Thailand blogger Richard Barrow posted on his blog today what he learned last night at a meeting he attended which had Bkk immigration officials announcing how they would be enforcing the Article 38, TM30 reporting.

 

"During a meeting at the India-Thai Chamber of Commerce on Thursday night, Immigration officials from Division 1 at Chaengwattana, made it very clear that a TM30 form has to be filed each and every time a foreigner (non-immigrant) goes away for more than twenty-four hours to another province in Thailand. This is in addition to when the foreigner returns home from abroad. The only exception are foreigners who hold permanent residence. Although this is an old law, not all Immigration offices around Thailand are enforcing it. But, this is the first time I have heard that Chaengwattana have an intention to enforce it now.

 

An example that they gave us was if you live in Bangkok but have a condo that you own in Pattaya. If you go away for the weekend, you must file a TM30 yourself as the owner to say that your new address is in Pattaya. When you return to Bangkok on Sunday night, your landlord then has to file TM30 again to inform immigration of your “new” address. In another example, if you go to another province for the weekend and stay at a hotel, they will file a TM30 for you. However, either you or your landlord have to file another TM30 when your return “home”.

 

We asked them multiple times about this and they said that yes, the movement of the foreigner has to be reported every time with no exceptions. However, in the past, Immigration officials have told me off the record that if you go and stay at your friend’s house for the weekend and then come back home there is no need to file a TM30. This is because no-one knows you left your home. Unless like me, the staff at your local Immigration office follow you on social media and they see you have been away! But, joking aside, it is a big pain if we travel a lot and our local Immigration office are enforcing this law."

 

There is more. It is a pretty thorough report, the rest of it can be read: http://www.richardbarrow.com/2019/08/bangkok-immigration-want-expats-to-register-their-address-every-time-they-return-from-a-holiday-to-another-province/

 

 

There is only one sensible way forward and that's to make reporting your address very easy and online.

 

As this is Thailand I suspect there's an almost zero chance that they will be able to achieve that because they're incompetent and simply don't care if we need to run around reporting to them every week.

Somewhat concerning about his own visa extension predicament if you follow his Twitter feed, as he states, he has never had it like this before. Dark forces at work....

41 minutes ago, ukrules said:

There is only one sensible way forward and that's to make reporting your address very easy and online.

 

As this is Thailand I suspect there's an almost zero chance that they will be able to achieve that because they're incompetent and simply don't care if we need to run around reporting to them every week.

So, now they are imcompetent. What more can be wrong? If everything is so worthless, why stay and complain?

They have announced that its going to be made and possible to do online. I guess we just have to give them some time, and comply with the rules until it gets easier.

50 minutes ago, ukrules said:

There is only one sensible way forward and that's to make reporting your address very easy and online.

 

As this is Thailand I suspect there's an almost zero chance that they will be able to achieve that because they're incompetent and simply don't care if we need to run around reporting to them every week.

Already available once you register; I've done it successfully via their web site https://extranet.immigration.go.th/fn24online/

1 hour ago, Matzzon said:

If everything is so worthless, why stay and complain?

Maybe immigration rules and hoops are everything for you. I'd hazard a guess it's different for most other people.

 

Quote

They have announced that its going to be made and possible to do online. I guess we just have to give them some time,

 

Yep. It's only been 40 years since the regulation has been passed and I'm sure the tech will catch up real soon.

1 hour ago, Matzzon said:

So, now they are imcompetent. What more can be wrong? If everything is so worthless, why stay and complain?

I rarely travel anywhere, maybe once a year I go somewhere for a weekend.

 

I complain because I like complaining. It's one of the things that I love about living in Thailand, I will never run out of things to complain about ????

Will this make me think twice about traveling and spending money in thailand yes it will why punish me from just having a weekend break its mental

12 minutes ago, Issannative said:

Will this make me think twice about traveling and spending money in thailand yes it will why punish me from just having a weekend break its mental

Racism. Farangs are being persecuted. It has become a Police state. Do they think I'm gonna waste my time filing a TM 30 while on a weekend break?

 

Why is the Thai Govt doing this? Are they afraid we might take over the country?

 

Maybe they might take notice if we all refused to comply? Though I can't see the Farang community having the balls to stand together.

 

Just give us all ankle tags as you are more afraid of us than ppl you let out of prison early

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Zenaphobic paranoia deflection

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I thought they would not do this but announce a relaxing of the official rule. Glad, but sad, I decided to start my exit process over the next year. 

 

Its a bridge too far for me, I have put up with enough immigration, banking, licensing, vehicle, property ownership, med insurance, funds transfer red tape and mindless bureaucracy for foreigners.

 

I thought 23 years working here and the last three as a retiree who could more than adequately support oneself was enough but obviously not. Time to move where I am somewhat wanted at least.

 

I use this phrase a lot these days "not what it was".

 

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But, this is the first time I have heard that Chaengwattana have an intention to enforce it now.

 

For an investigative journalist not exactly got his finger on the pulse if last night is the first he's heard of it 

What the op is an investative journalist no way well that just is mmmm I don't know what to say

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Oh how wonderful it is living in this police state. It really is a pleasure.

 

NOT!!!!! 

10 minutes ago, Salerno said:

For an investigative journalist not exactly got his finger on the pulse if last night is the first he's heard of it 

Last time I heard he was a teacher working in Paknam.

2 hours ago, Matzzon said:

So, now they are imcompetent. What more can be wrong? If everything is so worthless, why stay and complain?

They have announced that its going to be made and possible to do online. I guess we just have to give them some time, and comply with the rules until it gets easier.

Online already available. However so so many reports of difficulty to register. Also mail file waiting many weeks for receipt or none at all. 

Why do ppl keep making the excuse of online available that's not the point. Why should we be doing it at all is the point stop making this online available an excuse to make it legitimate

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8 minutes ago, Issannative said:

What the op is an investative journalist no way well that just is mmmm I don't know what to say

No, the OP was quoting another guy ... but

 

4 minutes ago, roamer said:

Last time I heard he was a teacher working in Paknam.

I sit corrected, buggered if I know why but for some reason I read Richard Barrow and though Andrew Drummond (wondered why the hell he was back in LoS as last I heard they where still going after him for defamation).

 

My apologies folks.

Smoke and mirrors smoke and mirrors

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3 minutes ago, Issannative said:

Why do ppl keep making the excuse of online available that's not the point. Why should we be doing it at all is the point stop making this online available an excuse to make it legitimate

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I admire your attitude there but exactly what do you propose we are going to do about it?

 

What we should do is just keep at it telling the truth it don't work when the sponced ppl come on here to tell us it's fine we all just say no it ain't all we can do is keep at it non stop

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Don't let them win with there excuses keep complaining

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1 minute ago, Issannative said:

What we should do is just keep at it telling the truth it don't work when the sponced ppl come on here to tell us it's fine we all just say no it ain't all we can do is keep at it non stop

I am in complete agreement with you, how could I possibly recommend or promote living in a country that is an Orwelian Police State.

The more voices the better just the voices have to keep singing

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I can accept filing if I were to permanently move house. But for 24 hours travel??? No, I am not doing it and I will refuse to pay if they fine me. Maybe if enough of us stand up to them they might get the message.

 

It brings to mind Hitler's persecution of the Jews.

 

Will they have is all wear a badge that says "Alien Farang" next?

Not promoting the state why would you you ensue is was doing that

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Thai immigration ..... running scared.

 

Well maybe not.

 

This petition thing is appealing to the wrong people. It should be calling on Bill Gates to do something about it like he did for unsightly electric cables.

 

Bill Gates ( aka loads of money )

talks , Plebian ex pats walk.

Strange thing is that I just asked immigration Chiang Mai a few days ago. The answer is that if I go to Bangkok for a few days to stay in a hotel, then I don't need to update my TM30 again when I go back to Chiang Mai.

 

It seems that all these rules are confusing or inconsistent even to immigration officers in charge of TM30.

If you refuse the fine you will not be allowed to leave untill you do and then be banned from coming back for a while

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