Very luckily for me I read NYCDemimondes post 2 days ago, (on visa branch).  He was randomly stopped by Immigration police and taken to a police station as he did not have his pssport with him.

So yesterday for the first time in ages I carried my passport with me and at about 5pm I was stopped by 4 or 5 immigration police in a soi in the eastern suburbs of BKK, near Ramkamhaeng university.

They were very smiley and friendly, looked through my passport but didn't scrutinise every stamp.  Asked where I lived and if any other foreigners lived there and if any black foreigners lived there (I pressume they mean asian/indian?).

They never asked why I was in Thailand, although I wasn't dressed smartly for work.  As they left they said the checks were due to APEC.

So be warned everybody, and thankyou NYC.

:cool:

Thanks for the great info, I will be in Bangkok soon after Nam and in the past I have not always carried my passport with me either. So I most certainly will have it with me all the time now. I use a concealed pouch, around my waist, same color as my skin, which is olive do to living in Florida and being exposed at sea in some vessels minus much shade while sailing.

Interesting they are asking about black people, seems being from the middle east kind of fits the profile of terrorist.

Bud

Eastender   it sounds as though they weren't being too officious though. Actively enforcing regulations must be a brand new experience for them.

If those cops were specifically looking for 'black people' because they had received some info regarding suspected individuals, it is a usual procedure but if it is just 'racial profiling', it is really sad and unacceptable !

Regarding carrying a passport, I advise you to carry your passport at all times when in Thailand but do make sure you keep it in a place where the chances of it getting stolen/lost or wet are very slim.

Regards,

Jem

Is it not acceptabl to carry a photocopy of your passport and of a copy of the stamps ?

Apparently an 'ordinary' copy is not acceptable (at the moment?), but I checked with Immigration and they certified a copy of my passport/entry stamp/TM for carrying around. I really didn't want to risk losing my passport/visa.

J

what do you mean?

we have to make a copy of our passport, latest stamp, Tm.card

and make it certified by the immigration?

is it serious?

all these years, I had only a colour copy of my passport (stamp and tm included) with me, and immigration had always said it was enough. Anyway better than to get a slim chance to loose it ...

what's going on?

is this only cause of the apec or is going to be like this always?

might, that we have to be able to show some identification at any time as the Thais do?

Of course you (we) have to! It has always been that way, but it was never that much enforced.

It's annoying, but do carry your passport on you nowadays, it's better than getting arrested or/and paying fines.

::

well, thanks for the tip, I'll carry it with me anytime now ...  

I just have to find a nice small waterproof pocket safe enough

to put it in and possibly zip it inside every trouser I've got  :cool:

hey, sounds like back to adventure  :cool: