What Year Did Thailand Start With Landing Cards?

[Jingthing]

OK, we all get the landing cards when entering Thailand and MUST have them to surrender when next we depart Thailand. I came here first in 98 and they had them then. What year did they start? Supposing you have been in Thailand since BEFORE they started, then what happens when you try to depart?

[tropo]

The same year commercial airlines starting flying here. Now when was that? I'm guessing early 1960's.

Edited May 9, 2011 by tropo

[Jingthing]

The same year commercial airlines starting flying here. Now when was that?

How do you KNOW that or are you just guessing?

[tropo]

The same year commercial airlines starting flying here. Now when was that?

How do you KNOW that or are you just guessing?

It's a guess. While we're trying to find that out maybe someone would know when the first commercial airlines started flying here.

[Jingthing]

Thai airways started international flights in 1960. (Partnered with SAS.) Landing cards in 1960?

[Naam]

The same year commercial airlines starting flying here. Now when was that? I'm guessing early 1960's.

i remember there were two forms to fill in 1973 (immigration and customs). that was my first visit to Thailand.

[lopburi3]

The heavy paper forms were in use in 1969 as I recall - they changed to the NCR type form within the last decade.

[tropo]

The heavy paper forms were in use in 1969 as I recall - they changed to the NCR type form within the last decade.

You were flying to Thailand as early as 1969? It's no wonder you're called the Maestro.

[IMA_FARANG]

I don't know for sure...but I came into Thailand for the first time in 1976...in the old Don Muang airport then...and I had to fill out a landing card on entry.

So obviously it goes back to before 1976.

P.S. Bangkok was a popular R&R site for U.S. soldiers in Vietnam around 1966 or so...and I presume they had to fill out arrival cards then also, but I don't know that for sure.

Edited May 10, 2011 by IMA_FARANG

[harrry]

I can rememberf there was a departure card in the passport in 1976.

In about 1972 I remember having to fill in an entry form and when I left a departure form. I remember that there is one form from NongKai where the officer made me fill in another one as I put train as usual and I had actually arrived at the border on an elephant instead of taking a rickshaw.

[Tywais]

P.S. Bangkok was a popular R&R site for U.S. soldiers in Vietnam around 1966 or so...and I presume they had to fill out arrival cards then also, but I don't know that for sure.

I came to Thailand in 1968 with no passport and no arrival/departure card. Well, it was military transport so maybe that doesn't count. Suspect R&R military entered the same way.

[Lefty]

I entered Thailand the first time Sept 1969 and filled out the card-also a green form for customs.

Lefty

[PhilHarries]

The more important question is when are they going to get rid of them? So you arrive and they can check the stuff you write down that is also in your passport. But what about the rest? Like the address you will be staying at? Do they ever check that useless piece of info? They have to key it all into a computer, or swipe your pp so what possible use are the cards?

btw they did away with them here in VN end of last year.

<edit : typo>

Edited May 10, 2011 by PhilHarries

[raylo]

The more important question is when are they going to get rid of them? So you arrive and they can check the stuff you write down that is also in your passport. But what about the rest? Like the address you will be staying at? Do they ever check that useless piece of info? They have to key it all into a computer, or swipe your pp so what possible use are the cards?

btw they did away with them here in VN end of last year.

<edit : typo>

Dont go to Australia or one of those other advanced countries then.

[wpcoe]

But what about the rest? Like the address you will be staying at? Do they ever check that useless piece of info? They have to key it all into a computer, or swipe your pp so what possible use are the cards?

I thought the cards were sent to some off-site data input center where the addresses *were* put into the computer system, hence why a 90-day report period re-starts at entry to the kingdom -- that TM.6 address is a valid address report, no?

Also, a genuine signature on the card, seals your legal fate should you lie/misrepresent information on the form.

[merijn]

But what about the rest? Like the address you will be staying at? Do they ever check that useless piece of info? They have to key it all into a computer, or swipe your pp so what possible use are the cards?

I thought the cards were sent to some off-site data input center where the addresses *were* put into the computer system, hence why a 90-day report period re-starts at entry to the kingdom -- that TM.6 address is a valid address report, no?

Also, a genuine signature on the card, seals your legal fate should you lie/misrepresent information on the form.

Maybe the arrival cards are send to a cetral data centre, i don't know this but i know that it is not linked to the 90 Day reporting system.

The TM 6 90 day reporting papers are not kept on record and normally used as paper for the copy machine in the immigration office.

[harrry]

But what about the rest? Like the address you will be staying at? Do they ever check that useless piece of info? They have to key it all into a computer, or swipe your pp so what possible use are the cards?

I thought the cards were sent to some off-site data input center where the addresses *were* put into the computer system, hence why a 90-day report period re-starts at entry to the kingdom -- that TM.6 address is a valid address report, no?

Also, a genuine signature on the card, seals your legal fate should you lie/misrepresent information on the form.

Maybe the arrival cards are send to a cetral data centre, i don't know this but i know that it is not linked to the 90 Day reporting system.

The TM 6 90 day reporting papers are not kept on record and normally used as paper for the copy machine in the immigration office.

Before computer in 1972 I had a friend who was deported after having been caught with one joint. He got a new passport and returned. (He was trying to get his wife to australia ) Two weeks after he came back immigration came to his address and picked him up. They said that if he had not written his right address on the entry form he would have been OK so they did read them then.

[tropo]

Before computer in 1972 I had a friend who was deported after having been caught with one joint. He got a new passport and returned. (He was trying to get his wife to australia ) Two weeks after he came back immigration came to his address and picked him up. They said that if he had not written his right address on the entry form he would have been OK so they did read them then.

Your friend should have been given an award for "dunce of the century".

[harrry]

Before computer in 1972 I had a friend who was deported after having been caught with one joint. He got a new passport and returned. (He was trying to get his wife to australia ) Two weeks after he came back immigration came to his address and picked him up. They said that if he had not written his right address on the entry form he would have been OK so they did read them then.

Your friend should have been given an award for "dunce of the century".

Well at least I managed to get the paperwork done for his wife to go to Australia for him...an he was happily married for at least 10 years till I lost touch.

[Maestro]

My first arrival in Thailand was on 02 DEC 1968 and they used arrival/departure cards already then. Haven't got a copy of the card, only of the arrival and departure stamps in the passport.

[IMA_FARANG]

P.S. Bangkok was a popular R&R site for U.S. soldiers in Vietnam around 1966 or so...and I presume they had to fill out arrival cards then also, but I don't know that for sure.

I came to Thailand in 1968 with no passport and no arrival/departure card. Well, it was military transport so maybe that doesn't count. Suspect R&R military entered the same way.

--------------------

As far as I can recall (and it was all a long time ago now) but I seem to remember there were organized military charter flights in civilian operated planes being used for R&R flights from Saigon in 1968 or 1969. I remember taking one of our comm unit personnel when I was stationed at MACV (Saigon) to Tan San Nhut to catch his military chartered but civilian operated flight from Saigon to Singapore for his R&R trip in 1969. Of course, that wasn't the only way to leave the country, but as I seem to recall there was an R&R desk and check-in area where we brought him to catch his flight. I remember this because the guy was already drinking pretty heavily before he left Saigon, and we were worried they might not let him on the plane if he was too drunk.

Edited May 11, 2011 by IMA_FARANG

[Tywais]

I remember this because the guy was already drinking pretty heavily before he left Saigon, and we were worried they might not let him on the plane if he was too drunk.

Funny that mine was the opposite direction, I had a bit too much to drink leaving San Francisco going to Saigon and didn't think I was going to survive the trip. That was a chartered 707 filled to the brim with all military. After a TDY stay in Saigon, it was a C130 to Utapao.

[mrjohnno]

I've always just written Koh Samui and never had a problem

[harrry]

I remember this because the guy was already drinking pretty heavily before he left Saigon, and we were worried they might not let him on the plane if he was too drunk.

Funny that mine was the opposite direction, I had a bit too much to drink leaving San Francisco going to Saigon and didn't think I was going to survive the trip. That was a chartered 707 filled to the brim with all military. After a TDY stay in Saigon, it was a C130 to Utapao.

If getting drunk was enough to stop you getting sent to Vietnam the brewries and distileries would have made vast profits.