Immigration Complains About 90 Day Reporting By Mail

[opalhort]

I've been doing my 90 days address reporting by mail (only EMS) since they started the system even though I'm living in BKK. But a trip to Suan Plu means 30Km round-trip plus 80Baht expressway plus parking problems at Suan Plu. (I live in Tungkruh)

In the past there has never been any problem apart from an occasional delay of up to 7 days for the return mail to arrive.

This time my due date was Jan.24, I mailed everything by EMS on Jan.18 and EMS tracking showed they (IMM) received it on Jan.19. As of today I still have not received the return mail!

My wife just called them and got confirmation that my mail has been received in time for my due date (she provided the record number) but it will take 2-3 more weeks before they can return the 'notification slip'!!!

The reason the lady on the phone gave is that they have to much mail reports to handle and actually scolded my wife why we are to lazy to report at Suan Plu since we live in BKK. She also pointed out that we can send a messenger and I don't have to show up in person. (I knew about this and have sent others in the past before they started the mail service)

Then she mentioned that maybe soon they may no longer accept mail reports from people residing in BKK. Does anybody have info about this?

Since this reporting does not require a stamp in the PP, why don't they set it up for on-line service?

It would save them a lot of work.

opalhort

[lopburi3]

Actually when they first dusted off this 90 day requirement they specifically said that mail could be used from locations outside of Bangkok. Since then they have seemed to accept all mail reports. So far I have always reported in person but have shifted to using the one-stop center on Ratchada as is much closer.

I agree on-line service for this should be a priority; if they really need to keep it at all.

[Phil Conners]

How about just ditching that stupid rule if it's such a big burden for the officials to deal with.

[opalhort]

Yes initially mail service was only for upcountry residents but later they announced that BKK residents can also report by mail.

Of course they should ditch this stupid rule, but better let's not get into this discussion. The rule is here for now and we have to abide by it

But why don't they delegate this reporting duty to the local police stations? I won't have any problem with that; our station is just around the corner.

opalhort

[mopenyang]

Actually when they first dusted off this 90 day requirement they specifically said that mail could be used from locations outside of Bangkok. Since then they have seemed to accept all mail reports. So far I have always reported in person but have shifted to using the one-stop center on Ratchada as is much closer.

I agree on-line service for this should be a priority; if they really need to keep it at all.

Is the Ratchada one-stop center available to everyone for purposes of doing the 90 day reporting?

[lopburi3]

As far as I know it is.

[my benny rai]

I actually met the woman who is responsible for opening all the letters and she begged me to report in person. I believe she sits in room 305. She gestured to the stack of letters next to her that was about double the thickness of a big city telephone book. She said she gets about the same amount every day and that she is the only person to do it.

I had asked her for the information that I needed to report by mail. At first she refused to give it to me and I told her that I knew for a fact that Bkk residents can indeed report by mail. Very, very reluctanly, she handed me the info but again pleaded with me to report in person.

I wish I had had my camera with me. I would have asked to take her picture pointing mornfully towards the big stack of papers.

I agree, for our and her sake: let us scrap that annoying law. But I doubt it will vanish anytime soon as it must be a good money earner!

[Thanyaburi Mac]

I actually met the woman who is responsible for opening all the letters and she begged me to report in person. I believe she sits in room 305. She gestured to the stack of letters next to her that was about double the thickness of a big city telephone book. She said she gets about the same amount every day and that she is the only person to do it.

I had asked her for the information that I needed to report by mail. At first she refused to give it to me and I told her that I knew for a fact that Bkk residents can indeed report by mail. Very, very reluctanly, she handed me the info but again pleaded with me to report in person.

I wish I had had my camera with me. I would have asked to take her picture pointing mornfully towards the big stack of papers.

I agree, for our and her sake: let us scrap that annoying law. But I doubt it will vanish anytime soon as it must be a good money earner!

I do hope that Pathum Thani qualifies as "outside Bangkok" as it's an hour and a half drive down to Soi Suan Plu, then the attendent parking problem around the subsois in the neighborhood.  Mail in is real handy.

Also I wonder when Immigration is going to tie in their 90-day reporting REQUIREMENT to the computers at ports of departure from the LoS.  May happen someday, then those probably 90% of the expats in Thailand who DO NOT do the report will get a large baht surprise when they go to check out.

At least there's an excuse of sorts now that "I didn't know about this requirement."  Doesn't help, but remember on the old TM arrival cards item #5 was specific about the 90-day reporting requirement.  Nada on the new TM cards.

Mac

[samran]

I've always maintained that long term visa holders should be issued with temporary ID cards, like is done in HK and Singapore.

Win win situation as government has you on its books, and legitimate long term foreign residents have a Thai ID card.

Won't happen of course......

[The Skipper]

Time for everybody to start mailing in the 90 day report I say.

[Phil Conners]

I agree, for our and her sake: let us scrap that annoying law. But I doubt it will vanish anytime soon as it must be a good money earner!

The reporting is free unless you are late - and I think very few are considering the fines. Considering the number of staff they need to employ for this purpose I think they should be happy if they break even, but I think it's more likely it cost the Thai taxpayers a considerable amount of money to run this circus.

[Tywais]

There was a report on this forum a few months ago that immigration was considering removing that requirement in about 6 months. Have not heard anymore about it though.

[tijnebijn]

thailand ...thailand .........thailand.....umfffffffffff

nothing more to say

[Heng]

The reporting is free unless you are late - and I think very few are considering the fines. Considering the number of staff they need to employ for this purpose I think they should be happy if they break even, but I think it's more likely it cost the Thai taxpayers a considerable amount of money to run this circus.

Exactly! They should start charging a nominal fee. If you're willing to pay 1,900 or whatever they are charging for purple ink stamp... surely you'd be okay with say 150 Baht for nice little stamp on the address reporting form.

[Nawtilus]

Good idea skip. Lets flood that there office.

[opalhort]

At least there's an excuse of sorts now that "I didn't know about this requirement."  Doesn't help, but remember on the old TM arrival cards item #5 was specific about the 90-day reporting requirement.  Nada on the new TM cards.

Mac

Yes I've also been wondering why it is no longer stated on the new TM cards. Could it be that they are quietly trying to phase this rule out and new arrivals are no longer required to report? Or could it be that nobody will be stamped in for more than 90 days anyway and Imm will notify them of the rule once they apply for a visa extension?

opalhort

[Phil Conners]

The reporting is free unless you are late - and I think very few are considering the fines. Considering the number of staff they need to employ for this purpose I think they should be happy if they break even, but I think it's more likely it cost the Thai taxpayers a considerable amount of money to run this circus.

Exactly! They should start charging a nominal fee. If you're willing to pay 1,900 or whatever they are charging for purple ink stamp... surely you'd be okay with say 150 Baht for nice little stamp on the address reporting form.

You're trolling, right?

The rule is absurd. We're treated like criminals on parole, having to check in with the parole officer every 90 days. If we were to apply such measures in Europe we'd be taken to the courts for human rights abuse. It's redundant, you declare your address in your visa application and that you will keep it updated in case it changes. The extra 90 days notification is ONLY there to make sure we don't forget we're just scum allowed to remain here on the whim of a paper tiger.

[toptuan]

On a similar vein, I sent my 90-day report form to Nong Khai on Dec. 25 (due on the 27th). As of today, Feb. 4, I haven't received the return receipt. Should I be concerned (I am)? If so, what to do?

[opalhort]

On a similar vein, I sent my 90-day report form to Nong Khai on Dec. 25 (due on the 27th). As of today, Feb. 4, I haven't received the return receipt. Should I be concerned (I am)? If so, what to do?

If you have sent it by EMS do a tracking here: http://track.thailandpost.co.th/default.asp

to see if it has arrived.

Also give them a call to confirm they got it (they will give you the in reference number in their log).

Once you got this number you have nothing to be concerned about, at least this is what they told my wife when she called (see my OP).

opalhort

[Heng]

The reporting is free unless you are late - and I think very few are considering the fines. Considering the number of staff they need to employ for this purpose I think they should be happy if they break even, but I think it's more likely it cost the Thai taxpayers a considerable amount of money to run this circus.

Exactly! They should start charging a nominal fee. If you're willing to pay 1,900 or whatever they are charging for purple ink stamp... surely you'd be okay with say 150 Baht for nice little stamp on the address reporting form.

You're trolling, right?

The rule is absurd. We're treated like criminals on parole, having to check in with the parole officer every 90 days.

No, I am suggesting a solution to the non profitable (at least in your opinion) business unit of the immigration police that is the current "90 day reporting of address/residence" division.

As for the rule... it all depends on your attitude. You're not criminals. You're VIPs.

[samran]

You're trolling, right?

The rule is absurd. We're treated like criminals on parole, having to check in with the parole officer every 90 days. If we were to apply such measures in Europe we'd be taken to the courts for human rights abuse. It's redundant, you declare your address in your visa application and that you will keep it updated in case it changes. The extra 90 days notification is ONLY there to make sure we don't forget we're just scum allowed to remain here on the whim of a paper tiger.

The UK requires certain nationalities who are intending to work in the UK to register with the police.

My sister, an Australian (ie non-EU) national living in Paris, has to renew her visa (and carte de sejour) annually, and her address, despite the fact that she has been living in the same place for the past 4 years. By all accounts, the Frenchies put Thai immigration to shame in terms of inefficiency and bureaucratic bluster.

Agree with you though that it is redundant, but to my understanding, changing Thai legal administrative proceedures isn't always straight forward.