What is the status of the extended amnesty for visas in Thailand until July 31st?

Apr 21, 2020
5 years ago
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
**ATTENTION MEMBERS:

Amnesty extended until July 31st

**

It appears the cabinet today approved a proposal to extend the amnesty until July 31st.

It was approved by the cabinet BUT not published in the royal gazette yet (the thing that makes it a law)

We don't know any more than that, and we are NOT letting people post links to other websites or f/b pages about it because they're all parroting the same stuff

As soon as we know more we'll letcha know.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The Thai cabinet has approved a proposal to extend the current visa amnesty until July 31st. However, this extension has not yet been published in the royal gazette, which is required for it to become law. Members of the community are receiving confirmations and clarifications, discussing how this affects various visa types, including tourist, non-O, and education visas, as well as general concerns regarding immigration procedures during this time.
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Adam *********
@Tod ********
Hi Tod. Sorry if you have answered a similar question already......

I am currently on an ‘under consideration’ stamp BUT my initial entry stamp didn’t expire until after 26 March anyway. Do you know if that makes any difference to being included with the blanket amnesty? (As the current under consideration stamp is technically not even required)

Could be quite important as on a non-b and plan for staying for many more months here. I do plan on contacting immigration closer to the expiry but just wondered if you could shed any light. Thanks
Adam *********
Bobby ****
this would include the 60day extension based on thai family, correct? i have this extension until june 12... so i can stay until july 31? my non-o ME visa is expired [thai spouse] and am planning to get a new one whenever this situation is complete.
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
how about you take a breath and wait until your stamp is closer to expiring there
@Bo***
? June 12 is a LONG way away and IF the borders open up you'll need to leave

BUT

If the borders don't open up by the 12th of June you would indeed be covered by the new amnesty program that runs until the 31st of July
Christopher ********
Just to let you know. Been to Chumphon today for a 30 day extension.

They would not have any money of me and would not give me a stamp. They sent me away saying lm OK u till 31 July
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
and was this the first 30 day normal extension you can get on a 30 day visa exempt or 60 day tourist visa entry OR was this an "unable to travel due to covid-19" extension you were trying for with a letter from your embassy?
Alvin ******
Just got off the phone with the Samut Prakan Immigration office, the officer says that the amnesty is not yet in effect... wait it out for about 2-3 days.
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
actually they are not correct either, there IS an amnesty program in effect (the current one passed on April 8th) that gives amnesty until the 30th of April.

The new amnesty program was passed by the thai cabinet and needs to be published in the royal gazette to be law.

It will take a bit of time but seeing as the current amnesty is in effect right now and the new one would start when it runs out, it doesn't matter at all...
Mick *********
My one year OA Visa expires today and Iam out of country. It will be interesting to find out if it applies. We shall see I guess 😊
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I can say with 100% accuracy that this amnesty does NOT apply to you in any way shape or form. You have to be IN the country currently to participate in it

You'd need to buy a new O-A visa from a thai consulate in your country before you come back.
Julien ***********
Im a little concerned when my tourist visa (multiple tourist visa) expires on May 12. I was planning on extending for another 30 days at Chiang Mai Immigration. I understand that visas are automatically extended to July 30, however when i leave Thailand (when flights are available) will immigration stamp my passport and mark that I was over staying?(which could affect me getting other visas in the future) And it might seem irrational, i'm concerned that they will charge me for the overstay, I understand with Covid 19 this is an extremely unprecedented situation. Any thoughts or comments would help
James ********
@Julien ***************
no overstay. You will be stamped out with date of departure.
Danni ************
Camille **********
Monika *********
Thank you! I understand we are waiting for the amnesty to be published in the royal gazette BUT does it seem this would apply to non-imm business visas that require border bounces?
Robert *******
@Gregor *********
They all are as you al use the TM7 Application Form: Application for Extension of temporary stay in the Kingdom.
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
no one knows at this time. In theory, yes, but ONCE it passes definitely check with your immigration office to make sure
Ivo ***********
Just to say .... I think that this new (&old) amnesty extension is in regards to your "entry stamp" not to your visa. I could be wrong but that is a big difference.
Morgan *********
@Ivo **********
the old order specifically said your visa renewal date.
Ka ******
Thanks a lot
Garry ********
Thanks mate
Peter *********
This, if it materialises, is reassuring too.
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
it's just waiting to be published in the royal gazette and then it will take effect the day the current blanket amnesty expires.
Martin *****
finally good news!!!! we need more good news!
Jon ****
I have a tourist visa, and I extended a month until the end of may. Would I have an automatic visa extension until the end of july? Without embassy letters?
Robert *******
As this proposal is not yet published as law and details are not know you have to wait.
Matúš ********
Someone please confirm my case. My visa ends on April 28th, I was eligible for 1 more 30 days extension I was planning to do this week. So now I don't need to go to immigration and I can stay until July 31st?
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Okay, you're covered until the 30th right now, and all you can do right now is WAIT until this cabinet proposal is passed an into law and they announce exactly how it will work.
James **********
Will this apply to my Ed Visa2. I’m due to extend after the first 90days. Thansk
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
no, long term extensions are not covered, you get the documents from your school and go get your normal extension
Travis *******
What about 90 day reports?
James ********
@Travis ******
also waived to July 31, 2020
SY ******
@Tod ********
once it is official, does it covered for one year non-o marriage visa from Savannahket?
Robin **********
@*
did you get the 60 day extension yet?
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
no one knows that sorry
Stuart ***************
I'm guessing that anyone still on a covid-19, "under consideration" stamp (I got 20 days with this stamp) is still going to need to go and get the visa extended and turned into a legitimate extension of stay (a further 10 days in my case)? My "under consideration" stamp is up tomorrow.
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I would GO to the immigration office because some offices look at the under consideration stamp as an extension "in progress" and you wanna get on the "extension of stay permitted" stamp that finishes it out
David ************
Anything to do with an extension of stay. Will the year to year reapply date stay the same as always.
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
NOTHING at all to do with yearly extensions of stays or long term extensions, you get them like you always have, if it comes up for a new one go apply for it
Timothy ******
@Will ********
Niko Hajime Tunsun
Henry *********
So, official then?
James ********
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
remains to be seen, BUT appears to be an approved proposal
Greg *******
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Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
approved by the cabinet BUT not published in the Royal gazette yet
Ben *********
That would be really the best thing to do - really hope this is confirmed 🙏
Dundas *************
Makes sense.
Rob **********
Well, that's caught everybody on the hop! It seems pretty reliable. Approved by the the cabinet today- resolution number 9.
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
right, read it here

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Jones *****
It's a thing. I was worried for a while there.
Andy ******
31st July.. official.. it's in the cabinet notes
Alex *******
Formality not completed HaHa
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
it was passed by the cabinet as a proposal BUT it was not yet posted in the royal gazette (which it most certainly will be)
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