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TM30: The form getting expats in Thailand into a bureaucratic tangle

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How to fix it:

 

Everyone take as many weekenders as financially possible. Do 10-20 TM30 a year.

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  • So your saying the long process of getting a yearly visa + 90 day checks leaves a lot of hiding space??   BTW: you say you have lived in Thailand 30+ years but joined this forum 12 minutes a

  • Great BBC picked up this story. Hopefully other news outlets will report as well. This should be an embarrassment for Thailand if they ever want to be a modern international country this kind of law o

  • RotBenz8888
    RotBenz8888

    It will never be abolished because its a source of income and it assures that the IOs can keep their jobs. And the app will be kept malfunctioning for the same reasons.

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2 hours ago, Chazar said:

Anymore updates from officialdom yet? apart from the toe the line mindset

Yes, they have a meeting in Ubon tomorrow and since it is in BBC, they seems to feel it is more important. They just can’t change a law quickly. But they know about the problems and the more it is in the media’s, the faster, I think, they will react. It is the big boss in Bangkok that decides....

18 minutes ago, flexomike said:

TM28 is for change of address

I wish people on here would read previous posts.
TM28.
FORM FOR ALIENS TO NOTIFY THEIR CHANGE OF ADDRESS OR THEIR STAY IN THE PROVINCE FOR OVER 24 HOURS

10 minutes ago, Isaanlawyers said:

Yes, they have a meeting in Ubon tomorrow and since it is in BBC, they seems to feel it is more important. They just can’t change a law quickly. But they know about the problems and the more it is in the media’s, the faster, I think, they will react. It is the big boss in Bangkok that decides....

Thanks  good  to hear its being promoted more widely, I  appreciate ALL your  efforts.

The TM30 states “MUST NOTIFY THE LOCAL IMMIGRATION OFFICE IF THERE IS NO LOCAL IMMIGRATION OFFICE LOCATED IN THAT AREA THE LOCAL POLICE OFFICIAN MUST BE NOTIFIED”.

I have submitted TM30’s at both immigration office & at local police stations without any problems.

As my details for the TM30 rarely change, I filled one form, photocopied it and only have to fill in the date each time.

2 hours ago, tandor said:

you will be ok...you only have a Purple 'C' to identify you by!

one of many identities......

1 minute ago, Bantex said:

The TM30 states “MUST NOTIFY THE LOCAL IMMIGRATION OFFICE IF THERE IS NO LOCAL IMMIGRATION OFFICE LOCATED IN THAT AREA THE LOCAL POLICE OFFICIAN MUST BE NOTIFIED”.

I have submitted TM30’s at both immigration office & at local police stations without any problems.

As my details for the TM30 rarely change, I filled one form, photocopied it and only have to fill in the date each time.

in what areas? (police  stations)

Just now, ujayujay said:

Whats next: Mandatory Handcuffs for every Expat?

only when breathing. Failure to breath fine 2000 baht

In my country the law is termed an ASS on many occasions. Here it seems, the law is a permanent ASS.

 

 

 

 

Don't take life too seriously, nobody gets out alive anyway.

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9 hours ago, GraThai said:

I totally agree that TM30 is an outdated law however I have lived here in Thailand for 30+  years and try to abide by all the rules including this one. Every time I return home from a trip she fills in the form pops into immigration and its done so what is the massive problem...unless of course people have something to hide?????

Said the person so shortsighted that he can only view the issue through the prism of his own circumstances. You have certainly assimilated one Thai trait - not for the better.

9 hours ago, Just1Voice said:

May as well sell my 300cc

 Or gift it to me... I’ll wash it once and awhile...

1 hour ago, Jumbo1968 said:

My G.F. has been twice too the U.K. 6 month Visa, checked at Border Control on the way in, no other checks even on the way out.

Where did she get the Visa in Thailand now the embassy is gone?

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9 hours ago, GraThai said:

I totally agree that TM30 is an outdated law however I have lived here in Thailand for 30+  years and try to abide by all the rules including this one. Every time I return home from a trip she fills in the form pops into immigration and its done so what is the massive problem...unless of course people have something to hide?????

ive been here 20+ yrs, my wifes "pop in" requires a 80 KM round trip drive, hrs waiting in line, combined with my 90 day reports, applications, extensions, exit visa application, reports when i visit my daughter in BKK TM 30, re-report when i return home, reapplication due to inconstant changing requirements for documentation (wrong photos, more photos, bigger photos, more photos of inside the house, poor map, un-specified "local requirements", bank statement mistakes, bank book one day out of application date, more lineups, come back tomorrow, rinse and repeat next year. I've made 32 "pop ins" to Chanathaburi immigration, 4 in BKK (I / we have condo there),  in last 3 yrs. Last week 8 Heavily armed immigration federales rolled into my property with 3 cuffed Cambodians in back pick up, a 120 K USD BMW tricked out Immigration cop car, strolling around my house, asking questions regarding, "Am I working", "what do i do all day", "your must come visit", "do i visit my friends" "how much you pay for this House?" "how long you lived here" etc etc...rest assured i have nothing to hide. Although i also knew things could change when i settled permanently here, nevertheless, i'm making my exit plans, future is uncertain. Tired of "poping in"

11 minutes ago, Chazar said:

in what areas? (police  stations)

Local police in Sangkhlaburi accepted my TM30 today when I was visiting a friend. The police were previously sceptical at first about the TM30 but they phoned the nearest IO who confirmed it was OK for them to accept it before forwarding it to the Immigration Office. I was in & out with signed receipt in just a couple of minutes.

1 hour ago, chuck holmes said:

I have lived here for twenty two years with no problem follow the little rules what is the fuss all about. This is a great place to live.

Where do you live? I mean specifically... what is your home address?

 

Don't worry, I do not plan to visit.

 

Feeling apprehensive about sharing that information with me? Then sir, you are the model hypocrite.

3 minutes ago, Bantex said:

Local police in Sangkhlaburi accepted my TM30 today when I was visiting a friend. The police were previously sceptical at first about the TM30 but they phoned the nearest IO who confirmed it was OK for them to accept it before forwarding it to the Immigration Office. I was in & out with signed receipt in just a couple of minutes.

funny those guys in one of the most remote cities in Thailand even knew about TM30. Guess they only have a handfull of expats there.

9 hours ago, GraThai said:

I totally agree that TM30 is an outdated law however I have lived here in Thailand for 30+  years and try to abide by all the rules including this one. Every time I return home from a trip she fills in the form pops into immigration and its done so what is the massive problem...unless of course people have something to hide?????

Are you serious? "Pop Up to immigration"? For me from Pinklao its a 2 hours ride, wait 3 hours in queue, and another 2 hours back. Every time I go out of Bangkok? It is insane.

I would not mind if I could punch few keys on my smart phone's application. But the application is a joke. 

As with all Thai bureaucracy the only way to implement change is for them to think it is their idea.

7 minutes ago, sunnyboy2018 said:

Where did she get the Visa in Thailand now the embassy is gone?

Trendy House in Bangkok, VFS Global process the U.K. Visas applications before scanning and sending too believe it or not too Delhi for decision.

9 hours ago, puchooay said:

You are going to sell your bike because a TM30 must be completed upon your return to your registered address? Really? Get online and register. It is very simple.

 

This whole TM30 saga has been blown totally out of proportion.

Goin g on line doesn't work.....the system simply doesn't work well enough. Perhaps 1/3 of the time, certainly less than 50% of the time

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9 hours ago, Denim said:

 

Yes. Ironic that after the coup there were scores of posters (now silent)

who praised the junta and their declared intent to stop corruption and return happiness.

 

How's that working for them now ?

 

The military are behind all this paranoid xenophobia and it won't get better until they are reigned in.

 

They have so mismanaged the governing of the country that it is inevitable that an economic crash is not far down the tracks. The TM30 issue is just another log on the fire.

I was sickened by the idiots who supported the coup, criticized the red shirts, supported the yellow shirts, and excused the army killing Thai civilians including a nurse. The military mind set is barely competent to fight wars and totally unsuitable for running a country. The Chickens are coming hone to roost now and the Thai people will suffer a lot in the future. Thai military corruption make the Thai police look positively benign. 

Posts in violation of the following forum rule have been removed:

 

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By law, the Thai Royal Family are above politics. Speculation, comments and discussion of either a political or personal nature are not allowed when discussing HM The King or the Royal family.

 

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11 minutes ago, Jumbo1968 said:

Trendy House in Bangkok, VFS Global process the U.K. Visas applications before scanning and sending too believe it or not too Delhi for decision.

Did you have to act as her guarantor? Did she have to show proof of funds or property ownership? Even Thai wives are sometimes denied visas.

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55 minutes ago, Call said:

A lot of guys on this thread supports the TM30 debacle and finds no problem with it.

I would say, these guys are living in one place, most probably owned in foreign quota and somewhere close to Immigration. Most probably in Pattaya / Jomtien area. They hardly never moves around in Thailand, just hangs in the same bar every day. Do their 90 days report, walking to Immigration. Only concern are the exchange rate of their home country pension money and by that, the price of beer. 

They can´t think of other people having daily problem with the TM30, it´s not within their imagenation. 

They are the good guys ;-9

 

 

 

Most don't live in Thailand. But need to have their two bobs worth.

9 hours ago, Denim said:

The military are behind all this paranoid xenophobia

Then it leaves one singular question --- why are they paranoid?

13 minutes ago, sunnyboy2018 said:

Did you have to act as her guarantor? Did she have to show proof of funds or property ownership? Even Thai wives are sometimes denied visas.

I acted as guarantor, my G.F. has no job, no savings, no property nought, we have had 2 UK Tourist Visas and will apply for the 3rd one in January.

i spent a great deal of time writing the Sponsors Letter and there was loads of advice on T.V. bit of advice, just be truthful.

9 hours ago, GraThai said:

I totally agree that TM30 is an outdated law however I have lived here in Thailand for 30+  years and try to abide by all the rules including this one. Every time I return home from a trip she fills in the form pops into immigration and its done so what is the massive problem...unless of course people have something to hide?????

right! i live in thailand for about 12 years and i never have any probleme whit the TM30

The app on my android phone seems straight forward (after 10 weeks of waiting for the password)... it took five minutes to complete -- no stress, just do it to keep the Junta happy... 

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