Hua Hin Immigration clampdown on ID and 24hr reporting

[moja]

Went to immigration this morning and asked the question regarding carrying passports and expected the answer to be no but instead was told that passports must be carried at all times!!!!!! Your driving license does not show that your visa is in date, so is no good!!!

Immigration is closed Monday and Tuesday next week for the Queen's birthday.

[Big Boy]

Went to immigration this morning and asked the question regarding carrying passports and expected the answer to be no but instead was told that passports must be carried at all times!!!!!! Your driving license does not show that your visa is in date, so is no good!!!

That's more like the Thailand I know. Actually, you're the second person I know to have asked that question yesterday, and received the same answer.

I wonder what today's answer is

[lomuamart]

Marvelous. Just when we thought we'd cracked it!!
I carried mine for the first few days but havn't bothered since. Walked right by the tourist police station yesterday and got no more that a "good morning" from one of them.
I must say though that the carrying of passports has always been the law but not really enforced. The normal way someone is caught in the net is if the police raid a nightclub looking for drugs (mainly BKK) and some westerners are caught in the trap without their passports. There have been numerous stories like this over the years and the farang gets fined 2,000 THB.
If you get caught at a provincial checkpoint and asked to produce, you'd be pretty daft not to have your passport with you if traveling. Certainly I always have mine in these instances. (Edit - I take that back. Often cross a provincial boundary going to golf and I never have my passport).
However, walking around town, walking the beach, going shopping, going swimming - give me a break. If there are reports of people getting done in these circumstances, it's bad news.
I can just see it. I'm playing golf at Springfield next week. I don't take my passport out on the course in case of damage or it getting rained on. There's an Imm checkpoint at the 7th tee - they'd get every golfer playing, including the Thais who probably won't have taken their ID card out with them!!
Damn it. I've got to do my extension fairly soon and I'll ask again. Anyone else up there, ask as well and post results on this thread.

[Bristolian]

I went to immigration in Bangkok on Friday to renew my work visa. Whilst there I asked the question about carrying your passport at all times.

The most senior officer confirmed that it was not necessary but the police have the right to ask you to produce it at the police station. He said clearly that carrying a passport at all times was not practical or reasonable. Just keep it in a safe place where you can retrieve it easily if required.

[lomuamart]

Good to hear and exactly that happened to me once in HH years ago. I didn't have my passport with me but said it was at home, literally a minute walk away. Asked whether the tourist police wanted to see it, they said yes, I produced = no problem.

[LaughTilIDie]

The MIB can't expect a tourist to carry their passport to the beach, can they? All this talk got me curious and a little paranoid about carrying ID that would be acceptable so I did a little research and found some information on a US passport card. Not valid for travel by air but is an official passport document issued by the feds.

http://travel.state.gov/content/passpor ... /card.html

If this isn't good enough I'll just tape the 2,000 baht fine to the back of it.

[oakdale160]

I have a Canadian citizenship card but value that as much as a passport.

[Arlo]

The MIB can't expect a tourist to carry their passport to the beach, can they? All this talk got me curious and a little paranoid about carrying ID that would be acceptable so I did a little research and found some information on a US passport card. Not valid for travel by air but is an official passport document issued by the feds.

http://travel.state.gov/content/passpor ... /card.html

If this isn't good enough I'll just tape the 2,000 baht fine to the back of it.

This card still won't show if you are in Thailand legally.

[LaughTilIDie]

It's got to be better than my PA driver's license because I will not carry my passport into, shall I say, questionable establishments where I may have a 50/50 chance of getting ripped off. It's also something I can slip into my shoe if need be. Guess I could get a copy of the stamped passport page to carry as well. Anyone know where I can get something like this laminated?
Man I think I'm getting way too paranoid about this.

[Bristolian]

Man I think I'm getting way too paranoid about this.

More than likely you are I carry my DL in my wallet. My passport stays locked away. This will not change and if I need to pay a fine for not having it with me.. So be it, but the potential cost in losing it outweighs the fine. Relax, chill

I wait for the first report of punitive action for not having the passport on your person. It won't happen, I'm sure....

[StevePIraq]

I have just returned to HH after an extended stay working overseas and went to the new Immigration office near the beach, nice place, well set up, plenty of parking.
I went as I understood we have to report within 24 hours on returning to Thailand, I questioned the requirements and was informed this does not apply if you are a resident on ANY type of visa and are returning to you home on record. It only applies to casual returning residents who stay at different locations, hotels or guest houses etc. If staying at a hotel or guest house etc it is the responsibility for the business owner to report your stay.
This certainly cleared things up for me and hope it helps others