Immigration Bureau mulls further visa extension for stranded foreigners

By The Nation

 

 

The Immigration Bureau is discussing the possibility of extending visa amnesty for foreigners stranded in Thailand, Foreign Ministry’s deputy spokesperson Natapanu Nopakun said at the daily Covid-19 briefing on Friday (July 3).

 

The Cabinet’s last resolution was to grant an automatic visa extension for foreigners stranded here to stay until July 30.

 

Natapanu asked people to be patient, adding that the immigration bureau’s decision on the subject will be made public soon.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30390732

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-07-03

 

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"Hey maybe we should keep the ones we got."

What nationalities are still stranded here?

As flights are taking off again anybody can, one way or the other, fly OUT of Thailand.

Edited July 3, 20206 yr by ExpatOilWorker

1 minute ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

What nationalities are still stranded here?

As flights are taking off again ac now, one way or the other, fly OUT of Thailand.

 

good question, certainly anyone from a western country does have, and has had, the opportunity to leave. though i have one friend who visits as a sex tourist, he decided to stay and then started posting on social media how he was 'stranded'... he is a kind of pathetic character, i guess he wanted his life to sound more exciting. i sent him a page of available flights home at reasonable cost... ????

 

5 minutes ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

What nationalities are still stranded here?

As flights are taking off again anybody can, one way or the other, fly OUT of Thailand.

Can but maybe not want.

Holder of multiple entry e.g. who can not use them.

Good.

 

It is good for Thailand as it sure could use a bit of extra cash.

 

It is good for the visitors as they can enjoy Thailand longer.

 

It is good because it might cause consternation to the curmudgeons.

 

Win Win Win.

 

 

 

4 minutes ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

What nationalities are still stranded here?

As flights are taking off again anybody can, one way or the other, fly OUT of Thailand.

 

This old chestnut again? I know some people who cannot get to where they need to be. It's not about just leaving Thailand and ending up nowhere.

Through gritted teeth and red faces the amnesty shall be granted eventually.

 

with immense reluctance i am sure.

4 minutes ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

What nationalities are still stranded here?

As flights are taking off again anybody can, one way or the other, fly OUT of Thailand.

There are thousands still stranded in Thailand that need to do border runs to activate another period of entry when the borders re-open, such as multi Non O Visas, or Non O-A Visa holders.

Then there are those who's current Visas have expired but need to apply for new Visas at local Thai Embassies/Consulates, or those just wanting another VE entry to convert to Non O and subsequent 1 year extensions.

Just now, Eindhoven said:

 

This old chestnut again? I know some people who cannot get to where they need to be. It's not about just leaving Thailand and ending up nowhere.

Need and want to be. Land borders closed. That's the misery for many.

2 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

Can but maybe not want.

Holder of multiple entry e.g. who can not use them.

Yes. This is my case. I am on Non O Multi Entry (because I live in Thailand normaly work in neighbor country) and supposed to leave country every 90 days. I should have left End of May but postponed due to the Covid. If the amnesty stopped end of this month, I will need to do the a border run. But with the actual restrictions, where and how will i be able to come back? I will have the option to get a 60 days extension, hoping that by that time, crossing the borders and re-entry will be easier but with an extension of the amnesty, I would on safe side...

Perhaps there is some reasonable recognition of the fact that in light of most borders  being closed that for those who would have done a compliant border run on a METV 90 day combined  with the evident fact that they pose no infection threat by being let continue stay under the amnesty. For those that have and  are currently still here on  purely single entry short term tourist visa may be granted more time to terminally exit as flights become  more regular?

 

4 minutes ago, jphasia said:

Yes. This is my case. I am on Non O Multi Entry (because I live in Thailand normaly work in neighbor country) and supposed to leave country every 90 days. I should have left End of May but postponed due to the Covid. If the amnesty stopped end of this month, I will need to do the a border run. But with the actual restrictions, where and how will i be able to come back? I will have the option to get a 60 days extension, hoping that by that time, crossing the borders and re-entry will be easier but with an extension of the amnesty, I would on safe side...

It would be nice if immigration just draw a red line on the floor, let you step over it and stamp you in for another 90 days. This whole border run thing serve no piratical purpose.

32 minutes ago, samsensam said:

 

good question, certainly anyone from a western country does have, and has had, the opportunity to leave. though i have one friend who visits as a sex tourist, he decided to stay and then started posting on social media how he was 'stranded'... he is a kind of pathetic character, i guess he wanted his life to sound more exciting. i sent him a page of available flights home at reasonable cost... ????

 

With more people in the world like you it would evolve the other way!

51 minutes ago, Eindhoven said:

 

This old chestnut again? I know some people who cannot get to where they need to be. It's not about just leaving Thailand and ending up nowhere.

Well said. For instance I have a 1 year visa for Savannakhet but I must leave every 90 days. I can leave but it might be very difficult and very slow to come back to live in my home with my Thai wife. The 2,000 per month allowed to enter Thailand by marriage  isn't going to go far.

But there are always the agents as an option.

The lack of empathy from some posters make me think they drink vinegar instead of water.

48 minutes ago, jphasia said:

Yes. This is my case. I am on Non O Multi Entry (because I live in Thailand normaly work in neighbor country) and supposed to leave country every 90 days. I should have left End of May but postponed due to the Covid. If the amnesty stopped end of this month, I will need to do the a border run. But with the actual restrictions, where and how will i be able to come back? I will have the option to get a 60 days extension, hoping that by that time, crossing the borders and re-entry will be easier but with an extension of the amnesty, I would on safe side...

Same, same

 

49 minutes ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

It would be nice if immigration just draw a red line on the floor, let you step over it and stamp you in for another 90 days. This whole border run thing serve no piratical purpose.

Or just a years visa that you can stay without having to leave or report...like most countries do for married, retired or working visitors

The deputy spokesperson does not mention the word extension/extending the amnesty once in the video.

Edited July 3, 20206 yr by greggraham

1 hour ago, samsensam said:

1 hour ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

What nationalities are still stranded here?

As flights are taking off again ac now, one way or the other, fly OUT of Thailand.

 

good question, certainly anyone from a western country does have, and has had, the opportunity to leave. though i have one friend ...

We aren't going home, so "repatriation flights" don't have any value.  We may be going to Turkey or similar, if they will not provide us a way to stay and spend our incomes here.

 

1 hour ago, jphasia said:

I will have the option to get a 60 days extension,

Maybe at some offices, but ...
https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1170694-extension-options/?do=findComment&comment=15579668

 

...  not all.  And some also denying even 1-year extensions.  I think they are just looking for agent-money, though - may still be possible at a cost.

Edited July 3, 20206 yr by JackThompson

13 minutes ago, baansgr said:

Or just a years visa that you can stay without having to leave or report...like most countries do for married, retired or working visitors

That's exactly what Thailand offers with Yearly Extensions... 

 

Some people here are in bad situation just before they choose an easy way with Non-O rather than a yearly extension. A Non-O has never been thought as a way to live full time in Thailand, but just a way to make many travels during a year. 

1 hour ago, jphasia said:

Yes. This is my case. I am on Non O Multi Entry (because I live in Thailand normaly work in neighbor country) and supposed to leave country every 90 days. I should have left End of May but postponed due to the Covid. If the amnesty stopped end of this month, I will need to do the a border run. But with the actual restrictions, where and how will i be able to come back? I will have the option to get a 60 days extension, hoping that by that time, crossing the borders and re-entry will be easier but with an extension of the amnesty, I would on safe side...

You don't have to wait for the last 90 days of the Visa to do the extension so why don't/didn't you just get a 1 year extension on the 90 day entry that you came into Thailand on when you found out that you wouldn't be able to do a border bounce?

 

 

 

44 minutes ago, baansgr said:

Or just a years visa that you can stay without having to leave or report...like most countries do for married, retired or working visitors

They do, you can either get a Non-OA, a 12 month extension on your Non-O or buy an Elite Visa, all of which give you a 12 month permission to stay. 

 

Not an expert on Non-Imm B ("Work Visas") but my understanding is these are good for at least a year and the higher paid jobs (particularly BOI) are good for 3 years.

  

Edited July 3, 20206 yr by Mike Teavee

Possibly a clue about re-opening the land borders, from the Thai Embassy in Vientiene.  It seems it will be closed until 10 July, due to "implementation of post Covid 19 visa processing procedures".

 

Are they expecting something in mid-July?

1 hour ago, Eindhoven said:

 

This old chestnut again? I know some people who cannot get to where they need to be. It's not about just leaving Thailand and ending up nowhere.

Exactly, I was just two hours past the deadline on March 18th for my flight to Taiwan and am still waiting on some policy from either country which might allow me to return.

12 minutes ago, Mike Teavee said:

You don't have to wait for the last 90 days of the Visa to do the extension so why don't/didn't you just get a 1 year extension on the 90 day entry that you came into Thailand on when you found out that you wouldn't be able to do a border bounce?

 

 

 

Simple: I am working in Myanmar. I had a break in beginning of 2020 and was at home in Thailand. I was supposed to go back to go back to Myanmar in March but the borders have been closed. My 90 days expired end of May but due to the covid, border closed and amnesty ongoing...

1 minute ago, jphasia said:

Simple: I am working in Myanmar. I had a break in beginning of 2020 and was at home in Thailand. I was supposed to go back to go back to Myanmar in March but the borders have been closed. My 90 days expired end of May but due to the covid, border closed and amnesty ongoing...

Not meaning to nag or anything but you could have got your 12 month extension before the 90 days expired at the end of May

41 minutes ago, Pattaya46 said:

That's exactly what Thailand offers with Yearly Extensions... 

 

Some people here are in bad situation just before they choose an easy way with Non-O rather than a yearly extension. A Non-O has never been thought as a way to live full time in Thailand, but just a way to make many travels during a year. 

The yearly extension was not suitable for me. I had to go with the 1 Year Non O instead. The reason: working in Myanmar with regular return to Thailand to visit my family.

Of course, i could have gone with extension + re-entry permit but for that, I needed enough time to stay in Thailand to apply for the extension which I didn't have.

2 hours ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

What nationalities are still stranded here?

As flights are taking off again anybody can, one way or the other, fly OUT of Thailand.

Oh you mean on one of 7 daily flights instead of the usual 5, half of which are cancelled at short notice and don't take me to where I want to go? And cost 3-4 times more than usual? And only departing from one single airport in the entire country, a country the size of France?

Think before you make another ridiculous comment.

5 minutes ago, Mike Teavee said:

Not meaning to nag or anything but you could have got your 12 month extension before the 90 days expired at the end of May

Could still get the 12 month extension AFTER the expiration of the 90 days provided it's done within the amnesty period. Immigration will reportedly backdate it. Alternatively a 60-day extension can also be sought at any time (if one hasn't already been made).

57 minutes ago, JackThompson said:

We aren't going home, so "repatriation flights" don't have any value.  We may be going to Turkey or similar, if they will not provide us a way to stay and spend our incomes here.

 

Maybe at some offices, but ...
https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1170694-extension-options/?do=findComment&comment=15579668

 

...  not all.  And some also denying even 1-year extensions.  I think they are just looking for agent-money, though - may still be possible at a cost.

Again with the Turkey option. They have daytime curfews on weekends there. Nuff said. Not an attractive prospect. Europe it is (although I understand Americans are still excluded).

 

I think as daft as immigration may be, it's almost certain they will give us some lifeline until such times borders re-open. This piece of news sort of confirms that.