Huge queues filmed at Pattaya immigration

[webfact]

Huge queues filmed at Pattaya immigration

 

Video screenshot

 

A Thai woman posted a 30 second video of a huge queue stretching all around the road at Pattaya immigration this morning.

 

Hundreds of foreigners were queueing for visa extensions for the second day running. 

 

People were standing in the street a little apart but it could hardly be described as social distancing.

 

The scene inside the facility was revealed as crowded and chaotic yesterday.

 

Songkran Soychit posed the pertinent question to the authorities: "What if someone comes down with the virus as a result of this and dies?"

 

The post was viewed 11,000 times and shared 168 times. 

 

Pressure is mounting on immigration to issue automatic visa extensions to stop such irresponsible and chaotic scenes. 

 

But the waiting for decisive action goes on not just for tourist visa extensions but matters like 90 day address reports that many expats see as pointless anyway and particularly stupid to be enforcing at this critical time. 

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-04-08

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[darksidedog]

6 minutes ago, webfact said:

"What if someone comes down with the virus as a result of this and dies?"

The "what if" is most likely to be replaced with a "when" if this carries on much longer.

It really can't be that hard to accept that these folk came here legally, and given the situation, should be tolerated and assisted as much as possible, not exposed to danger though dithering, compounding upon the problems they too are facing and seriously putting them at risk.

[jimmjam]

See people with kids aswell. Shocking.

Would this not be considered a crime against humanity? Given the status of that we have a pandemic?????

Edited April 8, 2020 by jimmjam

[Denim]

Jobsworth Thailand.

 

Only obeying orders.

[sammieuk1]

It's should be called the expendables queue at the last revenue saloon ????

[ThreeEyedRaven]

Possibly the simplest way to solve this problem would be to provide every legitimate traveler, who had a visa or exemption upon arrival, with an open ended visa automatically, or just write off overstay, then providing an additional 30 day extra grace period for people to organise their way home, when it is possible to do so.

Immigration offices could effectively close, keeping their staff safer too. Social distancing means exactly what it says and immigration offices are the antithesis of that.

[NCC1701A]

perhaps the WHO should be informed.

 

they might be good for something after all.

[audaciousnomad]

 

37 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

The "what if" is most likely to be replaced with a "when" if this carries on much longer.

It really can't be that hard to accept that these folk came here legally, and given the situation, should be tolerated and assisted as much as possible, not exposed to danger though dithering, compounding upon the problems they too are facing and seriously putting them at risk.

EXACTLY CORRECT.  Why would anyone who was here illegally be waiting in that god awful queue. All the truly criminal illegals are HIDING right now.

Too often the things that make way too much logical sense here in Thailand are ignored in favor of doing things that make way more baht to fill the coffers with.

Just for once during this dangerous crisis, use your noggins and hit pause on the Baht-o-Matic extensions, and help keep the public safe by issuing Auto-Matic extensions!  ????

Edited April 8, 2020 by audaciousnomad

[sapson]

its a worldwide crisis when peoples fears need to be allayed and be treated with compassion, understanding and dignity.............so of course Team Thailand will continue to excel themselves!

 

One month already to deal with it and the documents were ready for signing last night, but seems the fat lady has stage fright .....still clearing her throat!

 

Westerners should for their own health and that of the staff just stop attending crowded places in the interest of common sense and as per the request of the Thai government for social distancing.

[sungod]

8 minutes ago, PerkinsCuthbert said:

Are you talking about your generation?

Dont worry, 'The kids are alright'

[Surelynot]

30 new infections in Pattaya today. Wouldn't be surprised if a good proportion of those arose from visits to the IO. That being the case, the lockdown will do nothing to alleviate the problem.

[Thailand]

Scandalous, the authorities should be ashamed,but--- TIT

[pratsku]

Money firt

[Surelynot]

Kenya 

 

Edited April 8, 2020 by Surelynot

[CNXexpat]

The 3 virus deaths from yesterday are only foreigners. I don´t wonder why.

[Number 6]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

"What if someone comes down with the virus as a result of this and dies?"

Excellent question. Occurred to me weeks ago when similar pictures of CW were posted.

 

...and DIES.

 

It is quite possible.

[sucit]

50 minutes ago, sungod said:

Dont worry, 'The kids are alright'

They wont be fooled again. 

[Leaver]

Like lambs to the slaughter.   

 

What a disgrace. 

[canopus1969]

56 minutes ago, sungod said:

Dont worry, 'The kids are alright'

but then : I hope I don't die before I get old

[Zikomat]

3 minutes ago, Leaver said:

Like lambs to the slaughter.   

 

What a disgrace. 

Exactly. Why people do not care for themselves?

[ChaiyaTH]

Man, I would rather overstay than risking that. Those are like 80% recent travellers too.
Expecting me to show up with wife and 1 year old child for a 60 day extension with those crowds and this heat + corona risk? No way.

Edited April 8, 2020 by ChaiyaTH

[teatime101]

1 hour ago, PerkinsCuthbert said:

Are you talking about your generation?

Don't try to put him down just because he gets around.

[Longchop]

Was there this morning. Joined the line at the jomtien thani hotel at 6am. Got to the entrance gate at 8am. Always amazed at the dumbo falangs every time I go immigration. There was fighting at the gate because of line jumpers, dumbo falangs holding everything up becaue they had arrived with no documents and expected immigration to have someone to prepare everything for them. <deleted> in the line in front of me yapped on an on the whole time as to what the Thais were doing wrong and how he could manage everything so much better (t shirt, shorts, no face mask,) was turned away at the gate for the third day running,  told come back tomorrow.. how many days will he line up for hours to be turned away before the penny drops??.

 As always I was dressed respectfully, quietly kept to myself in the line, had all my paperwork well prepared, was admitted right away, was treated promply and very well by immigration staff, concluded my business and was out of there and eating breakfast at 9am.

 

[ChaiyaTH]

7 minutes ago, Longchop said:

Was there this morning. Joined the line at the jomtien thani hotel at 6am. Got to the entrance gate at 8am. Always amazed at the dumbo falangs every time I go immigration. There was fighting at the gate because of line jumpers, dumbo falangs holding everything up becaue they had arrived with no documents and expected immigration to have someone to prepare everything for them. <deleted> in the line in front of me yapped on an on the whole time as to what the Thais were doing wrong and how he could manage everything so much better (t shirt, shorts, no face mask,) was turned away at the gate for the third day running,  told come back tomorrow.. how many days will he line up for hours to be turned away before the penny drops??.

 As always I was dressed respectfully, quietly kept to myself in the line, had all my paperwork well prepared, was admitted right away, was treated promply and very well by immigration staff, concluded my business and was out of there and eating breakfast at 9am.

 

If everyone were to do like you, you would have the same problem again. So the fault is still with immigration. You just been street smart.
A tourist is supposed to shop on flip flops, shorts and t-shirt actually, even that might look funny to us expats. Expecting otherwise is actually strange.
It is just what comes with tourism, curse of the spell (cow behaviour, complaining as its holiday time lost, poor clothing, hangover, shaving less etc).

Edited April 8, 2020 by ChaiyaTH

[sapson]

41 minutes ago, CNXexpat said:

The 3 virus deaths from yesterday are only foreigners. I don´t wonder why.

They only reported the foreign deaths as to keep the focus on the westerners.

 

Thais above fifty years old cause of death just usual lung failure pretty routine in Thailand no need for the expense of mass testing....save the funds for more BMW smart cars or Submarines.

[johng]

6 minutes ago, Longchop said:

concluded my business and was out of there and eating breakfast at 9am

Can you enlighten us what your business was ? 

[Peter Denis]

1 hour ago, PerkinsCuthbert said:

Are you talking about your generation?

Spoken like a real pindemic wizard!

[JonnyF]

7 minutes ago, Longchop said:

Was there this morning. Joined the line at the jomtien thani hotel at 6am. Got to the entrance gate at 8am. Always amazed at the dumbo falangs every time I go immigration. There was fighting at the gate because of line jumpers, dumbo falangs holding everything up becaue they had arrived with no documents and expected immigration to have someone to prepare everything for them. <deleted> in the line in front of me yapped on an on the whole time as to what the Thais were doing wrong and how he could manage everything so much better (t shirt, shorts, no face mask,) was turned away at the gate for the third day running,  told come back tomorrow.. how many days will he line up for hours to be turned away before the penny drops??.

 As always I was dressed respectfully, quietly kept to myself in the line, had all my paperwork well prepared, was admitted right away, was treated promply and very well by immigration staff, concluded my business and was out of there and eating breakfast at 9am.

 

Only 3 hours surrounded by potential COVID19 carriers from all around the globe? That's great, we should prostrate ourselves before Thai Immigration for their leniency towards us Dirty Farangs!

[johng]

I'm hoping Boris (the spider) will be ok ????

[sapson]

12 minutes ago, Longchop said:

Was there this morning. Joined the line at the jomtien thani hotel at 6am. Got to the entrance gate at 8am. Always amazed at the dumbo falangs every time I go immigration. There was fighting at the gate because of line jumpers, dumbo falangs holding everything up becaue they had arrived with no documents and expected immigration to have someone to prepare everything for them. <deleted> in the line in front of me yapped on an on the whole time as to what the Thais were doing wrong and how he could manage everything so much better (t shirt, shorts, no face mask,) was turned away at the gate for the third day running,  told come back tomorrow.. how many days will he line up for hours to be turned away before the penny drops??.

 As always I was dressed respectfully, quietly kept to myself in the line, had all my paperwork well prepared, was admitted right away, was treated promply and very well by immigration staff, concluded my business and was out of there and eating breakfast at 9am.

 

 

How very charming of immigration, you were only exposed to NO social distancing for just the 3 hours from

6am to 9am,........perhaps you should drop them in a thank you letter and some lunch.