Foreigners in Thailand are stressed as conflicting reports state automatic Covid visa extension may be ending

[Dan O]

23 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Who said. 

Thailand said it at the begining when they first gave this option and it was valid as most travel had come to  halt worldwide. Currently there are only a couple countries that are restricting entry. Most complainers are just milking the system, especially with the whole land border  being closed excuse. Those are just border bounces also sidestepping correct visas for the most part. Not many countries allow that type of approach in order to stay in a country 

[DrJack54]

8 minutes ago, Dan O said:

Most complainers are just milking the system, especially with the whole land border  being closed excuse

Valid reason in my book.

But of course there will always be the....."go back to where you came from" brigade.

Don't understand their attitude. Simpletons in my thinking..

The affidavit refers to "destination country" 

Mine would be Vietnam or perhaps Philippines or...

Edited January 26, 2022 by DrJack54

[Greenwich Boy]

2 minutes ago, Dan O said:

Thailand said it at the begining when they first gave this option and it was valid as most travel had come to  halt worldwide. Currently there are only a couple countries that are restricting entry. Most complainers are just milking the system, especially with the whole land border  being closed excuse. Those are just border bounces also sidestepping correct visas for the most part. Not many countries allow that type of approach in order to stay in a country 

So you would kick out those on covid ext who inject much needed cash in to a struggling economy even if they in no way affect you?

[Bim Smith]

It's already been extended until 25th March. It may come with some restrictions yet to be confirmed. My wife says there is no mention of restrictions on this. 

[Dan O]

6 minutes ago, Greenwich Boy said:

So you would kick out those on covid ext who inject much needed cash in to a struggling economy even if they in no way affect you?

I never said that, if they are so hot to inject cash from being here you can apply for a correct visa. And if you can't qualify for a correct one and the covid extension ends don't whine

[Dan O]

10 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Valid reason in my book.

But of course there will always be the....."go back to where you came from" brigade.

Don't understand their attitude. Simpletons in my thinking..

The affidavit refers to "destination country" 

Mine would be Vietnam or perhaps Philippines or..

As I said if the country ends that option of extension because it's no longer valid as it was created for then don't whine. Get the right visa and come back if you want to be here

[Neeranam]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

It stated that the government will also add a 60-day extension to the current COVID-19 visa extension scheme, allowing foreign nationals stranded in Thailand to remain in the country on many types of expired visas until January 25, 2022. 

Foreigners have had nearly 2 years to sort out their visa issues. I don't think any are actually stranded here., but some are abusing the system to stay here when they don't qualify to.

[Capella]

A more sensible system would be to issue these visas to people whose nationality prevents them from travelling home. 

[DrJack54]

2 minutes ago, Dan O said:

As I said if the country ends that option of extension because it's no longer valid as it was created for then don't whine. Get the right visa and come back if you want to be here

Can't understand one bit of that comment. Well anything that makes sense. 

 

[Greenwich Boy]

5 minutes ago, Dan O said:

I never said that, if they are so hot to inject cash from being here you can apply for a correct visa. And if you can't qualify for a correct one and the covid extension ends don't whine

When covid extensions stop I will leave, no complaints from me.

As far as a correct visa goes immigration have checked my paperwork, accepted my fee and stamped my passport. My extension of stay is just as 'correct' as yours or anyone else 

[Rimmer]

A misleading troll post has been removed

[Dan O]

8 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Can't understand one bit of that comment. Well anything that makes sense. 

 

 

8 minutes ago, Greenwich Boy said:

When covid extensions stop I will leave, no complaints from me.

As far as a correct visa goes immigration have checked my paperwork, accepted my fee and stamped my passport. My extension of stay is just as 'correct' as yours or anyone else 

Then what's the issue with what I wrote? I said the same thing 

[Dan O]

10 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Can't understand one bit of that comment. Well anything that makes sense. 

 

Sorry if you have a reading disorder, it was clearly stated 

[Ohyesuare]

3 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

Foreigners have had nearly 2 years to sort out their visa issues. I don't think any are actually stranded here., but some are abusing the system to stay here when they don't qualify to.

Yes, but Thailand immigration is allowing it by continuing to extend it. They could have easily ended it at any point and many would be forced to leave and some might decide to stay illegally instead until caught. I'll happily leave when they end them or get the Elite Visa if I want to commit to staying longer. Either way, once approved by an IO, it's a legal extension and people shouldn't be shamed for using them.

 

Even though it started off as "Covid extensions" for people stuck here it has obviously morphed into an we need any tourist money we can get visa because they know that any foreigner deciding to stay here is putting much needed money into the economies of many cities that depended on foreign tourism.

[Ohyesuare]

2 minutes ago, Dan O said:

Sorry if you have a reading disorder, it was clearly stated 

"As I said if the country ends that option of extension because it's no longer valid as it was created for...."

 

Clear as mud.

[thecyclist]

Count yourself lucky that you are over in the land of smiles. As bad as it is in Thailand, here in Vietnam where I am now, it's a lot worse. they screw you over every which way they can. Looking forward to returning to LOS. 

[BangkokReady]

35 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

some are abusing the system to stay here when they don't qualify to

39 minutes ago, Dan O said:

As I said if the country ends that option of extension because it's no longer valid as it was created for then don't whine. Get the right visa and come back if you want to be here

If it is so easy to get home, as so many are so quick to point out, why would Thailand be renewing the process?  Is it that they are being hoodwinked by sneaky would be expats and have no idea how "easy" it is for people to get home?  Or are they renewing the covid extension with the fact of land borders being closed, and "border bouncers" having no other options, fully in mind?

 

Which one seems more likely?

[CANSIAM]

If on your your 5th or 6th CV extension I'm sure its possible you'll get looked at sideways at some point from immigration as folks were with many visa exempt entries in a narrow time frame. Be ready to be told by immigration to buy a ticket home, or in my case years ago with many visa exempt entries ( working at the time ) "you need a Non O".....

[10baht]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The Covid visa extension scheme was introduced at the start of the pandemic and was intended for foreigners who cannot leave Thailand due to canceled flights, border closures, and travel restrictions. 

But they did not give a sh*t about those of us who were trapped outside Thailand and our retirement visa expired before Thailand opened up its own boarders.  

[yogi yogi]

1 hour ago, malibukid said:

i think the covid extension visa should require that one will have to show proof of vaccination.  i meet a lot of anti-vax expats here.

rumour is that u only get one covid extension.   but i humbly suggest two should be the maximum not one.  i need another month and then im happy to go contract covid in my home country

[yogi yogi]

1 minute ago, yogi yogi said:

rumour is that u only get one covid extension.   but i humbly suggest two should be the maximum not one.  i need another month and then im happy to go contract covid in my home country

i also think it should be up to discretion of each immigration office and if you dont like one answer road trip around thailand to get the answer u want from another immigration office. 

[CANSIAM]

6 minutes ago, 10baht said:

But they did not give a sh*t about those of us who were trapped outside Thailand and our retirement visa expired before Thailand opened up its own boarders.  

Yes, a valid extension of stay multiple entry on a Non O retirement - 800k plus sitting in their banks and not allowed to return, only O-A and STV, marriage and medical visa allowed,  I remember that frustrating time..........

[zugzug123]

2 minutes ago, yogi yogi said:

rumour is that u only get one covid extension.   but i humbly suggest two should be the maximum not one.  i need another month and then im happy to go contract covid in my home country

so far I have seen this "rumour" only from you. maybe you should stop spreading potentially false information?

[Kwaibill]

5 hours ago, Eff1n2ret said:

I think the Kiwis have a good reason for a further extension as Jacinda won't let them in. Anyone else can go home. If, as the article alleges, some haven't got the price of a ticket, that's not a good reason to legitimise their further stay in the country.

My understanding is that for US citizens the US embassy might arrange a loan for a ticket home.

[cjinchiangrai]

TFB people have been milking the system for almost two years now. Get the proper long stay visa or go home.

 

[Millcx]

6 hours ago, userabcd said:

No need to be stressed. If they have no need to be in Thailand then its just a simple purchase of a flight ticket back to their home country where they will feel safe and not stressed.

Or go to Vietnam or Cambodia where they can be treated properly and cheaper “;0)

[SteveWilts]

1 hour ago, Bim Smith said:

It's already been extended until 25th March. It may come with some restrictions yet to be confirmed. My wife says there is no mention of restrictions on this. 

It states restrictions on Non-immigrant and Tourist on Arrival visas who will be unable to apply for Covid extension and that Immigration officers be stricter in their consideration of all

extensions, henceforth. Covid extensions available up to 25 March.

[stigar]

16 minutes ago, SteveWilts said:

It states restrictions on Non-immigrant and Tourist on Arrival visas who will be unable to apply for Covid extension and that Immigration officers be stricter in their consideration of all

extensions, henceforth. Covid extensions available up to 25 March.

Latest from entering EU.Thailand is NOT on that list.

Re-open EU.mhtml

[unblocktheplanet]

7 hours ago, userabcd said:

No need to be stressed. If they have no need to be in Thailand then its just a simple purchase of a flight ticket back to their home country where they will feel safe and not stressed.

Right, the no compassion brigade.

[DefaultName]

Personally, I think Thailand has been very generous up till now.  These extensions were for people who couldn't get home but, with very few exceptions, that's been possible for a while now.