Transcript of the above video: 

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing Thai Immigration's TM47 form; that is the document that is utilized to go ahead and do what is called 90-day reporting. For those who are unaware, folks who are in Thailand on a Non-immigrant Visa are required to do 90-day reporting on a quarterly basis. This is pursuant to the Immigration Act of 1979.

There's a lot of discussion out there by the way - I've talked about this in other videos - "oh there are certain visas that don't have to do 90-day reporting". Well, the Immigration Act states what it states and is what it is. So, unless there is some way of overcoming that, I don't see where, if you're, you are either in Immigrant status or Non-immigrant status, and if you are not in Immigrant status then 90-day reporting would presumably be required. 

That being said, not to get into the distinction there, but the specifics of this video pertain to the fact that yes, it is theoretically possible - not even theoretically - it is possible to file your 90–day reports by mail but there are some issues associated with that. I thought of making this video after reading a recent posting on X from Richard that's @RPOBB and quoting directly: "Mailing in #TM47#90DayReport worked again." So he is saying he mailed in his TM47 form for 90-day reporting and it worked again. "Took 5.5 weeks to get it back though." So that is the big issue associated with the mail in, is it takes a really long time to get it back, or a fairly long time. I mean five and a half weeks, that is going on a month and a half, and there are other issues associated with it. If you are relying on it especially for when you have to go deal with your Visa Extension, they're going to want to see that documentation. Having mailed it may kind of lead to some issues if only with timing. 

I think it's important to point out, there are some comments here. First one, “I sent my last one in two and a half weeks before it was due. Immigration received it next day. I got it back almost 2 days later with a note that I had left before/returned after Songkran and the clock had restarted. If expats acted with such inefficiency, we would be blacklisted." Well, I mean look, Thai Immigration is what it is. At the end of the day, they have the powers that they have. I understand how frustrating it is. I've been dealing with Immigration both in a Thai and American context for almost 20 years, and I'm here to tell you, on the other side of the pond it doesn't get much better. Quoting further, there's another comment here: "I once got one back with a note saying to only send in 15 to 7 days before reporting date. I had mailed it 6 days before reporting date that time.

Yeah, there are picayune little sort of preferences that I expect the Officers at the Immigration Office have, but meanwhile, the major point of this video is that there is a timing delay associated with mailing it in, notwithstanding it is possible to do it. The thing I do like about mail-in is you can prove that you did it.  You can keep on a paper copy of what was mailed, but that said, again it may not be overly dispositive to Immigration if you have to use that in the event that they for example lose it, or you just never get it back. The mail, it gets lost there, or it comes back so late that it's of no use to you, for example again, in an extension context. 

My personal opinion is, and it's generally the consensus down here at the office, that it is probably best to do it either in person or have assistance, somebody do it for you in person. Again, there is an online portal to do it, but as discussed in other videos, it has certain bugs of its own. We've also discussed the fact that Thai Immigration is apparently rolling out a digital system that they are going to be using for various aspects of Immigration reporting. Presumably 90-day reporting will be part of that. As of now it remains to be seen if that is going to even roll out, and if it does, how effective it is going to be. That said, we will certainly be keeping folks updated on this channel as the situation evolves.