Thai Immigration Goes Online

[Orion76]

Come to think of it, Thai immigration doesn't have computers at the arrival desk.  In most other countries, they put your passport through a scanner and the database recognizes the number, etc. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Don't know about land border crossings but at the airport they do use a computer and swipe the machine readble part through the reader.

[PeaceBlondie]

Come to think of it, Thai immigration doesn't have computers at the arrival desk.  In most other countries, they put your passport through a scanner and the database recognizes the number, etc. 

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Don't know about land border crossings but at the airport they do use a computer and swipe the machine readble part through the reader.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well, I just went through several countries last month, and as usual, bypassed Don Muang and checked in at CMai. I don't think the Chiang Mai Immigration office had a scanner. Perhaps they'll be the next station to get one.

[ovenman]

Don't know about land border crossings but at the airport they do use a computer and swipe the machine readble part through the reader.

One would get the impression from all this talk about needing a new immigrations computer system that when an immigration official currently swipes your passport at the airport, that collection of data is not actually connected to anything.

Let's wait and see folks, this system has been in the offing for quite some time now. No real reason to believe that this real soon now pronouncement has any more merit than those given in the past...

[shaunoro]

Wait and see how it pans out.

Hopefully it will speed everything up and all can benifit.

My omly concern is that if it was paid for by the USA, will they monitor the system?

Paranoid USA gathering info on us is not on.

[mouse]

Actually, you don't need that stamp. If the system is online the stamp can be updated whenever you next go to immigration.

Visas have a number, this can be entered, cross checked with data that they hold and a receipt can be printed. Payment can be with debit or credit card. Voila!

Within the next few years, most, if not all countries will implement a barcode style Passport system for its citizenry. Yes theoretically it would be possible to allow you to travel within Thailand without a VISA stamp. If you are caught up in something like a raid, they possibility of a portable system being brought along is feasible. In addition a portable scanner being connected with PDA connection (through AIS no less) is also feasible making the VISA stamp obsolete.

90 day reporting could also be done that way. You log in on the net and do your report which connects to your bar code record. Immigration would know that you are still in country and of course that record would also tell them automatically that you have overstayed your 90 days without a report. At this time they would send you a fine by email, unless a departure from one of Thailand exit points was done and also logged into that record.

In other words the whole mess could be automated.

When will we see it? Good guess but we will see it in our lifetime.

One important note. Guess no one can enter or depart the country during thunderstorm or electrical outages. Worst case scenario is that the poor officer at Immigration would have to learn the whole method all over again if the power outage were to last more than a few hours. And than what will all those officer at Immigration do with their free time?

[mrmark]

You must know that no matter how intelligent the system, no matter how great the training, nor how exspensive the equiptment... This is Thailand. They WILL find a way to slow down even the fastest of processes, they WILL find a way to &lt;deleted&gt; up the simplest of tasks, they WILL have ten people assigned to do what one person should be fully capable of doing, and they for sure WILL have 4 or more people monitoring them... and you know as well as I that there will always be a way to PAY around it anyways, this is not a patch for corruption - just a newer version for them to play. Good on America if they did get suckered into paying for it - Thai's are famous for taking anything and everything from farang, more power to them! As far as the new system goes? LOL Believe nothing you hear and 1/2 of what you see people, talk is cheap. Keep your eyes open when you come and go, you may be the 1st to know (in 2010)...

[slim]

It has probably lost a bit in the editing/translating process.

My guess is that we shall still have to go to Nong Khai, or wherever, with our documents; but that Nong Khai (being then on-line) will be able to get the OK from Bangkok HQ there and then.

This will be a great advance. At present, Nong Khai takes all the documents to send to Bangkok HQ and tells you to come back (in person) in a month. Then, when you do so, they tell you that the approval hasn't yet come through from Bangkok HQ and that you must come back in another month.

Hopefully, with this new system, the present 'three trips to Nong Khai every year' will be replaced by just the one annual trip

My experience exactly applying for a 12 month extension.

3rd April - drive 2 hours to Nong Khai with the paperwork.

1 month extension - "come back May 2nd".

May 2nd - drive to Nong Khai "papers not back from Bangkok"

1 month extension - "come back June 1st"

We'll see what happens 1st June

[MikeWill]

Dr. PP and GEORGE

Can you get this announcement CLARIFIED and more specific in its explanation of precisely HOW IS ONE GOING TO GET THEIR VISA'S EXTENDED ON LINE AND STILL GET """"""""THEIR""""""""" IMMIGRATIONS STAMP ON OUR PASSPORTS!!!!!!!

I think that person mis-stated his explanation or it got translated the wrong way.

DAVEYO

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Can you stop shouting, or you get an obvious break from things which you apparently are in need of ???

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Darknight, a little courtesy on your part would do it. Don't forget that you are a mod at the time being, doesn't you.

Don't know about land border crossings but at the airport they do use a computer and swipe the machine readble part through the reader.

One would get the impression from all this talk about needing a new immigrations computer system that when an immigration official currently swipes your passport at the airport, that collection of data is not actually connected to anything.

Let's wait and see folks, this system has been in the offing for quite some time now. No real reason to believe that this real soon now pronouncement has any more merit than those given in the past...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The system is indeed a big mess, let's wait and see what they want to change and how it will actually work. There is a big difference between speaking and doing...

[kayo]

You must know that no matter how intelligent the system, no matter how great the training, nor how exspensive the equiptment... This is Thailand.  They WILL find a way to slow down even the fastest of processes, they WILL find a way to &lt;deleted&gt; up the simplest of tasks, they WILL have ten people assigned to do what one person should be fully capable of doing, and they for sure WILL have 4 or more people monitoring them...  and you know as well as I that there will always be a way to PAY around it anyways, this is not a patch for corruption - just a newer version for them to play.  Good on America if they did get suckered into paying for it - Thai's are famous for taking anything and everything from farang, more power to them!  As far as the new system goes?  LOL  Believe nothing you hear and 1/2 of what you see people, talk is cheap.  Keep your eyes open when you come and go, you may be the 1st to know (in 2010)...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This is your first ever post on tv.com??

Excellent man!

[sriracha john]

DIG THAT MAN, so now they are getting close to like they do in America, in getting to know who in the heck is in THAILAND.

Hopefully it WON'T be like America in regards to illegal aliens... as it is conservatively estimated that there are at least 6 million illegal aliens there now. America most assuredly does NOT know who is in that country.

[iosufm]

[

Hopefully it WON'T be like America in regards to illegal aliens... as it is conservatively estimated that there are at least 6 million illegal aliens there now. America most assuredly does NOT know who is in that country.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I disagree. Perhaps those that were previously resident when the terrorist attack occured are hidden, but since then, in all my travels, i have not encountered an entry system as extenuous and far reaching as USA immigration. For instance, i have yet landed in a country for means of a plane transfer within the same international terminal, within 2 or 3 hours, that requires me to pass through immigration control...and not just immigration like Thailand's pleasant system at Don Meuang, i'm talking about the 3rd degree of probing-like questions right down to the name of your pet parrot and where you bought your sandals.....none but one country asks this from travellers, the US of A.

As for the online system in Thailand, what a welcome idea. For all the things that Thailand does to earn it its TIT title in a derrogative way, this could be a major step forward for the country and for us live-ins. Especially if it can help keep the undesireables out, for if this was its only benefit it would still serve to make Thailand a better country If this works, we should treasure the sights, smells and sounds of Nong Khai. Only visiting it once a year brings a tear of remorse to my eye. Sniff.

And if it doesn't work as smoothly as we are hoping it will.......i'll take Thailand's process over the Big-Brother likeness of the States's any day of the week.

[ProThaiExpat]

This thread reveals that most posters have not linked this article with the earleir one regarding the U.S. funded computer immigration access system that is being installed in Thailand and linked to the U.S. data base at U.S. expense.

It is probably going to be in all Asean countriles within the decade, all paid by the U.S. and with a shared database. With the increasing terrorist activity in Asia, it is in each countries best interest to track the coming and goings of foreigners into their country. Don't be surprised when you encounter retina scans, etc. when entering Thailand, with the U.S. knowing almost immediately of your arrival or departure.

As the current U.S. administration moves more to the right, the "drum beat" of an extrnal threat to mold the populace into backing admnistration invasions of privacy and control of the citizenery sounds louder all the time.

I have nothing to hide, so I don't mind such intrusions as long as they don't make traveling more burdensome.

The U.S. has taken a big hit economically by denying access to tourists and businessmen, in the billions of dollars, and the current adminstration is getting away with it while it ignores the illegals coming in from Mexico.

Thailand is likewise moving to the right under the current administration and the south is certainly a bully pulpit for this, although I must say, in my opinion, that Thaksin has not used it, as GWB has used 9/11 as a scare tactic.

My guess is that the U.S. "sell" of shared immigration data will allow for Thai specific information not shared and "standard" data shared with other countries. I would assume there is data sharing now between the U.S. and the UK and certainly, in as many places in the middle east as U.S. influence allows.

With credit card records and telephone call records available to almost all law enforcement agencies, tracking an individual is not difficult unless he is really trying to evade.

The greatest benefit of the computer linked immigration access system is that the indiviudal is virtually "in custody" when entering or leaving a country and can thus can be aprehended , even when traveling on fake passports, as the retina scan clearly identifies the individual and eliminates mistaken identities when aprehension orders go out to all.

[Rhys]

The HACK artist will have fun with this one....

[bino]

One important note.  Guess no one can enter or depart the country during thunderstorm or electrical outages.  Worst case scenario is that the poor officer at Immigration would have to learn the whole method all over again if the power outage were to last more than a few hours.  And than what will all those officer at Immigration do with their free time?

All major airports have backup electricity systems such as diesel generators to provide electricity to critical systems during emergencies or power failures.

Imagine an airport with a power outage lasting more than a few hours. The passengers waiting to clear immigration would be an insignificant problem. They would be going nowhere without air traffic control to guide the planes taking off. This problem would be compounded if the outage happened at night and runway lighting was unavailable.

An even scarier thought during such a power outage would be airplanes that are aloft and waiting to land. If they are arriving from overseas they may well not have enough fuel to remain "blocked up" for a few hours.

Having said all that- it would be a simple matter to connect the immigration computer systems to the backup power system.

Edited May 15, 2005 by bino

[mnoorsapl]

Is this the new system that was made by & paid for by the Americans??? If it is then I see no reason why it should'nt work provided that the people who are using it are properly trained. 

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I don't know if you've been following the news but it seems all the billions we put into our security ie: airports etc..in the States is worthless so they'll need a few billion more to make improvements.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

so the taxpayer bears it all and perhaps an increase in the visa $

agreed with condo_bk "The system is indeed a big mess, let's wait and see what they want to change and how it will actually work. There is a big difference between speaking and doing..." well said condo_bk

[Sphere]

...and Don Muang International Airport on 1 June. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If you know what's good for you, try not to exit the country from Don Muang on 1 June. Else, on your way in you might find that you had never left.

[Axel]

If you know what's good for you, try not to exit the country from Don Muang on 1 June.  Else, on your way in you might find that you had never left.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sorry, if I go off-topic, but this reminds me of way back when Okinawa returned to Japan.

Turned out 1 American had left Tokyo under re-entry etc. to fly to Okinawa (US-territory) and returned from Naha to Tokyo on a domestic-flight.

So on the paper this guy had left the country, but was still there. They had to change the laws and add a lex Okinawa to accomodate the case.

[stats]

Ken i agree on that one...Tea money will be by 2checkout or Paypal...ehehhehe LOL

[monty]

Friend of mine left Thailand through the Aranyaprathet border about half a year ago, traveled on to Pnom Phem overland and from there returned to Europe...

Came back to Thailand two weeks ago and had a two hour delay entering Thailand as somehow the computer stated he was still in Thailand (with a 6 month overstay )

Took them a long time to verify the exit stamp in his passport was genuine and even then he got a warning that everytime he changed hotels he had to notify immigration of his new whereabouts...

Another friend went through immigration in Don Muang on the way to his flight back, somehow in a slightly drunken state he decided to miss his flight and stay on a couple of more days....

He walked back the way he came from, walked straight through the departure immigration without anybody even noticing him....

Sh*t hit the fan when a couple of days later he did a visa run to the cambodian border with a passport and computer records telling the immigration officers he left already a week ago...

Also took a couple of hours to clear so he had to stay overnight in one of the casino hotels and come back with another bus the day after!!!!

I would say the system certainly does not work as it should. It kinda looks like you can just walk in and out as you please

[PeaceBlondie]

I would say the system certainly does not work as it should. It kinda looks like you can just walk in and out as you please 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

For sure, here's an easy way to beat the system, but it wouldn't be a good idea. If you fly into Don Muang en route to Chiang Mai, you skip immigration and go through Transit with a little sticker on your shirt. But you can easily take off the sticker, walk downstairs, and go straight out the door. Of course, then your passport and the computer system would not say you entered Thailand. Probably just what a terrorist prefers, especially one fleeing justice or about to commit suicide without a trace. I wonder how the new airport will handle transit passengers.

As far as I can tell, you can do it in Chiang Mai, too. When going through transit in BKK and continuing to Chiang Mai, you can remove the sticker and pretend you're a domestic passenger and walk right out into Chiang Mai.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Criminal minds at work

[mnoorsapl]

Ken i agree on that one...Tea money will be by 2checkout or Paypal...ehehhehe LOL

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

At Sadao checkpoint, $2 dollars for every passport.

[meadish_sweetball]

You must know that no matter how intelligent the system, no matter how great the training, nor how exspensive the equiptment... This is Thailand.  They WILL find a way to slow down even the fastest of processes, they WILL find a way to &lt;deleted&gt; up the simplest of tasks, they WILL have ten people assigned to do what one person should be fully capable of doing, and they for sure WILL have 4 or more people monitoring them...  and you know as well as I that there will always be a way to PAY around it anyways, this is not a patch for corruption - just a newer version for them to play.  Good on America if they did get suckered into paying for it - Thai's are famous for taking anything and everything from farang, more power to them!  As far as the new system goes?  LOL  Believe nothing you hear and 1/2 of what you see people, talk is cheap.  Keep your eyes open when you come and go, you may be the 1st to know (in 2010)...

Not another one?

[Vampyros Lesbos]

Tea Money will be accepted via PayPal.

kenk3z

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Lmaoooooooo as well

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

well they already started keeping track of every one staying in a hotel in Phuket were you stay and how long. Soon you get a IIIIOOOIIII on the bargirl you take with you home.... Swish xxx slept with xxx on the 20050528.

[thymode91]

it would be great if the Thai government can do such thing easier that the previous process of paper works.

[DaveYo]

Hmmmm, so you say Peaceblondie a method to dodge the Immigration process etc. Just frickin wonderful.

Now get this, I just heard from a friend of mine recently and they have mentioned that they are in the process of really tightening up the holes concerning entry issues and departure issues between the airports.

They are aware of the method of taking off that sticker etc and getting into Thailand un-noticed, and vice versa that your leaving and did check out at Immigrations but decided to stay and walk thru a check out point back into Thailand. Problem here that is when one does really do leave------> Oh Oh!!!!!!!!!!

Here is a tip---- they are going to make it sweet for those who do such. If one gets caught without an entry stamp upon your departure, they will persona non grata you. Meaning Bye Bye for good, or go to Prison once their investigation gets completed and the conclusion is verified that you skirted the system doing an illegal act in either of the two above methods.

How does that sound. So kiss Chaing Mai goodbye and some other points, cause it will be impossible to bypass the entry.

And yes, USA Immigration checkpoints is totally hidieous. Asking questions of the like as you said where you buy your shoes or shirt etc, your reason for leaving or entry, or what you did while you out of the country and so on and so forth. Yep, they are nosy busybodies.

Happened to me when I went back to USA just this past February. Told the Customs Officer None of your business man, I am USA citizen, any problem with that?????? All the officer can do is let me pass since the computer already cleared my entry. Ditto. Immigrations at entry not a sweat. Did a swipe and he stamped it and away I went to get my luggage. 30 seconds or less tops. No questions asked. But Customs, those officers are pricks.

Here is the real nice one too. Upon my leaving Los Angeles to go to Bangkok, they had officers just outside the door of the plane being the jetway ramp, and they were stopping many and asking a ton of questions etc. To top it off, some were LA Police, some being Airport police and undercover officers etc. So I stopped and looked around amazed at the stupid security going on, and shrugged my shoulders and continued. Well I got called by one of them, and upon being in front of this officer, I said to the officer, don't bother me with your bull, see that person over there, nice fish to catch. Looks Mideastern huh???? The officer looks and calls that person over and I walk into the plane. Even I was surprised at seeing his hungry eyes!!!!! Unbelievable. As I looked back walking down the jetway ramp, I can see many were obviously very frustrated and really wanted to be in that plane in the worst possible way.

So I do agree on the others comment concerning with the conclusion of American Security shindig. A real pain.

Daveyo

[Popeyethesailorman]

Hmmmm, so you  say Peaceblondie a method to dodge the Immigration process etc.  Just frickin wonderful.

Now get this, I just heard from a friend of mine recently and they have mentioned that they are in the process of really tightening up the holes concerning entry issues and departure issues between the airports.

They are aware of the method of taking off that sticker etc and getting into Thailand un-noticed, and vice versa that your leaving and did check out at Immigrations but decided to stay and walk thru a check out point back into Thailand.    Problem here that is when one does really do leave------> Oh Oh!!!!!!!!!!

Here is a tip---- they are going to make it sweet for those who do such.  If one gets caught without an entry stamp upon your departure, they will persona non grata you.  Meaning Bye Bye for good, or go to Prison once their investigation gets completed and the conclusion is verified that you skirted the system doing an illegal act in either of the two above methods.

How does that sound.  So kiss Chaing Mai goodbye and some other points, cause it will be impossible to bypass the entry.

And yes, USA Immigration checkpoints is totally hidieous.  Asking questions of the like as you said where you buy your shoes or shirt etc, your reason for leaving or entry, or what you did while you out of the country and so on and so forth.  Yep, they are nosy busybodies.

Happened to me when I went back to USA just this past February.  Told the Customs Officer None of your business man, I am USA citizen, any problem with that??????  All the officer can do is let me pass since the computer already cleared my entry.  Ditto.  Immigrations at entry not a sweat.  Did a swipe and he stamped it and away I went to get my luggage.  30 seconds or less tops.  No questions asked.  But Customs, those officers are pricks.

Here is the real nice one too.  Upon my leaving Los Angeles to go to Bangkok, they had officers just outside the door of the plane being the jetway ramp, and they were stopping many and asking a ton of questions etc.  To top it off, some were LA Police, some being Airport police and undercover officers etc.    So I stopped and looked around amazed at the stupid security going on, and shrugged my shoulders and continued.    Well I got called by one of them, and upon being in front of this officer, I said to the officer, don't bother me with your bull, see that person over there, nice fish to catch.  Looks Mideastern huh????  The officer looks and calls that person over and I walk into the plane.  Even I was surprised at seeing his hungry eyes!!!!!  Unbelievable.  As I looked back walking down the jetway ramp, I can see many were obviously very frustrated and really wanted to be in that plane in the worst possible way.

So I do agree on the others comment concerning with the conclusion of American Security shindig.  A real pain.

Daveyo

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

yeah, great story. Maybe next time I go thru L.A. I will try the same thing. Me being Middle Eastern looking and all. Maybe I'll just slap a few of them "hungry eyed" bastards, scream at the top of my lungs, "Hezbolah" and them tell them just like you did, "I'm a U.S. citizen, any problem with that?" If they try any smart moves, I'll do like you and tell them, "don't bother me with your bull!" Your story belongs in the post "Members Dreams".

[bino]

When going through transit in BKK and continuing to Chiang Mai, you can remove the sticker and pretend you're a domestic passenger and walk right out into Chiang Mai.

Same deal in Phuket- you could walk off the plane, turn right instead of left and totally bypass passport control.

Total security weakness!

[Heng]

Are there just as easy ways to get out of the country though? (that don't involve swimming or crossing rivers with "guides") Preferably involving first or business class air transport.

[mnoorsapl]

When going through transit in BKK and continuing to Chiang Mai, you can remove the sticker and pretend you're a domestic passenger and walk right out into Chiang Mai.

Same deal in Phuket- you could walk off the plane, turn right instead of left and totally bypass passport control.

Total security weakness!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

wow, that's a big loophole. Never thought of that one.

Thanks for the info.