I'm asking this question because last night, around 2 a.m., on my way back to my room, I saw both a police car and an immigration BMW parked outside a building. I don't know what they were doing there, but the question is: can they carry out "normal" checks on people, at any time of the night?

1 minute ago, Fabio1980 said:

I'm asking this question because last night, around 2 a.m., on my way back to my room, I saw both a police car and an immigration BMW parked outside a building. I don't know what they were doing there, but the question is: can they carry out "normal" checks on people, at any time of the night?

They are the law, so of course they can.

5 minutes ago, Fabio1980 said:

I'm asking this question because last night, around 2 a.m., on my way back to my room, I saw both a police car and an immigration BMW parked outside a building. I don't know what they were doing there, but the question is: can they carry out "normal" checks on people, at any time of the night?

 

 

They can check immigration status 24/7 if they have a legal basis, but need a warrant to actually enter your home.

 

I think.

17 minutes ago, Fabio1980 said:

on my way back to my room, I saw both a police car and an immigration BMW parked outside a building.

What did you do wrong, did you hide from them? 

10 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

What did you do wrong, did you hide from them? 

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

1 hour ago, Fabio1980 said:

I'm asking this question because last night, around 2 a.m., on my way back to my room, I saw both a police car and an immigration BMW parked outside a building. I don't know what they were doing there, but the question is: can they carry out "normal" checks on people, at any time of the night?

they only search outside of alcohol selling hours.

1 hour ago, Will B Good said:

They can check immigration status 24/7 if they have a legal basis, but need a warrant to actually enter your home.

I think.

No. They can enter (by force if need be) if they have reason to suspect a person who is engaged in a criminal activity is inside, or if they believe a wanted person is inside. They need an arrest warrant to force entry if they dont have either of those two 'just causes' - suspicion based on neighbours is generally not enough. Living illegally in Thailand (expired Visa etc) is a crime - if there is a foreigner at an address that is not listed with the local Immigration Police, they can enter by force if need be.  

Just now, TroubleandGrumpy said:

No. They can enter (by force if need be) if they have reason to suspect a person who is engaged in a criminal activity is inside, or if they believe a wanted person is inside. They need an arrest warrant to force entry if they dont have either of those two 'just causes' - suspicion based on neighbours is generally not enough. Living illegally in Thailand (expired Visa etc) is a crime - if there is a foreigner at an address that is not listed with the local Immigration Police, they can enter by force if need be.  

I assumed he was concerned about immigration.....yes the 'normal' police can do what they hell they want

44 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

I assumed he was concerned about immigration.....yes the 'normal' police can do what they hell they want

Correct: I already saw twice police came to someone house in the night (3 a.m.): was just curious about immigration "normal" check on someone in the middle of the night.

Somewhat amusing assumptions.

They will have a reason to be on duty. Or big boss invited for a drinking bout 😁

Immigration is a division of the police force under one rule.

If regular police finds a problem with a foreigner they might call for help.

If that railway police comes knocking you're in problem, yes there's a division of the police for that.

15 hours ago, Fabio1980 said:

Correct: I already saw twice police came to someone house in the night (3 a.m.): was just curious about immigration "normal" check on someone in the middle of the night.

Immigration police could easily be involved in say the location and arrest of a foreign criminal, they need not be simply pursuing someone without a TM30.

maybe it was mia noi house

Reads like they are actually looking for over stayers......

On 8/15/2025 at 7:12 AM, Fabio1980 said:

I'm asking this question because last night, around 2 a.m., on my way back to my room, I saw both a police car and an immigration BMW parked outside a building. I don't know what they were doing there, but the question is: can they carry out "normal" checks on people, at any time of the night?

LOL! I am sure they had a serious reason to be at that adress at night!! I am pretty sure they would NOT come to your house and wake you up in the night unless there was something shadey going on!!🤣

2 minutes ago, harryviking said:

LOL! I am sure they had a serious reason to be at that adress at night!! I am pretty sure they would NOT come to your house and wake you up in the night unless there was something shadey going on!!🤣

Correct: that was my question.

On 8/15/2025 at 12:19 PM, Will B Good said:

 

 

They can check immigration status 24/7 if they have a legal basis, but need a warrant to actually enter your home.

 

I think.

Immigration don´t need a Warrant. They can make home visits without suspicion and prior notice! My neighbor in the Village recently happened at 9 pm.

On 8/15/2025 at 12:12 PM, Fabio1980 said:

can they carry out "normal" checks on people, at any time of the night?

They are banana republic cops, they will do as they please whenever they want.

14 hours ago, ujayujay said:

Immigration don´t need a Warrant. They can make home visits without suspicion and prior notice! My neighbor in the Village recently happened at 9 pm.

 

 

Practical Enforcement Realities

 

•  Immigration raids often target overstayers or undocumented foreigners.

•  Officers may request to see your passport or visa at your door, but you are not legally obligated to let them inside without a warrant.

•  If you voluntarily open the door wide or invite them in, that may be interpreted as implied consent.

1 minute ago, Will B Good said:

 

 

Practical Enforcement Realities

 

•  Immigration raids often target overstayers or undocumented foreigners.

•  Officers may request to see your passport or visa at your door, but you are not legally obligated to let them inside without a warrant.

•  If you voluntarily open the door wide or invite them in, that may be interpreted as implied consent.

Source?...... your guess or official immigration statement?

Just now, ujayujay said:

Source?...... your guess or official immigration statement?

https://www.siam-legal.com/

 

In future DYOR

7 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

https://www.siam-legal.com/

 

In future DYOR

There's a difference between police officers (no entry without a warrant) and immigration officers (always entry with or without)!

5 minutes ago, ujayujay said:

There's a difference between police officers (no entry without a warrant) and immigration officers (always entry with or without)!

 

Entry is allowed in hot pursuit, and emergencies and when an on going crime is being committed.

 

Neither 'normal' police or immigration are entitled, without a reason as given above, or a warrant, to forcibly enter your house.

 

 

Thai police or immigration police cannot legally force entry into your home without a warrant or an urgent/emergency reason. If they show up without either, you are within your rights to politely refuse entry.

27 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

 

Practical Enforcement Realities

 

•  Immigration raids often target overstayers or undocumented foreigners.

•  Officers may request to see your passport or visa at your door, but you are not legally obligated to let them inside without a warrant.

•  If you voluntarily open the door wide or invite them in, that may be interpreted as implied consent.

And if you should ask about that warrant before letting them in , they would get one (....blank ones always in possession ....lol) .....just as in the West ...... and do a very disturb  complete  house search as "vengeance lecturing "..... just as in our country's...

20 minutes ago, ujayujay said:

Source?...... your guess or official immigration statement?

 

18 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

https://www.siam-legal.com/

 

In future DYOR

 

Looks more like AI guesswork again.  If it is actually from Siam Legal then I suggest the Immigration Act 1971 would be a better source where you'll find this bit:

 

12 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

Thai police or immigration police cannot legally force entry into your home without a warrant or an urgent/emergency reason.

 

isn't true for Immigration (although the words urgent and emergency are very subjective).  They just need reasonable grounds for suspicion.

6 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

Entry is allowed in hot pursuit, and emergencies and when an on going crime is being committed.

 

Neither 'normal' police or immigration are entitled, without a reason as given above, or a warrant, to forcibly enter your house.

 

 

Thai police or immigration police cannot legally force entry into your home without a warrant or an urgent/emergency reason. If they show up without either, you are within your rights to politely refuse entry.

 

Just now, treetops said:

 

 

Looks more like AI guesswork again.  If it is actually from Siam Legal then I suggest the Immigration Act 1971 would be a better source where you'll find this bit:

 

 

isn't true for Immigration (although the words urgent and emergency are very subjective).  They just need reasonable grounds for suspicion.

Wonderful theory that's far from reality! Some kind of tip to immigration from someone who doesn't like you or is jealous of something... happened to my friendly neighbor in the Village last week. You're confusing Western standards with Thai standards! Immigration officers don't need a written warrant from the Attorney General; a "suspicion" from an officer is enough! I've been here since 2007!

I recall reading something that warrants etc need to be served in daytime. 

 

Probably bc cops can get up to all sorts of mischief as much as crims 

1 minute ago, ujayujay said:

Wonderful theory that's far from reality! Some kind of tip to immigration from someone who doesn't like you or is jealous of something... happened to my friendly neighbor in the Village last week. You're confusing Western standards with Thai standards! Immigration officers don't need a written warrant from the Attorney General; a "suspicion" from an officer is enough! I've been here since 2007!

 

That's what I said - maybe it got lost in the quotes - reasonable (again subjective) suspicion is enough for Immigration to break down your door.

Just now, treetops said:

 

 

Looks more like AI guesswork again.  If it is actually from Siam Legal then I suggest the Immigration Act 1971 would be a better source where you'll find this bit:

 

 

isn't true for Immigration (although the words urgent and emergency are very subjective).  They just need reasonable grounds for suspicion.

 

 

Had a poster on yesterday complain bitterly about me.....one of his/her main points of dissatisfaction was that I keep researching topics and then have the audacity to respond to posts based on that research.

 

 

I really must try and stop doing that and just listen to the ill-informed, un-researched comments posted on here and maybe  STFU

Just now, Will B Good said:

Had a poster on yesterday complain bitterly about me.....one of his/her main points of dissatisfaction was that I keep researching topics and then have the audacity to respond to posts based on that research.

 

I really must try and stop doing that and just listen to the ill-informed, un-researched comments posted on here and maybe  STFU

 

Just need to cross check what AI spits out at you.