Immigration boss confirms the Out-In visa run is dead

[Lite Beer]

Immigration boss confirms the Out-In visa run is dead
Tanyaluk Sakoot

Coming soon to an airport near you: electronic fingerprinting. Photo Pearson Scott Foresman

The national commander of Thai Immigration, Lt Gen Phanu Kerdlaphon, has confirmed that “Out-In” visa runs are – apart from a few exceptions – a thing of the past.

Speaking with The Phuket News this morning, Gen Phanu said, “We have been very lenient about this. I’ve had many comments about [our excessive leniency]."

Several factors have come together to kill off the tourist visa run.

The first, as already reported in The Phuket News is fallout from the disappearance of Malaysian Airlines flight MH370.

Two Iranian men boarded that flight using passports that had been stolen or went missing in Phuket a couple of years before. Hence a tightening-up on passports was inevitable.

But another major concern is the number of foreigners working illegally, the General said.

“Lots of nationalities come to Thailand on tourist visas but they come to work. I really want them to do the right thing, not try to dodge around the law and evade taxes."

He said that Russians, South Koreans and Vietnamese in particular are in the spotlight. “Immigration is keeping an eye on them.” That said, other nationalities will not escape notice.

“Out-in visa runs will still be possible but they have to show a credible tourism plan and give details of their accommodation to the officials.

“Thirty days should be enough for a normal tourist. If they really want to travel around the country for more than 30 days, then they must show us a plausible plan. If officers are suspicious, then they will carry out checks.

"If we believe their purpose in coming to Thailand is not what they say it is, then we will order them to leave and they will be blacklisted. They will not be able to return to Thailand, ever."

He also confirmed that electronic fingerprinting of people arriving in Thailand will be introduced. “Yes, this is coming soon. We are now waiting for the budget to be approved. It is expensive so we will start by introducing it at international airports first.”

He said he did not agree with complaints that the effective end to visa hops would affect tourism. “I don't think so. Tourists will still come to Thailand for holidays, but not to start businesses or get jobs.”

Gen Phanu added, “If you are coming here not as a tourist, then please get the correct visa. Do it properly.”

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/immigration-boss-confirms-the-out-in-visa-run-is-dead-46240.php

-- Phuket News 2014-05-13

[Jingthing]

That is hard core.

[mrtoad]

Well, as long as they are consistent then it makes it a lot easier. Appears that a genuine tourist, may still be able to do a hop, but if not then tough.

[lee b]

Never to come back again, wow people really need to start getting the correct visas then or say bye bye to thai !

[zydeco]

"If we believe their purpose in coming to Thailand is not what they say it is, then we will order them to leave and they will be blacklisted. They will not be able to return to Thailand, ever."

So, if some guard at an immigration post has a bad day or just doesn't like your looks, he can at his discretion bar you from Thailand forever, because your story wasn't convincing enough for him. The possibilities for additional payoffs are infinite, I suppose.

[Jingthing]

The black list threat seems pretty horrible if it's just based on their "opinion" about a person. I can see that in case of an arrest and evidence proven. Imagine if it happened to you and it wasn't true especially if you are settled with lots of property here. This kind of hard core tactic should be really troubling to ALL foreigners here, no matter how totally legit you think you are. You might think this isn't about you, but to immigration you're just another SUSPECT, and don't forget that.

Edited May 13, 2014 by Jingthing

[jpinx]

That pretty much spells it out -- good for them to take a stand. There is always some slippage here between the law and it's implementation, but it seems that the boss is going to be watching for a while

[jpinx]

"If we believe their purpose in coming to Thailand is not what they say it is, then we will order them to leave and they will be blacklisted. They will not be able to return to Thailand, ever."

So, if some guard at an immigration post has a bad day or just doesn't like your looks, he can at his discretion bar you from Thailand forever, because your story wasn't convincing enough for him. The possibilities for additional payoffs are infinite, I suppose.

It was ever thus.. The immigration officer has always had the exclusive right to determine if you should be let in or not.

Edited May 13, 2014 by jpinx

[Orac]

Another confusing article - many references to tourist visas rather than visa exempt arrivals. Are they now saying that even on a double entry tourist visa you are not allowed to do an 'in-out'?

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[khwaibah]

"He said that Russians, South Koreans and Vietnamese in particular are in the spotlight. “Immigration is keeping an eye on them.” That said, other nationalities will not escape notice."

Those quality tourist that TAT went for.

[jpinx]

The black list threat seems pretty horrible if it's just based on their "opinion" about a person. I can see that in case of an arrest and evidence proven. Imagine if it happened to you and it wasn't true especially if you are settled with lots of property here. This kind of hard core tactic should be really troubling to ALL foreigners here, no matter how totally legit you think you are. You might think this isn't about you, but to immigration you're just another SUSPECT, and don't forget that.

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

Blacklisting and forever banning some of the out-and-out criminals can only be a good thing.

I see several people bleating about being "respectable", owning property, etc -- If they are such pillars of society they will have no problem in getting a triple-entry tourist visa from their home country, which can be made valid for over a year using the immigration office in Thailand to get the extensions, etc.

[hanno]

I hope they have more luck with the finger scanners than the had here in Cambodia.

They started scanning a couple of years ago. All 10 fingers of tourists that hardly speak any English, by guys that hardly speak a word of English. Huge frustration, much shouting, enormous queues.

Result: the scanners are still there but haven't been used for a year

[doctorproc156]

Just curious as to what are the visa running tourists doing in Thailand? Are they just living here on a foreign income or working illegally?

[CiaranO]

The bottom line is immigration are tightening things up and it really is about time. They are putting an end to people abusing the system. If you have a valid reason to be here you will have the correct visa. People who dont meet the criteria for visas have no valid reason - this is very common throughout the world.

[jpinx]

Another confusing article - many references to tourist visas rather than visa exempt arrivals. Are they now saying that even on a double entry tourist visa you are not allowed to do an 'in-out'?

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Does this quote from the OP help you understand ?

“Out-in visa runs will still be possible but they have to show a credible tourism plan and give details of their accommodation to the officials.

“Thirty days should be enough for a normal tourist. If they really want to travel around the country for more than 30 days, then they must show us a plausible plan. If officers are suspicious, then they will carry out checks."

[Deaw]

Border-run businesses and mini-bus drivers soon out of work?

[Lancelot]

The bottom line is immigration are tightening things up and it really is about time. They are putting an end to people abusing the system. If you have a valid reason to be here you will have the correct visa. People who dont meet the criteria for visas have no valid reason - this is very common throughout the world.

Continued political violence will tighten it up even more

[WoopyDoo]

I don't think this will be a heartbreaker to most foreigners. They will start to congregate in another SEA country and start to improve that place while leaving Thailand short of many much needed English teachers etc....

The main broken hearts will be Thai ladies who will now find it much harder to snare a foreign sponsor with enough time in the country to strip every last baht out of him.

Come on girls.... you got a month or two if you are lucky to get everything.

[zydeco]

here it is crazy hot

I don't go outside all day.

I'll go for food later.

I hope you are feeling better ?

Hit the wrong key for a PM? Or is this some secret code? Maybe you're a dangerous spy surveilling Thai border security procedures? Maybe need to pull your visa? Seems a fishy message for a forum board to me. (See how easy it is to make your story fit their crime?)

[jpinx]

The bottom line is immigration are tightening things up and it really is about time. They are putting an end to people abusing the system. If you have a valid reason to be here you will have the correct visa. People who dont meet the criteria for visas have no valid reason - this is very common throughout the world.

----

Does a phillipina lady with a letter of contract with a state school have such a "valid reason"? Schools are notorious for not providing the papers needed for a work permit. I wonder if the boss of immigration actually spoke to the boss of education about this ?

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I don't see any connection between Thailand's real status has a haven for fake and stolen passports, as evidenced by the Malaysian Air debacle, and the current crackdown on recurring visa-exempt entries.

I'm sure Immigration and the MFA took flak, rightly so, over the stolen passports episodes, not to mention the bigger recent cases of stolen visa stamps from several Thai embassies/consulates that later were being sold out on the open market.

But cracking down on visa-exempt entries would seem to have absolutely no bearing on the problem of stolen/fake passports. I suppose, if one was already in the stolen/fake passports world, they could use those to actually avoid getting caught up in the visa-exempt crackdown.

I guess what would make an impact on the fake/stolen passports issue is their plan to start fingerprinting arrivals -- assuming Immigration is capable of operating such a computerized system across all of their air and land border entry points. You gotta wonder though, since the government can't even seem to manage to keep their Thai IDs and Thai passports computer systems in good operation.

[aguy30]

I believe that the ED mill language schools will be thriving now. Immigration will probably make them their next target for "undesirables".

[star kicker]

it's not difficult to arrange an appropriate visa for yourself.

and anyway it's much less hassle than having to do border runs every 30 days.

[Borzandy]

"“Out-in visa runs will still be possible but they have to show a credible tourism plan and give details of their accommodation to the officials." so, nothing change.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Another confusing article - many references to tourist visas rather than visa exempt arrivals. Are they now saying that even on a double entry tourist visa you are not allowed to do an 'in-out'?

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Does this quote from the OP help you understand ?

“Out-in visa runs will still be possible but they have to show a credible tourism plan and give details of their accommodation to the officials.

“Thirty days should be enough for a normal tourist. If they really want to travel around the country for more than 30 days, then they must show us a plausible plan. If officers are suspicious, then they will carry out checks."

I'm assuming what they mean about "checks" is like calling hotels to confirm that a particular person actually has a reservation to stay there -- matching whatever papers they may show to Immigration.

Real tourists would tend to have hotel or similar reservations, whereas full-time visa-exempt runners would tend to have houses or apartments, but not hotel reservations -- at least up until now.

[stickylies]

“Out-in visa runs will still be possible but they have to show a credible tourism plan and give details of their accommodation to the officials.

tourism plan: trying all meat at soi 6

accommodation: cheapo 'wifebeater' room near soi 6

[sjjmmi]

Bye Bye tourist Hub of the world

[transam]

Blacklisted for visa runs

"If we believe their purpose in coming to Thailand is not what they say it is, then we will order them to leave and they will be blacklisted. They will not be able to return to Thailand, ever."

How about that?!

You are trying very hard today, if immigration reads this site the penny might finally drop..................

[jpinx]

I don't see any connection between Thailand's real status has a haven for fake and stolen passports, as evidenced by the Malaysian Air debacle, and the current crackdown on recurring visa-exempt entries.

I'm sure Immigration and the MFA took flak, rightly so, over the stolen passports episodes, not to mention the bigger recent cases of stolen visa stamps from several Thai embassies/consulates that later were being sold out on the open market.

But cracking down on visa-exempt entries would seem to have absolutely no bearing on the problem of stolen/fake passports. I suppose, if one was already in the stolen/fake passports world, they could use those to actually avoid getting caught up in the visa-exempt crackdown.

I guess what would make an impact on the fake/stolen passports issue is their plan to start fingerprinting arrivals -- assuming Immigration is capable of operating such a computerized system across all of their air and land border entry points. You gotta wonder though, since the government can't even seem to manage to keep their Thai IDs and Thai passports computer systems in good operation.

The more times a passport is looked at the more chance a fake/stolen one will be spotted. Was it not the case that the user of one of stolen passports on the missing Malaysia Airlines flight had been doing visa runs prior to his departure on his way to the west as an illegal immigrant. Was Thailand not fairly well-known as something of a "holding pen" for such people who were making their way westwards, and using visa runs to extend their stay until a suitable passport was "prepared" for them.

[FiestyFarang]

I think like many countries people should have the correct Visas. This is not strange but normal practice. Fingerprinting is an excellent idea anywhere, not just airports but ID Card, banks etc.

Edited May 13, 2014 by FiestyFarang