Transcript of the above video:

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing so called "COVID visas". What these really are is a discretionary use of the authority by Thai immigration offices to provide further lawful status in Thailand to those whom they deem it necessary based on the overall circumstances; based on the current situation involving the pandemic and inability to travel etc.

A recent article from the Pattaya Mail, that is pattayamail.com, brought this to my attention. The article is titled: Thailand's 60 days COVID Immigration extensions now in doubt. I urge folks who are watching this video go check out pattayamail.com and read this article in detail. There is a lot more in here, not just talking about this overall topic. Quoting directly: "The special dispensation which has allowed short stay foreign tourists to remain in Thailand since spring last year, 18 months ago, could be drawing to a close. The final date for obtaining yet another 2 month's permission is September 27th which means that the scheme would peter out in late November." Sort of what the author is saying there is if you get a new one in September, if you re-extend in September, that status will last even if the program is not renewed October 1. So somebody who got an extension on for example September 30, it would go out 60 days and they would basically have to leave November 28th or 29th and that is hypothetical circumstances. Quoting further: "The scheme was introduced by the Thai Government when land borders closed and international air travel became badly dislocated." Quoting further: "The Immigration Authorities have not formally stated the future of the scheme but there are scores of reports nationwide of some foreigners being told: "it is time to go home". A call to the Immigration 1178 hotline brought the response that “whilst the COVID extension are still available nationally, the decision is in the hands of the local interviewing officer." And that is a key point too. This is at officer discretion. We have seen these denied. There have been circumstances we have seen with Thai Immigration Officers have said: "no, we are going to do that". Basically, the individual at that time was told: "I don't believe that you can't go home." The Officer had apparently read something or seen something that said that that person could leave and we ended up having to deal with it through another method, getting it sorted out. Yeah, these are ultimately at Officer discretion and this quote: "It is time to go home", these reports of this, I have been hearing some similar things from folks that have corresponded with us that they have said that increasingly the Officers that are issuing these are starting to scrutinize, how many of these have been issued; why can't you return; what is your nationality, obviously that is self-evident but they ask "why is this going on", etc. 

So, best advice in my opinion is those that can get into a permanent status do it sooner rather than later. If you can get into any kind of permanent status, if your circumstances are such you can find a Non-Immigrant Visa that will provide long-term status do that. You are better off being in that than trying to maintain status in an ad-hoc basis. The other thing, again best advice is those who can't and just are stuck in the situation they are in, it is not a foregone conclusion that the scheme is going to be extended come October. In fact, I think with more and more talk of greater Bangkok reopening and these "Sandboxes" and things, clearly reopening is in the air, the discussion of it at least is in the air. I think the more likely that is and the closer we get to that time, the more likely it is we are going to see this program essentially extinguished, essentially at that moment.