Visa & Immigration News

[halfway inn]

FINGERPRINT  SCANNERS

Fingerprint scans to debut at Immigration to catch known criminals


Immigration Commissioner Pharnu Kerdlarpphon confirmed that the new finger scanners will be used to catch criminals already known to Thai authorities or Interpol

PHUKET: 15-05-2014

Thai Immigration aims to begin scanning fingerprints of all foreigners arriving in the Kingdom by the end of the year under a project costing 342 million baht.
 
“The budget has yet to be approved, but we hope to introduce fingerprint-scanning machines by the end of 2014,” Immigration Commissioner Pharnu Kerdlarpphon confirmed to the Phuket Gazette yesterday.
 
The scanners, to be introduced at every immigration entry point in the country, are part of the bureau’s effort to prevent foreign criminals from entering Thailand, Lt Gen Pharnu explained.
 
Fingerprint scanners were chosen over biometric passport scanners as they are better able to identify criminals who have officially changed their names and have passports under their new identities, Gen Pharnu said.
 
“We are aware that some of our target groups, such as Russians and South Koreans, are issued biometric passports,” he explained. “But biometric passport scanners would not catch people travelling with new documents or those using fake passports.
 
“You can change your name or your appearance, but you can’t change your fingerprints.”
 
The general recognized that scanning fingerprints would not flag any inbound foreigners unless they had a criminal record in Thailand or were wanted by Interpol.
 
“But at least we will have a better system for collecting information on which foreigners enter Thailand, how often they enter and when,” he said.
 
"Immigration queues will get longer, but this needs to be done".

"They already do it in other countries, such as Japan.”
 
The scanners will force thousands of people to touch the same device.

When asked about the possibility of transmitting diseases – such as MERS – the general said he was not worried.
 
“So many other countries use fingerprinting. We are not worried about disease transmission. As I said, it is something that needs to be done for the benefit of the whole country.”
 
The general’s announcement is in addition to a new policy to restrict foreigners from working in Thailand while on visa-exempt status.



Phuket Gazette (15-05-2014)

[halfway inn]

PASSPORT OFFICE

SUNDAY 25 MAY 2014

Passport office set to reopen

The Department of Consular Affairs will resume operations at its main office on Chaeng Watthana Road on Monday next week after anti-government protesters left the area following the military coup on Thursday.

The department said the Chaeng Watthana office would remain closed until Friday for security inspections and system tests.

The department’s temporary passport services at its offices in Bang Na, Pin Klao and the 7th floor of the Government Complex B Building, however, will be still available from tomorrow until Friday from 8.30am to 3.30pm.

Those who have used the www.consular.go.th website to book a position in the queue for passport applications can still use that position at the office on the 3rd floor of the Esplanade shopping mall on Ratchadaphisek Road.

 





  

[halfway inn]

Phuket Immigration swoop nets Nigerian, Cambodians, Indians and a Syrian

PHUKET: 06-06-2014

Seven foreigners have been arrested in Phuket for a variety of immigration-related offences, plus begging illegally.

Phuket Immigration held a press conference yesterday afternoon (June 5) to announce the arrests of the seven men.

Caught first were two Cambodian men named Chai, 40, and Lue, 70, who were arrested for begging illegally on Chao Fah Road.

Nigerian national Paul Chiboy Anasoh, 25, was arrested closed to Robinson in Phuket Town for having an expired permit to stay. He entered Thailand on September 24, 2012, and his permit to stay expired on December 22, 2013.

In addition, three Indians – Angrej Singh, 26, Rakesh Singh, 27, and Ranveer Singh, 29 – were arrested on Phuket Road in Phuket Town for not having a valid permit to stay in Thailand.

Syrian national Amer Tamim 28, was arrested in Rassada for having an expired permit to stay. He arrived in Thailand via a checkpoint in Ranong on December 14, 2013. His permit to stay expired on March 13, 2014.


Phuket News (06-06-2014)

[Oytopikos]

PHUKET: A van full of foreigners returning to Phuket from a visa run to Penang were delayed at the Malaysian border for more than two and a half hours today as Thai immigration officers demanded that they all present large amounts of cash to confirm that they each had enough money to fund their stay in the Thailand.

Any foreigners who could not produce the required cash were told that they would not be allowed to enter Thailand and would have to remain on the Malaysian side of the border, the Phuket Gazette was told over the phone by one of the visa runners.

The call was made while the foreigners were standing in the Sadao Immigration Office on the Malaysian border in Songkhla.

Foreigners entering Thailand on a visa-on-arrival stamp issued by immigration officials at the border were required to show 10,000 baht cash, while people entering on a tourist visa issued at the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate were required to show 20,000 baht cash.

One school teacher on the visa run had to show 40,000 baht cash, as she was entering the country on a non-immigrant B (Business) visa issued at the Royal Thai Consulate in Penang.

“I showed the officers an ATM slip that proved I had the money in a Thai bank account, but the officers would not accept it as proof [of funds],” Phuket expat Steven (last name withheld) told the Gazette.

Steven also showed them the birth certificate for his three-month-old Thai daughter.

“They did not accept that,” he said.

Additionally, he showed officers his name entered on his landlord’s official Thai house registration document (tabien baan) confirming him as a long-term tenant.

“That was no good either,” he added.

Officers started manually recording the serial numbers of all banknotes presented so that they could not be passed to other visa runners to use as evidence of funds, another Phuket expat told the Gazette.

“The officers explained that it was an old rule now being enforced at all checkpoints,” said Steven.

That explanation concurred with the crackdown ordered by former Immigration Commissioner Pharnu Kerdlarpphon in May, which targeted foreigners using visa-on-arrival border runs as a way of staying in Thailand to work illegally

However, the “cash only” requirement did not.

By this afternoon, however, Sadao Immigration Deputy Superintendent Banphot Kittivira told the Gazette that cash was not the only way for foreign arrivals to provide evidence of funds.

“I don’t know what happened with those foreigners, but we had a meeting of all officers today to make sure that everyone understood that cash is not the sole way to meet the requirement,” said Lt Col Banphot.

Balance slips printed by any of the ATMs at the checkpoint are accepted, but bankbooks are not, he added.

Foreigners conducting the visa run confirmed to the Gazette that after 1pm, all of them were suddenly cleared by immigration – many by presenting only access to funds, not by showing cash.

Col Banphot reiterated that his officers were only enforcing the crackdown on foreigners using visa-exemptions and tourist visas to stay in Thailand and work.

“Foreigners working illegally in Thailand on tourist visas must be stopped,” he said.

Col Banphot explained that, in accordance with the long-standing law, foreigners entering Thailand must be able to prove to immigration officials that they have access to the required funds as follows:

• People entering on a tourist visa exemption or visa-on-arrival must show they have access to at least 10,000 baht per person or 20,000 per family.

• People entering on a tourist visa or non-immigrant visa issued at a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate must show they have access to at least 20,000 baht per person or 40,000 baht per family.

Col Banphot noted that the money requirements did not apply to children under 12 years old, but that all foreigners were required to show immigration officers a return flight or confirmed bus ticket exiting the country when asked.

If cash is presented, officers will manually record the serial numbers so that they cannot be used by other visa runners on the trip, Col Banphot confirmed.

“We welcome all people to live and work in Thailand, but please apply for the right visa to do so legally,” Col Banphot said.

The van driver caught in today’s “misunderstanding”, who asked to be named only as “Mr Gee”, said that he had no idea that immigration officers would be demanding that foreigners present cash.

“Normally the border crossing takes 45 minutes for 10 people to clear immigration, but today it took from 10:30am to past 1pm,” said Mr Gee, who works for Phuket’s well-known Thai Visa Run Company (TVR).

“We knew about the rule, it is nothing new, and we knew that they recently started enforcing it, but we had no idea that the officers were going to ask foreigners to present cash.”

Regardless, Mr Gee said he was glad the problem was resolved.

“At least foreigners will not have to carry large sums of money in cash with them on a visa run,” he said.

“Our office has been informed of what happened today, and we will make sure all our customers know they need to be able to prove they have the correct amount of funds for their stay before they join the visa run.”

Meanwhile, Ranong Immigration Superintendent Aekkorn Butsababodin confirmed to the Gazette that his officers will also not be demanding that foreigners present cash.

“All we require is that the foreigners prove they are genuine tourists,” said Col Aekkorn.

“As long as they can show their travel itinerary or means of financial support during their stay, they will be allowed through.”


- See more at: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket-news/Phuket-visa-runners-caught-cash-immigration-scare/30941#sthash.CiUeQRsk.dpuf

[labiko]

VISA CRACKDOWN

Confirmed: Visa run crackdown effective from August 12, 2014: Thai Foreign Ministry

 

BANGKOK: -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok are instructing the Royal Thai Embassies and Consulates worldwide about the visa run crackdown in a letter dated June 23, 2014.

 

For the first time in writing, the ministry confirms the Thai Immigration Bureau's current crackdown on border runners.

 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the crackdown is aimed to prevent visa runners who abuse the visa exemption scheme from working illegally in Thailand.

 

In the letter The Foreign Ministry is confirming earlier information that visa runners will be prohibited from entering Thailand as of August 12, 2014.

 

Visa applicants are advised to acquire appropriate Non-Immigrant visas at Thai Embassies or Consulates prior to their arrival.

 

Previously the Immigration Bureau has announced a crackdown for border runners. The published letter is said to be a strong indication that the Royal Thai Embassies and Consulates now has been instructed to be restrictive in issuing back-to-back tourist visas.

 

Letter attached (below).

 

Source: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangkok, Thailand

[Oytopikos]

Immigration looks to enforce life ban for overstays within weeks

Phuket Gazette - July 8, 2014 | 07:00 PM
 

   

PHUKET: New penalties that will lead to some foreigners caught overstaying their permits-to-stay being blacklisted from re-entering Thailand for life may be introduced before the end of the month.

The news follows reports of a new form, titled “The Acknowledgment of Penalties for Visa Overstay”, being distributed to all immigration checkpoints throughout the country.

The new proposed penalties are listed on the form as follows:

In the case that the alien surrenders themselves:
Overstay more than 90 days – forbidden from re-entering the kingdom for 1 year
Overstay more than 1 year – forbidden from re-entering the kingdom for 3 years
Overstay more than 3 years – forbidden from re-entering the kingdom for 5 years
Overstay more than 5 years – forbidden from re-entering the kingdom for 10 years
Overstay more than 10 years – forbidden from re-entering the kingdom for life

In the case that the alien is being apprehended:
Overstay for less than 1 year – forbidden from re-entering the kingdom for 5 years
Overstay for more than 1 year – forbidden from re-entering the kingdom for 10 years

However, the penalties are not yet in effect.

The Immigration Bureau’s Acting Commissioner, Lt Gen Sakda Chuenpakdee, has submitted this proposal to the Ministry of Interior for approval.

“The commencement date has yet to be set, but that will be done as soon as the proposal has been approved. However, it will not take long. It may come into effect this month,” Lt Gen Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, commander of Immigration Bureau’s Region 6 division, confirmed to the Phuket Gazette today.

If introduced, the form is to be signed by all foreigners entering the country. One copy will be kept by immigration officers, and another by the expat or tourist arriving in the Kingdom.

“Some foreigners have been ignoring our laws for a long time,” Gen Thatchai said. “Some even overstay more than 10 years. The maximum penalty for this is only a 20,000-baht fine [and forced deportation].

“It is time to stop. If you live in a country, you respect its rules.”

Gen Thatchai warned that he expected no right of appeal to be granted to foreigners caught committing overstays.

Lt Col Banphot Kittivira, Deputy Superintendent of the Immigration checkpoint at Sadao, on the Malaysian border, confirmed that his office received a copy of the new form.

“Although the form currently states that any foreigners caught overstaying by less than a year will be banned from re-entering the Kingdom for five years, please note that this will only apply to foreigners who overstay by more than 90 days,” he said.

“Any foreigners who overstay less than 90 days will be subjected to the normal 500-baht a day fine.”

Col Banphot, who just two weeks ago had to rein in overzealous officers enforcing cash requirements for foreigners entering the country (story here), confirmed that his office will wait for official approval before enforcing the new rules.

Phuket Immigration has also received a copy of the rules.

“All ports of entry and immigration offices in Thailand have received the new form,” Phuket Immigration chief Sunchai Chokkajaykij confirmed to the Gazette.

“These new rules will be very good. We fully support them. Good people are welcome to travel or work in Thailand, but people who break the law are not. These law-breakers must be punished.”

Col Sunchai explained that at this stage the form is to remain in Thai and English only.

“The Immigration Bureau is not considering adding other languages at the moment.”

Ranong Immigration Superintendent Aekkorn Butsababodin assured that though his office was ready to start enforcing the new rules, the current rules still applied.

The move to enforce sterner penalties for overstays comes ahead of a crackdown on foreigners entering Thailand on visa-exemption status set to launch on August 13 (story here).

The United States Embassy in Bangkok issued a notice yesterday warning American citizens of the visa-exemption crackdown.

The notice explained that US tourists travelling to Thailand are eligible to enter the Kingdom without a visa and stay for 30 days under the Thai visa-exemption policy, but only if they are able to show an onward/return ticket and possess a passport that is valid for at least six months beyond their date of entry into Thailand (story here).

However, the notice also warned, “If immigration officials perceive that individuals are entering Thailand to reside for an extended time or indefinitely, rather than seeking entry for tourism, such individuals may be denied re-entry.

“If so, they will be referred to a Royal Thai Embassy outside of Thailand to apply for a regular Thai visa before seeking to enter Thailand again.

“The US Embassy and Consulate are not able to intervene with Thai Immigration or the airlines regarding their regulations and policies on behalf of a US citizen who is denied re-entry.”


- See more at: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket-news/Immigration-looks-enforce-life-ban-overstays-within/31105#ad-image-1

[Oytopikos]

PHUKET: Tourists unable to prove the legitimacy of their trip to Thailand are being turned away despite having tourist visas issued by Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed Lt Col Banphot Kittivira, deputy superintendent of the Immigration checkpoint at Sadao.

The Sadao checkpoint, the portal for Phuket visa runners bound for Malaysia, sees about 100 foreigners denied entry into the Kingdom per month, Col Banphot noted.

“If tourists can’t provide us with details about their trip to Thailand, we will refuse them entry,” said Col Banphot.

“We are being very strict about this because some foreigners are using a tourist visa to enter the country and work – this is the wrong type of visa for this.

“Foreigners who are using many tourist visas to enter Thailand multiple times for nearly a year or more are very suspicious.”

Col Banphot explained that legitimate tourists need to clarify what activities they plan on participating in while in Thailand. Additionally, proof of hotel reservations will help them gain entry.

“I think between 60 and 90 days is enough for most people to travel in Thailand,” Col Banphot said.


 http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket-news/Crackdown-tourist-visas-sees-dozens-turned-away/31171#sthash.tQSBBdhN.dpuf

[halfway inn]

GOOD NEWS FROM IMMIGRATION BUREAU

Immigration now clarifies that the new regulation is still under procedure of approval by the Ministry of Interior.

That means, the new rules is not yet in effect.

Time to act fast!

If you currently are on overstay, you are advised to clear it as soon as possible.

Good advice would be to clear the overstay at the Airport and fly out to a neighboring country and obtain a relevant visa at a Royal Thai Consulate or Embassy.

The normal overstay penalty is 500 Baht per day up to a maximum of 20,000 Baht. That has not changed.

What has changed is, that overstayed foreigners will be blacklisted from entering Thailand.

For now, there is no blacklisting yet, according to the Immigration.

However blacklisting for overstay is awaiting approval from The Ministry of Interior.

Time to act fast!


24 July 2014

[Oytopikos]

[halfway inn]

VISITOR NOTIFICATION RULES

Phuket Immigration tightens visitor notification rules

PHUKET

The Immigration Police are applying more rigidly rules about notification of foreigners staying in hotels, villas or homes in Thailand.

They explained that checks will be made whenever a foreigner requests an extension of stay in Thailand.

If the place where they are staying is not found in the notification system, the owner or manager will be fined B1,600.

The rules are laid out in Section 38 of the Immigration Law, which states, in part, “The master, owner or possessor of a residence, or the hotel manager where the alien, having receiving permission to stay temporarily in the Kingdom, is lodging, must notify the competent official of the Immigration Office located in the same area … within 24 hours of the time of arrival of the foreigner concerned.

“If there is no Immigration Office located in that area , the local police in that area must be notified.

“Notification must comply with regulations prescribed by the Director General.” Notifications can be made online but the hotel management, or home or villa owner must in the first instance go to Immigration in person to register and receive a login and password.

[thailandgr]

Every so often someone asks if "with the new rules" there is a problem coming or staying in Thailand, because they have heard so. But in fact many of the recent "new rules" are in favor of the foreigner, while the restrictions, although inconvenient, have been taken as a measure against abuse, and do have remedies. So here I'm summarizing some of these official changes, (I may have forgot some).
 
Positive changes:

• Since 11/08: no more limit of 90 days each 180 for visa exempt entries:
• Since 11/13: 30 days visa exempt to citizens of G7 countries entering via land: 
• Since 9/14: updates to extension of stay regulations, as commented by ubonjoe: , In summary: 
  30 days extension for visa exempt entries.
  Teachers do not need to leave country when changing jobs.
  Can be dependent of those having an Annual visa like O-A.
  Citizen of certain countries do not need a visa for medical extension.
  Provision for athletes and coaches.
• Since (unknown) 2014: Thai Elite members receive one year stay each entry. It was 90 days before.

Restrictive changes:

• Since 8/13: Extensions are granted only until passport validity. Before it was possible to reinstate full duration when a new passport was obtained.
• Since 5/14: Back to back visa exempt entries are not allowed anymore. 
• Since 7/14: Blacklisting announced for serious overstay violations. Not yet effective as of of today.
• Since 9/14: Updates to extension of stay regulation, as per link above:
  No further applications allowed after denial (7 days extension).
  No more than one year in country for students of private schools.
  Other minor restrictions.
• Since 10/14: Some local offices that were doing conversion to a non-imm. visa for the purpose of obtaining an extension have been stripped of the authority. Will now need to use division's HQ office.
• Date unknown and unpublished: Various consulates in Europe raised restrictions to obtain tourist and ED visa.

So, this is not to say that all is good and great, but only to document changes.

Also please note, even at the peak time of the so called crackdown, there have been virtually no reports of anyone not being allowed in country or denied an extension without a valid reason.

 

[halfway inn]

NET 4 FOREIGN FUGITIVES

Immigration cops net 4 foreign fugitives

Men escaped arrest in their home countries

Police have arrested two Germans, a Russian and a Belgian who fled to Thailand after committing crimes in their home countries, immigration police said yesterday.


The Immigration Police Bureau yesterday held a press briefing on the arrests of four foreigners who are wanted on warrants in Germany, Russia and Belgium.

Russian national Konstantin Zaretskiy, 41, was arrested by immigration police at an apartment in Phuket's Kathu district.

Thai authorities learned Mr Zaretskiy was wanted by Russian police for extortion.

There had been a warrant out for him in Russia before he fled to Thailand on a tourist visa.

Russian police believed he had extorted money amounting to 912,000 baht from a senior medical doctor whom he threatened to blackmail if the victim refused to comply.

German national Ferdinand Mittendorfer, 63, was wanted by police in his home country for fraud, causing about 88 million baht in losses.

The suspect used to work as the manager of a logistics firm, which suffered huge losses.

Before he fled to Thailand, Mr Mittendorfer was accused of delaying for three months the company's bankruptcy filing and asset declaration.

It is alleged that he helped the company avoid paying 88 million baht to trading partners before it was formally declared bankrupt, police said.

German national Marc Dietrich Steindoff, 41, was wanted under a warrant issued by a Munich court for 7,781 cases of fraud and patent violations which were believed to have amounted to 12 million baht in damages.

Mr Steindoff had previously been arrested in Thailand and was given a one-year suspended jail term and fine of 40,000 baht for possessing cocaine.

Immigration officials tracked him to a house in Chon Buri's Bang Lamung district and arrested him again.

Belgian national Marc Goossens, 56, also was detained in Bang Lamung district of Chon Buri.

The suspect was wanted on an arrest warrant issued by a Belgian court for alleged drug and electricity theft.

He was staying at an apartment on Thep Prasit Road in Tambon Nong Prue before he was detained by police.

The search for Mr. Goossens has been extensive.

Meanwhile, Pol Lt Gen Sakda Chuenphakdi, acting chief of the Immigration Bureau, issued instructions for immigration offices nationwide to adhere to strict Ebola epidemic prevention measures.

The offices are required to step up screenings of people arriving from countries where outbreaks of Ebola have been reported, such as Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria

Regardless of their country of residence, passengers traveling alongside people from at-risk countries will be subject to screenings.

Nigeria was included on the order, despite the fact the World Health Organization declared the country Ebola free on Oct 20.

[Oytopikos]

PHUKET: Any foreigners staying in Phuket on an education visa but do not attend classes will have their permits to stay revoked and they will be deported, the Phuket Immigration chief warned today.

“We are now keeping a close eye on people staying on education visas,” said Phuket Immigration Superintendent Sunchai Chokkajaykij.

“We have to make sure that those people are actually studying, not just staying here long term on the pretense that they have enrolled in a course.”

Immigration officers will co-ordinate with language schools throughout Phuket to identify any students who consistently fail to attend classes, Col Sunchai said.

“We will go after foreigners who never come to class. Those people are likely to be breaking the law,” he said.

However, Col Sunchai added that his office will not be enforcing a mandatory minimum number of hours that any foreign student must attend each week.

“That depends on the school offering the course,” he said. “They can set up their own class timetable.

“But the schools know which people enrolled in their courses are genuine students – and which ones are not.”



- See more at: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket-news/Phuket-Immigration-warns-Education-Visa-crackdown/39491#sthash.bBuskHyF.dpuf

[Oytopikos]

six-month visa
Plan to grant multiple-entry visas to tourists from all nations

THE NATION August 6, 2015 1:00 am

Thailand is moving to grant multiple-entry visas to all visitors from any country in a bid to boost tourism and drive the economy.
Tourism Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul said yesterday that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has given the green light to the proposal, which is expected to go into effect within 60 days after receiving Cabinet approval.

Currently, citizens of 30-40 countries can enter the Kingdom without a visa, but some other nationals are required pay about Bt1,000 to get a single-entry, 30-day visa.

Kobkarn said the new visa would allow holders to come into the country more than once, which is similar to what is applied by many other countries. The government plans to charge Bt5,000 for the six-month visa.

Tourism is the only industry that has continued growing in recent years while others are still suffering from the global economic slowdown.

Thailand is shooting for 28 million foreign travellers this year. Domestic and inbound tourism are expected to generate Bt2.2 trillion in revenue, or about 10 per cent of gross national product.

Last month saw 2.6 million arrivals, improving by 37 per cent from same month last year. China and Malaysia were the top source markets.

Development master plan

The Cabinet on Tuesday gave the nod to the Tourism Ministry's three-year tourism development master plan aimed at boosting quality tourists and promoting sustainable development.

It would also relax travel conditions and increase cooperation with other countries, particularly Thailand's neighbours.

Last week, Thailand and Myanmar agreed to waive entry visas at major airports for the citizens of the two nations journeying between the two countries by plane. They can stay up to 14 days.

The ministry will soon kick

off the development package including establishment of the Tourism Information Gateway to provide information to tourists before landing and while in the country.

The agency will also develop more attractions, train more human resources, increase security, publicise second-tier destinations and fill up business in the low season.

Last week, officials of five Mekong River riparian countries - Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia - met in Nay Pi Taw in Myanmar to discuss tourism cooperation under the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS).

The five nations are preparing to embark on the "Five Countries One Destination" campaign to boost travel to third countries.

Each country is assigned to lead one of seven areas including tourism marketing, product linkage, tourist exchange, tourism product development, tourism safety and private sector involvement.

The five nations will also facilitate visas and transportation, enhance capacity-building programmes for tourism professionals and tourism stakeholders, and champion green and responsible tourism in the ACMECS region.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Plan-to-grant-multiple-entry-visas-to-tourists-fro-30266029.html

[Oytopikos]

Retiring Police Chief Says Corruption by Immigration Threatens Thailand's Reputation and Security

By Phuketwan Reporters

Monday, September 7, 2015

Thailand's retiring police chief has accused the Immigration Department of being guilty of taking millions of baht in bribes every day in a remarkable meeting behind closed doors, Thai media is reporting.

General Somyot Pumpanmuang met with 259 senior Immigration officials at Royal Thai Police headquarters in Bangkok and handed out brochures noting the six main ways in which Immigration officials allegedly take bribes.

The gathering follows the news last week that a key suspect in the bombing at Erawan Shrine in Bangkok was able to bribe his way past Thai Immigration officials in travelling overland at a border crossing from Thailand to Cambodia and was only arrested when the Cambodian officials stopped and arrested him.

While the meeting was closed to the media, reporters did sight copies of the brochure issued to Immigration staff, listing six main methods used to take bribes.

General Somyot, who is being replaced at the end of the month, is reported to have said that Immigration officials at Bangkok's two major airports - Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang - took bribes amounting to at least 1.8 million baht a day.

The bribes encompassed dealing with bombers and Rohingya boatpeople as well, the general allegedly told the Immigration officials from all over Thailand.

The approach by immigration damaged the reputation and the stability of Thailand, the general said.

In a list of key issues, the brochure handed out to officials noted that bribes were taking to convert tourists visas to non-Immigration B visas, and that visas were handed out to visitors seeking student visas at institutions that actually had no schools for as little as 12,000 baht.

Establishing that a visitor qualified for a retirement visa without the necessary 800,000 baht in a bank account usually cost 3000 baht, the brochure said.

Tourists who had exceeded their stay were allowed to gain an extra 15 days for a bribe, the brochure said.

Officers also sent people to a third country for a fee, rather than sending them to their home countries.

Sales of Immigration cards were especially prevalent in travels between Thailand, Laos and Vietnam, the brochure said.

With visas on arrival, passengers could be asked to pay an illegal extra fee of between 300 baht and 500 baht per person, the general said.

http://phuketwan.com/tourism/retiring-police-chief-says-large-scale-corruption-immigration-officers-threatens-thailands-reputation-security-23136/