Phuket Immigration overwhelmed as foreigners race to extend stay in Thailand

[Eibot]

11 minutes ago, userabcd said:

When they got their 60 days extension further responsibilties should have been assumed to season funds in the bank or prepare foreign tranfers and documentation and apply for a furter extension of stay at the end of the 60 days.

Assumed. I think there lays the problem. No clear communication from the Thai government, and what your saying only goes if your original visa was a Non O already. What wrong with letting people switch visa inside the country or paid tourist extensions?

[Bangkok Barry]

2 minutes ago, Eibot said:

It's still the same amnesty, they just extended it every time. Problem with it was that every time they left it to the last minute, threw out a lot of scaremongering (immigration) that you have to leave at X date and in the end they just extended it. Therefore it seems that people expexcted more of the same as nothing has changed border-wise.

 

Also the Thai government doesn't allow certain extensions to be done inland (NonB - Elite). Another point is that they said all extensions were going to roll after the 26th, but looking at the comments, most people got their extensions rolling on the day that they applied, meaning people are forced to leave it to the last moment. 

 

The most ironic part is that the Thai government is trying to do everything they can to get tourist in, while on the other hand, they are doing everything they can to push these same tourist out. 

Couldn't agree more. Elsewhere, it is written that Malaysia has extended the amnesty beyond the end of the year. They aren't making anyone - and their money - leave. Quite sensible, really. There is no positive, none at all, in throwing foreigners out under the threat of arrest and possible deportation and blacklisting. Madness. How does it benefit hotels or landlords or shopkeepers or restaurants/cafes etc. How does it benefit anyone at all?

[NanLaew]

15 hours ago, YetAnother said:

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The queue to enter the Immigration Office spilled out to the area set up in front of the main building,

sums up the overall state of thai immigration; should have sorted out this mess and publicized it long ago; o, sorry , i forgot, that requires intelligence

Were you one of those that has feverishly clicked on each and every "Will there be another amnesty extension?" thread these past month or so?

[itsari]

2 hours ago, Mywayboy said:

As usual all the Expat Lawers in Thailand know better.Final date has been documented long ago.

So were the past three extensions of the amnesty .  Thai Government  has set a precedent with there late decisions contradicting the official statements from Thai immigration . No need to be a expat lawyer to understand the present confusion .

[ChrisKC]

This is what I would be tempted to do if in charge.

 

If there are special problems for you as a tourist obtaining special documents, etc, getting home, then you are welcome to stay in Thailand. You will need only to show us you can support yourself and you will need to extend your permission to stay every month.

We believe that Covid is under control here and you can move freely without much fear of becoming infected.

 

Our economy is struggling as everywhere else and we want to encourage foreigners to our shores in the future from a position of knowing that when the going got tough we helped them through it and they would think of Thailand as a country who cares and understands that sometimes serious problems like the current one involving the entire world requires some compassion and the spirit of goodwill.

 

[Bob12345]

Page after page with people reacting to the first comment with the same information. 

 

I just feel bad for the people who have to ve at immigration for non-covid related matters (yearly extension, proof of residence, whatever). They will get stuck in this chaos also without blame.

[phetphet]

So what happens on the 27th, with all the people who cannot get any form of permission to stay? Visa or otherwise, and cannot fly out immediately, or indeed find any available seats on flights to their home country for the foreseeable future.

 

There must be thousands of them, including families with children. Are they all going to be arrested and put in detention? Taken to court, fined and banned from Thailand?

 

The government really need to sort this out.

 

 

[CheelBeel]

2 hours ago, paulbrow said:

Frankly I blame the foreigners. They have had months to tend to business but elected to wait to the last 5 days. Now taking the opportunity to blame Thai Immigration who graciously extended everyone sight unseen and now blaming Immigration  for their own PPPP !

Yes foreigners are to blame...

How could we trust thai smiles and end up in this xenophobic country...

[polpott]

4 minutes ago, phetphet said:

There must be thousands of them

Probably next to none in reality.

[CheelBeel]

33 minutes ago, Eibot said:

It's still the same amnesty, they just extended it every time. Problem with it was that every time they left it to the last minute, threw out a lot of scaremongering (immigration) that you have to leave at X date and in the end they just extended it. Therefore it seems that people expexcted more of the same as nothing has changed border-wise.

 

Also the Thai government doesn't allow certain extensions to be done inland (NonB - Elite). Another point is that they said all extensions were going to roll after the 26th, but looking at the comments, most people got their extensions rolling on the day that they applied, meaning people are forced to leave it to the last moment. 

 

The most ironic part is that the Thai government is trying to do everything they can to get tourist in, while on the other hand, they are doing everything they can to push these same tourist out. 

it is very simple, in their clinical way the government decided  that the once that left running out of money.

Let's get ride of them and bring in next victims 

[polpott]

3 minutes ago, CheelBeel said:

Let's get ride of them and bring in next victims 

What was the quote? 150k people finding themselves in this situation? I very much doubt they will be able to replace that number any time soon.

[Bangkok Barry]

33 minutes ago, JaneM said:

15 hours ago, YetAnother said:

sums up the overall state of thai immigration; should have sorted out this mess and publicized it long ago; o, sorry , i forgot, that requires intelligence

I suppose you mean your own intelligence, because this information has been out for over a month now...

Your own intelligence should tell you that what immigration says has no validity at all, as the rules are set by the government and immigration merely acts upon what they are told - except when they make up their own rules of course. It should also tell you that the government, not immigration, has amended the amnesty period in the past, and there was no logical reason it would not do so again as circumstances are virtually unchanged.

 

The government has made no statement whatsoever about a further amnesty one way or the other, but based on previous action it is perfectly reasonable for people to have assumed that, with the situation almost unchanged since the first amnesty was granted in March, a further amnesty would have been granted. There is no reason at all that it shouldn't have been, if circumstances are unchanged. But, for reasons only known to itself, the government has decided that people who have been doing no harm at all to anyone, and who have been contributing to the economy, must leave.

 

Others, and there are many, who regularly cross the border to other countries such as Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore etc have been unable to refresh their long-term visa situation, and must now or are looking at having to deposit a considerable sum of money in a Thai bank. Some, who have been living perfectly comfortably without a need to do that, might find that sum difficult to raise for any number of reasons. They haven't needed it and don't need it to live on, but the government says they need the foreign currency to be deposited anyway.

Edited September 22, 2020 by Bangkok Barry

[CheelBeel]

1 hour ago, userabcd said:

And comprehend.

and some compassion from the emigration 

[CheelBeel]

44 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Couldn't agree more. Elsewhere, it is written that Malaysia has extended the amnesty beyond the end of the year. They aren't making anyone - and their money - leave. Quite sensible, really. There is no positive, none at all, in throwing foreigners out under the threat of arrest and possible deportation and blacklisting. Madness. How does it benefit hotels or landlords or shopkeepers or restaurants/cafes etc. How does it benefit anyone at all?

it called thai xenophobia 

[mikosan]

16 hours ago, YetAnother said:

sums up the overall state of thai immigration; should have sorted out this mess and publicized it long ago; o, sorry , i forgot, that requires intelligence

Stupid comment.  Everyone has known for months that the cut off day is 26th September.  So, unless they are living on the moon, in which case they don't need a Thai visa, then anyone who requires a visa extension to stay in Thailand, should have organised it by now.

[Bangkok Barry]

1 minute ago, mikosan said:

Stupid comment.  Everyone has known for months that the cut off day is 26th September.  So, unless they are living on the moon, in which case they don't need a Thai visa, then anyone who requires a visa extension to stay in Thailand, should have organised it by now.

See post #74 above. Anything you disagree with?

[Kaopad999]

50 minutes ago, CheelBeel said:

Yes foreigners are to blame...

How could we trust thai smiles and end up in this xenophobic country...

Shame you feel that way.. I guess you can  always leave if you feel that way. No one is forcing you to stay here at the end of the day

Personally, my experience after 12 years out here has been the complete opposite... I find Thai people to be very friendly and hospitable.

Edited September 22, 2020 by Kaopad999

[userabcd]

38 minutes ago, CheelBeel said:

and some compassion from the emigration 

They (imm) will be compassionate when one emigrates from Thailand.

[mikeymike100]

2 hours ago, Hoppyone said:

Ok that’s great news if your in Malaysia,but this forum is in Thailand,do you think. We should all just stroll over to Malaysia 

The point being made here is that other counties are being far more reasonable than Thailand. this is not a 'normal' time, but the Thai authorities apparently don't seem to understand!

[vinny41]

8 minutes ago, mikeymike100 said:

The point being made here is that other counties are being far more reasonable than Thailand. this is not a 'normal' time, but the Thai authorities apparently don't seem to understand!

Here is Turkey response to Visas overstays

Those departing from 12 July to 11 October will incur an administrative fine;

Those departing from 12 October onwards will be banned from Turkey for a period of time determined by the length of overstay.

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/turkey/coronavirus

[Baerboxer]

16 hours ago, YetAnother said:

sums up the overall state of thai immigration; should have sorted out this mess and publicized it long ago; o, sorry , i forgot, that requires intelligence

 

Thai Immigration have been reminding people of the deadline and encouraging them to get things sorted for sometime. 

 

All the "last minute Charlies" leave it and then expect to be treated as the sole applicant that day.

 

Get real. The lack of intelligence is on those who can't be bothered or kept hoping for more and more extensions of the amnesty.

[Cadan]

Brilliant. Did not have enough time to prepare ????????????

[Baerboxer]

1 hour ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Your own intelligence should tell you that what immigration says has no validity at all, as the rules are set by the government and immigration merely acts upon what they are told - except when they make up their own rules of course. It should also tell you that the government, not immigration, has amended the amnesty period in the past, and there was no logical reason it would not do so again as circumstances are virtually unchanged.

 

The government has made no statement whatsoever about a further amnesty one way or the other, but based on previous action it is perfectly reasonable for people to have assumed that, with the situation almost unchanged since the first amnesty was granted in March, a further amnesty would have been granted. There is no reason at all that it shouldn't have been, if circumstances are unchanged. But, for reasons only known to itself, the government has decided that people who have been doing no harm at all to anyone, and who have been contributing to the economy, must leave.

 

Others, and there are many, who regularly cross the border to other countries such as Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore etc have been unable to refresh their long-term visa situation, and must now or are looking at having to deposit a considerable sum of money in a Thai bank. Some, who have been living perfectly comfortably without a need to do that, might find that sum difficult to raise for any number of reasons. They haven't needed it and don't need it to live on, but the government says they need the foreign currency to be deposited anyway.

 

I don't think the government has decided anyone must leave. Rather they are saying that to continue to stay, given the the current very good control of the virus in Thailand, you must now follow the immigration procedures rather than simply extend a blanket amnesty.

 

Immigration have been reminding people of this and of the deadline for some time. 

[CheelBeel]

8 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Thai Immigration have been reminding people of the deadline and encouraging them to get things sorted for sometime. 

 

All the "last minute Charlies" leave it and then expect to be treated as the sole applicant that day.

 

Get real. The lack of intelligence is on those who can't be bothered or kept hoping for more and more extensions of the amnesty.

well at least now we can see what is really behind thai smiles

we should get real and never trust this xenophobic system

thank you for your "hospitality"

[Bangkok Barry]

2 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

I don't think the government has decided anyone must leave.

All tourists must leave by Saturday, unless medically unable to do so or for very limited other reasons. For some reason known only to itself, the Thai government wishes to set the number of tourists in the country at zero. Their plan to in future welcome 300 new tourists a month is designed to be a total non-starter, not least because those 300 have to arrive by air charter. So, the number of tourists will remain at zero.

 

With no borders set to open in the foreseeable future, Thailand's tourist industry is effectively finished, except for the few locals who can find the money to travel within the country. Apart from the weekends, that has also proved so far to be a non-starter. All because of less deaths in six months than happens in a normal day on Thai roads. There are many who say the two are totally unconnected and they are not, but the different reaction to each situation speaks for itself.

[thecyclist]

16 hours ago, darrendsd said:

They stated it a month ago - what more do you want?

I guess that lots of folks were hoping that in spite of the announcements to the contrary they would at the last moment reverse course and extend the amnesty. A lot worse here in Vietnam, where I live now:They wait literally till the last minute (well hours), on the evening of the last day of the amnesty they announce an extension for another month. 

[Madeline Thompson]

This particular amnesty deadline has been well published.

[Makoshark]

Foreigners are STUPID. Everyone including  Thai farmers knew sept 26 was the cutoff. 

 

You get what you deserve

 

sorry the Thais got this right. You’re lucky they will open on Saturday 

 

 

 

 

 

[CheelBeel]

20 minutes ago, Madeline Thompson said:

This particular amnesty deadline has been well published.

actually it was not

but even if it was, and people make mistakes 

does it give you the right to walk all over us???

[CheelBeel]

10 minutes ago, Makoshark said:

Foreigners are STUPID. Everyone including  Thai farmers knew sept 26 was the cutoff. 

 

You get what you deserve

 

sorry the Thais got this right. You’re lucky they will open on Saturday 

 

 

 

 

 

wow, 

if stupid was illegal where would thais be?