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doesn't answer any questions about the accompanying story regarding registration of your whereabouts within 48 hours of moving accommodation or province.

Yes, still waiting on the answer to this question, hopefully the upcoming meeting will cover this.

doesn't answer any questions about the accompanying story regarding registration of your whereabouts within 48 hours of moving accommodation or province.

Maestro theorizeed that that regulation and the pertinent form TM28 was for permanent residents only and his logic seemed to make sense to me. So, if you move accomodation , the normal form TM30 is and always has been required.

Theorizing on what seems to be the case seems to be a bad idea.

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doesn't answer any questions about the accompanying story regarding registration of your whereabouts within 48 hours of moving accommodation or province.

Yes, still waiting on the answer to this question, hopefully the upcoming meeting will cover this.

doesn't answer any questions about the accompanying story regarding registration of your whereabouts within 48 hours of moving accommodation or province.

Maestro theorizeed that that regulation and the pertinent form TM28 was for permanent residents only and his logic seemed to make sense to me. So, if you move accomodation , the normal form TM30 is and always has been required.

Theorizing on what seems to be the case seems to be a bad idea.

well you read the regulation and see how you interpret it

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You know, I'm not sure it matters much WHO steps up to the microphone to announce & "clarify" this or that. It's a cultural thing. Having to conform to some distant official's pronouncements seems to imply some incremental loss of face among thais if they've been doing things differently. No matter which official announces what, you can expect variance from one place in Thailand to another, one day to the next, one immigration desk to the next, one Bangkok street corner to the next.... 'Seems to be a fact of life, though the army actually DOES seem to be working, trying, purposing ... to get the country to emerge from this dysfunctional behavior.

Edited by hawker9000
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well you read the regulation and see how you interpret it

doesn't answer any questions about the accompanying story regarding registration of your whereabouts within 48 hours of moving accommodation or province.

Yes, still waiting on the answer to this question, hopefully the upcoming meeting will cover this.

Maestro theorizeed that that regulation and the pertinent form TM28 was for permanent residents only and his logic seemed to make sense to me. So, if you move accomodation , the normal form TM30 is and always has been required.

Theorizing on what seems to be the case seems to be a bad idea.

Sorry man, not trying to take a shot at you. I'm just saying I'm looking forward to the promised clarification from TVN on the matter.

As I read what Hua Hin was saying was the case, it would be almost unworkable. Having to report yourself to the authorities if you were a houseguest of a friend for 3 days and report to the authorities again when you return to your home, is silly, but that is how those instructions read.

Thai Visa News, have you guys ever gotten a clarification on this?

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A work colleague informed me just now that last night he went through a police check on Sathu Pradit after having a root canal. He is working here 100% legally. He has a scooter. The police first asked him for his passport... Not a question about a driving license. Not a question about his motorcycle. Just "show me passport". Well he didn't have it because the employer holds the passports in a safe in the office. And even if it wasn't in the office, he still wouldn't carry it on his person because its inconvenient and silly I think we can all agree.

Anyways, the police said "you pay 2000baht and go to jail for tonight, no passport". My friend offered to pay 4000baht to avoid going to jail for the night, which the police took of course.

So immigration police commander says "Don't worry" but apparently there is plenty to worry about. My friend is a clean cut, friendly, awkwardly tall flamboyant American which nobody would never be suspected of being a trouble maker.

On top of that, there were about 10 police in front of his school this morning but he wasn't sure why.

Of course the Thai commander doesn't want to scare anyone away from the country. In reality, he has little say in on what happens day to day in the real world. So to everyone sucking off Thai immigration for their "crackdown" on corruption and illegal workers, if my friend had been illegal, he would still be here. Money still talks and shit still walks. This is extortion, and I think is just the beginning of the new Thailand LoS.

Sounds like your friend didn't have a copy or a Thai drivers license, so nothing really contradictory to what the Col. Vorivat has said.

From everything I have read, (and I try to read it all so I can update the FB group I started on this kind of thing,) including the actual laws, "official" statements, as well as reports of actual encounters on the ground, we have 2 options.

1. Carry your passport.

2. Carry a photo copy of the information and current entry stamp/visa page of your passport and a Thai DL, but be prepared to wait for your original passport to be brought to you, or even brought to the nearest police station where the police may ask you to wait.

I will talk to some of my supervisors in the Thai police to see what they have been instructed to do.

At the volunteers meeting today we asked the Lt. Col. of the Kathu (Patong) police what their position was on foreigners carrying passports. He said that he cannot comment on national policy but that at least for Patong they accept copies and do not fine 2000B if people are not carrying them.

We also asked about whether a Thai ID made any difference, and he said "It's good for identification purposes, but not an official ID like a Thai ID card." So take what you will from that.

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Leaving HuaHin tomorrow to

stay with a friend at his Private Address in Bangkok; what do I need

to do on arrival?....or is the onus

on my friend to complete a TM 28?

As Immigration is closed on Weekends does my friend have the option to notify my arrival to the

Police?

Direct clear answers much appreciated,thanks.

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Ok my report -

I got stopped last week heading along sukhumvit from Asoke towards Bang Na. It was around soi 25 at a guess, they pulled the cab over when they saw who we were.

For the record, it was very late in the night and I'm never about at that time but my friend had just flown in so was a late one catching up.

I never carry my passport, never; but on this Tuesday with the uncertainty I thought it best to.

I'm glad I did. They pulled us over and went through my passport and started grilling me about my visa being out of date. It wasn't, they were just looking at an old visa. When I approached and told them they need to turn the page they got a bit funny and telling me to stay back, ignoring what I was trying to say. I wasn't being pushy, aggressive or anything, no chance, I'm too scared to get into trouble with these guys.

They called the supervisor over and a couple of others, after a couple more times of me trying to explain to just turn to the most recent page they finally listened, nodded and closed the passport and sent me on my way.

I also saw another police stop a bit further up on Wednesday eve (coming from Thong Lor) but a lot earlier in the night; luckily, all 3 cops were questioning the others so my taxi could drift through easily, which was a relief as I didn't have my passport at the time.

So there definitely does seem a bit of stronger presence most recently.

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

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Leaving HuaHin tomorrow to

stay with a friend at his Private Address in Bangkok; what do I need

to do on arrival?....or is the onus

on my friend to complete a TM 28?

As Immigration is closed on Weekends does my friend have the option to notify my arrival to the

Police?

Direct clear answers much appreciated,thanks.

My advice is not to worry about it. There have been no report of them bothering anybody for the reports.

You friend if really needed would do a TM30.Yours is the TM28.

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Leaving HuaHin tomorrow to

stay with a friend at his Private Address in Bangkok; what do I need

to do on arrival?....or is the onus

on my friend to complete a TM 28?

As Immigration is closed on Weekends does my friend have the option to notify my arrival to the

Police?

Direct clear answers much appreciated,thanks.

My advice is not to worry about it. There have been no report of them bothering anybody for the reports.

You friend if really needed would do a TM30.Yours is the TM28.

So it seems the subtext of this is that you guys have not been able to get a clear answer on this issue yet. Am I reading that right?

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Leaving HuaHin tomorrow to

stay with a friend at his Private Address in Bangkok; what do I need

to do on arrival?....or is the onus

on my friend to complete a TM 28?

As Immigration is closed on Weekends does my friend have the option to notify my arrival to the

Police?

Direct clear answers much appreciated,thanks.

My advice is not to worry about it. There have been no report of them bothering anybody for the reports.

You friend if really needed would do a TM30.Yours is the TM28.

So it seems the subtext of this is that you guys have not been able to get a clear answer on this issue yet. Am I reading that right?

No it does not mean that. I gave it as my advice based upon my certainty that they are not going to go around checking to see if foreigners are liiving some place or expecting somebody to file a TM28 every time they change locations.

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Leaving HuaHin tomorrow to

stay with a friend at his Private Address in Bangkok; what do I need

to do on arrival?....or is the onus

on my friend to complete a TM 28?

As Immigration is closed on Weekends does my friend have the option to notify my arrival to the

Police?

Direct clear answers much appreciated,thanks.

My advice is not to worry about it. There have been no report of them bothering anybody for the reports.

You friend if really needed would do a TM30.Yours is the TM28.

So it seems the subtext of this is that you guys have not been able to get a clear answer on this issue yet. Am I reading that right?

No it does not mean that. I gave it as my advice based upon my certainty that they are not going to go around checking to see if foreigners are liiving some place or expecting somebody to file a TM28 every time they change locations.

Yep. My advice as well. Don't worry about it unless you are actually moving your residence.

I hate using the word "technically" because anything that is "technically" anything, is. But, this new law, or new enforcement of an old law, is meant for guesthouses and hotels. So "technically" any landlord should report you, but my last 3 landlords, including my current one, didn't even know my name so for sure were not informing immigration that I was renting from them.

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No offense meant, you have been very good with needed information and clarification, but considering the actions over the last few months I would say that while maybe not Kingdom wide, some immigration districts will implement this law. One thing that has not changed and never will change is confusion and interpretation of Thai law, especially immigration. It serves a "purpose". As I say to all those cheering the implementation of strict immigration rules, be careful what you wish for, it can come back and bite you in the ass. Not following your advice, but I'm certainly not filling out TM 28 when I go out of town overnight.

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  • 1 month later...

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

Agreed, very good!

But, will the information "trickle down"?

As of last week, the Immigration officers at my local office were insisting that you MUST carry your passport at all times!

Hope they get the word!!

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If a police officer stops you - chances are they will ask for your passport and you will be expected to produce it. I have a friend (Chinese) who was stopped in the street and asked for it, he said it was back at his place which was around the corner - they refused to go to his place and he must produce it. Luckily another friend from out of town was with him at that point and he was able to go back and get the passport for him. (2+ years ago).

It is still clear as mud, you don't need to carry it with you except when a police officer asks for it :P

They should just start issuing entrance receipts which the officer could scan and get back entrance information.

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No offense meant, you have been very good with needed information and clarification, but considering the actions over the last few months I would say that while maybe not Kingdom wide, some immigration districts will implement this law. One thing that has not changed and never will change is confusion and interpretation of Thai law, especially immigration. It serves a "purpose". As I say to all those cheering the implementation of strict immigration rules, be careful what you wish for, it can come back and bite you in the ass. Not following your advice, but I'm certainly not filling out TM 28 when I go out of town overnight.

I doubt most Thai hoteliers have even heard of this requirement, and those who have would be unlikely to trouble themselves with it!

Unlike in Myanmar where its a big deal!

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Many, if not most, hotels already do the TM 30, I'm sure most have heard of it long ago. Most folks with foreign friends/relatives staying overnight do not. My wife had to do the registation for me living in our (her) house when I renewed my extension at immigration well before the coup, no big deal she had just never had to do before. I don't know of anybody that does TM 28, not the hotel's responsibility, only for you, and I certainly do not.

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  • 3 weeks later...

1. Where can I get a neatly made credit card sized copy of my passport and entry stamps? I keep hearing about this but how is it even possible to fit it on that?

2. I don't like this idea of having to call someone (if it's even possible) at my hotel (it's really short staffed not really a big hotel and probably don't speak much English) to go in to my safe for two reasons. The only reason I use a safe is so that the hotel staff does not have access to the contents! I happen to have the reset key that goes to this safe too (they gave it to me, they don't know what they are doing haha) so they might not even be able to access it. So while I'm waiting for them to bring my passport (if they even will) they can feel free to steal some baht?

I don't even like the idea of having the cops escort me back to the room to get it, what if they see money at that time and get excited?

Bottom line is, I don't have any friends yet here that I think would even come to my rescue and do something that nice.

Seems like I need to hide my passport outside of my safe so I can ask someone to come get it if need be?

Any thoughts?

EDIT: Why not keep a full copy of your passport on your cell phone? Not sure if it would help.

Edited by JThai
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First, rest assured, the hotel staff absolutely CAN get into your safe. Different hotels I'm sure implement different levels of security for just who can do so, but even if it's just the manager, somebody can. That said, I think room safes in most reputable hotels are fairly secure. I have used them routinely for many years and have never once had a problem.

I've never had to call & request somebody retrieve my passport. But I make an effort to be friendly to the staff wherever I'm staying, and tip the housekeepers daily, the bell guy that shows me to my room, etc. I'm pretty sure they'd comply with a request to carry my passport to the police station for me. They might expect a significant tip for doing so, but I'd certainly be OK with that.

You can get the credit card sized reproductions of your passport in some (but definitely not all) photo or copy shops. Also I've noticed some travel agents do it. They'll usually list it in their shop-front advertising if they do it. If you can't find one that does on your own, walk into a photo shop that doesn't, and ask for one that does. You may find yourself sent running around a bit, but eventually you'll find one. In Bangkok, I think there's one on Suk. Soi 11 a ways down on the left (might've been on one of the other odd-numbered sois - can't remember for certain now). They'll reproduce the photo page from your passport (reduced a bit, obviously, to fit) on one side, and the page with your entry stamp on the back. They'll usually make simple photocopies from your pp to work with, and then have the card ready for you in a couple of hours.

If you feel you need to leave your passport outside of your room safe, I think you'll be fine most of the time (again, am assuming reputable hotels here...) just putting it in your suitcase (which you'll then have to leave unlocked if you want hotel staff to be able to find your passport in it).

When I use a room safe, everything's in a plain folder or envelope, with things inside of things. I've never found it necessary to open a room safe in front of anybody, but if I ever did, there's nothing ever in plain sight, esp. money, and fetching my passport would never mean displaying any money.

If you stay in downscale places which you consider "less reputable", then I think you probably just need to be in the habit of carrying your passport & valuables with you (a good reason not to travel with things that aren't necessary...), find ways of doing that securely, and avoiding a flashy profile (which is good advice for most tourists anyway).

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