onthemoon

I applied successfully under the business category (starting with the 3-year work permit) and don't see why you would say that everybody would fail. To the contrary, this is the most popular way to do it, I'd say, as everybody I personally know who got PR used that option. I didn't have my yet PhD back then, but I believe it gives you a higher score for education. At least it does for citizenship applications. Nothing to do with the "power" of any particular institution, but a very transparent point system. It does not matter where you graduated, as long as it is an accredited university. I bet your "old chap" did not get an endorsement letter, he just presented his degree. If the uni also wrote a letter, they will have ignored it. No, I did not pay "speed-up money". What for? I never saw a reason for it. Lawyers can't do anything anyway, and rumours are that they pocked a big chunk of the money paid without receipt themselves. They cannot make you pass if you don't meet the criteria - for which you don't need a lawyer.

At Suvarnabhumi, you can always use the Thai passport lanes. At Don Mueang, I was also asked to use the foreigners' lane but successfully persuaded the officer to not reject me after I had stood a long time in the Thai and, and the foreigners' lane was much longer (it was the end of a long holiday). So, the good question is: Is it written down somewhere that PR holders can use the Thai lane? Or does immigration at DMK make their own rules?

Let's see what happens when they run out of the red books that they printed in 1927 and are still distrubuting,

I asked at Suvarnabhumi and wanted to register for e-gate, as I did with the previous incarnation of e-gates. They said, I must go to the PR section at CW, only they can register PR holders. When I was at CW to renew my PR (sorry, get an endorsement), I was told they have nothing to do with the e-gates. All is well organised, as we can see.

You need to cool down. If you want to apply for citizenship, it means you want to stay here forever. Once you have your PR, what's the urgency? Before you can apply for PR, you have to be on the same work permit for three years. And once you have the PR, who have to have it for 5 years before you can apply for citizenship. In my case, I am now in year 22 since that initial WP was issued. There is some hope that I will receive citizenship this year.

ขอบคุณตรับ

I'm in the same batch. I called my case officer at SB after that, and he said it will take about 9 months. So anytime soon, plus of course a few months' delay. I hope I will be called for the oath within this year. Speaking of which, I want to call to MOI and ask about this too. Can somebody tell me how to say "oath ceremony" in Thai? Please write in Thai, thanks.

I am not aware of any land border crossing that is not connected to the immigration computer system. Stamps can be easily faked - what counts is what is in the system.

Thanks.

True. Actually, the ID for PR holders should have another colour, as pink IDs are associated with migrant workers. Also, foreigners with non-B and without PR can get the pink ID now. And the White Book has no meaning anymore since the introduction of computers at immigration (see auto-gates: no stamp). And the brownish-red Police Book has no meaning since the police use computers, and since the pink IDs have been introduced. These books are just a waste of money. I wonder why they don't just streamline it and do away with those books. They don't even need to be replaced with anything - all data is in the computers already. Priority for PR holders or not, this is government money that can be saved. Just my idea to help the Thai government.

Did you have to register at CW for the auto-gates?

Thanks for this website! Unfortunately: I already have the MOI interview, so my data should be in the system...

We got married in Germany in 2013. We have no problem waiting one more month to get the marriage recognised in Thailand. I understand you are not married yet, but what is your hurry?

Maybe he has to follow the law? Just thinking. Is there any reason you cannot wait until 22 January?

Next time, when you check in, show both passports to the airline staff. "This is my passport for leaving, and this is my passport for entering Thailand". I think they can tell the system somehow, as many passengers have dual nationality.