fingerprinted at emigration Suvarnabhumi.   arrived at emigration yesterday and was fingerprinted by a disgruntled passport officer on arrival right hand left hand and thumbs what a lovely welcome back to Thailand no smiles here now I think the only thing happy to see me here is the mosquito.

welcome back to the land of 'Simon says...'

 

and there's actually a wonderfully full Thread already here, about the fingerprinting/biometrics saga

 

happy reading!

Wife got thumb printed going through Heathrow. I asked the immigration office if she would like a footprint too ? She was not amused.

Fingerprints are required, in some cases since several years, to enter a lot of countries.

As for the non-smiling officer, you are right but try to imagine working his shift, a few thousands farangs, chinese, indians... how long would you keep your smile?

39 minutes ago, arithai12 said:

...As for the non-smiling officer, you are right but try to imagine working his shift, a few thousands farangs, chinese, indians... how long would you keep your smile?

That was my fist thought, too. An overworked immigration official who already had a myriad of details to check for every passenger, now burdened with the additional task of fingerprinting.

Currently a retinal scan is much more reliable than finger prints.

 

No doubt as time goes by, machines will become available that will be able to instantly decode our DNA substrate which will become the norm.

13 hours ago, Maestro said:

An overworked immigration official who already had a myriad of details to check for every passenger, now burdened with the additional task of fingerprinting.

So true. What a miserable job. I doubt any of our posters would be smiling while doing that day after day.

 

16 hours ago, brianbbbb said:

fingerprinted at emigration Suvarnabhumi.   arrived at emigration yesterday and was fingerprinted by a disgruntled passport officer on arrival right hand left hand and thumbs what a lovely welcome back to Thailand no smiles here now I think the only thing happy to see me here is the mosquito. 

How did you know he was "disgruntled" rather than just doing his miserable job?

 

As noted above, fingerprinting is getting pretty common. Try China: you get fingerprinted when leaving the secure area of the airport as well. Try getting a smile and "Welcome to China" outta those IOs. Or those in Vietnam.

 

In fact I doubt you're guaranteed any smile and friendliness from the IOs in any country. I got none from the USA recently. Actually I don't see why that would be expected or needed. These aren't the welcoming committee.

 

However, unlike yourself I often get a smile (slight anyway) from Thai IOs. I do that by giving them a smile first and a cheerful "Sawatdee krab" when I approach and a smile and "Kop kun krab" when my stamped passport is handed back. A little Thai and polite, friendly Thai manners establish that you aren't one of the idiots and really help smooth all your transactions w/ Thais. Mine are invariably pleasant for that reason. 

 

But you probably need to walk down some streets in Pattaya w/ a plethora of massage parlors. Or Soi 6. You'll get all the attention, smiles, and flattery you could possibly want.

 

 

Edited June 2, 20197 yr by JSixpack

4 hours ago, JSixpack said:

But you probably need to walk down some streets in Pattaya w/ a plethora of massage parlors. Or Soi 6. You'll get all the attention, smiles, and flattery you could possibly want.

An immigration themed bar might be a good idea for those still suffering from PTSD. They could offer touch screen menus to replicate the fingerprint scanners, and special booths where you're invited to receive greater scrutiny if you've got too many previous entry stamps. For those nostalgic for the past the tip jars will be reinstated, and ringing the bell will grant you direct access to the fast track lane. It would be ideally situated directly adjacent to Airport club in Walking Street, perhaps a makeover of the punishment themed bar that's there at present. 

20 hours ago, arithai12 said:

Fingerprints are required, in some cases since several years, to enter a lot of countries.

As for the non-smiling officer, you are right but try to imagine working his shift, a few thousands farangs, chinese, indians... how long would you keep your smile?

Awww, poor guy. Thailand must be the only country in the world with travelers from all over the world. I don’t know how they cope.

 

Perhaps a smile towards the IO may assist in getting one in return

I can only imagine the number of times per day the IO has to explain the procedure, to how many people with different language skills, and how many object to the process.

Smile be polite, and compliant ????

 

1 hour ago, lamyai3 said:

An immigration themed bar might be a good idea for those still suffering from PTSD. They could offer touch screen menus to replicate the fingerprint scanners, and special booths where you're invited to receive greater scrutiny if you've got too many previous entry stamps. For those nostalgic for the past the tip jars will be reinstated, and ringing the bell will grant you direct access to the fast track lane. It would be ideally situated directly adjacent to Airport club in Walking Street, perhaps a makeover of the punishment themed bar that's there at present. 

It is a while since I have investigated what is available in Pattaya, but I would have thought sadomasochism must be well catered for already.

Edited June 2, 20197 yr by BritTim

34 minutes ago, BritTim said:

It is a while since I have investigated what is available in Pattaya, but I would have thought sadomasochism must be well catered for already.

Not sure if it's still there, but across the street there was also an IDC themed bar a while back. 

Finger printed leaving as well recently, sponsored by America no doubt 

7 minutes ago, bartender100 said:

Finger printed leaving as well recently, sponsored by America no doubt 

Or following Singapore perhaps?

7 hours ago, JSixpack said:

So true. What a miserable job. I doubt any of our posters would be smiling while doing that day after day.

 

How did you know he was "disgruntled" rather than just doing his miserable job?

 

As noted above, fingerprinting is getting pretty common. Try China: you get fingerprinted when leaving the secure area of the airport as well. Try getting a smile and "Welcome to China" outta those IOs. Or those in Vietnam.

 

In fact I doubt you're guaranteed any smile and friendliness from the IOs in any country. I got none from the USA recently. Actually I don't see why that would be expected or needed. These aren't the welcoming committee.

 

However, unlike yourself I often get a smile (slight anyway) from Thai IOs. I do that by giving them a smile first and a cheerful "Sawatdee krab" when I approach and a smile and "Kop kun krab" when my stamped passport is handed back. A little Thai and polite, friendly Thai manners establish that you aren't one of the idiots and really help smooth all your transactions w/ Thais. Mine are invariably pleasant for that reason. 

 

But you probably need to walk down some streets in Pattaya w/ a plethora of massage parlors. Or Soi 6. You'll get all the attention, smiles, and flattery you could possibly want.

 

 

I agree that security steps will continue to increase, perhaps with facial recognition helping to move through Immigration a little faster (but at what cost). I would mention that on returning to the USA from an overseas it did my heart good to be handed my Passport back and the officer saying, "welcome home". Only happened one time sadly (such a small thing can make a person's day).

1 hour ago, dcnx said:

Awww, poor guy. Thailand must be the only country in the world with travelers from all over the world. I don’t know how they cope.

 

Well to be fair I have found IOs all over the world have a similar outlook, dour.  

7 hours ago, JSixpack said:

Or those in Vietnam.

I joined the queue at Da Nang airport.  There were three desks in operation: ASEAN; Viets; & others.  This latter got quite long (hordes of farangs casing out where to take their pensions?).  A smiling official opened another gate and halved this queue.  I felt welcomed, valued even.

1 hour ago, mikebell said:

I joined the queue at Da Nang airport.  There were three desks in operation: ASEAN; Viets; & others.  This latter got quite long (hordes of farangs casing out where to take their pensions?).  A smiling official opened another gate and halved this queue.  I felt welcomed, valued even.

That is great.

Are you moving there soon?

1 hour ago, mikebell said:

I joined the queue at Da Nang airport.  There were three desks in operation: ASEAN; Viets; & others.  This latter got quite long (hordes of farangs casing out where to take their pensions?).  A smiling official opened another gate and halved this queue. 

Was the smiling "official" one of the IOs that normally check passports as we're discussing? "Cattle queue director" is a trivial low-level job much more conducive to a smile.

 

Quote

I felt welcomed, valued even.

No doubt you did after the simply unspeakable mistreatment you've long suffered in Thailand. Me, I usually feel welcomed to be back in Thailand. ????

 

 

On 6/2/2019 at 9:34 AM, arithai12 said:

Fingerprints are required, in some cases since several years, to enter a lot of countries.

As for the non-smiling officer, you are right but try to imagine working his shift, a few thousands farangs, chinese, indians... how long would you keep your smile?

 

No-one forces him to do a job he doesn't like. I can't imagine a life where, every day, you spend all day doing something you don't like. Not really a life, is it.

Thailand used to be what you want.  NOT anymore.  Maybe you should have tipped her.

28 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

 

Edited June 3, 20197 yr by mike787

2 hours ago, mikebell said:

I joined the queue at Da Nang airport.  There were three desks in operation: ASEAN; Viets; & others.  This latter got quite long (hordes of farangs casing out where to take their pensions?).  A smiling official opened another gate and halved this queue.  I felt welcomed, valued even.

Same experience in Nha Trang.  Place is like warm, friendly, and very welcoming.

2 hours ago, mikebell said:

I joined the queue at Da Nang airport.  There were three desks in operation: ASEAN; Viets; & others.  This latter got quite long (hordes of farangs casing out where to take their pensions?).  A smiling official opened another gate and halved this queue.  I felt welcomed, valued even.

When I was there last year they all had that IO serious look that all countries have

To expect them all to sit there fat dumb and happy is kinda ridiculous. 

Last time I checked immigration wasn’t customer service. I can count on one hand the times I’ve actually had an IO anywhere in the world greet me with a warm smile. It’s just the nature of the beast. 

"now I think the only thing happy to see me here is the mosquito".

 

Come, come now, I'm sure if you were going to buy the Elite Visa, you would be most welcome.

I just arrived at Fast Track.  Small queue but everyone ahead of me could not comprehend the instructions despite being in their native language and an animation showing exactly what to do.  It for me added no great delay as the IO did his thing and I did mine at the same time.  However I can read,  understand right from left and I guess growing up with the Flintstones meant the animations were clear. 

 

Upon exiting luggage I'd say most non Caucasians were getting their luggage X-rayed. With a prominent sign as to limits on cigarettes and booze. I just looked around them all and left.  

 

Quiet airport but hordes of police types everywhere. 

Edited June 3, 20197 yr by grandpollo

Let's wait for the new immigration chief announce that due to the expense of fitting these new enhanced check machines for facial recognition and fingerprinting, there is to be an additional charge put on the price of the air ticket, the same as they did for the last ' improved ' system and shortly, no doubt, to be followed by the health insurance charges etc

 

The departure tax is now included in the ticket, not long before these additional fees and taxes will cost more than the price of the airline ticket!

 

Thailand trying to ' gouge ' every baht from every person, tourist or transit.

Singapore has been doing fingerprinting for some time. No traveller complained about surly IOs there. Or about the fact that they do fingerprinting. Thailand does it, there is a never ending moan.

Inflammatory/troll remark and response removed.