What all information do the immigration officers at checkpoint see when you give them your passport?

[rogerdoger10]

Just being paranoid but I have always wondered what those immigration officers keep checking on their computers and what do they really know about a person? Can they pull up everything, like driving records, visa status, work permit details, criminal record etc? I feel kinda nervous thinking that guy at the other end of the desk knows so much about me... >.< Can anyone shed some light on this?

Thanks!

[Sceptict11]

Unlikely the Immigration Officer can see anything other than immigration matters --------oh and the red flags marking the wanted criminals and those who are not welcome in the country !

[MattSiam]

All border crossings hooked up to the database. Red and Black notices as well ( wanted)

Sceptict11: high ranks have access to the police DB as well

[Colabamumbai]

I am sure that every piece of paper that you have handed to Immigration is recorded in their database. Every single piece of paper, from arrival cards, departures, photos every time, 90 day reports, visa extensions, overstays, re-entry permits, dates of stamps and locations of exit and extry.

Besides if you are on a black list or wanted list by Interpol. They have your name and D.O.B., description, tatoos, other defineing marks. They may not have your current passport number if you are entering on it for the first time..

Saturday I had a Nong Khai Immigration Officer spend 5 minutes going thru my passport, returning from Laos, doing 30 day border runs. I told him no visa, I left yesterday and was expecting 30 days on arrival.

The people behind me were getting anxious. My passport has a lot of Lao/Thai visas, few of them tourist visas. A good five minutes, everything was in order but he really scrutinized my passport.

Then a good three minutes walking past the Customs Narcotics Inspection sign, passing the Tuks and refusing as I had a ride, almost at the big name variety store, don't know if I can mention the name, anyway I brush off a couple of guys talking behind me figuring they were tuks or touts, one stepped in front of me, opened his jacket and showed me his Customs Officer Badge, as did the 2nd fellow.

I told them I had 2 cartons of cigarettes, we were 2 people, one each and one Bottle of Whiskey from the Duty Free, I handed my friend the one carton and opened my bag/small knapsack on the ground, they found the bottle I claimed and rummaged around and said fine, go. I apologized for not recognizing them as Customs Officers and not stopping when they spoke from behind. I was dressed in long pants and clean clothes. I've done 10 crossings in a year, first time.

They did not bother to open my Thai ladies small overnight bag.

[uptheos]

I am sure that every piece of paper that you have handed to Immigration is recorded in their database. Every single piece of paper, from arrival cards, departures, photos every time, 90 day reports, visa extensions, overstays, re-entry permits, dates of stamps and locations of exit and extry.

Besides if you are on a black list or wanted list by Interpol. They have your name and D.O.B., description, tatoos, other defineing marks. They may not have your current passport number if you are entering on it for the first time..

Saturday I had a Nong Khai Immigration Officer spend 5 minutes going thru my passport, returning from Laos, doing 30 day border runs. I told him no visa, I left yesterday and was expecting 30 days on arrival.

The people behind me were getting anxious. My passport has a lot of Lao/Thai visas, few of them tourist visas. A good five minutes, everything was in order but he really scrutinized my passport.

Then a good three minutes walking past the Customs Narcotics Inspection sign, passing the Tuks and refusing as I had a ride, almost at the big name variety store, don't know if I can mention the name, anyway I brush off a couple of guys talking behind me figuring they were tuks or touts, one stepped in front of me, opened his jacket and showed me his Customs Officer Badge, as did the 2nd fellow.

I told them I had 2 cartons of cigarettes, we were 2 people, one each and one Bottle of Whiskey from the Duty Free, I handed my friend the one carton and opened my bag/small knapsack on the ground, they found the bottle I claimed and rummaged around and said fine, go. I apologized for not recognizing them as Customs Officers and not stopping when they spoke from behind. I was dressed in long pants and clean clothes. I've done 10 crossings in a year, first time.

They did not bother to open my Thai ladies small overnight bag.

Pheew, bet that was a relief!

[Sayonarax]

haha computers... funny!