Phuket Immigration extends permits to stay for foreigners stuck in Thailand

[webfact]

Phuket Immigration extends permits to stay for foreigners stuck in Thailand

By The Phuket News

 

A man walks away from the Visa Extension section at the Phuket Immigration Office in Phuket Town. Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot

 

PHUKET: Phuket Immigration is issuing all foreigners stuck in the country due to the COVID coronavirus situation 30-day extensions so they do not have travel and risk infection, The Phuket News was told this morning (Mar 20).

 

The 30-day extensions are being issued to both tourists and foreigners staying on other types of visas, confirmed Phuket Immigration Deputy Chief Lt Col Udom Thongchin.

 

“It is very difficult for foreigners to leave the country due to the COVID-19 coronavirus situation, and doing so right now risks infection,” Lt Col Udom admitted.

 

Full story: https://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-immigration-extends-permits-to-stay-for-foreigners-stuck-in-thailand-75354.php

 

 

-- © Copyright Phuket News 2020-03-20

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[dsf9]

Quote

However, any foreigners seeking to extend their stay must have letter from the embassy or consulate of their home country, he stressed.

The insanity! Amazing Thailand. 

 

 

[stuhan]

What,he must be having a laugh surely to god as my witness,unbelievable.

That is really the most stupid request i have ever seen from immigration,its a bloody disgrace.

 

 

Edited March 20, 2020 by stuhan

[Canuck1966]

 

2 minutes ago, stuhan said:

What,he must be having a laugh surely to god as my witness,unbelievable

 

any foreigners seeking to extend their stay must have

“The letter must be from the embassy or consulate requesting that the Royal Thai Police Immigration Bureau allow the foreigner to stay in the country longer. It must name the foreigner and it must have the sentence that the foreigner is unable to travel due to the COVID-19 coronvirus situation,” Lt Col Udom said.

"It must be an actual letter, to be hand over with a copy of their passport at the Phuket Immigration Office during office hours,” he said.

Edited March 20, 2020 by Canuck1966

[Tingtong2mut]

Are u people ever happy with anything here? I don't know why the Thais put up with us to be honest and I certainly don't know why most of you miserable negative lot live here

Edited March 20, 2020 by Tingtong2mut

[madmitch]

It all reads well and then comes the caveat!

 

Why, just once, can't they make things easy? They should be able to find out which countries have closed borders quite easily. They're not all like Thailand and change the rules three times a day. But that might involve a staff member spending a couple of hours doing some research!

[stevenl]

10 minutes ago, madmitch said:

It all reads well and then comes the caveat!

 

Why, just once, can't they make things easy? They should be able to find out which countries have closed borders quite easily. They're not all like Thailand and change the rules three times a day. But that might involve a staff member spending a couple of hours doing some research!

It would be even better if immigration issued a directive on how to handle this, in stead of letting local offices doing their own thing.

[potless]

28 minutes ago, webfact said:

 

The 30-day extensions are being issued to both tourists and foreigners staying on other types of visas, confirmed Phuket Immigration Deputy Chief Lt Col Udom Thongchin.

What do they think will change in 30 days with flights cancelled and more borders closing by the hour? Give any affected people 90 days and then look at the situation again. The letter serves no real purpose as far as I can see.

[GeorgeCross]

Quote

Please, any foreigners coming to the Immigration office must wear face masks. If they don’t have one, they will have to go get one first, then we can talk

 

would have been nice if immigration provided some masks rather than having foreigners scattering all over the island trying to find masks and letters

 

 

[madmitch]

49 minutes ago, GeorgeCross said:

 

would have been nice if immigration provided some masks rather than having foreigners scattering all over the island trying to find masks and letters

 

 

Mask sales could replace the tips which probably aren't as forthcoming these days! A nice little earner!

[justin case]

would have been to easy to just extend

 

pretty sure not every embassy will bother to give this service in times of stress / high demand, my embassy is closed off, only appointment now

 

[KhunBENQ]

Germans can now hope that their embassy which is closed to public, find issuing this letter an irrefutable request.

 

Seen too late:

6 minutes ago, justin case said:

my embassy is closed off, only appointment now

Edited March 20, 2020 by KhunBENQ

[crazykopite]

And know doubt the embassy’s will be charging 3,000 baht a letter.

[Canuck1966]

20 minutes ago, justin case said:

would have been to easy to just extend

 

pretty sure not every embassy will bother to give this service in times of stress / high demand, my embassy is closed off, only appointment now

 

so it's another non starter!

They just find it impossible to do absolutely anything that makes life easier for foreigners.

They enjoy it too

[timendres]

1 hour ago, Tingtong2mut said:

Are u people ever happy with anything here? I don't know why the Thais put up with us to be honest and I certainly don't know why most of you miserable negative lot live here

So, your embassy is open and ready to provide the letter required for this extension? And Lt. Col. Udom states "doing so right now risks infection", but sending people into their embassies for this letter does not? In this crisis, they should have simple extended every foreigner here 30 days, with a possible additional 30 days. All that should be required is proof that your current status in the country is valid.

[Canuck1966]

IDC will be rammed when immigration prints off their daily reports and sees loads of low hanging fruit to bump up their figures.

There will be photo ops galore and high fives

 

It will be really nice in IDC when somebody who gets chucked in is infected

[Woolsgibb60]

28 minutes ago, Canuck1966 said:

IDC will be rammed when immigration prints off their daily reports and sees loads of low hanging fruit to bump up their figures.

There will be photo ops galore and high fives

 

It will be really nice in IDC when somebody who gets chucked in is infected

Exstension how much 1900 baht I expect so they will not let 1900 baht slip  through there fingers got to get the millions back what they are losing 

[mrmicbkktxl]

German embassy does not issue such document

[Matzzon]

Naturally, most of you have to act like a55hol3s. When they are nice and offer a 30 day extension for all foreigner, so they should not need to travel and the risks included with that. Then many of you have to laugh and complain about a necessary letter. Always something, right. Can never be happy and satisfied.

 

It´s not strange that our reputation in Thailand has fallen flat, when the only thing so many people do is complaining. Even when they are given a choice. Stop thinking that you are some kind of royalty, and that everything should be given to you on a silver platter.

Edited March 20, 2020 by Matzzon

[Timbob]

4 minutes ago, Matzzon said:

Naturally, most of you have to act like a55hol3s. When they are nice and offer a 30 day extension for all foreigner, so they should now need to travel and the risks included with that. Then many of you have to laugh and complain about a necessary letter. Always something, right. Can never be happy and satisfied.

 

It´s not strange that our reputation in Thailand has fallen flat, when the only thing so many people do is complaining. Even when they are given a choice. Stop thinking that you are some kind of royalty, and that everything should be given to you on a silver platter.

Nonsense. Such a letter should not be "necessary" in these uncertain times. That's the point people are making. Visas should be automatically extended until this is over, with no visits to immigration required - since social distancing is important. If the 1,900 baht is important then make us pay on exit at the airport. It's just common sense.  

[sapson]

1 minute ago, Timbob said:

It's just common sense.

Thais dont do common sense!

[sanemax]

13 minutes ago, Matzzon said:

Naturally, most of you have to act like a55hol3s. When they are nice and offer a 30 day extension for all foreigner, so they should not need to travel and the risks included with that. Then many of you have to laugh and complain about a necessary letter. Always something, right. Can never be happy and satisfied.

 

 

Most of our Embassy will not issue the letter and for those that do, its a trip to BKK which puts people at risk of contracting and spreading the virus .

[justin case]

30 minutes ago, Matzzon said:

Naturally, most of you have to act like a55hol3s. When they are nice and offer a 30 day extension for all foreigner, so they should not need to travel and the risks included with that. Then many of you have to laugh and complain about a necessary letter. Always something, right. Can never be happy and satisfied.

I wish you one day, to have a divorce, where you are screwed over by your ex-wife

 

having a child you love and want to raise

 

not being 50 years old

 

and then see you struggle to get a valid valid / extension that you cannot get because of interference

 

 

you are the princess here, in your golden chair, complaining about REAL PEOPLE having real problems ,  are you BORED that you have to comment on the misery of others while you have it sooooooo good ?

[PEE TEE]

3 hours ago, Tingtong2mut said:

Are u people ever happy with anything here? I don't know why the Thais put up with us to be honest and I certainly don't know why most of you miserable negative lot live here

Put up with Us your having a laugh. i would think you a bit green behind the ears . do you really think the consulates or embassies will be able to send letters to everyone who is unable to travel home . smell the coffee.

[justin case]

22 minutes ago, Timbob said:

Nonsense. Such a letter should not be "necessary" in these uncertain times. That's the point people are making. Visas should be automatically extended until this is over, with no visits to immigration required - since social distancing is important. If the 1,900 baht is important then make us pay on exit at the airport. It's just common sense.  

exactly.

 

but common sense...

 

see they impose martial law (lol, army already in power)

 

and you cannot go out except for a serious reason

 

but mister police / army, my visa is about to expire and I need a silly paper from my embassy they will not provide (or by normal mail as immigration needs original ...)

 

BACK TO YOUR CAGE

[NightSky]

deleted

Edited March 20, 2020 by NightSky

[TheFishman1]

Immigration here never makes it easy TIT

[Khun Yaaai]

Everyone to Phuket! ????????

[taxin]

46 minutes ago, Matzzon said:

Naturally, most of you have to act like a55hol3s. When they are nice and offer a 30 day extension for all foreigner, so they should not need to travel and the risks included with that. Then many of you have to laugh and complain about a necessary letter. Always something, right. Can never be happy and satisfied.

 

It´s not strange that our reputation in Thailand has fallen flat, when the only thing so many people do is complaining. Even when they are given a choice. Stop thinking that you are some kind of royalty, and that everything should be given to you on a silver platter.

Troll post, should be removed by admin..

[MrMo]

3 hours ago, madmitch said:

It all reads well and then comes the caveat!

 

Why, just once, can't they make things easy? They should be able to find out which countries have closed borders quite easily. They're not all like Thailand and change the rules three times a day. But that might involve a staff member spending a couple of hours doing some research!

You are missing a major point regarding the Thai psyche.   If the Thai authorities were to determine for which nationals travel is not possible, they would be taking responsibility for the decision to extend the permission to stay.   A definite no, no that.   

 

Much better to make everybody / anybody else take responsibility.