24 hour report . .again!

[mr lonely]

Same here, I know a couple of people who have tried it to no avail.
Cannot see Hua Hin immigration getting to grips with advanced technology like that - not unless they can fine you on line as well

[Nereus]

I've heard that online reporting should be possible and indeed it says it here:
http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/en ... =alienstay
However, I've never come across anyone who's managed to do it
There's a contact telephone number given in the link. If you manage to find any information out about this, please report back as I'm sure it could help many of our members.

I believe that method is only for businesses, Lomu? It also mentions that the business has to be registered to be able to do it, and supply a blank CD.

[lomuamart]

I noticed that as well, Nereus. You're probably right with the business aspect.

[stgrhe]

There is an old law that relates to 24 hour reporting, but for the life of me I can't find it at the moment.

This is written in the Immigration Act B.E. 2522, Chapter 4, Temporary Stay in the Kingdom, Section 37.

Section 37: An alien having received a temporary entry permit into the Kingdom must comply with the following:

1. Shall not engage in the occupation or temporary or employment unless authorised by the Director General or competent official deputised by the Director General. If, in any case, there is a law concerning alien employment provided hereafter, the granting of work privileges must comply with the law concerned.

2. Shall stay at the place as indicated to the competent official. Where there is proper reason that he cannot stay at the place as indicated to the competent official, he shall notify the competent official of the change in residence, within 24 hours from the time of removing to said place.

3. Shall notify the police official of the local police station where such alien resides, within twenty–four hours from the time of arrival. In the case of change in residence in which new residence is not located the same area with the former police stations, such alien must notify the police official of the police station for that area within twenty–four hours from the time of arrival.

4. If the alien travels to any province and will stay there longer than twenty–four hours, such alien must notify the police official of the police station for that area within forty–eight hours from the time of arrival.

5. If the alien stays in the Kingdom longer than ninety days, such alien must notify the competent official at the Immigration Division, in writing, concerning his place of stay, as soon as possible upon expiration of ninety days. The alien is required to do so every ninety days. Where there is an Immigration Office, the alien may notify a competent Immigration Official of that office.

The provision of (3) and (4) shall not apply to any cases under Section 34 by any conditions as prescribed by the Director General. In making notification under this Section, the alien may make notification in person or send a letter of notification to the competent official, in accordance with the regulations prescribed by the Director General.

[cookmanchef]

When arriving here for a holiday you check in at your hotel and they are responsible for reporting your arrival? Are these reports filed and checked?

If you left the country and returned, stayed at a hotel, and then returned to your house in HH if you had one, what is your responsibility?

Do they really check all these hotel submissions and cross check them with previous reports?

Is this reporting only really an issue for those that have to do regular 90 day reporting to the local IMM office?

[Vital Spark]

We've never done this so-called '24 hour reporting' - and we've been in and out numerous times over the years. You really don't have to do it.

I think it was something set up for hotels and guest houses - that's why they want a copy of your passport when you check-in. It's probably never checked by anyone, and certainly never cross-checked.

Of course, if you go along to the Imm. office they'll try and find a form for you to fill in. Saves a bit of face, I guess, when they don't know what you're talking about.

CMC: It's the hotel's responsibility when you're staying with them. You don't have to do anything when you go to your house.

VS

[stgrhe]

We've never done this so-called '24 hour reporting' - and we've been in and out numerous times over the years. You really don't have to do it.

That is not true, the law is quite clear about this and it is a requirement to report within 24 hours of arrival. However, like so many other things here in Thailand, just because the law is not fully enforced by all Immigration Offices, it doesn't make legal.

Cookmanchef, the law applies to all foreigners except those who have permanent residence and when staying in a hotel or a guest house it is the responsibility of the them to do the reporting for you.

[cookmanchef]

stgrhe - I agree with you that it is indeed the law, albeit one which is very loosely enforced. I have a feeling that the majority of people don't comply with this law as they are not aware of it.

If you were challenged about your failure to report, what would they do if you informed them that you stayed at a small hotel for one night on your return to Thailand, and you assumed that they had reported as you gave them your passport and informed them you had just arrived from Cambodia/Laos/Myanmar.

[buksida]

Surely you're 'reporting' when you pass through immigration and get stamped into the country, this just seems like another way for HH imm office to make more money - especially seeing as nowhere else enforces it.

Have any of those that have been fined done the 90 day at Singkhon in Prachuab? I doubt they enforce any archaic 24 hour crap there and the cost of fuel and transport would be less than the fines in Hua Hin. Plus its a nice day out of town!

[mr lonely]

Its all very well saying what they do or dont do.
Its what they can do that matters, if the law says you need a 24 hour report, then thats it. Whether they enforce it is up to them.

They make the rules not us

[jimk]

I'm on a retirement thingy (I'd call it a visa but the pedants would revolt), renewable every January, and I go to the UK each year in April and come back in October. I go to Immigration twice a year, in January to renew and in April to do the 90-day report and get a re-entry permit. The last time this 24-hour report thing was raised on the forum, a couple of years ago, I thought OK, that's another hoop I have to jump through, and I dutifully trooped down Soi 102 when I came back in October. The guy looked at my passport, handed it back with a smile and said: 'That's fine. Come back in January.' "Don't I have to report within 24 hours of re-entering the country?' I asked him. 'No,' he said. 'Just come back in January.'
So my question is this: What are you all talking about? And why am I exempt?

[lomuamart]

jimk,
You're not exempt. Imm have simply decided not to enforce an old, albeit still valid law against you, or they missed it.
As I posted earlier on this thread, it's a lottery.
One of the unfortunate realities of Imm law here is that as new regulations are passed, old ones are not rescinded.

[cookmanchef]

Mr L,

All I am saying is can they prove that you didn't stay at some small hotel for one night on your return to the country as my understanding is that this would absolve you of the need to report to immigration. You have passed that responsibility on to the hotel by giving them your passport.

I don't know but my guess is that hotel records of this kind are rarely/never checked.

[lomuamart]

cmc,
If I remember rightly, this archaic law actually requires us to notify a local Imm office or police station if we cross a provincial border!!!
So if you are registered in HH for Imm purposes and go off to Nakhon Nowhere, your presence in the province should be noted. If staying at a hotel/guesthouse, they should do it for you. If you're staying with friends, then the head of that household should.
So, if you come back from Cambodia through Aranya and then arrive a couple of days later in HH, you should do the 24 hour report again!!! Insane.
I did look at this a while ago for another thread, but have lost the Imm link. I'll try and find it later.

[Vital Spark]

All I can say is thank goodness I live in Nakhon something.

If enough of you go down to the immigration in Hua Hin, I'm sure they'll resurrect this law to satisfy your needs.

stgrhe: I probably should've said 'bother' rather than 'have to'.


VS