PHOTOS: Immigration at Chaeng Wattana heaving with foreigners desperately trying to extend their visas

[ThailandRyan]

Remember there is suppose to be a new announcement later on today with the One month of whatever State of Emergency starting at 00:01 Hours on the 26th......So lets just wait until the good news is given out before everyone keeps up with these possibilities........

[Guderian]

Why haven't Prayut or Anutin slapped down the Immigration Chief and told him to fix this madness?

[Mattd]

2 minutes ago, sanemax said:

Huge news if true 

Agreed and I stress this was NOT confirmed.

[KKr]

1 minute ago, Guderian said:

Why haven't Prayut or Anutin slapped down the Immigration Chief and told him to fix this madness?

and inter alia protect the Government Employees that are exposed, in an I suppose Air Conditioned office space, to such large numbers of people.

[joecoolfrog]

2 hours ago, dabhand said:

Why are the Embassies not making protests to the Thai government on this serious matter?

 

Instead they are merely scuttling around to provide Immigration requested paperwork, rather than firing back at yet another example of completely unnecessary red tape.

 

Yes, I am looking at you, the British and US Embassy.  Once again you are failing your fellow citizens. 

 

 

Firstly you have no idea what is being discussed , do you expect ambassadors to demand action in public ?

Secondly why single out the UK and US embassies , have citizens of other nations been reprieved , are all those in the picture Brits and Yanks ?

[manhood]

No adequate decession made from the government how immigrating should handle this problem in an human way and not keep people like trapped in a cage. Just let people stay another 30 days after visa expires and this is easy to prolongate. Maybe the officers cant count 30 days on expire date????

But yes, make more brainless decisions.  I want people don't forget how they are treated in Thailand and decide to visit in the future countries that are handling their tourist as guests !!!

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Looks like Immigration's publicized social distancing campaign at BKK CW is a tremendous success!  As would be expected.

 

 

 

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

21 minutes ago, ratcatcher said:

"CORONA VIRUS BREEDING CENTER, ENTER AT YOUR OWN PERIL"

 

If it makes you feel any better, foreigners still represent a very small share of the total CV cases confirmed in Thailand thus far....  Just a couple dozen out of 800-900 confirmed cases....  The vast majority are Thais, along with a group of about two dozen original Chinese seeders.

 

[TheFishman1]

Unbelievable TIT

[bbi1]

22 minutes ago, Mattd said:

Just been talking with two colleagues who have returned from CW and their PR interview, they confirmed it was madness, although they said a lot of precautions being taken prior to them being allowed in to the interview room.

Big boss of Immigration came out at one point and seemingly told others to get the people waiting there processed, as from tomorrow it will be closed, this is not confirmed, but certainly the vibe they picked up on.

Closed from tomorrow then what? Everyone else will be on overstay because they can't extend their stay?

[NightSky]

So how can we instigate change?

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

1 hour ago, timendres said:

Force the head of immigration to stand in the middle of that throng performing crowd control, and the rules will be changed tomorrow.

 

And no mask, please!!!!   Just the normal retinue of commandos with assault rifles.

 

[Somtamnication]

I confew.....  1 meter apart or 1 millimeter apart?

[michael888]

Great idea.  Instead of amnesty, or online service.  Herd all the humans together to increase the spread of the virus.  Top notch.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The news comes as immigration on Tuesday announced new measures that would help ensure to keep people one metre apart when inside the Government Complex.

 

April Fool's Day has arrived a week early, courtesy of Immigration and the Thai govt!!!!

 

[Chazar]

38 minutes ago, Toany said:

please, don't forget that the immigration officers are just doing a very difficult job.  They do not make these stupid rules.  Give them a smile and be nice back to them

actually the few  my Wife  knows thinks the govt is  <deleted> , the  rules at  immigration are <deleted> etc but they know  they can say  nothing or their  job is  gone.......... source  Line messages from them to my Wife

[bristolgeoff]

Will not happen just scrap the Visa for the moment  and let farangs try to sort out a ticket out back home if possible.the world is closing down for the moment 

[vermin on arrival]

37 minutes ago, Mattd said:

Just been talking with two colleagues who have returned from CW and their PR interview, they confirmed it was madness, although they said a lot of precautions being taken prior to them being allowed in to the interview room.

Big boss of Immigration came out at one point and seemingly told others to get the people waiting there processed, as from tomorrow it will be closed, this is not confirmed, but certainly the vibe they picked up on.

Wow. I was going to go in tomorrow for my emergency extension. I hope there is someway we can get still get this or that they will make a reasonable allowance for all if us who will still be here no matter our visa or status in the country.

[Chazar]

31 minutes ago, Guderian said:

Why haven't Prayut or Anutin slapped down the Immigration Chief and told him to fix this madness?

u mean ORDERED

[Chazar]

15 minutes ago, Somtamnication said:

I confew.....  1 meter apart or 1 millimeter apart?

every time i give the glass  shop an order in mm the Wife  has to translate it to centimetres or they dont get it , 323mm wide must be shown as 32.3cm

[Seeker1953]

2 hours ago, dabhand said:

Yes, I am looking at you, the British and US Embassy.  Once again you are failing your fellow citizens.

I'm 66 years old, have some medical issues, so I'm kind of high risk.  And my 90 day report's due. Called the US Embassy - absolutely zero help, didn't even have someone I could ask about it. USELESS.
Called Thai Immigration's phone number and the circuit is so busy, it just beeps and hangs up on me. I understand they are overwhelmed, not so upset they don't answer the phone. But sure would be nice to get some help from higher levels of management. Oh well. 

I agree with a previous poster - I'm going to suck up the penalty and not go at all. I refuse to put my life at risk.

Everyone please be careful out there and wash your hands often. 
 

[JimHuaHin]

A disaster in the making!!

 

One would think that the senior people in Thai Immigration could talk with the senior people in General Prayut's office to work out a solution, such as following New Zealand's excellent example of extending all visas automatically until 30 September!!

 

But no!!! This is Thailand.

 

Besides, surely many people in the tourism industry would like all these tourists and expats to stay in Thailand and spend money here!! Ten of millions of Baht flowing into Thailand every day, being spent every day, supporting the failing Thai economy, while all these foreigners are forced to remain in Thailand.

 

Wake up Thailand.

Edited March 25, 2020 by JimHuaHin
I made a typo. Sorry.

[Zikomat]

this is a crime against humanity

[cardinalblue]

Hopefully 90 day in CM Is easier at  Promenada...

[Just Weird]

2 hours ago, petedk said:

This place should give amnesty to everyone and close down during the Emergency decree.

 

2 hours ago, AlexRich said:

Why not just forget about the money and announce an extension for all? The cost of spread will wipe out any revenue gains.

 

2 hours ago, holy cow cm said:

Ugly and seems like yet another wrong decision to have a plague of crowds like this. They should be more easy to their guests under this situation.. 

Have any other countries announced visa amnesties or exemptions for foreigners due to Covid19?  I don't think so, so why would you think that Thailand should be doing it?

[ChrisY1]

2 hours ago, ezzra said:

Having to deal and chase all kinds of permits and visa in my 30+ years in this country it is apparent that it is not within the powers that be to have compassion or understanding of a dire situations and the sights of suffering foreigners due to circumstances beyond their control  doesn't seems to invoke any special considerations....

Right..totally stupid....It is so unfortunate that Thai officials, and more so those in Immigration, insist that their holier than thou status, be obeyed with no exceptions.

Also most unfortunate, is that the PM and his deputies are equally stupid.

[Destiny1990]

We nearly all saw this coming..

Great if you’re an 65 years plus old tourist with an crapy health and crapy Health insurance good luck getting ur embassy letter and ur visa extension done and ur TM30’s ! Enjoy the lock down.

[Bundooman]

If this was a photo of Thai people herded together like that in a country outside of Thailand, in a world crisis with governments demanding social distancing, Thai people would be up in arms in outrage - screaming with self-righteousness and indignation that Thais could be treated in this manner.

 

This image needs to be flashed around the world to highlight the incompetence of Thai officialdom!

[ExpatOilWorker]

7 minutes ago, Seeker1953 said:

I'm 66 years old, have some medical issues, so I'm kind of high risk.  And my 90 day report's due. Called the US Embassy - absolutely zero help, didn't even have someone I could ask about it. USELESS.
Called Thai Immigration's phone number and the circuit is so busy, it just beeps and hangs up on me. I understand they are overwhelmed, not so upset they don't answer the phone. But sure would be nice to get some help from higher levels of management. Oh well. 

I agree with a previous poster - I'm going to suck up the penalty and not go at all. I refuse to put my life at risk.

Everyone please be careful out there and wash your hands often. 
 

My 90 days report is also coming up and the online app is not working this time around. I am also inclined to just accept the 2,000 baht fine.

I will try the regular postal service, just so I can say at least I tried.

Let me know how it works out for you. 

[Zikomat]

This is what you do right after the Boxing stadium incident. Utterly stupid and irresponsible!

Edited March 25, 2020 by Zikomat