Swedish Tourist Applies For Visa, Arrested For Not Carrying Passport

[sriracha john]

Tourist applies for visa, arrested for not carrying passport

Thonglor, BKK - A Swedish tourist ordered a trip to Burma at a Thai travel-agency in Bangkok. The agent also offered to arrange visa formalities on behalf of the tourist, a procedure which is common and legal. The tourist handed over his passport to the agency.

At a routine check for identification the tourist was arrested while walking with two Thai friends near Thonglor BTS sky-train station, Sukhhumvit road. Not having a passport he was arrested, despite carrying a original Swedish driver's licence and explaining the situation to the police.

He also offered to call a friend to produce the receipt from the travel agency, but the police stated that they were not interested, and stated that nothing else other than the original passport would be satisfactory, "as the law requires". As there would be no way to contact the Burmese embassy at that time of day the police told the tourist that he would have to be detained until next day.

The procedure took several hours, after where the tourist was released after one of his Thai friends paid 3000 Baht to the police. No receipt was given.

It is compulsory for foreigners to carry a valid passport at all times in Thailand. In practice very few do, as losing it would establish a very difficult situation. An unofficial statement from the police says that an embassy-certified copy would be acceptable. It is not known how many tourists, e.g. when applying for visas elsewhere, go to their embassy first to get such a copy.

- Business Day (this reads as a reader-submitted article, however it's not denoted as such)

[alexth]

Something makes me think that there is more to it than just that. I, for one, never had any problems, even more, everytime I got stopped by the police, I showed them my student ID card and I even received a smile from the face of the angry police officers and been left in peace.

It's very strange that the polce wouldn't listen to his thai friends explaining the situation, let alone the fact that they aren't that pissed about it in these situation.

[h90]

Something makes me think that there is more to it than just that. I, for one, never had any problems, even more, everytime I got stopped by the police, I showed them my student ID card and I even received a smile from the face of the angry police officers and been left in peace.

It's very strange that the polce wouldn't listen to his thai friends explaining the situation, let alone the fact that they aren't that pissed about it in these situation.

Remind me when the approx 30 policemen entered a Disco, checking age of everyone.

I was pretty drunk already.

They asked me how old I am, I told 18 (I am very much older but look young), policeman (the boss) asked for my passport, I told him I don't have any passport and he told me "thats OK".

But all was in a very relaxed way, everyone joking all the time and amazed to be able to joke with a farang....

After not beeing drunk it sounded pretty stupid, but a few days later a policeman (I think one of these, just paid me a drink somewhere, with some jokes I did not understand in his english).

so only good experiences the last 5 years.

[Thaising]

Tourist applies for visa, arrested for not carrying passport

The procedure took several hours, after where the tourist was released after one of his Thai friends paid 3000 Baht to the police. No receipt was given.

Misused of authority with the intention to milk farang money.

[PhilHarries]

Tourist applies for visa, arrested for not carrying passport

At a routine check for identification the tourist was arrested while walking with two Thai friends near Thonglor BTS sky-train station, Sukhhumvit road. Not having a passport he was arrested, despite carrying a original Swedish driver's licence and explaining the situation to the police.

During my 14 or so years in Thailand I have never carried so much as a photocopy of my passport and I was never asked for ID by the police. As for these routine checks, I never saw nor heard of one being performed however I only rarely visitted Bangkok spending most of my time either around Pattaya area or Saraburi.

Are these routine checks a new thing requiring me to carry passport ID during my impending return to LOS for a short visit? Alternatively will my Malaysian expatriate identification card, carrying both photo and passport number, suffice or are the police checking visas?

[kmart]

Tourist applies for visa, arrested for not carrying passport

At a routine check for identification the tourist was arrested while walking with two Thai friends near Thonglor BTS sky-train station, Sukhhumvit road. Not having a passport he was arrested, despite carrying a original Swedish driver's licence and explaining the situation to the police.

During my 14 or so years in Thailand I have never carried so much as a photocopy of my passport and I was never asked for ID by the police. As for these routine checks, I never saw nor heard of one being performed however I only rarely visitted Bangkok spending most of my time either around Pattaya area or Saraburi.

Are these routine checks a new thing requiring me to carry passport ID during my impending return to LOS for a short visit? Alternatively will my Malaysian expatriate identification card, carrying both photo and passport number, suffice or are the police checking visas?

Sounds a bit like a scam to me. Thai travel agency staff member has a cop friend / relative waiting outside for the hapless schmuck who has just handed over his passport to selectively enact another one of the myriad of outdated-but-lucrative laws of LOS. Do I sound cynical?

[eugengeri]

My experience was from years ago in a province. One o'clock in the morning I was checked from a police man and I didn't had my passport on me.

He brought me to the policestation where I had to wait till he had finish worked - that was 6 o'clock in the morning. But I could shopping alone beer and cigarettes in the near shop - of course also for him. After he brought me home to the house where my passport was and everything was okay. It was relaxed but I was very tired.

[LaReina]

next question is, would a thai drivers license be good enough for identification.

[alexth]

next question is, would a thai drivers license be good enough for identification.

It usually is...that is why I find all this strange

[brazil]

thong lo police are very famous in the minds of most of my friends for stopping farangs in the street

i have been stopped and 6 other of my farang friends even my japanese friend who is the md of suzuki has been stopped while we all have been living in bangkok over the years.we all dress in a smart way so it seems only our colour that they use to stop people.

it is nearly always 2 cops on a motorbike who will slow down and stop you walking.

they will ask you that they are checking for drugs or some other excuse and then check your wallet and pockets.

the worst areas are from the emporiom to ekamai bus station.

if in those areas walking then my advice is to carry a passport so that the police have no excuses to take you back to the station and try to lessen the load inside your wallet

[PhilHarries]

next question is, would a thai drivers license be good enough for identification.

It usually is...that is why I find all this strange

My prob is that a) my Thai DL is expired and the photo they used is so out of focus it's a joke (it was accepted at the Malaysian Embassy in Manila - needed my PP and ID to support gf's application for visa).

[Scott]

I hate these threads--so many people will conjecture about how it never happens to them and it must be people that are up to something--well it's not.

I once was heading down the street near where I lived. There were a bunch of police and as I got closer, they were picking up foreigners (about 3 hotels and several guest houses in the area) and checking for passports. Of course, most didn't have them with them as they had nicked out of the hotel to buy beer, cigarettes, snacks at the 7-11 where the police were standing.

They carted them all away. The hotels got the job of trying to find everyones passports and take them down to the immigration police.

I just turned around and walked discreetly away. So yes, it does happen, and you don't have be doing anything--just the wrong person in the wrong place without your documents!

[tropo]

They better not be doing this too often as it would not be good for business if tourists are forced to spend hours at the police station because they don't carry their passports.

Who every carries a passport at any holiday destination anywhere in the world. Not too many I would presume.

For me, I'd rather take the risk of some time down at the local police station than to carry and risk losing my passport. I would not pay the policeman 3000 without a receipte either.

If I'd been arrested I would have played it out the whole way. Surely the fine is small. I just can't see how they can hold you too long if you don't cooperate in their cash grab scam.

These sort of things need wide publicity. It'll never stop if whimps shell out cash so readily.

Edited December 18, 2006 by tropo

[pazu]

Were we really told the whole story? It just sounds strange that the police would try to get himself into such a big trouble by arresting a farang whose passport was in a travel agency only. I had been in Thailand for a year only but I never had any trouble with the police, I found them, most of the time, quite friendly and I guess it would be easy to get by if they found that I didn't carry my passport. Indeed during my stay in Thailand, I usually didn't carry my passport around, never had any problem.

[gburns57au]

I had to report a Thai person to the police in Pattaya, I was asked for ID in the form of my passport, I told him I didnt want that stolen too so I dont carry it, showed him my Oz DL and it was fine.

To be fair to the BIB, It is the law and using random checks is better than checking everyone, unfortunately it is a silly law and changing it to a photocopy of the passport would be better.

[Tony Clifton]

Unforgettable Thailand.

[Rinrada]

Carry a laminated photocopy and keep it in your wallet...

I made one up a couple of years ago with my PP on one side and my latest up to date Multi Entry NONI "O" enclosed in a plastic laminate and have never needed to show it until last week...to the Customs at Heathrow Airport

KW left a bag on the roundabout in arrivals and to save time mucking about I went back the following night to reclaim it...they had already confirmed that they had it ( Thai/Air Canada /SAS...baggage )

Anyway had to go through the back door into arrivals and although I had her PP and baggage thingy they wanted ID from me and /or a letter from her given permission etc.....understandable....however didnt have......

Dont need/use my UK driving Lic so its in another wallet but fortunately I did have my Thai Driving licence as well as laminates of UK /EU PP and as said...Thai Visa....

Thoughts of the drag back home again on the Piccadilly Line (I live at other end )without the poxy bag were on my mind but Customs were happy to accept...

....That will DO FINE.

5 minutes later went through ..still had to be searched and take off shoes etc.but picked up bag and headed through green lane and grabbed a bottle of "duty free" just before the exit....

Also ref Thai ID ..I carry copy of wifes ID card with her telephone Number on it and a message in Thai saying ...

If problem....Call this Number...or else....but never needed to show it.....O Well....

[OneeyedJohn]

Just out of interest, a lot of people talk about receipts, yeah...well wot the hel_l are you going to do with it ?

If you've already stomped up the dosh, , a receipt is not gonna get it back for you

[francois]

Tourist applies for visa, arrested for not carrying passport

The procedure took several hours, after where the tourist was released after one of his Thai friends paid 3000 Baht to the police. No receipt was given.

Misused of authority with the intention to milk farang money.

hi'

right, this stinks

agency inform police this farang (photo joined age and look,+ area of stay ..)

police get the guy after a small search, give him some tough time, took some money and it was ok for them,

as the daily tip

for those who don't believe that this can't hapen seem to me very naive

anyway, carry your passport always, it's required by the Thai law ...

a copy doesn't work!

your work permit could make it though ...

though time for anyone and I don't think it would get better fast imho of course ....

francois

Edited December 18, 2006 by francois

[Firefan]

One could imagine more "random" checks after 1st Jan to check more for over-stayers now that the new visa-exempt-rule is in place.

Personally I carry copy of passport Incl. visa page/last entry/TM-card/90 day reporting Etc. + my Thai drivers license. Cheers!

[francois]

One could imagine more "random" checks after 1st Jan to check more for over-stayers now that the new visa-exempt-rule is in place.

Personally I carry copy of passport Incl. visa page/last entry/TM-card/90 day reporting Etc. + my Thai drivers license. Cheers!

a thai driving licence make it perfect, but with the passport it's even better, you're very right

only the licence is nearly enough with some good Thai talk, you should go through without problem ... in a car

walking is another story, passport only (with the danger to loose it ...)

but it's the country's law ...

as you need your ID card in your country, even if your driving licence is valid too

so finnaly it's not a big change of habit, except the size of the document

francois

[Thaising]

Just out of interest, a lot of people talk about receipts, yeah...well wot the hel_l are you going to do with it ?

If you've already stomped up the dosh, , a receipt is not gonna get it back for you

For whatever offenses and fine at least we must have the official receipt to proved that state official wasn't out to squeeze some dosh from foreigner tourist.

[chiang mai]

Simple answer here - never leave your passport with anyone for any reason, read it, copy it, touch it but that's all. You wouldn't hand over your ATM card so why hand over your passport since that is arguably more valuable!

[Axel]

Guess not so easy. Whereever yu apply for a visa you have to leave your passport with them.

One of the worst are the OZ-visa people. Up to two weeks. You don't like it? Forget your visa.

[PeaceBlondie]

Sure, there may be a law on the books that foreigners always have to carry their original passport on them. I heard yesterday there's also a law that says men must always be bare-chested unless you're a nobleman. Probably there's a law about driving elephants down Sukumvit Road in Bangkok, too.

I carry a copy of my passport/visa, and a Thai driver's license. When some rental agency says they need to secure my passport, I say, "Mai mee. I live in Thailand. Take photocopy."

[Axel]

I understand that there is a law for everybody to carry an ID. Basically no problem for a Thai. However, the average - foreigner does not have an ID-card, hence the perfect police-English: "Hey you, passport".

Edited December 18, 2006 by Axel

[PeaceBlondie]

I understand that there is a law for everybody to carry an ID. Basically no problem for a Thai. However, the average - foreigner does not have an ID-card, hence the perfect police-English: "Hey you, passport".

Exactly. And a work permit seems to work like an ID card, too. If you drive in Thailand, a Thai license helps.

[meemiathai]

Tourist applies for visa, arrested for not carrying passport

The procedure took several hours, after where the tourist was released after one of his Thai friends paid 3000 Baht to the police. No receipt was given.

Misused of authority with the intention to milk farang money.

hi'

right, this stinks

agency inform police this farang (photo joined age and look,+ area of stay ..)

police get the guy after a small search, give him some tough time, took some money and it was ok for them,

as the daily tip

for those who don't believe that this can't hapen seem to me very naive

anyway, carry your passport always, it's required by the Thai law ...

a copy doesn't work!

your work permit could make it though ...

though time for anyone and I don't think it would get better fast imho of course ....

francois

Not that I'm trying to argue but I just can't get the full picture.

Do the police catch/scam every customer of the agency? If not, how often? One, or ten customer a day, a week or a month? How do they choose? 3000baht won't go a long way. If they are doing this often enough, how come only one is on the news?

It does seem like a stupid law. But does it really work if tourists are allowed to not carry any identity proof?

Would it become dangerous? Any suggestions?

[Ijustwannateach]

I think that, just as in any country, foreign-looking types can expect a certain background level of harassment from the police- inconsistent and depending on who and where you and the police are. This can never be reduced to zero... however, I've never had problems in my own experience.

[Tony Clifton]

Lost mine once, never again. The 3000 fine/scam baht would be worth it with all the trouble and cost of replacing it, delayed flight. Photocopy and Thai driver's licence only.

Edited December 18, 2006 by Tony Clifton