billyhouston Posted March 3, 2023 Posted March 3, 2023 Late last year I attended a meeting in Bangkok which required me to fly down and spend a night in my usual hotel there. Inevitably the hotel submitted a TM30, which caused problems when I tried to do my 90-day reporting online. Subsequently I had a discussion wth the local immigration people, who took a more relaxed (and more reasonable) view of how these regulations should be enforced. They pretty much laughed at the 24-hour requirement. I was given practical advice as to how to stay clear of problems in future which was greatly appreciated, A few days ago, in Bangkok for a minor celebration, I stayed again at my usual hotel and noticed that the registration form had significant changes. My personal details were preprinted, as usual, but there was a new section which required me to state from where I was arriving and to where I was going upon leaving. Obviously, in my case, this was my home address. I wonder if this change in requirements has been noticed by others and whether it's a further 'tightening' of the TM30 requirements? TMax 1 Quote
gayinpattaya Posted March 3, 2023 Posted March 3, 2023 I'm sorry to hear about this. Tightening of TM30 requirements is idiotic. It needs to be scrapped. I know of 2 people fined at Pattaya immigration in the last month. I'm interested to hear what others have to say in this thread. Quote
zombie Posted March 4, 2023 Posted March 4, 2023 Maybe I am suffering from some brain fog but to whom exactly does TM 30 apply to? If one is living here long time say in BKK (eg on a retirement visa) going to another province for a short visit and staying there at a hotel for a few days requires no notification by the guest to immigration? Right or not? Added : I did some research after my initial posting here and it seems that CM immigration is one of the few offices which enforce TM 30 as the OP describes. I assume the OP is in CM or deals with an immigration office that handles TM 30 differently. Quote
Gaybutton Posted March 4, 2023 Posted March 4, 2023 10 hours ago, gayinpattaya said: I know of 2 people fined at Pattaya immigration in the last month. What was the reason given for the fines and, if you know, how much were the fines? Where were they fined -Pattaya, Chiang Mai, elsewhere? Quote
gayinpattaya Posted March 4, 2023 Posted March 4, 2023 58 minutes ago, Gaybutton said: What was the reason given for the fines and, if you know, how much were the fines? Where were they fined -Pattaya, Chiang Mai, elsewhere? Fine was 1600 Baht if I recall. Both were a case of the landlord failing to register them after they rented a condo. This was at Soi 5 immigration, Jomtien. Quote
billyhouston Posted March 4, 2023 Author Posted March 4, 2023 To be fair, and put the record straight, CM Immigration have a very sensible and civilised approach to TM30; the problem was with Bangkok who I believe handle TM30 reporting online. Quote
zombie Posted March 4, 2023 Posted March 4, 2023 1 hour ago, billyhouston said: To be fair, and put the record straight, CM Immigration have a very sensible and civilised approach to TM30; the problem was with Bangkok who I believe handle TM30 reporting online. Excuse me I am now totally confused. I assume you make your 90-day report to CM. When you visit BKK a TM 30 you say needs to be made which causes problems with your 90 report. But that report is made to and decided by CM. So how is that the problem with Bangkok immigration? Please explain. Quote
billyhouston Posted March 4, 2023 Author Posted March 4, 2023 If you use, as I did and never again, online reporting it is, as far as I am aware, handled in Bangkok and not by your local Immigration Office. Quote
TotallyOz Posted March 4, 2023 Posted March 4, 2023 If you have a Thai Driver's License, why not check in with that? Quote
Gaybutton Posted March 4, 2023 Posted March 4, 2023 4 hours ago, gayinpattaya said: Both were a case of the landlord failing to register them after they rented a condo. This was at Soi 5 immigration, Jomtien. And they were fined rather than the landlords? The landlord is exempt from any responsibility or penalty for failing to file the form? The renter ends up punished instead? That makes about as much sense as usual - in other words none. How are renters supposed to even know whether the landlords complied and filed? It looks to me if you're going to rent a condo, then you better go to immigration and complete a TM-30 form yourself rather than depending on the landlord unless you want to risk a fine and a black mark on your records at immigration. Apparently it doesn't matter whether it is ridiculous or not. It's just open your wallet and pay up - and do it pronto. If someone is in Thailand to commit crimes, what makes immigration think he's going to supply correct whereabouts information in the first place? Time to dig out my "I Don't Get It" list . . . TMax 1 Quote
Boy69 Posted March 4, 2023 Posted March 4, 2023 7 minutes ago, Gaybutton said: And they were fined rather than the landlords? The landlord is exempt from any responsibility or penalty for failing to file the form? The renter ends up punished? That makes about as much sense as usual - in other words none. How are renters supposed to even know whether the landlords complied and filed? It looks to me if you're going to rent a condo, then you better go to immigration and complete a TM-30 form yourself rather than depending on the landlord unless you want to risk a fine and a black mark on your records at immigration. Apparently it doesn't matter whether it is ridiculous or not. It's just open your wallet and pay up - and do it pronto. If someone is in Thailand to commit crimes, what makes immigration think he's going to supply correct whereabouts information in the first place? Time to dig out my "I Don't Get It" list . . . Don't look for logic at Thai authorities... Quote
billyhouston Posted March 4, 2023 Author Posted March 4, 2023 39 minutes ago, TotallyOz said: If you have a Thai Driver's License, why not check in with that? A Thai Driver's Licence carries your Passport number. TotallyOz 1 Quote
Gaybutton Posted March 4, 2023 Posted March 4, 2023 37 minutes ago, Boy69 said: Don't look for logic at Thai authorities... Why not? That's the only way you'll ever find it. I've been looking for logic for many years. I'll let you know if I ever find any . . . Boy69 1 Quote
vinapu Posted March 4, 2023 Posted March 4, 2023 4 hours ago, Gaybutton said: Why not? That's the only way you'll ever find it. I've been looking for logic for many years. I'll let you know if I ever find any . . . and yet you still happily live there for many years so obviously that lack of logic is just minor obstacle khaolakguy, TotallyOz and alvnv 2 1 Quote
gayinpattaya Posted March 4, 2023 Posted March 4, 2023 7 hours ago, Gaybutton said: And they were fined rather than the landlords? The landlord is exempt from any responsibility or penalty for failing to file the form? The renter ends up punished instead? That makes about as much sense as usual - in other words none. How are renters supposed to even know whether the landlords complied and filed? It looks to me if you're going to rent a condo, then you better go to immigration and complete a TM-30 form yourself rather than depending on the landlord unless you want to risk a fine and a black mark on your records at immigration. Apparently it doesn't matter whether it is ridiculous or not. It's just open your wallet and pay up - and do it pronto. If someone is in Thailand to commit crimes, what makes immigration think he's going to supply correct whereabouts information in the first place? Time to dig out my "I Don't Get It" list . . . You are correct. When I got my condo, I went to immigration myself and filed my TM30. It seems many people don't know about it, and many landlords or agents just don't bother if not asked. As with most things, best to do you research and do it yourself. It's an easy cash cow for immigration. Quote
Gaybutton Posted March 4, 2023 Posted March 4, 2023 3 hours ago, vinapu said: and yet you still happily live there for many years so obviously that lack of logic is just minor obstacle When living in Thailand it doesn't take long to expect it to be that way, so it rarely comes as a major shock or surprise to me. But things like that come as a very unpleasant surprise to people who don't understand the way things work in Thailand and have no idea how to deal with it when things happen. You either live with it and accept it as part of life in Thailand or Thailand is the wrong country to live in. The worst mistake I see foreigners make is if they try to argue when things like that happen. All that ever does is make things worse,often much worse, especially if they raise their voice. TotallyOz, gayinpattaya, vinapu and 1 other 4 Quote
Boy69 Posted March 5, 2023 Posted March 5, 2023 8 hours ago, Gaybutton said: When living in Thailand it doesn't take long to expect it to be that way, so it rarely comes as a major shock or surprise to me. But things like that come as a very unpleasant surprise to people who don't understand the way things work in Thailand and have no idea how to deal with it when things happen. You either live with it and accept it as part of life in Thailand or Thailand is the wrong country to live in. The worst mistake I see foreigners make is if they try to argue when things like that happen. All that ever does is make things worse,often much worse, especially if they raise their voice. Yes it's a huge mistake to argue and raise the voice on Thai people because it may cause them to loose face, Thai people usually don't behave like that and detaste such kind of behavior. Form my many years experience in Thailand keep smiling and being polite even at the hardest and frustrating situations is the best way dealing with Thai people. vinapu, reader and Ruthrieston 2 1 Quote
iendo Posted March 7, 2023 Posted March 7, 2023 Must be one of the biggest myths that Thai people do not raise their voices. "Losing face" is also not exclusive to Thailand or South East Asia, either. In the Middle East there is a lot going on in the name of honor and in the western countries people don't like to be punked or disrespected, so be careful how you talk to them etc. Add some Latin pride to that and you might have a worldwide phenomenon. I do agree that arguing doesn't make these situations any better. gayinpattaya 1 Quote
