Carry Your Passport From Today Through Sunday 18th

[george]

From: BangkokAtoZ.com

Carry Your Passports from Today Through Sunday, April 18th

Foreigners must have our passports on us for these 9 days or risk being detained and spending hours at a police station until the legality of our presence is established. The targeted areas for enforcement in Bangkok are the Patpong area, Nana Plaza-Soi Zero area, Soi Cowboy and environs, Sukhumvit Soi 33, the general neighborhood of Washington Square-Sukhumvit Soi 22-Queen’s Park Plaza, and Khao San Road.

--Source: BangkokAtoZ.com

[Basher]

Soooo the allies did lose WWII after all and the Nazis are now diguised as Thai Immigration.....Oye Vey

Bash

[Topprofile]

Would this ever happen in a western country? At least not where i'm from. There the police have more important issues to take care of than harassing tourists who spend their long saved money on new year or any other day...

But then, this is not my country...

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Would this ever happen in a western country? At least not where i'm from. There the police have more important issues to take care of than harassing tourists who spend their long saved money on new year or any other day...

But then, this is not my country...

Just stay home in bed George. With bulk icy Chang's of course.

[p1p]

Be sure to carry in shirt pocket. Songkran water guaranteed to wash out visa stamps. Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy.

[mrmnp]

It might be helpful, for a change, to not bash the Thai police and perhaps try to determine why they are expending their energy in this endeavor.

With the terrorist activity now in Thailand, surely this is a security issue during the most celebrated of holidays in Thailand.

The police are privy to a lot of information not available to their critics. Perhaps, suspected terrorists are traveling on passports from known countries and a quick passport check clears that foreigner from police attention. With many thousands of foreigners flooding into Thailand at this time, it must be an immense problem to try to prevent a "pay back attack" for Thailands participation in the Iraq situation.

My experience around the world indicates that a foreigner's only acceptable form of identification is his passport and that police in all countries in the world expect everyone to carry acceptable identificaton, or be detained until identification is established.

Topprofile: Perhaps you would share with us of what country you are from so we could all share in the exception to the rule that you need not carry identification while traveling in your country?

[possom]

no requirement to carry ID in the UK , or new zealand ,not sure about other places . you certainly wouldnt find me carrying my passport with me in thailand ,it stays at home where it is safe ,if the cops want to see ,theyre quite welcome to give me a ride home !!

[terdsak_12]

How's carrying a valid passport with all the right stamps going to stop a supposed terrorist? Do passports have "terrorist" stamped in them these days? Is that how the police identify them?

[Axel]

no requirement to carry ID in the UK , or new zealand ,not sure about other places . you certainly wouldnt find me carrying my passport with me in thailand ,it stays at home where it is safe ,if the cops want to see ,theyre quite welcome to give me a ride home !!

Carry your p/port and be sure it will get wet over Sonkran.

Don't carry it and take the risk to be hauled off to establish your identity.

It's a catch 22, but for sure the police will not come to your house. They just keep you, at least until the next working day.

Depends where you will be, I guesss some nightspots will be targeted for ID-checks.

[unbiasbob]

I refuse to carry it over some hype posted on this board. The chances of getting hit are minimal. gimme a break

[taxexile]

just carry a laminated copy, reduced to credit card size, of the relevant pages.

a few baht and a few minutes in any half decent photocopy shop.

[PREM-R]

taxexile: just carry a laminated copy, reduced to credit card size, of the relevant pages.

a few baht and a few minutes in any half decent photocopy shop.

Would the police really accept such a copy as official ID? If so it would seem to be the ideal answer to the problems of long-term stayers here in Thailand who hate to carry their passport with them all the time (for whatever reason!) and do not qualify for a Thai ID card.

[Topprofile]

Would this ever happen in a western country? At least not where i'm from. There the police have more important issues to take care of than harassing tourists who spend their long saved money on new year or any other day...

But then, this is not my country...

Just stay home in bed George. With bulk icy Chang's of course.

Hm, too bad I don't drink Chang. It doesn't even taste good when it's icecold... And now when Carlsberg isn't around anymore...

mrmnp, I don't think Sweden is the only country in the world vere a tourist are not required to carry around their passport. I could hear the customs/immigration in Sweden tell the arriving tourist "now you have to go make a copy of your passport if you don't want to carry it around with you, and make sure you get an official stamp of the copy otherwise we'll book you for forgery and for not carrying a valid ID..."

The police just doesn't go around bothering tourist who for some reason lost their way and ended up in cold (in many ways) Sweden..

In the street "-Oh, excuse me officer. I'm lost, can you please show me the way to the waterfestival?

-Hey dude, show me your passport first otherwise we'll take you to jail and make sure you'll see the festival with stars from close up.."

I've been travelling all around the world but never heard of the requirement to carry my passport around all the time, but then what do I know...

[Basher]

For those of us who reside..

Just carry your Thai driving licence, that usually does the job, and if it is a 5 year one they know you have been around for a good while. Plus it is laminated already.

For those who don't reside.... go home, bloody tourists!

Bash

[Basher]

By the way I just read this in the Phuket Gazette:

Report to Immigration, foreigners told

PHUKET CITY: The Phuket Immigration Office has renewed its warning that foreigners holding any type of one-year extension-of-stay must visit an Immigration office every 90 days to confirm their identity and address, or face a 2,000 baht fine.

More stringent application of the rules – along with random visits by officers to check passports in areas where foreigners gather – will begin in May.

However, foreigners who report late, but before the end of April, may escape penalty, officials told the Gazette.

The checks are part of intensified security to prevent terrorism. While the initial warning in November to foreigners about 90-day reporting followed the capture in Ayudhya of alleged Jamaah Islamiyah terrorist Hambali, concern has been mounting more recently about trouble in Thailand’s deep south.

The US, Britain, Australia and Denmark this week issued travel advisories suggesting that their citizens exercise caution and avoid the five deep-south provinces where bombings, arson and random attacks have occurred in the past few months.

The advisories from Australia and Denmark also mentioned Phuket and Pattaya.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said yesterday that the warnings were “understandable and common.” He added, “We have to admit that the southern violence has affected tourism because the problems are still going on.”

In Phuket, Immigration Pol Capt Krissarat Nuesen told the Gazette that the initial announcement in November about 90-day reporting had dramatically improved Immigration officers’ knowledge of the number of foreigners in Phuket and their whereabouts.

He reminded foreigners who reported as a result of the first notification that they need to report not just once, but every 90 days.

He noted that the response had been good from Americans, Britons and Australians, but not so good among continental Europeans and people from the Indian sub-continent.

In addition to the 2,000 baht fine, failure to report could affect long-term visa holders in other ways, Capt Krissarat warned.

“If stamps in a passport show that the passport holder has not consistently contacted Immigration as the rules prescribe, this may affect his or her next application for an extension-of-stay or visa,” he explained.

[george]

Stickman write is this weeks weekly column:

--

Various late night establishments, such as Bed Supper Club and Nana Hotel have signs erected saying that all customers should have some form of ID or their passport on them at all times. One can only guess that the boys in brown have been giving these establishments and their customers grief over this.

--

--Stickmanbangkok.com 2004-04-11

[Axel]

Well, I think it's up to everybody's decision. I can only recommend, do carry the p/port or a certified copy. Thai driving licence might help, although it does not reflect your visa-status.

But to tell you a secret, most of the time, I forgot it. Let's face it, usually, the police will not stop you and ask for ID. Sometimes they do. So all the posts just to warn you what can happen.

The risk, of course, is higher in the night-life areas where the boys in brown might show up.

But actually up to you.

As for other countries, believe me they have the same system. I saw with my own eyes (and heard with my own ears) in France, Germany and Switzerland sentences like "This foreigner over there... let's check him out". Perhaps just for boredom

[Topprofile]

been denied entrance to both The Bed on soi 11 and CM2 in Novotel. Told them I was there just a couple of days ago with no ID, to no use... Had to leave the ladies to go get my passport.. Lucky they were still waiting when I came back..

[Basher]

I wonder how many people will lose their passports through muggings and pickpockets over this.

Bash

[Hpro]

As for other countries, believe me they have the same system. I saw with my own eyes (and heard with my own ears) in France, Germany and Switzerland sentences like "This foreigner over there... let's check him out". Perhaps just for boredom

Hi There,

First off - I've already typed this once , but pushed to wrong button , so if it gets to the Board Admin or Mod then just delete it, and sorry for to pressing the wrong button.

Now, I'm swiss citizen and right now living in swiss - there aint no rule of having to carry the passport around with you..

Foreign Nationals who are staying for more than the amount of 3 months of time, will get a Foreign National License, which he or she can have at home.. If uphold by police then all the police will do is phone up the the 24 hour working dept. and check the names.

For tourists police will call either the hotel or the place the person they check stays.

If someone is suspicious then police will take him or her to P-Station... it's a matter of not longer than a hour until they be released again, if he or her is clean .

It's very hard in swiss to become Suspicious..

Happy Easter

Hpro

[Axel]

HPro and Happy Easter to you.

The last time I was stopped in Zurich for a minor problem. (On tail light on my rent-a-car was off) I was told of this very politely and had to show my dr. licence and car registration. His colleague shouted over, inSwiss German, "Hey, he got two foreigners, let's check them out", probably he was not aware I do speak the language as the car had French plates.

This only 1 example, nothing serious and I agree with you the checking goes faster.

My point, however, is

a) The police has a right to check anybody on suspicion or general control

If the person checked cannot identify her/himself further measures can be taken.

c) To establish identity the police can take a person to the station. In Thailand this can take a bit longer than in CH.

While a check can happen for many reasons, the risks of being checked are far higher late at night and in night spots. Combined with a not so polite behaviour the checking in Thailand can take longer or until office hours start. Not a big issue and

no hype.

[Begs]

I've been travelling all around the world but never heard of the requirement to carry my passport around all the time, but then what do I know...

Law in Japan:: forgieners must their passport with them at all times

[Topprofile]

Hm, so I missed Japan...

[Axel]

Law in Japan:: forgieners must their passport with them at all times

Yes begs, or the alien registration book (I forgot the name)

Once was stopped, years ago and of course, had forgotten it in another jacket.

Nice to follow a police car at 20 km/h, make a report at the police station, write a letter of apology and "what time will you be home?" "Midnight?"

"OK you telephone here midnight."

Nothing serious but it cost me 1 hour and nasty remarks from the host of a dinner party that lastet for 2 hours only.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

I wonder how many people will lose their passports through muggings and pickpockets over this.

Bash

Not to mention the number of drowned passports as a result of Len Songkran's water chucking.

[tuky]

Passports are a must in Sunny Azerbaijan, and we have been issued special little cards from our employers telling the police to contact the supplied number before doing anything (because it is normally a bribe they are after, so the problems then goes away when faced with the little card) But one must carry ones Passport.

It is understandable.

My wife laughs at me though and says "no pompem" when I want to take it somewhere. eg the other day we went out to buy somtam, but we were already aware of the police roadblock down the road so I took my PP, she laughed and suggested I was "big secare, I am big size why I secare?". I took it along anyway and sure enough, they were too busy with the young Thai guy (I am only 29, so a prime candidate) searching his car and didn't even see me.

Next time...

no pompem

[tuky]

My wife laughs at me though and says "no pompem" when I want to take it somewhere. eg the other day we went out to buy somtam, but we were already aware of the police roadblock down the road so I took my PP, she laughed and suggested I was "big secare, I am big size why I secare?". I took it along anyway and sure enough, they were too busy with the young Thai guy (I am only 29, so a prime candidate) searching his car and didn't even see me.

Next time...

no pompem

yeah rite...

POMPEM!!!

[MekhongKurt]

A friend of mine who works in Immigration Headquarters but not in the visa section checked for me with visa officers. They told him if I had a photocopy signed and stamped by a visa officer it is a legally acceptable substitute for one's passport *in* Thailand -- not to cross borders.

I later asked a senior visa NCO at headquarters what the rule is, and he repeated the same thing my friend was told.

I've put this to the test only once, but had not one's second difficulty.

My friend was also told a Thai driver's license is indeed adequate, at least in instances in which the only need is to establish identity, though as another writer pointed out, a driver's license doesn't show one's visa status.

Edited May 10, 2005 by MekhongKurt

[autonomous_unit]

The law in the US also requires foreigners to carry around their passport, and permanent residents to carry their "green card". However, I know many foreigners did not. I think it depends on whether your ethnicity is one that is unofficially profiled in the area you are visiting? There is no US national ID, and a foreigner can get a driver's license just as easily as a US national and there is no indication on the license as to your immigration status. A citizen need not carry his license unless he is driving. Of course, this may vary on a state by state basis and I only know the "blue" states personally.

Here in BKK, I usually carry my passport in an interior pocket and in a little "sandwich" sized ziplock baggie during Songkran. Do many countries issue duplicate passports? I know the UK will as a matter of course, but don't know about my own US state department. But, can you get a duplicate visa stamp in a duplicate passport, I wonder... how useful is the backup passport if you still appear to be violating immigration status?

[bkk_mike]

Would this ever happen in a western country? At least not where i'm from. There the police have more important issues to take care of than harassing tourists who spend their long saved money on new year or any other day...

But then, this is not my country...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I know it's the rule in Spain.

Was once there staying at my Aunt's place (she retired there from UK). Went with my cousin to the beach, and police asked to see his passport, which, of course, he didn't have on him. (In the end got by with my vouching for him as my cousin, as I had my driving licence and IDP in the rental car.)

But - Spain proves it is a rule in at least some EU countries. (although it's probably only an issue if the police are bored and think you look out of place, or you get involved in a traffic accident or something...)

Anyway - it's a stupid rule in any country with large numbers of tourists going to beaches. (after all - how many people take their passport into the sea?)

As for the Thai drivers licence. I agree it doesn't show your current visa status, but does show you got a non-imm visa at some point, which means you filled in immigration forms at some point. Also, if it's up-to-date you are more likely than not to be there legally.

Edited May 10, 2005 by bkk_mike