@Steve *********

that's interesting to know. And of course, act serious/be serious, even if just for fun.

@Stacey ***************

its a fair question concerning the ease of opening an account.

@Alessandro *********

they might have taken photos previously, but what they did with them, who knows, but it wasn't Biometrics based. Maybe just for show, to scare people from trying their luck if banned etc. But Biometrics was rolled out in 2021 onwards. They didn't have mine on my last entry Dec 2019, but they got me on my exit May 2022. I could see on the system there was no previous record of me on the Biometrics. -thailand-to-use-biometrics-scan-to-identify-travellers

@Rogerio *****

well if you've never been asked, then it can't be true. Or at least you've not gone as far as to deny that very true fact, based on soley your experience. But yes, I can categorically confirm that immigration 'can' and sometimes 'do', but 'not always', ask you for the 'three proofs' of 20,000 baht or equivalent in cash, proof of accommodation booking, and proof of onward travel before visa expiry, and they can refuse you on any of these. That you haven't been asked, says that you must appear to thai immigration as a genuine tourist and give no reason for questioning, but those they don't like the look of, can be asked, and refused. It is written and printed and displayed in many immigration offices and check points.

@Steve ******

'digitally' and 'stored' and 'Thailand' or 'thai immigration' can't all be used in the same sentence I'm afraid. It just doesn't make any sense.

@Jamie *****

only 2-3 years ago, it rolled out from 2021. There is a sea border point between langkawi and koh lipe and if on that same ferry, you leave your passport with the ferry staff on boarding, and they do the immigration process, and hand you back a passport when docking at Koh Lipe.

@Brandon ***********

depends on when he last exited and the particular border point he went from. Biometrics only rolled out in 2021. Some border points received the technology, and training before others. And didn't immigration 'lose' the names of 4000 of the most wanted criminals across Asia, and leak the news of this, allowing them to enter Thailand with their own passports.......

@David *********

new passport can't do any harm. You know the whole "no comment..." when in a police interview, this is like the immigration equivalent. Why would you give them a passport showing your ban AND multiple overstays. You're doing their job for them. At least try and conceal what you can. You think the immigration IT systems are 100% uptime, backed up + restored, upgraded and upgraded again, and untrained staff and power cuts and data loss.

But fella needs to get his act together either way.

@Alessandro *********

only if his last exit and banning was after 2021. Even then, certain border points may not have been functioning the biometrics fully.

Both of my comments. Thankfully it was late at night, not too many people saw 🙏🏻