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Answered6 years ago

Is visa amnesty still available in Thailand with a letter from the embassy?

Gabriel ******
asked Nov 26, 2020
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is visa amnesty still available with letter from embassy?
Answer summary
Visa amnesty has ended; however, individuals can apply for a visa extension if they are unable to travel due to COVID-19. The extension costs 1,900 baht and can grant up to 60 days. A letter from the embassy is no longer necessary for this process, though some immigration offices might ask for proof if letters are not issued. It's advisable to handle the extension personally at the local immigration office instead of using an agent.
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Andy **********
Andy **********
Gabriel ******
Gabriel ******
OP
Thank you everyone for answering my question. Appreciate it
Paul ********
Paul ********
Paul ********
Paul ********
Ask your Embassy
Kenneth *******
Kenneth *******
I contacted my US embassy regarding a "letter" but it is no longer necessary.

Just go to your local immigration office and pay the 1900 baht. Or use an agent which is far more expensive ( I don't reccomend this process).
Todd *********
Todd *********
For anyone still here that was on amnesty, the 60 day extension is available. No embassy letter requirement (acknowledging all immigration offices don’t do the same thing). It’s really not a matter of whether you ‘can’ fly. If you don’t want to, nobody is going to force you
Bobby ********
Bobby ********
As Todd McGowan has said, anyone who applied will get the extension. And as Stuart Cumming has stated, each office deals with it a little differently, but you will end up with either a 30 or 60 day extension for 1900baht. It's a good money earner for immigration. I'm surprised they didn't do this from the start.
เอ็ดเวิร์ด *******
เอ็ดเวิร์ด *******
can others verify this?
Stuart *********
Stuart *********
@Edward *******
each immigration office has its own rules. The official rule is that you no longer require an embassy letter to get a Covid extension. That said some offices are asking for one or proof that your embassy won’t issue one (in the form of a rejection email or screenshot from their website stating they won’t.)
Daniel ***********
Daniel ***********
@Stuart ********
this was my experience
Stuart *********
Stuart *********
@Edward *******
the Thai authorities kept leaving it to the last minute before announcing amnesty and then covid extensions. People couldn’t hack the uncertainty.
เอ็ดเวิร์ด *******
เอ็ดเวิร์ด *******
@Stuart ********
I hear you. Why were so many people freaking about whether amnesty would go into effect the previous month, with some saying they left a few days before it was announced, with much regret. Why didn't they just pay the price?
Stuart *********
Stuart *********
@Edward *******
I’ve not heard of one report of anyone being refused an extension. Yes some people have not had the right paperwork and told to come back when they have it right, but as to an outright denial I’ve not heard from any post. Some offices give 60 days immediately, some give a “under consideration” stamp and tell you to come back on a set date where you’re stamped for the remaining days. I’ve heard some are only giving 30 days, as the official wording says “up to 60 days” on a case by case basis.
เอ็ดเวิร์ด *******
เอ็ดเวิร์ด *******
@Stuart ********
So it's crapshoot whether you'll get approved?
Kenneth *******
Kenneth *******
@Edward *******
i can forward you the email from the US embassy that I received couple weeks ago.
เอ็ดเวิร์ด *******
เอ็ดเวิร์ด *******
I have heard conflicting stories., One if there are flights back to your country then you can go.
Kenneth *******
Kenneth *******
@Edward *******
"stuck" as in no other place to go.
Kenneth *******
Kenneth *******
If one can leave then via flight (problem solved) but the majority cannot leave because of flights and ongoing border closure etc.

We had a friend leave to the Philippines and to France but in our special case, we can't go to the country we need to go because that country is 100% closed.

So, we applied for the 60 day extension. Worked easily for me. My wife is due to get hers soon.

Best case scenario just go to your local immigration office, they will help you. Easy peasy.

If you hit an issue. Message me and will put you in contact with the agent that has helped me but it's expensive...
เอ็ดเวิร์ด *******
เอ็ดเวิร์ด *******
@Kenneth ******
Not clear what you mean by stuck?
Kenneth *******
Kenneth *******
@Edward *******
i wouldn't call it a crap shoot for those stuck (which is 99.9% of us Non-Thai Nationals unless repatriation is your goal).

I'd call it a guarantee.
Kenneth *******
Kenneth *******
@Edward *******
This is a literal copy and paste from my email from the US embassy in Bangkok.

All the best🙏

"The Royal Thai Government officially approved a grace period until October 31, 2020 for persons in Thailand in temporary visa status (of all visa types) to depart the country. In light of this decision by the Royal Thai Government, visa extension letters from the U.S. Embassy are not required to remain in Thailand. According to verbal communication from the Royal Thai Government’s Immigration Bureau, non-Thai nationals can visit any Thai Immigration office to request a 60-day extension of stay past the October 31 amnesty. We have been told that there will be a charge for this. Thai Immigration will not require a letter from the Embassy as part of the extension request, so the U.S. Embassy and Consulate General Chiang Mai will no longer provide letters of support for Thai visa extensions. For more information about applying for Thai visa extensions, please visit
*********************
or contact the Thai Immigration Bureau."
เอ็ดเวิร์ด *******
เอ็ดเวิร์ด *******
@Kenneth ******
ThAnks. I know that it's been months since US Embassy hasn't bee issuing letters. I'm just wondering if this is a 100% method. I just arrived. I remember how the amnesty issue had everybody in chaos, so if it's that easy now, a big change.
Oliver ********
Oliver ********
Gonna have to pay for overstay also
Todd *********
Todd *********
500 baht/day to a maximum 20k baht. May not be your worst plan...
Bobby ********
Bobby ********
Todd McGowan. The fine is not the worst part. It's the detention, deportation and ban which is the sweetner!
David **********
David **********
500 baht per day fine for overstay it's gonna add up fast
Tony ********
Tony ********
@David *********
some people have no clue!
David **********
David **********
@Tony *******
yeah I've seen people in immigration in this situation. They go in angry,.dont listen to the staff about how to resolve the situation and then wonder why they've just made everything twice as bad!
Tony ********
Tony ********
Not referring to you David!
Bobby ********
Bobby ********
A report on another group today indicated that the overstay fines are mounting for those that didn't bother getting a stamp at the end of October!
Michael ********
Michael ********
@Oliver *******
was that from October 31st ?
Oliver ********
Oliver ********
Stuart *********
Stuart *********
Amnesty has finished. You may apply for a extension based on unable to travel because of Covid-19. The cost is 1,900 and depending on the office you use you would get up to 60 days extension. If your embassy still issues the letters use it. If not then some offices are asking for proof (like an email from your embassy saying they don’t issue them) but many others aren’t. There’s a form you fill out stating you are unable to travel. All other forms and photos needed as with any other extension.
เอ็ดเวิร์ด *******
เอ็ดเวิร์ด *******
Any government explanations what the definition of being unable to travel because of Covid-19. I've seen some postings say it its inhumane for Thailand to requires residents of UK to return home because of high number of cases there. I don't want to get into a discussion of people's reactions to this, just looking for some official clarity.
Bobby ********
Bobby ********
Edward Nathan. The Thai government will not commit to say they will not send people back to their home countries. They have said they will look at covid extensions on a case by case basis. There is a declaration form you can present to immigration which outlines your reasons for requesting an extension.
Paul ********
Paul ********
Stuart *********
Stuart *********
@Edward *******
I’m not sure there are government explanations per se. The form you fill out just says unable to travel (read don’t want to travel). As far as I know there’s no requirement to prove why you can’t ( or don’t want to) travel.

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