Thailand extends grace period for stranded foreigners

[herfiehandbag]

1 hour ago, In the jungle said:

I have been here 19 years entirely legally.

 

Only once have I applied for an extension of stay in country and that was this year.

 

The process for extending my stay was so utterly dysfunctional I felt violated by submitting to it.  Requests for irrelevant documents, sign every conceivable piece of paper, certify original documents as true copies because they insist.  Watching their 'processing' of my application was like something from a Marx brothers movie.

 

I have no idea how people repeatedly go through the much worse process of applying in country for 12 months on the basis of marriage and then get self righteous about the fact they do so.  I would feel only shame and a complete lack of self worth for submitting to that.  The whole process is an abuse.  I would keep quiet about going through it rather than bang on about doing things 'the proper way' and condemning others.

 

And yes, I do have the money in a Thai bank, adequately seasoned and could jump through all the other hoops involved in a marriage application but if they are offering 60 day rolling extensions I'll take that.

 

 

Hmm, lets wait and see what sort of bureaucratic rigmarole is designed for any rolling 60 day extensions.

 

My money is on such extensions being so complicated that they will only really being available through an agent.

 

5K will see you sorted for a couple of months?

[Ganesh108]

1 hour ago, Walker88 said:

That simply is not true. Go look at the many threads, with some angry old farangs posting dozens upon dozens of posts all with the same basic theme:

 

"You gamed the system !" (False, the amnesty and extension are legal and granted by the Thai Govt)

 

"You had enough time; now get out !" (In case you missed it, there's a worldwide pandemic and Thailand is beating it health-wise as well or better than any country, so those choosing to use the legal means the Thai Govt granted to stay, chose to do so.)

 

One poster chimed in "I've got 85kg of popcorn I'm going to enjoy watching" (Immigration Police roll up overstayers and jail them). That's petty.

 

All of those comments reek of bitter, angry. old men, who seem to hate everything, but I suspect are emailing any buddies they have left back home boasting of 'living the dream'. BS. Likely misery is a part of their character.

 

Get a life, because the constant trolling of these threads wishing disruption upon folks grateful for what Thailand generously has provided doesn't exactly say "I'm just so busy enjoying every moment of this existence". Those of us on amnesty, extensions, and now things like Thai Elite ARE enjoying Thailand and our lives.

 

Don't let this upset you and don't take it personally.

'All of those comments reek of bitter, angry. old men, who seem to hate everything, but I suspect are emailing any buddies they have left back home boasting of 'living the dream'. BS. Likely misery is a part of their character.'

 

Very well said, thank you. You take the words out of my mouth. I hope I never meet those bitter, angry, old men in real life. It's the kind of people I thought I'd escaped from in the West. 

[Jack Hna]

1 hour ago, elliss said:

 

 Cant afford the farlang takers /aka mates , anymore ...

   Bye ...555

 

 

Lubes expensive too.

[asiacurious]

Two things are weird.

 

1st:  October 31st is... a Saturday.  So again with ending it on a Saturday.

 

2nd:

Quote

Last week, Immigration said that 150,000 foreigners were staying in Thailand under the visa amnesty.  Stranded foreigners who wish to stay in Thailand after October 31 must submit an application to an Immigration office by October 3.

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30395273

 

October 3rd?  Really?  Or a typo?  That's (counts on fingers) 5 days away.  And the 3rd is, of course, a Saturday!  So only 4 days for 150K to apply?  Has to be a typo, right?

[Rockbottom]

I sat at an immigration office a couple days ago with a perfect sightline to watch an agent meet individuals and families at the immigration counter, as one after another handed the agent huge stacks of 1000THB bills. Quite a scam operation. And now they extend the amnesty? 

 

Do they think foreigners are stupid and can't see through their frickin' racist money suck? The Thai Extortion Dogma lives deep within them all.

 

These IO airheads have lost all credibility.   

[Enzian]

In spite of the fact that I screwed up my change of residence report this year, and my 90 day report is in some wonderland limbo for a couple more weeks because of a totally weird IO last month, I probably will be able to renew my Non-O "by reason of retirement" well before the rollover in December. But the mental illness brought on by being locked out of my constant global travels has reminded me that whenever in the past I had to make some seemingly catastrophic life change (divorce, demotion, family suicide, etc.), the result always ended up for the better. So I won't mind if they kick me out of the country. Or put me in the Bangkok Hilton and I could pretend I'm John McCain and live a life with purpose and write a book...

[Keyser Soze666]

6 minutes ago, Rockbottom said:

 

 

Do they think foreigners are stupid and can't see through their frickin' racist money suck? 

 

 

Yes they do, and they are right too.

[Max69xl]

4 hours ago, shady86 said:

Does that mean 90day reporting deadline is also extended?

If you normally do 90 days reports, why wouldn't you continue? 

[Jackcwba]

Are those who need to report back for under consideration approval in the middle of October supposed to go before 3rd?

 

also what docs do we even need if not? Only a few days to sort everything and no announcement about what is needed?

once again another announcement which prompts more questions Rather than gives answers.

 

 

[Max69xl]

3 hours ago, edwardandtubs said:

3 month amnesty first, then two months, now one month. Seems no amnesty is the next logical step.

It's 7 months amnesty in total if counting October, not 6 months. 

[Max69xl]

3 hours ago, GeorgeCross said:

 

nice! i'll have some of these when my extension ends!!

 

 

You'll still have to come up with a letter stating you're not able to get back home. This amnesty is just because of crowded immigration offices, nothing else. 

[asiacurious]

 

13 minutes ago, Jackcwba said:

Are those who need to report back for under consideration approval in the middle of October supposed to go before 3rd?

 

also what docs do we even need if not? Only a few days to sort everything and no announcement about what is needed?

once again another announcement which prompts more questions Rather than gives answers.

 

 

 

I *think* it's most likely a typo.  What's known so far (as reported in papers) is that the automatic extension is until the 31st.  If I'm not mistaken (though note that I have been in the past, will be in the future too!)....

The cabinet needs to approve, the PM needs to sign, and it needs to be published in the Royal Gazette before anyone can do anything.

 

Publication won't happen until end of this week/early next week, so as of now there is nothing anyone can apply for.  Hence the Oct 3rd being a typo.

[Promula]

39 minutes ago, asiacurious said:

October 3rd?  Really?  Or a typo?  That's (counts on fingers) 5 days away.  And the 3rd is, of course, a Saturday!  So only 4 days for 150K to apply?  Has to be a typo, right?

Nope. Get it sorted this week or you've got three weeks to get out. At the end of October, anyone screaming that it's unfair won't have a leg to stand on. 

[Jackcwba]

2 minutes ago, asiacurious said:

 

 

I *think* it's most likely a typo.  What's known so far (as reported in papers) is that the automatic extension is until the 31st.  If I'm not mistaken (though note that I have been in the past, will be in the future too!)....

The cabinet needs to approve, the PM needs to sign, and it needs to be published in the Royal Gazette before anyone can do anything.

 

Publication won't happen until end of this week/early next week, so as of now there is nothing anyone can apply for.  Hence the Oct 3rd being a typo.

Yeah think you might be right about that typo so let’s see.

 

no doubt mr burrows will break the news to his audience soon

 

if we can apply for this 60 day malarkey towards the end of October then I’ll be delighted.. should see us to the end of this dreadful stressful year atleast.

 

 

 

 

[Scott]

Troll post reported and removed.  

 

[Zikomat]

 I am disgusted by the lowest level of the communication by the Thai Government. I even more disgusted by the misinformation campaign led by the Thai Immigration. And finally, I am very disturbed by the amount of foreigners on this forum who did all they could to create panic inside the farang community in Thailand. Overall - this whole story with the third amnesty left me deeply stressed inside. 

 

 

 

 

[asiacurious]

4 minutes ago, Max69xl said:

You'll still have to come up with a letter stating you're not able to get back home. This amnesty is just because of crowded immigration offices, nothing else. 

 

Like this?

 

Dear IO,

 

I'm not able to get back home.

Sincerely,

Stuck Tourist

 

 

9 minutes ago, Max69xl said:

Do you really think the so called stranded tourists are big spenders? Think again. They are almost crying if they have to pay ฿1,900 for an extension. 

 

I don't think it is really about the 1900 Baht.  That feels much more like a placeholder/metaphor for the stress people are feeling.  When you read posts from people, it becomes clear that there is A LOT of STRESS from:

 

• Not knowing what will happen when you apply
• Not being able to get an embassy letter (at least at first)
• Trying to figure out which IO to visit, which counter to visit, whether or not you need an appointment... (at least in Bangkok)
• Filling out rather confusing forms that were emailed by the IO, then learning that they didn't send all the forms
• Spending 3 hours (round trip) travelling to the IO
• Spending half a day sitting at the IO
• Getting an "under consideration" stamp and being told to come back
• Waiting to know if you'll get a couple of extra weeks when you do go back, or if you'll have 7 days to leave.
• Having to do it all over again just as soon as you've (hopefully) gotten your stamp.

 

Not to mention the stress everyone feels about the health and safety of loved ones both here in Thailand and back home.  (Well, at least everyone who doesn't think the Virus is all a hoax.)

[Promula]

6 minutes ago, Zikomat said:

 I am disgusted by the lowest level of the communication by the Thai Government.

 

 

 

 

I'll never understand opinions like this. Leave the developed west for cheap developing south east Asia, and things are going to be bumpy sometimes.

 

Stay in the west, move to Singapore, or accept that things are sometimes going to be bumpy somewhere cheap and less developed. 

[EricTh]

If the Thai government keeps on extending the amnesty, nobody will go to extend their visa.

 

It doesn't pay to follow the rules, and it's all the government's fault.

 

It's just like why should I pay the penalty when the government will always waive it. LOL

[EricTh]

43 minutes ago, Max69xl said:

Do you really think the so called stranded tourists are big spenders? Think again. They are almost crying if they have to pay ฿1,900 for an extension. 

If they are not cheap charlies, they would have extended long ago instead of waiting for an amnesty announcement on the last day. 

 

 

[Promula]

6 minutes ago, EricTh said:

If the Thai government keeps on extending the amnesty, nobody will go to extend their visa.

 

It doesn't pay to follow the rules, and it's all the government's fault.

 

It's just like why should I pay the penalty when the government will always waive it. LOL

You need to think one step ahead of them. Making assumptions about what they'll do next might end up costing you a big fine, and that might be their plan. 

[abonsa]

It was so clear from the start ! only people here seem to hardly understand anything.

And if nobody was going to extend we would be here as long as we want without visa !

 

 

[abonsa]

11 minutes ago, EricTh said:

If the Thai government keeps on extending the amnesty, nobody will go to extend their visa.

 

It doesn't pay to follow the rules, and it's all the government's fault.

 

It's just like why should I pay the penalty when the government will always waive it. LOL

 

This time it's the last time !

 

555555555555555555 cannot stop laughing !!!

 

 

[carlinternational]

What about this part:

 

Quote

After October, a new immigration regulation will allow foreigners to apply for 60-day extensions to remain in the country if they are unable to leave due to limited flights or other issues, Pornchai Kuntee, deputy commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, told Reuters.

Previously, extensions required documentation from their respective embassies and were limited to 30 days.

 

Would this mean it would be easy to get 60 days extension after the extra month of amnesty ends without Embassy letter?

[DrTuner]

3 hours ago, In the jungle said:

I have been here 19 years entirely legally.

 

Only once have I applied for an extension of stay in country and that was this year.

 

The process for extending my stay was so utterly dysfunctional I felt violated by submitting to it.  Requests for irrelevant documents, sign every conceivable piece of paper, certify original documents as true copies because they insist.  Watching their 'processing' of my application was like something from a Marx brothers movie.

 

I have no idea how people repeatedly go through the much worse process of applying in country for 12 months on the basis of marriage and then get self righteous about the fact they do so.  I would feel only shame and a complete lack of self worth for submitting to that.  The whole process is an abuse.  I would keep quiet about going through it rather than bang on about doing things 'the proper way' and condemning others.

 

And yes, I do have the money in a Thai bank, adequately seasoned and could jump through all the other hoops involved in a marriage application but if they are offering 60 day rolling extensions I'll take that.

What you describe is the reason I swapped to elite from marriage extensions. The application process for the extensions is made for humiliating the applicant, a perfect opportunity for an IO to show off the "power". Desk 6 @ Jomthien, you should get a kickback from TE.

[tomazbodner]

11 minutes ago, abonsa said:

 

This time it's the last time !

 

555555555555555555 cannot stop laughing !!!

 

 

I hope this was the list time we saw the same people waiting to the alst second before doing something about it... but something tells me on 31st of October, it'll be deja vu all over again...

[Promula]

9 minutes ago, DrTuner said:

What you describe is the reason I swapped to elite from marriage extensions. The application process for the extensions is made for humiliating the applicant, a perfect opportunity for an IO to show off the "power". Desk 6 @ Jomthien, you should get a kickback from TE.

And isn't the Elite the perfect opportunity for a foreigner to show off their own "power"?

[Seik]

12 minutes ago, tomazbodner said:

I hope this was the list time we saw the same people waiting to the alst second before doing something about it... but something tells me on 31st of October, it'll be deja vu all over again...

Yes, hopefully at the last second they will do nothing at all instead of playing this ridiculous game of cat and mouse (guess which is which). Amnesty will then be extended again. ????

Are you an IO? It's their problem, not ours. I don't understand why you care if people choose not to act like good little sheeps running to be fleeced at every turn. Do tell us why you think people should rush to Immigration to waste their money and extensions for nothing...

If you believe the official narrative and think amnesty was extended because of the overcrowded offices to begin with, you are extremely naive... The government and immigration colluded to push people to get a visa based on an empty threat. 

[Jackcwba]

6 minutes ago, tomazbodner said:

I hope this was the list time we saw the same people waiting to the alst second before doing something about it... but something tells me on 31st of October, it'll be deja vu all over again...

You can bet yer balls that will be the case!

 

they will never get everyone out now.. 

 

should I stay or should I go now..... if I go there will be trouble ... and if I stay there will be double ..... so darling you’ve got to let me know.... should I stay or should I go...

 

 

[Promula]

4 minutes ago, Seik said:

If you think amnesty was extended because of the overcrowded offices to begin with, you are extremely naive... The government and immigration colluded to push people to get a visa based on an empty threat. 

Of course. They like making whiteys jump through hilarious arbitrary hoops. It reinforces the "never colonised" national pride.