Maj Gen Pornchai Khunteem, the Immigration Deputy Commander, announced the news at a press conference held at the headquarters of the Immigration Bureau in Bangkok, saying the cabinet had approved the move.
Gen Pornchai explained that tourists who are unable to return home after September 26 due to illness should apply for an extension of stay by applying for an immigration office and providing a medical certificate to acknowledge that they can not fly.
However, those who are unable to return home due to lack of flights or other circumstances in their home country must submit a letter from the embassy or consulate of their home country in Thailand. They have to request a permission letter for a foreign national to remain in the Kingdom temporarily, Gen Pornchai added.
Foreigners will each be granted a stay of 30 days, Gen Pornchai said.
But if the circumstances of the tourist have not changed within the 30 days, he added, they may apply for another 30 days' stay.
Gen Pornchai has not confirmed whether, with every application for an extension to stay from the same foreigner, a new letter from the foreigner's embassy will be required.
Gen Pornchai has warned that the visa amnesty will end on September 26 for all types of visas.
"All long-term visa holders whose residence permits expired after March 26 must also apply for an extension to remain until September 26, 2020, from now on," he said.
"Please contact a local immigration office as soon as possible to avoid [immigration offices] congestion in the last few days," urged Gen Pornchai.
Source: Phuket News
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