Bypassing passport control

[10years]

Had an interesting experience on my last trip to Indonesia that raised intriguing questions about Thailand admission possibilities in the future.

Indonesia has reinstated the 30-day visa for everyone. In the past, you got a piece of paper that the immigration officer would paste in your passport. But this time the girl took my money and scanned my passport, then gave me a slip of paper.

Reached immigration and was surprised to see a series of sparking new electric gates. I was confused about what to do so I proceeded to the immigration booths beyond the gates, but the IO saw the small slip of paper in my hand and waved me to the gates. Turned out it was just the receipt.

All I had to do was place the passport on the scanner and pose for the camera and I was through. Totally no human interaction. No fingerprints. No entry stamp in the passport.

What if Thailand adopts this unmanned arrival operation?

Anyone who visits frequently dreads the flipping through the pages in your passport, the rattling off of questions like what are you doing here, are you working, no visa, how long you stay, etc.

Are those days going to become fading memories.? Will there be system that flags you when you scan the passport? Or will it truly become a breeze to pass through the airport and go on your way? 😁
 

[Cuchulainn]

Maybe the new automatic gates will work as well as the online 90 day reporting

[KhunLA]

90 day reporting online has be flawless for the past couple years 👍  Great when O&A.   Didn't mind doing locally, as Imm office was a nice scooter ride, and usually empty, or taken right away when I arrived.

 

As with everything ... location location location 

[DrJack54]

2 hours ago, 10years said:

What if Thailand adopts this unmanned arrival operation?

Think you will find that auto gates for visa exempt will only be made available when the proposed ETA is introduced and up and running..

When that is introduced is anyone's guess. 

 

Edit: ..From Mr Google....

"The ETA will allow a single entry and be valid for up to 60 days. Visitors can extend their stay by 30 days if needed. Those with an ETA can use automated immigration gates at checkpoints. By scanning the QR code on their ETA, travellers will be able to clear immigration more quickly."

[KhunBENQ]

36 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

90 day reporting online has be flawless for the past couple years 👍  

Good for YOU (and me).

 

But you think the endless stream of complaints and frustration with the system are fabricated ??

I have a mate whom I tried to help with no success. He repeatedly asked at the immi office what is wrong. No clue at all.

"It's Bangkok problem" was about all he got.

[DrJack54]

Posts re online 90 reporting will be removed as off topic

[ChaiyaTH]

Unlike what it seems, all these things are global designs, similar tot global efforts with taxes. What the OP refers to is not a maybe or some funny idea from an experience elsewhere, this is already the standard in most countries soon. It will all be unmanned, they will check you out before you fly already and then you are simply refused upfront or else still taken away as soon the AI camera sees you.

[DrJack54]

Off topic post re online reporting removed. 

[gearbox]

3 hours ago, 10years said:

Had an interesting experience on my last trip to Indonesia that raised intriguing questions about Thailand admission possibilities in the future.

Indonesia has reinstated the 30-day visa for everyone. In the past, you got a piece of paper that the immigration officer would paste in your passport. But this time the girl took my money and scanned my passport, then gave me a slip of paper.

Reached immigration and was surprised to see a series of sparking new electric gates. I was confused about what to do so I proceeded to the immigration booths beyond the gates, but the IO saw the small slip of paper in my hand and waved me to the gates. Turned out it was just the receipt.

All I had to do was place the passport on the scanner and pose for the camera and I was through. Totally no human interaction. No fingerprints. No entry stamp in the passport.

What if Thailand adopts this unmanned arrival operation?

Anyone who visits frequently dreads the flipping through the pages in your passport, the rattling off of questions like what are you doing here, are you working, no visa, how long you stay, etc.

Are those days going to become fading memories.? Will there be system that flags you when you scan the passport? Or will it truly become a breeze to pass through the airport and go on your way? 😁
 

Meh...how is this bypassing the passport control? Humans are just replaced with electronic gates, the passport control is still there and probably better due to improved facial recognition. The gates have been in Sydney for ages now, I can't really remember the last time I had to interact with an IO.

[DrJack54]

17 minutes ago, gearbox said:

The gates have been in Sydney for ages now, I can't really remember the last time I had to interact with an IO.

The OP is referring specifically to visa exempt entry to Thailand 

[Ralf001]

4 hours ago, 10years said:

Reached immigration and was surprised to see a series of sparking new electric gates. I was confused about what to do so I proceeded to the immigration booths beyond the gates, but the IO saw the small slip of paper in my hand and waved me to the gates. Turned out it was just the receipt.

All I had to do was place the passport on the scanner and pose for the camera and I was through. Totally no human interaction. No fingerprints. No entry stamp in the passport.

 

You did not bypass passport control.

[GypsyT]

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

The OP is referring specifically to visa exempt entry to Thailand 

Won't happen. They want to take finger prints and photos. Every time!

[gearbox]

3 hours ago, GypsyT said:

Won't happen. They want to take finger prints and photos. Every time!

Malaysians also take fingerprints and the gates are already in operation there.