Thai Immigration Unveiles New (APPS) Screening System

[Thaidream]

They already have the Interpol list in their computer system. They do have to go to different screens to access it. The Advance System supposedly gives them a heads up that the person is en route and they can then deal with it upon attempted entry. There is a tremendous amount of information they have potential access to. However, when you have queues of hundred and hundreds attempting entry, you cannot screen each one completely because going from database to database takes time. If it takes 5-10 minutes for each person to clear Immigration- the queue waiting time will increase tremendously causing an impossible bottleneck. The interesting note is how does that person get on the airplane in the first place if they are on a watch list?

[SOTIRIOS]

.....'The Gods'......

[chainarong]

First up computers only work fine by the people who manage them , secondly, what about those unsavory characters who have no convictions at home because of unusual spiritual beliefs, but play hooky poky with kids while in Thailand, Thirdly. trying to handle all that tourist traffic, a caste of millions according to TAT, will just about overload the system , especially those quality tourists............................................... ..

[geisha]

2 questions please. I thought if you were a criminal you could not easily change your name, and if you did, it would be on record.

Also, will they also not use this system for border crossings , isn't the immigration the same system as at airports?

It would certainly help keeping the no gooders out.

[hobobo]

Let's hope that it works better than their 90 day online reporting system.

Nothing wrong with their 90 day online reporting. I've used it for the 4th time recently, and it works just fine. First time the Approved message took 3 days, and the last three times the following day!

[hawker9000]

So every port of entry will be linked to a central database. Ok. Then some guy gets the passengers name and types it in. His database is linked with every countries database that contains the names of all known criminals + Interpol's database. Got it. We are all in safe hands now Wonder how much this 'system' is going to cost...

The typical jump to conclusions. Countries simply don't share their criminal databases, with some exceptions which require reciprocity (e.g., the US & Canada share theirs). What this MIGHT mean is the sharing of no-fly lists & such, and possibly active warrants, maybe invalid passports. Pretty sure Interpol info is already available to Thai Immigration.

[ukrules]

So every port of entry will be linked to a central database. Ok. Then some guy gets the passengers name and types it in. His database is linked with every countries database that contains the names of all known criminals + Interpol's database. Got it. We are all in safe hands now Wonder how much this 'system' is going to cost...

There is no such thing as a list of 'known criminals' on an international basis and there never will be as each country doesn't share this information. Where they do share it, it's only shared with certain trusted partners.

For example the US and Canada share their information much to the detriment of the people living in those countries, a past driving conviction / minor conviction in the US can be enough to get you barred from entry to Canada but no other country in the world will know about it. It works the same the other way around when a Canadian enters the US.

It's a bizarre system which sees 1000's of people refused entry to each country due to some misdemeanour which may have been recorded decades ago.

There is a list of people who are wanted through the interpol databases but these aren't your normal warrants issued locally in different countries around the world, they appear to be specially escalated international warrants / investigations where international assistance has been specifically requested.

[sawadee1947]

congrats....yes, now the country is more safe....because all foreigners are under surveillance now....and this is why most crimes are committed by foreigners. (see the 2 guys at Samui or the Spanish recently....). So at the end Thailand is crime free...!!!

[Tatertot]

Took me quite a while to figure out what "googen" was a reference to,,,,

[TheKnave]

Took me quite a while to figure out what "googen" was a reference to,,,,

Study Thai, then you'll know what happens to 'lor ling' at the end of a syllable...

"What hoten you stay, hansum man?"

[timendres]

Stopping criminals aside, the article does mention one thing that I think will undoubtedly be a positive from this system - the tracking of passengers potentially exposed to serious illness (the example in the article being MERS). With these nasty viruses likely to be on the rise over time, this can only help in matters of public health. So, if this system stops only one nasty criminal, but also stops a serious spread of MERS within Thailand, then it will be worth the investment.

[dashdashdot]

This will soon be complimented by the Personal Enumeration Nationality Immigration System, or...

Which is what these clowns are.

If their system is so hot, why not prevent the passenger from boarding, instead of waiting for them to arrive, only to deny entry, and what? Lock them in the IDC? Pay for their return ticket?

What?

Well, I figure that at the immigration counter (after getting off the flight) the person in question will be informed that he is an "added risk" and therefore must pay extra to go through immigration OR pay to depart immediately. Bam, moneymaker!

That's the way I would run it

[Jonmarleesco]

Well, it's nice to know The Nation will be more secure. What about the nation?