Passport check on the road

[klikster]

As a permanent resident you are not even required to have a valid passport. You fall under different rules. You have a residence book. You can now even apply for a special pink ID card for those with PR.

First, there is no such thing as "permanent" residency. I believe that's a colloquialism. There are residency permits issued, but they do not grant Thai citizenship so I can't imaging how one could call the residency "permanent".

I have known 2 different Americans who had residency permits then lost their residency status. One traveled back to the US and was unable to return within a 1-year time frame. Another traveled and had forgotten to get a re-entry permit . When he returned to Thailand all he got was a 30 day visa.

[ubonjoe]

As a permanent resident you are not even required to have a valid passport. You fall under different rules. You have a residence book. You can now even apply for a special pink ID card for those with PR.

First, there is no such thing as "permanent" residency. I believe that's a colloquialism. There are residency permits issued, but they do not grant Thai citizenship so I can't imaging how one could call the residency "permanent".

I have known 2 different Americans who had residency permits then lost their residency status. One traveled back to the US and was unable to return within a 1-year time frame. Another traveled and had forgotten to get a re-entry permit . When he returned to Thailand all he got was a 30 day visa.

You can call it what ever you want. It is often referred to as Permanent residency.

It seems the people mentioned made a mistake.Many countries have similar rules for those with residency.

[samran]

As a permanent resident you are not even required to have a valid passport. You fall under different rules. You have a residence book. You can now even apply for a special pink ID card for those with PR.

First, there is no such thing as "permanent" residency. I believe that's a colloquialism. There are residency permits issued, but they do not grant Thai citizenship so I can't imaging how one could call the residency "permanent".

I have known 2 different Americans who had residency permits then lost their residency status. One traveled back to the US and was unable to return within a 1-year time frame. Another traveled and had forgotten to get a re-entry permit . When he returned to Thailand all he got was a 30 day visa.

It's permanent if you never leave and don't break serious laws, about as permanent as any PR anywhere in the world.

The leaving for more than a year bit seems to be a relic of how things worked in days past and doesn't take into account the modern nature of temporary people movements for work etc.

One day this will change with a bit of luck.

[samran]

Now that this semi regular 'do I need to carry a passport' self flagellation has run its course, can someone start up a thread on dual pricing or why they immigrated to Thailand because their home country was full of immigrants?

We haven't had either of those threads for a while.

I'll even take a thread on why my Thai lady I met on a 2 week trip wants to marry me thread and she's promised shes quit her bar job....

[MikeandDow]

Now that this semi regular 'do I need to carry a passport' self flagellation has run its course, can someone start up a thread on dual pricing or why they immigrated to Thailand because their home country was full of immigrants?

We haven't had either of those threads for a while.

I'll even take a thread on why my Thai lady I met on a 2 week trip wants to marry me thread and she's promised shes quit her bar job....

What is the point of this post to me it's irrelevant, is this meant to be a joke.

[ubonjoe]

Just a comment about this and similar topics that are repeated over or over again.

This ones lifespan is limited and will be closed soon.

[david555]

Even when it is the law to carry your passport al times, considering the risk of loosing or stolen and the big problems caused by that (losing your Non O visa by example ) The few time to spend on police station is "worth of it" , even i think for some good "tea money" they would escort you to your place to see it ,if nobody elses to bring it ....T.I.T.
I carry complete laminated up to date copy from the used PP pages , togheter with a copy (written on it !!)from my departure card & 5 years driving licence and hospitalisation card from Insurance , a simpel call to immigration and they can confirm it is you in front of them , and yes , by night there is still the Suvarnhabumi immigration working !!

And not forgetting it , any police in any country , passport or not can ALWAYS detain you for a short time for any reason they produce ....even in the west.....

My choice is longtime made ( 7 years ), i only carry it outside Pattaya , or for official or semi official purposes ... (bank , buying big things or so )

Edited April 19, 2014 by david555

[MikeandDow]

Just a comment about this and similar topics that are repeated over or over again.

This ones lifespan is limited and will be closed soon.

oh pity yet other topics are kept open I wonder why

[Nautilus05]

Not a chance I'm packing my passport around with me. The last time I renewed my passport back in Canada, there was some minor water damage due to rain, plus a small tear in one of the pages. The immigration officer was livid, called the supervisor over, who subsequently proceeded to lecture me about important a passport is, and by no means should be returned in that condition. I was given a stern warning to take better care of my passport.

Due to that, I'll keep my passport at home in the safe. My current passport is nearly five years old, and still looks brand new.

[bangon04]

Carrying your passport with you at all times is a risk for it to be lost or stolen. With the recent news that Thailand is a hub for false passports carrying it and having it lost/stolen will only make the the hub larger.

Yes. When the oh so efficient Royal Thai Police can give me a reasonable guarantee that my passport will be safe when I carry it around in the street, then I might be convinced to take the risk. Until then a photocopy will just have to be enough....

[Tchooptip]

The same bunch of police the OP refers to move around daily,I've encountered them along with their 2 speed cameras on several locations mainly on the 304 ,just south of Pakchongchai & on the 24 near Chok Chai......on 4 occasions this year I've been asked for my passport........No Immigration people present but the policemen have all spoken good English & certainly know what to look for in your passport.

Sorry but where are you? Phuket?

Here in Samui never been asked for my passport so never never carry it, maybe I should take care a little more

[Blindside]

I prefer not to worry as much as yourself and carry a copy of passport, wp etc.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk

+1 on this.

My reckoning is as follows;

Never been asked when I have been stopped - have always asked for license and I produce the Thai DL and off I go.

So percentage chance already low. If I get stopped and I produce copies, chances are I will be ok.

HOWEVER, lets say the guy does not like my face and pushes me, they detain me - call a friend or head of HR and they bring it for me. Chances are I walk again. So by my reckoning the chances of being arrested and deported or whatever are very slim.

WHAT IF I carry my PP and WP and they get lost or damaged or stolen - as far as I am concerned this has a higher statistical probability. Well a trip to BKK to get temp PP, then to Immigration and long stories. Then permanent PP and back to Immigration and then of course the inevitable explanation at the airport etc. etc. That for me is worse.

Also, I work 8 hours a day and do not go out partying or whatever at night. Maybe out to dinner once in awhile. If I am on the open road or travelling I usually have PP on me for check-ins etc. So my chances are really really low.

Going to go with my system.

However we all have to do our own calculations and what we are comfortable with.

[Tchooptip]

I am not sure if it acceptable but I take pictures of My Passport, entry stamp and Departure Card in my phone.

If you were asked for your passport. Copies, pictures and anything else would not suffice if the person asking wanted to push the issue.

There have been cases where people had to wait at a police station while somebody brought the passport to them. Others have been fined for not having it.

I rather have someone hold me for a while then having to drag my passport with me all the time.

I see the chance of loosing a passport a lot higher as getting locked up. I got copiers and a Thai drivers license. If locked up so be it.

"I see the chance of loosing a passport a lot higher as getting locked up"

Absolutely, no doubt about it!

"If locked up so be it". Well said! For me too, we have balls don't we pffff

Plus I prefer not to know the condition of my poor passport after a year or two in my pockets pffff (once more)

[samran]

Now that this semi regular 'do I need to carry a passport' self flagellation has run its course, can someone start up a thread on dual pricing or why they immigrated to Thailand because their home country was full of immigrants?

We haven't had either of those threads for a while.

I'll even take a thread on why my Thai lady I met on a 2 week trip wants to marry me thread and she's promised shes quit her bar job....

What is the point of this post to me it's irrelevant, is this meant to be a joke.

You from Vulcan? Reads like you are channeling Spock, but with less humour. Edited April 19, 2014 by samran

[eeeya]

Sound like everyone worries too much, bringing their 1st world problems to thailand.

Get locked up.. bummer, great, what ever post your experience on thai visa. Far more interesting than this multi page dribble.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk

[NativeSon360]

I've only been up to Issan once. There was a checkpoint somewhere around Buri Ram. Although I was only a passenger, I was asked for my passport.

In the end, since there was nothing else to fault us for, the Thai driver was fined 200 baht for driving with the headlamps on in the daytime.

If I hadn't already witnessed, "first-hand", some of the mind-boggling shenanigans pulled-off by the menfolk of SE Asia, in general, then I would suspect that you were making-up that story.

I really do love the life, that I have managed to make for "myself" in Thailand. However, the level of incognizant "ignorance", among certain officials, never ceases to amaze me.

Driving with headlights "ON" is a WORLD_WIDE ("make-your-motor-vehicle-as-visible-as-possible") safety precaution. Duh?

[Dannyboy6]

I tell that story about the lights on in daytime, I'm met with disbelief the World over...

[thepool]

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I've only been up to Issan once. There was a checkpoint somewhere around Buri Ram. Although I was only a passenger, I was asked for my passport.

In the end, since there was nothing else to fault us for, the Thai driver was fined 200 baht for driving with the headlamps on in the daytime.

If I hadn't already witnessed, "first-hand", some of the mind-boggling shenanigans pulled-off by the menfolk of SE Asia, in general, then I would suspect that you were making-up that story.

I really do love the life, that I have managed to make for "myself" in Thailand. However, the level of incognizant "ignorance", among certain officials, never ceases to amaze me.

Driving with headlights "ON" is a WORLD_WIDE ("make-your-motor-vehicle-as-visible-as-possible") safety precaution. Duh? alt=whistling.gif width=19 height=18>

High or low beam ?

[Dannyboy6]

Low, I drive motorbike with High not at night , can't the coppers figure out why motorbikes have lights on all time...

Edited April 19, 2014 by Dannyboy6

[NativeSon360]

Sound like everyone worries too much, bringing their 1st world problems to thailand.

Get locked up.. bummer, great, what ever post your experience on thai visa. Far more interesting than this multi page dribble.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk

It seems that you have certainly made your fair contribution to the multi-page "drivel" that you arrogantly criticize. Many foreigners come to this forum, simply because they are lonely. Why not try being a bit more compassionate, and less antagonistic toward others who share a common circumstance with you? It doesn't even cost you one baht.

Now, any foreigner bringing their 1st. world problems, to any 3rd. world country, should definitely re-examine their reasons for relocating to Thailand. Thailand has 1st. world "infrastructure", ONLY!

And, any foreigner who "believes" otherwise, needs to read the book "Money Number One" by Aloysius Barthalomew Thistlewaite, and wake-up to reality. So much for my "dribble",..... on this basketbal court of a forum.

Cheers, mate

Edited April 19, 2014 by NativeSon360

[eeeya]

To long, didn't read.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk

[NativeSon360]

Low, I drive motorbike with High not at night , can't the coppers figure out why motorbikes have lights on all time...

No, that requires having basic "cognitive" processing ability. If it hasn't happened in 3,500 years of the human developmental history of a culture, it ain't gonna happen at all. Like John Lennon said in the song: "Let It Be", and just enjoy, what there is to enjoy of Thailand. Cheers,

[NativeSon360]

To long, didn't read.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk

Not surprised at all

[Maestro]

Having done some research on the alleged requirement for a foreigner to carry his passport with him at all times I would like to share with you the results.

1. I have found no law stating that a foreigner must carry his passport with him at all times.
2. I have found no law stipulating a penalty such as a fine or imprisonment or both for a foreigner who is not able to show his passport instantly when asked for it by a law enforcement officer.
3. I have found a law, the Immigration Act, containing these clauses:
   "Section 58 : Any alien who has no lawful document for entering the Kingdom under Section 12 (1); or has no Residence Certificate under this Act; and also has no identification in accordance with the Law on Alien registration, is considered to have entered into the Kingdom in violation to this Act."
   "Section 81 : Any alien who stay in the Kingdom without permission or with permission expired or revoked shall be punished with imprisonment not exceeding two years or a fine not exceeding 20,000 Baht or both."
4. I have found no law stating that a foreigner's permission to stay must be recorded in his passport, but I have observed that it is currently being done so by immigration officers.
5. I have found no law stating what type of document a law enforcement officer may or must request a foreigner to show when it is considered necessary to verify whether the foreigner is in violation of Section 58 or 81 of the Immigration Act.
6. I have found no law prohibiting law enforcement officers from requesting a foreigner to show his passport when it is considered necessary to verify whether the foreigner is in violation of Section 58 or 81 of the Immigration Act.
7. I have found no law prohibiting law enforcement officers from detaining a foreigner who is unable to prove to the officer's satisfaction that he is not in violation of Section 58 or 81 of the Immigration Act.

 

[KevinB]

Well done Maestro.

You sum-up the situation perfectly. If the police want to hassle you they can and if you want to avoid being hassled carry your passport with you (or if you are really confident - follow the advice on TV and carry a colour photocopy). By-laws applied to Hotels are clear - any foreigner checking in is supposed to produce a valid passport with an active TM.6 inserted (as another poster noted the Hotel must supply the number of the TM.6 to Immigration along with Passport details). So if you are on your way to a Hotel take your passport.

[Tayida]

Happen to me few weeks ago in Chiang Mai

Sent from my i-mobile i-STYLE 7.5 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[MikeandDow]

Having done some research on the alleged requirement for a foreigner to carry his passport with him at all times I would like to share with you the results.

1. I have found no law stating that a foreigner must carry his passport with him at all times.
2. I have found no law stipulating a penalty such as a fine or imprisonment or both for a foreigner who is not able to show his passport instantly when asked for it by a law enforcement officer.
3. I have found a law, the Immigration Act, containing these clauses:

   "Section 58 : Any alien who has no lawful document for entering the Kingdom under Section 12 (1); or has no Residence Certificate under this Act; and also has no identification in accordance with the Law on Alien registration, is considered to have entered into the Kingdom in violation to this Act."

   "Section 81 : Any alien who stay in the Kingdom without permission or with permission expired or revoked shall be punished with imprisonment not exceeding two years or a fine not exceeding 20,000 Baht or both."

4. I have found no law stating that a foreigner's permission to stay must be recorded in his passport, but I have observed that it is currently being done so by immigration officers.
5. I have found no law stating what type of document a law enforcement officer may or must request a foreigner to show when it is considered necessary to verify whether the foreigner is in violation of Section 58 or 81 of the Immigration Act.
6. I have found no law prohibiting law enforcement officers from requesting a foreigner to show his passport when it is considered necessary to verify whether the foreigner is in violation of Section 58 or 81 of the Immigration Act.
7. I have found no law prohibiting law enforcement officers from detaining a foreigner who is unable to prove to the officer's satisfaction that he is not in violation of Section 58 or 81 of the Immigration Act.

thank you

[klikster]

As a permanent resident you are not even required to have a valid passport. You fall under different rules. You have a residence book. You can now even apply for a special pink ID card for those with PR.

First, there is no such thing as "permanent" residency. I believe that's a colloquialism. There are residency permits issued, but they do not grant Thai citizenship so I can't imaging how one could call the residency "permanent".

I have known 2 different Americans who had residency permits then lost their residency status. One traveled back to the US and was unable to return within a 1-year time frame. Another traveled and had forgotten to get a re-entry permit . When he returned to Thailand all he got was a 30 day visa.

It's permanent if you never leave and don't break serious laws, about as permanent as any PR anywhere in the world.

The leaving for more than a year bit seems to be a relic of how things worked in days past and doesn't take into account the modern nature of temporary people movements for work etc.

One day this will change with a bit of luck.

"if" -- "about" -- "seems" -- "one day" -- "luck"

I see 5 reasons to call it what it is = "RP" instead of what farangs dream of = "PR".

[samran]

As a permanent resident you are not even required to have a valid passport. You fall under different rules. You have a residence book. You can now even apply for a special pink ID card for those with PR.

First, there is no such thing as "permanent" residency. I believe that's a colloquialism. There are residency permits issued, but they do not grant Thai citizenship so I can't imaging how one could call the residency "permanent".

I have known 2 different Americans who had residency permits then lost their residency status. One traveled back to the US and was unable to return within a 1-year time frame. Another traveled and had forgotten to get a re-entry permit . When he returned to Thailand all he got was a 30 day visa.

It's permanent if you never leave and don't break serious laws, about as permanent as any PR anywhere in the world.

The leaving for more than a year bit seems to be a relic of how things worked in days past and doesn't take into account the modern nature of temporary people movements for work etc.

One day this will change with a bit of luck.

"if" -- "about" -- "seems" -- "one day" -- "luck"

I see 5 reasons to call it what it is = "RP" instead of what farangs dream of = "PR".

Leave the uk for more than 2 years and your ILR lapses.

Leave australia for more than 5 years, or without a pricy return residency permit and it lapses.

Commit a crime in Australia which incurs a sentence of more than a year and the minister has wide discretion to cancel your residency.

As I said, about as permanent as anywhere else. If you want real PR as you state, get citizenship. Otherwise you are just being a pedant.

[Vacuum]

MikeandDow, on 19 Apr 2014 - 09:38, said:

Mangkhut, on 19 Apr 2014 - 09:22, said:

MikeandDow, on 18 Apr 2014 - 19:41, said:

There is no law stating that you must carry your passport,the law states that you must provide ID with a photo within a ‘reasonable’ time frame, so a DL would be ok

According to the Lawyer of this forum is certainly is.....

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712871-carrying-original-passport/

That is his opinion, it is not based on LAW, there is no Thai LAW which states that you must carry your passport.

Try telling this to the Police Officer who is requesting to have a look at your passport.