Immigration cracks down on hotels

[buksida]

Immigration police on Tuesday promised tougher action on operators of hotels who fail to notify them of foreign guests who come to stay at their place.

Pol Maj Gen Kritsada Surachetpong, commander of Immigration Division 1, based in Bangkok, said many operators of both guesthouses and hotels of all sizes and prices fail to comply with Section 38 of the 1979 Immigration Act, often by ignoring it.

The regulation says home owners, landlords or managers of hotels must notify the local immigration authorities within 24 hours of the arrival of foreign nationals who are in the country legally, but for a limited time - the target being tourists. Failure to report can result in a fine of up to 20,000 baht per case.

“We have to admit that officers may have not publicised the law enough, as many operators still do not know about it,” Pol Maj Gen Kritsada said.

“We are doing both now at the same time, publicising it and enforcing it with fines. But we will focus on publishing the law first.”

He said the notification of residence of foreign nationals within 24 hours will allow officers to know the movement of possible culprits disguised as legitimate tourists, or those who had committed crimes in the country and trying to escape.

Notification can be made in person during office hours at Immigration Division 1, Chaeng Wattana Government Centre, or through an authorised person, by registered mail or via internet. The form can be downloaded at immigration.go.th.

Intensive enforcement will be introduced in Bangkok and then extended to other provinces, said the officer.

Pol Maj Gen Kritsada pledged to enforce fairly and inclusively whether violators were operators of small-scale hotels or owners of five-star hotels in downtown Bangkok.

Source: Bangkok Post

[PeteC]

I really don't know what he's talking about, and perhaps he doesn't either. I see perhaps a new man in charge simply flapping his gums to get some press.

For decades I and everyone I know has been asked for passport ID when checking into a hotel specifically for the purpose of having to report per the law of 1979. If you ask any hotel "why" concerning the passport ID, they'll all tell you about the reporting requirement, inclusive of if you have already been in the country for a long time as a resident at a different address.

Nothing I've personally seen or heard has alerted me that hotels have gotten lazy concerning this old requirement.

If anything has gotten lax, it's the 24 hour reporting requirement if you are returning to your own residence. We know that not many immigration offices care about this aspect. Perhaps they will tighten up on that eventually. Unfortunately, all of us good people will get thrown into the trough with the bad apples and made to feel marginalized in this society yet once again. Pete

[bonnielass]

Are they suggesting that they know who all these "possible culprits" are?
If they are so worried about them, why do they let them into the country in the first place?
Surely with the photo scanning upon arrival at the airport, these culprits "disguised as tourists" (wearing what, Hawaiian shirts and sunglasses?) could be intercepted at immigration.

What are they going to do when they are informed that a "possible culprit" is staying in a certain hotel. Post a policeman at the door to follow them until they commit a crime?

I'd love to believe that the police department in Thailand is so efficient?



BL

[Nereus]

I have to wonder if blaming "guesthouses and hotels" is just a front for trying to crack down on private rentals--houses, Condos, single rooms. etc. How many times do we read that some "alien" committing a crime has been apprehended in a Condo, "room" etc., rather than a legitimate guesthouse / hotel?
The police cannot / will not clamp down on open illegal activities right under their collective noses, the reason being they will cut off their tea money if they do.

[Roel]

Immigration was in our hotel here on Phuket a few days ago to remind us of the reporting obligation. I said I would discuss it with the owner. They pointed out that the manager was personally responsible and that both the owner and the manager will be fined in case we not report every 24 hours. They seriously stated it was to know who to look for after a tsunami. What they did not say was that it is just so they can fine hotels that not comply.
Whatever.

At least it is not so bad as I heard from others in the past.
One owner of a bungalow resort in Ao Nang Krabi was ordered to check if guests have overstayed and if so report to immigration.
Another owner of a bungalow resort in Khao Lak was ordered to keep records of every website that his guests visited in his internet room.
And the worse thing is that I am not kidding.

[Homer]

At least it is not so bad as I heard from others in the past.
...
And the worse thing is that I am not kidding.

Generally in such communication chains, given the unassailable nature of the source I don't think it matters to people whether the latest link in the chain is kidding.

[PeteC]

This could be (remotely) one of those instances where a Yellow Book could save someone. This assumes of course that government agencies talk to one another and agree to honour each others work. (Smilie for Dreaming!?) If a person is a resident here and returns to his dwelling where he's already registered with the local government via the Yellow Book, that could be a very good argument IMO against any penalty for not doing the 24 hour reporting to immigration. Pete

[Pleng]

For decades I and everyone I know has been asked for passport ID when checking into a hotel specifically for the purpose of having to report per the law of 1979. If you ask any hotel "why" concerning the passport ID, they'll all tell you about the reporting requirement, inclusive of if you have already been in the country for a long time as a resident at a different address.

Possibly the guesthouses believe keeping a record is enough.

I find it hard to believe that every day thousands of forms are being filled out by guesthouses to notify immigration that farrang x is now staying in thier establishment.

[dtaai-maai]

I find it hard to believe that every day thousands of forms are being filled out by guesthouses to notify immigration that farrang x is now staying in thier establishment.

And I find it equally hard to believe that immigration could cope with the paperwork if they suddenly started to receive a form every time any foreigner checks into a hotel/guesthouse anywhere in Thailand.

[bonnielass]

This could be (remotely) one of those instances where a Yellow Book could save someone. This assumes of course that government agencies talk to one another and agree to honour each others work. (Smilie for Dreaming!?) If a person is a resident here and returns to his dwelling where he's already registered with the local government via the Yellow Book, that could be a very good argument IMO against any penalty for not doing the 24 hour reporting to immigration. Pete

Pete, forgive my stupidity. Does this law require individuals to self report. ie when I visit Hua Hin to stay in my own house, am I supposed to inform the cops that I am there?

BL

[Dannie Boy]

This could be (remotely) one of those instances where a Yellow Book could save someone. This assumes of course that government agencies talk to one another and agree to honour each others work. (Smilie for Dreaming!?) If a person is a resident here and returns to his dwelling where he's already registered with the local government via the Yellow Book, that could be a very good argument IMO against any penalty for not doing the 24 hour reporting to immigration. Pete

Pete, forgive my stupidity. Does this law require individuals to self report. ie when I visit Hua Hin to stay in my own house, am I supposed to inform the cops that I am there?

BL

You are supposed to report to immigration and advise them where you are staying - officially within 24 hours although they are quite relaxed about 3-4 days. Some expats who live here seem to get away with not reporting, but I don't know what risk that involves, for me it takes about an hour door to door, so not much of an issue to comply.

[Bristolian]

This could be (remotely) one of those instances where a Yellow Book could save someone. This assumes of course that government agencies talk to one another and agree to honour each others work. (Smilie for Dreaming!?) If a person is a resident here and returns to his dwelling where he's already registered with the local government via the Yellow Book, that could be a very good argument IMO against any penalty for not doing the 24 hour reporting to immigration. Pete

Pete, forgive my stupidity. Does this law require individuals to self report. ie when I visit Hua Hin to stay in my own house, am I supposed to inform the cops that I am there?

BL

You are supposed to report to immigration and advise them where you are staying - officially within 24 hours although they are quite relaxed about 3-4 days. Some expats who live here seem to get away with not reporting, but I don't know what risk that involves, for me it takes about an hour door to door, so not much of an issue to comply.

If you stay in Thailand on a long stay visa the immigration dept already have your home address and there is no need to report. If you have a second home used for weekends and occasional holidays it's the same. Your main abode is registered and no need to report.

[bonnielass]

So me putting my residence address on my Entry Card at the airport is all that is needed, right?

[Bristolian]

So me putting my residence address on my Entry Card at the airport is all that is needed, right?

The address that they use is the one that you registerd when you applied for or renewed your long stay visa. I am not sure what they do with the address on the arrival form, the space is too small for most addresses

[STEVE G]

So me putting my residence address on my Entry Card at the airport is all that is needed, right?

I've been to Thailand about four times a year for the past ten years and that's all I've ever done.