Visa & Immigration News

[jazzy-j]

Thai visa run crackdown: Latest update from Thai/Cambo border
 
c.jpg

- No Out/In for any nationality along Thai/Cambodian border
- Phu Nam Ron, Kanchanaburi refusing to stamp anyone EVEN people with valid visas
- ‘Business as usual’ at Thai-Laos border

BANGKOK: -- Thaivisa understands that as of yesterday evening (Sept 15th) Immigration officials at checkpoints along the Thai/Cambodian border at Ban Laem/Daun Lem, Ban Pakard/Phsa Prum and Aranyaprathet/Poipet were refusing all nationalities trying to complete Out/In border hops on visa exempt entries.

However, people with valid tourist visas, multiple non-o etc were being allowed to complete an Out/In.

Thaivisa also understands that in some instances, Immigration officials were asking tourists to provide valid travel itineraries for their stay in Thailand.

The situation along the Thai/Laos border has been described as ‘business as usual’ by the owner of a visa run company operating in that area, and Thaivisa is yet to receive any reports of problems from those wishing to enter Laos in order to complete an Out/In border hop.

Regarding the Phu Nam Ron/Htee Khee check point along the Thai/Myanmar border in Kanchanaburi, it seems officials there are implementing the new rules much more strictly than their colleagues along the Thai/Cambodian border.

Yesterday Thaivisa received reports from members who had visited Phu Nam Rom in Kanchanaburi, where Immigration officials had refused to stamp their passports, despite them being in possession of a valid tourist visa.

Thaivisa has spoken to a tour company based in Kanchanaburi who provide a border hop service to the Phu Nam Rom checkpoint. The owner of the company also confirmed that no stamps are being issued currently at Phu Nam Ron, and is therefore best avoided at this moment in time.

AEC News reports that Police Lieutenant-General Sakda Choenpakdee is scheduled to visit Thailand-Cambodia border crossing today (Sept 16) so there may be further updates on the situation later today.
 

[Oytopikos]

Thousands of foreigners charged for illegally entering country

The Nation October 25, 2015 5:59 pm

More than 9,000 foreigners were busted for illegally entering the country - four of them wanted by Interpol - during a weeklong police crackdown that finished Sunday.

Police said of the 9,265 foreigners napped, 9038 had been charged with violating the Immigration Act 1979, 18 for violating the Criminal Code and 209 were charged in accordance with other laws.

The arrests include Kristina Monka, 23, a Russian wanted by Interpol on fraud charges, was arrested on Wednesday.

Grigory Lyaskov, 24, a Russian wanted by Interpol on fraud charges, was arrested along with Kristina.

Working as a bank manager in Russia, it is alleged Kristina transferred Bt4 million from a client's account to her secret account and Bt945,000 to Grigory's account.

Russian police issued arrest warrants and cancelled their passports and sought Interpol's help in arresting them.

Immigration Bureau police arrested them in Pattaya.


http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Thousands-for-foreigners-charged-for-illegally-ent-30271571.html

[halfway inn]

Thousands of foreigners charged for illegally entering country

The Nation October 25, 2015 5:59 pm

More than 9,000 foreigners were busted for illegally entering the country - four of them wanted by Interpol - during a weeklong police crackdown that finished Sunday.

Police said of the 9,265 foreigners napped, 9038 had been charged with violating the Immigration Act 1979, 18 for violating the Criminal Code and 209 were charged in accordance with other laws.

The arrests include Kristina Monka, 23, a Russian wanted by Interpol on fraud charges, was arrested on Wednesday.

Grigory Lyaskov, 24, a Russian wanted by Interpol on fraud charges, was arrested along with Kristina.

Working as a bank manager in Russia, it is alleged Kristina transferred Bt4 million from a client's account to her secret account and Bt945,000 to Grigory's account.

Russian police issued arrest warrants and cancelled their passports and sought Interpol's help in arresting them.

Immigration Bureau police arrested them in Pattaya.


http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Thousands-for-foreigners-charged-for-illegally-ent-30271571.html

[thailandgr]

“Good Guys in – Bad guys out” operation

[Oytopikos]

 THE Immigration Police Bureau yesterday announced cases of foreigners caught for overstaying their visas and committing crimes.

So far, 108 foreigners have been rounded up for overstay after authorities decided to conduct regular checks on foreign visitors from 19 to 25 of every month. Those caught so far are eight Somalis, three from Papua New Guinea, three Nigerians, a Mali national, a Liberian, 50 Pakistanis, 15 Indians, a Sri Lankan, a Bangladeshi, three Vietnamese and 22 other nationals.

Immigration Bureau chief Pol Lt-General Natthorn Praosunthorn said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had issued an order banning those who overstay for more than a year from entering the country for three years. If they overstay their visa for three years, they will be banned for five years, while a five-year overstay carries a ban of 10 years.

The order, announced in the Royal Gazette, will go into effect in March.

Visitors whose visas have expired are encouraged to turn themselves in or they will face heavy penalties when caught. Natthorn said the crackdown was part of a move to boost security in the country as many foreigners who overstay their visas are involved in crimes.

Separately, a French man was arrested and charged with attempted murder, detention and robbery, police said yesterday. Kraiba Safy, 26, was arrested on December 11 in Bangkok's Bang Rak district. It has been alleged that Safy and two other men had been trafficking drugs in France, and had fled to Spain and Thailand after getting into conflicts. French police nabbed two suspects in Rayong, who then implicated Safy as being the mastermind.

In a second case, American boxer Malik Naeem Watson-Smith, 23, who once fought Thai boxer "Bua Kao", was caught on December 14 in Chon Buri for overstaying his visa. He had earlier been charged with assault and was granted bail on May 19, 2010, under condition that he could not leave the country without court permission.

Eveniy Gubarev, 37, a Russian national, was arrested on December 17 for overstaying, and is also wanted on charges of fraud and laundering money.

An unnamed 47-year-old Belgian was arrested on December 20 for overstaying by 305 days. He arrived on January 20 and was allowed to stay until February 18.


The Nation

[Oytopikos]

The cabinet on Tuesday agreed to increase the fee for visa on arrival from 1,000 baht to 2,000 baht.

Government spokesman Maj-Gen Sansern Keawkamnerd said the reason for the doubling of the visa on arrival fee stemmed from the fact that many tourists tend to apply for visas at immigration checkpoints rather than applying for visas at Thai embassies or consular offices.

This, he said, has caused congestion at immigration checkpoints and also compromised immigration checks which may pose a security threat and allow undesirable elements to enter the country more easily.

The visa on arrival is valid for just one time and cannot be renewed.

[Oytopikos]

 Starting March 20, foreigners who overstay in Thailand for more than 90 days will be banned from re-entering the country as part of the immigration bureau’s new measure to tighten up security against ill-intent elements.

Under the new measure, foreigners overstaying in Thailand who willingly surrender to the authorities will be treated differently from those who are arrested and prosecuted in the way that the period of banning from re-entering will be different.

In case of voluntary surrender, those who overstay for more than 90 days will be banned from re-entering for one year; overstay for more than a year, more than three years and more than five years will face a ban of three, five and ten years respectively.

In case of arrest and prosecution, foreigners who overstay less than one year will face a ban of five years and ten years for overstaying more than a year.

Hotels, apartments, hostels or house owners who rent their houses or rooms to foreigners will be asked to report the stay of foreigners to the nearest immigration offices through the internet so that officials can keep track of their stay in the kingdom.


http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/151358

[halfway inn]

VISA EXPIRATION DATE

What does the Visa Expiration Date Mean?

The visa expiration date is shown on the visa.

Depending on the alien’s nationality, visas can be issued for any number of entries, from as little as one entry to as many as multiple (unlimited) entries, for the same purpose of travel.

This generally means the visa is valid, or can be used from the date it is issued until the date it expires, for travel for the same purpose, when the visa is issued for multiple entry.

This time period from the visa issuance date to visa expiration date as shown on the visa, is called visa validity.

If you travel frequently as a tourist for example, with a multiple entry visa, you do not have to apply for a new visa each time you want to travel to Thailand.

The visa validity is the length of time you are permitted to travel to a port-of-entry in Thailand to request permission of the immigration officer to permit you to enter Thailand.

The visa does not guarantee entry to Thailand.
   
The Expiration Date for the visa should not be confused with the authorized length of your stay in Thailand, given to you by the immigration officer at port-of-entry.

The visa expiration date has nothing to do with the authorized length of your stay in Thailand for any given visit.
   
Each time you arrive at the port-of-entry, an immigration officer decides whether to allow you to enter and how long you can stay.

Only the immigration officer has the authority to permit you to enter Thailand.

[halfway inn]

EXTENSION OF STAY & RE-ENTRY PERMIT

You could apply an extension of stay at every checkpoint except at the Suvarnabhumi Airport Checkpoint.

You could apply a re-entry permit at every checkpoint.
However at Suvarnabhumi Airport Checkpoint this service would be provided if necessary and depends upon the officer's approval.

Fee for re-entry permit:
1,000 Baht for single
3,800 Baht for multiple

With cooperation between Immigration Bureau and Government Contact Center, now you can call 1111 for immigration inquiry 24 hours.

[halfway inn]

DISCLOSE PERSONAL INFORMATION to the GOVERNMENT

BANGKOK: April 18, 2016

Thai Immigration Asks Foreigners for Bank Accounts, Social Media, Hangouts


Part of the three-page Immigration Bureau form seeking personal information from foreign nationals residing in the kingdom.


Foreign nationals residing in Thailand are being asked to disclose personal information to the government, including their bank details and where they hang out online and offline.

Internal documents obtained earlier this month by Khaosod English showed the Immigration Bureau would ask foreigners for personal details about places they frequent in the virtual and real worlds, additional information to be filed before they can extend their visas or complete the routine 90-day reports required to reside legally in the kingdom

In recent days, a number of people have reported on Twitter and online forums frequented by expats that they have received the new forms at the Immigration Division 1 office and One-Stop Service Center at Chamchuri Square. Both are in Bangkok.

Apart from the basic information, the form requires details about what social media they use, details of vehicles they use including license plate numbers, and “places or premises visited often by the foreigner … such as club, restaurant, shop, hospital and other places.”

The form also asks for their bank account numbers

Chatchawan Wachirapaneekhun, deputy commissioner of the Immigration Bureau’s crime suppression unit, said providing the information was not mandatory.

“We won’t force them to fill it out,” he said. “We won’t bother with their social media – if they aren't doing anything wrong.”

Maj. Gen. Chatchawan, who wrote the new form, said he personally urged immigration offices nationwide to collect the information on March 22.

It is purportedly for recording information of all foreigners entering and living in the kingdom.

It indicates the information will be used to record of residence in the country according to articles 37 and 38 of the 1979 Immigration Act.

Chatchawan said in the past, immigration lacked sufficient information about foreign nationals living in Thailand when problems arose.

He said the new information was being sought to help track down foreigners when problems arose.

He said that the information would soon be integrated under the same linked information system.

Some of the information such as bank account details, he said were already required for extended stays.

“We are considering national security,” he said.

“Considering entering the ASEAN community and the increasing terrorism problem, some people escape after committing a crime, and we cannot track them down.”

[namtok]

DISCLOSE PERSONAL INFORMATION to the GOVERNMENT

BANGKOK: April 18, 2016

Thai Immigration Asks Foreigners for Bank Accounts, Social Media, Hangouts


Part of the three-page Immigration Bureau form seeking personal information from foreign nationals residing in the kingdom.


Foreign nationals residing in Thailand are being asked to disclose personal information to the government, including their bank details and where they hang out online and offline.

Internal documents obtained earlier this month by Khaosod English showed the Immigration Bureau would ask foreigners for personal details about places they frequent in the virtual and real worlds, additional information to be filed before they can extend their visas or complete the routine 90-day reports required to reside legally in the kingdom

In recent days, a number of people have reported on Twitter and online forums frequented by expats that they have received the new forms at the Immigration Division 1 office and One-Stop Service Center at Chamchuri Square. Both are in Bangkok.

Apart from the basic information, the form requires details about what social media they use, details of vehicles they use including license plate numbers, and “places or premises visited often by the foreigner … such as club, restaurant, shop, hospital and other places.”

The form also asks for their bank account numbers

Chatchawan Wachirapaneekhun, deputy commissioner of the Immigration Bureau’s crime suppression unit, said providing the information was not mandatory.

“We won’t force them to fill it out,” he said. “We won’t bother with their social media – if they aren't doing anything wrong.”

Maj. Gen. Chatchawan, who wrote the new form, said he personally urged immigration offices nationwide to collect the information on March 22.

It is purportedly for recording information of all foreigners entering and living in the kingdom.

It indicates the information will be used to record of residence in the country according to articles 37 and 38 of the 1979 Immigration Act.

Chatchawan said in the past, immigration lacked sufficient information about foreign nationals living in Thailand when problems arose.

He said the new information was being sought to help track down foreigners when problems arose.

He said that the information would soon be integrated under the same linked information system.

Some of the information such as bank account details, he said were already required for extended stays.

“We are considering national security,” he said.

“Considering entering the ASEAN community and the increasing terrorism problem, some people escape after committing a crime, and we cannot track them down.”

Αυτό έιναι το νέο έντυπο για το 90 days report? Ισχύει ήδη?

[halfway inn]

Αυτό έιναι το νέο έντυπο για το 90 days report? Ισχύει ήδη?

"Internal documents obtained earlier this month showed the Immigration Bureau would ask foreigners for personal details about places they frequent in the virtual and real worlds, additional information to be filed before they can extend their visas or complete the routine 90-day reports required to reside legally in the kingdom".

[namtok]

"Internal documents obtained earlier this month showed the Immigration Bureau would ask foreigners for personal details about places they frequent in the virtual and real worlds, additional information to be filed before they can extend their visas or complete the routine 90-day reports required to reside legally in the kingdom".

Ευχαριστώ halfway inn! Σε ένα μήνα περίπου πάω για τις 90 ημέρες! Για να δούμε! Τι θα ζητάνε!

[namtok]

Τελικά είναι σε χρήση! Ομως δεν είναι υποχρεωτική η απάντηση όλων η επιμέρους ερωτημάτων!

[halfway inn]

 Visa marriage crackdown targets police

Mon, July 25, 2016

Police officers are the latest target in the Immigration Bureau's crackdown on transnational criminals in Thailand.

Months after the bureau's tougher measures against crooked foreigners, including those who "lawfully" marry Thai women to stay in the country longer, its chief Nathathorn Prousoontorn has become increasingly aware that keeping a lookout for foreign suspects is not enough.

He has to look more closely inside his agency, finding flaws that may hinder the crackdown.

http://m.bangkokpost.com/news/1043713