Immigration proposes much harsher penalties for failing to report foreigners staying in Thailand

[Kohkah]

6 minutes ago, tlandtday said:

I stayed at a friends when in China and there was no such procedure even mentioned.

See article 39 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China.

http://english.gov.cn/archive/laws_regulations/2014/09/22/content_281474988553532.htm

I think it is also mentioned on the arrival card.

 

 

[roadrunner32]

I'm on retirement extension I been at immigration upon my return in LOS  in order to make the report but they told me to return in 90 days, therefore no TM30 has been lodged  Then stop spreading unnecessary alarms

[LongTang]

5 hours ago, Lacessit said:

I'm not too worried about this crap. I stay at my GF's village from time to time. I've never seen a policeman there, let alone an immigration officer.

As I have reason to think they could not find their posteriors with both hands, I'm doubtful I am at risk.

Well you know how it goes under those circumstances..

A jealous neighbor snitch to the police\immg that an unregistered alien is in the village, and Bam you and your GF are in a world of ****.

[lamyai3]

16 minutes ago, LongTang said:

Well you know how it goes under those circumstances..

A jealous neighbor snitch to the police\immg that an unregistered alien is in the village, and Bam you and your GF are in a world of ****.

Only reason this hasn't happened more in the past is that the average Thai is largely ignorant of laws such as these. All it might take is some disgruntled neighbour that you parked in their spot once, or a family member you said no to when they wanted to borrow money. 

[LongTang]

51 minutes ago, roadrunner32 said:

I'm on retirement extension I been at immigration upon my return in LOS  in order to make the report but they told me to return in 90 days, therefore no TM30 has been lodged  Then stop spreading unnecessary alarms

I'm sorry but the ones who are spreading the alarms here are the Immigration with the proposals they put on the table.

Its obvious that under the current climate with all the new unfavorable regulations that are already enforced, westerners will take any such announcement very seriously and assess its potential impact on their daily lives. 

[lamyai3]

7 hours ago, Lovethailandelite said:

Are you people in for a shock when this new Immigration act is released. The TM30 reporting is going to be the least of your concerns, particularly for those not on long term extensions. This has been coming for a while. The time has arrived.

Instead of gloating about whatever insider information you think you have like one of BJ's snivelling henchmen, why not put your money where your mouth is and say what you're talking about?

[direction BANGKOK]

The govt are the only ones who really know the numbers. They have X amount of stamp ins, and Y amount of stamp outs. 

 

That difference may be alarming, and we do not know what the difference is. Maybe if we did we would be alarmed too. 

 

It is hard to blame them for trying to solve a problem we do not even know the extent of.  

[LongTang]

40 minutes ago, direction BANGKOK said:

The govt are the only ones who really know the numbers. They have X amount of stamp ins, and Y amount of stamp outs. 

 

That difference may be alarming, and we do not know what the difference is. Maybe if we did we would be alarmed too. 

 

It is hard to blame them for trying to solve a problem we do not even know the extent of.  

Its a political\Ideological matter, not a simple in-out math.

Thailand is not being flooded by illegal immigrants.

 

[new2here]

I don’t really have a huge issue with the need to register where a foreigner is living/staying while in the Kingdom.. yes, the optics may look bad, but in the end, to me it’s not a deal-breaker... do I think there’s a huge need to register foreigners? Not really- but it’s a national law - so it is what it is.


where I do have issue is the real-world risk that IF a landlord/housemaster/condo/hotel doesn’t do as the law requires them to do, often the foreigner is stuck.. and that to me is where the fix needs to be. I’ve also heard reports - albeit second hand - that some small apartments won’t rent to foreigners simply because of the added regulations (like reporting them to immigration) and other perceived issues/risks. True or not, I don’t know.. but I can see where this may occur.

I’m all for hitting the foreigner when they fail to do their 90-day reports- as that falls squarely on the foreigner... and in the same way, I think any failure to properly register a foreigner who is staying in the Kingdom needs to be squarely put on the landlord/housemaster, etc... each side has their role.


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[dallen52]

18 hours ago, KittenKong said:

I have no problem with this as long as they only fine the owners/operators of the properties, and not the hapless tourist who probably doesnt even know that someone was supposed to register him.

Maybe a hand out sheet on arrival. 

With the dos and don'ts on it.

Report residency 

90 day reports 

No working 

No drinking on the beach 

Same smoking 

No urination in public places 

Wear a helmet. 

 

Blah blah blah.

 

 

Oh, and Welcome to Thailand. 

[milesinnz]

18 hours ago, moe666 said:

Why is that they usually stay at a guest house that should be reporting their place of stay. Real tourist never have anything to do with this system. If the guesthouse or hotel is on the up and up they are reporting their location. I use to check in to hotels in Kanchanaburi only using my drivers licenses now they want the passport because immigration here does come around checking and this has been going on for about 3 years.

I am a tourist with many friends across Thailand. I travel between friends staying maybe one or two nights before I make my way eventually to the Cambodian border where there is no regular bus route (no way to "book" a way out of Thailand) - I have to catch the "casino bus" to the border, walk across and get a mototaxi the other side. So I stay one night at a friends and they have to spend to next day going to an immigration office to report that I stayed with them last night ?.. my feelings are f*** Thailand except, and sadly, I have a lot of good friends there...

[ZAKY]

Even for foreigners who are doing things right would not like to stay in a country where he feels himself persecuted where at any moment at any place you can be stopped and checked in public places by 30 immi. Police. Let’s see after a certain time if all these rigid regulations will be positive in the number of incoming visitors.  Since a certain time it seems that all the evil are coming from foreigners. 

[ThaiBunny]

29 minutes ago, ZAKY said:

Even for foreigners who are doing things right would not like to stay in a country where he feels himself persecuted where at any moment at any place you can be stopped and checked in public places by 30 immi. Police.

Oddly enough this is exactly the sort of surveillance regime advocated by some posters for immigrants in their home countries.

[inThailand]

Iam either going to be the most handsome or biggest ATM in the bar because I am the only one left. 

[The Preacher]

20 hours ago, PingRoundTheWorld said:

What other countries? I've never heard of any other country where reporting to immigration is required when renting to a foreigner. It's quite a ridiculous demand actually...

Well, there is the People's Republic of North Korea . . .

[ThaiBunny]

1 minute ago, The Preacher said:

Well, there is the People's Republic of North Korea . . .

Just don't adopt the missionary position while you're there ????

[GalaxyMan]

20 hours ago, jonclark said:

For such a peaceful country Thailand has huge paranoia about the threat from foreigners. 

It's not paranoia, it's unmitigated hatred except for the money that the foreigners bring in and spend. Everything this government does vis-a-vis foreigners shows their contempt and hatred of us.

[metisdead]

An offensive troll post containing a Nazi reference has been removed. 

[gmac]

17 hours ago, Kieran00001 said:

 

There are specific rules set for this, I can't remember how many but they state a number of days you can be away without needing to re-register.

I don't think so, it's all word of mouth and personal experiences at different Immigration Offices I think.  Nothing in writing that I have seen and even if it was you are still at the mercy of the particular officer you see on whatever day you visit the office.

[gmac]

20 hours ago, malagateddy said:

You do need to report/check in with your local Imm Office if you leave the country and come back after eg..a holiday " abroad ".
Chaiysphum Imm Office have notice up to that effect.

 

Sent from my SM-G7102 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

 

Exactly the problem I highlighted, Jomtien have said to me not necessary if my address hasn't changed. The only safe way is to report every time whether it is required or not.

[The Man Who Sold the World]

https://humanlife.asia/the-top-cop-on-his-rise-and-plans-for-expats-and-visa-good-guys-in-bad-guys-out/

 

01/16/2019 - The Top Cop on his Rise and Plans for Expats and Visa…Good Guys in Bad Guys Out!…

Lt. Gen. Surachate Hakparn “I can guarantee it will be easy to apply and live here” 

 

[lamyai3]

1 hour ago, ZAKY said:

Even for foreigners who are doing things right would not like to stay in a country where he feels himself persecuted where at any moment at any place you can be stopped and checked in public places by 30 immi. Police. Let’s see after a certain time if all these rigid regulations will be positive in the number of incoming visitors.  Since a certain time it seems that all the evil are coming from foreigners. 

The police here have plenty of previous form in getting way above their station, and it's taken social media pressure and subsequent bad press internationally to rein them in. Two previous examples in the past few years have been prosecuting tourists for not carrying their original passport at all times, and making them undergo urine testing on the street while out shopping. These shakedowns rightly got major global news coverage, shaming the authorities into backing down and necessitating explanations and retractions at a senior level - in the latter case the UK embassy even got involved.

 

Sadly, it's not clear who can be relied on in the current climate to speak up for people who might be unfairly penalised under these new practices, whether it's a hefty fine or refused extension of stay because the Thai landlord didn't report their address, or denial of entry due to an unproven assertion that someone has no means of living in the country. It's an alarming state of affairs. 

[ozmeldo]

The vast majority of us are freaked out because we know how it works. The Thai in X location doesn't report you, you're responsible. The immigration officer makes light of it, doesn't care and later when making your extension you're held to account. Then the fact that there's technically no way for individuals to report themselves AND the Thai system is apparently broken. Add to all this there is no notification of this when entering and exiting the country nor when extensions are made. It's really ridiculous. The regulations are so overwhelming for Thai authorities they can't even manage to decide on what they want and how. Just some arbitrary nonsense which lays itself wide open to the endemic corruption that already exists in the country. It's not even the authoritarian reporting that bothers me anymore, it's the overly complicated rules, haphazardly enforced all the while making the hapless foreign responsible for any and all mistakes made by Thais. Goes double for those immigration professionals whose sole job it is to know Thai law and use, enforce it properly.

 

At least (!!) drop this requirement for those on O visa, married and retired from western countries.

 

EDIT   I'm married and working a very decent job. We will throughly evaluate our situation here in five years. What's your excuse given what's come down in the last six months here? Summer in E Europe and Caribbean. Winter in Vietnam and the Philippines.

 

 

[mokwit]

23 minutes ago, lamyai3 said:

in the latter case the UK embassy even got involved

Hard to believe.

[mokwit]

3 minutes ago, ozmeldo said:

The vast majority of us are freaked out because we know how it works. The Thai in X location doesn't report you, you're responsible. The immigration officer makes light of it, doesn't care and later when making your extension you're held to account. Then the fact that there's technically no way for individuals to report themselves AND the Thai system is apparently broken. Add to all this there is no notification of this when entering and exiting the country nor when extensions are made. It's really ridiculous. The regulations are so overwhelming for Thai authorities they can't even manage to decide on what they want and how. Just some arbitrary nonsense which lays itself wide open to the endemic corruption that already exists in the country. It's not even the authoritarian reporting that bothers me anymore, it's the overly complicated rules, haphazardly enforced all the while making the hapless foreign responsible for any and all mistakes made by Thais. Goes double for those immigration professionals whose sole job it is to know Thai law and use, enforce it properly.

 

At least (!!) drop this requirement for those on O visa, married and retired from western countries.

 

 

No/vague guidelines but precise requirements.

[Briggsy]

12 minutes ago, mokwit said:

Hard to believe.

It is hard to believe but actually true. Normally they seem to enter a well-paid hibernation status only coming out to attend official dinners. Perhaps a urine test was demanded of a diplomat who was on his way to Villa without carrying his official diplomatic identification.

[tifino]

... and so now in this future era it is instead the turn for the infidel falang to be herded... 

[ozmeldo]

12 minutes ago, Lupatria said:

As early as 1928, Heinrich Himmler, Deputy Reich Propaganda Leader, planned to set up a comprehensive internal reporting system which would "cover all Jews, baptized Jews as far as possible, specifying person, age, occupation and dwelling". 

Any similarity to ideas and persons living or dead is purely coincidental and unintentional.
 

This is a red herring. You weren't born here and can leave at will. No need for the Nazi reference.

[malagateddy]

You are not required to carry your passport with you at all times..FACT

You have to carry ID in Thailand it's the law. Take a risk and not carry it then you could be fined, deported or both. Perhaps your not used to carrying ID in your country, but here its mandatory! 

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[LongTang]

1 hour ago, The Man Who Sold the World said:

 

01/16/2019 - The Top Cop on his Rise and Plans for Expats and Visa…Good Guys in Bad Guys Out!…

 

Ye, the definition of Bad Guys is constantly expanding here..   There was a thread a couple of weeks ago about the fact that if you had more than one overstay at any point in time you will not be able to get an Elite-Visa (even if you paid for it).

I half jokingly posted that in that pace the probability of keeping it for 20 years seems very slim as you might be prosecuted and have it revoked for not reporting in time at some point.

Now its somehow seems less funny to me..