Bangkok visa extentions / Be aware!

[Rambutan]

One question:

Where can I catch a van to the Cambodian border tomorrow mornig (early!)???

Has anybody been there recently? Problems?

Thanks

[lumar]

From today's Stickman weekly:

I have previously mentioned the dangers of using the deceivingly named “visa services” and “visa agents” who send your passport on holiday in order to get a new visa.  There is a major crackdown taking place right now and if you have any dodgy visa stamps in your passport, it is time to get worried, REALLY WORRIED.  

As reported on a couple of other websites and as portrayed by a reader who write a recent readers’ submission to this site, Thai Immigration are examining stamps in people's passports, especially people who have been resident in Thailand for a long time, but seemingly exist without work, staying in-country on visa after visa after visa.  I have heard from the someone in a privileged position that this crackdown is very real and that Immigration are really serious about it.  

Embassies are dealing with a LARGE increase in their nationals arrested with these dodgy passport stamps and embassy staff from at least one embassy have been told that Immigration intend to prosecute people found with such stamps which means a charge of forgery, a serious criminal charge in Thailand which usually involves some jail time, a suspended sentence at absolute best.  

So, if you only listen to one piece of advice today, choose this piece of advice from old Stick ­ whatever you do, do NOT patronize any of the visa services or visa agents.  If you do, you are playing with fire, and may well be saying goodbye to Thailand forever!  

And if you have got some dodgy stamps in your passport from the past, you gonna be sweating the next time you pass through Thai Immigration.

[PK2]

But I believe that they will be real tuff about entering with 30 days stamps (no visa) repeatadly over a long period.

Why is repeating the 30day stamp a problem over long periods? There is nothing illegal with this is there? Some expats have been doing 30 day visa runs plus 10 day extensions for long periods already. Why should it suddenly be a problem?

Is this just your gut feeling or are there any facts to back it up?

Just curious as I may need to do a 30day visa run to Poipet soon.

Cheers,

[Rambutan]

Yes I also want to know what's going on there. I'm going to Poipet tomorrow, and I do have lots of 30 day stamps in my small book.  ???

[Tbone]

OK Rambutan....let us know how you got on!!!  I'll bring down a small "care"package later this week...we both may need it !! Good luck !!

[the scouser]

I think the point being made is not that there is a crackdown on visa runs, but one upon people who don't do them however their passports do.

Scouse.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Posts here talk about people staying in Thailand for very long periods on 30 day visa's.  A 30 day visa is for tourism purposes only, whereas the long stayers are de facto residents and Thai authorities are seeking compliance with the regulations.

[lumar]

We all know that having your visa extended by an "agent" rather than doing it in person is illegal - but just in case anyone is considering it please be warned that farangs who hand their visa extension over to such an agent in the South (including Gulf Islands) and then attempt to cross at Hat Yai are being picked up for visa violation (they got 6 last Wednesday all of whom are in the nick and awaiting a court appearance on Monday).

Their next of kin all received phone calls from "an interpreter" telling them that if they deposited about 150,000 baht in a specific account they would get a good solicitor. Mention of the British Embassy seemed to stop this demand however. I don't know whether the passport officials who illegally stamp the passports presented by agents are getting a bit greedier and operating a "sell and tell" racket or whether the system is really beginning to tighten up.

Sounds like anyone who has already got a "dodgy" visa might be well advised to consult a professional of one flavour or another (solicitor? lawyer? immigration and/or visa specialist?) before they attempt to either leave Thailand, or to get a stay permit extension

In a worst possible case, I guess that could even apply if you previously had a dodgy visa, exited without a problem, but have since returned to Thailand on the same passport (ie with the old visa still in it) - or if you're considering going back on the same passport

(Extract from a discussion at Lonely Planet yesterday)

[JT65]

Hi All

Interesting post by Lumar fromt the Lonely Planet. Ive been following the thread since the beggining and am quite concerned about my own situation.  I have been in Thailand  (Chiangmai) for the past two years on this passport and once or twice used Namkong Travel and the place next door for Visa Runs. All the other times I did it myself as I am on a 1 year multiple B visa with 3 months stays.  

My problem is that I dont remember what stamps where the ones which the agent did. It was only two times and I dont have the B008 stamp which is supposed to be dodgy,  but how can one be sure one of the stamps isnt dodgy.  Lumars post says to consult someone who knows about these things before exiting the country. If anyone has any contacts I would appreciate an e mail about it.  I called into Namkong Travel today and asked about the old runs. No one obviously wanted to talk about it but in the end they said no problem.  My faith in this comment is limited.

It may look like my only option is to lose the passport which is a major problem as I will lose the last 3 months on my 1 year Visa.

Any advice on my situation would be much appreciated. ???

[PK2]

A 30 day visa is for tourism purposes only, whereas the long stayers are de facto residents and Thai authorities are seeking compliance with the regulations.

Not wishing to get off topic re illegal passport runs via third person. If so perhaps a new thread warranted.

However when do the legal 30 day tourists become de facto residents? Are there any authoritative guidelines one can follow on how many 30days are acceptable? I am not interested in breaking any regulations but as long as these runs are being promoted by travel agents and done in person by the passport holder it can be more convenient than other forms of visa acquisition.

In my own case I have been doing these runs more than once continuosly and remain a tourist.

Cheers,

[Axel]

Not wishing to get off topic re illegal passport runs via third person. If so perhaps a new thread warranted.

However when do the legal 30 day tourists become de facto residents?

Believe this is a gray zone. I have a couple of friends here, the longest staying "lives" in Thailand for over 5 years, leaves the country 1-3 times a month and holding a EU-passport gets every time 30 days. Honestly, nobody knows how long this can go on, one changes the passport as well every year or so, as no pages left for chops. I know of other countries where the immigration will tell you to better apply for a proper visa. If and when this will happen in LOS, who knows???

[Rambutan]

Mmmh well,

I'm back in Bkk.

Lucky me!

PS: The guy at the immg. when reentering was a bit unpleased to see all these 30d's; he asked me where I'm staying. I had the feeling there was a decision going on in his mind: let I go him or not???

But he let me go, probably based on my unusual good and young apearance.

:cool:

[george]

Not wishing to get off topic re illegal passport runs via third person. If so perhaps a new thread warranted.

However when do the legal 30 day tourists become de facto residents?

Believe this is a gray zone. I have a couple of friends here, the longest staying "lives" in Thailand for over 5 years, leaves the country 1-3 times a month and holding a EU-passport gets every time 30 days. Honestly, nobody knows how long this can go on, one changes the passport as well every year or so, as no pages left for chops. I know of other countries where the immigration will tell you to better apply for a proper visa. If and when this will happen in LOS, who knows???

Generally, if you have shady chops in your pass book OR too many 30 day entries over a period of time:

Change passport ASAP and travel out and in again. Even better if you could travel home or to third country and wash/change there.

With ASAP I mean leow-leow! The Immigration guys are mad right now.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

The problem is there is no specific rule. You'll know when an officer denies you re-entry. Every 30 days to the border seems a bit like self flagellation to me.

[PK2]

I'm back in Bkk. Lucky me!

PS: The guy at the immg. when reentering was a bit unpleased to see all these 30d's; he asked me where I'm staying. I had the feeling there was a decision going on in his mind: let I go him or not???

Welcome back!

Just curious .. how many back to back 30 day visas did you have?

Were you alone or with tour? Perhaps tour group safest way to go or perhaps it doesn't make a difference.

[Maigo6]

Taken the advice from the people here, i took my passport to the British Embassy  today, (tuesday), will pick up my new one on thursday, not sure if any of my old stamps where dodgy or not. Best to be sure though, Bangkok immigration detention centre is not a good place to reside!!

About 3500 baht is cheap for peace of mind, plus i was nearly full anyway.    Oh, talk about immigration officers, i came in at Bangkok airport from Singapore once and i had the sticker for a Cambodian visa in my passport, i asked him if i could take the sticker off, cos the visa had been used, he said "up 2 u", so i did, he stamped on the page where it had been, guess those days are over now.  

Cheers.

[mesquite]

Taken the advice from the people here, i took my passport to the British Embassy  today, (tuesday), will pick up my new one on thursday, not sure if any of my old stamps where dodgy or not. Best to be sure though, Bangkok immigration detention centre is not a good place to reside!!

The new passport will have no stamps in it.  My understanding is that you will then take both the old and new passports down to Thai Immigration where they will transfer the pertinent information, like your current visa info and when and where you entered the country last.  Is that correct?  If so, I would think they would check the old one for dodgy stamps.

If I'm off base on this, please let me know.

[Rambutan]

Welcome back!

Just curious .. how many back to back 30 day visas did you have?

Don't know how many exactly, but for a period of more than two years already.

[huski]

The new passport will have no stamps in it.  My understanding is that you will then take both the old and new passports down to Thai Immigration where they will transfer the pertinent information, like your current visa info and when and where you entered the country last.  Is that correct?  If so, I would think they would check the old one for dodgy stamps.

Yes, THAI Immigration will require the old passport for copying the visa information & dates/extensions etc. over to the new passport since your last entry into Thailand. They may find something fishy maybe not.

I think you should go pick up the new passport on Thursday then bring it to a different Thai Consulate in Britian and get a fresh NON IMMIGRANT visa.

[Maigo6]

Oh Sorry, the Emabassy i am getting the Passport from is the British Embassy Tokyo, Japan.

So no sweat.

Cheers

[Tbone]

Just got back from Poipet ....another month...another visa. No questions...just bored dis-interest !!! I felt cheated !

Only "hassle" was on the Cambodian side - the guy at the departure point insisted that I actually present myself to his office instead of my usual "runner"! ( He must have forgotten what I look like....it has been over a year!)

[george]

My boyfriend went to Sadao (Malay border) yesterday to renew his visa in person.  Last month we sent our passports on a visa run through an agency.  He is now in jail.  Apparently our last visas are fake.  His court case is scheduled for Monday.  If he is allocated bail it will cost us 200,000 baht (£3,000) to get him out.  If not granted bail he remains in prison until the hearing (48 to 84 days!).

The last phone text message I received before he had his phone taken from him was at the police station "they are threatening me with anal sex.  Help."

I haven't heard from him since.  The British Consulate are trying to help but we can't find a thai/english solicitor in the area.    My nightmare has truly begun, as has his.

I can confirm that the entry stamp "SADAO B008" is a fake, according to the court in Songkhla by telephone today. The immigration have jailed more than 20 foreigners in the last week who previously have used visa agents and got B008 in their passports.  

All are going to court for fraud and illegal entry into Thailand.

Foreigners have been arrested in Songkhla, Ranong and Bangkok Airport and possible at more checkpoints. All exit checkpoints is ordered to arrest every foreigner with a SADAO B008, regardless if it's is the current stay stamp or a previous stamp with SADAO B008.

[Rambutan]

Urrg!

I've checked my stamps just after reading this, and one of my stamps is also a "B008" ( The most recent one ) But the guy in Poipet did not see it, or he was not looking for it.

Do they look for it only in the south, or everywhere ????

More infos!?

???

[lordsux]

Just for your info:

I have an entry stamp from Padang Basar which I obtained using a visa agent with the # B29 this is definatly fake, read my post on the first page of this thread for details of what happened.

[Rambutan]

Well, I have checked again.

The first stamp I got here more than 2 years ago is also a B29. But I went to the border by myself, so I guess that just a certain number can not be the only sign that the stamp is a fake. There must be definately original stamps bearing the numbers "B29" or "B008" as well.

[lordsux]

I should have been on a flight to BKK on Monday but I think I will have to change that and wait until I get a new passport. My run in with immigration last time was too close for comfort and that was before this apparent crackdown. Im just happy that im not still in Thailand with the dodgy visa stamp in my passport at the moment. Im sure there are a lot of people that are extremely worried about the whole situation and are not looking forward to the next time they have to go through immigration.

I didnt really give this much thought before I booked my flight, but the combination of this thread and the fact that I started reading "The Damage Done" a couple of days ago has made me see things in a new light.

On the positive side I will get a nice fresh passport with loads and loads of empty pages.

[PREM-R]

Did a visa run to Lao last week, on return Thai border official at Nong Khai took a very good look through my passport, stamps and Visas (even old 'expired' ones) were all examined (never had this before), took about 7 or 8 minutes to pass through, (usually about 45 seconds). There were not many people about so maybe the guy was just bored, but it shows that  it is not just the Southern Borders and Don Muang where the checks are taking place.  ???

[Maigo6]

Picked up my new Passport in Tokyo today. I must say i am glad i joined this forum, otherwise i would have travelled back on my old passport. I checked through my old Passport, the time i sent it with an agent, i got a Non 'o', i must admit that when i got my passport back, i did not even like the look of the stamp which was apparently from Hull. He swore it was legitimate.

Oh well i guess that at least the people on this forum are forwarned of the dangers of using anybody else to deal with visa requirements, thanks guys.

cheers

[ken61137]

Picked up my new Passport in Tokyo today. I must say i am glad i joined this forum, otherwise i would have travelled back on my old passport. I checked through my old Passport, the time i sent it with an agent, i got a Non 'o', i must admit that when i got my passport back, i did not even like the look of the stamp which was apparently from Hull. He swore it was legitimate.

Oh well i guess that at least the people on this forum are forwarned of the dangers of using anybody else to deal with visa requirements, thanks guys.

cheers

Hey these immigration people have just had many of their companions sacked. How would you react in their place?

For a long time now many people have only been allowed six cosecutive entries of thirty days. Then have to wait 6 months before returning. The idea to upset the farang criminal element who would find it difficult with a forced break of six months. So again be nice to these people.

Ken61137

[Maigo6]

Hey these immigration people have just had many of their companions sacked. How would you react in their place?

For a long time now many people have only been allowed six cosecutive entries of thirty days. Then have to wait 6 months before returning. The idea to upset the farang criminal element who would find it difficult with a forced break of six months. So again be nice to these people.

 

Ken, where do you get the information from, 6 months forced break??? I lived in Thailand since 1990, never heard of anyone getting a forced 6 months break.

The reason they got sacked was because THEY where criminals

Be interesting to know who has had a 6 months forced break after 6 consequtive entry stamps, its news to me.

Cheers