What will happen to foreigners with expired visas after July 31?

[webfact]

What will happen to foreigners with expired visas after July 31?

By The Thaiger

 

PHOTO: PinoyThaiyo

 

Before you read further, seeking a definitive answer, we don’t have one.

 

But stranded foreigners, who have been able to stay in Thailand via a visa amnesty, have an approaching D-Day – July 31, 2020. This is the sunset of the current amnesty for foreigners who have, through no fault of their own, been stuck in Thailand whilst the borders have been closed. Whilst sitting out the Covid-19 outbreak in the pleasant Thai sunshine, the clock is ticking and the end of the amnesty is in sight.

 

Whilst there are now a few opportunities for foreigners to leave or return to Thailand, most are still unable either due to a lack of flights or closed borders in their home countries. At the time when the amnesty was announced, and the July 31 date set, it was hoped that the world would have opened back up. Whilst Thailand has largely got its Covid-19 house in order, much of the rest of the world is still battling through its first phase of the disease or coping with isolated spikes in new cases.

 

Thailand’s land borders with Myanmar, Cambodia, Malaysia and Laos also remain officially closed to all foreigners unless they have permanent residency or permission from the Thai government to re-enter.

 

Even early talk of possible travel bubbles with a bespoke handful of low-risk countries appears to be on hold for now as Thailand continues to repatriate citizens and allow its first foreigners in under special conditions. Certainly the process of re-opening Thailand’s borders is not going to allow all stranded foreigners to magically return home before July 31.

 

Now Thai immigration officials are battling with other government departments about how to deal with the tens of thousands of affected visitors who have been able to remain in Thailand until the end of July. It’s a complex situation where individuals will have varying situations for Immigration to sort out. Even a quick trip across a land border to re-new a visa is unlikely under the current situation.

 

The existing amnesty allowed foreigners to remain in Thailand without any new paperwork, payments or additional reporting.

So what will happen to foreigners whose visas are long expired, after July 31?

 

The prospect of madness at Thai Immigration offices on August 1 is surely something on Thai Immigration officials’ minds at the moment.

Even the need to do 90 reporting has been put on hold until July 31, another possible headache for August 1.

 

An extension of the amnesty is likely but the current situation leaves tens of thousands of foreigners ‘untracked’, an anathema to Thai Immigration who have always made tracking of foreigners a hallmark of policy.

 

Short of actually expelling foreigners with expired visas, there will have to be some sort of system to either extend the current amnesty or find a way for foreigners to report their location, and possibly having to pay for another extension. Actually communicating any decision to affected foreigners will be a herculean task too.

 

With much of the visas processed by shuffling paper around busy offices, land checkpoints and airports, the actual tracking of the foreigners left in Thailand will be difficult.

 

Expect a decision in the next few weeks, and expect some sort of extension. But also expect that the gracious generosity of your hosts will not last forever. All foreigners with expired visas would be well advised to gather information about flights out of Thailand and to make contact with their country’s Embassies and Consulates in Thailand to register their current whereabouts and keep track of the situation.

 

The Thaiger would warmly suggest that foreigners become aware of their options as the end of the current amnesty draws closer.

 

For locals, required to do 90 day reporting, it would also be advisable to visit your local immigration office before July 31, or report online (if you’ve registered), to avoid a crush on August 1.

 

The Thaiger will continue to follow this important story and report any formal announcements from Thai Immigration.

 

Source: https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/expats/what-will-happen-to-foreigners-with-expired-visas-after-july-31

 

 

-- © Copyright The Thaiger 2020-07-09

 

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[Don Mega]

What countries have closed borders that don't allow entry to its own citizens ?

[mike787]

Pay, black listed, or kicked out.  

[richard_smith237]

It's obvious that the only solution is a further amnesty which lasts approximately 1 month after the Emergency Decree is reminded and passenger flight are permitted to resume. 

 

The biggest issue I see is the unnecessary absence of clarity. Immigration know what’s coming - they could easily make a clear announcement and put at east the minds of those stranded in Thailand. 

[kiwikeith]

15 minutes ago, Don Mega said:

What countries have closed borders that don't allow entry to its own citizens ?

NZ only allows Nz citizens in at present. The problem now is that quarantine facilities are overloaded and NZ has now had to restrict numbers and flights in order to cope with the flood of people trying to escape the madness in many overseas countries. Legally they have to accept Nz citizens but the amount fleeing from overseas was not imagined to be so great . Now NZ has to slow the pace or be overwhelmed.  Note that the only new cases in NZ are coming in from citizens returning home and all have been contained in quarantine, hence travel bubbles are off the cards and probably why Thailand has put bubbles off.

[Don Mega]

13 minutes ago, kiwikeith said:

NZ only allows Nz citizens in at present. The problem now is that quarantine facilities are overloaded and NZ has now had to restrict numbers and flights in order to cope with the flood of people trying to escape the madness in many overseas countries. Legally they have to accept Nz citizens but the amount fleeing from overseas was not imagined to be so great . Now NZ has to slow the pace or be overwhelmed.  Note that the only new cases in NZ are coming in from citizens returning home and all have been contained in quarantine, hence travel bubbles are off the cards and probably why Thailand has put bubbles off.

Cool story, but does not answer my question.

 

The article says people have not been able to go home due to closed home borders, which countries have not allowed its citizens to return ?

[tribalfusion001]

Very few people are 100% stranded.

[richard_smith237]

8 minutes ago, tribalfusion001 said:

Very few people are 100% stranded.

That depends on your perspective. I’m currently stranded in the UK unable to travel back to Thailand. 

 

Is there an opportunity for Foreigners (and Thai’s) to travel out of Thailand on one of the many International flights which are arriving daily? 

 

If so, I don’t think Europeans are stranded in Thailand, however, I think Aus and NZ are limiting flights etc and some of those citizens could be stranded in Thailand, as could US citizens who may struggle to flight flight links into the US. 

 

Cost can also be too prohibitive resulting in people being stranded for the time being. 

 

 

[unamazedloso]

im not stranded but have a non O marriage until Jan 2021. All i needed to do was a stupid border run. Hope their is a way around that....

[tribalfusion001]

12 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

That depends on your perspective. I’m currently stranded in the UK unable to travel back to Thailand. 

 

Is there an opportunity for Foreigners (and Thai’s) to travel out of Thailand on one of the many International flights which are arriving daily? 

 

If so, I don’t think Europeans are stranded in Thailand, however, I think Aus and NZ are limiting flights etc and some of those citizens could be stranded in Thailand, as could US citizens who may struggle to flight flight links into the US. 

 

Cost can also be too prohibitive resulting in people being stranded for the time being. 

 

 

Everybody had the chance to leave when the sh*t started to hit the fan. I decided to leave as I thought flights would be harder to come by, I could have stayed for longer, correct decision not sure as cannot get back in now. Quite a few YouTubers are making the most of it and boosting their subs with their amnesty.

 

As a UK citizen your technically not stranded in the UK, but I know why you want to get back in.

Edited July 8, 2020 by tribalfusion001

[HOAX]

1 hour ago, Don Mega said:

Cool story, but does not answer my question.

 

The article says people have not been able to go home due to closed home borders, which countries have not allowed its citizens to return ?

Very few, if any, but I doubt people are walking or swimming home. Several countries still haven't reopened for air traffic to Thailand, and/or fully booked for as long as until the end of the year, and/or tickets (+ probably a lot of extra expenses if its not direct flights) are extremely expensive, so yes there are limitations for some people.

[AndrewMciver]

 No excuses not to return back. Many flights are leaving Thailand that are capable of handling passengers. 

[inThailand]

Since money trumps all here, they got to collect. 

 

So 30 day extension for 1900B for all? 

[richard_smith237]

5 minutes ago, AndrewMciver said:

 No excuses not to return back. Many flights are leaving Thailand that are capable of handling passengers. 

Do you think people are using this as an excuse to stay in Thailand?

 

 

[AndrewMciver]

4 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Do you think people are using this as an excuse to stay in Thailand?

 

 

 Of course they are. Europeans and Americans most definately. Even those living in Australia / New Zealand can get on repatriation flights. 

 

This loop hole is no different to the visa run to a neighbouring country, to stay there for a long indefinate period. 

 

If you want to stay long term, get the proper visa. 

[tribalfusion001]

5 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Do you think people are using this as an excuse to stay in Thailand?

 

 

I know of one who flew out from Germany in mid March to escape covid-19 and is still there. I'm sure plenty of others are doing the same. Maybe Thai immigration won't look at these people too favourable when they want to come back again.

[ukrules]

The whole scenario where people need to leave the country and go to an embassy to get another type of visa is a relic from a bygone era as is the 90 day limit on extensions without longer term visas.

 

It needs to be discontinued immediately and people should be able to renew/extend and change visa type as required while staying in the county.

 

If some 'influencer' out there is looking for a cause - this is it and it's the perfect time to introduce a change in the process.

 

Now - where did this nonsense policy come from? I suspect it was introduced decades ago to increase airline travel. It's as simple as that - it's all about money but not in the way we might immediately think.

 

Just fly to a foreign embassy they say - who gets the money? The airlines............

 

@Issanlawyers

Edited July 8, 2020 by ukrules

[AndrewMciver]

1 minute ago, ukrules said:

The whole scenario where people need to leave the country and go to an embassy to get another type of visa is a relic from a bygone era as is the 90 day limit on extensions without longer term visas.

 

It needs to be discontinued immediately and people should be able to renew and change visa type visas in county.

 

If some 'influencer' out there is looking for a cause - this is it and it's the perfect time to introduce a change in the process.

 

Now - where did this nonsense policy come from? I suspect it was introduced decades ago to increase airline travel. It's as simple as that - it's all about money but not in the way we might immediately think.

 

Just fly to a foreign embassy they say - who gets the money? The airlines............

 

 

Nothing to do with a country trying to control it's borders? If you just indefinately allowed those on 'tourist' visas to remain indefinately, exploit loop holes on visa runs, then your own population could swell up pretty large. 

[domgaf]

2 hours ago, Don Mega said:

What countries have closed borders that don't allow entry to its own citizens ?

It's not always as simple as that. I'm a British citizen, but I haven't lived there for more than 16 years. Instead, I have been resident in another country for work. I have no home in the UK, so repatriation would render me homeless. My country of residence/work has not yet opened its borders to non-citizens. So, when I arrived in Thailand on a 30 day stamp in March, I had expected to leave before April. Now, I am at a loss as to what to do if the Thai immigration doesn't extend the amnesty or offer extensions that can be paid for.

[tribalfusion001]

7 minutes ago, ukrules said:

The whole scenario where people need to leave the country and go to an embassy to get another type of visa is a relic from a bygone era as is the 90 day limit on extensions without longer term visas.

 

It needs to be discontinued immediately and people should be able to renew and change visa type visas in county.

 

If some 'influencer' out there is looking for a cause - this is it and it's the perfect time to introduce a change in the process.

 

Now - where did this nonsense policy come from? I suspect it was introduced decades ago to increase airline travel. It's as simple as that - it's all about money but not in the way we might immediately think.

 

Just fly to a foreign embassy they say - who gets the money? The airlines............

 

They like to be awkward and don't want foreigners hanging around for too long without a good reason. Remember there use to have double and triple entry tourist visas, now it's single entry or the METV which has too many conditions attached.

Edited July 8, 2020 by tribalfusion001

[bestie]

Quote

1 minute ago, AndrewMciver said:

Stop looking for excuses. 

 

Ok Dad

[domgaf]

7 hours ago, AndrewMciver said:

With funds are you living in Thailand with?

 

Use those funds to rent a property in the UK. Why would you end up homeless? Book a short term hotel, or airBnb for a short while till you can rent out a property. 

 

Stop looking for excuses. 

What funds? All of my funds go to supporting my Thai family. I am never normally in Thailand for more than 3 weeks at a time, and no more than 2 or 3 times a year. So entry on a 30 day stamp has never been a problem, until now. No excuses, just facts.

Edited July 9, 2020 by blackcab
Bold font removed. Please do not modify someone else's post in your quoted reply, either with font or color changes or wording

[tribalfusion001]

7 hours ago, AndrewMciver said:

With funds are you living in Thailand with?

 

Use those funds to rent a property in the UK. Why would you end up homeless? Book a short term hotel, or airBnb for a short while till you can rent out a property. 

 

Stop looking for excuses. 

I'm guessing many don't want to leave now as the bars have opened up again and there are lots of girls looking for customers or boyfriends. Nothing to do with covid-19.

[AndrewMciver]

5 minutes ago, domgaf said:

What funds? All of my funds go to supporting my Thai family. I am never normally in Thailand for more than 3 weeks at a time, and no more than 2 or 3 times a year. So entry on a 30 day stamp has never been a problem, until now. No excuses, just facts.

So you have funds to support a Thai family. What is the source of these funds? You also have funds to commute between countries. 

 

Why would you end up homeless if you returned to the UK, when you clearly have some funds. 

 

If you have to return to the UK, then i'm sure your Thai family will have to look after themselves till you sort yourself out. 

 

Don't be looking for excuses, especially when they make no sense. The UK, is one of the most socialist states in the world. If you have a national insurance number (which i'm sure you do if you are travelling the world), then the state will provide you with accomodation. If that takes a little time, use your funds to get yourself some temporary accomodation. You won't be homeless. 

Edited July 8, 2020 by AndrewMciver

[Somtamnication]

The amnesty will have to be extended, with no international flights until MAYBE September. Relax, people!

[AndrewMciver]

7 hours ago, tribalfusion001 said:

I'm guessing many don't want to leave now as the bars have opened up again and there are lots of girls looking for customers or boyfriends. Nothing to do with covid-19.

 

For the vast majority ... THIS.

 

Thailand is back open again, with low infection rates, and the don't fancy returning to their covid infested countries. Instead of just saying that, they come up with elaborate excuses as to why they should not have to obey the immigration rules of Thailand. 

[AndrewMciver]

2 minutes ago, Somtamnication said:

The amnesty will have to be extended, with no international flights until MAYBE September. Relax, people!

Qatar, Emirates, British Airways, KLM, Swiss, all resuming international flights this month from Bangkok into Europe. No excuses. 

[tribalfusion001]

1 minute ago, AndrewMciver said:

 

For the vast majority ... THIS.

 

Thailand is back open again, with low infection rates, and the don't fancy returning to their covid infested countries. Instead of just saying that, they come up with elaborate excuses as to why they should not have to obey the immigration rules of Thailand. 

I would rather be in Thailand, but here in the UK is perfectly safe even though it's one of the worst in the world. Sure people have died but the demographics of those is not the category I fall into. It's just dull here????

[tribalfusion001]

2 minutes ago, steve187 said:

in the UK a credit check and references are required to rent, so if someone has been out of the country for some years it would be near impossible to obtain a contract without paying the whole period of rental 6/12 months, a big commitment to someone that has a life in another country that is preventing entry to non residents, a long term extension by any means possible in Thailand would be a lot cheaper option

The world has changed in the last 6 months, countries are protecting their own citizens first and foremost. For the time being globalization is over and insular policies prevail.

[nobodysfriend]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

With much of the visas processed by shuffling paper around busy offices, land checkpoints and airports, the actual tracking of the foreigners left in Thailand will be difficult.

A simple tracking app installed on a foreigners smartphone , ( similar Thai Tana app ) , would solve that problem .

And no more 90 day reporting needed as well ...