Visa extensions approved under previous amnesty to be upheld until Nov 30

By The Phuket News

 

Immigration Bureau Deputy Commissioner Maj Gen Pornchai Kuntee announced the news at a press conference at the Immigration Bureau headquarters in Bangkok today (Sept 29). 

 

PHUKET: Foreigners who had already paid B1,900 and been approved an extension to stay of 30 days from Sept 27 under the previous ‘visa amnesty’ will be allowed to stay in Thailand until Nov 30 at no extra cost.

 

Immigration Bureau Deputy Commissioner Maj Gen Pornchai Kuntee announced the news at a press conference at the Immigration Bureau headquarters in Bangkok today (Sept 29).

 

“Right now in Thailand there are two groups of foreigners: People who already applied for extensions before Sept 26, and those who did not,” Maj Gen Pornchai said.

 

Full story: https://www.thephuketnews.com/visa-extensions-approved-under-previous-amnesty-to-be-upheld-until-nov-30-77483.php

 

-- © Copyright Phuket News 2020-09-29

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

The right thing to do. Well done!

 

Might be nice to also offer a refund in case people already made plans to leave by the end of their initial 30 days. 

No update from Royal Gazette, so this is still not in effect. Hold your horses.

Phuket likes to run their own stunts.

2 minutes ago, MadMac said:

Phuket likes to run their own stunts.

"Immigration Bureau Deputy Commissioner Maj Gen Pornchai Kuntee announced the news at a press conference at the Immigration Bureau headquarters in Bangkok today"

4 minutes ago, MadMac said:

Phuket likes to run their own stunts.

Try Bangkok HQ not Phuket.

????

Meaning no further amnesty, just people that got an extension already can stay till end of October.

2 minutes ago, overherebc said:

Try Bangkok HQ not Phuket.

????

The horse that told us was Phuket News ????

4 minutes ago, MadMac said:

Meaning no further amnesty, just people that got an extension already can stay till end of October.

No it doesn't mean that. Try reading it again. ???? 

What about those that didn't manage/forgot to get/ didn't bother/didn't know they had to get an extension pre 26th for this to apply?

Just asking

2 minutes ago, greggraham said:

No it doesn't mean that. Try reading it again. ???? 

It means pretty clearly that existing extensions are valid till end of October. It also pretty clearly says that if you do not have an extension there is no further grace period. No further amnesty. From today on you are on overstay.

Good news for all those cashed-up "digital nomads" living in Thailand.

5 minutes ago, MadMac said:

It means pretty clearly that existing extensions are valid till end of October. It also pretty clearly says that if you do not have an extension there is no further grace period. No further amnesty. From today on you are on overstay.

That'how I read it as there never was an official notice on the 31 oct' being under amnesty. 

This is the notice that will apply.

Nothing in the Royal Gazette yet so this may or may not be news and might only apply to Phuket. 

23 minutes ago, rkidlad said:

The right thing to do. Well done!

 

Might be nice to also offer a refund in case people already made plans to leave by the end of their initial 30 days. 

Sure, haven't had enough for free yet.

1 minute ago, FritsSikkink said:

Sure, haven't had enough for free yet.

With that sorta mentality, the ones who didn't pay should be whipped!

 

 

1 minute ago, rkidlad said:

With that sorta mentality, the ones who didn't pay should be whipped!

 

 

Well Thailand stands for "Land of the Free"... just not this kind of free... not Gratis... Though this is what large chunk of 150,000 "stranded" foreign tourists seem to think it stands for...

24 minutes ago, MadMac said:

Meaning no further amnesty, just people that got an extension already can stay till end of October.

No, people who did the extension get another 30 days after the new amnesty period ending on Oct 31st. Thus they can stay until at least November 30th. Try actually reading an article before commenting. Even the headline made this clear!

 

“Right now in Thailand there are two groups of foreigners: People who already applied for extensions before Sept 26, and those who did not,” Maj Gen Pornchai said.

“Today Cabinet will approve the second group of people to stay until Oct 31,” he explained.

“But for the first group, the Immigration Bureau will extend their stay until Nov 30,” Maj Gen Pornchai said.

3 minutes ago, trappedinasia said:

No, people who did the extension get another 30 days after the new amnesty period ending on Oct 31st. Thus they can stay until at least November 30th. Try actually reading an article before commenting. Even the headline made this clear!

 

“Right now in Thailand there are two groups of foreigners: People who already applied for extensions before Sept 26, and those who did not,” Maj Gen Pornchai said.

“Today Cabinet will approve the second group of people to stay until Oct 31,” he explained.

“But for the first group, the Immigration Bureau will extend their stay until Nov 30,” Maj Gen Pornchai said.

He's just trolling, ignore him. If he can't read the headline, let alone the article, there's no point trying..

20 minutes ago, MadMac said:

It means pretty clearly that existing extensions are valid till end of October. It also pretty clearly says that if you do not have an extension there is no further grace period. No further amnesty. From today on you are on overstay.

Disagee with that.

If you got an extension pre 26 sept you're ok now until end nov'

If you didn't get an extension pre 26th sept then nobody knows yet.

Amnesty for oct was never passed into law.

23 minutes ago, overherebc said:

What about those that didn't manage/forgot to get/ didn't bother/didn't know they had to get an extension pre 26th for this to apply?

Just asking

Those people get an amnesty until Oct 31st. People who got extensions already get an extra 30 days after the amnesty, thus November 30th. 

Still wondering, what is away from nobody if some can be here "free"! Some are bist off coz they get amnesty ! What is the reason to be bist!? All kind of people living in this planet, can't be happy for others nice happening's! "im not get nothing" yhyyyy....

15 minutes ago, JusticeGB said:

Nothing in the Royal Gazette yet so this may or may not be news and might only apply to Phuket. 

It was announced by the immigration HQ in Bangkok. Don't comment on an article without reading it, unless you like to look silly. 

What did you not understand? It is only applicable to people who already got an extension granted. It is not a further grace period, it is not another amnesty. Who does not have an extension is on overstay from today on. Simple. Like it or not.

3 minutes ago, trappedinasia said:

Those people get an amnesty until Oct 31st. People who got extensions already get an extra 30 days after the amnesty, thus November 30th. 

Presumably anyone without an extension until 30 Nov can now apply for one?

2 minutes ago, MadMac said:

What did you not understand? It is only applicable to people who already got an extension granted. It is not a further grace period, it is not another amnesty. Who does not have an extension is on overstay from today on. Simple. Like it or not.

Wrong. Please stop.

 

 

Wait, I went on 25th and paid and got an under considerstion stamp Until 20th October and was told to return on this date to get the remaining days. So am I included in this until November 30?

 

when I go on October 20 they will just stamp me until the new November 30 date?

 

 

3 minutes ago, MadMac said:

What did you not understand? It is only applicable to people who already got an extension granted. It is not a further grace period, it is not another amnesty. Who does not have an extension is on overstay from today on. Simple. Like it or not.

“Today Cabinet will approve the second group of people to stay until Oct 31,” he explained.

“But for the first group, the Immigration Bureau will extend their stay until Nov 30,” Maj Gen Pornchai said.

 

What you don't understand here!? Yes people are "overstay" before new law coming! But nobody police or IO not do nothing to them coz its in gazette tomorrow!

3 minutes ago, Promula said:

Presumably anyone without an extension until 30 Nov can now apply for one?

Until Oct 31st, presumably yes. Either the new 60 day extension, a 30 day embassy letter / medical one, or something more long time.

 

The wording from PR Thai Government is "Stranded foreigners who wish to stay in Thailand after 31 October must submit an application to an Immigration office by 31 October".

Correct, not in the Royal Gazette, not valid, regardless what people try to interpret in. So let's see what comes out of this.

 

As of now everybody without valid extension is on overstay.