I can top up his finances. But they are locked down in Spain.

It's a mess! 

[domgaf]

I am currently in Thailand on a 30 day (visa exempt) stamp. I am due to leave the Kingdom on 28th March. However, the country I am supposed to be returning to has closed its borders. Will it be possible for me to apply for a visa to stay here, or is it better to try to get an extension on the 30 day stamp?

[vermin on arrival]

3 minutes ago, domgaf said:

I am currently in Thailand on a 30 day (visa exempt) stamp. I am due to leave the Kingdom on 28th March. However, the country I am supposed to be returning to has closed its borders. Will it be possible for me to apply for a visa to stay here, or is it better to try to get an extension on the 30 day stamp?

I would get the extension. I already have one so being blocked from Taiwan flight has put me in a bad situation. Laos land exit is also blocked.

 

Seems like getting any kind of visa will require a proof of being covid free and may also require proof of medical insurance if you can even get to an issuing country.

Edited March 19, 2020 by vermin on arrival
more info

[sapson]

1 hour ago, sapson said:

They could simply allow everyone an additional 90 days on their current permission to stay date.

 

No need to panic visit immigration causing them an enormous workload or do anything just the 100% directive clear statement issued and understanding that we all have 90 days extra to our current stamp under this emergency situation...........simple hassle free.

 

Can be reviewed later as the situation unfolds.

 

Just had a thought they could actually kill two birds one stone etc .....by making a free 90 extension for all as above..........

Also now close all immigration offices for at least a month or two, so to ease the worries from staff continually having to deal with the unwashed in crowded offices and contain the virus spread.

[vermin on arrival]

1 minute ago, sapson said:

 

Just had a thought they could actually kill two birds one stone etc .....by making a free 90 extension for all as above..........

Also now close all immigration offices for at least a month or two, so to ease the worries from staff continually having to deal with the unwashed in crowded offices and contain the virus spread.

I'd love that but since they make tons of money on extensions and overstay fines it seems unlikely. Area K alone in Chaeng Wattana probably generates 1 million baht a day now with all the extensions

[Kaopad999]

It will end up as the following for people who overstay.

No blacklist for overstay, but still have to pay 500THb per day for your overstay. 

They ain't gonna let Ai'Farang off the hook that easily! 

Mark my words.

Edited March 19, 2020 by Kaopad999

[sapson]

3 minutes ago, vermin on arrival said:

I'd love that but since they make tons of money on extensions and overstay fines it seems unlikely. Area K alone in Chaeng Wattana probably generates 1 million baht a day now with all the extensions

It would appease all the stressed out stranded worried farangs and the immigration staff and one less headache for Prayut.

 

However as you rightly say and I had forgotten, the loss of millions of baht in daily revenue nationwide would be a deciding factor.