The Phuket News 16 November 2018

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THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2018

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Since 2011 / Volume VIII / No. 46

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PROOF IN POCKET

‘PASSPORT ON PERSON’ NOT REQUIRED DESPITE ‘OPERATION X-RAY OUTLAW FOREIGNER’

20 Baht

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An expat tucks his passport into his pocket at Phuket Immigration. Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot

Tavee Adam reporter1@classactmedia.co.th

P

huket Immigration has confirmed there is no need for foreigners to carry their passports at all times, despite the ongoing ‘Operation X-Ray Outlaw Foreigner’ crackdown on illegal foreigners netting 300 foreigners in Phuket last month alone. The news also follows the Russian Embassy last week strongly advising Russian nationals to carry their passports on their persons at all times while in Thailand. Phuket Immigration Chief Col

Kathathorn Kumthieng this week confirmed to The Phuket News that although the archaic law remains unchanged requiring foreigners to have their passports at the ready to show officials at any time of day, enforcement of the law in Phuket will be not so strict. “We are not enforcing this so hard because we know that foreigners and tourists need to relax in our country, so we see no need to annoy them with rules like this,” he said. However, Col Kathathorn did advise that foreigners carry a copy of their passports with them just in case. “This could be a photocopy or

just a photo of their passport on their phone, which will be useful if something happens and they need to show their ID or if the foreigner is worried about losing their passport. “With just a copy, any officer can call in the foreigner’s name and passport number and check their current legal status on our database. But if we do require them to show us their actual passport, they can go back to their hotel or their home and get it,” he explained. Col Kathathorn did point out that any foreigner who is unable to present his or her passport, given reasonable time and opportunity, will be in

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trouble. At worst case scenario, the foreigner may be arrested and even face deportation. Phuket Immigration Deputy Chief Lt Col Archeep Jaroensuntisuk explained that 300 foreigners had been processed under the ‘Operation XRay Outlaw Foreigner’ campaign in Phuket in October. “Of those, 211 had overstayed their visas, with 21 actually arrested and the remaining 190 surrendering themselves,” Col Archeep said. Col Archeep declined to identify which nationality was the most common for overstays However, he added, “In October...

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