Why is the Thai visa extension process during Covid-19 shrouded in uncertainty for long-term foreign residents?

Rather liberal 'and everything else'.

In their odd sense of Thai logic, they probably figure that if you go out of the country, they get another bite of the cherry because you’ll want to come back. They wouldn’t dream that maybe you won’t. Thai logic. Two words that don’t belong together in the same sentence.

It's not about the virus it's about patriotism, nationalism and racism. They don't want farangs, just their money...

Interesting comments above. I have lived here for 17 years full time. What disturbs me here in Bang Saray is the schoolboy/ teenagers playing open air contact sports like basketball and football in the park next door . No masks and no social distancing. They go home and possibly infect their elderly Thai parents. Yet so many Thai people criticize any farang who may be seen not wearing a mask !! Who is monitoring this irresponsible behavior of Thai people ?

Nationalism.

Rich foreigners

After 3 months being there I jumped on the first available flight I could to get back to the US because I want to come back with an actual 1yr visa and didn't want it to potentially look bad if I stayed KNOWING I had the opportunity to leave but didn't. Not sure how that's going to pan out but I've had a condo there for 2 and a half years that I extended while there this last time. I'd be more than happy to pay for quarantine and insurance if I could get back 😕

How come the US and Europe can't keep the GD foreigners out?.

You can get a doctor's note I hear and stay longer.

Best case scenario most Thai people do not care about foreigners. So the ones that are left bring in some money, but they do not care much about that also as it is abstract. Off course people in tourism jobs like us, but others love to see us go.

You may counter that with logic, but Covid made very clear that many people are not impressed by that.

Some bus companies did not allow foreigners, temples refused entry to foreigners, sports contests refused foreigners. All very low risk people as they were here already pre-Covid, no logic.

I am saying it like all Thai people are like this, but it is just to show what I think is the general feeling.

There is allot more going on than most even realize, and the "tourists" got caught up in it. Thailand has, for over ten years, been trying to close all the loopholes that have allowed people to stay here long term, without doing it correctly, and mostly because they do not have the cash to get the year long extensions, or form their business, or work the correct way, and again because of the money requirements. Look back over the last three years of the restrictions Thai embassies have placed on people doing bimonthly border runs to get a new tourist visa to continue their stay for decades in some cases, and multiple years in most cases. Now because of this virus they are closing the abuse of those people using different multi-entry 90 day visas, that were never designed for long term stay, and people repeatedly doing it again because they do not have the money to actually get the yearly extension that they should legally be getting. The last crackdown they were trying was on everyone that was using basically loan shark agents to fund the money requirements for the retirement extensions, with the time limits on deposits, and the bt400k that must remain in the bank for the full year. They were hoping this would discourage loansharking agents from doing this, as it would tie up their money for too long. By ending this amnesty, it is giving immigration, and the police, a clear understanding of the corruption within the system, and the immigration officers involved, and don't for a minute think they do not see exactly what is going on. This will be their next targets, those corrupt officials working with agents to stamp extensions when the person does not actually meet the requirements, and the said agents are just doing it for the money. The real career tourists got caught up in this. They do not want to go home, for whatever reason, and they can not continue their travels to any other country because of closed borders, and travel restrictions. Thailand knows exactly what they are doing, and are in the process of getting plans in place to start tourism again, but at the same time trying to close any loopholes it might create for unjustified long term stays because people do not have the cash to do it correctly. They made big inroads in getting rid of all those on long term overstays before this virus in the last year, and are continuing to do that. Thailand wants everyone out that can not afford to be here the correct way, and this virus just made it easier to get that done. Unfortunately career tourists, and a few other ligitimate groups got caught in this gleening.

I think it's partly the anti-farang xenophobia of the BKK hisos and then just the simple fact that BKK has no way to grab monthly cash from long-stay COVID farangs... so perhaps they don't give much shit about local businesses dying. Economy-wise, the hisos think health tourism, ganja farming, and exports are the future and do not threaten their class standing in Thailand. An overly-Westernized lower-class is a threat to them, however... that and the general laziness of Immigration and gov agencies, they want the most bang for their buck which is short-stay tourists who come and pay a lot of money, "love Thailand" and then leave without asking too many questions... I wouldn't be surprised if retirement visas become increasingly more difficult to obtain over the next decade too

Go to a local Visa Agent and pay. All problems go away.

They need to get people stamped in get control or immigration will become very messy. People been lucky here other countries have not been giving amnesty.

I don't think it does. Government told those on amnesty about six weeks ago to get your visa sorted or prepare to leave. They made it clear no further amnesty, they want money which is understandable. So get the right visa for your situation, pay your money and you're laughing