visa related information on file since when?

[bodo]

Since how many years already is all visa related personal information being kept on file at the immigration offices?

[ubonjoe]

For infinity as far as I know.

[bodo]

I have to be clearer: how long is visa related personal information online at the immigration offices, since about 10 - 15 years?

[ubonjoe]

I can recall 20 years ago that they were using computers at the airport. Not sure about the local immigration offices but it is more than 10 years.

[chrisinth]

I can confirm that in 2002 they had two full screens of entry/exit history on me. Not sure how many years that went back.

I was changing extensions from old to new passport at Suen Prue in Bkk at the time.

[thedemon]

According to this document from a reputable law firm it is at least 15 years, since the document says last updated 2001

The Immigration officials have computerized listings of foreigners sentenced for criminal and narcotics offenses in Thailand. The Immigration Bureau plans to submit these lists to the Ministry of Interior with a proposal to blacklist these foreigners. Blacklisted foreigners will be banned from entering Thailand until their names are deleted from the list.

Records of arrival and departure of all foreigners are computerized and updated at the Central Immigration Bureau in Bangkok. In suspicious cases, the officials do use computer reading devices to check the genuineness of a passport and detect any alteration, e.g., change of photograph, change of personal information, falsification of immigration arrival or departure stamps or extension of stay, or fake passports made by unauthorized persons.

http://www.mondaq.com/x/11906/Contract+of+Employment/Immigration+And+Employment+Laws

As Ubonjoe mentions, there were terminals at each immigration booth at Don Muang at least 20 years ago (I think even more). However I clearly recall from a conversation with an off duty immigration officer c.1995 that that system was supplied by the US Government for DEA and terrorist tracking purposes and was not linked to Thai immigration.

That seems to be confirmed by an experience about the same period where a visiting family friend lost her passport. After having a new passport issued I took her to Suan Phlu to have the entry date confirmed. We were led to a 2 storey building away from the main office and there were hundreds of cartons containing arrival cards. After informing the clerk of the flight number and arrival date he went away and returned with a bundle of 3-400 cards, removed the rubber band and handed them to me to search through. Sure enough, there was her original TM6. With that in hand we returned to the main office and an officer stamped the details in the new passport. No computer in sight.

So my best guestimate is 15-20 years.