Today(9th.) have just had a visit from a Thai person with blue cap/yellow scarf inquiring as to my last entry to Thailand. He spoke to my partner and I had to provide my name and age and produce my passport so that he could check last entry and extension validity-also looked at TM 30 receipt and 90 day receipt. All good and said he would be back tomorrow with a certificate/paper saying I had not been out/in from Thailand since the Covid restrictions were put into effect. He had the addresses of 2 other falang in my area and had visited them also. Any one else had a visit from I presume Tessabahn or similar asking for this? I'm not at all worried just curious.

What province/village was this?

Muang Phitsanulok

If you want to know the details you could ask the "poo yai baan" for your area, he should know what this is about.

I guess that they decided to check on foreigners to make sure they aren't at risk of bringing the Coroa virus in this neighbourhood. If they are only checking foreigners that's of course quite xenophobic. I wouldn't show my passport to a random person showing up at my door asking questions though.

3 minutes ago, wazzadg44 said:

Muang Phitsanulok

The joys of living in areas with few foreigners. The Immigration officers have too much time on their hands so they go around "harassing" the few in town (or wherever you are) to justify their paychecks. 

I had a group out the other day, clearly coming to my house because I’m a foreigner, didn’t check anything but handed out a pamphlet and saying if you go out you have to wear a mask. 
 

I fully expect they will do house to house “checks” at some point, most being conducted by the village headman. 

1 minute ago, tropo said:

The Immigration officers have too much time on their hands so they go around "harassing" the few in town (or wherever you are) to justify their paychecks. 

Probably wasn’t even immigration. Was probably some poo yai crew of nobodys. 

Just now, jackdd said:

If you want to know the details you could ask the "poo yai baan" for your area, he should know what this is about.

I guess that they decided to check on foreigners to make sure they aren't at risk of bringing the Coroa virus in this neighbourhood. If they are only checking foreigners that's of course quite xenophobic. I wouldn't show my passport to a random person showing up at my door asking questions though.

I wouldn't show them my passport either unless I was absolutely sure they were with immigration. "sorry, my passport is at my lawyer's office" works well. Ask them if you would like me to call my lawyer (hopefully you have one to call - you should). Actually it was my lawyer who told me never to hand my passport to anyone as they can go missing.

24 minutes ago, wazzadg44 said:

oday(9th.) have just had a visit from a Thai person with blue cap/yellow scarf inquiring as to my last entry to Thailand. He spoke to my partner and I had to provide my name and age and produce my passport..........

Don't let them speak to your partner.

If they're official, they can speak English with you after identifying themselves correctly.

I'd want a photo of then holding their ID card, as they always want photos of us.

 

My gate is locked, they won't be coming in, social distancing an all, they can speak from outside the gate.

Edited April 9, 20206 yr by BritManToo

Some off topic posts have been removed.

5 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Don't let them speak to your partner.

If they're official, they can speak English with you after identifying themselves correctly.

I'd want a photo of then holding their ID card, as they always want photos of us.

 

My gate is locked, they won't be coming in, social distancing an all, they can speak from outside the gate.

That's good advice. If they are genuinely checking for Immigration, they will come back with a translator, official ID and maybe a police officer or two. A conversation that you cannot understand between your partner and whoever it is is not sufficient.

 

18 minutes ago, tropo said:

"harassing"

i hardly think they were harassing the OP.  They are IO's, it's their job to ensure expats comply with Thailands immigration laws.  If you want to be un-cooperative in not giving them any info or act like your a Philidelphia lawyer then that's fine, but why make life difficult as I'm sure word will get around at the IO and god help you when you try to extend or apply for any visa ....    What is about folks not assisting with IO's request .... if you've nothing to hide then what's the big deal  ??   imo

 

 

 

Edited April 9, 20206 yr by steven100

34 minutes ago, wazzadg44 said:

All good and said he would be back tomorrow with a certificate/paper saying I had not been out/in from Thailand since the Covid restrictions were put into effect.

That's just hilarious, why on earth would they issue a certificate with information that is readily available in your passport? Yes, I know, data redundancy is one of the mainstays of Thai culture.

I could careless if they come to my door and ask questions.

Got nothing to hide and all my paperwork in order.

I am bored at home anyway hope they show up soon.

It would be great if it was one of the cute IO's in uniform I have seen.

In fact, I would ask them to have a seat and offer them milk and cookies.

Edited April 9, 20206 yr by bkk6060

1 minute ago, BritManToo said:

They may have been IOs, the OP isn't specific about them showing ID.

Assume also they've been touching passports of 20 other foreigners, without washing their hands.

No thanks, that's high risk of transmitting infection.

agree ,  the infection carrier is another issue and your correct they should wash while you are present, but as for showing your docs ...  not a big deal imo.

15 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Don't let them speak to your partner.

If they're official, they can speak English with you after identifying themselves correctly.

if you live hear and don't understand the language, they have every right to speak to your partner. They can translate for you. Why should officials have to speak your language?

 

22 minutes ago, tropo said:

The joys of living in areas with few foreigners. The Immigration officers have too much time on their hands so they go around "harassing" the few in town (or wherever you are) to justify their paychecks. 

Or perhaps they are doing the job they are told to do that high farang density places is a pain in the ass for the staff... 

28 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

if you live hear and don't understand the language, they have every right to speak to your partner. They can translate for you. Why should officials have to speak your language?

 

I understand the language (im)perfectly, but speaking it to officials don't get me any brownie points, so i don't do it.

Same advice I give foreigners in the UK, always insist on an official translator when interacting with the police.

They ain't your friends, make their work as difficult as possible, next time they'll pick an easier mark.

Edited April 9, 20206 yr by BritManToo

7 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I understand the language perfectly, but speaking it to officials don't get me any brownie points, so i don't do it.

You speak fluent Thai, yet make them come back with a translator? I find this very strange.

7 minutes ago, transam said:

Or perhaps they are doing the job they are told to do that high farang density places is a pain in the ass for the staff... 

My point went right over your head...

 

 I suggested it is a "joy" to live in low foreigner density places where they have more time to "harass" foreigners. 

 

 

 

 

18 minutes ago, steven100 said:

i hardly think they were harassing the OP.  They are IO's, it's their job to ensure expats comply with Thailands immigration laws.  If you want to be un-cooperative in not giving them any info or act like your a Philidelphia lawyer then that's fine, but why make life difficult as I'm sure word will get around at the IO and god help you when you try to extend or apply for any visa ....    What is about folks not assisting with IO's request .... if you've nothing to hide then what's the big deal  ??   imo

 

 

 

Steven, please explain how you know they are immigration officers.

The folk going round with the yellow shirts and blue neck ties, are locals used by the Tessaban, or Orbortor, nothing what so ever to do with immigration.

1 minute ago, tropo said:

My point went right over your head...

 

 I suggested it is a "joy" to live in low foreigner density places where they have more time to "harass" foreigners. 

 

 

 

 

Well I am and they don't...................????

1 minute ago, colinneil said:

Steven, please explain how you know they are immigration officers.

The folk going round with the yellow shirts and blue neck ties, are locals used by the Tessaban, or Orbortor, nothing what so ever to do with immigration.

When they tried to clean up the lake outside my place, they brought in guys from the local prison, guess what colourful gear they were issued....?   ????

A baiting/flame has been removed

10 minutes ago, colinneil said:

Steven, please explain how you know they are immigration officers.

The folk going round with the yellow shirts and blue neck ties, are locals used by the Tessaban, or Orbortor, nothing what so ever to do with immigration.

a quick call to the IO would confirm this, however an ID should be shown upon arrival.

From OP " ... a Thai person with blue cap/yellow scarf ... ". 

 

Sounds like a local community volunteer. Cap and scarf are given to those who sign-up for community work. A number of my wife's friends have them but AFAIK they have no official status. Very unlikely to be IOs or police, just ordinary folks that might be your neighbour or local somtam seller.

2 minutes ago, steven100 said:

a quick call to the IO would confirm this, however an ID should be shown upon arrival.

I remember some guys in uniform demanding that I pay them money for throwing a fag on the pavement outside a department store. The were told where to go, as they were security guards. 

Police without uniform have been to my house and always show their ID.

56 minutes ago, tropo said:

The joys of living in areas with few foreigners. The Immigration officers have too much time on their hands so they go around "harassing" the few in town (or wherever you are) to justify their paychecks. 

Phitsanoloke City has many foreigners.

1 hour ago, Mama Noodle said:

Probably wasn’t even immigration. Was probably some poo yai crew of nobodys. 

I would hardly call someone a nobody if they are capable of checking a passports entry and extension stamps, TM30 and 90 day receipts especially if they did it with confidence knowing what they were looking for.

57 minutes ago, Boomer6969 said:

why on earth would they issue a certificate

They just ♥♥♥ certificates here. Hang them on the wall, flash them to other officials, show them at job interviews.