General Sriwara Rangsibrahmnakul said the new crackdown was aimed at both foreigners who had entered the nation illegally plus those who had entered on valid visas and then overstayed. The general said the scheme would see both government and private agencies collaborate on visa violators.
The scheme specifically requests property owners and landlords to comply with regulations stipulating they have to notify the local immigration office if they have any foreigners staying on their premises inside 24 hours. This applies to hotels, guesthouses, condominiums and private houses.
The bureau has previously noted that quite a few of the crimes committed by foreigners in the kingdom are the work of those without valid visas or permission to stay. Nattathorn Phrohsunthon is the boss of the RTP’s immigration division and he says border-control officers need better recognition devices such as fingerprint and facial recognition devices to do their jobs properly.
Thai immigration office takes aim at visa overstayers again
News in Asia
Thailand’s Immigration Bureau is set to up the ante in its campaign to weed out foreigners who are staying in the country illegally. The assistant-commander of the kingdom’s Royal Thai Police (RTP) announced that the force had inaugurated an initiative entitled Tell a Friend, Let the Friend Help to this end.