Is the tourist visa extension until July 31, 2020, automatic for French nationals in Thailand?

@Roger *******

IF you're on a Non-O visa entry stamp, or amnest from one seeing as you can't bounce out and back you should be able to go straight to a yearly extension of stay at the immigration office by showing 12 months of incoming overseas transfers for the required amount

I do so love a good theory. Thanks again.

@Tod ********

Thank you Tod. I had one entry that was light by 2000 baht from last June, hence my need to get into next month so that it drops off the list of 12 months.

@Roger *******

in theory it should work, (y)

@He***

I really don't think that's going to happen in July. Their priorities are not people doing border runs, they will be the last to be accommodated.

Right now it is essential job work permit holders only. They have indicated next phase they will likely prioritise marriage visa holders, but that hasn't even happened yet. They are also looking at medical tourism.

Then after that they are talking about piloting something focusing on high-spending tourists only, and they will be limited to the province of arrival (like Phuket), and only 1,000 people allowed fly in per day.

Borders opening for general tourism or 90 day non-immigrant border runners I would not expect to happen until late this year if not 2021.

You also need to consider that it isn't just Thailand here, the OTHER countries need to open their borders as well. Right now I think Cambodia is the only one that has, and you need a negative Covid test, a $3,000 deposit and need to stay at least overnight, and if you are unlucky and someone on your flight in tests positive- two weeks. And right now even if you did get there, the Thai embassy would not give you a visa.

If you are currently on a non-immigrant B or O and you have not yet gone onto amnesty and can do, you should extend in country. If you are married, you would also have the option of a 60 day visit Thai family extension which might give you time to get the required finances together for a regular 1 year extension.

@Ivan ***********

Yeah, you may well be right. But if the land borders do not re-open, the Thai government will have to extend the visa amnesty. The meeting is (I understand) planned for 26 June, so we should know then.

@He***

I agree, I suspect they will extend it if borders are still closed and most flights are still cancelled. I think that's a lot more likely than the borders opening up and visa runs going back to normal.