I have a "non O" visa extension which has to be renewed in January 2021. I've been in Vietnam since January and may be able to fly back to Thailand from Vietnam in the next two months. Has anything decisive changed with the "non O" status in my absence? and can I re-enter Thailand with "non-O" (without having to be in quarantine)? Thanks in advance for your answer ...

You will definitely not be able to avoid quarantine. What is the basis for your Non Immigrant extension of stay? If it is for a Thai spouse or child, your return may be possible. Contact the Thai embassy in Hanoi to see what is required for the COE (certificate of entry) now required to travel to Thailand. If you do not have a Thai spouse/child, you are currently out of luck. In any case, do not pay for any air tickets without talking to the embassy first.

OP, BritTim is the one of few guys on thaivisa with excellent advice and manners. I'm a fan.

However, forget you non o. 

You won't be able to return easily 

When things open up you can return to Thailand and start process again or obtain new non o in Vietnam.

Forget your current extension.

1 hour ago, BritTim said:

You will definitely not be able to avoid quarantine. What is the basis for your Non Immigrant extension of stay? If it is for a Thai spouse or child, your return may be possible. Contact the Thai embassy in Hanoi to see what is required for the COE (certificate of entry) now required to travel to Thailand. If you do not have a Thai spouse/child, you are currently out of luck. In any case, do not pay for any air tickets without talking to the embassy first.

Retirement...Thanks for your reply...

1 hour ago, GeKoSc said:

Retirement...Thanks for your reply...

IF you get a COE at all from your local Thai Embassy/Consulate then you'll definitely have to comply with the full entry regulations which at this time means SQ/ASQ for everybody.

4 hours ago, FlyingThai said:

IF you get a COE at all from your local Thai Embassy/Consulate then you'll definitely have to comply with the full entry regulations which at this time means SQ/ASQ for everybody.

And possibly pay an inflated price for a ticket on a repatriation flight. 

16 hours ago, FlyingThai said:

IF you get a COE at all from your local Thai Embassy/Consulate then you'll definitely have to comply with the full entry regulations which at this time means SQ/ASQ for everybody.

He's on a retirement extension and can't get a CoE. Yet. 

Hi, I am in quarantine having just done the process to exit VN. Depending on where you are located either Hanoi or HCMC you will find different levels of service at the Embassy/Consulate regarding your visa question and criteria to qualify for the COE. HCMC was by far the most helpful. To track when a flight is available, should you qualify, please go to the FB page of both Embassy and Consulate and check daily for updates on repatriation flights. The announcements are clear with instructions. But otherwise invisible to you unless you check. First you have to qualify for COE. Then prepare the other documents (it is a 2 step process - first COE, then the rest). They advise to get the flight booking last. From experience, if you have all that is required do not delay this step or you will miss out. I did mine first. I missed a flight from Hanoi. The last flight from HCMC was full. I was based in Hanoi, but exited via HCMC to catch the flight. No assistance from Hanoi Embassy because they don't run that flight. Flights were done in July and August. Perhaps monthly, perhaps not. The incoming flight from BKK was full with people returning to HCMC. ThaiVietJet ran the charter. Be optimistic. The rules will change to match the situation. There are only so many hotels for ASQ so they can't open the floodgates all at once. For clarification I hold Thai Residency. Go to the FB page and it is all there on what qualifies. Hope this helps. Wish you well to get home.

Thailand's border has been closed for about 5 months now.  They have a shed-load of empty hotels and no tourists, a bankrupt airline in the hands of the Receiver and tens of thousands of staff who have been laid off and who desperately need to earn a living.  Any semi-incompetent Government would have put these constituent parts together months ago and organised sufficient repatriation packages for all those Thais and foreigners who want to return.  Naturally the foreigners would have had to meet the full economic cost.  It would have been the humanitarian thing to do as well as generating employment and foreign currency for Thailand.  The fact that this has not happened speaks volumes.  The Government does not want these people back and has no intention of opening up the country.  The endless stories about travel bubbles etc. is jut a smoke screen.  I suggest those stuck outside Thailand make themselves as comfortable as they can for at least six months.  Perhaps consider if there is another destination that might suit your needs.  I just don't see anything changing any time soon which is kind of sad.  

1 hour ago, GoForGolf said:

I hold Thai Residency. Go to the FB page and it is all there on what qualifies. Hope this helps. Wish you well to get home.

I don't know why you had 2 likes for your post.

The OP has extension to non O based on retirement. Cannot presently obtain COE.

Given the numbers on the government "list" that includes PR, work permit holders, folk married to Thai or parent of thai, etc etc

Maybe he can fly to Thailand sometime 2021

2 hours ago, GoForGolf said:

Hi, I am in quarantine having just done the process to exit VN. Depending on where you are located either Hanoi or HCMC you will find different levels of service at the Embassy/Consulate regarding your visa question and criteria to qualify for the COE. HCMC was by far the most helpful. To track when a flight is available, should you qualify, please go to the FB page of both Embassy and Consulate and check daily for updates on repatriation flights. The announcements are clear with instructions. But otherwise invisible to you unless you check. First you have to qualify for COE. Then prepare the other documents (it is a 2 step process - first COE, then the rest). They advise to get the flight booking last. From experience, if you have all that is required do not delay this step or you will miss out. I did mine first. I missed a flight from Hanoi. The last flight from HCMC was full. I was based in Hanoi, but exited via HCMC to catch the flight. No assistance from Hanoi Embassy because they don't run that flight. Flights were done in July and August. Perhaps monthly, perhaps not. The incoming flight from BKK was full with people returning to HCMC. ThaiVietJet ran the charter. Be optimistic. The rules will change to match the situation. There are only so many hotels for ASQ so they can't open the floodgates all at once. For clarification I hold Thai Residency. Go to the FB page and it is all there on what qualifies. Hope this helps. Wish you well to get home.

Thanks a lot for these detailed feedback...

27 minutes ago, GeKoSc said:

Thanks a lot for these detailed feedback...

And how does that help you. You have extension based on retirement. My guess is you have very limited chance to re-enter Thailand before Jan 2021.

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

I don't know why you had 2 likes for your post.

The OP has extension to non O based on retirement. Cannot presently obtain COE.

Given the numbers on the government "list" that includes PR, work permit holders, folk married to Thai or parent of thai, etc etc

Maybe he can fly to Thailand sometime 2021

Our different status does not matter at this moment...but he reported  well how to go ahead when my status group will get green light to enter to Thailand.

Just now, GeKoSc said:

Our different status does not matter at this moment...but he reported  well how to go ahead when my status group will get green light to enter to Thailand.

Your status group will not have a status.

Your extension will expire and you will be in group referred to as tourist. 

I'm not being rude, just honest.