007 RED

OP…. It was possibly your history of 2.5 years on tourist visas and a couple of overstays that lead the IOs to assume that you had been working and hence the refused entry.

You have indicated that you now have a new passport.  Please do not assume that a new passport is going to ‘wipe’ your previous Thai Immigration history clean.  The Immigration computer system is fairly sophisticated and very capable of linking your old passport to your new one in a couple of second.

You have also indicated that you have an Education Visa.  I trust that you are aware that although you have obtained a visa it is not a guarantee that you will be admitted into the Kingdom.  To quote from the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs website:

“Royal Thai Embassies and Royal Thai Consulates-General have the authority to issue visas to foreigners for travel to Thailand.  The authority to permit entry and stay in Thailand, however, is with the immigration officers.  In some cases, the immigration officer may not permit foreigner holding a valid visa entry into Thailand should the immigration officer find reason to believe that he or she falls into the category of aliens prohibited from entering Thailand under the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979)”.

When the IO scans your new passport at the port of entry he/she is going to see that you were refused entry last time you tried to enter and the reasons given by the IO.  Entering with an education visa may well start ‘alarm bells ring’ with the IO and given your previous history I suspect that you will be taken to one side questioned by a supervisor.  They may well ask for copies of letters that you have from the educational establishment indicating your admission, which course(s) you will be following and fees paid etc.  I hope that the establishment is a reputable one and not on the Immigration suspect list otherwise you may well find yourself being refused entry again.

Good luck.

3 hours ago, elgenon said:

Isn't a stamp required by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs? How is that done when you use an outreach program? I'm confused.

FYI ….. From past reports, only a few immigration offices (mostly in or near Bangkok) require the embassy income letter to be authenticated by the MFA Consular Department for the purpose of renewing extension of stay.

My immigration office (Nakhonpathom being one of them).  When I did my 90 day reporting a couple of months ago the IO reminded, after looking at my details on her computer, that my extension renewal was due in September and that if I was using an embassy letter to support my income claim, that the letter needed to be authenticated by the MFA.

It should be noted that although MFA and immigration use the term authenticate in fact the MFA only certify that the signature on the embassy letter is genuine as per the sticker which they put on the rear of the letter (see below).

Although it is possible for me to get into Bangkok and get the embassy letter authenticated at the MFA in a day, frankly it’s a pain in the rear having get up before the crack of dawn to get there before 9:30am, and then wait around to collect the letter in the afternoon, plus getting back home in rush hour traffic.

The MFA Consular Department have an option that allows you to post your documents to them for authentication.  I have done this for the past couple of years and the process works well.  This year I posted the documents by EMS on Monday morning and received the authenticated embassy letter back by EMS on Wednesday afternoon.  Cost 460 BHT paid by post office money order.

http://www.consular.go.th/main/th/services/1303/24762-Procedure-of-Document-Authentication-by-Mail.html

To really P me off, the IO who’d previously reminded me that my income letter needed to be authenticated by the MFA did my renewal of extension of stay last week.  She never looked to see if the letter had been authenticated (sticker on the back), she just looked at the income figures and converted them to Baht against that days Bangkok Bank buying rate.

As has been said on many occasions on TV, when the IO says jump, just jump and don’t ask how high!

Quote from OP:

"An Indian lady…… has been teaching English in a large…. school here in Thailand.  All arranged properly and legally.  Her first stint teaching was on a Tourist Visa…..”

Since when has it been legal to teach (work) in Thailand when only in possession of a Tourist Visa?  Surely to be arranged properly an legally the lady would have needed a Non-B Visa plus a Work Permit.

Regarding the refusal of her application for a Non-B Visa it is quite possible that the supporting letter from the school may well have indicated that the lady has already been teaching there etc., and a keen eyed Thai Consular Officer spotted that she only had a Tourist Visa in her passport.

Regarding returning her documents, I note from several Thai Embassy/Consular websites from around the world that they state that they will keep all supporting documents and applicants are advised to make copies before submitting their application.

FYI - Details of how to apply by post for MFA authentication of signature on Embassy income letter are as follows:

http://www.consular.go.th/main/th/services/1303/24762-Procedure-of-Document-Authentication-by-Mail.html

23 hours ago, somtamlao said:

Yeah, I understand. All the details are still legible, it's just there's damage to the actual bio-information page on the top corner. It's just a small crack in the page but tough to know whether that will prevent entry to the country. 

OP…. You indicated in your original post that the Thai Consulate contacted you and advised that you to get a new passport because the photo page was slightly cracked in the top corner.  Did they still issue you with a visa?

FYI – When the Immigration Officer scans your passport, the scanner (through an Optical Character Reader) reads the information contained within the <<<< >>>> at the bottom of the photo page.  Parts of that information are then used to provide a ‘Public Key’ which ‘unlocks’ the encrypted information held on the ‘chip’ that is embedded within the passport.

The information held on the ‘chip’ is currently identical to that contained on the photo page of the passport, including the photo of the holder.  It is the information from the ‘chip’ that is then displayed on the Immigrations Officer screen (not the initial scanned information between <<<< >>>>) so they can easily validate the identity of the passport holder.

If your passport has a small crack in the top corner, and the other information on the photo page is legible, as you have indicated, then I doubt that it will give rise to you being denied entry, even by a Thai Immigration Officer.  However, they may well do a double check. 

The reason why the ‘chip’ was originally introduced (way back in mid-2005) was to make it more difficult to forge or alter a passport because of the encryption, and easier for boarder control authorities to detect forgeries and alterations.

As I've mentioned above, the information currently held on the 'chip' is identical to that contained on the photo page.  The UN under the auspices of the International Civil Aviation Authority which dictates the form of Machine Readable Travel Documents (passports etc) has only very recently approved the inclusion of fingerprints and iris scan information onto the passport 'chip'.  However, inclusion of these additional biometrics is not mandatory and individual passport issuing authorities will have discretion to include them or not in future passports.

9 hours ago, mvdf said:

....... I have it on very good authority from a friend with ICA Singapore that IATA requires nominal data changes be recorded on the chip as a condition for countries participating in the US's VWP system.

Sorry, but your so called ‘friend with Immigration & Checkpoint Authority Singapore’  is giving you fake information.

Firstly…. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) cannot, and do not, specify what information is, or is not, held on the ‘chip’ that is embedded in Machine Readable Travel Documents e.g. passports.

Determining what data is held on the ‘chip’ is the responsibility of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (IACO) which is under auspices United Nations.

Secondly…. Until last month (June) the only data that is held on the ‘chip’ that is embedded within the passport is identical to that information given on the photo page of the passport (including a copy of the holder’s photo).

As from the 1st July 2018 the IACO Committee finally approved the Seventh Edition of Document 9303.  This document upgrades the previous editions and now allows for the inclusion of fingerprints and iris scans to be embedded on the ‘chip’. 

However, inclusions of these additional data items is not mandatory and the decision to include them is up to the individual MRTD (passport) issuing authorities.

FYI…. The IACO has been consulting for some considerable time what other personal data items might also be embedded onto the chip.  For example:  Name change; Gender change; Criminal records.  At this point in time there is no indication that the IACO will make any recommendations that any of these personal data can/should be added to the data held on the chip in the foreseeable future.

2 hours ago, Fruit Trader said:

A little research reveals problems with both digital and analogue systems losing channels as there are plenty of Shenzhen specials that hate a power cycle. Digital systems seem to suffer more from poor installation and configuration.

The system that I installed recently was MIC and gives (IMO) very good quality pictures, both day and night, plus very good replay images, so I wouldn't knock the fact that they are MIC.  OK, its not by any stretch of the imagination a top of the range system incorporating PTZ , movement activation or facial recognition, which for my application is not required.

Regarding the loss of channels, as I mentioned in my earlier post, we have had a couple of power outages since I did the installation earlier this year and when the power came back up all the channels appeared on the monitor via the recorder.  No resetting was necessary.

I can see that mains spiking could be a problem with the electronics in the cameras and recorder if the mains voltage was supplied direct to them, but the cameras and recorder provided in my system are supplied with 12 volts DC through their own separate power adaptors, so mains spikes shouldn't affect the electronics in the main hardware.

4 hours ago, Arjen said:

I heard (but not sure if this is correct) that a big disadvantage from IP camera's (wireless, or hardwired) is that with a power failure, it is possible your recorder "forgets" the IP addresses from the camera's.

1 hour ago, grollies said:

Any of you gurus know if arjen is right about this?

Since installing my wireless system we've had a couple of power outages to the house which obviously means no power to either the cameras or the recorder.  The outages have lasted anywhere between one and 5 hours.  On both occasions when the power has returned the system has operated as normal with no loss of the IP addresses or need to reset the system.

Within the instructions that were provided with the kit, they explain the procedure you need adopt to register the new camera's IP address which appears fairly simple and straight forward so it should not be a real problem if a power outage did require re-registering the IP addresses of the cameras. 

I replaced and added to my old analogue, hardwired, 4 camera system earlier this year.  I installed the original system about 6 years ago.  No real technical knowledge required to install, very simple/basic connection.  Each camera required a power supply and the cable to the recorder/monitor.  Laying-in of the camera to recorder cables gave me the biggest headaches.

For the upgrade, I only needed 6 cameras but the kits only come in 4 or 8 cameras.  I settled for an 8 camera digital, wireless system.  The cameras have built in inferred LEDs for night surveillance.

Cost quoted for 4 camera kit was around 4,500 BHT, and 8 camera kit was 7,500 BHT.

Again, each camera requires a 220 volt AC power supply.  The big bonus is that you don’t need any cables to connect the cameras to the recorder as everything is wireless and pre-set up for you.  Range from camera to recorder is claimed to be 500 meters (line of site) but this is reduced by buildings etc. 

My recorder is located inside the house (surrounded by walls) and the furthest camera is about 100 meters away.  Pictures are excellent and night pictures are amazing compared to the original analogue system.

I installed the cameras (including power supplies) and set them up in less than an afternoon.

I live on the Western outskirts of BKK and purchased the kit from a company in Pantip Plaza in BKK.  Managed to get a 500 BHT discount off the 8 camera kit.  I have seen these kits are available on Aliexpress, but not sure if you will need to pay import tax and VAT.

Picture below shows 2 of the cameras.  The grey box which they are mounted on are standard electrical boxes purchased from HomePro at 50 BHT each and contain the power supply and adaptor.

Hope this helps.

OP….  You have indicated in your original post that you have been visiting Thailand on a regular basis (once or twice a year) for the past five years.  Would you please enlighten us as to how you arrive in Thailand, e.g. by plane, land crossings or boat.

Many thanks

ianh68.... Sorry to hear that your Embassy letter was rejected by MFA because the signature was incomplete.  If I was in your shoes I would be contacting the Embassy by phone and requesting a new letter be issued as a matter of urgency in order to ensure that you are able to obtain your extension of stay in time.  I just hope that they don't try to charge you again.  You may need to email them a copy of the MFA rejection notice.

Regarding the MFA application form.... it is buried somewhere in the MFA website and unless you read Thai it is almost impossible to find.  I have attached a PDF copy of the form.  Hope that helps and best of luck.

MFAlegalizationform.pdf

OP….  I don’t want to make you feel despondent, your ambition to help the Thai rescue organisations are very admirable, but you do need to be aware of a number of issues which can cause you potential problems.

Firstly you will need to obtain a non-O visa and also obtain a work permit even for the type of voluntary work you have indicated.  As has been previously indicated, if you get caught working without a work permit the Thai Authorities will take you to court and you will be deported and banned from entering Thailand for some considerable time.   Some previous posters have indicated that your chances of being caught are remote, and even if you are it is unlikely that because of the nature of the work that you are proposing, the Authorities will not take any action. 

Are you willing to take the risk? Bearing in mind that if you attend incidents with the rescue organisation it is highly likely that the police will also be attending and as a foreigner you are going to stand out like a ‘sore thumb’ as far as the police are concerned and it is possible they may, just may, start asking some questions.

Secondly, if you hold any professional advanced lifesaving skills (Paramedic or EMT) you will not be allowed to employ those skills in Thailand without accreditation from the Institute of Emergency Medicine.  At very best you will have to confine your assistance to very basic first aid only.

Thirdly, most rescue groups that I have had contact with are very enthusiastic but very much basic first aid trained and they tend to be ‘scope and run’ merchants.  You also need to bear in mind that members of these rescue groups tend to only speak Thai as will the people who you may have to assist.  So having a good command of the Thai language is essential otherwise you will be more of a hindrance than help.

Best of luck.

Approximately a year ago I noticed what I can only describe as little mosquitos flying in front of my eyes.  Normal reaction was to swat them away, but they kept appearing.  I soon realised that they were not mosquitos, but something inside the eye.  I made an appointment to see an ophthalmic doc at Rama Hospital in BKK (Government Hospital).  Appointment was made via the hospital app and I was seen within a week.

The ophthalmic doc told me that the ‘little mosquitos’ were known as floaters that are small loose cells in the fluid inside the eye.  She said that they were not a problem and normally the brain becomes accustoms to them and ignores them.  No treatment was necessary.  Great, but..... she then informed me that the pressure test (a small short puff of air directed at the eye) which they do as a standard test before you see the doc showed that the pressure of the fluid inside the eye was on the high side.  She referred me to a colleague who was a specialist in glaucoma.  He repeated the ‘puff’ test and gave both eyes an intensive microscope examination.  He then gave me a number of other tests using some fairly sophisticated digital equipment.

This doc confirmed that the fluid pressure was on the high side and if left untreated I was at considerable risk of developing glaucoma which will mean losing my sight.  On a scale of 1 to 10, normal pressure should be 4-6.  Mine was 8.  All other factors concerning my sight are perfectly normal for my age.

He prescribed eye drops (one drop in each eye in the evening).  No pain or side effects when drops being administered.  I have been back for follow up checks on a three monthly basis (examination and repeat of tests) and thankfully the fluid pressure has reduced to almost normal levels.  My next appointment is now in six months.  The doc says that I may have to take the eye drops for the rest of my life.

Cost of consultation and tests about 1,300BHT.  Cost of eye drops from local pharmacy (bottle lasts about a month) 820BHT.

A small price to pay for my sight.

Hope this helps.

OP… Some hopefully helpful advice if you want to get your document(s) legalised quickly.

The Legalisation Division does do a same day service however, to avail yourself of this service you need to submit the document(s) before 9:30am.  You can then collect the document(s) after 2:00pm same day.  The cost is 400BHT per document.

As well as the original documents, you should also have photocopies of the documents, your passport plus photocopies of the photo page and your visa.  It is also advisable to print out the legalisation application form and complete it before you arrive to save time.  MFAlegalizationform.pdf

You will need to get there early as there is always a lot of people wanting same day service and it can be a bit of a mad crush to handover the documents in time.

The main doors to the building do not open until 8:00am. However, if you walk around the right-hand side of the building there is a side door which opens at about 7:00am.  You can make your way into the main entrance area.  The security staff will not allow you to go up to the Legalisation Division on the 3rd floor until 8:00am.  They (the security staff) will ask you for form a queue at the bottom of the staircase on the right which.  The queue on the left at the bottom of the escalator is for Thais wanting to obtain a passport.

At 8:00am the security will allow you to go up to the 3rd floor.  When you arrive at the 3rd floor staff there will ask you to take a seat which forms a queue.  At 08:30am the staff will marshal you to the initial checking desk where you’re present your document(s), application form, passport and copies etc.  If all is OK they give you a number ticket and you return to your seat and wait for that number to appear on the electronic board above the windows.

When your number is called you had over the documents which will be checked again.  The clerk will then ask you for payment.  They ask you to sit back down and wait for your name to be called.  When your name is called go to the window and you will be given a receipt for the payment.  You must keep that receipt as you will need to hand it over when you collect your document(s).

You will then have to wait around until 2:00pm to collect your documents.  There are a number of coffee shops and a food hall on the 1st floor.  At 2:00pm (or slightly before) go back to the 3rd floor and show the staff member your receipt.  They will give you a ticket number and ask to you sit and wait until your number is called.  You then go to the collection window hand over your receipt.  The clerk will find your documents and give them to you together with your reciept.

Hope that helps and good luck.

MFAlegalizationform.pdf

1 hour ago, KhunBENQ said:

........

Try to enter the USA as a European with a non biometric/electronic passport.

Google ESTA to learn what "tracking" means if you are not familiar.

Chip cards in passports are far from new.

 

You are quite correct in that you will not be able to use a passport by any of the EU countries that does not have a so called biometric chip embedded in it.  The reason for this being that the EU countries started embedding the chip into all new passports issued in 2006, so any document that was issued prior to that year has now expired as most passports only have a 'life' of 10 years.

The ESTA has nothing to do with the chip in your passport.  It is simply an electronic application process to enter the US for citizens of countries who may qualify for entry without a visa.  The only tracking available is for an applicant to see (track) the status of their application.

As I indicated in my earlier post, the chip currently only contains the same information as that contained on the photo page of the passport and is currently used to make it more difficult to fake/forge and easier for boarder control agencies to detect fake/forged travel documents.

2 hours ago, Kasset Tak said:

I'm not sure about the "not containing biometric data" part. When I apply for a new passport they include my fingerprints (all 10 fingers), height (no weight...) and some other stuff digitally in to the file sent to the passport manufacturer, so I believe that at least some countries already put biometrics in their passports! 

Interesting.  I am aware that some countries do require applicants for new/replacement passports to submit biographical data, but my understanding is that this is only used in the application verification process and is not currently embedded on the chip.

Can you enlighten me as to which country you are from?

FYI – As mentioned in my earlier post, some smart phones are able to read the data held on the chip.  If you search Google Play store you will find an app that reads the so called biometric data.  I would be interested to know if your passport has any true biographical data embedded in it.

To be honest this is another ‘pie in the sky’ idea to make it sound/look like the Ministry of Defence are in total control.  The physical and technological resources need fulfil this dream is far beyond even the most advanced countries in the world.  So what chance has Thailand 0.4 got?

Whatever happened to the other wonderful ideas that have been floated by this government recently:–

 Tourists being issued with wrist bands so that they can be tracked in an emergency? 

 Tourists being required to obtain trackable SIM cards?

I don’t think anyone needs to lose any sleep over this fantasy.  More than likely 'shelved' in a couple of weeks like the other bright ideas.

12 hours ago, InfinityandBeyond said:

Already done. My passport carries an RFID chip. Identified by this insignia on the front cover. Yours may be the same. Have a look. 

FYI – Currently over 160 countries issue passports that have a microchip embedded into it as per the UN - International Civil Aviation Standards Organisation (9303 Machine Readable Travel Documents Sixth Addition). 

Although these passports are commonly referred to as biometric passports, they in fact do not hold any biometric data (finger prints; iris scan; or other physical features) about the passport the holder currently.   The information that is currently held on the chip is identical to that which is presented on the photo page of the passport, including the photo of the holder. 

The information held on the chip is encrypted and can only be embedded onto the chip with high security ‘writers’ and software that are only available to the passport issuing authorities.  The purpose of the chip is to make it more difficult to forge/fake a passport and, therefore, easier for boarder control agencies to detect such fakes/forgeries.

The information on the chip can be read by most non-contact readers, including some smart phones.  However, in order to read the information, the reading device must be provide with a ‘public key’ to unlock the encryption.  This is obtained by placing the passport onto a normal optical scanner and reading that information at the bottom of the photo page between <<<< >>>>.  By using certain parts of that information (e.g. date of birth and the first letters of the family name) plus a complex algorithm a key is established to unlock the encryption.

Currently the UN (in the ICAO Document 9303 - Seventh Edition) is proposing to allow passport issuing authorities to introduce biographical data onto the chip such as finger prints, iris scans, and other physical features of the passport holder (e.g. height and distinguishing makers etc.).  These proposals are currently under discussion/consultation amongst the ICAO members and it is anticipated that approval for these additional features will be given by the end of this year.  There are currently no thoughts of adding additional information such as criminal history or previous names etc.

1 hour ago, darrendsd said:

For this to be correct this must mean that their old name is stored on the information part of their new, new name PP that can only be read by a scanner,  is that correct? Otherwise how would they be able to link old and new names?

 

Darren ….. The answer was in the next couple of lines of my original post.

When the passport is scanned and the information at the bottom of the photo page between <<<< >>>> is read the system initially just looks only at the passport number and searches its database to see if that number is known.  If the passport number is not known, the system then does a search using: Country Code + Gender + Date of Birth + Family Name + First Name(s).

If this search does not identify any matches the system goes back and just identifies any matches using just Country Code + Gender + Date of Birth.  Although there are hundreds (if not thousands) of millions of passport information held in the immigration database the number of people that have the same Country Code, Gender and Date of Birth is actually quite small.  In most cases its less than 50 people.

The system then compares the photos of the people that it has identified from the first three criterion against the photo in the passport which is currently being presented.

The original immigration system did not have any facial recognition facility built into it so all it could do was to present the IO with all the photos of the people that the system had identified as possible matches.  A time consuming task.   Over the past few years facial recognition has become more reliable and has been introduced into the immigration system.  Although it is still fairly basic, it is never the less 80% plus accurate.  No doubt as the facial recognition technology improves the facility will be upgraded and become more accurate in the future.

Any faces that that the system has identified as possible matches are then shown on the IOs screen (possibly five or six photos max).  If the IO decides that a particular photo matches the person in front of them, they can select that photo and see a summary of that person’s history.   No doubt at that stage the IO will start asking a lot of questions like: Have you been to Thailand before? Have you had a previous passport?  Have you changed your name? etc. etc.

Once the IO has established that the person has had a previous passport, and used it to enter the Kingdom, they can confirm the link between the original and current passports and in future any IO looking at the new passport details will be able to see the person’s immigration history and charges of names etc.

FYI - I have only indicated part of the process.  The system also does a number of other background searches using similar principles to see if the person holds a second passport issued by another country in the case of dual nationality.

Hopefully you will see from the more detailed description I have provided that the system does not necessarily need the person’s full current and previous names to make a possible match between previous and current passports.

On ‎14‎/‎05‎/‎2018 at 5:14 AM, vasilii said:

....... Gonna try to go back in September, anyway did new pasport and new name, 2nd name even to be more safety . Gonna do everything legal now......

OP….  I’m unable to comment on whether or not you were banned from entering the Kingdom as a result of having been deported for working illegally.  There has certainly been some lively debate on this matter.  The only people that can confirm that you have or have not been banned, or not, are immigration. 

I would strongly suggest that you get your Thai wife to contact the local immigration office, or even better if she is able to get to the HQ in Bangkok, and ask them.  She will need a copy of your previous passport showing the photo page and your last entry and exit stamps.  I would also suggest that she takes your marriage certificate and ID as well as proof of your relationship.

Although you say you have changed your name and obtained a new passport you could potentially face a big problem if you return in September and have been banned from entering the Kingdom.

Firstly:

The Immigration system is fairly sophisticated and is very capable of linking passports, even when an individual has changed their name(s).  It may come as a surprise to many but the number of people who hold a passport with the same Country Code + Gender + Date of Birth (held on the immigration system) is actually quite small – less than 50 in most cases. 

The system has a built-in (fairly basic) facial recognition system so it is able to compare the photo held on the system taken when you either last entered the Kingdom, or when you were deported, and compare it with that given on the photo page of the passport being presented.  Any matches are then displayed on the IOs screen so he/she can confirm if there is (or is not) an actual match.  

Once the IO at the arrival/departure desk scans the passport (and if necessary confirms a link with a previous passport), they have access to your immigration history which might include any ban.

If you have been banned then they will refuse you entry.  This will mean that you will have to return to your home country and that invariably will mean that you have to purchase a single flight ticket home at short notice which can be very expensive.

Secondly:

If you are lucky enough to be admitted by the IO at your port of entry you face the uncertainty that someone back where your wife lives may know of your ban and report your presence to the local immigration office.  In that case the consequences could be more server in so far that you have entered the Kingdom whilst banned.  Returning under those circumstances will mean that you will always be looking over your shoulder.

As I said above, get your wife to check your status with immigration, and if they say that you have not been banned ask them for a letter confirming that.

Best of luck in resolving the predicament that you find yourself in.

3 hours ago, mcvisa said:

 

I'm sure this is within the realms of current technology globally, however it doesn't collerate with most peoples experiencing passing through major Thai airports regularly. If such was the case, where the information was presented within seconds, you wouldn't get the page flicking, and nung, song, sam, counting for those long termers on exemptions or Toursit Visa. I do believe they can link, possibly at the supervisors office, but I don't think this is enabled on a scan at normal kioaks,  I can't see how your assessment on automatic linking and presenting the information within seconds can be true as a fresh passport solves most questioning for long terms exemptees and back to back TV users, or those on massive overstay prior to good guy bad guy ban, some up to ten years.

 

 

FYI….  The information that I provided in post #6 to which you commented is based upon over ten years’ experience working as a senior co-ordinator involving the design, development and installation of the E-Boarder project set up by the NSA and GCHQ following 911.  Having been involved in the installation of a number of systems (in particular the Advanced Passenger Information System) throughout the world, including Thailand, I think it fair to say that I have a reasonable knowledge of how the Immigration systems works.

Even though the immigration database contains hundreds of millions of entries, I can assure you that the system is fast (in fact very fast) at retrieving information.  Just consider how quick Google comes back with information when you enter a request into its search engine. 

The Immigration system is fairly sophisticated and is very capable of linking passports, even when an individual has changed their name (80% plus).  It may come as a surprise to many but the number of people who hold a passport with the same Country Code + Gender + Date of Birth which is held on the immigration system is actually quite small – less than 50 in most cases. 

The system has a built-in (fairly basic) facial recognition system so it is able to compare the photo held on the system when the person last entered the Kingdom (or was deported/refused entry) and compare it with that given on the photo page of the passport being presented.  Any matches are then displayed on the IOs screen so he/she can confirm if there is an actual match. 

And yes, the IO on the arrival desk can confirm the link to make it permanent.  And yes, the IOs do make errors occasionally which can only be corrected by the IT Department at Immigration HQ on approval by a very senior officer e.g. Major General or above.

The system has recently (in the last three years) been upgraded and now reads the Machine Readable information at the bottom of the photo page between <<<< >>>> and at the same time it reads the encrypted biographic data (which is the same information on the photo page including the passport holder’s photo) held on the passport microchip.  The system compares the two in order to confirm that the passport is genuine or not.

Once the IO at the arrival/departure desk scans the passport (and if necessary confirms a link with a previous passport), they have access to the individual’s immigration history. 

Your point about IOs flipping through the passport is true, it’s happened to me on more than one occasion.  When it has happened, the IOs tends to be of the old age grouping and probably feels more comfortable with hard copy rather than that what is available to him/her on their screen.  The flicking through the passport may also be attributed to the fact that the IO is looking for the person’s current visa etc. which are not always inserted in any logical order.

Regarding your comments about massive over stayers, again I quite agree.  Immigration don’t seem to use the system to its full capabilities.  A simple SQL query written by an IT savvy person at their HQ would easily list all those who are on over stay.  The problem then comes at trying to find them, but that is going way off the topic.

3 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

....... As far as I know the move is going to be done at a later date.

FYI... The move will take place in July 2019.

18 minutes ago, Lamkyong said:

with a uk credit debit card only

 FYI

Quote:  From the information page of the Consular Letter Confirming Pension/Income for Retirement Visa

Payment Options

Credit Cards      Complete the Credit Card Authorisation Form below. UK debit/credit cards and some Thai debit/credit cards are accepted. Payment will be taken in GBP. If using a Thai bank card, please ensure payments can be made from your account in GBP.