IMMIGRATION

Webcam extension of foreigners' stays okayed

WASSAYOS NGAMKHAM

The Immigration Bureau has launched a new service which allows foreign nationals to request the extension of their stay through an internet web camera. Surapol Thanakoses, commander of the Bangkok immigration police, said on Saturday the service was introduced to make it more convenient for foreigners, particularly businessmen, to reach the bureau.

Insisting the service would not breach security regulations, he said foreigners would have to identify themselves and answer questions put before them by immigration officers through a web-accessible camera before receiving the extension.

The webcam project, piloted last month, has so far attracted 19 users and encountered no problems. Its official launch took place on Friday.

Pol Maj-Gen Surapol said his bureau is also providing mobile services and sending its officers to renew the work permits of foreign employees if requested by a company.

The new service will help save foreign nationals the hassle of making the trip to the bureau.

But the bureau is only making its mobile services available on condition that the company involved must have at least 80 foreign workers lined up for renewal.

If the company has more than 10 foreign employees, it could book an appointment with the bureau through its ''pre-queue'' service via e-mail, he said. Pol Maj-Gen Surapol said the company should also e-mail its foreign employees' profiles in advance so that officers could prepare renewal documents and set a date for its employees to obtain the papers.

Bangkok Post