Amnesty 80% likely to be extended - Immigration Officer Phuket Today

[FlyingThai]

It's official: Phuket Immigration are the worst oddsmakers in the country! ????

[Zikomat]

4 minutes ago, FlyingThai said:

It's official: Phuket Immigration are the worst oddsmakers in the country! ????

10 more days left. Enough time for another amnesty.

[Zikomat]

On 9/14/2020 at 10:26 PM, FlyingThai said:

Either it's announced tomorrow or the 26th will remain the final date. It wouldn't make any sense to annouce an extension 2 days prior. Just my opinion (I've been wrong before).

It will not make any sense not to announce anything. They will announce it on 22-nd. The closer the date the more inevitable the amnesty becomes. Just my opinion (never been wrong in the past).

Edited September 15, 2020 by Zikomat

[worldfun]

1 hour ago, Zikomat said:

It will not make any sense not to announce anything. They will announce it on 22-nd. The closer the date the more inevitable the amnesty becomes. Just my opinion (never been wrong in the past).

so much for the 80% (after today's cabinet meeting mistakenly approved a new special 270 day inbound visa instead of honoring existing visas (both for in country/overseas valid visa holders)!

I'd say I trust Zikomat some 20% on correcting that mistake by next week or extend the amnesty ????

[Jack Hna]

Maybe it would be wise to book one of those flights with a change of plans policy attached. Could still go to the wire.

[scoupeo]

Wait until Tuesday and you will know...

 

[checkered flag]

8 hours ago, scoupeo said:

 

Wait few days and you will know...

 

 

Either way the squeeze is on and they want people to legitimize their status and not rely on border runs or other means. The Thai government has bent over backwards and giving a six month amnesty to those stuck. In most cases the person was already on a 30, 60, or 90 day stay. They also offer a 30 to 60 day extension but may require an embassy letter. Therefore, one shouldn't complain.  If TI waits until the last minute, it's because they want to force people into doing the right thing and not kicking the can down the road. These people don't in most cases contribute as most tourists by staying in hotels/resorts, eating in restaurants, buying things, etc. In reality they have set up house and live as cheaply as possible. I say this because many would have long term visa but have trouble meeting the financial requirements. 

I don't think the Thai government will extend again, so some ungrateful people will complain as usual. 

[Jack Hna]

Seems unlikely but only because I need it so bad. Stranger things have happened. Like the stupidest dumbest rule ever to allow a 50+ year old to simply park 800k in Thailand and your good. Or the idea that you can get 90 day visa with just a birth certificate outside Thailand but cannot get the same recognition in Thailand for a longer visa of the same basis. So many BS rules. 

 

Spending 70k a month in this country for 6.5 years. Contributing to schools, doctors, charities, family, restaurant's. Own cars and bikes and a bloody condo and rent a house.

 

Should just be a rule based on cash in the bank for all if it is just a case of cash in the bank for a fifty year olds. 

 

Time to change up the silly rules.

 

 

[lovesthespicy]

9 hours ago, scoupeo said:

 

This is CLEARLY what will happen. I can't stop laughing when reading posts of other people who really know nothing and seem proud of it !

 

 

Nobody knows for sure including you so don't know why you would be laughing about their predictions. 

 

What we know is amnesty end date is a week away. Their has been notices about figuring out your visa status by that date. Many options to stay have been available letters from embassies which many are giving, qualifying for a actual visa like marriage/retirement, agents offering ways, then people could of got elite visas. Also the country is about to open to some big spending tourist and start heading into that direction. 

 

So when you logically think about everything why would they extend amnesty for free for the people who couldnt get a extension? Everyone else is going to be paying money from 1900 minimum. Very very unlikely they extend a free amnesty at this point. I think if they were going to we would of heard a leak in the media like past times. Its just to close to the end date.

Edited September 19, 2020 by lovesthespicy

[Sundown]

On 9/15/2020 at 11:16 PM, FlyingThai said:

It's official: Phuket Immigration are the worst oddsmakers in the country! ????

Last time an immigration spokesperson said that the visa amnesty wouldn't be extended. After 2 days they extended it..so immigration people doesn't seem too reliable on this matter. (Same thing I was told by an utterly ignorant immigration farang volunteer)

 

On 9/15/2020 at 11:24 PM, Zikomat said:

It will not make any sense not to announce anything. They will announce it on 22-nd. The closer the date the more inevitable the amnesty becomes. Just my opinion (never been wrong in the past).

They don't have to announce anything. They already set all the rules needed for everyone 2 months ago. 

 

Edited September 19, 2020 by Sundown

[Liringlas]

Hey Guys,

 

I see many writing that stuck people are stuuck by their own fault, that they should have gotten a long stay visa, that the amnesty is already more that they deserve and so on.

Have you not seen that unless using corruption for a fake volonteer visa there is no legal way to do that?

 

My friend entered thailand on tourist but was planning to leave and go back on ED. He did study with me but could never leave because of covid. Now  he has to go back to europe for an unknown time (and probably cannot afford quarantine in Phuket).

I myself was on ED but that expired a few days ago. I should have an exceptionnal extension but i am waiting for it and I do not know if i will have it before the end of amnesty.

 

Please consider the fact that not all people who fear the coming end of amnesty are bad tourists trying to take advantage over the long stay people. Some might have had their long stay plan destroyed by covid. There is no legitimate way to get long term visa now (paying 40-50k for a fake volonteer visa is not legitimate to me, though convenient) because getting any visa would require leaving and coming back.

[nemo38]

There are people who have legitimate reasons for staying in Thailand on the amnesty. I have been waiting to travel to another country which was going to open up before 26th September, but they just pushed that back to next month.

 

There is almost no chance that the amnesty will be extended. They told people to get another visa or get out by 26th September. 

 

When they gave the amnesty there was more difficulty in getting flights. People who can show they have a medical problem, or a problem getting a flight, can still get a 30 day visa extension.

 

They have made it very clear there will be no amnesty. People who overstay will be fined and/or excluded from Thailand for a period.

 

 

 

 

[ehgnyc]

The first time I went to Koh Samui immigration to try to apply for a retirement visa and get the stamp the US embassy said was necessary was around September 1. The officer explicitly said, "Wait, the government will make an announcement." The government did say, again, that September 26 was the end and not to wait to get it together. Not sure if that was the "announcement," I went back on September 9 and tried again with a stack of documents showing I was a legitimate candidate for the visa. This time the same officer said, "I told you to wait for an announcement" and "You have to leave the country to apply for that visa." I left with an embassy letter extension with an under consideration date of Oct 11, which may or may not screw up my chances for the visa. I'm still waiting for that "announcement"...

[Ganesh108]

1 hour ago, nemo38 said:

There are people who have legitimate reasons for staying in Thailand on the amnesty. I have been waiting to travel to another country which was going to open up before 26th September, but they just pushed that back to next month.

 

There is almost no chance that the amnesty will be extended. They told people to get another visa or get out by 26th September. 

 

When they gave the amnesty there was more difficulty in getting flights. People who can show they have a medical problem, or a problem getting a flight, can still get a 30 day visa extension.

 

They have made it very clear there will be no amnesty. People who overstay will be fined and/or excluded from Thailand for a period.

 

 

 

 

I doubt there's a country within a flying range of 3-4 hours that will open up by October. I'm keenly following developments in a couple of countries myself. And if you could get in there, you'd have to stay away from Thailand for possibly half a year, as it may be that long until they'll be back to semi-normal entry rules. 

[Wongkitlo]

4 hours ago, checkered flag said:

These people don't in most cases contribute as most tourists by staying in hotels/resorts, eating in restaurants, buying things, etc. In reality they have set up house and live as cheaply as possible. I say this because many would have long term visa but have trouble meeting the financial requirements. 

Most of these people are actually married to Thais. The only way to get a non-o multi entry visa is to be married. Doesn't that give us more  interest in Thailand rather than someone who is on a retirement visa who is just after the cheap lifestyle, has little interest in Thai culture and has no extended family here. Does it occur to you that maybe Immigration leave a little loophole for those married without the financial means? Many go back and forth to their home country to work anyway which is a bit difficult at present. 

[blake911]

I'm on the amnesty because I can't go to Penang for my usual non-B. I requested the 30 day extension letter from British Embassy on Thursday and I received it on Saturday. I'll be applying for the extension at Phuket Immigration today or tomorrow and wait to see what happens closer to 25th October. To apply for this letter (If you are a Brit) email [email protected]

[scoupeo]

Don't worry, tomorrow free extension ❤️

 

 

[JacksSmirkingRevenge]

5 minutes ago, scoupeo said:

Don't worry, tomorrow free extension ❤️

 

 

Not likely, but would be nice

[cerox]

2 hours ago, JacksSmirkingRevenge said:

Not likely, but would be nice

It is 80% likely 555

[checkered flag]

2 hours ago, scoupeo said:

Don't worry, tomorrow free extension ❤️

 

 

The price for agent assisted visa has recently doubled or more.

[ubonjoe]

Some off topic and baiting/bickering posts have been removed.

[JackThompson]

2 hours ago, checkered flag said:

The price for agent assisted visa has recently doubled or more.

Not for all types / locations, evidently.  Increases likely apply for those who need a "change of visa" to a 90-day stamp, as that normally requires 15 days left on one's permitted-stay.  

See here for a recent report in Jomtien for retirement for the usual 15K baht:

 

[Benitostacos]

There was a poster on a FB group who said he went to Phuket Town immigration last week to extend his tourist visa, and they told him an announcement would be made this week for another 2 month extension and would not accept his application. Seriously, what's up with these Phuket IOs?! 

Edited September 22, 2020 by Benitostacos

[padthaininja]

15 minutes ago, Benitostacos said:

There was a poster on a FB group who said he went to Phuket Town immigration last week to extend his tourist visa, and they told him an announcement would be made this week for another 2 month extension and would not accept his application. Seriously, what's up with these Phuket IOs?! 

I was in Phuket Immigration yesterday and it was packed. You would think during a pandemic they would have safer ways to go about this..

[userabcd]

Has there been an announcement yet of amnesty extension or does one wait until Thursday for the amnesty extension to be announced?

[lovesthespicy]

15 minutes ago, userabcd said:

Has there been an announcement yet of amnesty extension or does one wait until Thursday for the amnesty extension to be announced?

I'm 71.2% sure its coming any minute now! 

[ubonjoe]

15 minutes ago, userabcd said:

Has there been an announcement yet of amnesty extension or does one wait until Thursday for the amnesty extension to be announced?

We should know something about it late today after the cabinet meeting is finished.

[JacksSmirkingRevenge]

What if amnesty is extended and I just extended my visa?  It's an under consideration until October, so would I need to return and get to confirmed or just let it be?  

Edited September 22, 2020 by JacksSmirkingRevenge

[tabbycat]

15 minutes ago, JacksSmirkingRevenge said:

What if amnesty is extended and I just extended my visa?  It's an under consideration until October, so would I need to return and get to confirmed or just let it be?  

The length of the amnesty would override whichever visa stamp you have, but would recommend you going back on the stated date to close off the under consideration 'loop' anyway

[accel]

hey guys i'm sitting comfy at 66%