Bank and passport check

[Mino]

I went to a bank in the local Mall and used the western union service as need to send some money quickly. I used few times before this service and today, for the first time, they asked me to show my visa status. In the past, they just make a copy of my personal data and had to sign it.

It's just the bank employee that wanna do the immigration job, or now, no matter who, they can ask for your visa status? Thank you

[DrJack54]

11 minutes ago, Mino said:

. I used few times before this service and today, for the first time, they asked me to show my visa status

Your permission of stay would be in your pp. 

What do you mean "they asked to show visa status. 

In any event what's the issue.

Perhaps as it involved money transfer.

What's the big deal. 

[Mino]

6 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Your permission of stay would be in your pp. 

What do you mean "they asked to show visa status. 

In any event what's the issue.

Perhaps as it involved money transfer.

What's the big deal. 

I mean that in the past, in the 2-3 times I used the WU service, bank employee never asked me to show my visa status. WU it's a money transfer, but in the past they just take a copy of my personal data. No issue and no big deal. Bank employee work for immigration now? 

[jaywalker2]

i had the same thing when I went to make a deposit at my bank (which I've been using for 15 years). They told me it was due to new money laundering rules

[DrJack54]

6 minutes ago, jaywalker2 said:

 They told me it was due to new money laundering rules

Indeed. 

This has also impacted opening bank accounts.

While Bangkok has required a residence certificate now other locations are requiring the same

[Posideon]

I just deposited 300k cash in central Bangkok a few days ago. Of course they want my pp. Just took the ## not even a photocopy.

 

Maybe you misunderstood OP? I agree and in fact I doubt they'd know one visa class fro6the next. Moreover, I can't see a teller caring. Odd.

 

Sometimes I even use my expired Thai Drs license

[Posideon]

28 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Indeed. 

This has also impacted opening bank accounts.

While Bangkok has required a residence certificate now other locations are requiring the same

This has nothing to do with the op issue.

[Gottfrid]

No big issue! Just show what they ask for. If on long stay visa, all should have what they ask for anyway.

 

[DrJack54]

20 minutes ago, Posideon said:

I just deposited 300k cash in central Bangkok a few days ago. Of course they want my pp. Just took the ## not even a photocopy.

Try doing a withdrawal and get back to us. 

[Liverpool Lou]

3 hours ago, Mino said:

I went to a bank in the local Mall and used the western union service as need to send some money quickly. I used few times before this service and today, for the first time, they asked me to show my visa status. In the past, they just make a copy of my personal data and had to sign it.

When they copy the passport they also check the visa, they've been doing it for years.   The passport has to be valid and, for a foreigner making a banking transaction, if the visa isn't valid, neither is the passport.

[Liverpool Lou]

2 hours ago, Posideon said:

I doubt they'd know one visa class fro6the next. Moreover, I can't see a teller caring. Odd.

They don't have to know anything about types of visa, all they need to see is the extension of stay expiry date and that's easy to check.

[FritsSikkink]

6 hours ago, Mino said:

I mean that in the past, in the 2-3 times I used the WU service, bank employee never asked me to show my visa status. WU it's a money transfer, but in the past they just take a copy of my personal data. No issue and no big deal. Bank employee work for immigration now? 

What is your problem, don't have a proper visa?

[Maestro]

8 hours ago, Mino said:

I went to a bank in the local Mall and used the western union service as need to send some money quickly. I used few times before this service and today, for the first time, they asked me to show my visa status.

Is there perhaps some misunderstanding? Obviously, WU had to ask for your passport for identification, but did they in addition ask you to point to the page showing your current permission to stay?

[nigelforbes]

The rule may have been on the books for a long time but it wasn't always followed by branch staff, especially where the customer was of higher net worth or was well known. All that changed not long ago and all banks have now effectively become agents for Imm. for all their foreign customers.

[jaywalker2]

3 hours ago, Maestro said:

Is there perhaps some misunderstanding? Obviously, WU had to ask for your passport for identification, but did they in addition ask you to point to the page showing your current permission to stay?

I don't think the banks have to check for an extension of stay. They were able to check my passport on their computer, so all the information should have been there. I don't know if they can do that at Western Union.

[terryq]

Of course they should check if you have a valid permission to stay.

 

They do not want to be seen doing business with nasty foreign criminal over-stayers.

 

 

[ignis]

Maybe there is a notice displayed ?

 

Went this last week into the Pink Bank, deposited the 11.000 baht into Bank Book for House loan, have been doing this every month for the past 15 years.....  This time MUST have Passport....  would not accept without id/passport had to call friend who came to the Bank with his id..

 

There was a notice all in Thai - every transaction = must show id [for non Thai then Passport] ... regardless of Nationality  Never been asked before in 1000s of Visits

 

 

[Caldera]

There has definitely been a change at some point. When renewing ATM cards, for example, Kasikorn Bank used to just copy the ID page of my passport, nowadays they copy the latest extension stamp as well.

 

To me, this makes perfect sense. Not allowing banks to do business with people who aren't in Thailand legally is just one way to make overstaying more difficult.

[sandyf]

11 hours ago, Posideon said:

I agree and in fact I doubt they'd know one visa class fro6the next. Moreover, I can't see a teller caring. Odd.

You would be wrong to doubt.

This is an extract from an email I received in 2014.

 

"We understand our foreign customers are staying in Thailand for various reasons.
Please see the details of required documents that fit your status. Please contact our
branch to update your information before 27 June 2014.
1. For Customer with Work Permit, please bring these items:
A) Your passport. (Branch staff will take care of making copies of certain page such
as Visa page and immigration stamp page).
B) A copy of your Work Permit
2. For Customer with no Work Permit but possessing a visa for longterm
stay:
You can bring your passport to branch but please make sure your visa is a type that
allow for minimum stay of 9 months.
3. For Customer who is currently enrolled in academic institute and has no Work
Permit.
A) Your passport.
B) A letter from your academic institute to certify your status as a student.
C) A copy of your student ID card."

[The Theory]

13 hours ago, Mino said:

never asked me to show my visa status

Good guys in , bad guys out getting more tough.

[fulhamster]

They are checking that you are not on overstay. Hotels do this as well.

They must get some kind of reward for anyone they report to Immigration

[nigelforbes]

2 hours ago, jaywalker2 said:

I don't think the banks have to check for an extension of stay. They were able to check my passport on their computer, so all the information should have been there. I don't know if they can do that at Western Union.

It's been proven many times that they do.

[mikeymike100]

2 hours ago, easydoor said:

I don't see what is your problem. Is there something special in your passport?

In case they ask you to show your passport so they can control your 'Visastatus' , you just do it.

I don't see what can be wrong with this but some people make a 'problem' of everything and come here to complain .... please stop this nonsens and just use your own brain, if you have one.

The OP was asking a perfectly civil question?

Why do you feel the need to insult him?

[jaywalker2]

46 minutes ago, nigelforbes said:

It's been proven many times that they do.

What I meant was I don't think they need to see a copy of your extension of stay. I wasn't asked for one. After they pull up your passport, the computer provides that information.

[chuang]

16 hours ago, mikeymike100 said:

The OP was asking a perfectly civil question?

Why do you feel the need to insult him?

What many trying to say is if they ask for it just show them...what the fuss...or one can close the a/c and go to another bank...SIMPLE 

[RafPinto]

Should do the same to Thai people when they move to Europe, USA, Australia etc.
Each time they go into a bank, request passport and visa status.

Paranoid.

[mikeymike100]

They are not doing an immigration check? i.e, if you are an over stayer WU staff are not going to arrest you?????

WU have been doing the check on 'visa status' for years, its because you are making a financial transaction in Thailand. Banks also check now? Sometimes?

[nigelforbes]

23 minutes ago, mikeymike100 said:

They are not doing an immigration check? i.e, if you are an over stayer WU staff are not going to arrest you?????

WU have been doing the check on 'visa status' for years, its because you are making a financial transaction in Thailand. Banks also check now? Sometimes?

I disagree. If you don't have a valid visa you will not be allowed to transact on your account, if you doubt that, go ask them, I did.

[mikeymike100]

3 minutes ago, nigelforbes said:

I disagree. If you don't have a valid visa you will not be allowed to transact on your account, if you doubt that, go ask them, I did.

I am actually agreeing with you. Most banks now check ID and visa status. Western Union have been doing it for around 5 years, I am not sure how long the banks have been checking visas?

Before covid they didn't seem to?

[Mino]

15 hours ago, Posideon said:

I just deposited 300k cash in central Bangkok a few days ago. Of course they want my pp. Just took the ## not even a photocopy.

 

Maybe you misunderstood OP? I agree and in fact I doubt they'd know one visa class fro6the next. Moreover, I can't see a teller caring. Odd.

 

Sometimes I even use my expired Thai Drs license

The point is that when I handle the passport, he asked to show him where was the visa stamp.

That never happened before. In the past just a copy of my data.