New Style 90-Day Reporting Receipt & 15 Day Warning

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I just got my most recent 90 Day Report receipt back in the mail from Chaeng Wattana Immigration, and the version I received is different from all those that I've received in the past.

The receipt I've received back also had a little piece of paper stapled to the receipt itself in bold red ink and highlighted with yellow marker that said:

I've never seen that kind of stapled sticker to any of my 90 Day Report receipts before. AFAIK, my most recent mail-in report was mailed and received by CW Immigration 4 days before my due date. That's based on my EMS tracking receipt and accepted delivery date for my envelope.

My EMS envelope was mailed on Sept. 19, accepted at CW Immigration on Sept. 20 according to the online EMS delivery record, and was not due until Sept. 24. The return receipt they sent me back in the mail said they'd "received notification" from me on Sept. 25.

So I'm not clear whether they were trying to warn me about something, or just reinforcing the normal advisory to mail two weeks before the due date. Although, I've always assumed that if I mail by EMS and make sure the report arrives at Chaeng Wattana before the due date that I'm complying with their requirements.

Meanwhile, as for the new style of 90 Day Receipt form, in the past, they've always simply mailed back the tear-off lower section of the 90 Day Reporting form that we all submit.

But this time, I received a separate form that included for the first time that I've seen a scannable bar code tracking number in the upper left corner. The old version return receipt was always filled in in handwriting by some officer, whereas the new version has my name and all the other individual details printed by a computer.

It also had, unlike in the past, the stapled note I mentioned above about sending back the next report 15 days before the due date.

So are they getting pissy with me, or it's just the normal run-around?

[Mario2008]

They already introduced the bar code, then abolished it and now seem to have introduced it again. In Chain Mai it is already working. It's purpose is to speed thing up.

BKK-immigraiton for a while now wants to recieve mail in reports at least 15 days before due date. Seems they are now going to enforce it more strictly, starting with warnings.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Mario, I wasn't clear on the exact meaning of their wording on the little stapled note...

Do they mean the reporter should SEND it 15 days before... Or do they mean Immigration wants to RECEIVE it 15 days before, which of course would mean sending it even earlier?

The way their little note is worded in English, it seems to me it could be interpretted either way.

What's our collective sense of what they mean about the timing???

And has anyone else in BKK received that little kind of stapled timing warning lately???

[Mario2008]

It says BEFORE, so a few days before is best.

Published procedure:

1. Photocopy of passport pages with following pages
   - front page showing name / surname / Passport No., ect.
   - current visa
   - last entry stamp of immigration
   - last extension of visa
   
2. Photocopy of departure card TM.6 click to view Example TM.6 card
   
3. Previous notifications of staying over 90 days (if any) click to view Example document
   
4. Completely filled in and signed notification form TM.47 click to view Example document (Don't forget to sign name.)
   
5. Envelope with 10 Baht stamp affixed and return address of foreigner for the officer in charge to send back the lower part of form TM. 47 after having received the notification. This part must be kept for reference and for future notifications of staying over 90 days.
   
6. The above mentioned documents must be sent by registered mail and the receipt of the registration kept by the foreigner.
   Send the mail before the renewal date 15 days to
   90 DAYS REGISTRATION,
   IMMIGRATION DIVISION 1
   Chalermprakiat Government Complex
   120 MOO 3, CHAENGWATTANA ROAD,SOI 7,
   LAKSI, BANGKOK. 10210
   Notice :
   - Your registered mail must be sent to the Immigration office at least 15 days before the due date of notification.
   - Your new form will be stamped as of the expiration date of your old receipt.
   - Please keep your receipt of your registered mail in case of lost mail.
   - Your document can not be processed if you have passed the 90 days limit. ( You must come to the nearest immigration office or Immigration Division 1 in person to pay fine 2,000 Baht)
   - Waiting for reply mail over 1 month, please contact Immigration Office with your registered mail receipt.
   

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

BTW, here's what the new style 90 Day Reporting receipt from CW Immigration looks like:

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Hmm... that's interesting...

I've always seen and known of the 15 day wording re mailed in 90 day reports... But I'd always assumed and understood they just meant to allow time for mail delivery, and all that mattered was that they received it before the due date. And of course, no grace period for the mailed-in reports, unlike in-person reporting.

In the past, I've always followed pretty much the same timing pattern, and usually made sure Immigration received my report via trackable EMS at least a few days before the actual due date. And in the past few years, I've never received any kind of blow-back from Immigration about it.

In light of the above, though, I guess those assumptions and habits are no longer valid.

Guess it's time to start getting ready to send my December 2012 90-Day report!!!

[tijnebijn]

I always send the mail about a week before the date of 90 day report , in Chiangmai that is , is it likely other provinces follow the example of Bangkok or

is it all on their own policy ....In CM it all seems to work fine as it is , hope it won't change , and never heard of sending at least 15 days before the actual report date , should I ....

[lopburi3]

Yes you should - that is the new standard at listed on immigration web site and quoted below (this is the copy on general immigration web site rather than just Bangkok).

Notification by registered mail

Photocopy of passport pages with following pages

- front page showing name / surname / Passport No., ect.

- current visa

- last entry stamp of immigration

- last extension of visa

Photocopy of departure card TM.6 click to view Example TM.6 card

Previous notifications of staying over 90 days (if any) click to view Example document

Completely filled in and signed notification form TM.47 click to view Example document (Don't forget to sign name.)

Envelope with 10 Baht stamp affixed and return address of foreigner for the officer in charge to send back the lower part of form TM. 47 after having received the notification. This part must be kept for reference and for future notifications of staying over 90 days.

The above mentioned documents must be sent by registered mail and the receipt of the registration kept by the foreigner.

Send the mail before the renewal date 15 days to Immigration office

Notice :

- Your registered mail must be sent to the Immigration office at least 15 days before the due date of notification.

- Your new form will be stamped as of the expiration date of your old receipt.

- Please keep your receipt of your registered mail in case of lost mail.

- Your document can not be processed if you have passed the 90 days limit. ( You must come to the nearest immigration office or Immigration Division 1 in person to pay fine 2,000 Baht)

- Waiting for reply mail over 1 month, please contact Immigration Office with your registered mail receipt.

Note

The notification of staying in the Kingdom over 90 days is in no way equivalent to a visa extension.

If a foreigner staying in the kingdom over 90 days without notifying the Immigration Bureau or notifying the Immigration Bureau later than the set period, a fine of 2,000.- Baht will be collected. If a foreigner who did not make the notification of staying over 90 days is arrested, he will be fined 4,000.- Baht.

If a foreigner leaves the country and re-enters, the day count starts at 1 in every case.

http://www.immigration.go.th/

[tijnebijn]

thanks for that Lopburi , good I saw this thread , I will send it earlier from now on .

[Pib]

My interpretation of the wording is to mail it approx 15 days before so it arrives a few days later which then gives the immigration office a week and half or more to process the form.

I expect under the previous rule of 7 days before if someone mailed it say 5 days before via regular mail sometimes it didn't arrive before the 90 day due date. And if some holidays (or flooding, or riots, etc) were involved then the mail could get delayed/not arrive in time. But in saying that, I mailed via EMS my 90 day report to Bangkok Immigration during the late 2011 flooding from a nearby province we evacuated to when many roads in Bangkok still had a meter of water on them to include roads around Bangkok Immigration but it was still delivered/signed for within 2 days. EMS works good and fast...rain or shine or flood...and is cheap.

[TongueThaied]

Hmmm, I'm chastened. I was under the impression that one just had to get the report there on time, but that there was also a two week grace period for being late! I have never been late. I'll start mailing it earlier.

But I am thoroughly confused about the 10 baht postage requirement. I am not quibbling over 5 baht, but I'm confused. I used to put a 3 baht stamp on the return envelope and had no problem. Then somebody told me that postage went up to 5 baht for a letter, so I changed to 6 baht, which I use currently and have never had a problem.

A standard envelope with a full piece of A4 paper weighs just under 11 grams. I just checked the Thai Post website this morning for postage on a 29 gram item mailed anywhere in the country. The rates were 3 baht for a letter with no envelope and 5 baht for an envelope. Then it goes up to 20 baht for a parcel and 37 baht for EMS.

So where does the 10 baht postage requirement come from? There is no 10 baht postage. And please, I'm not being argumentative, I just want to make sure I am complying. I have a whole stack of envelopes already addressed and stamped with 6 baht. Is there some special obscure rule about 10 baht postage?

I just looked at the Thai Immigration site and sure enough, it says "with 10 Baht stamp affixed." Why is this when there is no 10 baht postage? Seems crazy. Can they reject my report because I use the correct postage as required by Thai Post?

[Murf]

Just sent mine off exactly 15 days before due day... Let's see what comes back.

[lopburi3]

Believe the 10 baht is just to make sure it covers the weight of envelope and an easy amount for foreigners to understand (from 5 to 10) - some people have a lot of copies that have to be returned so over the 3-5 baht rate.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I've asked and never seen a 10 baht stamp when going to the post office. They always give me two 5-baht stickers to use.

When I mail in my 90 day reports to CW, they always return the photocopies they require to be sent that include the passport face page, my extension of stay stamp page, my latest entry stamp page, my airport departure card page, the copy of my reporting receipt and usually a blank reporting form to use next time. So typically there's 5 or so pages in the return envelope.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Hmmm, I'm chastened. I was under the impression that one just had to get the report there on time, but that there was also a two week grace period for being late! I have never been late. I'll start mailing it earlier.

The grace period for 90 day reporting only applies to IN PERSON reporting, and is only up to 7 days AFTER your due date.

There is no grace period for mailed reporting. And now, rather than the due date being the due date, it seems the actual due date now is supposed to be about 15 days before the nominal due date....

I must say....it's beginning to get a bit out of whack at least IMHO...

If you do in person reporting, you can show up late after your due date, because of the grace period.

For IN PERSON reporting, the accepted period to show up is from 15 days before to 7 days after your due date.

The notification must be made within 15 days before or after 7 days the period of 90 days expires.

But now, if you do mail in reporting, you don't just have to get it there before the due date. You have to get it there about two weeks before the due date...

The combination of the two deadline schemes seems a bit amiss.

[TongueThaied]

Believe the 10 baht is just to make sure it covers the weight of envelope and an easy amount for foreigners to understand (from 5 to 10) - some people have a lot of copies that have to be returned so over the 3-5 baht rate.

Thanks. I guess since I only have the slip from the bottom of the form being returned, I'll keep going with my six baht.

Interesting, that 10 baht business. My actual passport (the fat US extra pages version), with plastic cover, departure card, 90 day slip and two extra pictures, along with FIVE (5) sheets of A4 paper and an envelope all weighs 92 grams and, according to Thai Post is still only 5 baht! Who would send more than that for a 90 day report?

Even if somebody sent their whole passport with the TM47, the return envelope would weigh much less than 92 grams (my fat passport with one sheet of A4 paper and an envelope weighs 69 grams).

According to the Thai Postage Calculator on the Thai Post website, if you go all the way up 144 grams, or 1/4 pound, in an envelope, it goes up to 9 baht. Still not 10 baht! Were they planning to send me a complimentary McDonald's Quarter Pounder for being on time? But even that would still be only 9 baht!

Where does Thai Immigration the 10 baht? Did they just make it up?

http://www.thailandpost.co.th/rate.php

[Mario2008]

Just to be clear, you do not send you passport or arrival card to immigraiton. You do only send copies of it, together with the original 90 day report slip!

[dantilley]

I must say....it's beginning to get a bit out of whack at least IMHO...

But now, if you do mail in reporting, you don't just have to get it there before the due date. You have to get it there about two weeks before the due date...

The combination of the two deadline schemes seems a bit amiss.

Yes, but only once is it an inconvenience - after that, you've already reported early, so it will still be 90 days until the next early report. E.g. let's say you send off the form 20 days before the due date to be safe. It will then be 90 days until 20 days before the next due date. You then just have to think of 20 days before the due date as being the 'real' due date.

This is assuming that if you report early, the next due date is 90 days after the due date, not 90 days after you make the report (e.g., if I'm supposed to report on 10th October, but my report is made on 5th October, is the next reporting date 90 days after 10th October, or 90 days after 5th October?)

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

That's not the issue I was addressing...

I was addressing the divergence between requiring mail in reporters to get their documents to Immigration about two weeks before the due date...

Whereas in person reporters can submit their documents up to 7 days after their due date...

Once the form, mailed or in person, arrives at Immigration, why should in person reporters get to show up a week late while mail in reporters have to report two weeks beforehand?

[dantilley]

Doesn't sound fair, you're right. Maybe it's part of making the mailing system, which is easier and more convenient, seem like more of a special case and hence prone to stricter rules. Not that that makes it more fair or reasonable of course...

On-line or email reporting would of course be easier all-round. Wonder if that'll ever be introduced.

[lopburi3]

I suspect the reason is because those doing the mail in reporting are often mailing just in time and have been vocal about not receiving the return in a timely manner and often call/visit immigration to check. With the longer lead time immigration can better sort by date due and should be able to provide better service.

[lungbing]

I have posted about the postal rates on here before.

Therre is no 10 baht postal rate. Not to anywhere, not at any weight.

Inland letter rates are 3, 5, 9 and 15 baht baht by which time you're sending pounds in weight.

3 baht is ample. 5 baht if you want to play safe.

There are in fact many 10 baht stamps used. 10 million of them were issued in October 2010,

but they're only used to make up other values.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I suspect the reason is because those doing the mail in reporting are often mailing just in time and have been vocal about not receiving the return in a timely manner and often call/visit immigration to check. With the longer lead time immigration can better sort by date due and should be able to provide better service.

I've been doing exclusively mail in reporting in BKK the past two or three years, always my trackable EMS... And pretty consistently, Immigration's returned receipt in my self-addressed, 10 baht postage envelope seems to arrive back in my mail about 2-3 weeks after the due date. And on the most recent one, it arrived actually just about one week after my official due date.

I've sometimes wondered when it was going to arrive back and worried a bit whether it might have been mislaid. But thus far, never yet had a return receipt from Immigration go astray.

I don't especially care how long it takes for them to return the receipt, as long as I eventually receive it, and I know they've received my document and I've met their requirement.

And that's pretty easy to know, because the online EMS tracking website allows you to see and confirm in pretty much real time that your package has been received by Immigration on a particular date.

PS - Under BKK's new 15 days in advance approach, mail in reporters had better not be sending their documents in "just in time" anymore -- unless just in time now means 15 days in advance.

[wpcoe]

I've never done a mail-in 90-day report, so not clear on the process once it arrives at the Immigrations office. Do they tend to do them ASAP after arrival on a FIFO basis, or do they segregate them by their "due dates" and process them on/near the due date?

Reason I ask: If they now require you mail it at least 15 days in advance, and they process it as soon as they get it, it's almost like a 75-day report.

[duiter]

http://www.immigration.go.th/ says Notification of staying in the Kingdom over 90 days

1.Photocopy of passport pages with following pages

- front page showing name / surname / Passport No., ect.

- current visa

- last entry stamp of immigration

- last extension of visa

So I do not need to send original passport ?

Thanks

[Mario2008]

No, a copy of everything. Only the 90 day report and receipt of last one (if you have) you need to send the original.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I've never done a mail-in 90-day report, so not clear on the process once it arrives at the Immigrations office. Do they tend to do them ASAP after arrival on a FIFO basis, or do they segregate them by their "due dates" and process them on/near the due date?

Reason I ask: If they now require you mail it at least 15 days in advance, and they process it as soon as they get it, it's almost like a 75-day report.

I don't think your issue above is a problem.

I believe, when they process your new reporting date slip, it's automatically set 90 days from your prior due date, regardless of how many days early they've received your paperwork.

[duiter]

Can I do this " 90-day reporting" by mail for Ed ( student ) visa holder ?

How much is the fee for 90-day reporting by mail ?

I am still confused the difference between 90-day reporting for 1-year ED ( student ) visa holder and ED visa extension every 90-day

Thanks

[Mario2008]

There is no difference and there is no fee. But when reporting by mail you must do it by registered mail and also provide a selfadressed envellope with a 10baht stamp on it.

Do not confuse 90 day reporting with applying for an extension of stay. Those are seperate things.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Can I do this " 90-day reporting" by mail for Ed ( student ) visa holder ?

How much is the fee for 90-day reporting by mail ?

I am still confused the difference between 90-day reporting for 1-year ED ( student ) visa holder and ED visa extension every 90-day

Thanks

You only have to do the no-fee 90 day reporting to Thai Immigration if you stay 90 days or longer uninterrupted inside the country. Anytime you leave and re-enter Thailand, a new 90 day period starts automatically. So if you never stay inside Thailand for longer than 90 days at a time, you never have to do a 90 day report.

For example, back when I had a multiple-entry business visa, I had to, under the terms of the visa, leave the country every 90 days to get stamped out and then get stamped back into Thailand with a new 90-day permission to stay under the terms of my visa. In that scenario, I never ever had to do a 90 day report.

I'm not familiar with the terms of an ED visa. But if you have to go outside Thailand every 90 days to renew or extend your ED visa, no 90-day reporting to Immigration would be required.