No need to worry says Bangkok Immigration Commander

[Jonathan Fairfield]

No need to worry says Bangkok Immigration Commander

Deputy Commander and Police Colonel

Voravat Amornvivat file photo

BANGKOK:-- [thaivisa.com] After the confusion surrounding the news that all foreigners in Thailand are required to carry their passport with them at all times, Thaivisa.com has today obtained official clarification on this matter.

Earlier this afternoon, Thaivisa.com spoke to Deputy Commander and Police Colonel Voravat Amornvivat, a senior official at Immigration headquarters in Bangkok.

Deputy Commander Voravat wanted to reassure the expat community in Thailand about the current situation.

He told Thaivsia.com that information in an article published by The Nation on 31 July 2014, was incorrect.

Deputy Commander Voravat confirmed that foreign tourists and expats do not need to carry their passports with them at all times.

He said that tourists can of course leave their passports locked in their hotel safe and enjoy their holiday in Thailand without worrying about the need to carry their original passport.

Deputy Commander Voravat also said that for expats living here, a Thai driving license or photocopy of your passport can be used as a form of identification.

However, if Immigration Police suspect an individual to be overstaying in Thailand or being involved in illegal activity, then the individual would be required to produce their original passport promptly.

Deputy Commander Voravat referred to Section 58, which reads as follows:

Any alien who has no lawful document for entering the Kingdom under section 12(1);....under this Act; and has no identification in accordance with the Law on Alien registration, is considered to have entered the Kingdom in violation of the Act.

Entering or staying in Thailand without holding a valid passport and visa/extension is subject a fine and possible prison sentence.

“Making all foreigners in Thailand carry their original passports with them would be very difficult.”

“It’s about being reasonable and using common sense”

“But if we think a foreigner is involved in illegal activity then we will of course need to see their original passport, this is normal”, said Deputy Commander Voravat.

Deputy Commander Voravat is eager to avoid further misunderstandings and miscommunication regarding immigration matters and is happy to work with Thaivisa.com in the future in order to provide correct information to foreign tourists and the wider expat community in Thailand.

Thaivisa.com thanks Deputy Commander Voravat for his interview and taking time to clarify the situation.

The idea of foreigners being able to get a copy of their passport officially stamped by Immigration is currently not an option. However, it is always a good idea to have a copy of your passport with you at all times while in Thailand.

-- 2014-07-31

[bkkjames]

Pin it to the top! close all other topics immediately.

[bkkjames]

Forgot to add, thank you Deputy Commander for clarifying this!

[MJCM]

Pin it to the top! close all other topics immediately.

+1

Sent from my iPad so Please excuse any typos

[MJCM]

Forgot to add, thank you Deputy Commander for clarifying this!

Same here and I hope we can quote him on that when we get stopped

Sent from my iPad so Please excuse any typos

[ThaidDown]

At last a voice of reason. Hope he sends a copy of his statement to Hua Hin.

+1 for pinning at top.

[Franky Bear]

THE END!!!

[alocacoc]

Thanks to Thaivisa.com for it effort. Very helpful.

[ThaiRich]

Like my daddy always said. "If you want to know something ask the man on top". Apparently this still holds true.

[Eddy B]

Yippie!!!

[krystian]

crystal clear

[sgtsabai]

It cannot be true, too much logic....lol. Now if we can just get clarification on the use of TM 28. Thank you Deputy Commander Voravat and we all hope you aren't overruled.

[MarkmBha]

Well... this is a relief!

[Crossy]

A trollish post has been removed along with the (perfectly reasonable) replies, sorry to those who replied.

[crazykopite]

Great news we have heard it from the engineer and not the oily rag !!

[ajarnmarc]

Yesterday people were posting it was a reasonable request,

and it's always been the law,

so if you don't like it leave.

Now Deputy Commander Voravat,

​is fortunately confirming what we were being slammed about discussing just yesterday.

“Making all foreigners in Thailand carry their original passports with them would be very difficult.”

I'm so glad to see Deputy Commander Voravat has more common judgement that most of the people posting their attacks

against the people who could properly evaluate just how difficult it would have been,

and try to discuss it on TV.

Respects for Deputy Commander Voravat.

[uptheos]

Forgot to add, thank you Deputy Commander for clarifying this!

Same here and I hope we can quote him on that when we get stopped

Sent from my iPad so Please excuse any typos

Carry a copy with your other copy.

[BeforeTigers]

I'll be carrying a copy of this interview when I go out.

[SICA]

I wonder if the Commander is aware of this or will he come and say the complete opposite in about 20 minutes?

[ScottMallon]

Yesterday people were posting it was a reasonable request,

and it's always been the law,

so if you don't like it leave.

Now Deputy Commander Voravat,

​is fortunately confirming what we were being slammed about discussing just yesterday.

“Making all foreigners in Thailand carry their original passports with them would be very difficult.”

I'm so glad to see Deputy Commander Voravat has more common judgement that most of the people posting their attacks

against the people who could properly evaluate just how difficult it would have been,

and try to discuss it on TV.

Respects for Deputy Commander Voravat.

One more thing. Colonel Voravat made it a point to say that although the foreigner does not have to carry the passport at all times, they should be able to have someone bring it to them if necessary. He also stated that in most cases, foreigners are not going to be asked for their passports. If there is a problem, if someone gets into an accident, a fight, whatever, then the foreigner can be asked for their passport.

[DrTuner]

Finally, a direct line to the HQ. Ask this man, not the provincial offices.

[iancnx]

Well done TV. Close all the other threads quick!

[Braddockrd]

This is the ThaiVisa roller coaster advisory services.... Tomorrow we will hear the opposite... Better to go to the new thaivisa office on sukhumvit. I heard they employ very able immigration advisor female officers properly uniformed and with lots of useful advice....

[gp2002]

“It’s about being reasonable and using common sense”

In Thailand?????

[WhamBam]

A man speaking common sense. Well done that man!

Well done also to ThaiVisa for getting the clarification in these seemingly turbulent times.

[MarkmBha]

Well... this is a relief!

[SureNDT]

Meanwhile, in the real world, individual officers will still use not carrying a passport as a means to extort money from foreigners.

[Expattaff1308]

Common Sense at Last, lets hope he passes it on to ALL Immigration Offices

[harrry]

I am glad they are starting to communicate. Maybe some way of letting them know that although we appreciate the job they have there is really a need for certainty and consistency in how each office acts. I for one can acccept rules but woulld be much happier and less stressed if it comes to renewal time that if I bring the basic documents that are required by one office I could know that unless there is a problem that is enough. It should not be that Bangkok accepts a certain set and ChiangMai another and Phucket needs something entirely different. It would be nice to know to that all offices will accept mailed 90 day reports, after all that is what the act says.

A good start. We did not need 3 different stories in three days,

[ParadiseLost]

While it is good to hear from a senior official, I don't see how it is going to change things much: if a police officer suspects you are on overstay they want to see your passport. If you do not have it with you then you are still going to be held or 'fined'...