Good time to abandon the TM 30

[PhonThong]

If the Thai government was ever looking for a face saving move to abandon the TM-30, this is it. With the Coronavirus outbreak, it only makes sense now to stop the foolishness of it and get rid of it. 

 People returning back to Thailand from who knows where? Should not be subject to the crowds of people in their local immigration office possibly carrying the virus back with them.  For what? Just to confirm that they are back home? In the meantime, the government is trying to control  those from high risk countries to not travel in Thailand for 14 days. But, if you are an expat, it doesn't matter where you returned from. You are to report to your local immigration office at least by the next day. Where is the logic in this? 

 This is the perfect opportunity for the Thai government, Thai immigration to be exact, to finally rid the country of this foolish law. 

 At least if nothing else, abandon this program in the meantime. I see no reason the make local immigration offices a petri dish for the healthy to become infected.

Edited March 9, 2020 by PhonThong

[jacko45k]

2 hours ago, PhonThong said:

 People returning back to Thailand from who knows where? Should not be subject to the crowds of people in their local immigration office possibly carrying the virus back with them. 

One could argue that knowing where people are, tourists and Expats alike is more important now. So hotels, condo renters etc need to keep doing it. Expats can often do it on-line too. 

2 hours ago, PhonThong said:

At least if nothing else, abandon this program in the meantime. I see no reason the make local immigration offices a petri dish for the healthy to become infected.

Then they should refuse to do all tourist extensions too based on that premise. In Pattaya, where the TM30 section is separated, the numbers seem substantially less than those doing 'other matters'....

Edited March 10, 2020 by jacko45k

[Tayaout]

Good time to adopt the internet. 

[ChipButty]

You can do it online like a lot of us do

[essox essox]

10 minutes ago, Tayaout said:

Good time to adopt the internet. 

do they know what it is....

I thought that when one arrives at an airport, the passport is swiped therefore indicating that one IS BACK IN THE COUNTRY???!!!

[Tayaout]

1 minute ago, essox essox said:

do they know what it is....

I thought that when one arrives at an airport, the passport is swiped therefore indicating that one IS BACK IN THE COUNTRY???!!!

Not sure but I did one Tm30 in person almost a year ago then all the other one my wife did them from her phone in about 3min. I know some people feel the need to interact in person but it's unnecessary. 

[ExpatOilWorker]

Since TM30 is no longer a requirement for marriage/retirement extensions, why do the TM30 at all?

[ubonjoe]

5 hours ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

Since TM30 is no longer a requirement for marriage/retirement extensions, why do the TM30 at all?

Who told you that. Perhaps you local office does not require one.

I think you might be confusing TM27 address reporting with TM30 reporting.

[ExpatOilWorker]

4 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Who told you that. Perhaps you local office does not require one.

I think you might be confusing TM278 address reporting with TM30 reporting.

CW. It has been widely reported that they don't ask for the TM30 anymore when doing extensions. 

There were a recent thread on this site. Surely you must have seen it.

[DrJack54]

9 minutes ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

CW. It has been widely reported that they don't ask for the TM30 anymore when doing extensions. 

There were a recent thread on this site. Surely you must have seen it.

That's true but I think there is something like 70 immigration offices. Some are pedantic about it. Thinking CM might be an example. I do yearly extensions at CW. 

Apart from little hissy fit the tm30 had a year back (even at CW) basically not required. 

[Hank Gunn]

1 hour ago, Tayaout said:

Good time to adopt the internet. 

I like to tell people back home that Thailand doesn't have the internet yet. They just have Facebook. ????

[PhonThong]

1 hour ago, ChipButty said:

You can do it online like a lot of us do

No I cannot. 

[PhonThong]

35 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

That's true but I think there is something like 70 immigration offices. Some are pedantic about it. Thinking CM might be an example. I do yearly extensions at CW. 

Apart from little hissy fit the tm30 had a year back (even at CW) basically not required. 

I assure you. It is required in Roi et. 

[orchis]

it is required here and I do it online.

[Chazar]

20 minutes ago, PhonThong said:

I assure you. It is required in Roi et. 

Prachuap Khirikhan , never  done one,  hopefully  never  will, been in and out of  Thailand  numerous times

[Don Mega]

Meh, it takes a minute at most to do online... Maybe 5 if I wonder off to make a coffee.

[kimchibob]

Flew in from the Philippines last night, so went to Immigration (Jomtien) today to file a TM30.  Just out of curiosity, I asked the IO if a TM30 is required when returning to a long established address.  I got a resounding YES from all 3 ladies at desk 10.  So there you have it, this the policy at one office at this point in  time.  Admittedly, that could change  this afternoon, tomorrow, or next week.  BTW, most people were paying fines.  The average seemed to be about ฿1300.

Edited March 10, 2020 by kimchibob

[jackdd]

5 hours ago, PhonThong said:

If the Thai government was ever looking for a face saving move to abandon the TM-30, this is it. With the Coronavirus outbreak, it only makes sense now to stop the foolishness of it and get rid of it. 

After 80 Thai workers from Korea just went missing, the only thing they might do is to tighten reporting requirements.

This could mean that they will try to enforce TM27 for foreigners, and that they try to enforce that Thai people are registered where they are actually living.

[findlay13]

4 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

Who told you that. Perhaps you local office does not require one.

I think you might be confusing TM27 address reporting with TM30 reporting.

Joe do you know if Ubon Immigration are still wanting farang to report after a couple of nights away from the home address?

 

[Destiny1990]

I am guessing this but probably their standpoint is : Strange the foreigner doesn’t Seem to like the feeling of being tracked and traced 24/7 and to loose lots of their time on this matter. So that’s obviously suspicious about why they don't like this. Good that there is the TM30 to find out more about this !

[ubonjoe]

29 minutes ago, findlay13 said:

Joe do you know if Ubon Immigration are still wanting farang to report after a couple of nights away from the home address?

 

As far as I know they still want a TM30 report if you stayed in a hotel that reported your stay.

[mike787]

NOT gonna happen....

[legend49]

3 hours ago, kimchibob said:

Flew in from the Philippines last night, so went to Immigration (Jomtien) today to file a TM30.  Just out of curiosity, I asked the IO if a TM30 is required when returning to a long established address.  I got a resounding YES from all 3 ladies at desk 10.  So there you have it, this the policy at one office at this point in  time.  Admittedly, that could change  this afternoon, tomorrow, or next week.  BTW, most people were paying fines.  The average seemed to be about ฿1300.

Discount fines, normally ranges 1500 to 1600 baht.

[marko kok prong]

Seems to vary depending on which office my local one love it,cos they fine you regardless saying they never got it,or the report if you do it at the police station does not count,no one ever gets a reciept ,thats why i am going to Pattaya through an agent will cost only slightly more as i have money in bank,4 times i have been to change my address at my local immigration yet the letters still go back to my old adress!

[from the home of CC]

5 hours ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

Since TM30 is no longer a requirement for marriage/retirement extensions, why do the TM30 at all?

in Hua Hin last month when doing my 90 day the officer definitely looked for (and found) my 30, he grunted with approval and away I went..  

[Toany]

And the 90 day report could be put on hold.

 

[Chicken George]

Had IOs turn up at my house yesterday. I had just done my visa extension and bought a multi entry stamp as well. I gave them my dates I was leaving Thailand. So I'm abroad and they still turn ip. They said checking all foreigners and where they live. In the North. A bit stupid possible going house to house with possibility if catching and spreading the Virus. Left hand not knowing what the right is doing as they know I'm not there. Took a photo of my wife and son. 

Wife asked about having to go into their office to do a TM30 on my return. They have no idea about safety. No answer. 

[drbeach]

I read/heard some offices are less strict now than they were last year. Definitely no more TM30s required if you are traveling within the country (at some offices). Also, I have seen the notices where it states that tourists and anyone on a temporary visa is exempt.

 

Only expats may still be required to comply, but only if they're on an extension of stay.

 

Non-imm O, B multi-entry, no need. Besides, if you have no dealings with immigration, no one will know or care whether you've done one or not. I've never done one and never will, as long as I remain on the visa I'm on.

Edited March 10, 2020 by drbeach

[drbeach]

3 hours ago, jackdd said:

After 80 Thai workers from Korea just went missing, the only thing they might do is to tighten reporting requirements.

This could mean that they will try to enforce TM27 for foreigners, and that they try to enforce that Thai people are registered where they are actually living.

TM28 is as good as dead, according to a Canadian lawyer in Isarn and some articles i've read in the English language Thai press. TM30 is still around, but depending on your immigration office, it's back to the status quo of yesteryear. Some want TM30s for every night spend outside your home province (although this is difficult to enforce), others just for when you come back from abroad. Others still, not at all. This changes almost everyday so it's impossible to keep up with what this office does today and what another office will do tomorrow.

[jackdd]

Just now, drbeach said:

TM28 is as good as dead, according to a Canadian lawyer in Isarn and some articles i've read in the English language Thai press. TM30 is still around, but depending on your immigration office, it's back to the status quo of yesteryear. Some want TM30s for every night spend outside your home province (although this is difficult to enforce), others just for when you come back from abroad. Others still, not at all. This changes almost everyday so it's impossible to keep up with what this office does today and what another office will do tomorrow.

TM27 and TM28 are two different forms