new head of immigration

[rodknock]

is there any chance the new head of immigration will ease the crazy requirements for staying in Thailand?

[yodsak]

Of course he will.

[ubonjoe]

That is hard to predict.

But I doubt we will see any significant changes.

[Despondent Foreigner]

Definitely ????

[Chodi25]

I've been here a long time and it has been my observation that nothing happens quickly in this country. I also hope they ease the requirements but I don't expect anything to happen for several months if at all. Hope I'm wrong.

[Pib]

To reverse/modify the new rules so soon would be a loss of face.

[marcusarelus]

3 minutes ago, Chodi25 said:

I've been here a long time and it has been my observation that nothing happens quickly in this country. I also hope they ease the requirements but I don't expect anything to happen for several months if at all. Hope I'm wrong.

The new rules happened overnight.  New governments happen in a few hours.  Seems to me things happen very quickly here. 

[Rally123]

Crazy? Why is it 'crazy'?

4 minutes ago, rodknock said:

is there any chance the new head of immigration will ease the crazy requirements for staying in Thailand?

The only thing that's crazy is that honesty is punishable by immigration. Do everything illegal ie money wise and life is good.

[Orton Rd]

If he does not ban 90 day reporting I hope he can get the website report online to work, just tried again and goes no further than the first page, then tells me to contact the local office. I probably should be using explorer with win98

Edited April 19, 2019 by Orton Rd

[Rally123]

11 minutes ago, Orton Rd said:

Just tried again and goes no further than the first page

How long in advance of your report date are you applying?

[Pib]

14 minutes ago, Orton Rd said:

If he does not ban 90 day reporting I hope he can get the website report online to work, just tried again and goes no further than the first page, then tells me to contact the local office. I probably should be using explorer with win98

If you last entered Thailand before Jan 13 you can not report online....you will get the response you are getting now.

[Rally123]

I last entered Thailand 07 FEB 2014 and I can report online.

[Pib]

24 minutes ago, Rally123 said:

I last entered Thailand 07 FEB 2014 and I can report online.

Yeap...that's after Jan 13.

[ubonjoe]

47 minutes ago, Pib said:

If you last entered Thailand before Jan 13 you can not report online....you will get the response you are getting now.

Or if you have gotten a new passport since your last entry to the country.

[elviajero]

1 hour ago, rodknock said:

is there any chance the new head of immigration will ease the crazy requirements for staying in Thailand?

Not a chance. They are already too easy.

[ChouDoufu]

1 hour ago, rodknock said:

is there any chance the new head of immigration will ease the crazy requirements for staying in Thailand?

hahaha!  crazy talk!  of course it'll only get stricter.  new boss gots to make a name for hisself.  get ready for a whole raft of new regulations, and look forward to some catchy slogans, too.

[Caldera]

1 hour ago, Rally123 said:

The only thing that's crazy is that honesty is punishable by immigration. Do everything illegal ie money wise and life is good.

That's probably the one lesson that the Thai officialdom wants every foreign newcomer to learn as quickly as possible. Do it the Thai way, or else.

[impulse]

1 hour ago, ChouDoufu said:

hahaha!  crazy talk!  of course it'll only get stricter.  new boss gots to make a name for hisself.  get ready for a whole raft of new regulations, and look forward to some catchy slogans, too.

 

OTOH, another way to make a name for himself is to increase tourist arrivals... 

 

There's already a proposal to extend some of the free VOA and visa programs.  Seems simple enough to add some level of assurance that, if you qualify, you won't get randomly turned away by some front line IO in a bad mood.  I don't have a clue what percentage of innocent travelers are being turned away.  It may be tiny.  But the mere worry that it could happen would send me and my sweaty tourist cash elsewhere.

 

Edited April 19, 2019 by impulse

[Happy Grumpy]

Cutting down the trees.

 

It is a Thai saying.

 

When a new boss comes in, he cuts down the trees in the garden. Pointless, disadvantages others, and is a clear visual sign that he is the boss and others do what he says.

 

 

So.... expect, well, not an easing of anything. ????

[Felt 35]

In my experience it would even be a dream that every office practise the rules/law in the same way. Btw, I don't think its the last we have heard about the recently transferred. It doesn't make sense that a popular high ranked government employee is being transferred to a less important or meaningless job for then to celebrate with an holiday to USA.????

[pagallim]

I seem to recall that there was going to be the publishing of a wide ranging Immigration reform paper this coming Monday (22nd April).    Going to be interesting if that is actually the case, and what the contents are going to be.

[BritTim]

One factor that may prove decisive in the medium to long term is how well the new head of the Immigration Bureau can get on with those in charge at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I get the impression that there has been little coordination over the last few years. One brilliant improvement we might see, if the Immigration Bureau and MFA can agree the ground rules, is allowing pre approved e-visas to be affixed to your passport on arrival in Thailand. While many countries have managed to introduce such a system, I believe a power struggle between the two ministries involved has prevented this kind of rational system from being implemented in Thailand.

[PoorSucker]

In my experience, new bosses wants to a make a difference to be noticed, always has been harder requirements. 

Never ever has there been an ease to the requirements. 

 

Only wishfull thinking on Thaivisa. 

[ThomasThBKK]

32 minutes ago, PoorSucker said:

In my experience, new bosses wants to a make a difference to be noticed, always has been harder requirements. 

Never ever has there been an ease to the requirements. 

 

Only wishfull thinking on Thaivisa. 

 

For existing visa maybe but new ones get introduced sometimes ... investment visa got introduced, elite visa got introduced, smart visas got introduced (tho they suck...).

[BritTim]

3 hours ago, ThomasThBKK said:

For existing visa maybe but new ones get introduced sometimes ... investment visa got introduced, elite visa got introduced, smart visas got introduced (tho they suck...).

The Immigration Bureau does not have the biggest say over introduction of new visa types (though their comments will be considered). Visas are primarily the responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with input from several other ministries and departments. Where immigration has historically had the biggest influence is over the rules for extensions of permission to stay. Recently, they have (at some entry points) been abrogating tourist visas, but that is not officially something they should be allowed to do.

[elviajero]

1 hour ago, BritTim said:

The Immigration Bureau does not have the biggest say over introduction of new visa types (though their comments will be considered). Visas are primarily the responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with input from several other ministries and departments.

It’s the Immigration Commission (IC), headed by the Minister of Interior, that decide on the introduction of visa types in accordance with the immigration act. In most cases the government of the day also sign off on any changes. 

 

The MFA’s only responsibility is the issuance of visas, but has no say beyond it’s role as a member of the commission. They also communicate immigration policy to foreign consuls etc. 

 

1 hour ago, BritTim said:

Where immigration has historically had the biggest influence is over the rules for extensions of permission to stay. Recently, they have (at some entry points) been abrogating tourist visas, but that is not officially something they should be allowed to do.

The law clearly gives power to immigration to deny anyone entry — regardless of the visa they hold, at any entry point, for any reason given in the immigration act, or order or regulation issued by the Minister.

 

So officially they can deny a tourist visa holder as long as they follow formal procedure.

 

6 hours ago, BritTim said:

One factor that may prove decisive in the medium to long term is how well the new head of the Immigration Bureau can get on with those in charge at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I get the impression that there has been little coordination over the last few years.

The head of the IB and those in charge at the MFA have very little influence individually on anything!

 

6 hours ago, BritTim said:

One brilliant improvement we might see, if the Immigration Bureau and MFA can agree the ground rules, is allowing pre approved e-visas to be affixed to your passport on arrival in Thailand. While many countries have managed to introduce such a system,

Any such improvements will by down to the the MOI, the IC, and government.

 

6 hours ago, BritTim said:

I believe a power struggle between the two ministries involved has prevented this kind of rational system from being implemented in Thailand.

“Power struggle”! What power struggle? 

 

 

Very simply: The MOI, IC, and government of the day decide everything. The MFA are responsible for issuing visas, and the IB is responsible for enforcing the immigration act, regulations, and orders.

[jacko45k]

Regulations will not be suddenly rescinded, that would be a loss of face. 

One can only hope for relaxation in implementation. 

 

I actually expect the regulations to become stricter, the retired person market is looking less attractive to Thailand and their xenophobia will rule. 

[Caldera]

8 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

I actually expect the regulations to become stricter, the retired person market is looking less attractive to Thailand and their xenophobia will rule. 

I agree. They might realize what kind of mess they've created with the various forms of financial proof, and introduce a "one size fits all" bond instead. Which would be stricter in essence. Personally, I'm convinced that mandatory health insurance is next on the list, and while I think it makes some sense in principle, it's very likely that the implementation will be dreadful.

[holy cow cm]

Joke's new immigration ball was already rolling so the fire will get hotter before it cools down is what it would most likely tend to be. And an OP saying the next stage of immigration rules will be coming out on Monday April 22 is sure fire proof. Put on your seatbelts and asbestos suit.

[mtls2005]

Given that this posting may be temporary, the annual police re-shuffle occurs in October, "Big Oud" may just try to muddle along, avoiding any international incidents. He does have a solid record, but it is hard to tell how close he is to retirement. I think he is a Lt. General, which is near the top, even though the article calls him a Maj-Gen.

 

Big Joke definitely jumped the queue, some speculate that the annual re-shuffles were manipulated to favor him and others perhaps less deserving, by a decade or so. That he was taken down is probably not surprising, in hindsight, as the manipulation was finally exposed, causing great anger at the higher levels.