Re Enter Thailand on a Retirement Visa at Covid 19 Times

[Wolfgang A]

i live in Thailand on Retirement Visa (valid till 12/ 2020)

i booked a flight for july,6th (return: sept, 12th) for a visit in germany.

i will be able to fly out, but will i get back in again ?

i searched the net and also asked my local immigration office...

could not find a validate answer.

anyone here ?

[tonray]

Nobody yet knows. 

[blackcab]

Nobody knows what will happen next month. September is impossible to predict.

 

I'm sorry I cannot help you, but any prediction would be nothing more than speculation.

[DrJack54]

Nobody can answer. My guess is your return 12 September flight is NO WAY.

I have flights Saigon in sept and Oct to Vietnam and Dec 1 to Japan. I would bet money I won't to able to use any of them.

[bunnydrops]

The way they are talking it will depend on the virus situation in the country you are coming from. Letting people in from countries with low infection rates. But as others have said nobody really knows.

[Wolfgang A]

thanks guys ! 

i was hoping for a miracle ????

 

[DrJack54]

1 hour ago, Wolfgang A said:

thanks guys ! 

i was hoping for a miracle ????

 

Mate I like that you gave a like to post #5.

However it won't happen. 

Your plan might be possible 2021.

Keep strong where all in same boat.

Either stuck in or out.

Stay in los

[BritTim]

15 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Nobody can answer. My guess is your return 12 September flight is NO WAY.

I have flights Saigon in sept and Oct to Vietnam and Dec 1 to Japan. I would bet money I won't to able to use any of them.

Although September is probably too early for much hope, there is a decent chance Vietnam and Japan might become part of a travel bubble with Thailand at some point. If government figures for Covid-19 are to be believed, Thailand and Vietnam already satisfy most of the requirements that would need to be in place for quarantine free travel. Japan still has some way to go, but they have a virus elimination strategy that can likely succeed in the medium term.

[crazykopite]

My wife is stuck in the U.K. her flight now is cancelled for 3rd time in July and she tells me she cannot get new requirements to get back even if there was a flight back new requirement are 1, All foreigners must have $100,000 insurance policy that states in the policy you are covered for Covid 19 2, you must obtain clearance health certificate no older than 72 hours before you return to Thailand (this requirement also include Thai’s)

[thailand49]

As noted tough to answer we can speculated or take what has been written as an indication. Much talk recently is " travel bubble "  also talk of countries that has shown better control and lower numbers even with these past conversations as late as two days ago if an country is allow to fly into Thailand you will need a 72 hours medical certification? 

 

The skies might open up some July 1st, but it is going to be a slow process and I speculated Western countries like the U.S. and from Europe will be the last on their list?  September might seem a bit off but personally I speculate it isn't going to happen for your trip. I wanted to fly home to visit family in September also but unless Thailand remove all restrictions to return I can't afford to be stuck in the States.

 

Cross our fingers and hope for a speedy best?

[DrJack54]

1 hour ago, BritTim said:

Vietnam and Japan might become part of a travel bubble with Thailand at some point.

Travel bubble with Thailand won't work.

Why.....because Thailand will have China as it's priority and #1 on its bubble list. How could countries such as Japan join that group when the countries they are considering does not include China.

[baansgr]

1 hour ago, BritTim said:

Although September is probably too early for much hope, there is a decent chance Vietnam and Japan might become part of a travel bubble with Thailand at some point. If government figures for Covid-19 are to be believed, Thailand and Vietnam already satisfy most of the requirements that would need to be in place for quarantine free travel. Japan still has some way to go, but they have a virus elimination strategy that can likely succeed in the medium term.

Are travel bubbles just for citizens of that country...if you are not Japanese you won't be able to return to Thailand?

[nickmondo]

you will not be able to return.  that is for sure

stay here if you want to live in Thailand

 

[oporhatch]

On the same subject ...I have a planned trip to UK in August and intended to return early October to extend my current retirement visa.  However if I do not return in time which is about the 15th October what is my best option

1) How much time after a extension on a visa expires do you have to renew

2) could I come in on a holiday visa and then when here get a new retirement visa  (what would be required ?  I have the money in a bank in thailand -  which I use to extend the current visa)

3) would I have to get a new 60 day visa and then extend that ??

 

regards  

[BritTim]

56 minutes ago, baansgr said:

Are travel bubbles just for citizens of that country...if you are not Japanese you won't be able to return to Thailand?

The idea of travel bubbles is that you build a fence around a group of Covid-19 free countries, allowing free movement between countries inside the bubble, while ensuring tight control of travel from countries with Covid-19 infection to any of the countries inside the bubble. Your nationality is pretty much irrelevant. What matters is the risk of your carrying Covid-19 from one country to another.

[ubonjoe]

27 minutes ago, oporhatch said:

1) How much time after a extension on a visa expires do you have to renew

2) could I come in on a holiday visa and then when here get a new retirement visa  (what would be required ?  I have the money in a bank in thailand -  which I use to extend the current visa)

3) would I have to get a new 60 day visa and then extend that ??

1. None

2. You could but to apply for a 90 day non immigrant visa (category O) entry you would need proof the 800k baht came from abroad.

3. Your best option would be to apply for a single entry non-o visa at the embassy in London or one of the consulates in the UK.

[itsallmine68]

Oporhatch The best answer would be to go and ask the Immigration Office where you deal. As you maybe aware each office in Thailand is slightly different with their handling of situations

[Awinkl]

I am in a similar predicament - but upside-down. I have a Retirement Visa that expires in mid-July, but I am STUCK in Oz and cannot get back to LOS before my Visa expires - so all I can do for now .... is just WAIT, and wait .... until Farangs can get into LOS again (from Oz). Then I will just have to re-apply for the Retirement Visa.....

[Gandtee]

Another question. What if a re entry visa expired while in a foreign because the person couldn't return due to covid? Would that person's retirement visa for example, be cancelled and have to start over again?

[spidermike007]

Can you get a Covid free health letter in Germany? I cannot get one in the US, but we have one of the most broken medical systems in the world, as the world knows by now. I think they will be required. And possibly health insurance, without a pandemic exception. And that is if we are let back in without a 14 day quarantine. Very dicey. I have plans to go back to the US in September, but it looks very questionable at this point, especially since it is ground zero for Covid right now. Germany was hit hard. I think we have to assume we will be considered radioactive Zombies around the world, for quite some time to come. 

[ThailandRyan]

16 hours ago, Wolfgang A said:

thanks guys ! 

i was hoping for a miracle ????

 

@Wolfgang A unfortunately there are many in your shoes, myself included.  There are also those still stuck on the outside trying to get back to families.  At the end of the day until the writing is actually on the wall and the ink is dried, and a Royal Gazette document is signed off on, then the world outside, although open for us to leave here, will not be allowed back in for the time being.  I have now canceled my July flights with Delta/Korean Air and been given another e-credit.  Only time will tell.... 

[Tropposurfer]

With the escalating and spreading of Covid 19 in the US and South America, and as yet to be seen restriction loosening in Europe, and no data about whether this will initiate a second wave or whatever you wanna call it don't go anywhere (except domestically) is my advice. Otherwise you might find yourself locked down in grey freezing Germany for another 4 months > if this Covid thing goes south again.

[ubonjoe]

32 minutes ago, Gandtee said:

Another question. What if a re entry visa expired while in a foreign because the person couldn't return due to covid? Would that person's retirement visa for example, be cancelled and have to start over again?

Yes it would be gone since the re-entry permit would of been expired.

[Jimbo53]

6 hours ago, oporhatch said:

On the same subject ...I have a planned trip to UK in August and intended to return early October to extend my current retirement visa.  However if I do not return in time which is about the 15th October what is my best option

1) How much time after a extension on a visa expires do you have to renew

2) could I come in on a holiday visa and then when here get a new retirement visa  (what would be required ?  I have the money in a bank in thailand -  which I use to extend the current visa)

3) would I have to get a new 60 day visa and then extend that ??

 

regards  

If you leave Thailand for the UK in August,dont expect to return to Thailand until some time in 2021,the UK and USA will be at the back of the list when Thailand opens up to Tourists again.

If you need to be in Thailand,then dont go anywhere.

[Bob A Kneale]

7 hours ago, nickmondo said:

you will not be able to return.  that is for sure

"For sure"?  Only as far as nothing but speculation is concerned.

[oporhatch]

one last question..........if say travel from the UK was still not allowed. But from Amsterdam was, would travelling to amsterdam get me around the travel situation. ( as that's the route I take anywhere).   How will they determine my exit destination ??

 

Or would KLM veto it  - before I flew ??

 

There is no stamps on your passport - just a UK passport.  How are  they to know I am not living in Amsterdam ??

 

any thoughts     

[EricTh]

@Wolfgang A

 

You might be able to fly out but flying in is much harder.

 

It depends on whether your country is in Thailand's travel bubble. I don't think it depends on whether you have a retirement visa or not.

[BritTim]

3 hours ago, oporhatch said:

one last question..........if say travel from the UK was still not allowed. But from Amsterdam was, would travelling to amsterdam get me around the travel situation. ( as that's the route I take anywhere).   How will they determine my exit destination ??

 

Or would KLM veto it  - before I flew ??

 

There is no stamps on your passport - just a UK passport.  How are  they to know I am not living in Amsterdam ??

 

any thoughts     

While I cannot prove this, I believe there are going to be two groups of countries, Covid-19 free and Covid-19 infested. I believe the Covid-19 free countries will want to revitalise foreign travel, but only insofar as risks of Covid-19 outbreaks can be carefully managed. To facilitate this, there will evolve a travel bubble between countries that are (i) Covid-19 free; and (ii) have similar regulations about entry from Covid-19 infested countries.

 

In your example, if The Netherlands is both Covid-19 free, and has tight control over entry from Covid-19 infested countries, there could be free movement between Amsterdam and Bangkok. Part of the tight control would be a ban on international transfers from Covid-19 infested countries through Amsterdam. All this is academic because it seems very improbable at this stage that the EU will be Covid-19 free or that there will be strict controls on travel between The Netherlands and other EU countries.

[billybog]

On 6/14/2020 at 3:19 AM, tonray said:

Nobody yet knows. 

I have a very good friend, married to Thai lady now 11 years, she was in Thailand when this broke loose and he was in USA.  he was planning on going to Thailand to stay with her in may...he has no idea when he will now be able to do that. Since she has dual citizenship, they are looking for her to come back to USA and then head back to Thailand when he can go.

[ubonjoe]

7 hours ago, billybog said:

I have a very good friend, married to Thai lady now 11 years, she was in Thailand when this broke loose and he was in USA.  he was planning on going to Thailand to stay with her in may...he has no idea when he will now be able to do that. Since she has dual citizenship, they are looking for her to come back to USA and then head back to Thailand when he can go.

You should inform to check with embassy about returning. It was in the news yesterday they plan on allowing those married to a Thai to travel to here. See: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1168574-foreigners-married-to-thais-set-to-be-allowed-to-return-to-thailand/