What happens if one tests positive for Covid before boarding plane to leave Thailand just prior to visa expiration?

[Isaanman]

My O-A visa will expire in February 2022 and my family and I are purchasing tickets to fly out a couple of days before that date. Trying to sift through all the Covid related topics on this forum did not initially seem helpful; so I apologize if I am asking questions here that have been answered elsewhere. [Feel free to paste any links to appropriate forum threads.] My few questions are related to a possible scenario wherein someone in my family of four (2 adults, 2 minor-aged teenagers) tested positive on required PCR tests just prior to boarding our international flights to leave Thailand:

 

1) Would they force all of us to remain in country, as we were all together (concerned that those who did not test + for covid were with one who did), separating the positive testing person into a hospital and putting everyone else in quarantine? 

 

2) If they do quarantine one or all of us, would we be forced to do so in an ASQ facility? Or, one of our own choosing? 

 

3) How does immigration/airport customs process our visa in this scenario: if we had air reservations and were ready to leave the country before our visas expired, but could not do so because of the positive antigen test results? 

 

4) Would everyone have to pay over-stay fines?

 

5) Is there not a 7-day extension you can get on an expired visa for a fee?

 

6) Has anyone had this experience before or know of anyone who did? What was the outcome?

 

I am interested in understanding the general thinking on this forum about this matter of testing + before leaving the LoS. I am sure there must be a strategy that is better than others. We only have the cheap, throw-away covid insurance policy needed to extend the O-A visa; I'd like to avoid a long, expensive mandatory hospital stay if at all possible in the worst case scenario. Thanks ???? 

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, Isaanman said:

My O-A visa will expire in February 2022 and my family and I are purchasing tickets to fly out a couple of days before that date. Trying to sift through all the Covid related topics on this forum did not initially seem helpful; so I apologize if I am asking questions here that have been answered elsewhere. [Feel free to paste any links to appropriate forum threads.] My few questions are related to a possible scenario wherein someone in my family of four (2 adults, 2 minor-aged teenagers) tested positive on required PCR tests just prior to boarding our international flights to leave Thailand:

It is of course a potentially complex issue.

First things first,  doing any hospital / clinic RT-PCR test - self administer an Antigen Test - this may avoid the ‘hospital isolation issue’ - but may not help the ‘visa overstay issue’.

 

i.e. if you ’self test’ positive you can isolate yourselves at home instead of risking ‘hospital isolatoin', but then you’d have to deal with flights etc (and may need to show Covid-19 positive RT-PCR test to change or postpone your flights without charge).

 

You’d also have to deal with the Visa Over stay, thus, its perhaps best to either leave a few weeks earlier than your visa expires, or secure an extension of stay (if you have the 800k and renew the insurance). 

 

1 hour ago, Isaanman said:

1) Would they force all of us to remain in country, as we were all together (concerned that those who did not test + for covid were with one who did), separating the positive testing person into a hospital and putting everyone else in quarantine? 

IF one of your family test positive with a hospital / clinic administered (i.e. official) RT-PCR test the Ministry of Public Health Mandates a response - the issue here is that this response is not 100% clear and has changed over the past months. 

As I understand it: You (and your family) would be asked to show up at / or taken to Hospital to be tested again, Isolate and be given medical treatment / checks. IF you are symptomatic you will be treated (treatment depends on symptoms and level of medical care etc). If you are all completely asymptomatic you may be released to a Hospitel (hotel-hospital) isolation, or permitted to isolate at home for a set period.

Insurance coverage of any costs of any hospital stay or Hospitel isolation are purely dependant on the level of cover for you all. 

 

1 hour ago, Isaanman said:

2) If they do quarantine one or all of us, would we be forced to do so in an ASQ facility? Or, one of our own choosing? 

If it is a requirement that you go to an ‘isolation facility’ you may be able to choose your own. 

If it is a requirement to get treatment in a hospital you may be able to arrange ‘hospital transport’ to another hospital of your choice.

(Friends are currently RT-PCR positive but completely asymptomatic and can isolate at home after spending their first 3 nights since testing positive undergoing checks etc at a hospital). 

 

 

1 hour ago, Isaanman said:

 

3) How does immigration/airport customs process our visa in this scenario: if we had air reservations and were ready to leave the country before our visas expired, but could not do so because of the positive antigen test results? 

Not unfavourably if you go about it the right way and seek medical exemptions from a hospital / Doctor.

 

 

1 hour ago, Isaanman said:

 

4) Would everyone have to pay over-stay fines?

Minors do not have to pay overstay fines - if you are required to stay beyond your visa for medical reasons you can obtain ‘medical exemptions’ BEFORE your overstay starts. If you overstay without permission you will face fines (and an overstay stamp in your passport).

 

 

1 hour ago, Isaanman said:

5) Is there not a 7-day extension you can get on an expired visa for a fee?

I'm not sure an O-A visa can get a 7 day extension I think a Tourist Visa and Visa exempt can - BUT.. IF you are testing positive (RT-PCR Test) you won’t be able to get to an immigration office to extend those visas (for you or your family).

 

Currently there are Covid-19 extensions - but, whether they are available in Feb is uncertain (possibly even doubtful).

 

Thus: if forced into quarantine or a hospital stay - a medical extension may be an option. 

 

 

1 hour ago, Isaanman said:

 

6) Has anyone had this experience before or know of anyone who did? What was the outcome?

 

I am interested in understanding the general thinking on this forum about this matter of testing + before leaving the LoS. I am sure there must be a strategy that is better than others. We only have the cheap, throw-away covid insurance policy needed to extend the O-A visa; I'd like to avoid a long, expensive mandatory hospital stay if at all possible in the worst case scenario. Thanks ???? 

 

 

IF you want to avoid the worse case scenario.....

1) Plan your trip home with sufficient time remaining on your visa (all your visas).

2) Take an Antigen self Test (at home) before you take your official PCR test.

 

If there are any positive results from the Antigen test (at home) you can avoid the hospital charges, and then you only have to deal with flights etc and still have a ‘visa cushion’.

 

If you test negative from your Antigen test (at home) but still test positive for the official Pre-Flight RT-PCR test you may not be able to avoid at least a few nights in a hospital - but at least you have a visa cushion and and can concentrate on the quarantine / isolation issue and attempt to relocate to your Thailand accommodation (if its a private home) or to an isolation facility of choice.

 

 

 

 

[Isaanman]

Bravo! Thanks, Richard. You confirmed many things we were already thinking, like taking a home test before getting the official PCR test in order to give more (cheaper and convenient) options for quarantine. And, especially with the tweets coming out today about Phang Nga immigration beginning to require vaccinations at 90-day IO reporting (and more sure to follow, no doubt), it only makes sense for us to expedite our return and leave a significant buffer between our departure date and the expiration of my O-A visa. A couple last questions:

 

1) How much buffer do think is necessary between reserved ticket departure date and visa expiration? And (briefly) why? 

 

2) If my kids are 15 and 17, would they still not be fined for over staying their visas (expiring on the same date as mine)? We were told by an IO many years ago that no overstay charges will be applied for minors 14 years old and younger. We have not found this to be consistent throughout the country, however. 

[Isaanman]

 . . . Oh, and do you or anyone else know where the most reasonably priced, reputable place to get RT-PCR tests in Bangkok is and about how much turn around time is required (from the time the test is taken until you receive the official results that can meet the requirements to fly internationally)? Thanks

[mtls2005]

13 hours ago, Isaanman said:

tested positive on required PCR tests just prior to boarding our international flights to leave Thailand:

 

Who knows what things will be like in February but, assuming the airline, transit points and destination require a negative PCR test, I wouldn't go to the airport holding a positive RT-PCR test. That seems irresponsible, and potentially violates some parts of the Emergency Decree?

 

You'd roll up to the check-in desk area, and the airline rep. would probably not allow you to check-in let alone get to Immigration, or get close to the gate area.

 

I would think the entire family unit would be denied boarding, based on the ticket issuance, and close contacts.

 

I'd get an expedited second test, and/or push the departure out 15 days and deal with the overstay on departure, unless you could get an extension.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Isaanman]

On 11/16/2021 at 12:04 PM, mtls2005 said:

Who knows what things will be like in February but, assuming the airline, transit points and destination require a negative PCR test, I wouldn't go to the airport holding a positive RT-PCR test. . . .

 

I'd get an expedited second test, and/or push the departure out 15 days and deal with the overstay on departure, unless you could get an extension.

We never had any intention of showing up at the airport with a + PCR test. As you said already, the whole purpose for giving ourselves a few week buffer is so that we can self-quarantine if we test positive (from either a self-administered ATK test before getting the official PCR test or after a negative ATK test when finally getting the official PCR test). There is no thought about going to the airport (or anywhere!) if we test positive. 

 

You mention transit points above. . . . Does the airline/airport administer covid tests (even random ones) during layovers between flights? I have not heard of that My goodness! If one (or all) tests positive, what takes place there (say, in Tokyo, or Dubai, or wherever one's layover is--presumably, not back in one's one country and somewhere where one [certainly in our case] might not have covid insurance)?

 

This is why we are leaving Thailand and staying put back home until all this vaccine confusion and insanity passes! Thanks for your insight.