Immigration Chief Cracks Down On Unwanted Foreigners

[george]

Immigration chief targets ‘national stability’

Lt Gen Chatchawan Suksomchit explains how Immigration

will be using centralized databases with real-time access

to check on unwanted foreigners. Photo: Phuket Gazette

PHUKET CITY: -- In Phuket to officiate at the opening of the new Phuket Provincial Immigration Office at Saphan Hin today, Immigration Commissioner Lt Gen Chatchawan Suksomchit yesterday announced that he is shaking up his ranks to use technology to be more effective.

Gen Chatchawan, Thailand’s top Immigration officer, said his goal is to improve "national stability" in order to restore investor confidence in the country.

He is on a national roadshow to spread his ideology, which he believes the Immigration Bureau can help achieve by maintaining internal security, better administration and serving justice.

In order for the year ahead to be the “year of investment” for Thailand, radical changes are needed to keep up with rapid development worldwide in the era of globalism, Gen Chatchawan opined.

He explained that Immigration will introduce a real-time national database called “Pisces” (Personal Identification Secure Comparison Evaluation System) as well as Advanced Passenger Process (APP) and Advanced Passenger Information (API) computer systems so that officers can quickly and more effectively process arrivals.

“The important synergies here are with organizations like Interpol and government departments of many nations that are willing to join forces. Many nations are now supplying Thai immigration with comprehensive data on both known and suspected pedophiles,” Gen Chatchawan said.

Regarding Immigration’s role in apprehending illegal laborers, he said, “It is more important to make illegal workers legal as the country needs them. In the case of Burmese, they can work at rates that Thais will not accept and employers cannot afford to pay more – making them a necessity. Immigration therefore has a policy to legalize them and ensure that they all have correct documentation.”

Speaking about the 54 Burmese who suffocated in a refrigeration truck en route to Phuket on April 9, Gen Chatchawan said, “By law, this incident cannot be classified as human trafficking as there was no employer identified as being involved, meaning that it was simply a violation of entering without passing a checkpoint.

“As far as the other related crimes, such as the shooting of an ex-police lieutenant suspected of playing a role in the deaths, it is the duty of local police to investigate.”

However, Gen Chatchawan admitted, “I do not deny that fact that the integrity of government officials across the board must now be more closely monitored and action taken against those involved.”

Other developments to boost national security include the formation of a “Transnational Syndicate Crime Suppression Center” and a task force to counter forgery of passports, visas and immigration stamps.

In addition, details of where foreigners reside, including satellite pictures with details of where foreigners live, are now stored on a centralized database and monitored for irregularities, he said.

“The system is not only to arrest illegal immigrants but also to offer higher levels of safety and protection to VIP visitors. In order for the database to be practical, only those with visas that allow longer stays and VIPS are monitored,” Gen Chatchawan explained.

He added that networks are being established to share resources between immigration and other national agencies, such as the Internal Security Operation Command (ISOC), Special Branch (Santibaan), Border Patrol and Provincial Police.

Also, informers who prove themselves as having excellent powers of observation, good memories and a concise, accurate reporting style are now issued an ID card that enables them to quickly report a suspicious foreigner and have the case taken seriously by Immigration.

With the aim of smoothing out the immigration process for many foreigners, Gen Chatchawan said that foreigners known to be honest, responsible and posing no threat to Thailand can be issued cards that will facilitate swift passage past immigration checkpoints.

Also, volunteer translators are helping out at immigration offices, and a 1178 hotline has been set up to provide clear, accurate information about immigration processes, he added.

-- Phuket Gazette 2008-07-29

[paulandmaneerat]

I think the penultimate paragraph will be well received by foreigners such as myself, who spend many hours each year queuing up for re-entry procedures. Only last month another 45 minutes queuing. Entry into Japan, Singapore, Taiwan and Brazil over the past few months have shown the efficiencies with which immigration can be achieved - with a smile too, and in the case of Singapore, even a boiled sweet!

If it is actually put into operation, I welcome the new immigration move.

Paul

[Jai Dee]

With the aim of smoothing out the immigration process for many foreigners, Gen Chatchawan said that foreigners known to be honest, responsible and posing no threat to Thailand can be issued cards that will facilitate swift passage past immigration checkpoints.

I reckon I'd qualify for one of those...

Where do I sign up?

[Christopher84]

an someone explain.... this mean that now.... people who stayed in thailand.... and done this visa trips for awile... get vip treatment?

[jhs]

If it is actually put into operation, I welcome the new immigration move.

Hear, hear!

(Although I doubt it will ever be executed effectively in practice.)

[Beacher]

I suspect they won't spend as much time implementing these new programs as they've spend making up the fancy names for them.

Edited July 29, 2008 by Beacher

[lardy]

Immigration I reckon that's the worst problem facing Thailand Im sure it will help, thank God the economy is in good shape and the Thais are all happy with the current situation except for those darn Farang (sarcasm)

[nasa]

With the aim of smoothing out the immigration process for many foreigners, Gen Chatchawan said that foreigners known to be honest, responsible and posing no threat to Thailand can be issued cards that will facilitate swift passage past immigration checkpoints.

I reckon I'd qualify for one of those...

Where do I sign up?

Me too

[lardy]

"However, Gen Chatchawan admitted, “I do not deny that fact that the integrity of government officials across the board must now be more closely monitored and action taken against those involved.”

Surely there is no more room down South for anymore wrong doers ??

[Dap]

Sure would like to know where and how one goes about applying for one of them thar' "cards"

[niller74]

Good initiative, but.....

They can't even make the IT systems at the Immigration Offices work.

Do they honestly believe that this will improve investments?

We need more 'Advanced' in those names for them to work at all

This is yet another offensive from a Thai official who need to bring himself in focus for a few days.

I doubt it will ever happen.

[laocowboy2]

Good initiative, but.....

They can't even make the IT systems at the Immigration Offices work.

Do they honestly believe that this will improve investments?

We need more 'Advanced' in those names for them to work at all

This is yet another offensive from a Thai official who need to bring himself in focus for a few days.

I doubt it will ever happen.

Probably the best system at present is the E-Gate system in Dubai (and being rolled out throughout the UAE). Eligibility is residents and a certain list of other nationalities (including UK, US and most of EU). It takes about 30 mins to register with photo and then to have a digital set of fingerprints taken. From then on all you do on arrival or departure is to touch the card to the entry pad at immigration and gate A oprns. You then put the chosen finger on the scanner and as long as the system recognises it, gate B opens and you are through - no passport stamp. If system acts up, the immigration officer at the E-Gate handles it manually - no need to join the general queue

[jts-khorat]

In addition, details of where foreigners reside, including satellite pictures with details of where foreigners live, are now stored on a centralized database and monitored for irregularities, he said.

I would be quite interested to hear where those sat pics are supposed to come from: as surely a commercial provider must be used, this might be quite a cost. Not that I am assuming here that the Thai government would simply steal them from a free service like Google Earth, there are now extremely strict guidelines against all this kind of illegal stuff in place here on Phuket.

[LiveSteam]

Police playing nice cop bad cop. To some of them we are all un-wanted.

Lets see

LiveSteam

[Felt 35]

What have Thailand’s National stability, i.e. internal instability to do with foreign visitors or residents.

Sure Thailand’s investor confidence have something to do with Thailand’s instability, but I really think its something else than the holidaymakers in Pattaya and Phuket who scare the investors away. Irrational Nationalism not helps either.

I have so far not seen any Foreign demonstration in Bangkok nor have I hear that the violence in southern Thailand are made up of foreigners.

The below is near extremis tic Nationalism.

In addition, details of where foreigners reside, including satellite pictures, are now stored on a centralized database and monitored for irregularities, he said.

Also, informers who prove themselves as having excellent powers of observation, good memories and a concise, accurate reporting style are now issued an ID card that enables them to quickly report a suspicious foreigner and have the case taken seriously by Immigration.

Come to think about it ,always been good to take a shower myself before I tell my guests to do so.

[Jimjim]

Immigration I reckon that's the worst problem facing Thailand Im sure it will help, thank God the economy is in good shape and the Thais are all happy with the current situation except for those darn Farang (sarcasm)

So, you reckon immigration should just not try to improve and they should keep letting many criminals into the country? They shouldn't change for the better so Thailand can get rid of the lable of being a haven for Western criminals? Good idea. (sarcasm)

The immigration department does not run the economy and does not run parliament so I think they'll just stick to the area assigned to them. Glad you got to irrationally try to attribute this news article to how Thailand hates farang, though. Use the argument where it actually applies, which is nowhere near here. Perhaps you should just leave if you're so dissatisfied?

[Crushdepth]

Fastrack cards? Yeah, when hel_l freezes over. The way these systems will be implemented will deliver all of the bureaucratic headaches and none of the potential benefits.

[davejonesbkk]

If this keeps put those nob head pedos out that keep getting busted here then Im all for it, sick of being lumped in the same demograph as them and they are an embarrassment...

Edited July 29, 2008 by davejonesbkk

[jhs]

For those interested in the security implications and efficacy of some kind of "privileged passage" system, security researcher Bruce Schneier has some very interesting writings about them. (He was looking at passenger screening in airports.)

First, is a short blog post on the screening process at the Orlando airport.

That post references a more in-depth analysis of a private enterprise to make "I am not a terrorist" cards, which involve a thorough background check allowing you to pass through airport security more quickly.

Bottom line: such systems are very difficult to plan correctly and very prone to major failure modes.

[BigBikeBKK]

Speaking about the 54 Burmese who suffocated in a refrigeration truck en route to Phuket on April 9, Gen Chatchawan said, "By law, this incident cannot be classified as human trafficking as there was no employer identified as being involved, meaning that it was simply a violation of entering without passing a checkpoint.

"Simply a violation"... ?! Is that what they're telling the families of the 54 dead Burmese? OUCH!

[SiriusBlack1]

Also, informers who prove themselves as having excellent powers of observation, good memories and a concise, accurate reporting style are now issued an ID card that enables them to quickly report a suspicious foreigner and have the case taken seriously by Immigration.

What could possibly go wrong?

[cclub75]

Speaking about the 54 Burmese who suffocated in a refrigeration truck en route to Phuket on April 9, Gen Chatchawan said, “By law, this incident cannot be classified as human trafficking as there was no employer identified as being involved, meaning that it was simply a violation of entering without passing a checkpoint.

I feel... like vomiting.

Of course, if they aren't looking for an "employer"... then it's easier.

As for the rest, it's like a sci-fi movie scenario, like Enemy of the State, with super databases and satellites tracking... foreigners ("including satellite pictures with details of where foreigners live") !

Mixed with wonderful concepts ("national stability") and a few good ideas, and some classic thai weirdness.

I mean consider this sentence : "Also, informers who prove themselves as having excellent powers of observation, good memories and a concise, accurate reporting style are now issued an ID card that enables them to quickly report a suspicious foreigner and have the case taken seriously by Immigration."

??? What does it mean ???

Eventually, a rather very strange cocktail.

Edited July 29, 2008 by cclub75

[Viceroy]

I recall, years ago, an incoming immigration commissioner promising to eliminate the 90-day sign-in requirement...

[jts-khorat]

Wow, nearly 1,800 readers on this topic just minutes after the email from ThaiVisa was in the inbox. A lot of foreigners who are worried if they are still wanted here, it seems.

Makes me wonder when in other threads people are going on and on how foreigners in this country are guests, I am sure none of those is reading this right now

[MrOzark]

Wow, Dubai sounds great.

Good initiative, but.....

They can't even make the IT systems at the Immigration Offices work.

Do they honestly believe that this will improve investments?

We need more 'Advanced' in those names for them to work at all

This is yet another offensive from a Thai official who need to bring himself in focus for a few days.

I doubt it will ever happen.

Probably the best system at present is the E-Gate system in Dubai (and being rolled out throughout the UAE). Eligibility is residents and a certain list of other nationalities (including UK, US and most of EU). It takes about 30 mins to register with photo and then to have a digital set of fingerprints taken. From then on all you do on arrival or departure is to touch the card to the entry pad at immigration and gate A oprns. You then put the chosen finger on the scanner and as long as the system recognises it, gate B opens and you are through - no passport stamp. If system acts up, the immigration officer at the E-Gate handles it manually - no need to join the general queue

[jts-khorat]

I mean consider this sentence : "Also, informers who prove themselves as having excellent powers of observation, good memories and a concise, accurate reporting style are now issued an ID card that enables them to quickly report a suspicious foreigner and have the case taken seriously by Immigration."

??? What does it mean ???

In my own home country, just 60 years ago, a visionary leader set up a political system that was based pretty much on the help of such informers. Who says the Thais cannot learn a good thing or two, even if it takes them a while.

[baabaabobo]

If being put into the database means less paperwork to provide every year for a renewal I'm all for it.

[Bluelotus]

Immigration I welcome you to the 1990's

[gpdjohn]

Speaking about the 54 Burmese who suffocated in a refrigeration truck en route to Phuket on April 9, Gen Chatchawan said, "By law, this incident cannot be classified as human trafficking as there was no employer identified as being involved, meaning that it was simply a violation of entering without passing a checkpoint.

I feel... like vomiting.

Of course, if they aren't looking for an "employer"... then it's easier.

As for the rest, it's like a sci-fi movie scenario, like Enemy of the State, with super databases and satellites tracking... foreigners ("including satellite pictures with details of where foreigners live") !

Mixed with wonderful concepts ("national stability") and a few good ideas, and some classic thai weirdness.

I mean consider this sentence : "Also, informers who prove themselves as having excellent powers of observation, good memories and a concise, accurate reporting style are now issued an ID card that enables them to quickly report a suspicious foreigner and have the case taken seriously by Immigration."

??? What does it mean ???

Eventually, a rather very strange cocktail.

A snitch card. "I'd like to report a bad farang..here's my rat fink card, see I'm a good guy".

Certified, card carrying snitch.

[starkey_rich]

Gen Chatchawan said that foreigners known to be honest, responsible and posing no threat to Thailand can be issued cards that will facilitate swift passage past immigration checkpoints

I am honest ,responsible and pose no threat at all to Thailand.

BUT I bet I will still be made to feel like a criminal when I go to renew my visa next month.