Immigration Visa Announcement

[Khun Paul]

From the Nation Website.
As per the relief measures, visas that have expired from March 26 onwards will be automatically extended to April 30. Foreigners are no longer required to apply for an extension at an immigration office and they will not be charged Bt500 per day for overstaying their visa.
Foreigners who are due to file a 90-day report between March 26 and April 30 have also been temporarily exempted until further notice.
Foreigners holding border passes will be allowed to stay in Thailand for now, but they will be required to leave the country within seven days once borders reopen.
All foreign nationals are advised to closely monitor the Immigration Bureau’s website for updates, though the measures announced on Wednesday are valid until April 30 unless otherwise updated, the bureau said.
Many foreign nationals have found themselves stranded in Thailand due mainly to the cancellation of flights and many countries restricting incoming flights as part of the battle against the transmission of Covid-19.

[anefarious1]

I guess simply adding an extra 30 days to the expiry date in each person's passport would make too much sense. Instead, everyone EXPIRES ON THE SAME DAY (even if immigration plans to extend further to May 30th or June 30th). So, instead of social distancing, you'll have mobs lining up on the 28th, 29th, and 30th of whatever month they eventually end this ill-conceived plan.

[Drunk Monkey]

so it appears IMMO cant win ..dammed if you do n dammed it you dont ..

at least this is giving some respite to worried foreigners in the short term which was the best on offer IMO

DM

[Niggly]

Why will mobs be lining up?
As far as I can see it’s an automatic extension which will continue to be issued for as long as necessary until borders are open & flights operating. There’s no mandatory requirement for people to stay until the expiry date of the extension. The automatic extension is just issued & you then leave when you can with no overstay stamps or penalties.
People already on long stay visas or extensions of stay are not affected & continue to do what they always have

[anefarious1]

Why will mobs be lining up?
As far as I can see it’s an automatic extension which will continue to be issued for as long as necessary until borders are open & flights operating. There’s no mandatory requirement for people to stay until the expiry date of the extension. The automatic extension is just issued & you then leave when you can with no overstay stamps or penalties.
People already on long stay visas or extensions of stay are not affected & continue to do what they always have

I guess you're right. Most people do not require another extension beyond any emergency. I was thinking in terms of folks who depend on extensions for living here. If they all had the same expiry data that would cause issues.

[Udon Map]

The actual announcement is here if you want it:

https://udonmap.com/udonthaniforum/view ... 71#p571071

[tutone]

Really short sighted plan. Just a 3 week relief then back to same old problems at immigration. Should have granted at least 60 days from expiration of visa. I don't see much happening by the end of the month to enable tourists to easily exit Thailand.

[jackspratt]

Due to the current state of world air travel, I suspect it will need to roll over for at least another month, until the end of May.

Thai IMMO seems to recognise this in the announcement.

[anefarious1]

Does this mean there won't be heaps of Lao people at Udon immigration next week?

[Drunk Monkey]

Really short sighted plan. Just a 3 week relief then back to same old problems at immigration. Should have granted at least 60 days from expiration of visa. I don't see much happening by the end of the month to enable tourists to easily exit Thailand.

Due to the current state of world air travel, I suspect it will need to roll over for at least another month, until the end of May.

Thai IMMO seems to recognise this in the announcement.

Historically when announcements like this are made here the Government do air on the side of caution and leave issues open to change at notice , as Jack says i think its safe to assume this will be extended to 30 May with notice given prior 30 April.

DM

[747man]

So What Happens when my 60 Day Extension ( Based on Marriage ) Expires ?? Do I Just get Another 30 Days Automatically ??

[glalt]

Better late than never. Just yesterday I did my 90 day report. Immigration would be the best place to become infected. There were many people gathered in little groups asking each other how to get an extension. They do have a separate desk for 90 day reporting. After I got in the office I sat at that desk and was out in about ten minutes. People were also complaining that immigration offices were not answering their phones. If they would have answered their phone, I could have saved being exposed and a 200 kilometer drive.

[tamada]

Really short sighted plan. Just a 3 week relief then back to same old problems at immigration. Should have granted at least 60 days from expiration of visa. I don't see much happening by the end of the month to enable tourists to easily exit Thailand.

It will be extended, its' already in the wording.

Despite the effects lasting into Q3/4 of this year, the 30-day increments would be logical since if/when it does get officially declared as over, they can get shot of all the 'stranded tourist' blaggers quicker.

Mind you, the same authority that graciously gave them 30-days could easily promulgate another declaration that gives the recalcitrants only 7-days to go home.

[tamada]

So What Happens when my 60 Day Extension ( Based on Marriage ) Expires ?? Do I Just get Another 30 Days Automatically ??

When is it due to expire?

[747man]

So What Happens when my 60 Day Extension ( Based on Marriage ) Expires ?? Do I Just get Another 30 Days Automatically ??

When is it due to expire?

I Will apply for it Next Thursday & IF I Get it, It will expire on June 29th

[tamada]

So What Happens when my 60 Day Extension ( Based on Marriage ) Expires ?? Do I Just get Another 30 Days Automatically ??

When is it due to expire?

I Will apply for it Next Thursday & IF I Get it, It will expire on June 29th

So you haven't applied for the 60-day thingmie yet? What entitlement are you currently staying in Thailand on?

[saint]

Does this mean there won't be heaps of Lao people at Udon immigration next week?

I cant help . My crystal ball has a crack in it . There will be less people now than before this current announcement is my guess .
Whether that includes folks from Loas is anyones guess .

[sometimewoodworker]

So What Happens when my 60 Day Extension ( Based on Marriage ) Expires ?? Do I Just get Another 30 Days Automatically ??

It is not clear what the exact position is, but no nobody’s getting an automatic 30 days. The order is granting an extension to April 30th. Exactly to whom is not clear.

It certainly applies it anyone who had a permission to stay from an entry with a border pass, visa exempt, visa on arrival or TV, where the expiration of that permission was from March 26th to April 29th quite possibly also to Non O Visa entry’s

It is NOT clear that it applies other cases
It is certainly not clear if it applies to annual extensions, or to you.

It is certainly possible/probable that it will get renewed if there is no major changes in borders or flights. But TIT

I speculate that The intention of the order is only for people stoped from leaving Thailand who were clogging up the immigration offices as they had no other option. The suspension of the need for a 90 day report also helps there.

[747man]

So What Happens when my 60 Day Extension ( Based on Marriage ) Expires ?? Do I Just get Another 30 Days Automatically ??

When is it due to expire?

I Will apply for it Next Thursday & IF I Get it, It will expire on June 29th

So you haven't applied for the 60-day thingmie yet? What entitlement are you currently staying in Thailand on?

My Final 90 Day stamp in on my Non-Imm " O" Visa which was issued in Savanakhet in Febrary 2019....The Stamp Dated as of 01 Feb 2020,Permission to remain until 30 April 2020...

[tamada]

So What Happens when my 60 Day Extension ( Based on Marriage ) Expires ?? Do I Just get Another 30 Days Automatically ??

When is it due to expire?

I Will apply for it Next Thursday & IF I Get it, It will expire on June 29th

So you haven't applied for the 60-day thingmie yet? What entitlement are you currently staying in Thailand on?

My Final 90 Day stamp in on my Non-Imm " O" Visa which was issued in Savanakhet in Febrary 2019....The Stamp Dated as of 01 Feb 2020,Permission to remain until 30 April 2020...

Worth popping by Immigration tomorrow to inquire I reckon. They may lump you in with the current 30-day 'tourist amnesty' in which case you haven't lost anything as both your current and the 'amnesty' expires the same date and there would be notification before 30 April of any rollover.

If not, they may decide to do your 60-day extension there and then which would be a bonus so make sure you bring all the paperwork and wife with you. Downside of early renewal is you lose a week? Not significant in these challenged times IMHO.