Foreigners nationwide being checked as visa changes being considered

PHOTOS: INN

The new immigration chief Maj-Gen Surachate Hakparn is making his presence felt promising to investigate 60,000 migrants in a crackdown on illegal workers. He is also promising changes in the way visa extensions are done.

INN reports that the crackdown began mid week, with media in tow, in the Huay Khwang, Nana and Khao San areas with the arrest of 59 people from Nigeria, Myanmar, Syria, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt, China and Palestine and some alleged Thai nominees.

Surachete says these people were found to be working illegally, entered Thailand illegally, failed to do their 90 day reports, were working under Thai nominees or a combination of offences.

The INN article poses the question: 60,000 foreigners in Thailand – are they legal?

Surachate promises justice for those following the rules – but says that he will arrest anyone who who didn’t have the correct paperwork, no matter where they lived in Thailand.

He also said that changes are being proposed regarding visa extensions giving the example that possessions of Thai wives, married to foreigners, could be used as collateral. He did not elaborate on any other changes and who the changes might affect.

SOURCE: INN