extension coming ..

[warvet1970]

I just got back from nong khai immigration office and they are nice, and honest.  They saw my passport and current extension and my letter from US embassy of official request to proffer to Thai immigration.  (Last week, I got my extension letter in 29 minutes from embassy.  And 400 miles away.  They said 72 hours on webpage, because they were real busy.  My automated reply when I sent my request, came 3 hours AFTER my pdf attachment-reply extensión letter from the good folks @ embassy.  I’m truly sorry for what y'all have been thru, what with the UK making you jump thru hoops & supply copies of pages and Oz and German not helping at all.  A real crime.  My embassy required only 3 items.  Name as on passport, d.o.b. & passport # and the aviso that I WOULD BE RECEIVING my extension letter, (no ifs & s or buts) .. and 29 minutes later I hear a 'ding ding' .. quite impressed ..) back to the meat of the matter, and most important part ..

 

Y'all should wait if you can to get your extension.  I was told by the good people at my office here to wait, because the 'grand pubahs' were coming down with the resolution of extension for all.  This week or next.  I took my landlord with me so there was nothing 'lost in translation'.  Their further acknowledgment to this was that "everyone was having the same problem, just wait", and when I continued to ask questions about ancillary stuff, they just repeated for me to "just wait".  My visa extension is good until May 11° and I wanted to be prepared.  The woman alluded to 5 or 6 documents I’d need, otherwise, which, as I see from all these threads, are the 'hoops' y'all are jumping thru, currently.  I liked that they saved me this grief, and 1900 baht perhaps paid a second time.  (My visa is good until April 11, extension to May 11°) If anyone has a week or two remaining, then I’d suggest to wait.  This is current as of about 0930 this very morning, a half hour ago, wednesday April 1 2020

Edited April 1, 2020 by warvet1970
Immigration office visit was 1130, my iPad is on California time

[malboro]

My visa ends on 3rd of april. Was just gonna go to extend my visa at chaeng watthana immigration. But I dont know, with my luck. If I extend it today; they will have a free extension for everyone tomorrow.

[jimmjam]

I like nong khai immigration when they arent busy, very friendly.

 

[Zikomat]

5 minutes ago, malboro said:

My visa ends on 3rd of april. Was just gonna go to extend my visa at chaeng watthana immigration. But I dont know, with my luck. If I extend it today; they will have a free extension for everyone tomorrow.

I would not bet on that ‘free extension’ any time soon.

[warvet1970]

Unfortunately your on the cusp.  Hard decision to make.  What was apparent at the moment of her saying to me, the explanation from her that they were "waiting on the word from above, everyone has the same problem, you are not alone" she then said I’d need 5 or 6 documents (otherwise.) I didn’t understand why she was telling me this and that was part of my 'ancillary questions' to the 2, man and woman immigration officers, and their continuing reply, "just wait, just wait." When that raised my eyebrows there was quick talk with my landlord and he repeated again to me, what she said about the word coming from high.  She also spoke some English.  It wasn’t until I got back to my place that I fully understood that they were really saving me angst and grief and extra work .. and maybe Baht.

[warvet1970]

7 minutes ago, Zikomat said:

I would not bet on that ‘free extension’ any time soon.

There was no hesitation by either of the two of them.  They seemed quite assured that they knew what they were talking about and not surmising.

[warvet1970]

10 minutes ago, jimmjam said:

I like nong khai immigration when they arent busy, very friendly.

 

Yes, they treat me real good, there.  And it is a nice location.  The back part has barracks-apartments in a beautiful park setting.  I was here 50 years ago, starting from May 21 1970.  The national highway blacktop stopped 16 km south of Udorn, from there just a dirt road.  Most of Udorn was dirt, and nong khai, as well.  During monsoon mud was up to our axles, in 'town', no less.  1970 had the worst rains and flooding in the previous 50 years .. 1920.  I run everyday 2 miles.  I noted after yesterday’s run that the quiet, I had not heard like this, since 1970.  I have black and white fotos of me along the banks of mekong; I start my runs and my 8 mile alternating walks east out of town, just meters from the spot, of those fotos.

[timendres]

12 minutes ago, warvet1970 said:

There was no hesitation by either of the two of them.  They seemed quite assured that they knew what they were talking about and not surmising.

Until the decree is announced, it is pure speculation. Anyone concerned about their freedom should proceed with any steps necessary to avoid overstay and the IDC. Personally, I cannot imagine immigration tossing someone into the IDC for a few days of overstay at this point. But then again, they were happy to fine me 2,000 baht when I was two days late on my 90 day report in the middle of a 50 year flood that prevented me from accessing the Chaeng Wattana office.

[jacko45k]

30 minutes ago, malboro said:

My visa ends on 3rd of april. Was just gonna go to extend my visa at chaeng watthana immigration. But I dont know, with my luck. If I extend it today; they will have a free extension for everyone tomorrow.

Yeah, but pardon me for suggesting going onto overstay to maybe save 1900 baht, is more dumb than cheap!

[RedCardinal]

Not so good if you're not a tourist arriving after March 1.

[jimmjam]

4 minutes ago, RedCardinal said:

Not so good if you're not a tourist arriving after March 1.

I arrived on the 4th of march visa exempt. Does that count?

[FarFlungFalang]

1 hour ago, warvet1970 said:

Oz and German not helping at all

Asked for my letter from Oz embassy in the evening and it arrived the following day and they were a great help.Just letting you know so you can update your info.

[Youlike]

guys read the stickboy website, now the ones on tourist visa's get automatc extensions.

[jackdd]

1 hour ago, warvet1970 said:

German not helping at all

Since last week they are issuing the letter, so it's ok for Germans.

[NightSky]

Is the same waver in the pipeline for non o extension too?

 

correction - the video says no

 

 

Edited April 1, 2020 by NightSky

[watthong]

48 minutes ago, warvet1970 said:

Unfortunately your on the cusp.  Hard decision to make.  What was apparent at the moment of her saying to me, the explanation from her that they were "waiting on the word from above, everyone has the same problem, you are not alone" she then said I’d need 5 or 6 documents (otherwise.) I didn’t understand why she was telling me this and that was part of my 'ancillary questions' to the 2, man and woman immigration officers, and their continuing reply, "just wait, just wait." When that raised my eyebrows there was quick talk with my landlord and he repeated again to me, what she said about the word coming from high.  She also spoke some English.  It wasn’t until I got back to my place that I fully understood that they were really saving me angst and grief and extra work .. and maybe Baht.

Thanks for the blow by blow account. I just wanted to ask for the sake of IOs working at the moment, they are between a rock and hard place. So those who can wait, please do so. My extension runs out beginning of May. Normally I would make the hike to CW toward the end of March, ie last week. But considering that everything is in flux, I really beg those who still have some time please wait it out. You won't get infected that way if you are not, and you won't infect anyone else if you are. In the meantime, that also gives the authorities much needed time to sort things out. For the moment there are tangles of unnecessary and not-well-thought out measures awaiting those wanting to jump into the fray - and the pool of virus.

[jacko45k]

41 minutes ago, jimmjam said:

I arrived on the 4th of march visa exempt. Does that count?

Would expect so.

[samisaurus]

What if i did my 1st visa extension on March 4th .... 

Does that mean I dont get the automatic extension? 

[jimmjam]

3 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Would expect so.

I will wait to see how long the extension is for. Im due to extend for 60 days based on having thai kids on friday 3rd april. If its just a month. I will stick with my original plan

[GeorgeCross]

yay we are saved!!!

 

Quote

This is for people with tourist visas who arrived after 1 March

 

oh <deleted>.

 

 

[BritTim]

51 minutes ago, jimmjam said:

I arrived on the 4th of march visa exempt. Does that count?

Yes, the 4th March comes after the 1st of March. If immigration writes the police order according to what the cabinet decided, you will get an extension without a need to attend the immigration office.

[BritTim]

8 minutes ago, samisaurus said:

What if i did my 1st visa extension on March 4th .... 

Does that mean I dont get the automatic extension? 

Yes, you arrived before March 1st, so you need a "special" extension which requires a visit to the immigration office.

[samisaurus]

15 minutes ago, BritTim said:

Yes, you arrived before March 1st, so you need a "special" extension which requires a visit to the immigration office.

Thank U, this announcement is ridiculous as barely anyone came in after March 1st and and everyone extending is from January - February 

[Jack1988]

I am arrived on 3th of March from Mae Sai and I have already extended for another 30 days. Should be ok for extend my visa with a letter from my italian embassy?

[ubonjoe]

35 minutes ago, BritTim said:

Yes, you arrived before March 1st, so you need a "special" extension which requires a visit to the immigration office.

I think we need to wait for a formal announcement for immigration as to what it actually is. The only thing I have seen came from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that has nothing to with extensions of stay.

[Isaan Alan]

22 minutes ago, samisaurus said:

Thank U, this announcement is ridiculous as barely anyone came in after March 1st and and everyone extending is from January - February 

They don't want to let go of the 1900 baht do they? 

How about an online (hmmm) or email application system or pay later when you finally get to leave? You pay any overstay at the airport and if you don't pay, they don't let you leave so they will get their stinking money.

[RubbaJohnny]

31 minutes ago, samisaurus said:

Thank U, this announcement is ridiculous as barely anyone came in after March 1st and and everyone extending is from January - February 

Agree that Medical and governments are all stressing no unecessary contact , yet people are still required not only to queue at busy offices but to travel.

 

 I'm sure most in Bangkok will be using taxis etc, also the hours away from home will mean buying lunch snacks handling cash visiting toilets/restrooms, take away food, touching stairs , handrail, doors etc.

 

Forgive the link from TAT intelligence (an oxymoron if I ever saw one) .Int Arrivals down 79% from last year, hardly surprising.

https://marketingdb.tat.or.th/en/web/guest/tatwebportallink

 

While arrivals have almost tapered to zero they are still over a third of million people in March at swampy and over a quarter of million at other hubs , some of whom will have been asymptomatic and those without long term visas will be queueing with the rest for extensions esp if they cannot leave overland the backpackers nor on their flights if cancelled.

 

Surely the very Thai solution will be no visit to Immigration,

 

Charge a steep fee say 5k Auto extendeveryone in country allowed until emergency lifted or an extendable date say  May or June 30 or July to be reviewed as needs

 

Im sure many will be delighted to pay a one off fee say 1900 baht , this coud easily be added to the airport departure tax.

I'm sure an even higher fee which could help Thai health service say 20000 until end of the year, there are apps that can deal with all and save lives.I'd sooner overstay than risk my health, issue is the black mark or ban?

 

I've little hope any such things will happen and I like 2 million others who entered this year will have to jostle at a border if opne, an airport or Immigration Office in due course.

 

The needs of natinal security argument valid since the muslim insurgency in deep south could be alleviated by requesting a daily TM30 online,In reality the Malay border is pervios to those who are local speak Malay and don't look different to a local.Other places also request a temp check can also be done via an app.

 

Measure to protect visitors who will have less anxiety and a more positive attitude to return, protect IOs and their families who must be a high risk group and the Hospitals wider public.

 

We'd all like a free visa free extension for life but not crossing my fingers on that.Instead of pay to play , pay to isolate seems an attractive deal that I'm sure agents will pick up on in major hubs like Bangkok Phuket, not much se to us up country in the sticks.

 

Despite the global pandemic plenty of air traffic and tickets for sale to some places , of course some are freight only.

 

Live tracking

https://www.flightradar24.com/

Cruise tracker

https://www.cruisin.me/cruise-ship-tracker/

 

Interestimg to see arrivals from IKorea, Russia, Qatar,India Nepal ,Bhutan,Vietnam, China, Ethiopia etc still allowed

https://www.bangkokairportonline.com/flight-status-arrivals-departures/

 

P.S. WHO lady I know in Loas said lock down hasn't filtered down to lottery and begging monks, time to polish my Jatukom

 

 

 

Edited April 1, 2020 by RubbaJohnny

[Yanki]

One of my Indian friend have 90 days tourist visa and is going to expire on 4th April 2020. Because of COVID-19 situation he is unable to fly back home. Now he got stucked and really don't know what he has to do. How about his visa extension? Should i ask him to go to Indian Embassy or Immigration office at Cheangwattana? Kindly advice me please.Thank you so much.

Edited April 1, 2020 by Yanki

[jimmjam]

10 minutes ago, Yanki said:

One of my Indian friend have 90 days tourist visa and is going to expire on 4th April 2020. Because of COVID-19 situation he is unable to fly back home. Now he got stucked and really don't know what he has to do. How about his visa extension? Should i ask him to go to Indian Embassy or Immigration office at Cheangwattana? Kindly advice me please.Thank you so much.

He should email the indian embassy and see if they will give him a letter so he can extend his stay.