Yes their system has the ability to record notes on your record such as interviews conducted, refusal of entry and banning,and also shows all current and history of passports - if you have multiple or replacement etc. it also shows all entries and depatures, and all addresses registered at.

You are playing with fire if you tamper with passports or get caught trying to enter the country illegally - it can have world wide repercussions in any future travel with denial of visas and refusal of entry based on "poor character" assessments.

And still doesnt explain why they fined someone on retirement visa last week?!

Dode Keates if your staying in hotel in BKK they will lodge TM30 anyway, so you only need to do it when you arrive in Jomtien, within 24 hours (but i hear mostly they allow 48 hours)

David Cee technically yes, but each office applies the law differently...

Mike Luck it is a requirement by law, it's the application of the law which is inconsistent and which will catch you out!

I've never had a TM30 refused to be accepted, returning to the same address, even as late as last week. Not sure why they told you that after I saw them fine 3 people.

@Tony *******

yeah, the inconsistency within the same office is what concerns me...so I prefer to spend 30 minutes to lodge a new TM30 each time I return, thus peace of mind.

Tony Dadson yeah I had never seen this focus before...but like this OP states he was told not to lodge last week - no consistency!

One of the guys fined argued that he had been told before they didn't need to lodge but immigration simply stated the law, and didn't care what he said...and when he refused to pay they refused to process his extension - needless to say he paid!

@Tony *******

TM30

Tony Dadson two were lodging TM30 and two of them had other things at the same time but cant be sure what it was, maybe extensions- they had to go another counter after. One was just lodging TM30. But with everyone they were checking history of TM30 lodgments for discrepancies, even i was questioned but I've always lodged every time.

Tony Dadson because they had been registered with immigration by hotel/owner in Bangkok...one was hotel, another was hostel type owner, the third I couldn't hear properly.