Thanks for your help, but now more confused

Dear Editor,

I thought I was confused before about the Immigration rules regarding expatriates reporting their addresses every 90 days.

This week’s "Pattaya Mail" (Friday, 30 October) made the issue seem very clear. The British Chamber of Commerce passed on information from the Board of Trade of Thailand (not Immigration) that "Police Major General Kongkiert Apaivongs confirmed "...that effective immediately the section 37 (5) of the Immigration Act will not be enforced. No penalty will be imposed on any foreigners who are unable to comply."

Whoops? "Unable to comply?" Oh, oh, is that an out? Does this "not be enforced" thing apply only to people hospitalized or jailed, maybe?

And then: Saturday’s Bangkok Post (October 31) reported in a story on page A-3, "Reduced ‘late reporting fine’: Aliens told to keep up with paperwork." "In the short term Pol. Lt. Gen Chidchai [identified earlier in the story as commissioner of the Immigration Bureau] has proposed to the police commissioner-general that the fine for late reporting be reduced. The said revised fine would be announced in November, and would remain in place for 120 days. ... After the 120 day grace period, the fines would return to the current levels."

But Saturday’s "The Nation" (October 31) reported on Page A-1 as follows: "Expats must notify police once a year", with the story saying, " ... the Office of Police Immigration yesterday announced a lenient policy allowing them to report to the Immigration department only once a year instead of every three months. However, the new fines, which are double the previous ones and have become the subject of complaint, will still be unconditionally imposed on those who fail to meet the deadline, Immigration police chief Lt-Gen Chidchai Wannsasathit said."

It seems strange that "The Nation" and "Bangkok Post" stories both relied upon Lt-Gen Chidchai, but give virtually diametrically opposite reports of what Lt-Gen Chidchai reported or announced. And the Maj-Gen relied upon by the British Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Trade of Thailand? His area of responsibility is not detailed, but a Major General is lower in rank than a Lieutenant General, I believe. Is he a spokesman for the Immigration Bureau? The same bureau headed up by Lt-Gen Chidchai?

The valiant efforts of the "Pattaya Mail" staff to give us a clear, reliable report is seriously undercut by the later, seemingly contradictory reports, published in the Saturday issues of "The Nation" and "Bangkok Post".

Most important to us in Pattaya, of course, is how the Pattaya Immigration office will deal with this confusing issue. And, of course, how the Immigration police at Don Muang will deal with the issue when we want to leave Thailand for a trip or visa run.

Whose information can we rely on? Help!

Expat Teacher

Editor’s reply: Pattaya Immigration’s current policy, as always subject to change, states that foreigners do need to report to immigration every 90 days, but they are currently attempting to lower the fine for non-compliance from 2000 baht to 500 baht. Confusing? Yes. Best advice: "better safe than sorry" ... check in every 90 days.

Looking for stamps

Dear Sir,

Some time ago I used to deal with a stamp dealer in the shopping arcade near Bavaria House Restaurant, but he seems to have moved his premises with no indication of his new address. If any of your readers know his present address, I would be most grateful if he can fax me at 251 454. I also wish to trace a gentleman somewhere in Second Road who is disposing of his stamp collection.

I have been a collector of Thai stamps for many years and I share this hobby with many other people. I am often surprised that there is never any stamp news in any Thai newspaper.

Yours Sincerely,

W. B. Tudhope

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