wonder how much each card will cost - more expense no doubt !!!

Great! I think? won't they lose a lot of money though?
I Have a better idea to attract Foreign investors and tourists.
How about this?
1. Foreign owned companies pay the same Tax as Thai owned companies
2. Get rid of the double pricing system i.e. tourist pay the same price as Thai

Just 2 small ideas which could work I think?

I am very interest in this new card, the immigration process take sometimes 30 mn when you don't fly in business class

Need to be clarify as soon as possible

Brilliant idea, if it works

I don't really see the need either, I come through 4-5 times year and not much of a wait and if I'm with my wife (sometimes) I go through the Thai lane with her.

So the only benefit is not having to wait in line at immigration?

Big deal.

I want to not have to leave teh country every three months!!

immigration cards, eh?
sounds like the ghost ASEAN lane.....

immigration cards in other countries is for people living and working long term in host countries....card holders can bypass the normal immigration procedures eg. filling out time wasting immigration forms and so on...

on the contrary, this one appears it is designed to attract tourists by giving impression that if you are frequenter to thailand you will have express ways in and out regardless of your background.....tax paying work permit holders need not apply...

What's the 3-5 times a year. I go out 20+ times a year on business... Need a new card every 5 times?
Otherwise.....IF it works, it COULD be a great improvement.

Personally I would like having a card issued by the Immigration Police to carry as a form of ID.

I never carry a passport - I use my Thai drivers lisence & rarely leave the Kingdom.

Let's hope they follow through.

I applaud the concept and I will withold my scepticism until I can see that it will not happen by 31/12/08.

I reckon that somebody in Immigration read the joke thread about "New Thailand Visa Rules" (which I thought was very humorous, but which now seems to have been removed?). They got a bit miffed, and so started this story about a new Immigration card just to wind up a bunch of farang kwais. And look, it's worked! I'll bet the guy and his mates are rolling in the aisles.

Perhaps the motive is simply "efficiency".

Desperate attempt to attract Foreign investment and Tourists.

Will be good for someone doing business in China, India or somewhere else in Asia and living in Thailand.

Think I'll just stick to using my APEC card. Sounds like an information gathering exercise to me.

Now if only they'd allow us to complete the 3 monthly address registration online!

Only problem with it is that those that will be issued the card(those who go in and out of the country 5 times)have no use of it as they are not allowed into the country again after 3 times.(ninety day rule)

Wrong. For those with mulitple entry O visas (ninety day rule doesn't apply) it will be great if it works, although if you are like me and are married to a Thai, I just go through the Thai Nationals channel with her like a breeze, never more than five minutes ever.

Well theres something like 600 hundread on here now. Must of been the email that was sent out.
If its a card that shows my immigration status here it would be good but if its only for the airport. No good for me I havn't been to the airport in over a year this time.

How about instead relieving us longtimers that are married to Thais of the annual nightmare to renew our visas? People with families who are obviously holding down jobs should be exempt from that insulting procedure that makes us all feel like criminals and terrorists.

1 to 2 hours? Wow, that's an absurd amount of time...do they take you to a seperate room for interrogation? I have gone through those borders from several different points about 100 or so times and never waited that long. I'd estimate the average time to be around 20 minutes (and most of that waiting in line), with the longest I've ever waited being about 45 minutes.

Same here..

I agree with with you.
I have been thinking about checking into setting up a "Mia Farangs" oranization.
There are thousands of mia farangs if we could get them all together to do a petition drive or something to get the rules changed. Or at least equal to the rules that apply to a farang woman married to a Thai.

Nice sentiment and great idea but wouldnt hold your breath...

Hope its not for free!! Just paid 12000 baht for another year with Thailongstay Silver Card.

I come and go every 4 weeks, so saving 40min. every trip will be a few hours at the end of the year.
Can it be something else behind this "service"

I am in and out of Bangkok and Phuket all the time 8-10 times a year and never have a long wait at Immigration always very smooth maybe I have just been lucky.
Travelling Biz Class helps because you are first off the plane but even stopping of for a much need cigerette or 2 I still dont have much waiting 10-15mins at most.
I come in and out on 2 passports does this mean that if the card is for tourists? and will be linked to only 1 passport if thats the case shall not be asking for one as that will be a great way of adding up consecutive days.