It's Official: No more tips, back-handers or tea money to corrupt immigration officers

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Big Joke true to his word: No Tips signage going up at Thai Immigration nationwide

 

Image: facebook.com/IMMIGRATION1178/

 

The new head of Thai immigration - Maj-Gen Surachate "Big Joke" Hakpal - has begun implementing his tough message about corruption at immigration. 

 

The signage going up nationwide is clear and unequivocal: No Tips. 

 

By this he means no more back-handers to corrupt immigration officials or the agents who collect the tea money from tourists and either pass it on or keep it for themselves.

 

Pictures posted on the Immigration Facebook page showed a permanent sign at an airport that said: No Tips please. The message was also in a graphic with Royal Thai Police insignia behind and "The Immigration Bureau at the bottom. 

 

It was also in Chinese and Hindi.

 

Image: facebook.com/IMMIGRATION1178/

 

Another stuck on a window at an immigration office clearly stated in English that visa fees were just 2,000 baht - no more.

 

At Sadao on the Thai/Malaysian border a printed sign on a counter said: "No Tip" while an accompanying sign said "No other fees charged in passing this border".

 

Maj-Gen Surachate only started his job as immigration commissioner on Monday after his move from deputy chief of the Thai Tourist Police Bureau where he was involved in many highly publicized crime busts. 

 

Photo: @Djboych9

 

One of his first statements as he moved to his immigration desk was to announce an end to the practice of border officials taking bribes of 300 baht. 

 

Thai media was saying that such practice had become the norm with agents charging tourists 2,300 baht for their visas. 

 

Sometimes the fees were kept by the agents themselves but sometimes they were passed on. 

 

Thus even honest officials felt they were being tarred with the brush of being corrupt. 

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2018-10-04

[ostyan]

As Thais say 55555

[KamnanT]

A good start - full credit to the man for confronting the issue head on in his first days in the position.  Next stop: land border crossings with Laos and Cambodia, where the immigration police have been demanding "stamping fees" for years.  Millions of baht per month going into someone's pocket.

[NCC1701A]

That sign would be a great tee shirt.

[from the home of CC]

Lets say a year or two, and then revisit and if still in play I'm impressed.

[MaxLee]

9 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Big Joke true to his word: No Tips signage going up at Thai Immigration nationwide

 

 

What a GREAT COVER-UP Operation  , I guess all securities can read this in (Non)-Thai language .....

[Thailand]

He will be standing on far too may toes if he does try to cut out sweeteners particularly for IO'S.

 

Look for another rapid promotion out of harms way, next tourism minister perhaps?

[Orton Rd]

Is this going to affect possible 'tips' where agents obtain extensions for people too poor to have the required baht in the bank for 90 days? Or is this just at the airports!

[bangrak]

Now we, on TV, know. ...But will the people of the Immigration Police (officers and deputies) be told, ...and to live accordingly?!

Will it, ever, 'materialize' into the daily reality of 'non-Thais' exposed to the Immigration Police's exactions?

I, alas, sincerely doubt so, when these, ...corrupt, people are not offered some way to compensate for the big loss of income the supression of the bribes/tea money would represent, it will simply go on as it was in some way!

As Thais use to 'reverse' things: how else will they be able to pay for the wife and the 'mia'(s), the kids, the house credit, the loans for cars, etc.?

[Eric Loh]

In the words of my favourite somtan vendor; 'duu gone krup' (see first). 

[wirat69]

17 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

That sign would be a great tee shirt.

Spoilsport..... the odd tip or two is quite pleasant, occasionally!!!!!

[giddyup]

30 minutes ago, Orton Rd said:

Is this going to affect possible 'tips' where agents obtain extensions for people too poor to have the required baht in the bank for 90 days? Or is this just at the airports!

If that happens there will be a mass exodus of falangs from Thailand.

[darksidedog]

Amazing! Only one Chinese tourist has to get punched in the face for demanding a receipt and corruption gets a kick in the nether regions.

 

[wgdanson]

19 minutes ago, giddyup said:

If that happens there will be a mass exodus of falangs from Thailand.

Only the ones who can afford it legitimately will stay. Better or not?

[giddyup]

3 minutes ago, wgdanson said:

Only the ones who can afford it legitimately will stay. Better or not?

Do the illegitimate ones actually cost Thailand anything? Probably not, they are still spending money here, there's no welfare.

[hkt83100]

I would like to hear from someone, who got his Confirmation Of Residence for free.

[jimmynewbie]

1 hour ago, Thailand said:

He will be standing on far too may toes if he does try to cut out sweeteners particularly for IO'S.

 

Look for another rapid promotion out of harms way, next tourism minister perhaps?

I doubt that he has been moved away from tourism and should be facing defamation and spreading fake news charges re death island.

[Hayduke]

1 hour ago, KamnanT said:

A good start - full credit to the man for confronting the issue head on in his first days in the position...

 

Agreed...it sounds good. But the people he owes for his job to also promised to confront corruption head on. That was some four plus years ago. It sounded good then too...but it seems that promise was very quickly forgotten. Maybe it's because they forgot to put up signs.

 

 

Edited October 4, 2018 by Hayduke

[nausea]

Sheet, plan B for next year then.

[trainman34014]

Personally; i hope this Guy really shakes Immigration down and when people are caught for wrongdoing he has full authority to actually fire them, as the way things are all they do is keep transferring them from one office to another, which doesn't cure the problem, just moves it around.

[jimmynewbie]

8 minutes ago, Hayduke said:

 

Agreed...it sounds good. But the people he owes his job to also promised to confront corruption head on. That was some four plus years ago. It sounded good then too...but it seems that promise was very quickly forgotten. Maybe it's because they forgot to put up signs.

 

 

He is nothing more than a propaganda puppet for the watchman Prawit

[The manic]

18 minutes ago, giddyup said:

Do the illegitimate ones actually cost Thailand anything? Probably not, they are still spending money here, there's no welfare.

Im not poor. I have the money but I don't keep it here.

[The manic]

6 minutes ago, trainman34014 said:

Personally; i hope this Guy really shakes Immigration down and when people are caught for wrongdoing he has full authority to actually fire them, as the way things are all they do is keep transferring them from one office to another, which doesn't cure the problem, just moves it around.

Why do you hate IO do much?  What have they ever done to you? I find them helpful and efficient 

[overherebc]

25 minutes ago, giddyup said:

Do the illegitimate ones actually cost Thailand anything? Probably not, they are still spending money here, there's no welfare.

 

I suppose until they get sick and end up owing money to the hospital.

[Thaiwrath]

4 minutes ago, overherebc said:

 

I suppose until they get sick and end up owing money to the hospital.

 

It is also possible for someone with money in the bank for the visa, not having money for expensive medical treatment. Sort of nullifies your argument.

[shady86]

Immigration officers in Sadao/Malaysia border dont ask for tip but Overtime charges. I wonder if that is considered as tip also ????

Edited October 4, 2018 by shady86

[humbug]

show pony for the gang of thieves who will still collect bundles of cash for being top imm boy, lets not forget his gang 6 years ago,their protest at stadium next to MBK;

They said 

"we will shut down Thailand for 5 years and be rid of foreigners,"to loud applauses from their crazed protesters.

[zzaa09]

2 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

That sign would be a great tee shirt.

Or, an even more fashionable tattoo. 

 

????

[bluesofa]

2 hours ago, ostyan said:

As Thais say 55555

That's even more expensive than the tip.

55,555 Baht?

 

[racket]

Do we get a refund?