The new forms were brought into use at the Immigration Division 1 office in Chaengwattana and One-Stop Service Center at Chamchuri Square in Bangkok on April 4, reported Khaosod English. (See here and here.)
Pol Maj Gen Chatchawan Wachirapaneekhun, the Immigration Bureau deputy commissioner who designed the form, said on Monday (Apr 19) that it would help solve problems, such as the difficulty in tracking down foreigners who commit crimes.
However, he insisted providing the information was not mandatory.
“We want to collect as much information as we can. And it actually increases the work for the Immigration Bureau,” Gen Chatchawan said. “But it will benefit the country.”
A senior-ranking officer at Phuket Immigration yesterday confirmed to The Phuket News that the new forms were not in use in Phuket. However, the officer specifically asked not to be publicly identified in this report.
“Immigration offices in other provinces, including Phuket, have not received these new forms or been told to use such forms, so foreigners on the island need not worry about this,” the officer said.
“However, if the Immigration Bureau orders us to use these form, we will use them,” he added.
“Right now, we still use the same form we have been directed to use and it does not require personal details like that,” he assured.