90 Day Reporting

[Sparkles]

I have been in Bangkok for 6 years. During that time I have adhered religously to the 90 day reporting rule. I live in Bangkapi and as it took the best part of half a day and as at that time I was working I used to do by reply paid mail. Last September, when my slip was not returned after 10 days I rang them and was told "the man is too busy to send it ,wait and next time you have to come here in person " The logic escaped me I mean how long does it take to put it in an envelope ?

Anyway I complied and on my second personal reporting yesterday, it took over 1 hour with only one girl checking, I asked at Enquiries on my way out why I could not do it by mail. I was told well you can now. I also asked the purpose of immigration wanting to know where I lived. There was no answer forthcoming. My reason for this preamble is I got to thinking is there any way immigration could be convinced to allow foreigners to register on line or at the local post office.

There must be a virtual mountain of 90 day paperwork cluttering up Immigration and I see no logical reason for it. Can some one enlighten me re the purpose of the requirement and is there any lobby group that could bring immigration into the present ?

[lopburi3]

This is from original laws on immigration and designed to allow them to have current information about location of persons in case of inquiry I suspect. It was long dormant but got dusted off during the current terrorist era. As it causes a lot of extra work in a non computer world (which immigration still is to some extent) it has not had full support but seems to be accepted as a requirement more each year. Hopefully an online system will replace the current wast of time exercise soon. If I read your post right Bangkok now allows residents of Bangkok to use the mail system (which previously they have not been happy to do).

FYI: for your location would highly recommend using the One Stop Service Center at Rasa Tower 2, 16th Floor,. 555 Phaholyothin Road,. Chatuchak

[jstumbo]

it would be nice if everything could be done online, problem is that developing these systems can cost millions of dollars and it has to be a priority. I cannot see them budgeting millions of dollars to make these systems.

That being said, I could create this in less than a day, but if it works like in the US, you spend 100's of millions on systems and then they never work right, and get canceled.

[culicine]

If you are north of BKK, you can go to Rasa 11 Tower (just past the Mall at Lad Prhao on the left). The Board of Investment Office is on the 16th Floor and you can do your 90 day report there. In and out in no more than 5 mins. I only do it at immigration in bkk if I have to go there for something else.

[culicine]

FYI: for your location would highly recommend using the One Stop Service Center at Rasa Tower 2, 16th Floor,. 555 Phaholyothin Road,. Chatuchak

Sorry, I just saw your post! It's a quick service indeed:)

[jitagon]

Here on Phuket they'd opened a service at the Chalong Port, with much fanfare and advertising of such service in the way of a big banner prominently displayed at said Cirlce. A lot of expats live in the southern area and someone, somewhere in the imm service thought this might make it things easier for those of us who would prefer to do something with our days than schlepping into town, just to have a little ticket stapled and stamped inside our passports.

Alas, that lasted less than a year. Why?

[tamsin]

I remember this particular exercise in timewasting being enforced (yes, for the benefit of the pedants out there, this 'law' had always been on the statute books, but no one had bothered to enforce it, probably for the very obvious reason that it was/is a complete waste of time, (crooks don't usually bother themselves/can bribe some official to not to have to put themselves out), until Toxin came to power (the last time) and decided to stir up a bit of xenophobia, following the age old and very effective strategy of 'divide and rule', the excuse being that it was in the interests of 'national security'.

Just as a matter of interest; is Thailand more, or less, secure from any perceived threat from Johnny Foreigner, than before this ridiculous law was vigorously implemented? Anyone have any stats?

[Sparkles]

This is from original laws on immigration and designed to allow them to have current information about location of persons in case of inquiry I suspect. It was long dormant but got dusted off during the current terrorist era. As it causes a lot of extra work in a non computer world (which immigration still is to some extent) it has not had full support but seems to be accepted as a requirement more each year. Hopefully an online system will replace the current wast of time exercise soon. If I read your post right Bangkok now allows residents of Bangkok to use the mail system (which previously they have not been happy to do).

FYI: for your location would highly recommend using the One Stop Service Center at Rasa Tower 2, 16th Floor,. 555 Phaholyothin Road,. Chatuchak

Thanks lopburi 3 for that location that certainly is closer to home and Suan Phlu does tend to raise the blood pressure. Checking the web site for 90 day reporting does also mention the Ratchada Centre (BOI) ,wherever that is.

[lopburi3]

That was the old address - they moved to Rasa Tower about 15 months ago.