Strange Occurance At Phuket Airport

[Macnick]

Had something strange happen when we arrived at Phuket airport recently.

Whilst we were waiting in the line to see immigration, there are 2 people checking eveyones documents at the end of the line, prior to seeing the immigration officials. Whilst the man checkd our passports, the lady took individual photo's of us, but strangely with her personal mobile phone, so obviously not official.

Wonder if anyone has had a similar experience or know why?

Thanks

[hansgruber]

They do it to show their superiors they are doing their job.

Police do it all the time.

[grumpyoldman]

Turned around, put her arm out and included you ? Clearly a FB selfie matter.

[merijn]

They do it to show their superiors they are doing their job.

Police do it all the time.

Correct, Same for the immigration officers, They have to send a monthly report to Bangkok about which project they did besides their normal daily work.

[LivinginKata]

I noticed much the same last time I was at Patong Immigration. One officer was taking photos of us folks with his own phone camera. Have to say I thought it was strange. I pulled out my own phone camera to snap him taking the shots ... but oh no no. Firmly told not allowed for me to take photos in gov building..

[tingtongtourist]

Were you flying to Puket from Pattaya? Maybe they get a tipoff that a criminal was coming down on holiday :0)

[Farma]

Nothing strange about them using their own phone. If you spend time in Govt offices you will see a lot of the staff use private laptops for work too.

Up until just over a year ago most of the staff in my wifes office used private laptops. One day they were all issued samsung laptops with the most senior staff offered Samsung Notes too.

For inspections, conferences etc they still rely on personal mobiles to take photos. These photos can also be used as proof to satisfy govt auditors that the funds were spent as claimed.

[Felt 35]

That kind of behaviour is a indication that the immigration / Customs have got a tip off about someone arriving known for criminal activities.

[stevenl]

That kind of behaviour is a indication that the immigration / Customs have got a tip off about someone arriving known for criminal activities.

No, just standard operating procedures.

[colinneil]

Thai government workers take photos all the time .To show bosses they are doing what they are supposed to be doing.

Not only government workers. Iam bedridden ,get physios visiting me, everytime they want signature and photo of me and them to show they have been here.

[finnomick]

They do it to show their superiors they are doing their job.

Police do it all the time.

Correct, Same for the immigration officers, They have to send a monthly report to Bangkok about which project they did besides their normal daily work.

Now I understand why the immigration officer was trying to sell my wife one of his wife's hand-made handbags, and constantly tapping the tip box on his desk and demanding 500 baht per copy for a free resident permit. These must have all been ' projects ', the first to help his wife and the others to bolster the immigration officers' retirement fund.....

[socksy01]

They do it to show their superiors they are doing their job.

Police do it all the time.

Correct, Same for the immigration officers, They have to send a monthly report to Bangkok about which project they did besides their normal daily work.

The same as when you see loads of Thai's taking photo's of their food on their camera's to show their seniors/supervisor's that they actually eat.

[NoshowJones]

Were you flying to Puket from Pattaya? Maybe they get a tipoff that a criminal was coming down on holiday :0)

I'm sure Sharkey would be easily spotted.

[jpeg]

Thai government workers take photos all the time .To show bosses they are doing what they are supposed to be doing.

Not only government workers. Iam bedridden ,get physios visiting me, everytime they want signature and photo of me and them to show they have been here.

So, from some of the responses, not only are joe public distrustful of government employees/police, but their bosses keep having to check up on them via cell photos etc too? The Hub of Distrust? This place ...

Edited November 21, 2014 by jpeg

[hawker9000]

I've heard of RTP randomly stopping tourists in Bangkok on the street and doing pretty much the same thing, and ostensibly for the same reason.

[jacko45k]

Were you flying to Puket from Pattaya? Maybe they get a tipoff that a criminal was coming down on holiday :0)

They have to go through Immigration do they clever clogs!

[Mudcrab]

I've had Immigration officers (I think..they looked like normally dressed people) check me before immigration in Oz and mark my passenger card. Dunno what that's about.

I've also had a bloke stop me after customs and ask if that was all the baggage I had.

Obviously I must look like a dodgy sort of bloke.

Or it's the Thai hansumness getting into my DNA and they just can't help themselves.

[Reigntax]

I've had Immigration officers (I think..they looked like normally dressed people) check me before immigration in Oz and mark my passenger card. Dunno what that's about.

I've also had a bloke stop me after customs and ask if that was all the baggage I had.

Obviously I must look like a dodgy sort of bloke.

Or it's the Thai hansumness getting into my DNA and they just can't help themselves.

That's normal in Aust. It's just a prescreening based on the immigration card answers or declaration.

[Don Mega]

Were you flying to Puket from Pattaya? Maybe they get a tipoff that a criminal was coming down on holiday :0)

Pretty sure you don't pass through immigration on domestic flights.

[Felt 35]

That kind of behaviour is a indication that the immigration / Customs have got a tip off about someone arriving known for criminal activities.

No, just standard operating procedures.

Started when, last week? Never seen in my years here or at Don Muang / Suvarnabhumi. In Europe regularly when Police / Immigration or customs are tipped about something unregularly.

[stevenl]

That kind of behaviour is a indication that the immigration / Customs have got a tip off about someone arriving known for criminal activities.

No, just standard operating procedures.

Started when, last week? Never seen in my years here or at Don Muang / Suvarnabhumi. In Europe regularly when Police / Immigration or customs are tipped about something unregularly.

Just read the posts in the thread and you'll see it is just sop.

[schondie]

Strange Occurance At Phuket Airport

I thought this thread would be about a Meter Taxi actually putting his meter on.

[HerbalEd]

How do you know it was her "personal" phone? And even so, taking photos on her personal phone doesn't mean they can't be official photos.