VIDEO: Automatic visa renewal for foreigners can’t come soon enough as HUNDREDS queue outside Pattaya immigration

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Automatic visa renewal for foreigners can’t come soon enough as HUNDREDS queue outside Pattaya immigration

 

 

At a time when much of Pattaya has been left all but deserted as members of the public heed government advice and stay indoors, the scene outside immigration on Tuesday morning was anything but quiet.

 

A video shared by popular Thai Facebook page We Love Pattaya showed hundreds of foreigners forming a lengthy queue in a desperate attempt to renew visas and carry out other requirements such as 90 day reports.

 

Thaivisa was also sent images of queues forming outside Pattaya immigration from before 7am.

 

Alongside the clip, We Love Pattaya posted concerns about the apparent lack of social distancing, sparking fears it could worsen the COVID-19 situation in the city.

 

 

Practicing social distancing by maintaining a distance of at least one metre from others is one of the Thai government’s key strategies to combat the spread of COVID-19.

 

Last week, the Ministry of Public Health warned that a failure to comply with social distancing could cause COVID-19 cases in Thailand to skyrocket.

 

Overcrowding at immigration offices throughout Thailand since the outbreak of COVID-19 has become a genuine cause for concern amongst foreigners in the country.

 

While some measures have been introduced to improve the situation, such as opening a temporary immigration office in Bangkok and mobile immigration units being introduced in Phuket, overcrowding at other immigration offices remains an issue more than two weeks after many other private and public sector offices have closed and people have been told to stay indoors. 

 

The Thai government has said plans are in the pipeline to grant automatic visa renewals to foreign tourists who have been left stuck in Thailand due to COVID-19 but no official announcement has been made as of time of publishing. 

 

On Monday it was reported that immigration will propose to the cabinet that foreigners who arrived in Thailand after 26 March will automatically have their visas renewed for a further 30 days. 

 

However, it is understood there will be no relief for expats and retirees, with the likes of 90 day reporting, TM30 and change of address notifications still set to be required throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. 

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-04-07

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

 

 

 

[trainman34014 19822]

They have no intention of making things easier for Farang; everything they say is just Lip Service !

[bluemoonpattaya 197]

If they had a spacing of 2 Meters between them, the queue would be all the way to Pattyya  beach......

[AlexRich 11110]

Common sense requires a moratorium on visa requirements until this pandemic has cleared. An initial three months, subject to renewal.

 

The money earned will be wiped out by the impact of spreading the disease on the hospital system.

[sapson 2710]

For the 38th time of posting!

 

Social distancing is the rule worldwide and their own rule here in Thailand, so follow the lead of neighbouring Asian countries and put all this nonsense on hold.

 

Is Thai immigration policy truly more important than a worldwide pandemic................

 

An easy fix that can be reviewed monthly as the situation unfolds.

 

Automatic 90 day extension for all on current permission to stay stamp..

 

No need to attend immigration for anything, no overstay fines, no 90 day reports or tm30, stops the risk for staff and victims clients.

 

Just a common sense solution as everyone and their friendly soi dog has suggested for the last month or so.!

[david555 7436]

Call RTP and make formal complaint of breaching social distance COVID-19....,and see how they handle it….,(?)

PS: but don't mention Immigration address , but take another close address #....by preference invite some newspaper  people 

 

Ending May my 90 day reporting …. I think this time I go fail deliberate first time in 11 years and pay the fine …. find it worth now ..!!   cheaper than hospital stay 

[Greg O 580]

Common sense , did someone write that ? No sense at all in Toon Town..

 

Que up leeoh leeoh ...

[jacko45k 37049]

22 minutes ago, trainman34014 said:

They have no intention of making things easier for Farang; everything they say is just Lip Service !

I am missing that too!

[garzhe 383]

It will take a few deaths of Immigration workers before they stop this nonsense

[NorthernRyland 3137]

16 minutes ago, AlexRich said:

Common sense requires a moratorium on visa requirements until this pandemic has cleared. An initial three months, subject to renewal.

 

The money earned will be wiped out by the impact of spreading the disease on the hospital system.

If they waived the visa for 3 months I'd be happy to come back to immigration later and pay for any fees. I can't fathom why they won't just take our money if that's all it's about.

 

Even schools are closed so why are they treating us like children that must be accounted for at every movement. Makes no sense to me.

[giddyup 18583]

Once a few immigration officers are either dead or hospitalised there may be some changes, but in the meantime, do nothing.

[PatOngo 50413]

This is absolutely disgraceful! Are these immigration officials retarded or what? Making people queue like this is criminal given social distancing requirements! I would rather pay overstay than subject myself to this BS!

[PatOngo 50413]

12 minutes ago, genericptr said:

If they waived the visa for 3 months

IF! If they even had half a brain they'd be dangerous!

[GeorgeCross 8767]

not immigration fault na ka

 

national security ka

 

 

[jimmjam 865]

The way foreigners are being treated speaks volumes.

Amazing Thailand. Pffft

[PatOngo 50413]

Have a look around the other Asian countries and see how they are handling the visa situation and you will see where Thailand sits regarding intelligence!

[trainman34014 19822]

39 minutes ago, sapson said:

For the 38th time of posting!

 

Social distancing is the rule worldwide and their own rule here in Thailand, so follow the lead of neighbouring Asian countries and put all this nonsense on hold.

 

Is Thai immigration policy truly more important than a worldwide pandemic................

 

An easy fix that can be reviewed monthly as the situation unfolds.

 

Automatic 90 day extension for all on current permission to stay stamp..

 

No need to attend immigration for anything, no overstay fines, no 90 day reports or tm30, stops the risk for staff and victims clients.

 

Just a common sense solution as everyone and their friendly soi dog has suggested for the last month or so.!

You forget where you are...'The Land of Zero Common Sense' !

[male expat 148]

The System makes a smart solution impossible. To much money is involved. Not need to be bribes or under table money but for sure rental fees of copy shops etc.

 

A military coup only can solve the problem here.

 

Sorry to all democracy lovers.

[kevin612 1822]

Immigration always money comes first, who cares about covid 19. I feel bad for those people.

[USNret 1189]

Just charge each of us 1900 baht the next time we leave the country and be done with it!

[Xonax 2612]

"On Monday it was reported that immigration will propose to the cabinet that foreigners who arrived in Thailand after 26 March will automatically have their visas renewed for a further 30 days."

Foreigners who have arrived after 26 March should not have come here under any circumstances.

[david555 7436]

7 minutes ago, male expat said:

The System makes a smart solution impossible. To much money is involved. Not need to be bribes or under table money but for sure rental fees of copy shops etc.

 

A military coup only can solve the problem here.

 

Sorry to all democracy lovers.

"A military coup only can solve the problem here."

 

You must be joking ….😂 as this is the result from the current one , even when in civilian camouflage suits 

Edited April 7, 2020 by david555

[hottrader77 394]

12 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

This is absolutely disgraceful! Are these immigration officials retarded or what? Making people queue like this is criminal given social distancing requirements! I would rather pay overstay than subject myself to this BS!

 

46 minutes ago, david555 said:

Call RTP and make formal complaint of breaching social distance COVID-19....,and see how they handle it….,(?)

PS: but don't mention Immigration adress , but take another close address #....by preference invite some newspaper  people 

 

Ending May my 90 day reporting …. I think this time I go fail deliberate first time in 11 years and pay the fine …. find it worth now ..!!   cheaper than hospital stay 

disgraceful thailand should give free visas till epidemic is over . charging people that are stuck in thailand and cannot get a flight 1900 each month , thats 600 pounds sterling per year , should be reported to united nations for stealing money of people in desperate need , last time i come to thailand 

[jimmjam 865]

3 minutes ago, Xonax said:

"On Monday it was reported that immigration will propose to the cabinet that foreigners who arrived in Thailand after 26 March will automatically have their visas renewed for a further 30 days."

Foreigners who have arrived after 26 March should not have come here under any circumstances.

I think they have it wrong somewhere, i believe it should be, who have already extended their visas after march 26th.

Thatss what a post said the other day.

[PatOngo 50413]

14 minutes ago, trainman34014 said:

You forget where you are...'The Land of Zero Common Sense' !

They are too low for zero!

[Guderian 9344]

Has anybody tried calling 1337 (Pattaya City Hall), making a complaint about this fiasco, and asking them to pass it on to the Mayor's office so he can take corrective action? If every person who's posted here called City Hall to protest they might take some notice. But if just one person calls them, they'll ignore it.

[RichardColeman 58565]

39 minutes ago, genericptr said:

If they waived the visa for 3 months I'd be happy to come back to immigration later and pay for any fees.

I seriously doubt you know thais that well if you think they will let you 'owe' them money

[4737 Carlin 1021]

I'm glad I was here during the good times but won't be renewing my visa later this year. Its crystal clear the regime doesn't want any foreigners in this country anymore.

[doctormann 1380]

One queue for all or is there some attempt to separate the 90-day people from those wanting to extend tourist permissions to stay, etc?

 

I have to do a 90-day report pretty soon so I'm hoping that things will ease off in the next few days - otherwise I may well give it a miss and just pay the 2000 Baht next time.  Probably safer that way.

 

Online reporting doesn't work for me so that's not an option.

[lee b 2885]

Thats shocking. I'm glad in not in Pattaya. It has to stop. I'm sure even the immigrtion officers forced to work in the middle of all this feel the same as the foreigners.