Immigration at Soi Suan Phlu - new visa system

[phoebe]

I wish to comment on the new visa system. Specifically the part where you have to wait 30 days for the result. On the due day you have to put your passport in an unattended plastic basket [really secure eh what?] and wait for some fat intern in jeans and t-shirt to collect it [what happened to professional staff in smart uniforms in whom one might have some confidence?].

The only receipt you get for your valuable passport is a homemade plastic tag with a number on it, which corresponds to the one you clip to your passport. There is no record of your name, nationality or passport number. If the passport doesn't come back to you later in the day, immigration might well have lost it but
a. authorities never admit mistakes and
b. the lost passport is still your problem

In these days of increased security being imposed by authorities in general, this "plastic basket / no receipt" system is appalling.
Not only could passports be stolen from the basket by criminals, but Immigration has no record of receiving it. It is a disgrace.
I call on Immigration to invoke a more secure system immediately.

[BangkokRay]

How about YOU suggesting something that is more secure and efficient?

[phoebe]

Easy, though I thought it would be obvious.

An official records the name, country, and passport number on a duplicate slip. She keeps the top and gives you the bottom as a receipt. You present your receipt to get the passport back later. [The passport is never left in the open for anyone to purloin but is immediately secured by the official.]