Bomber blame game sees Thailand immigration abruptly change visa rules

[gandalf12]

" the affected Thailand-Cambodia and Thailand-Myanmar border crossing received the instructions by telephone late Friday afternoon."

"and all are said to be affected, with local variations as to who can enter and who can not."

Ever heard of email? It makes for clear and explicit instructions.

To read and understand an email requires the recipient to:

1. Have access to a computer that is connected to the Internet

2. Be able to switch on that computer

3. Know which software can receive emails and be able to start that software

4. Have reading abilities advanced enough to understand the contents of the email

I wouldn't be to sure that any of these requirements are present with the staff of all the border crossings.

You forgot that the sender needs to have access to the same technology and abilities. If you send an email from Yahoo with too many recipients, you get flagged as a spammer. This must frustrate so many people in the Thai bureaucracy as none seem to have official email addresses. Must be part of that elusive Thainess we keep being told about.

Ever heard of an Intranet?

[zaphod reborn]

This is not about tourists, but about Iong stayers that do not have the proper visas. Regardless of the incident it is something thT would come sooner or later

Nonsense. Yes, long stayers are affected and they are best advised to return to Thailand by air, rather than a land border crossing. Think about the people who want to travel through Southeast Asia, maybe making several land border crossings. Also, the people who work in Cambodia, Vietnam or Myanmar, but want to take short weekend trips to Thailand. It's an expensive proposition by air, and using bus or van transport is cheaper. These are genuine tourists, albeit, not the hi-so ones that TAT is courting. Many of them will be turned away at the border and told to go to the embassy and get a tourist visa.

It's unfortunate that immigration can't just issue simple instructions, rather than rely on rumor and innuendo spread aimlessly about by its border agents, to make a clear policy about using land border crossings. At some point, they probably will restrict foreigners to 90 days of visa exempt entry per year. They are probably waiting to get approval to issue this new instruction. However, the rumor mill has started and "scared" border officers are creating their own prohibitions. After all, some of their brethren were caught, and transferred away from the Sa Kaeo border, where they no longer can gorge at the trough.

The mixed signals and lack of firm policy isn't good for Thailand's tourism industry, because it will result in lower tourist arrivals and general uncertainty which will persist for some time even after they issue the new border entry instructions. The border officers shouldn't be allowed to change rules without a clear policy directive from the head of the immigration police.

[Muirton]

Nice work. Shutting the barn door after the horse has already bolted again, I wonder what TV series immigration can watch to help them do a better job......... I'm guessing Faulty towers is how they originally studied for the job.

Well said. The barn door is flapping madly. It will soon, like other elements in the LOS, become totally unhinged.

[mogo51]

What upsets me is that the Thai current government are making the country look farcical. They are implementing knee jerk reactions without thinking things through. The ill thought move will only have a negative impact on the country when right now it needs a massive boost. I do wonder if they will ever learn.

To think things through, you must first have the capacity to think. Strike one, they're out!!!

[circusman]

I often wonder if all the complainers from other countries think Thailand is so bad Why Do They Stay Here ? Is there any tipping point where the complainers say enough is enough I'm going back to my home country.

[CrummyJuggler]

I am in Cambodia and have an international flight next month from Bangkok. Can I enter Thailand via land border the day before (or day of) on visa waiver? Or do I have to purchase a 60 day tourist visa from a Thai embassy in Cambodia just to make this flight???

[KOZMO]

Tourists must be searching for new reasons to be here at all.

Why not shut down Laos crossings too??? Might as well stop all tourists too!!!!

[kinmaew]

Perhaps get Mr Bean on the job he is pretty good at driving the car on the roof with an armchair? Next PM?

[silent]

Sigh...

There is someone out there who has the power to make a phone call and close Thailands land borders.

Why didn't he make that call 30 minutes after the bomb exploded?

Is that your time or Thai time? Seems right on schedule now.

[max72]

It has not been possible for some time now to obtain a visa exemption at border crossings... seems you had to turn up at the crossing with a visa already stamped in your passport and activated by those border immigration police. I think this is the same as many countries, including The United Kingdom. Only at airports can you get the 30 day visa exemption which you can extend for another 30 days at a local immigration office. And of course NO visa on arrival for farangs.... Its really no problem if you follow the rules....

Bulls... . Which rules are you talking about ? Today's rules ? What about tomorrow's rules ?

What about next week's , next month's, next year's rules ?

People with valid visas ARE BEING TURNED AWAY and being unable to go back to Thailand and pick up their bags they had left in storage rooms of hotels.

They HAD FOLLOWED THE RULES, but rules change overnight,so what are people supposed to do if they are always been treated as junk in Thailand ?

[KOZMO]

This is not about tourists, but about Iong stayers that do not have the proper visas. Regardless of the incident it is something thT would come sooner or later

Nonsense. Yes, long stayers are affected and they are best advised to return to Thailand by air, rather than a land border crossing. Think about the people who want to travel through Southeast Asia, maybe making several land border crossings. Also, the people who work in Cambodia, Vietnam or Myanmar, but want to take short weekend trips to Thailand. It's an expensive proposition by air, and using bus or van transport is cheaper. These are genuine tourists, albeit, not the hi-so ones that TAT is courting. Many of them will be turned away at the border and told to go to the embassy and get a tourist visa.

It's unfortunate that immigration can't just issue simple instructions, rather than rely on rumor and innuendo spread aimlessly about by its border agents, to make a clear policy about using land border crossings. At some point, they probably will restrict foreigners to 90 days of visa exempt entry per year. They are probably waiting to get approval to issue this new instruction. However, the rumor mill has started and "scared" border officers are creating their own prohibitions. After all, some of their brethren were caught, and transferred away from the Sa Kaeo border, where they no longer can gorge at the trough.

The mixed signals and lack of firm policy isn't good for Thailand's tourism industry, because it will result in lower tourist arrivals and general uncertainty which will persist for some time even after they issue the new border entry instructions. The border officers shouldn't be allowed to change rules without a clear policy directive from the head of the immigration police.

Keep the rift raft away!!!!

[Tragic]

Tragic

[gandalf12]

A case of blame everyone except the people charged with checking incoming visitors. Sort out the checks and everyone will be happy

[Soutpeel]

What upsets me is that the Thai current government are making the country look farcical. They are implementing knee jerk reactions without thinking things through. The ill thought move will only have a negative impact on the country when right now it needs a massive boost. I do wonder if they will ever learn.

Maybe we should start a list of stupid knee jerks?

- Registration of mobile numbers a decade ago because a bomb or two was set off in the South using a mobile phone.

- Banning of alcohol sales in gas stations, even though the 7/11 50 metres away sells it, to stop drunks driving.

- Banning alcohol sales between 14:00 and 17:00 to stop school kids from drinking. Although 17:00 fits in nicely with school's out at 16:30.

- Banning of alcohol sales within a hundred(?) metres of educational establishments to stop students from getting drunk.

- A half-ar5ed attempt at blocking websites that display the odd bit of porn.

- Registering of mobile numbers as a national security issue.

- Closing certain border exits for people with valid visas to prevent terrorists arriving (Hey! what about the airports?)

Indeed, a hub of knee jerks. Or, one could say, a hub of jerks jerking knees.

"Drinkmore" and most of your complaints involve the restrictions on alcohol sales.....interesting

[max72]

This is not about tourists, but about Iong stayers that do not have the proper visas. Regardless of the incident it is something thT would come sooner or later

Nonsense. Yes, long stayers are affected and they are best advised to return to Thailand by air, rather than a land border crossing. Think about the people who want to travel through Southeast Asia, maybe making several land border crossings. Also, the people who work in Cambodia, Vietnam or Myanmar, but want to take short weekend trips to Thailand. It's an expensive proposition by air, and using bus or van transport is cheaper. These are genuine tourists, albeit, not the hi-so ones that TAT is courting. Many of them will be turned away at the border and told to go to the embassy and get a tourist visa.

It's unfortunate that immigration can't just issue simple instructions, rather than rely on rumor and innuendo spread aimlessly about by its border agents, to make a clear policy about using land border crossings. At some point, they probably will restrict foreigners to 90 days of visa exempt entry per year. They are probably waiting to get approval to issue this new instruction. However, the rumor mill has started and "scared" border officers are creating their own prohibitions. After all, some of their brethren were caught, and transferred away from the Sa Kaeo border, where they no longer can gorge at the trough.

The mixed signals and lack of firm policy isn't good for Thailand's tourism industry, because it will result in lower tourist arrivals and general uncertainty which will persist for some time even after they issue the new border entry instructions. The border officers shouldn't be allowed to change rules without a clear policy directive from the head of the immigration police.

There are MILLIONS of tourists who travel by land accross 3/4 or more Southeast Asian countries. I did myself in the late 90s. This is the only way to get in touch with the countryside and the lifestyle of each country. Young tourists prefer to travel by land. There are millions of them allover the region. They might not spend too much money individually, but just multiply by the number and it's lots of money Thailand is losing.

Terrible and incompetent government, the worst in Thai modern history.

[mikiea]

has anyone lost their jobs for being bribed ? i think not . money grubbing tools ...

[Thian]

Why not let us open the new visa at the immigration in BKK? So nobody has to do a borderrun and they even can ask 500 baht for the stamps. Everybody happy.

[silent]

This is not about tourists, but about Iong stayers that do not have the proper visas. Regardless of the incident it is something thT would come sooner or later

Nonsense. Yes, long stayers are affected and they are best advised to return to Thailand by air, rather than a land border crossing. Think about the people who want to travel through Southeast Asia, maybe making several land border crossings. Also, the people who work in Cambodia, Vietnam or Myanmar, but want to take short weekend trips to Thailand. It's an expensive proposition by air, and using bus or van transport is cheaper. These are genuine tourists, albeit, not the hi-so ones that TAT is courting. Many of them will be turned away at the border and told to go to the embassy and get a tourist visa.

It's unfortunate that immigration can't just issue simple instructions, rather than rely on rumor and innuendo spread aimlessly about by its border agents, to make a clear policy about using land border crossings. At some point, they probably will restrict foreigners to 90 days of visa exempt entry per year. They are probably waiting to get approval to issue this new instruction. However, the rumor mill has started and "scared" border officers are creating their own prohibitions. After all, some of their brethren were caught, and transferred away from the Sa Kaeo border, where they no longer can gorge at the trough.

The mixed signals and lack of firm policy isn't good for Thailand's tourism industry, because it will result in lower tourist arrivals and general uncertainty which will persist for some time even after they issue the new border entry instructions. The border officers shouldn't be allowed to change rules without a clear policy directive from the head of the immigration police.

Might also think of the immigration officer themselves where there's less possibility to get crapped on for keeping somebody out, than letting them in.

Anybody thinking how inconvenient it is for tourists and expats not knowing whether to crap, get off the toilet, or go home, remember we at least we have that option.

[blazes]

Nice work. Shutting the barn door after the horse has already bolted again, I wonder what TV series immigration can watch to help them do a better job......... I'm guessing Faulty towers is how they originally studied for the job.

Basil was far more organized, calm and considered than anyone in the Police, Military, Government or Immigration.

As Basil might say, "People like you should have straw in their rooms"...

[Muggi1968]

I often wonder if all the complainers from other countries think Thailand is so bad Why Do They Stay Here ? Is there any tipping point where the complainers say enough is enough I'm going back to my home country.

They will always complain no matter what.

Personally I have no problem with immigration and i have never paid 1 Bath in Tea money.

Something must be wrong with me since I am happy in Thailand

[Arandora]

Military command structures are "usually" clear, concise and top down with any fundamental changes considered and agreed upon at the very top. Oops, forgot This Is Thailand! Nothing "usual" about its Military Government command structure. The top doesn't seem to be in control of his various commands at all!

[klauskunkel]

The bombing happened nearly a month ago. The bribery of immigration police as an accessory to the bombing was revealed about 10 days ago.

Now the corrupt immigration department which is part of the corrupt Thai police is reacting in typical knee-jerk fashion in a bid to deflect public attention from the bribery issue to: "see, we are doing something" - the "something" is of course too late, pointless and can't fool anybody about the real state of affaires. I actually understand their perspective, they are desperate and trying really hard to gain some sort of credibility, it's just that they are sooo inept and silly doing this.

[blazes]

Luckily, this new order will not affect "quality tourists", since the latter tend not to enter LoS via land borders.....

[elgordo38]

Fear not, it will all go back to normal in a few weeks. TIT

The words blame game just about describes it to a T. You cannot tie a bell on this wildcat.

[Shiver]

Can someone clarify if this means:

Cannot depart (forced overstay)
Cannot come in (but a potential suspect would still be allowed out)

Both?

I need to go to Laos in a couple of weeks, only for 3 or 4 days and on re-entry activate 2nd TR visa, so this might affect my plans.

[baboon]

I often wonder if all the complainers from other countries think Thailand is so bad Why Do They Stay Here ? Is there any tipping point where the complainers say enough is enough I'm going back to my home country.

So complaining about the effective closure of several border posts overnight and with no warning is in some way unreasonable in your book then, is it?

Where do the Thais who are losing income because of this go back to?

[cmiuc]

" the affected Thailand-Cambodia and Thailand-Myanmar border crossing received the instructions by telephone late Friday afternoon."

"and all are said to be affected, with local variations as to who can enter and who can not."

Ever heard of email? It makes for clear and explicit instructions.

To read and understand an email requires the recipient to:

1. Have access to a computer that is connected to the Internet

2. Be able to switch on that computer

3. Know which software can receive emails and be able to start that software

4. Have reading abilities advanced enough to understand the contents of the email

I wouldn't be to sure that any of these requirements are present with the staff of all the border crossings.

I can understand this completely.... after 20 years of emailing... its unbelievable what you hear... i prepared my final test and gave an pre-test from the lesson in the book... and the students could not even comprehend the word "Subject" in the email address line(even i wrote on the board, "what your email is about")... only after translating it into Thai...they understood... i just can't believe how idiocy works here.

[cmiuc]

I often wonder if all the complainers from other countries think Thailand is so bad Why Do They Stay Here ? Is there any tipping point where the complainers say enough is enough I'm going back to my home country.

So complaining about the effective closure of several border posts overnight and with no warning is in some way unreasonable in your book then, is it?

Where do the Thais who are losing income because of this go back to?

also, were commenting... we live here, were involved here... we are just doing like as if we live in our own countries... voicing our opinions and ideals... that is what inspires changes... and the more we voice, the more they will start listening to the foreign community instead of blaming us... the world is becoming smaller and it is not just about being 'born' in another country but living any where in the world and being heard... everyone has the right if we live under its rule.

[Whyamiandwhatamidoinghere]

There are more land crossings along the thai/cambo border you just need to hold up some baht to see them. Thai immigration has been making money with Cambodian immigration for decades trafficking Cambodian and anyone who can pay to Thailand everyday before the official border opens. Any gambler who wants to return to Thailand after the border closes can still exit. Three routes.. Over the rooftops and up the hill, out the back gate and across the stream (where many gamblers have met their untimely demise) or the scenic route... You need to be a professional backpacker for the first and last. Thailand immigration at aranyaprathet is a joke at best. Tomorrow before 6am the same old border breach will commence regardless what rules they change.

[Richard Hall]

I often wonder if all the complainers from other countries think Thailand is so bad Why Do They Stay Here ? Is there any tipping point where the complainers say enough is enough I'm going back to my home country.

They will always complain no matter what.

Personally I have no problem with immigration and i have never paid 1 Bath in Tea money.

Something must be wrong with me since I am happy in Thailand

Shame on you, how dare you?!

Life is suffering. Particularly, in Thailand because it is a Buddhist country. Look at all those fellowmen here. They recognized the meaning of being. In Thailand. They suffer. Mission accomplished.