"The Stranded": Thaivisa highlights the plight of expats unable to return to Thailand: #1: Teachers

[gamini]

Expats claiming they cant get back here when 10's of thousands of other nationalities cant even get back to thier own countries, rspecially Australians.

[mberbae]

Many Expats leave Thailand in February or March to get away

from the horrific Air Quality at that time of year. Quite a few

go to Vietnam. These people got caught with the border closure

even though many have wives, children and homes in Thailand.

But, because they are " foreigners " they become ignored by those

in power. THESE " foreigner Thais " Should get Re Entry priority before

ANY Chinese tourist does. They certainly dropped the ball with This one.

[spoon1967]

4 hours ago, thailand49 said:

Not defending him, but I think the story was clear at least to me some critical thinking on my behave assume the rest?

He said he was working 7 days a week, needed the time off and didn't think the lock down was going to last 7 months.

Based on their age like many they didn't have enough saving reserve since it is indicated he is doing some part-time teaching and his wife online they are able to make expenses where they are but not enough to pay their rent in Bangkok? Sure based on other stuff we can second guess the decisions but I wouldn't assume it was done on purpose? Last, I don't think their story blames everyone it blames the Thai leaders for their inconsistent applications of their own rules which we all can agree at times isn't very thought out and seem backwards? We are all in the same boat why try to throw others overboard just to save yourself we are all human and make mistake I think even Thais would agree to that?????

"needed the time off and didn't think the lock down was going to last 7 months." Plenty of places to go in Thailand for "time off", he didn't expect the lockdown to last 7 months........, but still took the risk, 3, 5, 7 months, what does it matter.  

 

Complains about eviction, when he refused to pay his rent as he wasn't using the property, yeh, blame the landlord. 

[Kinnock]

16 hours ago, 19DL86 said:

It's not only Thailand whom have closed their borders to non citizens, many nations have imposed such restrictions.  Some of those are the very same countries as those who are complaining right here of bring "stranded" ie Australia, New Zealand.

 

A fairly reasonable precaution one might add, given the total mess the UK and most of Europe has made of controlling Covid19.

 

What part of "Extension to stay" (as is granted each year to many in Non O) do people not understand?  There's no permenant right to reside on these visas. Anyone who intends or plans to settle here must surely do their research in advance, no?

 

To me living here 14 years, there are many "flags" to warn or illustrate the lack of permanency i.e. restrictions of ownership, dual/triple pricing, vocational restrictions. 

 

Anyone who has sold up "lock stock" in their home country, thus leaving them with no Exit Plan, nor have sufficient funds to sustain themselves, have not thought this through.

 

Setting up families at 65 years old or more, relying on a State pension and superficially high exchange rates 10-15 years ago, to be now living "day to day" in al out permenant denial of such essentials.

 

Many, many come here on a whimsical fantasy, a dream which all too often turns to a nightmare.  No planning, no for thought, no finances. Sad, but all too often the case.
 

I work for a company that needs people to travel overseas - and with the exception of North Korea I'm not aware of another country that is impossible to enter legally?

 

Yes, there's a 14 day quarantine requirement plus testing for many countries, but if you can get a valid visa through the normal processes, it's possible.

 

But our main barrier to travel is the uncertainty of getting back in to Thailand.

 

The myth of a COVID free country is what's causing the issues.  With porous borders and the less than 100% secure quarantine systems (are we really sure no hotel staff ever come into contact with 'interns') means that no country is truly COVID free.

 

Let's be honest here, the North Korean style entry restrctions are 'convenient' under the current political situation.

[Benmart]

16 hours ago, spoon1967 said:

Why would you leave Thailand when it was clearly risky, in March this year it was obvious that things might go "pear shaped" with respect to international travel.

 

And how come they were evicted? was the rent/services not being paid? That's the only reason a landlord would evict, any this could of easily been avoided - unless it was done purposely.

 

But hey, blame everyone else.

 

 

[Benmart]

15 hours ago, dimitriv said:

 

Really a lot of false assumptions.

 

I had a flight from Europe to Thailand March 12. Till that date Covid was a Chinese disease, it was far away. Transmission was only between animals and humans. That was the news at that time. I arrived in Thailand and was able to swim once in the swimming pool at our condo before it closed. In a couple of days everything changed.

 

I do not remember that even once in history countries closed their borders for a flu like disease, cannot remember that airlines ever before cancelled all their flights. But you say it coming? ????

 

Nobody could have expected this. The only problem are the people who say that they knew that this would happen and blame others for not expecting this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I agree. Those incompassionate critics cannot imagine the numerous scenarios that the stranded expats may have experienced, nor can they see themselves succuming to such circumstances, perhaps resulting from their imaginary and perfect lives. I am thankful that I am in Thailand, have resources, good health, friends and having never met those "perfect critics".

[JoseThailand]

"Stranded" in their home countries...

[BobinBKK]

18 hours ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

I think we're flogging a dead horse here.

 

Up to the Thais who they let in at the end of the day as harsh as it is for those trapped overseas.

 

Perhaps a wake up call to those of use that think they have any sort of permanence here.

The government and banks have your money and property now. Your screwed. Case closed. NEXT!

[DefaultName]

15 minutes ago, BobinBKK said:

The government and banks have your money and property now. Your screwed. Case closed. NEXT!

I'd like to say you were wrong here, but I can't.

[keystonecoppers2]

 

 

                                      Dimitriv!

 

               Medical scientists said some 4-5 years ago:

 

               "The question is not IF there will be a pandemic.

                The question is WHEN, because it will come."

 

               And of course, nobody payed attention to this warnings!

 

                           Cheers!

[Thaiophil]

7 hours ago, crazykopite said:

8 months later there are still 1,000s of Thais stranded abroad as there are so few repatriation flights

This is out of date. There are at least 10 airlines now authorised to fly to Bkk, so there is no problem for Thais (or farangs) to get flights If they can get a COE

[bermondburi]

5 hours ago, riverhigh said:

For what it's worth it was not until April 2nd that I knew something was seriosly wrong. At that time I cancelled my flights to Europe and hotel bookings. My trip to Europe was for personal pleasure (not a difficult decision). During that time period conflicting reports were coming from the Thai government that covid19 would be all over by Sonkran when the weaher got better. IMHO the majority of Thaivisa  posters who claim they knew that it was a bad time to travel in February and March are full of BS. Sometimes I wonder if these posters who are critisizing other people's so called bad decisions are just trying to make themselves feel better. For some people it's easier to put people down than pull up their own socks. Of course there are some people who got stranded and made life difficult for themselves. I too get a chuckle when I hear of people who said they had to go to their home country or their government paid medical insurance would expire. In thier opinion, their problems should become the Thai government's problems. Or another one, I had to go back home to do my taxes and look after my condo (I can't trust my kids to look afeter it). Once again they feel their problems should become the thai goverments problems. All the same I commend Thaivisa for bringing the legitimate cases to attention of the Thai governemnt. 

It's not BS. I had planned a trip to UK  in early March, leaving on the 11th. The plan was to meet my wife in Bahrain and travel on from there. 

 

Thy whole story was developing throughout February, first in Iran and then in Italy. It was all over the news. Towards the end of February I was watching the news closely every day and my wife and I had many discussions about what to do. 

 

It was around this time that many countries started implementing travel restrictions on certain nationalities. This was a concern to me as Bahrain had restrictions on Thais entering the country, and we'd planned to layover there and rest up before onward travel to the UK. I was contacting the airline frequently to get updates. 

 

My own country Saudi Arabia, started barring entry to travellers from certain countries, and this became more of an issue than Bahrain as I was now worried about getting back into Saudi. 

 

In the end I pulled the plug around the 5th of March, one week before the planned trip. Cancelled everything. Ended up around £600 down which I consider a great result considering what could have happened. 

 

It was obvious to me by that point the way things were going. Having followed the story closely over the past weeks, seen the spread across the world, cases appearing everywhere. I knew this was going to be a big thing. 

 

That's not me being smug, that's just my experience. Maybe I have too much free time and always had Sky news on in the background, but I was well aware of what was going on. Anyways Saudi Arabia closed all borders around the 14th of March and only opened up again last month in a limited way. 

 

I consider myself very lucky to have a job and only have lost £600.

[Thingamabob]

17 hours ago, spoon1967 said:

Why would you leave Thailand when it was clearly risky, in March this year it was obvious that things might go "pear shaped" with respect to international travel.

 

And how come they were evicted? was the rent/services not being paid? That's the only reason a landlord would evict, any this could of easily been avoided - unless it was done purposely.

 

But hey, blame everyone else.

 

Well said.

[bermondburi]

19 minutes ago, bermondburi said:

It's not BS. I had planned a trip to UK  in early March, leaving on the 11th. The plan was to meet my wife in Bahrain and travel on from there. 

 

Thy whole story was developing throughout February, first in Iran and then in Italy. It was all over the news. Towards the end of February I was watching the news closely every day and my wife and I had many discussions about what to do. 

 

It was around this time that many countries started implementing travel restrictions on certain nationalities. This was a concern to me as Bahrain had restrictions on Thais entering the country, and we'd planned to layover there and rest up before onward travel to the UK. I was contacting the airline frequently to get updates. 

 

My own country Saudi Arabia, started barring entry to travellers from certain countries, and this became more of an issue than Bahrain as I was now worried about getting back into Saudi. 

 

In the end I pulled the plug around the 5th of March, one week before the planned trip. Cancelled everything. Ended up around £600 down which I consider a great result considering what could have happened. 

 

It was obvious to me by that point the way things were going. Having followed the story closely over the past weeks, seen the spread across the world, cases appearing everywhere. I knew this was going to be a big thing. 

 

That's not me being smug, that's just my experience. Maybe I have too much free time and always had Sky news on in the background, but I was well aware of what was going on. Anyways Saudi Arabia closed all borders around the 14th of March and only opened up again last month in a limited way. 

 

I consider myself very lucky to have a job and only have lost £600.

This topic was from February 25th:

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1150042-uae-bans-citizens-from-travelling-to-thailand-kuwait-suspends-flights/page/24/?tab=comments#comment-15107600

 

This topic was from March 5th:
https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1151863-canceling-travel-plans/?do=findComment&comment=15129333

 

It shouldn't have been a surprise to anyone.

 

 

[AlfonsV]

On 10/8/2020 at 8:18 PM, mrfaroukh said:

 

 

6 hours ago, MadMuhammad said:

That’s the thing, it does matter why they left and anyone without a sense of entitlement would have seen what was going on. No, I would never put myself in such a silly position 

Was it silly to fly to Europe on February 7 with a return flight on April 6/7?
Was it silly to stay to assist my 90+ years old mother instead of flying back 2 weeks earlier assuming borders will close and flights be cancelled?

[Thingamabob]

Lived in Thailand for 35 years, with Spring visits to the UK every 2/3 years. Had arranged to visit again this year but cancelled late Feb. as details of covid began to emerge. Very sorry for those who got caught out by this. 

[sambum]

17 hours ago, spoon1967 said:

Why would you leave Thailand when it was clearly risky, in March this year it was obvious that things might go "pear shaped" with respect to international travel.

 

And how come they were evicted? was the rent/services not being paid? That's the only reason a landlord would evict, any this could of easily been avoided - unless it was done purposely.

 

But hey, blame everyone else.

 

Your post seems devoid of any form of compassion, but hey, the kind of person you are is up to you! 

 

I don't think that any one thought in March that things would get as serious as they have, and if you have paid in advance for a 2 week holiday, in many cases if you cancel you lose your money - or a substantial part of it.

 

However, you can't really blame somebody's relatives for dying, or someone having to leave the country for a short spell for a myriad of reasons - financial, health care etc. 

 

Regarding the evictions, I personally know of one situation (a few years ago, granted) where a friend of mine paid a 10 year lease up front on some property, but was only here for 6 months of the year. Turns out the landlord was sub letting the property out while he was out of the country - the same landlord who had a clause in the contract that said that any sub letting by my friend would be subject to him paying the landlord 25% of the rent received! So evicting someone in their absence is quite within the realms of possibility here!

 

More recently, just prior to the Coronavirus, I was told by Immigration that because I was on an "Under Consideration" stamp I could not leasve the country, and during that time a close relative died and I was unable to attend the funeral.

 

So don't go blaming people for making the wrong choices, when in many cases these choices have to be made due to unforeseen circumstances.

[Letseng]

18 hours ago, 19DL86 said:

It's not only Thailand whom have closed their borders to non citizens, many nations have imposed such restrictions.  Some of those are the very same countries as those who are complaining right here of bring "stranded" ie Australia, New Zealand.

 

A fairly reasonable precaution one might add, given the total mess the UK and most of Europe has made of controlling Covid19.

 

What part of "Extension to stay" (as is granted each year to many in Non O) do people not understand?  There's no permenant right to reside on these visas. Anyone who intends or plans to settle here must surely do their research in advance, no?

 

To me living here 14 years, there are many "flags" to warn or illustrate the lack of permanency i.e. restrictions of ownership, dual/triple pricing, vocational restrictions. 

 

Anyone who has sold up "lock stock" in their home country, thus leaving them with no Exit Plan, nor have sufficient funds to sustain themselves, have not thought this through.

 

Setting up families at 65 years old or more, relying on a State pension and superficially high exchange rates 10-15 years ago, to be now living "day to day" in al out permenant denial of such essentials.

 

Many, many come here on a whimsical fantasy, a dream which all too often turns to a nightmare.  No planning, no for thought, no finances. Sad, but all too often the case.
 

Get off your high horse. People are required to meet financial requirements for a visa/ext. This money is now stuck in Thailand just because they left for a short visit to their home country. They a had a RE-ENTRY PERMIT. But the are not allowed to re-enter. Since there is a 14 day quarantine requirement, what risk does TH take allowing people in. Could be done on a quota system not to overload ASQ demand.

[spoon1967]

2 minutes ago, sambum said:

Your post seems devoid of any form of compassion, but hey, the kind of person you are is up to you! 

 

I don't think that any one thought in March that things would get as serious as they have, and if you have paid in advance for a 2 week holiday, in many cases if you cancel you lose your money - or a substantial part of it.

 

However, you can't really blame somebody's relatives for dying, or someone having to leave the country for a short spell for a myriad of reasons - financial, health care etc. 

 

Regarding the evictions, I personally know of one situation (a few years ago, granted) where a friend of mine paid a 10 year lease up front on some property, but was only here for 6 months of the year. Turns out the landlord was sub letting the property out while he was out of the country - the same landlord who had a clause in the contract that said that any sub letting by my friend would be subject to him paying the landlord 25% of the rent received! So evicting someone in their absence is quite within the realms of possibility here!

 

More recently, just prior to the Coronavirus, I was told by Immigration that because I was on an "Under Consideration" stamp I could not leasve the country, and during that time a close relative died and I was unable to attend the funeral.

 

So don't go blaming people for making the wrong choices, when in many cases these choices have to be made due to unforeseen circumstances.

I think you've got me all wrong, and as for compassion, I have young children in Thailand, I can enter no problem but then I would not be able to return to my country of work, and would lose my job. hence I would not be able to continue the current financial support I consider to be essential, over and above a short break.

 

I'm not the one initially partitioning blame, I'm defending the fact that others are blaming others (Thailand) for their own current situation.

 

Your "evictions" paragraph, is totally irrelevant, if you refuse to pay the rent - you get evicted, maybe you should show some compassion for the landlord and his family.

 

Most of the world were aware in March that things could go wrong, I was in Thailand on the 13th, and headed back to work a week early, it was so obvious things had the potential to go wrong.

 

What part of a global pandemic do some people not understand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[19DL86]

@Letseng

I m not on a "high horse" just stating the facts. If someone has put all their financial eggs in one basket with no means to withdraw those funds via an ATM or other such means, when outside of Thailand.  I see my statement regards no forethought and planning are correct.

 

Try argue that point?

[roobaa01]

good morning ,

 

I wish to add the follwoing  :

 

im 65 and 25 years married to a thai 64 yrs . Now my wife is sitting alone close to pattaya in our house to take care of the daily routine for im stranded in Germany since January 2020 due to the stupid bureacracy. Im disabled and cannot drive 400 kilometres to Berlin to pick up the nonsense certificate of entry.

Why the heck dont they allow people with thai folks to take home quarantine and have the certificate sent by mail ????  Hamburg consulate is closed since March 2020.

 

WBR

Roobaa01

[Kadilo]

How ironic that a thread raised to highlight the plight of the “Stranded” is hijacked by the usual gobsh.te “I'm all right Jack, everyone else is a ***** for not knowing etc etc , .....those that are not even stranded. What could possibly be their motivation?

Even if it was true that they may have made an error in judgement at the time what sort of <deleted> wants to keep going into threads to rub their nose it it?
 

Making an error of judgment does not make them open to constant ridicule and insult, and any less deserving of a bit of compassion. 
 

Actually, it’s not strange at all, just another day on TVF. 

Edited October 16, 2020 by Kadilo

[paulikens]

to all the people on here who are saying they knew this would be a worldwide pandemic in march and borders would be shut.... can i have tonight's euro lottery numbers?

Edited October 16, 2020 by paulikens

[thailand49]

2 hours ago, Thaiophil said:

This is out of date. There are at least 10 airlines now authorised to fly to Bkk, so there is no problem for Thais (or farangs) to get flights If they can get a COE

FYI, can you list me those airlines. Thanks in advance

[Kadilo]

3 minutes ago, thailand49 said:

FYI, can you list me those airlines. Thanks in advance

From the UK website. I think it’s up to date:

 

The list of airlines with flight permits to carry passengers to Thailand

Foreigners who wish to go to Thailand can fly only with the following airlines: 

- Thai Airways International : tickets can be purchased online at https://www.thaiairways.com/  or send email to [email protected]  if you already have tickets or vouchers.

- EVA Air

- Emirates

- Etihad

- Qatar Airways

- Singapore Airlines

- Lufthansa

- Austrian Airlines

- Swiss Air

- KLM

- Air France

- Cathay Pacific

Passengers can buy tickets directly from the airlines' websites or through travel agencies.

[thailand49]

4 hours ago, spoon1967 said:

"needed the time off and didn't think the lock down was going to last 7 months." Plenty of places to go in Thailand for "time off", he didn't expect the lockdown to last 7 months........, but still took the risk, 3, 5, 7 months, what does it matter.  

 

Complains about eviction, when he refused to pay his rent as he wasn't using the property, yeh, blame the landlord. 

Bravo, see you just needed a bit of a push from me to get your thinking cap on when you did it is obvious you already knew the answers but I know you just want to bitch slap the guy around for making the wrong decision.

 

Now since I help you already let me help you with this?  He wasn't blaming the Landlord and he didn't refuse to pay his rent the reality he just couldn't afford to pay rent where he is stuck and continue to pay the rent in Bangkok thus the reason when it was time he had friends move his things out.

 

Curious he did make the wrong decision to take a holiday now what should he have done with the information you got to continue paying his rent?

[roobaa01]

Hong kong and Singapore thereupon Australia and New Zealand will show how travel during Covid times will be made COVID19 Test only .

 

WbR

Roobaa01

Edited October 16, 2020 by roobaa01

[thailand49]

7 minutes ago, Kadilo said:

From the UK website. I think it’s up to date:

 

The list of airlines with flight permits to carry passengers to Thailand

Foreigners who wish to go to Thailand can fly only with the following airlines: 

- Thai Airways International : tickets can be purchased online at https://www.thaiairways.com/  or send email to [email protected]  if you already have tickets or vouchers.

- EVA Air

- Emirates

- Etihad

- Qatar Airways

- Singapore Airlines

- Lufthansa

- Austrian Airlines

- Swiss Air

- KLM

- Air France

- Cathay Pacific

Passengers can buy tickets directly from the airlines' websites or through travel agencies.

Thanks I was just curious as to whether Eva would show up?  Funny when it comes to Eva I know that they are operating flights for example SFO to TPE but their Transit area is completely close thus the reason they cancel a friend (Thai wife) flight recently to BKK, TPE was as far as she could go and told her to contact the Thai Embassy in L.A. and go through the proper channel of getting back to Thailand?

 

 

[from the home of CC]

8 hours ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

There IS permanence here...these people LEFT Thailand remember.

exactly. You would have to have a very unintelligent country to allow unfettered travel in a pandemic - oh wait..

[Mansell]

By mid March it was obvious this was not heading in a good direction. My sister in law wanted to fly to Korea for work there. I told her you could end up being stuck there for months, she listened and didn’t go. A week or so later I found out she had flown to Kuala Lumpur Instead for work, and she never mentioned it to me, if she had I would have told her the same thing. Of course everything closed down almost immediately and there wasn’t any work and she was stuck there for three or four months. 
I am not the most Intelligent person, but the writing was on the wall back then if you looked and read what was going on, and more important, you could see what was coming. I had a holiday planned south of Pattaya renting a house, by late March I knew it wasn’t going to happen and cancelled. Feel sorry for the folks who got caught out. The world has changed and won’t be returning to the past....a bit like the people who didn’t like the whole EU thing and voted out so they could go back in time....not happening.