Thailand Immigration: TM30 24 hour reporting thread

[Big Boy]

Correct - everything I've read clearly says it is the responsibility of the landlord. I'm not sure where the guest paying a fine comes in to it. Sort of leaves it wide open to abuse/scam.

Even though I will play their silly games, The process is as clear as mud. I thought I was only taking Mrs BB to Immigration, which is why I sat down and left her to it. I was quite surprised when I was called to the window for my 10 seconds of fame.

[PeteC]

My understanding is that if you report on-line it's the same as a hotel reporting on-line. The subject person has to do nothing else as his details have been input, the same as if he had filled out the hard form(s) and taken them to immigration. Having not done the on-line process yet, I'm assuming that after reporting some kind of receipt comes back that can be printed and stapled into the passport, the same as the receipt they give you when you do the hard form and visit to an IO.

In my case last time I went to the IO alone with the completed forms and needed document copies, and that was all that was needed. The wife/landlord etc., didn't need to be there.

[HHTel]

With all the posts on this thread, I don't understand why I was able to ignore a TM30 as I've always done.
Never mentioned and even my application was printed from their computer!

[Nereus]

I was quite surprised when I was called to the window for my 10 seconds of fame.

Arh, I think that the girls at immigration were just wanting to see for themselves why you are called "Big Boy".

[buksida]

With all the posts on this thread, I don't understand why I was able to ignore a TM30 as I've always done.

Because Hua Hin are not enforcing it yet. But don't drink too much champagne, that won't last.

[Big Boy]

IMHO neither the TM30 nor the online version are designed for the guest to do their own report.

[Nereus]

My understanding is that if you report on-line it's the same as a hotel reporting on-line.

And which hotel is it that gives each guest a "receipt" stating that they have reported you as having stayed there?

everything I've read clearly says it is the responsibility of the landlord. I'm not sure where the guest paying a fine comes in to it.

This is where it is total BS, even for Thai logic. How can the idiots possibly expect cooperation from anybody when they are asking a Thai wife to report that they are now back home? And then fine her because she didn't!

Another thing I'm not clear about ... does the landlord (wife) have to complete it online AND the farang has to physically go to immigration with the same form?

According to the recent meeting at the FCCT, NO, if reported online that is the end of it.

I'm with HHTel. Everybody has different circumstances, so until such time as it is made more sensible, I also will just ignore it. On their own admittance, it is NOT long term visa holders, of whatever type, that is the target. The FACT is that is piss poor border controls that admit their target in the first place.

[Ratsima]

The little graphic that I posted earlier in this thread (which is not from Thai Immigration) implies that every time a foreigner changes the place they stay the "landlord" has to file a TM30 and the foreigner has to file a TM28. But, when my wife went to Korat Immigration last week to clear up my past failures to report, there was no mention of a TM28. They just did a TM30 for the last time I returned from abroad (December 2018) and whitewashed all the rest. They also said (implied?) that they were not prepared to deal with foreigners who leave their home for another province but do not leave Thailand.

My wife applied for permission to use the online TM30 last Saturday and received her username and password this morning. After logging in the first thing you have to do is change your password. Although we only had a brief look, it's clear that the online form is designed for hotels and similar establishments. It has the facility to upload a file so they don't have to enter each guest individually.

My wife owns a house in Korat, but I have a usufruct, so, I guess I'm my own landlord. I own a condo in Cha Am so, I guess I'm the landlord there as well. So, if I go to Cha Am for a few days I have to file a TM30 showing that I left the house in Korat and another TM30 showing that I arrived at the condo in Cha Am. I also have to do a TM28 reporting my over-24-hour-stay in Phetchaburi. So, when I leave Cha Am it's another TM30 showing my departure and another TM30 showing my arrival in Korat plus a TM28 reporting my over-24-hour-stay in Nakhonratchasima.

I guess time will tell just how many of the technical requirements are actually enforced.

[oakdale160]

all these TM#)s and TM28s, so next when they suggest a sub-cut chip, you'll roll up your sleeve.

[Nereus]

My wife owns a house in Korat, but I have a usufruct, so, I guess I'm my own landlord.

No, your Usafruct is just another form of lease. If your wife is living in it then she is the "landlord" or "possessor.

I own a condo in Cha Am so, I guess I'm the landlord there as well.

Yes, but if you were to rent it out then the occupier will become the "landlord"

So, if I go to Cha Am for a few days I have to file a TM30 showing that I left the house in Korat and another TM30 showing that I arrived at the condo in Cha Am. I also have to do a TM28 reporting my over-24-hour-stay in Phetchaburi. So, when I leave Cha Am it's another TM30 showing my departure and another TM30 showing my arrival in Korat plus a TM28 reporting my over-24-hour-stay in Nakhonratchasima.

As it is written, yes! This is some of the reason why it is just so bloody ridiculous!

[Big Boy]

I'm not saying I agree with the process, but it all suddenly makes sense. I'd ignored the TM28 until now. I was having trouble seeing how the Farang could report with the TM30. So it's belt and braces with the TM28, and no online solution.

Going back to the OP, it is all about the TM30 and making landlords do their job. This is why until now I've been ignoring the TM28. Apart from an ancient law (along with 1,000's of other ancient laws) it has been ignored, full stop.

So, why has the TM28 requirement come into this thread? Is it Immigration making it up as they go along, seeing an opportunity to fleece us for cash, or is it a 'know it all' stirring things up? As with many other Immigration threads, it seems to have entered unnoticed from the wings and is now the bain of our lives. Has anybody seen anything outside of an online forum or Facebook saying Immigration are looking for TM28s? I last used one 7 years ago when I permanently changed address.

The form itself is pretty pathetic/basic, and will take seconds to complete. Now I realise it is there, I will present it when I take Mrs BB to Immigration with her TM30. Totally bonkers, but it will take me the time it takes to print a sheet of A4 extra.

At least I can now see how guests can report themselves.

[Nereus]

As a owner of a Condominium, i prepared a TM30 at my Computer at home in Germany, and been in Tha Yang to register me and my wife.

Officer told me, as owner i have to use TM28 for myself and for my wife as well - and not TM30.

Not sure what this is about, but I am sure it just adds to more confusion!

[Ratsima]

Going back to the OP, it is all about the TM30 and making landlords do their job. This is why until now I've been ignoring the TM28. Apart from an ancient law (along with 1,000's of other ancient laws) it has been ignored, full stop.

My guess is that the sudden enforcement of the ancient law caught a lot of Immigration officials by surprise. They probably got little heads up and zero training; hence the wild diversity in enforcement procedures. There are probably very few officers around who remember when the law was actually enforced, if it ever was.

[buksida]

I'm not saying I agree with the process, but it all suddenly makes sense. I'd ignored the TM28 until now. I was having trouble seeing how the Farang could report with the TM30. So it's belt and braces with the TM28, and no online solution.

Hence my question about two fines, one for the wife (which I pay) one for the alien (which I pay) for both forms. Nothing but another cash cow, just as the 90 day report was when that started getting enforced. With tourism on its arse, they have to make the money somewhere to buy all those Chinese subs, its bugger all to do with security since criminals won't comply.

The form itself is pretty pathetic/basic, and will take seconds to complete. Now I realise it is there, I will present it when I take Mrs BB to Immigration with her TM30.

Very easy and convenient if you live 10 minutes away from the immigration office. A world of pain for everyone else.

[laphanphon]

Very easy and convenient if you live 10 minutes away from the immigration office. A world of pain for everyone else.

With any luck, maybe your local PoPo station will accept.........or not