PHUKET: New sanctions for overstaying have been posted at Phuket Immigration amid a tightening of paperwork across Thailand aimed at obliterating wrong-doing and corruption.
The new orders are being implemented in advance of the Asean Economic Community, which is expected to make rules even more burdensome as workers move more freely between the 10 countries of the region.
Accountants and lawyers say that all processes - whether via Immigration or through the Labor Office for work permits - are being much more tightly regulated.
The notices now sitting on the desks of the main officers at Immigration make it plain that ''Aliens'' can no longer expect to be shown mercy if they dare overstay in Thailand.
The penalties:
.. Overstay more than 90 days, forbidden for one year.
.. Overstay one year, forbidden for three years.
.. Overstay three years, forbidden for five years.
.. Overstay five years, forbidden for 10 years.
And that's just if the ''alien'' confesses. For those who are caught overstaying, the penalties are worse:
.. Overstay less that one year, forbidden five years.
.. Overstay more than one year, forbidden 10 years.
Being on a ''criminal visa'' because of the case brought by the Royal Thai Navy for criminal defamation and including a Computer Crimes Act charge, Phuketwan has been making compulsory visits at least once a month to Immigration HQ in Phuket City.
Efforts are being made to adapt to the need for more paperwork, more signatures and more photographs.
But even with the division of the processes into those that can be dealt with upstairs and those that can be dealt with more easily downstairs, the pressures inevitably show at times.
Rants and rages are not unusual.
Under the present system, Immigration customers have to wait outside before the doors open at 8.30am or 1pm to be assured of obtaining a low number in the official queue.
With one Immigration volunteer on duty, it can take 30 minutes to be allocated a number, even if senior officers appear to have little to do during that time.
Once allocated a number, all customers have to be vetted at a second desk alongside the Immigration volunteer before proceeding to individual processing by a senior officer.
Space is more cramped than ever for customers. However, Phuket customers at Immigration shouldn't be too irate. It could be worse.
A visitor just back from Chiang Mai said conditions there were so bad that a senior officer recently told him: ''Welcome to Hell.''
The new orders are being implemented in advance of the Asean Economic Community, which is expected to make rules even more burdensome as workers move more freely between the 10 countries of the region.
Accountants and lawyers say that all processes - whether via Immigration or through the Labor Office for work permits - are being much more tightly regulated.
The notices now sitting on the desks of the main officers at Immigration make it plain that ''Aliens'' can no longer expect to be shown mercy if they dare overstay in Thailand.
The penalties:
.. Overstay more than 90 days, forbidden for one year.
.. Overstay one year, forbidden for three years.
.. Overstay three years, forbidden for five years.
.. Overstay five years, forbidden for 10 years.
And that's just if the ''alien'' confesses. For those who are caught overstaying, the penalties are worse:
.. Overstay less that one year, forbidden five years.
.. Overstay more than one year, forbidden 10 years.
Being on a ''criminal visa'' because of the case brought by the Royal Thai Navy for criminal defamation and including a Computer Crimes Act charge, Phuketwan has been making compulsory visits at least once a month to Immigration HQ in Phuket City.
Efforts are being made to adapt to the need for more paperwork, more signatures and more photographs.
But even with the division of the processes into those that can be dealt with upstairs and those that can be dealt with more easily downstairs, the pressures inevitably show at times.
Rants and rages are not unusual.
Under the present system, Immigration customers have to wait outside before the doors open at 8.30am or 1pm to be assured of obtaining a low number in the official queue.
With one Immigration volunteer on duty, it can take 30 minutes to be allocated a number, even if senior officers appear to have little to do during that time.
Once allocated a number, all customers have to be vetted at a second desk alongside the Immigration volunteer before proceeding to individual processing by a senior officer.
Space is more cramped than ever for customers. However, Phuket customers at Immigration shouldn't be too irate. It could be worse.
A visitor just back from Chiang Mai said conditions there were so bad that a senior officer recently told him: ''Welcome to Hell.''
Why is Phuket town Immigration office so cramped and understaffed?
I was recently with a thai friend in Phuket town in a office were thai people can apply their passport. Wow, spacious, neath, great seats, pleasant, friendly and quick service.
Posted by Kurt on February 25, 2015 12:08