Immigration Crackdown in North-East Thailand

KHON KAEN: -- Immigration Police in North East Thailand have announced the start of a major crackdown on foreigners entering the country posing as tourists, who it believes are in fact working illegally in the Kingdom, said Pol Major General Chartchai Lamsaeng at a seminar for immigration officers held on Monday in Khon Kaen.

This latest crackdown is to also target foreign nationals on border runs and those who have re-entered Thailand a considerable number of times using tourist visas over a prolonged period.

Following an ongoing and thorough investigation into foreign visitors, the Immigration Bureau found repeated patterns of irregularities, with some foreign nationals re-entering the country as many as 60 times, each for a duration of between 15 and 30 days.

Further investigations found that out of those who regularly re-entered Thailand, large numbers came from neighboring countries such as Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar, with many going to work illegally in factories, restaurants or on construction sites and fishing boats.

Immigration Police have now stepped up operations across all twenty provinces in the northeast and in particular at the permanent checkpoints of Mukdahan, Ubon Ratchathani and Nong Khai – all of which are widely used by people leaving and then re-entering Thailand on border runs.

At the three aforementioned checkpoints all foreign nationals will be screened if they have entered Thailand four or more times without sufficient reason. Officers have also been instructed to look closely at the credibility of each individual, regardless of their nationality, in deciding whether to deny them entry to the kingdom.

40,000 foreigners blacklisted

Pol Major General Chartchai went on to say that high tech identity scanning machines will be installed at all entry points throughout Thailand and electronic processing will also be implemented nationwide. The data obtained will then be cross-referenced with the central immigration database which holds detailed information on all of the 40,000 foreigners who are currently blacklisted from Thailand. The checkpoint data will also be used to help combat those individuals involved in the smuggling or transportation of illegal or undeclared goods into Thailand, as well as in assisting in matters of national security.

As he closed his speech, Pol Major General Chartchai warned his fellow immigration officers of the harsh penalties they can expect to face should they be found to be involved in any illegal practices with regards to aiding and abetting foreigners who enter the country illegally.


-- 2014-01-20

but won't all this be relaxed regarding citizens of neighbouring countries when AEC comes into force?

And 40,000 people blacklisted ! WOW that is a phenomenal amount

but won't all this be relaxed regarding citizens of neighbouring countries when AEC comes into force?

No. The Thais only care about Thais having the possibility to go to other ASEAN countries, but will implement whatever ways they can think of to prevent the others coming to work in Thailand. The whole free movement idea will be watered down to nothing.

but won't all this be relaxed regarding citizens of neighbouring countries when AEC comes into force?

And 40,000 people blacklisted ! WOW that is a phenomenal amount

Estimates of 3 million from the neighbouring countries alone working here. 2 million supposedly illegally without the money to pay their way out of it.

It's 2% of the 2 million working here at the same time.

but won't all this be relaxed regarding citizens of neighbouring countries when AEC comes into force?

And 40,000 people blacklisted ! WOW that is a phenomenal amount

Wonder how many TEFLrs are having sqeuaky bum time?

Go Thailand Go.

most do 30 days on arrival...then do the visa run every 15 / 30 days..so if you get many stamps ..you are not a tourist...

this will knock a lot of people...so the no have visa will increase ie overstay...

red marks are coming quickly to many peoples passport...

Another crackdown - only happens in countries with weak law enforcement. Seems endemic in Thailand.

but won't all this be relaxed regarding citizens of neighbouring countries when AEC comes into force?

And 40,000 people blacklisted ! WOW that is a phenomenal amount

The AEC is not about letting all citizens of neighbouring countries move around freely or come into Thailand. It's restricted to a select few occupations, nothing to do with the labouring classes.

If they make it too hard I'll just go and live somewhere else. I went to Burma today and got a 30 day stamp at Ban Phu Nam Ron.

Crackdown means there is a new boss selected and he wants to show around who is the new boss. It happens with the police chiefs too.

Crackdown means there is a new boss selected and he wants to show around who is the new boss. It happens with the police chiefs too.

2 months later even himself will forget the BS he said...

I think it is obvious this is referring to Laos and Myanmar workers, as the translation probably comes from "dung-dao" which means effectively "alien" which could translate to mean farang or Asian worker... at 40k, this means the later, not westerners!

Well, this will cut Thailand's tourist numbers in half.

So they're not concerned about the Cambodian visa runs?

I think this is about visa exempt entries. The embassy can already deny giving another tourist visa beforehand if they think too many already.

You're right. I mis-typed. I'm concerned about my friend who received a red stamp in her passport in Laos and now she's relying on the 15 day Cambodia runs. If she gets a red stamp there as well do they stick her on the next plane back home or toss her in jail?

Why don't your friend just apply for a tourist visa in Cambodia. The red stamp is embassy specific.

Are these low paid workers doing jobs Thais don't want?

Quote....

Following an ongoing and thorough investigation into foreign visitors, the Immigration Bureau found repeated patterns of irregularities, with some foreign nationals re-entering the country as many as 60 times, each for a duration of between 15 and 30 days.

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

Unfortunately-or Fortunately ???----I don't live in Thailand--but they can obviously reduce this number significantly by easing the Visa requirements for foreigners who want to live there-- and meet the cash or retirement qualification---but that's too easy --and not profitable I suppose

I guess they will have to do something in the next few years to keep money in the country from tourist and ex-pats alike---or am I being too optimistic

40k on a black list? How long did that take to accumulate?

but won't all this be relaxed regarding citizens of neighbouring countries when AEC comes into force?

No. The Thais only care about Thais having the possibility to go to other ASEAN countries, but will implement whatever ways they can think of to prevent the others coming to work in Thailand. The whole free movement idea will be watered down to nothing.

Yep, much the same as they have done with their "free trade" agreement with Australia.

Well, this will cut Thailand's tourist numbers in half.

Don't worry TAT will crush this silly crackdown as it has the potential to seriously hurt their budget.

So they're not concerned about the Cambodian visa runs?

Reading the opening post of this topic I did not get the impression that it is about foreigners who travel to Cambodia to get a new visa from a Thai consulate in that country.

What is the unemployment rate in Thailand that they have to worry so much? Sure, throw out all the illegals and you don't have enough workers to do the jobs at hand which results in what? Economically and intellectually vacuous and almost certainly comes from someone who simply feels a need to be seen to be doing something regardless of if it makes any sense whatsoever.

In general... TiT so saying on one hand that they want quality people while doing their best to stop it from happening is the norm. In the mid 2000's rules were changed resulting in 1000s of wealthy people who were spending money hand over fist going to Cambodia. I'm retired now (46) and have had many businesses over the years, some I have run hands on but many I have left for others to run while keeping a controlling interest. Anyone who even considered the idea (OP) would have been immediately dismissed.

That being said.... I love Thailand but would never ever do business here.

well this works both ways , i suggest he goes into the NK office and see what goes on .... took my mother to get a re entry visa to visit Laos for a day or so , the old woman immigration officer tried to sell her jewellery , handbags , rings .... what a laugh !!! these are govt officials , meanwhile the farangs ,with real credentials , with real visas, who have family here, get interrogated just to be able to stay .....

u want to fix it !!! CLEAN UP YOUR OWN BACKYARD FIRST !!

There is a labor shortage in Thailand and real wage inflation. These laborers are doing work that Thais are either unavailable to to or refuse to do. The country needs these people. I really hope this is one of the many crackdowns Thailand initiates and then neglects over time.

There is a system in place for citizens from Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar to work legally in Thailand as labourers.

so they are going to get rid of the work force and give the jobs back to thais who are not interested to work

There is a labor shortage in Thailand and real wage inflation. These laborers are doing work that Thais are either unavailable to to or refuse to do. The country needs these people. I really hope this is one of the many crackdowns Thailand initiates and then neglects over time.

Many countries have this problem- Immigrants do the work that locals don't want to do

One slander post removed.