Thailand
UPDATE: Confusion over Covid-19 tests for visa extensions
UPDATE: Khaosod English removed a story on Covid-19 tests for those seeking visa extensions and replaced it with the article “Immigration backtracks on plan to require Covid-19 test for visa extensions.” They say the previous report sparked uproar among expats and immigration police spokesperson has since apologised for the misunderstanding.
Original article…
Confusion reigns today over whether Covid-19 tests will be required for visa extensions. While The Phuket News spoke with an immigration official who said “no… you don’t need a Covid-19 test to extend your visa or apply for a work permit”, Khaosod English wrote an article headlined “Covid-19 test will be mandatory for all visa extension”.
The Thaiger also contacted a respected visa agent who said Covid-19 tests are, indeed, now required for applying for both visa extensions and work permits, even renewals.
The Thai Immigration Bureau has not made any official announcement regarding Covid-19 tests. Talk about Covid-19 tests for foreigners was brought up after a rule was published in the Royal Gazette last month, officially adding Covid-19 to a list of dangerous diseases, prohibiting those infected with any of the listed illnesses from entering the country.
Immigration Police Bureau spokesperson Archayon Kraithong told Khaosod English that proof of a negative Covid-19 test will be required for visa extensions, regardless of how long a foreigner has stayed in Thailand. On the other hand, Phuket immigration deputy chief Nareuwat Putthawiro told The Phuket News that Covid-19 tests will not be required for visa extensions or work permit applications.
“We do not require any medical documents for an application to renew a visa, because there are few foreigners’ movements outside Phuket. Most of them live and work in Phuket, and have done so before the new wave of Covid-19… So they do not have to worry about it. Everything is still the same.”
Medical exams are currently already required for most work permit applicants (including tests for Syphilis and Elephantiasis). A visa agent told The Thaiger that Covid-19 tests have been added to the medical examination requirements for work permit applicants. But, on the other hand, Phuket immigration says they DO NOT require Covid-19 tests for work permit applicants.
“We have not received any notices about Covid-19 requirements for processing applications to renew visas. If we do receive any such orders, we will let the public know.”
It isn’t the first time there has been conflicting statements coming out of different officials, in different immigration offices on different days.
SOURCES: Phuket News| Khaosod English
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We spoke about the new proposal for an Area Hotel Quarantine last Friday and in Thailand News Today. The mandatory 14 day quarantine (magically extended a couple of days at many facilities at the foreigner’s cost) remains the key sticking point for the return of tourists or travellers, in any significant or useful numbers. A number of visas and quarantine programs has done little to increase the numbers of foreign arrivals to Thailand.
The proposal, leaked out as a ‘discussion’ pending cabinet talks and a final decision, has not received much support from the overseas community that are trying to travel to Thailand, or former expats that are trying to get back. Many of the comments believe the 14 days, even restricted to a larger set of walls, is still too restrictive, costly and inconvenient.
“It would also be nice if the two weeks quarantine was not part of the visa! You get a two month visa minus the two weeks.”
“It’s still a prison if you can’t get out. Voting with my feet”
“There’s just not going to be any tourism until Thailand stops this 14-day quarantine nonsense.”
The proposal allows guests to leave their hotel rooms after the first 3 days of a 14 day stay. The proposal is on the agenda for the next CCSA weekly meeting. The proposal was mooted at a meeting last Thursday and chaired by Thailand’s Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn.
After the first 3 days, guests would have another swab test before being able to spend the remaining 11 days meandering around the rest of the hotel complex (so, suddenly, REALLY large hotels in great locations become much more attractive). But they wouldn’t be able to leave the hotel property.
The Area Hotel Quarantine is being seen as an accommodation for the hardest hit tourist zones in Thailand – Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi, Surat Thani (the 3 islands of Koh Samui, Koh Pha Ngan and Koh Tao) and Chon Buri (Pattaya). In all cases the key tourist zones are desperate for the government to ease restrictions or do something… anything… to help boost travel to the battered tourist economies that rely, mostly, on the visits from tourists.
After the 14 day AHQ the visitor will be free to travel anywhere around Thailand.
Last Thursday’s conference call says that Ministers are trying to come up with ways to start re-opening up Thailand to more travellers from next month by expanding the options and slowly easing restriction.. They also want to re-open talks with neighbouring countries and other countries deemed ‘low risk’, or with high vaccination uptake, with travel bubble options, hopefully by May.
About vaccinations, the government is also considering plans to have a no-quarantine option for visitors to come to Thailand as long as they’ve been vaccinated. But the Public Health Ministers says they are looking at the lead from the World Health Organisation about how to administer this sort of ‘vaccine passport’ access as there needs to be a greater body of knowledge about the efficacy of various vaccines. The International Air Transport Association is also in discussion with airlines and governments about restricting access to international travel for people who have been vaccinated.
It was also disclosed this week that some foreigners in the first batch of golf quarantine, where they have to stay in their room for 3 days then can roam around the golf course and play golf, have tested positive for the coronavirus after the test on the third day of their stay. Another batch of Villa Quarantine tourists, visiting Phuket at the end of February, have all returned negative test results.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
(The hotel depicted in the main photo may, or may not, be associated with the Area Hotel Quarantine program)
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2 Phuket Town nightclubs are shutting down after allegedly violating multiple laws. The Maldives and H20 on Lim Sui Ju Road, on the south end of Phuket Town were ordered by the Phuket Governor to close immediately, with the Maldives being ordered to close for 5 years.
The order comes after the Phuket City Police inspected the Maldives club, arresting the manager for operating an entertainment venue without a permit, allowing people under 20 years old to work or “use services in the venue,” and for selling alcohol without a permit.
Governor Narong cited his authority under Section 4 of NCPO order 22/2558 to order the Maldives nightclub to be closed for 5 years, from March 5, 2021 to March 4, 2026.
The order also prohibits the operators from opening any other entertainment venues during the same period. The H20 nightclub was ordered to close by a provincial order after Phuket City Police say they inspected the venue and charged the operator for selling or providing shisha, or baraku, without permission.
The owner was also accused of operating an entertainment venue without a permit and violating the provincial order for enforcing Covid-19 safety measures. But it is unknown what penalties were handed down to the operator of the H20 nightclub, unlike the Maldives operator, who received a penalty.
Instead, the governor cited the Revolution Council announcement of 1959, to shut down the establishment for 30 days from March 5, 2021 to April 3, 2021. The orders noted that both operators of the clubs have the right to appeal the closures, having 15 days to file an appeal directly with the Phuket Governor.
Meanwhile, Phuket is set to open its doors to vaccinated, international tourists by October, pending the government’s approval. The local government’s initiative, named Phuket First October, proposes vaccinating a majority of its population over 18 years of age in time for the high season.
The move would allow thousands of vaccinated Europeans to enter Thailand, while locals would be protected from the virus symptoms.
SOURCE: The Phuket News
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An early morning drug bust in Rawai, Phuket has yielded 9 arrests. The first raid yesterday consisted of 30 task force members who raided a sea gypsy shack near the beachfront in Rawai.
43 year old Saroch Homhuan, and 34 year old Juree Bangjak, were arrested and charged with posession of a Category I drug with the intent to sell, after police found 9 pills of methamphetamine, or yaba in Thai, over 6 grams of crystal meth, or ya ice in Thai, and 3 other “items of evidence.”
31 year old Suriyan Na Takuathung, and 29 year old Prathip Areerop, were arrested and charged with possession of a Category 1 drug with intent to sell, and possession of a Category 5 drug respectively. Police say they found 20 pills of methamphetamine, 0.92 grams of dried marijuana and 5 items of drug paraphernalia.
Police also raided 2 houses in Moo 2, arresting 5 suspects, named as 21 year old Vikrom Kongwiriyakul, 32 year old Narunat Chanthamuwong, 18 year old Chanchai Damrongkaset, a woman named Chantha Hansaithong, and 21 year old Warut Rodphan.
Warut was allegedly found with a bottle containing 500 millilitres of kratom juice. Police also say they seized 150 grams of kratom leaf dregs which are used to boil leaves in order to make the juice. Police charged him with posession of a Category 5 drug.
Police say they confiscated a total of 13 litres of kratom juice from 4 other suspects, which was contained in 10 bottles along with other ingredients and equipment to produce the drug cocktail called ‘4×100.’
All 9 suspects were taken to the Chalong Police Station in which only 1 agreed to undergo drug rehabilitation.
The raids come after the Phuket Provincial Government ordered officers of the Muang District Office to target villages where drugs are prevalent. A spokesman for the government said police will continue to remove drug traffickers from the community while working to improve the quality of local people’s lives so they don’t have to use drugs anymore.
SOURCE: The Phuket News
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Bucket
Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 12:29 pm
Maybe no medical documents needed in Phuket,but Koh Samui Immigration asked for a medical certificate when I did my extension of stay for my non O A visa. Height, weight, blood pressure, blood test, chest X-ray and doctor asking what medication I take. And 650 Baht to pay.
Issan John
Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 9:53 pm
“650 baht to pay” for what / to whom?
An annual “retirement” extension of stay is 1.900 baht.
Steve
Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 1:05 pm
As usual, left hand having no idea what the right hand is doing. Nothing unusual there,
Frank Leboeuf
Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 1:12 pm
They do seem eerily aware of what the right foot is doing though, which probably doesn’t help much…
Andrew
Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 1:24 pm
Money, money, money….
Denis
Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 2:21 pm
Je viens de demander ma prolongation de visa la semaine dernière.
Exactement les mêmes documents que l’année dernière étaient nécessaires: rien de plus.
Ils m’ont juste posé des questions sur mes voyages les mois précédents et si j’ai été en contact avec une personne contaminée.
James R
Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 12:35 am
Denis
You said
“I just applied for my visa extension last week.
Exactly the same documents as last year were needed: nothing more.
They just asked me about my travels the previous months and if I had come into contact with an infected person.”
—
My question is, How would you know if you had come into contact with an infected person?
Comment sauriez-vous si vous êtes entré en contact avec une personne infectée?
Denis
Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 8:58 am
I just report about my personal experience.
It is obvious that i cannot know if i was in contact with a contaminated person.
I think that the meaning of immigration question is “have you been in contact with any
identified contaminated person and authorities warned you ?” OR “Have you been in any location where covid cases have been identified ?”
James R
Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 7:40 pm
Denis
OK, I understand.
lou
Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 5:20 pm
good opportunity to ask for a 3 to 4000 bth cost for the test, better than nothing
Issan John
Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 9:51 pm
Why a “good opportunity”?
Are you suggesting that Immigration do a test?
Absurd.
Andy W
Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 5:47 pm
Having been through ASQ just before Xmas, I do hope they don’t require yet another test from me when I extend my 60 day visa to 90 days. It may well be the straw that broke the camels back and I may forget the extension and take my spending money home with me…
Or maybe not but I’ll certainly try to spend less, just to spite the money grabbers.
Issan John
Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 9:56 pm
You went through ASQ and all the hoops just for a 60 day visa?
Well, that puts those here saying that nobody would do so in their place.
EdwardV
Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 10:57 pm
That quip really only works if Andy intended leave Thailand after the 60 days. Even so, it was never about the length of the visa and always about the length of stay. After all the original STV could be extended twice to upwards of 180 days if I remember correctly and still there were virtually no takers. You and I argued about the need for the visa to be at least 90 days to make it worthwhile. Clearly Andy planning to stay past 60 days would lend one to think that is the case.
Issan John
Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 10:00 pm
Why a “good opportunity”?
Are you suggesting that Immigration do a test?
Absurd.
Ken O
Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 6:14 pm
I was at immigration today and ask if I need covid test to extend my visa,,the staff say I dont need now, and they say I probably not need it when I will extend it in middle of march.
Becaus I live here, NOT travel to “red zones” so they say why should I give covid test?
AND goverment have not say that you need.
Ken O
Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 6:39 pm
Maybe they do things different in the provinces. But in Buriram we not have any issues with covid test for extend our visa, thats if you live here and not travel to “red zones”
Lars W
Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 11:49 pm
Why should a persons health situation with regards to covid be involved in visa matters? I dont get it.
Alexander
Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 12:57 am
Outbreak
Govt Order Everyone Step Feet In The Kingdom Not To Go Any Where.
Every Single person To Stay Home Avoid Gathering
Who Stay In Next City To BANGKOK
Due To Haze Hit BANGKOK in December
Have To Visit BANGKOK Every week to follow with Embassies
As Capital And Main City in Thailand
Stay Home Follow Control Team Disease
Is Welcoming And Glad To Cut Outbreak
And Secure All …
Stranded Both Trader or tourist
Or visitors Not Agree
About Visa Policy
Government Is One In Thailand
Stay Home Mean Cut The Gathering
In immigration offices As Hot Point
Extended Is Amnesty And Rights
Not Time For Make Files …
Thank For Unity Decision Maker
All Accommodation Star Hotel
Gave us paper For Regulations Royal Thai
Government To Curb Outbreak
Not Time For Visa
Time For review our life for immunity
Sport And Go Better Future
Take Class From The Coronavirus
Kenneth O
Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 6:53 pm
I try to post again
Anonymous
Sunday, January 24, 2021 at 11:10 am
You’re reporting news from some Visa agency dude. That’s where the confusion comes from. Nobody has said anything about COVID tests for work permits. The official order says nothing about that. That’s for people arriving to Thailand and permanent residency visas. That’s what the order said. I can’t believe you would publish something some agency guy said as news.