BANGKOK, July 25 (TNA) – To strictly enforce the
immigration law requiring reports on foreign visitors, Thai police hold a
policy briefing for hotel and other business operators, urging them to abide by
law or face fines.
Acting commander of Royal Thai Police’s Immigration Bureau
Pol Lt Gen Sompong Chingduang invited representatives of hoteliers, educational
institutes and private enterprises to the meeting.
The objective of the meeting was to elaborate Section 38 of
the 1979 Immigration Act which has seen only hotels and guesthouses obliged to
provide of all guests staying at their properties.
In the case of foreigners staying at any property, owners
must report their presence to the bureau within 24 hours by filing a completed
“TM30” form, he said.
The Bureau had launched an application “Section 38” for
filing the form online or it could be submitted by mail or at the Bureau’s
office, Lt Gen Sompong said.
Failing to do so, house owners, landlords or hotel managers
could face fine to up to Bt10,000, he added.
In the move to step up law enforcement, the Bureau has also
warned foreigners staying longer than three months to make their 90 day reports
or face fines.
“The policy is a part of transnational crime suppression campaign
to safeguard security and order in the country,” Pol Lt Gen Sompong said. (TNA)
