So did you get out on time

[jaffas21]

I saw that post saying a last minute extension is being considered until October 31st, is that last minute or after the amnesty has ended. How can they extend it when your already on overstay. That must be a new one

 

I left last weekend and I can confirm its a frosty 15 degrees in the UK.

 

Leaving was very easy for me, after today im not sure how it easy it will be. Maybe its time to stop kidding yourselves and actually book a flight ticket. Before its to late. 

[Daithi85]

Why would anyone want to book a flight ticket???it's great here you'd be mad to leave ????????????

[ChakaKhan]

my flight got cancelled and rebooked it as I was scared about my visa exp.....in hindsight I wish I knew about the amnesty I would have stayed put instead of walking into this American dumpster fire march 17th..sigh

[jacko45k]

1 hour ago, jaffas21 said:

I saw that post saying a last minute extension is being considered until October 31st, is that last minute or after the amnesty has ended. How can they extend it when your already on overstay. That must be a new one

I believe Extensions are issued to people whose current permission is expired. Immigration being closed for  the weekend or a holiday for example, an agent involved too.

[Caldera]

If it's last minute or has ended already doesn't really make any difference, as they can prolong the automatic extension with retroactive effect. In fact the very first automatic extension was invoked retroactively in April, effective March 26.

 

They might have thought, the later the better, to push as many stragglers towards compliance as possible.

[PhoSai]

This all would have been so easy if they had just allowed special 30 day extensions at a time for the normal 1900 fee. A lot of expats were saying this at the time so its not a hindsight thing. If they had started this back in August the applications at immigration offices would have been spread.  Immigration would also have got a shed load of fees and most importantly Covid free foreigners still here spending cash whilst the borders are closed and very few new entries allowed. 

Edited September 27, 2020 by PhoSai

[superatoz]

welll thats thailand for foreigners ... we gotta go with their rules / pay more  

 

 

[moose7117]

I think it will be a line in the sand and they won't do it again, most are not leaving and the Government can say that we gave you enough chances.

[jaffas21]

Sadly those guys said they weren't going to do it again after 26th of July, now they give you an extension after the date has passed. Thats a joke. Can Thai people ever tell the truth?? its shocking. You can't even blame it on culture though they are famous for not telling you anything. This is an outright falsehood. I'm glad to be out of it for a while.

 

I'm disappointed but in the future, i'll simply disregard anything that comes out of the mouth of immigration.

 

Good luck to all in the country. I'll be back to Asia when this this is settled, but only on a short transit through thailand i'm done with them.

[Lacessit]

I prefer to think of it as getting back into Thailand on time, back in February.

My former home town of Melbourne is in Stage 4 lockdown, no way I would want to be there.

[Caldera]

43 minutes ago, jaffas21 said:

Sadly those guys said they weren't going to do it again after 26th of July, now they give you an extension after the date has passed. Thats a joke. Can Thai people ever tell the truth?? its shocking. You can't even blame it on culture though they are famous for not telling you anything. This is an outright falsehood. I'm glad to be out of it for a while.

If it materializes as it now looks - a prolongation of the automatic extension till October 31, announced in a few days time - I think it was actually quite clever.

 

It put pressure on people (myself included) to work something out before the September 26 (presumed) deadline, without ultimately penalizing people who just couldn't make it for some reason.

 

[elliss]

9 hours ago, superatoz said:

welll thats thailand for foreigners ... we gotta go with their rules / pay more  

 

 

 

     Absolutely Correct ..

      Hover  that said , there are those Aliens ,  who  call Thailand , their home land .

       So sad , get serious ..

 

Edited September 27, 2020 by elliss

[samisaurus]

Left on 25th

Currently in Istanbul

Love it

I think this is a blessing in disguise. 

Not returning to Thailand anytime soon. They lost me and my money

Plenty of countries without xenophobia. 

[Matzzon]

22 hours ago, superatoz said:

welll thats thailand for foreigners ... we gotta go with their rules / pay more  

 

 

Ok, that´s original. Wait a minute. How is it with other countries?

Oh, yes! I remember now. Foreigners have to abide their rules as well.

[vandeventer]

18 hours ago, moose7117 said:

I think it will be a line in the sand and they won't do it again, most are not leaving and the Government can say that we gave you enough chances.

That's just it IO was saying you had enough chances, but the government was saying nothing. Now this Amnesty comes out after the deadline of the 26 of September because IO can't handle so many tourist that were waiting for the amnesty extension.  

[Burma Bill]

 Quote:- "So did you get out on time"

 

Fortunately, YES! On February 15th 2020 to be precise on an Air Asia "Fly Thru" flight from Khon Kaen to Siem Reap in Cambodia. Although body temperatures were being taken throughout, borders were still open. Having sold my car, most of my personal possessions were efficiently handled by Thailand Post and Cambodia Post. This was one of my better decisions in life after almost 20 years of living in retirement in Thailand and sensing that the country was becoming less desirable to live in, especially with the ever increasing bureaucracy surrounding a visa renewal! For me, retirement here in Cambodia is very enjoyable and "hassle free" - so easy to get a retirement visa.

[Daithi85]

1 hour ago, Burma Bill said:

 Quote:- "So did you get out on time"

 

Fortunately, YES! On February 15th 2020 to be precise on an Air Asia "Fly Thru" flight from Khon Kaen to Siem Reap in Cambodia. Although body temperatures were being taken throughout, borders were still open. Having sold my car, most of my personal possessions were efficiently handled by Thailand Post and Cambodia Post. This was one of my better decisions in life after almost 20 years of living in retirement in Thailand and sensing that the country was becoming less desirable to live in, especially with the ever increasing bureaucracy surrounding a visa renewal! For me, retirement here in Cambodia is very enjoyable and "hassle free" - so easy to get a retirement visa.

Sounds good, as soon as borders open I will be doing the same.

[micmichd]

On 9/27/2020 at 5:13 AM, Daithi85 said:

Why would anyone want to book a flight ticket???it's great here you'd be mad to leave ????????????

Maybe they refused his extension of stay?

They never refuse mine because I have reliable income and never needed a doctor except for a vaccination against tetanus (just in case) 

[finy]

15 hours ago, samisaurus said:

Left on 25th

Currently in Istanbul

Love it

I think this is a blessing in disguise. 

Not returning to Thailand anytime soon. They lost me and my money

Plenty of countries without xenophobia. 

I’m in Turkey too, but down on the coast.

 

How did you go about finding a long term apartment rental?

 

I agree everything is better than Thailand apart from the ability to walk into a building and rent a room.

[samisaurus]

8 minutes ago, finy said:

I’m in Turkey too, but down on the coast.

 

How did you go about finding a long term apartment rental?

 

I agree everything is better than Thailand apart from the ability to walk into a building and rent a room.

Unfortunately because it was last minute due to waiting on amnesty, i had to go down airbnb route. Where are you btw, izmir/antalya? 

[Jack Hna]

Yeah I was all prepped everything but the flight but I got that letter from embassy so thought I'd play for another 30 and go from there.

 

I was worried that I would be rejected with the letter but in the end I sense my familiar face created a chance I never experienced before. Problem solved. A joyous moment for us all.

 

 

[finy]

21 minutes ago, samisaurus said:

Unfortunately because it was last minute due to waiting on amnesty, i had to go down airbnb route. Where are you btw, izmir/antalya? 

Antalya.

 

I don’t think there are many Airbnb’s here.

 

I’m going to send some messages on a Turkish rental website hoping some people speak English, or I’ll just go down the agent route in a few days.

[richard_smith237]

The whole affair is extremely clumsy. 
 

There is no reason not to announce a 6 month Amnesty extension.

 

Those suggesting ‘just allow an extension for 1900 baht each month’ are suffering from some sort of immigration Stockholm brainwashing type mentality.

There is no reason for people to go to a busy government office when social isolation should still be in effect (continued Emergency Decree).

 

By allowing a continued 6 month Amnesty all pressure is off both immigration and visitors / tourists stuck in Thailand, or those who simply want to stay (for whatever reason).

 

With an ongoing Emergency Decree and increased lockdown in ‘other’ countries an extension of Amnesty is the only ‘intelligent’ way to handle this issue. It’s a no brainer.

 

[EbhB]

I got out in time yes, from Europe that is... ????

[darrendsd]

On 9/27/2020 at 5:05 AM, jaffas21 said:

Maybe its time to stop kidding yourselves and actually book a flight ticket. Before its to late. 

To late for what?

 

As always in Thailand there are plenty of choices 

 

I'm on the amnesty - I will be 50 in April - in April I will be applying for a retirement extension - I fully expect to still be here in April so I can do that

[rickudon]

This is Thailand. Just because one Jobsworth in government says there will be another Amnesty doesn't mean there will be!

 

If any, more likely a very limited sort - you will not be fined or arrested, but no extensions without a very good reason and after October 31st or whenever, you will be arrested and deported. In other words, 'Get out now!'

[BritManToo]

12 minutes ago, rickudon said:

If any, more likely a very limited sort - you will not be fined or arrested, but no extensions without a very good reason and after October 31st or whenever, you will be arrested and deported. In other words, 'Get out now!'

It says unlimited 60 day extensions will be available, no letters required after 31st October (until further notice)

Didn't you bother reading the announcement?

[MICHAELDUTCH]

Quote:- "So did you get out on time"

 

left Bangkok on 24th with FINNAIR to The Netherlands
At arrival in Amsterdam no single check for Covid....no check at all
Also no check at all for passport-bag etc

At the airport and in the country just about 30% wearing a mask,in supermarkets almost ZERO
Unbelievable....now i understand why here is a spike of 3000 people per day getting sick and 36 p.d die.

I am happy beiing married just 1 week before i left and will return in 5 month if nothing bad happens



!#

[Hoppyone]

30 minutes ago, MICHAELDUTCH said:

Quote:- "So did you get out on time"

 

left Bangkok on 24th with FINNAIR to The Netherlands
At arrival in Amsterdam no single check for Covid....no check at all
Also no check at all for passport-bag etc

At the airport and in the country just about 30% wearing a mask,in supermarkets almost ZERO
Unbelievable....now i understand why here is a spike of 3000 people per day getting sick and 36 p.d die.

I am happy beiing married just 1 week before i left and will return in 5 month if nothing bad happens



!#

Hopefully some regulations have changed in the next 5 mths so u can get back in ,but don’t think there will unless a vaccine has been approved 

[rickudon]

3 hours ago, BritManToo said:

It says unlimited 60 day extensions will be available, no letters required after 31st October (until further notice)

Didn't you bother reading the announcement?

I have now seen a couple of threads which say the Amnesty will be extended, but i do have 2 reservations :-

1. It has to be approved by the PM/cabinet - 24 hours is a long time in Thai politics!

2. The devil is in the detail - which we haven't seen yet.

 

Having previously experienced the twists and turns of immigration policies and interpretations in Thailand over the past 10 years, I try to never 'sail close to the wind' on the rules.