Latest news with #ImmigrationDivision2
Bangkok Post
21-07-2025
- Bangkok Post
Families to get priority at major airports
Thailand is welcoming young travellers and families with a priority check-in channel at airports in major cities during school holidays in China and summer in Europe. The shǔ jià yú kuài tú jìng, or the "Happy Chinese Summer Channel", programme has been launched at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket and Chiang Mai airports, said Pol Maj Gen Choengron Rimpadee, Commander of Immigration Division 2. The initiative aims to boost convenience for travellers from China, as well as those from entering from North America and Europe passing through airport immigration during the summer months in the Northern Hemisphere, and the low season of tourism in Thailand, he said. A dedicated lane will be provided for travellers who come as a family with a clear travel plan, said Pol Maj Gen Choengron. They must be able to declare a return date and accommodation and have no history of visa runs, or short trips made to a neighbouring country to extend their stay, he said. The number of Chinese families travelling to Thailand has increased, and they can look forward to better treatment under this change. In every 1,300 Chinese who arrive in Thailand, 600 of whom are 12 years old or younger, and often travel with their parents or grandparents, said Pol Maj Gen Choengron. About 1,000 travellers of other nationalities who come as a family visit Thailand every day, half of whom are 12 years and younger. The dedicated lane has reduced check-in times from 40 minutes on average down to just 15, he said. Feedback from travellers who have taken part in the programme has been very positive, he added. However, some visitors have complained about the need to fill out the Thailand Digital Arrival Card. Airport immigration has rejected over 10,000 arrivals since January as part of an effort to crack down on foreign criminals, said Pol Maj Gen Choengron.
Bangkok Post
20-07-2025
- Bangkok Post
Immigration expands fast lanes at Thai airports as student tourism picks up
Thai immigration authorities have expanded their fast lanes at the country's international airports to accommodate not only Chinese students and families, but also growing numbers of international school holidaymakers. Pol Maj Gen Choengron Rimpadee, commander of Immigration Division 2, said the extended service comes as more foreign families arrive in Thailand during the summer break – particularly from the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada – coinciding with the country's low tourist season. Immigration police recently set up 'Happy Chinese Summer Channel' lanes for Chinese students' families at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, and Phuket airports to welcome them to Thailand during their school holidays. According to Pol Maj Gen Choengron, while the number of Chinese student visitors still forms the largest group — averaging around 1,300 arrivals per day, 600 of whom are children aged under 12 — the number of non-Chinese students and their families is climbing steadily, currently averaging 1,000 daily arrivals, with about 500 of them being children. 'The fast lanes are now being utilised more broadly to support smoother processing for family groups visiting for tourism. Students and their families typically arrive with clear travel plans, confirmed accommodation and return tickets, and have no prior record of visa misuse or 'visa runs'', Pol Maj Gen Choengron said. 'The special lanes have reduced immigration queue times for these family groups from a peak of 40 minutes to just 15 minutes during busy periods. Priority lanes are also being provided for elderly foreign travellers, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities.' The initiative has received positive feedback from the groups, including praise for improved service and perceptions of Thailand as a family-friendly destination. However, they noted some inconvenience with the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) system, prompting plans for further system improvements. Meanwhile, Thai nationals continue to benefit from automated passport clearance and the Thai passport-holders lanes, typically waiting no longer than five minutes. Despite efforts to boost tourism during the low season, Pol Maj Gen Choengron emphasised that border security remains the top priority. Since January, more than 10,000 foreign nationals have been denied entry due to concerns over illegal activities or links to so-called "grey" groups. The fast-lane initiative, he stressed, is aimed at supporting genuine tourism while maintaining strict screening protocols.
Bangkok Post
13-07-2025
- Bangkok Post
Fast immigration lanes for Chinese students' families at Thai airports
Immigration police have set up fast lanes for Chinese students' families at major airports to welcome them to Thailand during their school holidays. Pol Maj Gen Choengron Rimpadee, commander of the Immigration Division 2 which supervises major airports, said on Sunday that tourism-related operators had urged for measures to stimulate the arrivals of Chinese visitors as their numbers had dropped by about 50% from 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic. In response, immigration police set up 'Happy Chinese Summer Channel' lanes for Chinese students' families at Chiang Mai, Don Mueang, Phuket and Suvarnabhumi airports from July to September. The fast lanes limited waiting time for visitors to 15 minutes to complete their immigration processes, down from up to 40 minutes during peak hours, Pol Maj Gen Choengron said. He expected the special immigration channels to serve at least 5,000 Chinese students and family members each day. About 20,000 Chinese visitors arrive in Thailand every day. The airport immigration commander said he met a deputy director-general of Chinese consular affairs and learned that Thailand remained a popular destination among Chinese students' families, after Macau and Hong Kong. Marine attractions in Pattaya and Phuket were their favourite destinations in Thailand, and Chinese authorities had no policy to discourage Chinese people from visiting Thailand, Pol Maj Gen Choengron said. Chinese people increasingly chose domestic trips because their income dropped after the Covid-19 pandemic, the commander said.
Bangkok Post
10-07-2025
- Bangkok Post
Police arrest Malaysian over online gambling ring
Immigration police arrested a Malaysian national at Don Mueang Airport yesterday over alleged ties to the online gambling platform HYDRA888, which is linked to money laundering activities involving more than 11.5 billion baht. Pol Maj Gen Choengron Rimphadee, commander of Immigration Division 2 (ID2), announced the arrest of the suspect. Immigration officers at Don Mueang received intelligence that a suspect named in a Thai arrest warrant was arriving from Malaysia. Officers were instructed to intercept the individual at the airport's international arrivals gate. The suspect, Steven Choong Seng Lok, 26, arrived in Bangkok from Kuala Lumpur on AirAsia flight AK890. He was nabbed immediately upon entering the arrivals hall at Don Mueang Airport. Mr Steven was arrested under a warrant issued by the Nonthaburi Provincial Court on Dec 16, 2024, on charges of operating an unauthorised online gambling service, conspiring with others to commit money laundering, and engaging in money laundering. Authorities allege that Mr Steven is the owner of a company used as a financial conduit for HYDRA888's operations. The platform handled over 11.52 billion baht in transactions over the course of a year. Following the arrest, the suspect was handed over to the Technology Crime Suppression Division 2 (TCSD 2) for further legal proceedings.
The Star
10-06-2025
- The Star
Thai immigration files complaint after Chinese tourist filmed officer, alleged bribes can ease entry into country
BANGKOK: Suvarnabhumi Airport immigration officers have filed a formal complaint after a viral video surfaced showing a Chinese national secretly filming an officer while falsely claiming that entering Thailand is easy as long as you have money. The video, which was edited and narrated in Chinese, suggested that Thai immigration officers could be bribed to 'open the way' for entry — even offering assistance with luggage. It also falsely claimed that working in Thailand without a visa is possible if one has connections with the Immigration Bureau. On Monday (June 9), Pol Maj Gen Choengron Rimpadee, chief of Immigration Division 2 at Suvarnabhumi Airport, confirmed that the video was filmed inside the airport's immigration arrival hall. The officer featured in the clip was identified as Pol Capt Eknarin Chantamatharapaskul, Deputy Inspector of the inbound immigration unit. According to Eknarin, a Chinese tourist had approached him for help filling out the online entry form (TDAC), claiming he didn't understand the system. Out of goodwill, he assisted by entering the information. Later, the same individual asked for expedited passport processing, explaining he was in a hurry due to the delay. Eknarin escorted him to the regular passport control queue and returned to assist other travellers — unaware that he had been secretly filmed from behind. He stressed that his actions were purely intended to help a tourist in need, and said he was shocked to learn the footage had been misused — edited and paired with false commentary — causing reputational harm. Choengron added that Thailand has recently cracked down on foreign nationals abusing visa-free entry. Between January and May 2025, immigration officers denied entry to approximately 8,193 foreigners, many suspected of entering under the guise of tourism to work illegally. He noted that some individuals and agents have been trying to mislead Chinese nationals through fake content and advertisements, claiming they can arrange entry into Thailand through 'connections' with immigration officials. Others have turned immigration checkpoints into "challenge content" zones — secretly filming staff and restricted areas to generate viral videos. Eknarin has since filed a defamation complaint with investigators at Suvarnabhumi Police Station. The Immigration Bureau is also pursuing legal action under immigration law to revoke the tourist's visa and blacklist them as a prohibited person. Authorities are urging the public not to believe or share misleading content that could damage the integrity and credibility of Thailand's immigration services. - The Nation/ANN
