TB Immigration Info Letter 071/20: Announcement from the Dutch embassy about the end of visa amnesty
Reporter: Dutch Embassy
Dear Dutch people,
The visa amnesty in Thailand expires on September 26. After being extended twice by the Thai authorities, no extension is possible anymore. This means that exceeding your visa duration can lead to fines and/or bans from entering Thailand in the future.
We understand that for many long-term residents in Thailand without a valid visa, this may mean you have to leave the country in the future.
The visa amnesty was introduced during a period when many tourists could no longer travel back to their own country due to travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 situation.
The Dutch and other European embassies have recently been in contact with the Thai authorities about the group of Europeans who have been staying in Thailand for a long time and who are no longer eligible for an extension of their visa. It was examined whether there were possibilities to postpone the entry into force or to relax the rules.
During a recent consultation between the European embassies and the Thai authorities, it became clear that the announced policy will not be deviated from. The Thai authorities have made an exception when people are unable to travel for medical reasons. In that case it is possible to get an extension of the stay.
Dutch Embassy Bangkok
Note: “Reactions are very welcome on the subject, but limit yourself here to the subject of this “TB Immigration Infobrief. If you have other questions, if you would like to see a topic covered, or if you have information for the readers, you can always send it to the editors. Use only for this www.thailandblog.nl/contact/. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation”
Regards,
RonnyLatYa
I read in the letter '.. We understand that for many who stay in Thailand for a long time without a valid visa, this may mean that you will have to leave the country in the future..' But hasn't that always been the case? Anyone who does not have a (valid) visa or (valid) extension is playing with fire and corona is no different.
In my opinion, that amnesty is only for short-stayers who do not live or stay in Thailand on an annual stamp. They formed the group that could not return due to a lockdown or could not travel to a neighboring country for another stamp.
I assume that this also has consequences for those who make a “border run” every 3 months. Because they will no longer enter the country.
It remains strange that tourists who are stuck in Thailand for months (and spend money) and do not pose any covid threat, have to leave the country. While on the other hand, a 270-day visa is being created to bring people to Thailand for a long time.
I am also of that opinion. Every little bit helps, doesn't it?
But they only want to let in really rich people, you can clearly see that in the requirements that are being set now. Jan with the cap can forget it, he is no longer welcome at the moment.
Idd, this amnesty was indeed there for the people who, in the early period of the Corana vicissitudes, were unable to travel back. During the 6 months of amnesty, everything changed completely and there were several options to travel back. Only 'border hopping' was and still is not possible, but border hopping is only used by people who, for one reason or another, want to stay for a long time but cannot/want to meet the conditions for long-stayers. So one more reason to ensure in the future that you have an appropriate visa and do not use loopholes in the immigration regulations to stay for a long time: after all, they are or were not 'tourists' but long-stayers and there is another visa for that .
Dear Lung Addie,
Then I think you are short of a number of holders of, for example, a Non-immigrant “O” multiple-entry annual visa. Those must. doing a board run every 90 days and that will irrevocably lead to being locked out indefinitely from September 27.
That's right, dear Theo, but they could apply for a year extension and that solved their problem of not being able to do border hopping.
Then they had to meet the conditions for an 'extension of stay'. So oa. Be able to demonstrate sufficient money in a Thai bank account and/or sufficient income 2 months before application.
And it may very well be the case that the holders of such a visa did not want or could not do this at all.
I live in Thailand and on June 15 I traveled to the Netherlands for a short holiday, but due to Corona I was unable to travel back. I'm still in the Netherlands now because of Corona. Does this mean that I can no longer get a visa for Thailand?
For all those stranded in Thailand during this crisis, there have been countless opportunities to take action. First of all, there have been opportunities to leave Thailand since March.
Converting a tourist visa to another visa was also one of the options if the conditions were met. But waiting until the last day is always unwise.
And of course there are always people who are really stuck.
It is high time that people with a retirement permit to stay can go back home.
They often support relatives of their girlfriend.
Good for the Thai economy.
Yours faithfully,
Hua.
For those who might need it.
In Chiang Mai you can also extend on Monday 28 September without an overstay penalty
https://www.facebook.com/307273909883935/photos/a.307296966548296/699311297346859/
https://www.facebook.com/richardbarrowthailand/photos/a.669746139705923/5048989798448180/