On May 17, Thailand’s Immigration Bureau released a video alerting travelers to disregard assertions regarding a paid Fast Track immigration service purportedly available at Suvarnabhumi Airport via Trip.com.
This warning came after a Chinese-Taiwanese tourist shared a post claiming the service could be acquired for 650 yuan, which included an image from the app suggesting that travelers could pass through immigration in just one minute.
The bureau clarified that no such service exists and is not endorsed by them, urging both residents and tourists to remain vigilant against websites or individuals promising expedited access at immigration checkpoints for a fee.
The Immigration Bureau cautioned that utilizing unauthorized services could result in fraud, financial loss, or the mishandling of personal information. They recommended that travelers seek information on immigration processes and travel protocols exclusively from official sources to avoid falling prey to fraudulent services or fictitious shortcuts.
According to TravelNews, this incident has raised alarms among foreign visitors, who fear it may lead to misconceptions about the immigration system in Thailand.
In a related matter, in late March, immigration authorities dismissed reports of a paid special lane for passengers at Phuket International Airport. They attributed recent delays to a temporary slowdown in the immigration information system during a particularly busy travel period.
Police Colonel Phongthon Phongrattanant, the deputy commander and spokesperson for Immigration Division 2, explained that this situation arose from a brief disruption, emphasizing that there was no fast-track option available for a fee of 200 baht or otherwise.
During the delays, officers reverted to an offline process as per established standard operating procedures, temporarily streamlining certain outbound passenger checks to manage the backlog effectively and securely.
Source: The Thaiger
