“Strictly screen foreigners entering and leaving the Kingdom”, Deputy Chief of police

[Excogitator]

How can anyone be surprised by this? It was in the cards after the swiss and russians started kicking locals, that there would be some kind of reaction. So far the reaction is to more strictly enforce already existing laws, which is perfectly fine and understandable. The problems start if or when they decide to introduce new laws and restrictions that will more severely hamper our lives here.. In any case, blaming the Thais for this is ridiculous. If you absolutely need to point your finger at anyone, do so at those who come to los and spectacularly misbehave and break the law.

[Crossy]

A whole bunch of off-topic attempts to de-rail the thread have evaporated into the aether! 

 

[Yagoda]

10 hours ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

 

 

Not surprised you were at that dump. Did your tuk-tuk driving pal take you? 😆

 

 

 

Why would you be surprised? It's the border closest to me and I didmt want to fly.

 

Are you implying that you are so high up as to beyond borders? Or is it the classic hey look this dude went to poipet which is a scumbag place so he must be a scumbag too?

[Mike Lister]

17 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Are you perhaps living in a different country?

I live in Chiang Mai, in Thailand.

 

There are approximately 4 million foreigners living in Thailand. 

 

Farang is the Thai term for white westerner.

 

4 mill. minus 300k full time farang expats = 3,700,000

 

What don't you understand?

 

[jacko45k]

Just now, Mike Lister said:

I live in Chiang Mai, in Thailand.

 

There are approximately 4 million foreigners living in Thailand. 

 

Farang is the Thai term for white westerner.

 

4 mill. minus 300k full time farang expats = 3,700,000

 

What don't you understand?

 

Why you are telling me this droll information.

[Neeranam]

3 hours ago, madmitch said:

No mention of visa agents, who might get even more business if it becomes harder to get an extension of stay. 

They know about visa agents but don't shut them down. AFAIK, these two are still operating.

 

https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2020/08/05/american-thai-wife-arrested-operating-an-illegal-visa-business-in-bangkok-using-fake-stamps/ 

[jaywalker2]

Sure, let the Russians, Chinese, and Indians in visa free and then complain about the increase in foreigner crime. Or make the queues at the airport even longer by scrutinizing the passports even harder. If you want 80 million tourists, your country is going to be turned inside out.

[borderhopper2005]

> “mandating stricter enforcement of immigration laws”.

 

They felt they(immigration police) must work harder than now?

Sounds as if they were a kind of reluctant to enforce immigration laws rigidly by now.

[Schnicnac]

It's quite amusing that many of those that complain about stricter enforcement of immigration laws either come from (western) places with poor vetting and enforcement - the results that are obvious - or would likely scream for similar enforcement strictness in their own home countries.

 

Meanwhile, many places in Asia become increasingly more desirable to live in (reverse immigration flows) so screws will likely be tightened in the future here and other places in this region.

[Neeranam]

2 minutes ago, jaywalker2 said:

Sure, let the Russians, Chinese, and Indians in visa free and then complain about the increase in foreigner crime. Or make the queues at the airport even longer by scrutinizing the passports even harder. If you want 80 million tourists, your country is going to be turned inside out.

I have a senior police friend(head of 7 provinces) who talked about the increase in crime with foreigners. He stressed it was the long-term ones that were the problem, along with rogue Immigration police.. 

[mikebell]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

greater scrutiny on tourists arriving into the Kingdom.

Whilst shortening the queues by scrutinising the entrant in 30 seconds?

[Marco51]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

 

As Thailand’s tourism industry roars back to full speed, and attracting many new nationalities to the Land of Smiles, there has been a noticeable uptick in cases reported involving foreigners violating the law. Statistically, the rise has not been significant, but the reporting and social media frenzy over recent incidents, is spurring the police and Thai immigration officials into a reactive stance.

 

Police now claim that some of the recent cases “pose significant threats to societal order”. So, Pol. Gen. Roy Ingpairoj, Deputy Chief of the Royal Thai Police, is taking decisive action. He has publicly issued a number of public directives to the Commissioner of Immigration, “mandating stricter enforcement of immigration laws”.

 

Even as turmoil swirls in the upper ranks of Thailand’s police force (the Chief of the Royal  Thai Police and one of his high profile deputies are currently transferred to desk duties at the prime minister’s office pending an investigation into allegations of corruption involving some online gambling gangs), Pol. Gen. Roy Ingpairoj has issued the orders that will, at the very least, shine a spotlight on some, or many, visa renewals, the issuance of new long-term visas, and greater scrutiny on tourists arriving into the Kingdom.

 

By Peter Roche

Caption: File Photo - Bangkok Post

 

Full story: Phuket GO 2024-03-25

 

- Discover how Cigna Insurance can protect you with a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment. For more information on expat health insurance click here.

 

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Ever heard of statistics? When "ordering" more and more  tourists to come and spend forex in the country, give certain nationals 90 days on arrival (some of which should actually follow their big mouth and join the invading forces of their country or others that found a much more convenient way to triad around than at home under constant camera survellance) the chances are that the amount of weird and/or criminally inclined rises to the same proportion. By the way, the call for more quality tourists who stay in 7star places and spend millions and hold a Privileged spender card only means the percentage of high profile gangsters is also rising..................but with those we are all acquainted from the news daily. You cannot have both: tourist $s and Xenophobia, at least not for long, But no worries, the hordes will eventually move on after having ruined the Costa Brava, costa blanca, riviera, adria, santorini, Goa, Bali, Lombok, Cebu, Phuket, Samui, Pattaya, Chiang Mai they'll find a new victim that will believe to be doing everything completely different and muuuuuch better. And looking at who ruled or rules all those places , big policing is always the easy answer. The paradox is the international notion that in this context borders mean anything, the same borders that were somewhere else some years ago (don't exclude yourself, mates, also and especially in Europe) and people that are now foreigners,  bad per definitionem, used to be compatriotes and neighbours and who knows in some years to come........they might all be chinese and have a government chip implanted, after all the whole of Eurasia has ALWAYS been chinese for thousands of years including all the oceans and islands and resources and the will of the people has always been overrated. Note for the less humour equipped : this is  a satire.

[sandyf]

3 hours ago, madmitch said:

No mention of visa agents, who might get even more business if it becomes harder to get an extension of stay. 

From the OP

" Pol. Gen. Roy Ingpairoj has issued the orders that will, at the very least, shine a spotlight on some, or many, visa renewals, the issuance of new long-term visas, and greater scrutiny on tourists arriving into the Kingdom."

 

Afew weeks back my under consideration was a few days later than normal. When my wife asked why, she was told it was increased checks on funding as some people were using agents money to get a visa extension.

There are always those that will try and circumvent the system and create inconvenience for others.

 

[jaywalker2]

10 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

I have a senior police friend(head of 7 provinces) who talked about the increase in crime with foreigners. He stressed it was the long-term ones that were the problem, along with rogue Immigration police.. 

I must have missed something then, because all of the media stories seem to involve Russians and Chinese gangsters, except, of course, for David the Swiss guy who set all of this off.

[lordgrinz]

9 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

I have a senior police friend(head of 7 provinces) who talked about the increase in crime with foreigners. He stressed it was the long-term ones that were the problem, along with rogue Immigration police.. 

 

The true criminals in Thailand, I wouldn't trust anything coming out of the mouth of one these pariahs.

[newbee2022]

15 hours ago, bamnutsak said:

 

Not if they're leaving, right?

 

 

 

So it's national "do your job day" today?

 

And were they "laxly" enforcing immigration laws previously?

 

 

No, previously there was no war Russia/Ukraine. Now a lot of criminals see Thailand as a refuge. And that is not the top of society but the bottom. 

And here's the dilemma: to have more visitors/money means to let more criminals in. 🙏

[Shocked farang]

9 hours ago, it is what it is said:

 

i'm surprised they don't have reasonably robust measures in place already, and the question is; would these new stricter measures have prevented entry to any of the recent high profile miscreants?

 

what they need is more focus on compliance once people are here, e.g. identifying and removing overstayers - it can't be that difficult, and stamping down on corruption between locals and foreigners - bit of a no-brainer you'd think...

It's actually almost impossible to identify an overstayer if he has foreign income and access to that income through a bank card for example. He can just stay in rented properties, whatever. He is almost impossible to detect, unless someone tells the immigration. 

[edwinchester]

55 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

Many foreigners IMO think because Thais get away with crimes or short sentences some even ignored by the RTP, they think it's ok for them to follow suit. They even think they can drive a M/C better and faster than a Thai, I know that statement will bring a lot of criticizes, but in my local area it is true.  

Faster, certainly but better? If they are better why is the accident and death rate here amongst motorcyclists so horrific?

[Neeranam]

10 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

 

The true criminals in Thailand, I wouldn't trust anything coming out of the mouth of one these pariahs.

I agree, the guy I mentioned is like a miniature Tony Soprano.

[brianthainess]

1 minute ago, edwinchester said:

Faster, certainly but better? If they are better why is the accident and death rate here amongst motorcyclists so horrific?

Where is here? as I said in my LOCAL AREA.

[Neeranam]

17 minutes ago, Shocked farang said:

It's actually almost impossible to identify an overstayer if he has foreign income and access to that income through a bank card for example. He can just stay in rented properties, whatever. He is almost impossible to detect, unless someone tells the immigration. 

There should be random checks. IN 30 years, I've never been asked for my passport randomly.

[Rimmer]

Troll post removed

[Confuscious]

2 hours ago, Mike Lister said:

Thailand is anti-farang and only wants their money! 

 

Paranoia much!

As far as I know, Thailand has always been anti-fahrang?

Specially with square face in the country.

[Neeranam]

2 minutes ago, Confuscious said:

As far as I know, Thailand has always been anti-fahrang?

Specially with square face in the country.

Indeed, he raised visa fees by nearly 300%! Also raised PR from  10k to 100k

 

[Confuscious]

3 hours ago, hotchilli said:

They want the tourists revenue, but not the people.

Thi is patently obvious with their immigration regulations and virtual non ability to work.

Don't sty, spend, spend, spend and go home.

 

Something is wrong with your post.

A tourist will spend a lot less money in Thailand than a long time resident 

A tourist can rent a condominium for about 3,500 a month.

No need to spend money on visiting temples or expensive parks.

A person who stay in Thailand will spend a lot more to live in Thailand.

Specially if he/she is married and has a Thai family to take care of.

[ujayujay]

16 hours ago, Crossy said:

It's almost as if they really, really don't want us and our foreign exchange!

 

Quelle surprise!

 

How does your country deal with foreigners who don't follow the law, hero!?

[Jiggo]

What a load of nonsense, how can they foresee a crime that a visitor may commit,

unless they have access to overseas police records, and when they depart to late they are going home.

[transam]

5 minutes ago, ujayujay said:

How does your country deal with foreigners who don't follow the law, hero!?

Depends on if they arrive in a rubber dingy or not.......

[Parker2100]

16 hours ago, bamnutsak said:

 

Not if they're leaving, right?

 

 

 

So it's national "do your job day" today?

 

And were they "laxly" enforcing immigration laws previously?

 

 

 

They are being pressured to be more difficult on people with Dreadlocks and wearing Cargo shorts.

 

Seriously, the only this the Immigration Officers can do it make a big show of being a hardass to prove to the bosses that they are being more diligent.

 

 

[sandyf]

46 minutes ago, Shocked farang said:

It's actually almost impossible to identify an overstayer if he has foreign income and access to that income through a bank card for example. He can just stay in rented properties, whatever. He is almost impossible to detect, unless someone tells the immigration. 

Only if the property owner is an accomplice.