arjay, it is not being enforced Kingdom wide. My read of the TM 28 is that you must report with TM 28 to local cop shop if you are out of province for more than 24 hours within 48 hours, and/or you move permanent residence within province. While it seems to read that way, we all know up to Immigration.

Lets us look at this logically, something our hosts seem to fail to realise. Carrying your passport all the time is not in itself an onerous task and in fact is really easy, BUT and it is a big BUT, if this is trumpeted in Thailand as one thing all foreigners have to do, the criminal elements of Thai society will only be too happy to relieve said foreigner of his/her passport, by any means they consider fair , from simple pick-pocketing to a smack across the head.
In most Western Countries one would be fairly safe, but with the lack of Police around in places where foreigners gather especially here in Udon, then it will be fair game for the criminals, if one really looks at the statistics put out by the Govt only a very very small percentage of foreigners overstay and this will only harm Thai tourism as most nations ask that your passport is locked up inn a hotel safe before you go out, the same should therefore apply to those with houses, as I do , I have a safe.
Now it seems we are to be a target and lest we forget those on the missing Airliner had passports stolen in Thailand, says a lot about the veracity of the Thai Police in catching criminals, yet they seem quite happy to target foreigners who are lets face it easy targets, especially if you happen to be a different colour, AND in the main have more disposable cash to line pockets.
I am not happy at the way Thai Authorities are going about this problem ( which in all honesty has come about due to their own lax enforcement latterly ) , I feel that they should be able to offer for a small fee a certificate which states ( especially those on year long visas) that they live at so and so address and their passport number is such and such. That would allow us a little freedom as most of us here do hold year long visas of one description or another. I fear an upsurge in passport related offences regarding foreigners especially those westerners whose passport is worth far more than those form Asian countries.

The tropical climate over here is not conduisive to carrying your passport on you at all times.
With the heat,the pages are likely to start to disintegrate within a few weeks.
Its OK if you are shuffling around in the aircon of Central Plaza,with your 18 year old mia noi,but outside the passport is likely to have a short life expectancy in the heat.
Even worse if you are doing a sport like golf.Surely you must be allowed to keep your passport in your car and not carry it in your back pocket for 18 holes.

I'll just take my passport with me when travelling out of the province or when staying in a hotel.Less hassle risking a fine than applying for a new passport via Trendy Office.

I've sent an e-mail to the Embassy asking a) their advice b) what contact they have made on our behalf to get the system changed :-" c) If they are going to get a "spare" passport for all expats in Thailand to be kept at the Embassy and issued when (as is going to happen) we all misslay or get our passport stolen

As usual I have not yet received even an acknowledgment

KP said a solution is

to offer for a small fee a certificate

Very good idea and easy to implement, The Udon Immigration office has the camara all they need is the correct printer like they have at the DL office or at any Thai ID office. The American Passport office offers a picture ID card. The only problem is the number on the ID does not match the passport. I use this card at the bank and don't need the passport

Just spoken to the BE they acknowledged the concern of carrying the original all the time, and asked that those who were worried to email them to express concern, it would then be acted on diplomatically, they as yet, have heard nothing about this at all.

Khun Paul wrote:Just spoken to the BE they acknowledged the concern of carrying the original all the time, and asked that those who were worried to email them to express concern, it would then be acted on diplomatically, they as yet, have heard nothing about this at all.

So, apart from not reading e-mails, they do not check any of the forums or check for announcements made by immigration concerning THEIR CITIZENS, so, what exactly is it they do there? .......

oh sorry, I forgot, they attend jollies to promote the harmony (ba**handers) etc between Thai businessmen and their UK counterparts.

Well if you believe what is in the Nation today then this has just gone very serious...
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/nationa ... 39870.html

I refer particularly to this statement...

He added that starting from August 29, foreigners who failed to produce their passports would be fined up to Bt20,000 and jailed for up to two years.

It would appear that they are reluctant to issue any sort of ID themselves as they believe that foreigners are currently..

Worawat insisted that the tougher punishments were necessary because many visa overstayers were found to have flouted Thai laws in various aspects - such as buying Thai-national identification cards.

The real issue here is that Thai authorities lump anyone not Thai into the same group - foreigners.
They then issue frightening figures like..

Last year, a total of 70,715 foreigners were charged with overstaying their visas. Between January and June this year, the number of visa overstayers reached 30,359

and act accordingly...

It would be interesting to know how many of the 70K were Falang...
It would be even more interesting to know how many falang have been caught with a fake Thai ID card...

I really do hope that British Embassy staff can draw themselves away from their arduous duties long enough to read the Nation today...

Is that report on the same page as the crossword Bob :-"

Actually they stated they knew about the new announcement regarding over-stayers and the back to back visas etc, but they had nothing from the Immigration Dept regarding the carrying of Passports and they said it should be kept in a safe place. Which I presume is not on ones person.
So they do do quite a lot it is how you ask and as none of us are infants in arms, ( well most of us aren't) then I am sure we are all capable or making an informed decision. or do you wait for one old geriatric ( me ) to make a phone call for you all.
next time I won't bother to tell anyone.

from the comment about the Chinese woman looking to work a 3000bt stall, it would appear IMO that this is mainly aimed at other Asians, and Thailand is drawing a line in the sand now before Asean 2015 burst into gear, and we have been caught up in it all, to some degree..yes we have farang overstayers as well, but I wouldnt think that many, and I wouldnt think many Laotians could fork out with the fine, and I doubt Thailand has the spare prison spare for another 70,000 inmates.....however, one might see a mass exodus of Laotian, Burmese, Cambodians, Vietnamese workers etc etc from end of August onward..Thats not going to help those who employ them...there is going to be some big tea money made here.. better than a jetski scam..

As stated KP I had already e-mailed them.
Do they really have to be "told" in person, what is happening?
It would appear that TV arranged the original meeting in response to clarify an announcement made by Immigration, so why did BE not notice this announcement ?

He added that starting from August 29, foreigners who failed to produce their passports would be fined up to Bt20,000 and jailed for up to two years.

I would think this is for persons who cannot or will not produce their passports and are probably on overstay or in possession of a dodgy visa and not with the random check of passports that is being discussed here.
ID cards are the way forward for long term stayers.

stattointhailand wrote:As stated KP I had already e-mailed them.
Do they really have to be "told" in person, what is happening?
It would appear that TV arranged the original meeting in response to clarify an announcement made by Immigration, so why did BE not notice this announcement ?

I would have thought to get a feel of what is happening with their citizens someone would be reading forums, it appears Immigration does!

and I always thought having to take my passport to the nightclub to prove I was over 20 was a bit of a pain :-"

The original ThaiVisa post states drivers license passport. The Nation article says produce Normally if one does not have the asked for document you can either be escorted to your abode and retrieve said documents.

KP and Retired are right. Individuals approved for one year visas such as O-R,O Married to Thai National, B with a one year contract need to be issued an ID card. Immigration needs to think out of the box

Jing Jing wrote:The original ThaiVisa post states drivers license passport. The Nation article says produce Normally if one does not have the asked for document you can either be escorted to your abode and retrieve said documents.

KP and Retired are right. Individuals approved for one year visas such as O-R,O Married to Thai National, B with a one year contract need to be issued an ID card. Immigration needs to think out of the box

"Immigration needs to think out of the box." Don't hold your breath!

To reply to a salient point, although I get TV updates, 99% of the time I ignore them coupled with the replies they p[ost, I do tend to treat what they say with a very large pinch of salt, they tend to scare-mongering rather than informative and i therefore suspect the BE think the same thing. if one actually read the original post it was about Hua Hun, NOT the rest of Thailand but because some-one posted on UM and UT, I thought it was therefore expedient to ring and ascertain where they stood if at all.
Not saying they do not read, nor do they ignore, as for Immigration they read to see what is being said about Visas and the those who try to circumnavigate the system. Those of us who have nothing and no-one to hide fear not, but do not for one minute underestimate the Immigration Dept.

KP you are correct that it originates at Hua Hin However what was said ....is

Pol.Col. Thanasak confirmed the following:

1. By law, all tourists and expats nationwide are required to carry their original passports with them at all times. There is no exception to this. Failure to carry your original passport may result in a 2,000 THB fine. The reason behind this is that Immigration needs to keep track of overstayers and foreign criminals who may be staying illegally in the country.

While it is unlikley to happen, a diplomatic solution that required all Thais to carry their passports at all times in Farang countries, and be required to report to farang police / immigration on the same basis farangs are required in Thailand, for exactly the same reason they may overstay their visa, may cause Thai authorities to reconsider their actions.

I imagine this would be onorus to hiso Thais skiing in France or sightseeing in London, but I wonder what the response would be if the farang authorities did this. Would the hiso's request changes be made.

There are many Thais in Aus and I would hate to see them forced to do what farangs are forced to do in Thailand. I would hate to see such a rule enforced.

Good for the goose and gander etc etc etc. On another thread "discrimination in thailand" - is this another example?