Foreigners stranded in Thailand due to COVID-19 can now stay until end of July

[Jonathan Fairfield]

 

Image: Reuters file photo

 

The Thai Immigration Bureau has announced that foreigners who are still stranded in Thailand due to the COVID-19 situation have until the end of May to extend their stay permission to remain in the country.

 

Anyone who had applied for a temporary visa extension due to COVID-19 had been permitted to stay in Thailand until 30 March.

 

But according to a new order, signed by Immigration chief Sompong Chingduang, foreigners can apply for so-called ‘COVID extension’ until 29 May 2021.

 

As this is a 60 day extension, it essentially grants stay in the country until 27 July 2021.

 

The order will once again be welcomed by those people stuck in Thailand due to COVID-19 and need to or want to stay longer.

 

Anyone whose temporary extension was due to expire are advised to visit their local immigration office for a further extension. It will cost 1,900 baht.

 

Special thanks to Thai Visa Centre for the information.

 

An unofficial translation of the order from Immigration is below, for reference only.

 

 

 

 

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2021-03-30

 

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[JeffersLos]

Did the last date to apply end yesterday on the 29th, and then a new order came in that it's extended again a day later.

 

That's pretty stressful and cr@ppy for those genuinely relying on them.

 

Which, I gather, is pretty much no body and it's pretty much just people that can't or don't want to get normal 12 month extensions using them.

[RichardColeman]

Way its going I'll be shaking (gloved ) hands with them as I come in in October and they leave !

[SpanishExpat]

I think it also will be extended one last time end of May until end of July. After that ( and If the reopening timeline goes ahead as planned) there will most probably be a final announcement that it WON`T be extended anymore. 

 

To be honest, nearly no-one is stranded here anymore. It's more or less a mutual agreement between the people who WANT to stay longer and the Thai government realizing that it's still better than nothing for the damaged tourism industry. 

[Fex Bluse]

4 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

 

Image: Reuters file photo

 

The Thai Immigration Bureau has announced that foreigners who are still stranded in Thailand due to the COVID-19 situation have until the end of May to extend their stay permission to remain in the country.

 

This reads as a very insensitive. Thai government still worried about insignificant nonsense like this as their economy crumbles and the global virus waves continue in much of the world. Very bad look for them. Very small-minded. 

[gt162]

58 minutes ago, SpanishExpat said:

I think it also will be extended one last time end of May until end of July. After that ( and If the reopening timeline goes ahead as planned) there will most probably be a final announcement that it WON`T be extended anymore. 

 

To be honest, nearly no-one is stranded here anymore. It's more or less a mutual agreement between the people who WANT to stay longer and the Thai government realizing that it's still better than nothing for the damaged tourism industry. 

 

Yes. Better then nothing. At least Thai Immigration gets 1900 baht per extension every 2 months and Thais gets foreign money coming in to support the economy.

 

Bhat is weakening and tourism industry is suffering badly. It's all about the money. 

[Soikhaonoiken]

I wouldn't have thought many Farang are still stranded in Thailand, would have thought most Countries in the world operated a repatriation for there citizens, or allowed flights to enter over the last 12 months.. 

[gunderhill]

 Immigration chief Sompong Chingduang,

Ok now  we  have a name to complain to about the TM30 TM47 pathetic  dabacle.

[Enzian]

I'm not "stranded" in Thailand, it's just that my home state of CA still has almost 200 new dead every day and I'm over 80. Same with my favorite place, Italy; getting worse not better there.

[mtls2005]

17 minutes ago, Enzian said:

I'm not "stranded" in Thailand, it's just that my home state of CA still has almost 200 new dead every day and I'm over 80. Same with my favorite place, Italy; getting worse not better there.

 

Correct. You are a refugee, who seeks a better way of life. 

 

Nothing wrong with that all IMO.

 

 

[lanng khao]

I've just had a 60 day extension on my non o, it said I have to leave the country by the 9 th of June, can I extend that now  in may to stay till end of July?.

[NorthernRyland]

And to think idiots like me left when they said in no uncertain terms that we must leave by ___. ????????

[nickmondo]

how can anyone still be stuck here in Thailand?

they are here because they want to be, and they are testing the system to see how long they can stay here.

i hope they are being charged a good amount for this privilege

[nickmondo]

56 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

 

Correct. You are a refugee, who seeks a better way of life. 

 

Nothing wrong with that all IMO.

 

 

he should get to France, get in a rubber boat, go across the channel and he will be well looked after for free.

[riverhigh]

Was at Jomtien immigration yesterday to do my 90 day report (online 90 day reporting system down again) and to my surprise there was a large line up in the afternoon. I guess now I know why. Agree, very stressful for those who are legitimately stranded here. I felt the stress and tension in the air just lining up in the heat.  The immigration office was packed and a great incubator for covid19.  Not a positive experience, the separating of the 90 day reporters from the pack and leaving them outside had been abandoned.   As to Thaivisa posters who think this will be last time the  covid19 stranded forreigners will have their visas extended, I think you are being overly optimistic. Opening the borders in July, dream on. Letting lose a horde of vacinnated foreigners on an unvacccinated Thai population is unthinkable. Jus my opinion.

Edited March 31, 2021 by riverhigh
typing errors

[Docno]

6 hours ago, Soikhaonoiken said:

I wouldn't have thought many Farang are still stranded in Thailand, would have thought most Countries in the world operated a repatriation for there citizens, or allowed flights to enter over the last 12 months.. 

Supposedly, there are quite a number of Aussies stranded overseas, though I could not guess how many of them are in Thailand: 

Australian government hit with UN complaint over leaving stranded Aussies overseas (news.com.au)

[moe666]

6 hours ago, gt162 said:

 

Yes. Better then nothing. At least Thai Immigration gets 1900 baht per extension every 2 months and Thais gets foreign money coming in to support the economy.

 

Bhat is weakening and tourism industry is suffering badly. It's all about the money. 

It is always about the money, not only in Thailand. 

[moe666]

26 minutes ago, riverhigh said:

Was at Jomtien immigration yesterday to do my 90 day report (online 90 day reporting system down again) and to my surprise there was a large line up in the afternoon. I guess now I know why. Agree, very stressful for those who are legitimately stranded here. I felt the stress and tension in the air just lining up in the heat.  The immigration office was packed and a great incubator for covid19.  Not a positive experience, the separating of the 90 day reporters from the pack and leaving them outside had been abandoned.   As to Thaivisa posters who think this will be last time the  covid19 stranded forreigners will have their visas extended, I think you are being overly optimistic. Opening the borders in July, dream on. Letting lose a horde of vacinnated foreigners on an unvacccinated Thai population is unthinkable. Jus my opinion.

If you think they are stranded here you are fooling yourself. People have been going and coming for over 6 months. English guy living here in Chiang Mai for a few years decided he needed a trip and off he goes a few days ago. 

[NorthernRyland]

46 minutes ago, nickmondo said:

how can anyone still be stuck here in Thailand?

Don't make the mistake I did by taking the Thai government literally and at their word. They know. We know. Everyone knows. Just pay the fee, take the extension and wait until next time.

[dogfish180]

45 minutes ago, riverhigh said:

Was at Jomtien immigration yesterday to do my 90 day report (online 90 day reporting system down again) and to my surprise there was a large line up in the afternoon. I guess now I know why. Agree, very stressful for those who are legitimately stranded here. I felt the stress and tension in the air just lining up in the heat.  The immigration office was packed and a great incubator for covid19.  Not a positive experience, the separating of the 90 day reporters from the pack and leaving them outside had been abandoned.   As to Thaivisa posters who think this will be last time the  covid19 stranded forreigners will have their visas extended, I think you are being overly optimistic. Opening the borders in July, dream on. Letting lose a horde of vacinnated foreigners on an unvacccinated Thai population is unthinkable. Jus my opinion.

Nobody is "Stranded". Plenty of flights in and out of Thailand. I live in Thailand and work overseas. Have been flying out to work and back over the past 2 years (given with ASQ). These people are staying by choice, because they don't want to go home. Thai immigration are letting them because it's convenient.

[dogfish180]

1 hour ago, nickmondo said:

he should get to France, get in a rubber boat, go across the channel and he will be well looked after for free.

Not if he's English ????????????

[hotchilli]

12 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

As this is a 60 day extension, it essentially grants stay in the country until 27 July 2021.

Should keep a lot of people happy.

[gungadin1]

Who is stranded?

[Wongkitlo]

1 hour ago, nickmondo said:

how can anyone still be stuck here in Thailand?

they are here because they want to be, and they are testing the system to see how long they can stay here.

i hope they are being charged a good amount for this privilege

People say non O me visas activated by a border run are a scam but I think most people who use them don't have the money for the bank transfers and want to stay with their families. Many of these people are on covid visas now. You can say Immigration should crack down on them but they are realistic. They don't want thousands of angry Thai wives turning up at immigration wanting to pull the officers eyes out and chop their balls of so they have a loophole or go easy. If you don't think this is sensible you must have never seen an angry Thai woman. . They have done the same with this. In my case I have enough money to live but not enough for the deposits so use non O me usually. My wife has enough money herself. She does not need me to support her.

[Wongkitlo]

42 minutes ago, dogfish180 said:

Nobody is "Stranded". Plenty of flights in and out of Thailand. I live in Thailand and work overseas. Have been flying out to work and back over the past 2 years (given with ASQ). These people are staying by choice, because they don't want to go home. Thai immigration are letting them because it's convenient.

You tried to go to Australia lately?

[DavisH]

2 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

And to think idiots like me left when they said in no uncertain terms that we must leave by ___. ????????

Who told you to leave? If you are a tourist, then yes, you should have left asap. Noone else on a long stay visa was asked to leave. 

Edited March 31, 2021 by DavisH

[Wongkitlo]

9 hours ago, SpanishExpat said:

To be honest, nearly no-one is stranded here anymore

To be honest, I don't understand what nearly no one means? Are you saying many can travel home but for some it is still difficult so they have extended the covid visa ?

[DavisH]

5 minutes ago, Wongkitlo said:

You tried to go to Australia lately?

There are regular flights each month. How many hundreds still want to leave?

[Daithi85]

9 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Way its going I'll be shaking (gloved ) hands with them as I come in in October and they leave !

Why would they  be leaving?? Plenty of visa options for people to stay here. 

[Wongkitlo]

5 minutes ago, DavisH said:

There are regular flights each month. How many hundreds still want to leave?

They are very irregular unless you buy a business class ticket.. You pay your money and then they cancel because they prioritize those who pay more. I already have vouchers for cancelled tickets so don't really want more. Embassy flies out 30 a week. I spoke to someone yesterday who had been waiting since December. Last month I talked to Cathay Pacific. Their next available flight was in July. If you read an earlier post some Australians have gone to the UN court for action.