Bar Codes In Passports For 90 Day Reports Just Came To Chiang Mai

[NancyL]

I've seen some reports on the Chiang Mai forum that the local immigration office recently started to add bar codes to passports of people coming for 90 day reports. I personally haven't experienced it because my next 90 day report isn't due for a month. But, everyone's wondering why they're doing it and, more importantly, how does it improve the process?

Does this mean that we will no longer have those little slips of paper in our passports? Does it mean we'll be able to swipe the passport over a scanner and our 90 day report will be done -- no queue numbers, no waiting 45 - 60 mintues as has become the norm in Chiang Mai? How does it affect people who do 90 day reports by mail?

[lopburi3]

As the system got sidetracked by the flooding do not believe anyone has been for new reports yet but from my understanding the bar code will be read and computer will spit out a new reporting slip. No TM.47 required so should make it much faster.

[PattayaParent]

Sounds like it means your passport is going to get full a lot quicker if they put one in for every 90 day report.

[Tywais]

I've sent e-mails today to Chiang Mai immigration to see if they may be able to shed light on the subject. I just did my 90 day yesterday (CM) and they added the bar codes to my passport. BTW, 5 minutes in and out for the reporting. It's all in the timing.

//edit - I supplied them with a link to this topic also so behave yourselves.

[MYKTHEMIN]

The immigration office in Loei has been doing this for months and the bar code is actually on the 90 day reminder slip not in the passport itself, are the other offices doing the same?

[Tywais]

The immigration office in Loei has been doing this for months and the bar code is actually on the 90 day reminder slip not in the passport itself, are the other offices doing the same?

As I mentioned they put it in the back of my passport but another member said they removed it from his passport and put it on the slip. Perhaps copies of passport no longer required (which is in CM)?

[luther]

It's all in the timing.

What time did you go?

[Tywais]

It's all in the timing.

What time did you go?

Last time 3:10 PM. Actually I go around 3:00 PM every time now and not on a Monday or Friday and have short waits (so far).

[henryalleman]

They do this already for some time in BKK; They print out a filled in form for your next 90 day's reporting with the due date on. So no more filling in papers.

[SymS]

The best way to streamline the 90-day reporting process would be to scrap it entirely. But If I can spend 1 hour for reporting instead of 2 hours (includes driving time) that's still an improvement.

[tomallison]

The immigration office in Loei has been doing this for months and the bar code is actually on the 90 day reminder slip not in the passport itself, are the other offices doing the same?

On my last 90 day report at Mae Sot, my 'Receipt Of Notification ' slip was bar coded. This was on 12 Jan 2012.

[thaikahuna]

They do this already for some time in BKK; They print out a filled in form for your next 90 day's reporting with the due date on. So no more filling in papers.

I was just in Chaeng Wattana 2 weeks ago and had t ofill out the old form and got no bar coded slip in my passport. Whe were you in for 90 day report?

[lopburi3]

They do this already for some time in BKK; They print out a filled in form for your next 90 day's reporting with the due date on. So no more filling in papers.

I did my 90 day at Chiang Watanna today and received the new bar code receipt and next reporting date but there was no pre-printed form provided anyone - just a normal half page receipt to attach to passport.

[ProThaiExpat]

Since the 90 Day report is a report of current residence, can't see how we will be less burdened by a swipe of a bar code. The bar code may save time of Immigration Officers as to the forms they have to fill out , particularly the form regarding your next reporting and their need to change the date on the stamp for every report.

Those of us who have resided at the same residence for 10 years or more wonder why we just can't report when we change residences, which is the law anyway.

[Semper]

They do this already for some time in BKK; They print out a filled in form for your next 90 day's reporting with the due date on. So no more filling in papers.

But it still means that you have to wait for your queue number. And filling in the paper can be done at home or whilst waiting for the number. I don't see any advantage in this barcode thing.

[true blue]

did my 90 days reporting at cnx yesterday,bar code put on last page of passport,young lady said only need tm47 and passport next visit,????,

[true blue]

They do this already for some time in BKK; They print out a filled in form for your next 90 day's reporting with the due date on. So no more filling in papers.

But it still means that you have to wait for your queue number. And filling in the paper can be done at home or whilst waiting for the number. I don't see any advantage in this barcode thing.

could be a saving,of between 6/8 bht a visit,no phot copying needed,wow,now thats progress,lol.

[IMA_FARANG]

Last 90 day report was in Bangkok Chaeng Wattana on 26 December 2011. No bar code then. Next one due 25th of March. We shall see what happens then.

[lopburi3]

Bangkok is using bar code receipt - half page paper - as of my Monday visit. No information on any different next visit requirement provided (but only TM.47 and passport are required now).

[tomallison]

Bangkok is using bar code receipt - half page paper - as of my Monday visit. No information on any different next visit requirement provided (but only TM.47 and passport are required now).

It seems that in the past each office had different requirements. I have always only ever submitted TM 47 and passport on each visit. Now with the bar code in the receipt, will this be a standard requirement throughout? Time will tell.

[jambco984]

Lets hope it saves time, pages in passports and hopefully one day we wont need to have so much of a paper trail.

I have a dream.........

[thaihome]

Lets hope it saves time, pages in passports and hopefully one day we wont need to have so much of a paper trail.

I have a dream.........

The 90 day report uses no passport pages.

TH

[ratcatcher]

I would hate to think about those expats with the new bar-code reporting late, I wonder, would they be bar fined?

[Maestro]

did my 90 days reporting at cnx yesterday,bar code put on last page of passport,young lady said only need tm47 and passport next visit,????,

With "bar code put on last page of passport", I believe you mean to say that a piece of paper with the bar code printed on it was stapled to the last page of your passport. I would appreciate getting a copy of this new 90-day notification receipt for my album of "Current stamps of visas, extensions, etc"

[Tywais]

With "bar code put on last page of passport", I believe you mean to say that a piece of paper with the bar code printed on it was stapled to the last page of your passport. I would appreciate getting a copy of this new 90-day notification receipt for my album of "Current stamps of visas, extensions, etc"

Actually the bar code was stuck directly onto the last page of my passport separate from the paper receipt that was stapled in. Will take a look for it and try and scan it here. One member did mention that the next time, they removed the barcode sticker from the passport and put it on the tear off sheet? Maybe the first time the stick they bar code on the passport to get things initialized.

[Tywais]

Here is the back page of my passport with the bar code sticker and also printed onto the passport page directly. The 90 day report is stapled onto a separate page. I cut pieces of the code out for privacy reasons but gives you the idea.

Actually if you look on the left page you can see all the staple holes from the 90 day reports.

[Tywais]

I just took a closer look, believe the bottom set of numbers and the bottom embedded bar code is part of the passport itself so only the top bar code is what was added by immigration.

[lopburi3]

Yes the lower bar code is your passport number as written below it. Are you saying the above code is on a sticky? In Bangkok it is printed on a new receipt form and no such stamp is placed in passport - perhaps Chiang Mai is using a temporary system until they can print the new receipts? Did you get the old bottom section of TM.47 as your paper receipt?

[Tywais]

Yes the lower bar code is your passport number as written below it. Are you saying the above code is on a sticky? In Bangkok it is printed on a new receipt form and no such stamp is placed in passport - perhaps Chiang Mai is using a temporary system until they can print the new receipts? Did you get the old bottom section of TM.47 as your paper receipt?

Yes, the top one is a sticky and stuck onto the page. The old bottom section of the TM.47 is stapled into the previous page as usual. As I mentioned in a previous post this may be a temporary measure until they are up to speed. Perhaps they don't have the proper printing equipment yet.

[Maestro]

Here is the back page of my passport with the bar code sticker and also printed onto the passport page directly. The 90 day report is stapled onto a separate page. I cut pieces of the code out for privacy reasons but gives you the idea.

Actually if you look on the left page you can see all the staple holes from the 90 day reports.

Thank you. I have now added it to the album. Perhaps it's contains just an ID number which will let immigration officers bring your file to the computer screen.