PM Prayuth signs order to grant visa amnesty to foreigners in Thailand

[Just Weird]

3 hours ago, Wiggy said:

I was hoping that in a modern day announcement the word “aliens” may have been dropped. Then I remembered which draconian, backward, xenophobic country I was living in. Sigh. 

Perhaps you (and a few others here) need to look up the main definition of "alien", it's nothing to do with draconian xenophobia.

[Mike Teavee]

21 minutes ago, Sickocock said:

Great news for those with a visa, but the ones with only a visa exempt stamp will not be eliglible as far is i can see.

I thought Visa Exempt were explicitly covered. 

 

the question marks are around Non-O, Non-B etc... 

 

Edit: This article seems to suggest everybody is covered (assuming entering on a re-entry permit on an extension is the same as entering on a Visa)...

 

According to the announcement published this afternoon by the Ministry of Interior Affairs, foreigners who entered the kingdom with visas, visa on arrival, or through visa waiver programs will be granted an extended stay from March 26 to April 30.

 

 

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/crimecourtscalamity/2020/04/08/prayut-extends-foreigners-stay-to-april-30-due-to-coronavirus/

 

 

 

 

Edited April 8, 2020 by Mike Teavee

[Mike Teavee]

8 minutes ago, ColtenSloan said:

So my visa expired match 28th I'm currently on my 30 day extension until April 27th... What does this mean for me once April 27th Rolla around?? ????????

It means you now have until April 30th unless they change the date (highly probable) in which case you'll have until the new date. 

 

[Just Weird]

2 hours ago, Psimbo said:

Jeez- the ink isn't even dry on this, no official translation has been published, and the first post in knocks it. 

 

No wonder 'they' have contempt for foreigners with attitudes like this.

Who's the "they" that, you claim, has contempt for foreigners?

[bahtty]

13 minutes ago, Sickocock said:

Great news for those with a visa, but the ones with only a visa exempt stamp will not be eliglible as far is i can see.

The extension covers this as well.

[jackdd]

52 minutes ago, xtof2 said:

Thanks for that. Is it the official translation from the Royal Gazette ?

This is not a translation, but Immigration's interpretation of Prayut's order published in the Royal Gazette.

Imho their interpretation does not match Prayut's order in all aspects, but this is irrelevant for us foreigners, we have to follow what immigration tells us.

Immigration says: If somebody had a permit allowing him to stay until at least 26th, then this permit is automatically extended until 30th April. So be it.

[offset]

This also includes 90 reports

[Just Weird]

1 hour ago, audaciousnomad said:

???? Announcing the latest visa relief measures on 7 April 2020
.
????‍♂️ The person whose visas has expired from 26th of March 2020 will be automatically extended to 30th of April 2020. There is no need to apply for a visa extension at Immigration Office for this period and will not be fined THB 500 per day for this case. 
.
????‍♂️ Aliens who are due for 90 days reports between 26th of March 2020 and 30th of April 2020 are temporarily exempted from reporting in this period until further notice. 
.
????‍♂️Aliens who are holding Border Passes will be allowed to stay in Thailand for now. However, Aliens with Border Passes must depart Thailand within 7 days of the border crossing points opening date. 
.
????‍♂️Aliens are advised to follow announcements regarding Immigration measures closely for updates. (Currently measures announced until 30 April 2020 or further updates)

https://immigration.go.th/content/visa_auto_extension?click=1

[teatime101]

4 minutes ago, Just Weird said:

automatically extended to 30th of April 2020.

And after that? Another 30 days until the all clear?

[Just Weird]

1 hour ago, xtof2 said:

Thanks for that. Is it the official translation from the Royal Gazette ?

It's officially on the Immigration Bureau's website.

https://immigration.go.th/content/visa_auto_exte

[sallecc]

13 minutes ago, jackdd said:

This is not a translation, but Immigration's interpretation of Prayut's order published in the Royal Gazette.

Imho their interpretation does not match Prayut's order in all aspects, but this is irrelevant for us foreigners, we have to follow what immigration tells us.

Immigration says: If somebody had a permit allowing him to stay until at least 26th, then this permit is automatically extended until 30th April. So be it.

 

Thanks for clarification, good news indeed.

 

It would be more clear if they wrote "... visas and extensions", because most of the folks are on extensions here, including tourists too (who got their 1st extensions after their actual "visas" expired)

[Just Weird]

52 minutes ago, Enoon said:

 

So it's not a 30 day extension.

 

All they are saying is that if your visa expired, or is going to expire, on or after the 26th March or during the month of April, you can wait until the 30th April before you have to get it extended.

 

That's the "amnesty".........overstay charges suspended but will be levied from 1st May.

...unless, as is likely if current circumstances remain unchanged, it is extended...

"????‍♂️Aliens are advised to follow announcements regarding Immigration measures closely for updates. (Currently measures announced until 30 April 2020 or further updates)"

 

Unfounded speculation about fines isn't necessary if you bother to read the announcements.

Edited April 8, 2020 by Just Weird

[offset]

2 minutes ago, sallecc said:

 

Thanks for clarification, good news indeed.

 

It would be more clear if they wrote "... visas and extensions", because most of the folks are on extensions here, including tourists too (who got their 1st extensions after their actual "visas" expired)

I am not sure it includes the yearly extentions

[Arkady]

There even something in this for permanent residents who are stranded overseas and cannot return to Thailand in time before their one year re-entry permits expire. Normally this results in cancellation of permanent residence without exception.

 

Section 1. Aliens who have been given permission to stay permanently in the Kingdom under Section 48 of the 1979 Immigration Act and have evidence that they have obtained permits to re-enter the Kingdom within one year according to Section 50 of the Act may extend the period for return to the Kingdom to be longer than one year until after the situation has improved sufficiently to allow aliens to travel to the Kingdom and within the deadline to be specified by the Immigration Bureau. 

[timoti]

I got extension for my Visa on Arrival using covid on Friday and was asked to come again on 24th of April, so no need for this anymore?

[Just Weird]

55 minutes ago, Enoon said:

That's the "amnesty".........overstay charges suspended but will be levied from 1st May.

Huh?  Where did it say that?

[Just Weird]

55 minutes ago, yang123 said:

A full text translation of the notice is needed here.  

All you need to know is on the IB website...in English.

 

[teatree]

So, official policy is for hundreds of thousands of people's visas to all expire on the same day?

 

 

[Just Weird]

46 minutes ago, ColtenSloan said:

So my visa expired match 28th I'm currently on my 30 day extension until April 27th... What does this mean for me once April 27th Rolla around?? ????????

????‍♂️Aliens are advised to follow announcements regarding Immigration measures closely for updates. (Currently measures announced until 30 April 2020 or further updates)

[tropo]

5 hours ago, darksidedog said:

Why pussyfoot about? There are many stuck here who do not fall into the after March 26th bracket, who will still have to solve their situation, leading to more queues at immigration. A step in the right direction, but a blanket amnesty is what is needed, as dealing with the virus should be way more important than this.

Amnesty? Really?

 

Amnesty: An official pardon for people who have been convicted of political offenses.

 

 

[Just Weird]

6 minutes ago, teatree said:

So, official policy is for hundreds of thousands of people's visas to all expire on the same day?

Jesus... some people.  

[teatree]

4 minutes ago, Just Weird said:

Jesus... some people.  

.....don't think things fully through.

 

 

[BillStrangeOgre]

27 minutes ago, teatree said:

So, official policy is for hundreds of thousands of people's visas to all expire on the same day?

 

 

Not sure it's hundreds of thousands but that's the way i read it too...

Anyway, kick back, crack a cold one and enjoy the ride! ????

[Yadon Toploy]

4 hours ago, Condog97 said:

What about a native thai who isnt married to somebody back in the UK and genuinely just wants to go on holiday they're. Its alot of paperwork compared to what we have to do if we just intend on visiting a country for a short getaway. I remember when I first visited thailand, I didnt need any proof of relation or support in the country, I didnt need to showcase my financial situation to prove I could support myself, I showed absolutely nothing... just arrive in the day with your passport and fill a flimsy card in stating where I'm staying and when I'm leaving. Super simple. 

That's because Thais frequently work illegally in other countries. Look at the hundreds of thousands of Thais working illegally in South Korea as an example.

 

It's a false equivalence and a nonsensical argument.

[JackThompson]

4 hours ago, Condog97 said:

I dont understand why everyone gets so worked up about the whole thai visa procedures... I personally think it's very genourous (coming from the UK anyway). 30 days for absolutely nothing and another 30 for about £20!

 

Imagine being a thai and wanting to visit the uk... that would be a massive deal of paperwork and loopholes to have to jump through! The post clearly states (for all tourists who's visa's expired on or after march 26th) if you dont fall into that category then you've already overstayed your visa atleast 14 days... so I'm assuming 99% of people will fall into that category. If not, then what the hell were you thinking... ''oh, I'll just wait and hope the government allows visa excemptions for everyone'' that's insane in my opinion.

Yet, what the UK did: gave everyone an extension they can apply to via email, so no crowding offices there.  Because that's the SANE thing to do, if not having people gathering in crowds is the desired outcome.   Thais in the UK have not had this problem to worry about since March.

 

Quote

Visa nationals who cannot return home due to the COVID-19 pandemic will be able to extend their visa.

The extension, announced today (24 March) by the Home Secretary Priti Patel, will apply to anyone whose leave expired after the 24 January and who cannot leave the country because of travel restrictions or self-isolation.

This will last until 31 May but will be kept under regular review in case further extensions are needed.

... Anyone in this situation just needs to contact this team, via this email address ... to let them know their visa has expired and they will be issued with an extension.
... No immigration enforcement action will be undertaken during this time for those who email the Home Office as outlined above.

But, if you want to get as many farangs sick as possible, so you can blame farangs for spreading the virus - which could help deflect blame from and please a particular other very-culpable country (whose govt's lies created this mess in the first place) - forcing the farangs to group-up 2x per-month (as via the embassy-letter / "under consideration" routine), and to get other types of extensions, would be the way to do it.  

Never mind if this scheme spreads the virus to your own people too, because that is all the better to whip them up into an anti-farang mentality - which isn't easy, since our spending supports so many of them.  Contrast to the "tour group" types from that other country, whose spending goes almost entirely to large, well-connected businesses, thus helps relatively few Thais.

[Caldera]

I'm not one who's prone to showering the Thai authorities in praise, but this is a welcome announcement, quite a bit broader than expected. Excellent news for many!

 

[audaciousnomad]

31 minutes ago, Just Weird said:

Jesus... some people.  

He's right though. They did not consider that when the date is decided that the Emergency Decree is lifted, without a specified time allowance everyone is instantly in overstay status on that date since they never came in for a stamp yet.  Immig needs to specify something like "When the Covid Emergency Decree is lifted, all foreigner still present in the Kingdom will have ## days to either exit or apply for a new visa extension at immigration."   That is what Philippines did (30 days). Malaysia also specified it (14 days). 

Edited April 8, 2020 by audaciousnomad

[newatthis]

6 hours ago, khunpa said:

Not to be sarcastic, but guess some of the Elite visa haters, maybe now can see the benefit of that visa. 

Until signed off, the 90 day still has to be done. And, if applicable, the yearly renewal will have to be done at IO because of closed borders so a queue up necessary.

[JackThompson]

3 hours ago, Matzzon said:

Unfortunately it doesn´t seem to matter what Thailand does to make it easier, because there is always going to be a lot of TVF members that are going to drag everything in the dirt anyway. What do you people want Thailand to do for you? You already had the chance to go home, but let that chance pass by. You have been given the chance in 3 different ways to extend your visas at immigration due to the virus outbreak and lockdowns of full countries. That was too much work for you, so you complained and cried foul instead. Now there is more privileges given to you, and yet you do not know the extent of it. Still a lot of complaining. Again, what shall Thailand do to please you? Do they have to crawl in front of you, kiss your feet and give all foreigners citizenship as well as worship you forever.

No, just do like all the other countries and declare everyone automatically extended (in UK, you email for it - most not even that), like the rest of the countries who don't want to Force people into Large Crowds for visa-matters did ... Last Month.

 

3 hours ago, Matzzon said:

It´s simple. Everybody had long time to think and make a decision to not travel or go back home before the borders closed and no transportation was available. If one chose to stay with the knowledge of how things are done in Thailand, then one must also understand that will mean a difficult period of time and be ready to deal with it.

"How things are done in Thailand" vis-a-vis Immigration - glad you got to the point.

[DrTuner]

2 hours ago, teatime101 said:

And after that? Another 30 days until the all clear?

The writing on the wall is "Get the hell out of Dodge as soon as you can".

Edited April 8, 2020 by DrTuner