Big Oud: I'm promoting tourism and friendly relations - and my address reporting app is easy!

[losername]

10 minutes ago, Lenny Jones said:

You don't need 90-day reporting to find out you're dead! - not in this tropical climate!

555.  My point exactly.  Thanks.

[on wards and up wards]

I've left Thailand now, it's getting harder and harder to remain, it's getting expensive, there's nine hundred and ninty nine other countries to live in, and the best bit which the Thai government and immigration forget, sorry are to thick to reolise is... THE COUNTRY YOU LIVE IN IS WHERE YOU SPEND YOUR MONEY, IT GOES INTO THEIR COFFERS... 

[Dr. Zorg]

I can still remember the old immigration building in Soi Suan Plu. Literally mountains of visa applications in bags, to be carted off to be incinerated. Instead of gathering the data and only update your information when you go for your renewal the following year. It's impossible to change the past or past information.

[wwest5829]

4 hours ago, Sticky Wicket said:

Thais can't think out of the box either.

Their boss gives them instructions and they mind isn't capable of any deviation at all in different scenarios

I take your point but observe I have run into this around the globe. Where the front line employees are not empowered to make decisions outside the perimeters set by the boss. Therefore even the slightest deviation requires checking with a higher authority to get an exception to the rule. Agree, critical thinking skills are a good thing but even the brightest is stopped but an inflexible top down management style.

[OKF]

he is talking about an App. I cannot find an app just on their extranet a registration page for enquire a PW and  login. That I have requested weeks ago but still pending. But what app could I use instead?

[eggers]

I guess time will tell if Lt-Gen Sompong "Big Oud" Chingduang achieves what he's setting out as his plan!!!..

Doubt the idea of "...promoting Tourism & friendly relations..." can be achieved by an impractical law that's remained dormant for decades, coupled w/ threats of harsh penalties for non- compliance & system inadequacies + failures, will do much to achieve his goals..He may very well go the same way as his predecessor "Big Joke"!!  

[Surasak]

4 hours ago, Just1Voice said:

Can he explain to me, in a manner that is logical, the purpose of 90 day reporting for people who have been here for YEARS, retired, married with families?

I don't hold out much hope for an answer to your request. How long have you got?

[sturdyd]

1 hour ago, GalaxyMan said:

He didn't make the laws, his job is to enforce them. Place the blame where it is due, on the pathetically incompetent Thai government.

within which he fits perfectly.

[thesetat2013]

4 hours ago, BobbyL said:

But the app doesn't work / when it does work no login details are sent. These people are like watching a satirical comedy show. 

Wife tried many times to use app when i recently returned. Each time failed. App is terrible and had to use computer to login and submit information. Even that was difficult with many tries. What it wants doesn't mean nothing to someone who is not experienced in doing this or dealing with immigration. Requests for information from my passport and entry were vague and didn't give examples to aid. So wife was lost. Reasons for submission failures were the same. Vague... 

[Lenny Jones]

8 minutes ago, Surasak said:

I don't hold out much hope for an answer to your request. How long have you got?

You have to study the history of extreme right politics and the countries they occurred in.  It's to do with placing a focus on minority groups and labeling them as threats - just to take the focus off what the ruling leaders are doing to their own people.  Come back and tell me when you see something very familiar.

 

Seizing of foreign assets is the next step. (Watch your 800,000 baht!)  Lets hope none of it goes as far as Uncle Adolf's tactics.

 

[Xavnel]

I have a question for all the people complaining  (for the record, I do think the TM-30 Thing is all ridiculous)... 

I am sure that I will get flamed for this, but don't care.... 

 

How many of you, instead of only getting on here and complain post after post , after post,  have attempted (had enough balls), to go to his office, and attempted to set up a meeting and discuss with him your concerns?

It might surprise him that a foreigner wanted to speak with him instead of just crying  and you may actually get a meeting.

If not,  then what have you lost?

 

If I lived near where his office,  I would,  why not.. 

What's the worst that would happen to me?  I get denied a meeting?

What could the upside be?  He might actually listen to the concerns?  Hat else could be a possibility? .. Might make an "acquaintance" of him... could you think of a better "buddy" to have when dealing with Immigration issues?

 

[apophyss]

EVERY weeks Thailand make news looks like a first april,
but it's no a joke !

 

 

When they will understand they looks so stupid to all the world ?

 

[jessebkk1]

4 hours ago, marcusarelus said:

Not one newsman has balls to ask him - no- your app does not work - what are you going to do about it?

 

At some point if anyone wants change some one has to ask, "where's the clothes or where's the beef or something like cut the bs and start telling the truth."

 Interesting, your network seems to connecting today. We've been dialing for months now it's good to know that your server is up and running today.

 

  To answer your question, the locals could bother less about what the hell is going on with regards to foreigners and immigration, as most do only think of foreigners to mean burmese and cambodians as I have been told many times, and they believe these draconian laws are here to check on only people from those countries. They believe europeans/westerners have an easy life already and the Thai government is just trying to look out for it's citizens here.

 

   So why would thais think like that you may ask? because most thai's are honestly closet xenophobes, they would really like to tell you to your face how they feel about the "INVASION" of their country by foreigners but their religion and culture makes it difficult for most of them to, so they'd rather let their government show you how they feel.

 

 Oh! but the the locals are always smiling to me and very charming you say? yes because that's their culture, they do that on impulse. The Russians always walk too fast not because they're in a hurry or are being chased, it's because it's what they're accustomed to. Let's learn to separate culture from personalities.

 

 

[KKr]

5 hours ago, Just1Voice said:

Can he explain to me, in a manner that is logical, the purpose of 90 day reporting for people who have been here for YEARS, retired, married with families?

Simple, because it has always been done like that before, and the person that set up the system could be very upset in case we change it.

[rosst]

I don't believe you on either account. 

[banagan]

All this 1984 $hit we have to put up with should be rectiprical for all Thais visiting/living in "foreigner" countries.

[Lenny Jones]

3 minutes ago, Xavnel said:

I have a question for all the people complaining  (for the record, I do think the TM-30 Thing is all ridiculous)... 

I am sure that I will get flamed for this, but don't care.... 

 

How many of you, instead of only getting on here and complain post after post , after post,  have attempted (had enough balls), to go to his office, and attempted to set up a meeting and discuss with him your concerns?

It might surprise him that a foreigner wanted to speak with him instead of just crying  and you may actually get a meeting.

If not,  then what have you lost?

 

If I lived near where his office,  I would,  why not.. 

What's the worst that would happen to me?  I get denied a meeting?

What could the upside be?  He might actually listen to the concerns?  Hat else could be a possibility? .. Might make an "acquaintance" of him... could you think of a better "buddy" to have when dealing with Immigration issues?

 

A long answer: - - - - My situation:

 

I have been retired in Thailand for just over 3 years.  I live close to my local Immigration office.  Every year the extension requirements have been different and it has been problematic.  This is primarily due to the fact that individual immigration offices have a degree of autonomy.  This is to overcome the fact that the existing laws are a dogs breakfast and difficult to interpret and apply so  - as you have seen on Thaivisa in the past - many different answers in post to questions.

 

Last year my local office got a new boss.  It was by sheer luck, during one of my 90-day reports on a very quiet afternoon I got to meet her for a chat.  She found out a little of my history (20 years in an Aussie police force) and, after talking "shop" for a while I raised a few issues.

 

I got the answers I needed: - My 1-year renewals are now (almost) trouble-free - this year's small problem:  The banks are not up to speed with the July 1st changes.

 

The TM30, problems:  Some software, Android apps, Apple and earlier Windows have glitches - still not sorted.  The pressure is on thousands of "licensed" accommodations to toe the reporting line.  If you stay at this type of accommodation it is wise to ensure they are submitting a TM30.  You can TRY and report your travel online but don't panic if you cannot.  In my case I went to my immigration office asap after trying to report and they were not particularly worried - BUT REMEMBER - this is the prerogative of that particular office!

[marktdag]

Can somebody tell me what is the name of this app?

[Isaan sailor]

Dear Big Oud:

Your fighting against BoT, and their overpriced Baht.  Good luck.

Expats in Thailand

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

5 hours ago, intherealworld said:

They hate you,  that's why.

there can be no other reason for it.

 

 

 

Correction not hate its fear. Look how many times foreigners will be mentioned together with national security. But the fear is limited to a certain part of the population. 

[Misterwhisper]

1 hour ago, RichardColeman said:

Somewhere they must be a huge building with everything filed ! To me it seems mad to keep such a law - what's the point ? by the time it could be useful tourist has moved on !

 

Yes there is. Here is a picture of it.

 

[Seeall]

5 hours ago, BobbyL said:

But the app doesn't work / when it does work no login details are sent. These people are like watching a satirical comedy show. 

Perhaps they are clever in that nothing works so  they keep their jobs...

[wobalt]

Absolutely bullshit, national security, all expat are criminals? The man should do his job if he have evidence


Gesendet von iPad mit Thaivisa Connect

[Andycoops]

6 hours ago, Just1Voice said:

Can he explain to me, in a manner that is logical, the purpose of 90 day reporting for people who have been here for YEARS, retired, married with families?

It's the law. 

Logical or not.

[PhonThong]

 Why would a tourist need to have an app to let the government know where they are? If i'm on vacation, the last thing I want to do is deal with bureaucracy. 

[kcpattaya]

Tourist tags (available on every boarder crossing and airport in Thailand) come in various colors and are made to FIT!


 

[dallen52]

Big Oud, (brother) is watching. 

 

Crazy system for sure. 

Thai friend in the UK and her son aged 19 wants to see Thailand. 

Scared for him going because he doesn't speak thai, doesn't have a thai id card. 

He has to report to immigration same we would. 

She has a UK business and married name. 

Because of his farang name he is treated as a foreigner. 

But could be called up for military service. Not sure how that works?

Her advice is staying in the UK. 

Which she says is cheaper than Thailand now.

 

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, intherealworld said:

They hate you,  that's why.

there can be no other reason for it.

 

 

 

They don't want you here longer than a two week spending spree on holiday.

Go home and make room for the next inbound prey.

[Gecko123]

The fines for TM-30 non-compliance are too lucrative for immigration to have an incentive to change these policies anytime soon. All the extra paperwork requirements (TM-30's refiled at home residence after trips abroad or overnight stays outside of your home province, 800K/yr verification after visa issuance) are pressuring people to use visa agents which in turn generates more under-the-table income for immigration officers.

 

hese immigration practices are clearly inhibiting expats from travelling both within and outside of Thailand. All this uncertainty about possible future immigration requirements (medical ins, hiked financial requirements, etc.) is also clearly inhibiting expat consumption patterns.

The negative reaction these immigration practices has generated on ThaiVisa alone, let alone on U-tube and other social media has to be dampening the enthusiasm of retirees who previously considered Thailand as their first choice for retirement. As word spreads on the internet, this has to also be having a ripple effect on tourist arrivals. Immigration does not seem to appreciate that there is overlap between the ex-pat and tourist demographics. Perceptions of one group influences the other.

 

But despite all this carnage that is being done to the Thai economy by immigration practices, I sadly think it will be quite some time before anyone in this government connects the dots. As mentioned earlier, all the extra income from TM-30 non compliance fines and visa agent kickbacks is simply too lucrative for anyone to have an incentive to rapidly change these policies. Quantifying how immigration policies are hurting the hospitality industry and overall economy would require sophisticated and time consuming research and analysis. Anecdotal evidence would probably not be given much credence.

 

So I'm resigned to the prospect that the government will re-evaluate this issue only after the tourism and/or overall economy has already suffered tremendous damage. There's little doubt that the hospitality industry is going to bear the brunt of these policies. The only hope I see is if expats start communicating to Thais in the hospitality industry how immigration policy is inhibiting your travel and consumption behavior, maybe, just maybe, the message can percolate up through them.

 

When I tell Thais how the TM-30 reporting requirement makes me feel like a prisoner and I don't want to go anywhere because of all the  paperwork at first they chuckle in amusement. But when I point out that people who sit at home and don't go anywhere also don't spend any money which in turn hurts the economy, they quickly stop laughing and grow quiet.

 

[GordonP]

5 hours ago, Sticky Wicket said:

Thais can't think out of the box either.

Their boss gives them instructions and they mind isn't capable of any deviation at all in different scenarios

I politely suggest that their minds do deviate in all different directions hence the myriad of interpretations across the Thai nation.