Pre-Screening To Be Launched This Year: Thai Immigration Bureau

[sirchai]

He said that in order to prepare for the AEC, fluency in English would be a necessary qualification for immigration officers.

"We will also consider getting officials to learn a third language such as Lao, Cambodia, Mandarin or Japanese depending on the number of visitors from that country," Panu said.

The bureau's commander Pol Maj-General Naiyawat Padermchit said the project aimed to ensure that police looked smart, were able to use new technology and could communicate with foreigners.

The project will kick off by launching English and Chinese-language courses for 30 officers today.

After 5 month, Tourist Police and Immigration will have speech, spelling Bee and other competitions. Neehauu!

[robsamui]

Ho -ho ...they will all speak fluent English etc etc , because they will have attended the 30 min lecture ! Just like they can obviously drive competently because they have ( one way or another) passed the driving test ! My local Immigration officer always greets me with the opening gambit of "how much tip you give me "? He is always confused when I reply ... ' No, it should be.... "how much will you tip me ,just for doing my job " ....

Of course he is confused - you are using tenses that are both future and conditional. Thai's can't do tenses or plurals.

R

[h90]

I would think English would always be a priority. Just about every nation (apart from Thailand), irrespective of mother tongue, speaks English. China is fast learning English as well. Teaching anyone Laos or Cambodian? How many 'visitors' do we get from there? Mandarin and English I think would be a good start with emphasis on English. Japanese is way down the list at 3rd place as being essential.

I think on huge immigrations like on the airport you should have all speak English and always 1 person on duty that speaks:

French

Italian

Russian

Spanish

Mandarin

Japanese

+ maybe a few more

Cambodian: automatically yes, just have one staff from the border region

Lao: no problem....the languages are so similar that they can understand....

[Estrada]

Getting a job in immigration here isn't so much skill related. One must have family connections or know someone in the Police or immigration. Even then Its an expensive job to buy into. Yes these jobs are sold sometimes for several million baht. Its not a case of going along and saying "I have perfect English and feel I would be good for the job" Oh no.

When Swampi opened I was living with Thai Police woman and paid for her entrance exams and courses. Before the 20,000+ applicants where going to get their results almost all of the 250 positions where filled behind closed doors. Many couldn't speak a word of English.

As with many aspects of Thai society and corporate hierarchy educated professional cannot get to the positions where they are needed. As a result complete incompetents end up in positions of authority.

These jobs are handed down through the old boys network.

I will be glad to pass your post on to my many friends in immigration. In fact I will be sure to do this tomorrow as I have to go anyway.

Thanks for your deep insight into the workings of the Thai Immigration.

The former head of Thai Immigration was a close friend of mine for years, many of the Government M.Ps and Senators are friends however it doesn't stop us voicing a just opinion. Most of them complain about the system, except perhaps when it benefits them or the other party. Why tell them what they know already, T.I.T.?

[hellodolly]

Waiting times will not be longer, because the guy in front of you will be taken out of the line, if he even gets that far, as being undesireable in the country, he won't be tieing up your time while immigration wonders if he should go through secondary questioning, or bringing a higher up over to question him more about his visit to Thailand, his purpose, his funds etc. Hopefully this will be done before he/she even reaches the immigration desk.

"Please come this way, Sir or Madam." Learning a second language is secondary to getting the people who are not wanted in Thailand out of the line and into the lockup. Look at the big picture those fellows on T.V. this morning/every morning who steal your money, cameras, cellphones, atm cards etc., who come from another country, who offer you drugs on the street and any other illegal services may not get the opportunity that they once had.

It could save you more than a few minutes, the prescreening policy could save your life.

Well I am dubious of the whole system. I see no real difference in what they are doing now. In order for it to really work they would have to have it set up so you could not get on a plane for Thailand if you were black listed.

Let us assume it does work and the person is apprehended before they get to the immigration officer. How many people do you think will be spotted say a plane of 500 maybe 1 or 2 or none. Where is the saving in time that is really needed when several full plane loads of passengers are lined up.

Now if they were to put the bar code to use every one coming into the country could just pass the bar code through a machine and it would greatly speed things up.

This of course would not work for first time visitors and would require a little more time for those coming in to get it placed in there pass book. But not that much they would go through the same system as now with the added time of having a bar code added to their visa. Let us not forget that a lot of the people coming into the country have been here before or are already permanent residents under one system or another.

edit

I just realized there would probably be enough with the bar code already that adding a bar code t the first time voters would still get them through the line up faster.

Edited October 30, 2012 by hellodolly

[Pui]

Getting a job in immigration here isn't so much skill related. One must have family connections or know someone in the Police or immigration. Even then Its an expensive job to buy into. Yes these jobs are sold sometimes for several million baht. Its not a case of going along and saying "I have perfect English and feel I would be good for the job" Oh no.

When Swampi opened I was living with Thai Police woman and paid for her entrance exams and courses. Before the 20,000+ applicants where going to get their results almost all of the 250 positions where filled behind closed doors. Many couldn't speak a word of English.

As with many aspects of Thai society and corporate hierarchy educated professional cannot get to the positions where they are needed. As a result complete incompetents end up in positions of authority.

These jobs are handed down through the old boys network.

I will be glad to pass your post on to my many friends in immigration. In fact I will be sure to do this tomorrow as I have to go anyway.

Thanks for your deep insight into the workings of the Thai Immigration.

Don't threaten me with your "Many Friends in Immigration" Tell who you like!

Edited October 30, 2012 by Pui

[hellodolly]

Getting a job in immigration here isn't so much skill related. One must have family connections or know someone in the Police or immigration. Even then Its an expensive job to buy into. Yes these jobs are sold sometimes for several million baht. Its not a case of going along and saying "I have perfect English and feel I would be good for the job" Oh no.

When Swampi opened I was living with Thai Police woman and paid for her entrance exams and courses. Before the 20,000+ applicants where going to get their results almost all of the 250 positions where filled behind closed doors. Many couldn't speak a word of English.

As with many aspects of Thai society and corporate hierarchy educated professional cannot get to the positions where they are needed. As a result complete incompetents end up in positions of authority.

These jobs are handed down through the old boys network.

Well I agree who you know will go along way. But 2,000,000 baht to become a immigration officer and sit in a little cubicle. I think not. Perhaps once in the food chain the price for a promotion will arise but I seriously doubt that is the price. I am relatively sure the upper echelon when they opened swampy was all ready in the system.

[robsamui]

A leading Thai Government member's thoughts on his own country - taken from The Bangkok Post:

Kriengsak Chareonwongsak, president of the Institute of Future Studies for Development.

He said Thailand has the lowest level of awareness in Southeast Asia. Before, Thailand was the perfect place to conduct business, as it is not a communist country and is conveniently located.

But Thailand has been in decline over the past 40 years, as it lacks good leadership, said Dr Kriengsak.

Thais like to obtain their degrees just to take pictures, but in actual fact they have no knowledge of the world, he said.

They are supported from kindergarten until work. When they get jobs, they get them through connections, and the result is the "old boy" network.

In case of problems, they will just phone their dads, said Dr Kriengsak, a senior fellow at Harvard University's Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government.

(Source: Bangkok Post, Economics, link)

Edited October 30, 2012 by robsamui

[hellodolly]

From 2015 onward Thailand will become the leper colony of S.E. Asia - everyone will bypass the country and visit the others. This country is heading one way only and that is further down. The English language is not going to curb the arrogance, it's just going to make it worse. Respect is a two way street and something to be earned not demanded.

Airport is open! No reason to wait until 2015, you are free to leave NOW ! Bye, bye

He is right respect is earned. His attitude will not earn him any respect. It will eventually leave him a bitter old person.

Even though it is earned when first meeting some one it is polite to extend it to them.

[MILT]

Getting a job in immigration here isn't so much skill related. One must have family connections or know someone in the Police or immigration. Even then Its an expensive job to buy into. Yes these jobs are sold sometimes for several million baht. Its not a case of going along and saying "I have perfect English and feel I would be good for the job" Oh no.

When Swampi opened I was living with Thai Police woman and paid for her entrance exams and courses. Before the 20,000+ applicants where going to get their results almost all of the 250 positions where filled behind closed doors. Many couldn't speak a word of English.

As with many aspects of Thai society and corporate hierarchy educated professional cannot get to the positions where they are needed. As a result complete incompetents end up in positions of authority.

These jobs are handed down through the old boys network.

I will be glad to pass your post on to my many friends in immigration. In fact I will be sure to do this tomorrow as I have to go anyway.

Thanks for your deep insight into the workings of the Thai Immigration.

Don't threaten me with your "Many Friends in Immigration" Tell who you like!

Where is the threat? You have the impression that I have threaten you? LOL I believe you read into things way to much as maybe your original post. Wasn't a threat just a fact of my pending action. What harm could possibly come? Since you are stating facts right?

[Markaew]

Yeah, yeah. They said this about the Tourist Police as well. This is how Thailand is preparing for AEC. Talk about about what they wish they could do.

[redroo]

t

There's no stopping anyone from crossing a small border crossing with no internet connection or english skills.

Those here with bad intentions don't worry about visa's.

They fly into cambodia walk across the border get a 15 day visa but stay for years.

Send the stolen money back to romania.

when they get caught pay the cops to go free ,

and cross the border into cambodia,

live like a king from the cash stashed in home country.

[carra]

Getting a job in immigration here isn't so much skill related. One must have family connections or know someone in the Police or immigration. Even then Its an expensive job to buy into. Yes these jobs are sold sometimes for several million baht. Its not a case of going along and saying "I have perfect English and feel I would be good for the job" Oh no.

When Swampi opened I was living with Thai Police woman and paid for her entrance exams and courses. Before the 20,000+ applicants where going to get their results almost all of the 250 positions where filled behind closed doors. Many couldn't speak a word of English.

As with many aspects of Thai society and corporate hierarchy educated professional cannot get to the positions where they are needed. As a result complete incompetents end up in positions of authority.

These jobs are handed down through the old boys network.

I will be glad to pass your post on to my many friends in immigration. In fact I will be sure to do this tomorrow as I have to go anyway.

Thanks for your deep insight into the workings of the Thai Immigration.

Don't threaten me with your "Many Friends in Immigration" Tell who you like!

Where is the threat? You have the impression that I have threaten you? LOL I believe you read into things way to much as maybe your original post. Wasn't a threat just a fact of my pending action. What harm could possibly come? Since you are stating facts right?

<deleted>??

someone expresses an opinion and you resort to kindergarten making threats to report them to immigration, and don't deny it, that is exactly what you did.

prove the poster wrong or shut up, can you prove him wrong? is he wrong?

[tropo]

Personally I prefer they only speak Thai

I cannot speak one word of Thai

It means they ask no questions

They take passport, stamp it and I am off

Can only imagine the delays of they try to

ask questions in a foreign language

"pardon, what, pardon, again please ... slowly"

No thanks

You cannot speak "one word of Thai" WOW, hope you are only a short stay visitor. Ever heard of RESPECT ?

Yeah just like all the Thais who speak English going to the US or UK...obviously you are special (we had a special class at our school too)

I can think of a number of reasons to learn Thai, but not one has anything to do with RESPECT. That's a new one to me. I'm being DISRESPECTFUL by not learning Thai. I know a few words - does that count?

[atlbravosfan]

From 2015 onward Thailand will become the leper colony of S.E. Asia - everyone will bypass the country and visit the others. This country is heading one way only and that is further down. The English language is not going to curb the arrogance, it's just going to make it worse. Respect is a two way street and something to be earned not demanded.

Is this somehow not the problem in Thailand? That many people think respect must be 'earned'? Respect should be given automatically and then given some more if it is reciprocated. If it is not reciprocated, it is no longer necessary to be respectful. Believing respect need be earned is the root of the problem... just ask many teachers about students' attitudes regarding respect. Hint: they are very much in-line with your way of thinking (the bolded part at least).

I prefer just to remain respectful anyway as that is the way to live life in a peaceful and joyful manner. It doesn't matter how others treat me, that is their path. The way I treat them, that is my path.

[Bramdaddy]

Yeah, good luck with all of these improvements.

I was trying to leave the country and was at passport control a few years back. The officer took my passport and was studying it more than usual. Then he asked me to come around to his side. I did. On his computer screen were 4 photos; three of them were mine from various visits. But the fourth one was of a medium-built, dark-skinned looking fellow. He asked me which one was me. Ha! Funny, considering I'm relatively short and definitely white.

Is it me or do most of these "improvements" seem just like common sense? Oh wait...don't answer that. I know where we are.

[Pui]

Getting a job in immigration here isn't so much skill related. One must have family connections or know someone in the Police or immigration. Even then Its an expensive job to buy into. Yes these jobs are sold sometimes for several million baht. Its not a case of going along and saying "I have perfect English and feel I would be good for the job" Oh no.

When Swampi opened I was living with Thai Police woman and paid for her entrance exams and courses. Before the 20,000+ applicants where going to get their results almost all of the 250 positions where filled behind closed doors. Many couldn't speak a word of English.

As with many aspects of Thai society and corporate hierarchy educated professional cannot get to the positions where they are needed. As a result complete incompetents end up in positions of authority.

These jobs are handed down through the old boys network.

Well I agree who you know will go along way. But 2,000,000 baht to become a immigration officer and sit in a little cubicle. I think not. Perhaps once in the food chain the price for a promotion will arise but I seriously doubt that is the price. I am relatively sure the upper echelon when they opened swampy was all ready in the system.

Yes you are quite right and I stand corrected. 2m baht would be for jobs at least half way up the pyramid and not new recruits. I should have made that clear.

The buy-in for these jobs is often a Merc Benz.

Edited October 30, 2012 by Pui

[techboy]

Personally I prefer they only speak Thai

I cannot speak one word of Thai

It means they ask no questions

They take passport, stamp it and I am off

Can only imagine the delays of they try to

ask questions in a foreign language

"pardon, what, pardon, again please ... slowly"

No thanks

You cannot speak "one word of Thai" WOW, hope you are only a short stay visitor. Ever heard of RESPECT ?

Respect for the Thais and their country? An extremely refreshing and novel concept for this forum!

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I think a lot of the posters above are confusing the first half of the OP article with the second half...

The first half is talking about IMMIGRATION police developing pre-screening for incoming passengers... not English language skills for their officers.

The second half of the article is talking about the Metropolitan Police Division 4 in BKK (the regular flatfoot cops) trying to get high techy and having their officers learn foreign language skills. The latter aren't the guys manning the Immigration checkpoints.

Two totally different initiatives crammed together in the same article, with the common threads being police and some vague association with AEC.

[FarangTalk]

Teaching anyone Laos or Cambodian? How many 'visitors' do we get from there?

About 2 million tourists per annum according to the latest stats.

Very important to be able to converse with the neighbours properly, especially as they outnumber Aussies, Brits and other native English speaking nations as visitors.

[techboy]

From 2015 onward Thailand will become the leper colony of S.E. Asia - everyone will bypass the country and visit the others. This country is heading one way only and that is further down. The English language is not going to curb the arrogance, it's just going to make it worse. Respect is a two way street and something to be earned not demanded.

Airport is open! No reason to wait until 2015, you are free to leave NOW ! Bye, bye

Ditto! @ozall- YOU spoke of respect? You need to apply the "two way street" axiom on respect to yourself.

[tropo]

Is this somehow not the problem in Thailand? That many people think respect must be 'earned'? Respect should be given automatically and then given some more if it is reciprocated. If it is not reciprocated, it is no longer necessary to be respectful. Believing respect need be earned is the root of the problem... just ask many teachers about students' attitudes regarding respect. Hint: they are very much in-line with your way of thinking (the bolded part at least).

I prefer just to remain respectful anyway as that is the way to live life in a peaceful and joyful manner. It doesn't matter how others treat me, that is their path. The way I treat them, that is my path.

I came in through Thai Immigration at the airport last week, and the way this one Immigration officer was talking to people was downright rude. He wanted to close his booth and escorted half a dozen tourists through to close his lane. He was barking at them like they were animals. I expect this from Thai immigration officers but I wonder how first timers would feel.

He gets no respect from me. I think he was one of the more senior officers by the way he was talking to some others.

Edited October 30, 2012 by tropo

[dighambara]

I would think English would always be a priority. Just about every nation (apart from Thailand), irrespective of mother tongue, speaks English. China is fast learning English as well. Teaching anyone Laos or Cambodian? How many 'visitors' do we get from there? Mandarin and English I think would be a good start with emphasis on English. Japanese is way down the list at 3rd place as being essential.

I like the part where it says 'look smart', because this is all thats going to happen.

Just wondered...... Thais speaking English, was there some sort of gap/problem 30 - 40 years ago ?

Been here 9 years, always appears to be the same, many older Thais speak good English, and most young ones, just appears that far fewer Thais between 35 - 50 can speak or understand any English.. I do not mean Professionals I am talking about the every day Village Thais..

Always amazed me going to the different Village markets over the years the amount of older market traders that speak to me in English, even when I try to practice a bit of Thai, they will reply in English

I agree - English & Mandarin should be on the list - Lao is just another dialect of the Tai Mother tongue spoken throughout Southern Asia. On visits to Laos, I have no trouble understanding and conversing in my broken Thai.

Very many Thais can read English but have no understanding of pronunciation, but they were taught by people in the same boat...

40+ years ago, this area was flooded with English Speaking foreigners, living here, most with girlfriends. They were in the economy so thickly, that a great many Thais learned English.

Of course, I am referring to the US Military and allies who were stationed here, along with the many fellows on R&R from Vietnam. Estimates of that population range from 500,000 to 2 million...

A casual observer can see the effect on the Thai Gene pool... 40 years ago, a 'white skinned' Thai was a rarity - even on TV or in movies...

Edited October 30, 2012 by dighambara

[FarangTalk]

I came in through Thai Immigration at the airport last week, and the way this one Immigration officer was talking to people was downright rude. He wanted to close his booth and escorted half a dozen tourists through to close his lane. He was barking at them like they were animals. I expect this from Thai immigration officers but I wonder how first timers would feel.

He gets no respect from me. I think he was one of the more senior officers by the way he was talking to some others.

I have witnessed similar behaviour before on a number of occasions, several times at Suvarnabhumi.

As they are a branch of the Thai Police it's what we should expect from them.

[Toscano]

I am concerned by the looming Asean !!! Are we looking at a southeast Asia type of EU ? That should be avoided at all costs !!!

[NoshowJones]

Very good, presently done in the western world, prescreening. Nice that the officers will learn a second and or third language also. Congratulations Thailand, moving to be a first world, first class country.

There are a lot of good things about Thailand, that's why I live here, but moving to be a first world, first class country????? not in any of our lifetimes. Is there anyone who really believes different?Apart from the poster that is.

[Time Traveller]

What are they planning on pre-screening for? What have they been doing up until now, not check anything?

[noitom]

"Look smart." This sums it up - the big picture in Thailand. "Look smart."

[NoshowJones]

Is this somehow not the problem in Thailand? That many people think respect must be 'earned'? Respect should be given automatically and then given some more if it is reciprocated. If it is not reciprocated, it is no longer necessary to be respectful. Believing respect need be earned is the root of the problem... just ask many teachers about students' attitudes regarding respect. Hint: they are very much in-line with your way of thinking (the bolded part at least).

I prefer just to remain respectful anyway as that is the way to live life in a peaceful and joyful manner. It doesn't matter how others treat me, that is their path. The way I treat them, that is my path.

I came in through Thai Immigration at the airport last week, and the way this one Immigration officer was talking to people was downright rude. He wanted to close his booth and escorted half a dozen tourists through to close his lane. He was barking at them like they were animals. I expect this from Thai immigration officers but I wonder how first timers would feel.

He gets no respect from me. I think he was one of the more senior officers by the way he was talking to some others.

This is a very good post, I always said respect has to be earned, but I know now that this is not the case. If the respect you give is not returned,then you do not give the respect back.

[Baerboxer]

I would think English would always be a priority. Just about every nation (apart from Thailand), irrespective of mother tongue, speaks English. China is fast learning English as well. Teaching anyone Laos or Cambodian? How many 'visitors' do we get from there? Mandarin and English I think would be a good start with emphasis on English. Japanese is way down the list at 3rd place as being essential.

I think on huge immigrations like on the airport you should have all speak English and always 1 person on duty that speaks:

French

Italian

Russian

Spanish

Mandarin

Japanese

+ maybe a few more

Cambodian: automatically yes, just have one staff from the border region

Lao: no problem....the languages are so similar that they can understand....

You won't get this selection of languages at many international airports. English is the international language of business,education, science and travel - airline pilots and traffic controllers use English. Mandarin and Spanish are useful because of the large number of people that speak them. The others - forget it, they are not international languages.