BREAKING NEWS Tourists get automatic visa extensions

[mokwit]

29 minutes ago, SpanishExpat said:

Sorry but there are lots people on METV who have rented condos for a few months,

I don't think they care - the long ongoing tightening up of visas has created problems in the property market because people used to come to Thailand BECAUSE you could pretty much stay as long as you liked. Now more difficult for landlords to find someone for a 6mth or one year contract (the people who are going to come in and say that is BS, please just relate your experience rather than call others liars)

 

A friend who owns a condo has come every year for 6 months told me visa gets harder each year and this year only SETV so have to go out - maybe he is stuck outside.

 

I wasn't criticising you in any way if that is what you were thinking. I used all kinds of visa to stay here in the 11 years between priority NON B for work and retirement.

 

Add: Missed you were on METV and coming from and going back to EU. Wasn't thinking of METV as that has strict financial and other requirements so not be thought of as 'not really tourist' and also if track record of coming and going back.

Edited April 1, 2020 by mokwit

[Tanoshi]

16 minutes ago, jackdd said:

People who entered after 1st March with a tourist visa still have several weeks before they have to apply for a regular tourist extension, these are not the people causing the current queues.

There are of course some people who entered visa exempt who apply for a 30 day tourist visa extension, but processing this extension is quite fast and they are also not causing the long queues.

The long queues are caused by people who entered before March 1st.

Crock!

The procedure for 30 day extensions is the same regardless of when you entered the Country, with or without the requirement for an Embassy letter.

 

Those who entered after March 1st, will from this month onwards just be adding to the already long queues at Immigration offices, which is what their decision was I believe based on.

Edited April 1, 2020 by Tanoshi

[csmith]

To reconfirm .… yes I renewed my NON-IMM 'O' (Thai Wife) Visa for 12 months … I've been doing this annually since 2002 in Chiangmai. Baht 1,900

 

if you want to go in and out of the country during the 12 months then you need to also apply independenly for re-entry permits … which can be done anytime during the 12 months.… different form.

 

 

[ukrules]

29 minutes ago, Enoon said:

 

Just calculate 30 days after the current one and make a note of the date by which they have to leave.

 

Upon departure Immigration will look at the most recent stamp and add 30 days to calculate if overstayed.

This approach will make all the data in their databases useless.

[onanisland]

How do people here interpret the wording "after March 1"?

 

Does that mean if you arrived ON THE DAY of March 1 you are covered by this? Or does it apply to everyone arriving on March 2 and later?

[jackdd]

24 minutes ago, Tanoshi said:

Crock!

The procedure for 30 day extensions is the same regardless of when you entered the Country, with or without the requirement for an Embassy letter.

If you want to discuss something you should at least read a bit about this topic first. The procedures are not the same.

To obtain a regular tourist extension you have to go to immigration one time, and then walk away with your 30 day extension.

To get 30 days from an embassy letter you are required to go to immigration two times, first you get an under consideration stamp and on the second visit you get the actual extension stamp.

Many people who want to get the Covid extension end up getting only 7 days to leave the country. Then they get the required documents, apply again, get an under consideration stamp, and have to visit a third time to finally get their extension stamp. In some cases you can say it's the applicants fault because they didn't have the correct documents, but even if it's their fault, that they visit immigration three times is what is causing the queues. In cases where the embassy didn't issue the required letter, or some rogue IOs make up their own rules, it's not even their fault.

 

Regular 30 day tourist extension: 1 visit to immigration

Covid 30 day extension: 2-3 visits to immigration

And you want to tell me that Covid extensions aren't causing way longer queues than regular tourist extensions?

Edited April 1, 2020 by jackdd

[vermin on arrival]

This only seems to cover people on tourist visas who will need the extension at the end of April or later so it really will not address the issue they say it will. The queues will still be crazy long, and the people who need emergency extensions due to Covid will still be in a difficult situation.

[audaciousnomad]

1 hour ago, stephen tracy said:

I'd say you're over thinking it. Since the 1st the number of tourists coming in has been a trickle, and many who arrived earlier in the month have already left anyway. Due to mounting complaints online, particularly after news that 3 immigration officials at CW were confirmed infected on 30 March,  they needed to be seen to address the "problem", but without losing all that money in fees and fines. By exempting the small number if people still here since 1 March, they are losing very little. In short, it's about the cash. 

Out of all the possible explanations, this is the one I most agree with. Think very hard. They are not trying to help us. If you are a tourist here, you are a cow in a cattle ranch. They want as much milk as they can get from you before you get brave enough to hop the fence and take your chances elsewhere. They realize there is a risk of catching mad cow disease if they milk too many of you at once, so they are now finding ways to limit how many cows show up to the milking station at once. BUT make no mistake...they want all the milk they can get before you bounce out of here. Sure, it may cost you more or be more dangerous if you move on to another pasture....but as long as you stay in this one...you will definitely need to visit the milking station twice a month.

[Cuchulainn]

What about people on 1 year Non O extensions (marriage  and retirement)?

 

Is an embassy letter needed for that?

 

Edited April 1, 2020 by Cuchulainn

[jackdd]

11 minutes ago, audaciousnomad said:

Out of all the possible explanations, this is the one I most agree with. Think very hard. They are not trying to help us. If you are a tourist here, you are a cow in a cattle ranch. They want as much milk as they can get from you before you get brave enough to hop the fence and take your chances elsewhere. They realize there is a risk of catching mad cow disease if they milk too many of you at once, so they are now finding ways to limit how many cows show up to the milking station at once. BUT make no mistake...they want all the milk they can get before you bounce out of here. Sure, it may cost you more or be more dangerous if you move on to another pasture....but as long as you stay in this one...you will definitely need to visit the milking station twice a month.

They could have just introduced a real "corona extension". No special documents required, just pay 1900THB and get a 30 day stamp.

Would have been way easier for them and they would get 1900THB per month from everybody requiring this extension.

 

8 minutes ago, Cuchulainn said:

What about people on 1 year Non O extensions (marriage  and retirement)?

 

Is an embassy letter needed for that?

 

No

Edited April 1, 2020 by jackdd

[eppic]

13 minutes ago, jackdd said:

If you want to discuss something you should at least read a bit about this topic first. The procedures are not the same.

To obtain a regular tourist extension you have to go to immigration one time, and then walk away with your 30 day extension.

To get 30 days from an embassy letter you are required to go to immigration two times, first you get an under consideration stamp and on the second visit you get the actual extension stamp.

?

My family and I arrived on March 8th. Our only reason for the visit was to clear out our condo for our relocation to the Philippines, but Manila locked down while we were in BKK and all flights canceled.

 

We would need an extension by Monday, so are you saying we (including my 4-yr old boy) would not need to go to some God-forsaken hellhole at 5 am and queue with hordes of others? Would it take less time for us? Could we avoid the crowds and hot sun? NO!  Plus, in theory, people that have already extended once should have had plenty of time to leave the country -- why the first extension?  Lockdowns were not in full force to most countries a month ago. So there is logic to the plan, even if you don't like it. It will absolutely reduce the queues.  

 

The issue of need for embassy letter and other absurd requirements and only getting 7 or 15 days is totally different, but obviously needs to be addressed as well. At least this is a step in the right direction.

 

What they have done will help a lot of people, including my family of three (assuming "tourist visa" actually means exemption) who were here for legitimate reasons

[Alittleguy]

Why don't they offer automatic extension to non-o as well? Those valid non-o 90days all they needs to stamp out and in. Or just do a online registering and pay a mandatory fees without physically to immigration office?

[edwardandtubs]

18 minutes ago, vermin on arrival said:

This only seems to cover people on tourist visas who will need the extension at the end of April or later so it really will not address the issue they say it will. The queues will still be crazy long, and the people who need emergency extensions due to Covid will still be in a difficult situation.

Presumably it also covers those on visa exempt so will reduce pressure on the queues straightaway.

[Zikomat]

I seriously doubt that the majority of people who were flocking to the Immigration offices recently were those who came to Thailand after 1 of March. Why will they visit the immigration if all of them have a lot of time left before their visa expires?

[jackdd]

9 minutes ago, eppic said:

We would need an extension by Monday, so are you saying we (including my 4-yr old boy) would not need to go to some God-forsaken hellhole at 5 am and queue with hordes of others? Would it take less time for us? Could we avoid the crowds and hot sun? NO!

If you were in Chiang Mai: Yes. Here they have different queues, and the tourist visa extension queue is considerably shorter and faster.

I don't know if they also do it like this in Bangkok.

 

Edited April 1, 2020 by jackdd

[Zikomat]

26 minutes ago, vermin on arrival said:

This only seems to cover people on tourist visas who will need the extension at the end of April or later so it really will not address the issue they say it will. The queues will still be crazy long, and the people who need emergency extensions due to Covid will still be in a difficult situation.

Let’s wait another week or two until those above will understand that their solution did not work. Then they will come up with something else.

[edwardandtubs]

2 minutes ago, Zikomat said:

I seriously doubt that the majority of people who were flocking to the Immigration offices recently were those who came to Thailand after 1 of March. Why will they visit the immigration if all of them have a lot of time left before their visa expires?

Those who came in on a visa exempt after the 1st of March will just now be looking for extensions so if they don't need to come in that will reduce the queues. The people queuing last week and not going to be the same as the people queuing next week.

[stephen tracy]

9 minutes ago, eppic said:

My family and I arrived on March 8th. Our only reason for the visit was to clear out our condo for our relocation to the Philippines, but Manila locked down while we were in BKK and all flights canceled.

 

We would need an extension by Monday, so are you saying we (including my 4-yr old boy) would not need to go to some God-forsaken hellhole at 5 am and queue with hordes of others? Would it take less time for us? Could we avoid the crowds and hot sun? NO!  Plus, in theory, people that have already extended once should have had plenty of time to leave the country -- why the first extension?  Lockdowns were not in full force to most countries a month ago. So there is logic to the plan, even if you don't like it. It will absolutely reduce the queues.  

 

The issue of need for embassy letter and other absurd requirements and only getting 7 or 15 days is totally different, but obviously needs to be addressed as well. At least this is a step in the right direction.

 

What they have done will help a lot of people, including my family of three (assuming "tourist visa" actually means exemption) who were here for legitimate reasons

It wont reduce the queues. Not enough tourists were arriving since 1 March to make enough of a difference country-wide. Nor is there logic to the plan as it does not in any way mitigate the national health risk posed by keeping them all running at full steam like this. The "plan" is about extracting as many fees and fines as possible while at the same time claiming the false moral high ground of tackling the situation. 

[Tanoshi]

37 minutes ago, jackdd said:

Regular 30 day tourist extension: 1 visit to immigration

Covid 30 day extension: 2-3 visits to immigration

And you want to tell me that Covid extensions aren't causing way longer queues than regular tourist extensions?

You missed the point Jack!

Those on VE, TV, and Non O still all have to submit applications.

Some reports of only 15 days being given.

 

They should declare an amnesty for those affected until June 30th, then review the situation.

 

[Covid19Everywhere]

Could someone please elaborate if this is valid also for visa-exempt-entries after the 1st of March?

 

Because in the text it says for people with "Tourist Visa", but visa-exempt-entry is no Tourist Visa, right?

Anyone knows?

Edited April 1, 2020 by Covid19Everywhere

[eppic]

1 minute ago, edwardandtubs said:

Those who came in on a visa exempt after the 1st of March will just now be looking for extensions so if they don't need to come in that will reduce the queues. The people queuing last week and not going to be the same as the people queuing next week.

Entering on March 1st would require extension no later than Monday (two days ago).  Many would not wait until the last day, so would come a few days earlier.  For certain there have been regular extensions amongst the crowds -- we were planning to go today but waited in case of possible changes.  In Bangkok AFAIK all extensions are treated exactly the same, second "emergency" extension or not. Same queue, just different paperwork.

[stephen tracy]

11 minutes ago, edwardandtubs said:

Presumably it also covers those on visa exempt so will reduce pressure on the queues straightaway.

Nope, hardly anyone came in after 1 March, but plenty left. I cant see how such an insignificant number will reduce crowding that much country-wide. 

[warvet1970]

3 hours ago, sapson said:

i agree.  but unless the need is there to get your extension right away, I am thinking that no one will need to point out the futility, especially if it’s true I need to bring an extra person with me to IO.  Their pronouncement helps about as many as they can count on their fingers and toes and when they see that the line of 3000 is still there .. as reported in one news story .. they’ll have to re-think this.  Nonetheless they are showing that they’re not very bright.

 

 

 

 

[finnsk]

There is no change, only that tourist arrived after 01 of march do not need to visit IO, to get their ordinary 30 days extension.

Still no help to farrangs in Thailand with visa problems because of the Covid crisis.

[edwardandtubs]

9 minutes ago, stephen tracy said:

Nope, hardly anyone came in after 1 March, but plenty left. I cant see how such an insignificant number will reduce crowding that much country-wide. 

I doubt "hardly anyone" came in. A reduced number but still several thousand.

[bbi1]

3 hours ago, Walter Travolta said:

Because no-one knows how long this is going to go on (for quite a while by the looks) consider an ED visa if you are applicable. 1900 each month and the hassle and risk of doing this every 30 days in such heat is torture ????

 

ED Visa? You need to leave the country and apply at a Thai Embassy/Consulate. If you can even leave the country you are definitely going to be denied entry back into Thailand!

[jimmjam]

18 minutes ago, Covid19Everywhere said:

Could someone please elaborate if this is valid also for visa-exempt-entries after the 1st of March?

 

Because in the text it says for people with "Tourist Visa", but visa-exempt-entry is no Tourist Visa, right?

Anyone knows?

they mean visa exempt, probably don't even know what they call it themselves. why would someone on a tourist visa after march 1st be going to immigration now. they would have the end of april/beginning of may until they have to get an extension.

[bbi1]

20 minutes ago, Covid19Everywhere said:

Could someone please elaborate if this is valid also for visa-exempt-entries after the 1st of March?

 

Because in the text it says for people with "Tourist Visa", but visa-exempt-entry is no Tourist Visa, right?

Anyone knows?

A tourist visa is someone on a SETV or METV. Not a visa exempt entry.

[jackdd]

2 minutes ago, bbi1 said:

A tourist visa is someone on a SETV or METV. Not a visa exempt entry.

If they use the term tourist visa like in this story, there is a 99% chance that this includes visa exempts.

[teatime101]

2 hours ago, jimmjam said:

I believe this is for 30 day visa exempt.

I'm inclined to agree, but I wish they'd make things clear. What is the exact visa type, how long is the waiver and what bureaucratic process is involved, if any? Do we just stay home and wait until the next extension is granted? Will there be a fee at the end? Etc, etc. Do we need to do anything online?