Thai embassy in Cambodia ordered to tighten visa screening

The Thai embassy in Phnom Penh has been instructed to tighten screening of applicants for visa to Thailand, a deputy Foreign Ministry spokesman said Friday.

Piriya Khempol, the deputy spokesman, said the embassy was instructed to take the action after Gen Watanachai Chaimuanwong, an adviser to the prime minister on security affairs, voiced concern that international terrorists could try to sneak into Thailand from Cambodia and Indonesia.

Watanachai said the international terrorists, who are members of Jemaah Islamiyah Group.

Apart from the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh, other embassies in other countries were also ordered to tighten the screening of visa applications, Piriya said.

He said the embassies have an online network to cross-check the applicants' name with the blacklists of the Immigration Bureau and other security agencies.

The Nation

One might suspect this has everything to do with Cambodians but very little to do with anyone else. They are well known for not wanting to process any visas for non Cambodians and the recent increase in travel of Cambodian Muslims to the deep south of Thailand (and the fact most don't return) is likely the primary concern.

The Thai embassy in Phnom Penh has been instructed to tighten screening of applicants for visa to Thailand, a deputy Foreign Ministry spokesman said Friday.

Considering that the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh is well renowned for being one of the least visa-friendly of all Thai consular offices, one wonders what this tightening actually means in a practical sense.

The Thai embassy in Phnom Penh has been instructed to tighten screening of applicants for visa to Thailand, a deputy Foreign Ministry spokesman said Friday.

Considering that the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh is well renowned for being one of the least visa-friendly of all Thai consular offices, one wonders what this tightening actually means in a practical sense.

Hardly surprising considering the sort of people they see at the P.P. Embassy.

Paedophiles, Loud, barking mad NGO's who cant find a useful job with

their ArtyFarty useless Arts degrees ... Et.Al.

Naka.

Thailand is not interested in encouraging tourism to Bodia since the burning of the embassy there in 2004. They therefore make obtaining a visa there tough. Can't blame them for that.

Here we go what?

As the others say, this probably has something to do with fears of terrorism. I doubt many here fall into that category. Rest well for now.

Hardly surprising considering the sort of people they see at the P.P. Embassy.

Paedophiles, Loud, barking mad NGO's who cant find a useful job with

their ArtyFarty useless Arts degrees ... Et.Al.

Naka.

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You are a comic Naka,thank you to make me laugh

One might suspect this has everything to do with Cambodians but very little to do with anyone else. They are well known for not wanting to process any visas for non Cambodians and the recent increase in travel of Cambodian Muslims to the deep south of Thailand (and the fact most don't return) is likely the primary concern.

JR Texas to Lopburi3: This is the "securitization of migration" in action. As pointed out many times before, this started with the Bad Bush and 9/11........Toxin the Magnificent embraced it (for many reasons...in part his level of xenophobia)....and after the Hambali incident there was a strong reaction to it in Thailand....the visa picture was radically changed.

The securitization of migration is happening worldwide. Unfortunately, it is also being abused worldwide. Now CRIME and MIGRATION is linked in the minds of those that do not know any better (yes, some, but not all migrants do commit crimes). Rarely does it actually impact crime......all too often it produces negative effects (e.g., upsetting potential investors, hurting tourism, damaging the real estate market, hurting mixed-race families, etc).

The Thai Embassy in PP has always been a "pain in the ass" and particularly worthless in terms of visas for expats. The new proclamation will not change that...........my concern is that they are sending us (the expat community) a message and the message is not good: You are not wanted.......and in the near future the visa bar will be raised so high that it will reach all of you.

Time will tell........good luck!

I don't think it has anything to do with a message to farangs saying your not wanted. It's just the way the Thai Embassy in Phonom Phen conducts business. In general, they are not very nice or friendly.

If their behavior is meant to limit western tourism between Cambodia and Thailand then they probably have succeded. Anyone who knows how they operate will avoid the Thai Embassy in Phonom Phen.

There are other places to get a Thai visa that are a lot more people friendly than Phonom Phen.

The Thai embassy in Phnom Penh has been instructed to tighten screening of applicants for visa to Thailand, a deputy Foreign Ministry spokesman said Friday.

Considering that the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh is well renowned for being one of the least visa-friendly of all Thai consular offices, one wonders what this tightening actually means in a practical sense.

Hardly surprising considering the sort of people they see at the P.P. Embassy.

Paedophiles, Loud, barking mad NGO's who cant find a useful job with

their ArtyFarty useless Arts degrees ... Et.Al.

Naka.

Gary glitter !

Lopburi 3 and JR Texas, I feel your respective point of view are consistent with each other.

From a general point of view, I think with JR that "The securitization of migration is happening worldwide. Unfortunately, it is also being abused worldwide".That's the general trend that provided us with securized new passports, for example.

With Lopburi, I believe that Regional politics have an influence on immigration policies, as well.

It brings a general question to my mind. Sorry for my ignorance... I don't know enough about the Thai administrative organization.

Regarding an issue like the Tourist Visas... At which level of the administrative pyramid are decisions made? Who decides which are the requirement to qualify for such a visa? And what the modalities are going to be (2 or 3 entries, etc).

If anyone knows, I would be grateful as I am eager to understand the policy making process.