@Steve *********

I am on a Multi-Entry Non B One Year. I can qualify for an Extension of Stay one year. But it is my last resort.

@Nick ***************

- Highly doubtful. Border Immigration police have never to my knowledge issued a visa.

@Simon *********

- Yes I was married for about 12 years longer than it should have lasted

@Simon *********

- I guess it depends on your definition of what a rant is. I consider my comment to be a bit of a rant

/10/visa-amnesty-extension-unlikely-immigration-spox-says/

Although Mr. Lumley is a bit over the top with his Rant.. I agree with some of his points...People who do little but make disparaging remarks generalizing about nearly all who got caught up in this Lockdown fiasco as greedy TAKERS - you simply do not understand the confusion that went on starting when all the neighboring borders shut down one after another over about a week - ten days or so. IF you had a Visa or Extension in effect at the time that put you in no jeopardy - forcing you to leave Thailand then you have no idea how those series of confusing events turned everything inside - out. In other words if you were not in danger of being negatively affected by the border closings, flight cancelations and denials of entry even to your own home country ... not just in Thailand but the entire region and around the world. Personally I needed to do a Border Bounce to get another 90 days... but in rapid succession Malaysia - then Cambodia, then Laos, then Myanmar closed borders. Then Vietnam locked down. Then Thailand shut totally.

I had my bags packed getting ready to go to any of these places but a last minute check showed each destination shutting down - until all options were gone.

Then the U.S. Embassy dithered forever finally deciding to issue the Covid letter that Thai Immigration used to allow a whoppingly "generous" 30 day Extension in two parts. Then Thai Immigration Dithered even more creating high anxiety with Immigration Office queues 300 people deep. Until finally issuing this so called Amnesty. Again - if all that has happened since January has had no potential effect on you personally - then where do you get the chutzpah to criticize? Some of you guys are like a Single Man of age 54 - Having Never been Married Lecturing a couple with Marriage Advice. How about you just consider toning it down - this ain't your rodeo - you're not riding the bucking horse. Finally if you think the majority of people caught up in this Fiasco are just doing it for the Visa Free Ride - then your discernment is greatly flawed.

Actually another Amnesty extension would be okay... But it would obviously be better. - if we could cross borders same as before with no 14 day Quarantine on either side, no super costly Covid Insurance, no mandatory Covid Tests... just waive all that.

For just border runs the neighbor countries could cooperate by having a Border I/O walk a batch of Passports to a halfway point between Checkpoints - hand them off to the neighbor Border I/O - get them stamped and return to the halfway point... A fee could be charged.

Nobody crosses the border. This was actually done at Ranong shortly before Myanmar closed its border. It worked well.

@Todd ********

- You're just guessing. Thailand is just last minute policy decisions. The Immigration Offices and individual I/Os are starving for fees and tea money... They want a way to Charge the People stuck here - not just another freebie Amnesty

@Todd ********

— Suffice it to say - we are looking at the situation through different lenses. I have detected no International Community doing anything except making rules for their own countries. I have not read about any international or even regional conferences on how to coordinate border policies or air entrance restrictions. Without such coordination to create a compatible set of policies for transit permission for travelers, trimming or eliminating quarantines, reducing or elimination of covid insurance coverage and cost etc. There will be scant tourism in Thailand and the region for many months to come... Not to mention the chaos that will ensue come the week before July 31.

People who are here under the Amnesty will not be able to deal with the current restrictions, fees, and barriers unless they are lifted or somehow waived. Border Runs and visa runs for those who have a legitimate need and reason for returning to Thailand after a border run to Myanmar for a 90 day Stay or a Visa run to Laos to get a new visa will be faced with high Covid insurance cost, one to two 14 day quarantines, one to two Covid tests, etc. I have read nothing about any of these requirements being waived or dropped all together. Without which the situation come July 31 will be a wild exasperating ride.

@chris ********************************

- I doubt such generosity. The current Amnesty was given as a last urgent option after running out of excuses of not giving it. This delay caused thousands to be exposed every week to the virus spread. Thai Immigration and those who control laws could not stand losing anymore face in the media. The long lines resulted mostly from wanting to collect Extension fees and tea money - and lasted until public embarrassment was overwhelming