onthemoon

Thanks.

Thanks. Then I'll do it too, next time. Where do I register, at the airport or Chaeng Wattana?

So, you did use the e-gates?

I don't know why the officer went into so many details with your application 28 years ago, but during my interview, "only" about 23 years ago, it wasn't that deep, and I don't remember that any staff in the company I worked for at the time was interviewed at all. Of course, I spoke Thai with the officers, but I don't think that makes any difference (except showing my commitment to the country and culture). I remember my own interview, which was recorded on video, and it was actually a nice chat. I think there were also five or so of my fellow countrymen approved in my batch, but I don't know whether any more had applied. It can well have been a 100% success rate for all I know. Again, your and my applications are a very long time ago, everything may be very different now. I am not aware of any rejections of people who met the criteria, even in this forum. Maybe I'm wrong.

I arrived back last week. I filled in the TDAC the moment I landed, as I had forgotten about it. The problem was that the format of my non-quota immigrant visa was not accepted by the system. Apparently, tourist or non-B visas have a different format. So, my entry showed "no visa". When arriving at the (very empty) Thai passport counter, the officer was happy that all the data was already in the system. I did point to the missing visa number, but she said it does not matter. She took a screenshot of my visa (as they have always done) and said that's sufficient. This makes me think the TDAC is just a measure to speed up the immigration process. Which is great. So, if you had not filled it in, the officer just had to type in more, slowing down the process. I'm not sure whether that's true, but it looks like that to me.

Oh, this is more complicated than during my time (applied in 2005 or so). 1. Have a work permit and the tax payments proof. Yes, that was the same. Also needed documentation from the company. 2. Two master's degrees? That certainly limits the number of eligible applicants. I had one master's at the time, but I think that a bachelor's or even a vocational degree would have been sufficient at the time. 3. Investment required? This was definitely not the case then. 4. Work is contributing to Thai development: Isn't it one of the criteria for work permits anyway?

Hi brother, Good to know that I am not the only one with patience. My PR took several years, too. I also applied for citizenship in 2019 and was also in the interview in August 2024. I talked to MOI about a month ago and asked for an update. They said they were still "processing", so you don't need to worry. Everybody in your/our batch is still waiting for the oath.

Hi Ludlow, My husband did all the paperwork, so I don't know all details. He went to the local district office (Khet in Bangkok or Amphur upcountry) with the documents we had, and asked what is needed. We had to use an official translation company to translate my passport and the marriage certificate into Thai, I remember that. The translations then had to be verified by our embassy, and the certified translations had to be certified again by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Consular Department. The translation office arranged for these two certifications for us, they do it as a routine service for a small fee as it is often required. I think this was all, but please double-check with the district office. The district office then changed our status from "single" to "married", and we received a certificate for that. So, it is important to know that we did not get married again, they just acknowledged that we are married already, which was fast. In fact, it was immediate on the day when we brought all the documents and certified translations. As for the visa, I am on a non-quota immigrant visa and am listed in the blue tabien baan. I don't know whether this makes a difference.

Have you succeeded yet? Just for info, we are officially married in Thailand now.

Wouldn't you call the maintenance service first, before you call the police? Why did they need a rescue service if this was inside the hospital? And why did the people need to be medically examined? I think the article does not tell us the full story.

I see. I actually applied in Bangkok, but the MOI interview was in Pathum Thani.

I did it in Lamlukka. I just saw this is in Pathum Thani. You mean they also take interviews in Nonthaburi? I didn't know that, I thought there is only one place in Thailand where the conduct the interviews.

I had my interview 30 August 2024, too. The mic was taped to the desk. I stood up straight for the songs - that's basic politeness when you sing a national anthem or a royal anthem! I had to sing very loud so that the mic could pick it up, so I think maybe that's why you didn't stand up straight. A bit hunched over? Hm. I was not questioned about my attire or asked to wear yellow; I wore a blue suit and tie as I had read here was considered appropriate, and there were no comments about that. I think it must have been the same batch of officers. So, I am surprised about your negative experience. I found them very polite and professional. I talked to the MOI office only recently, and the documents are still in the process. They couldn't say yet when I will be invited for the next step, the oath ceremony, as "many people" still have to sign. I have a vague hope that I'll get to take the oath still within this year.

The current problem is that so many ministries and departments are involved. The police are the coordinators now., but everybody wants to have a say. I would have no problem if the police would take the lead in the future - as long as it can be one department, as suggested. The current system is highly inefficient and therefore costly for the govt.

I for one am surprised, as I thought the gap would mean that he will have to start again from zero years. I myself had a gap (albeit for 3 years) and it was so. Well, that was more than 20 years ago. Things change, and even if the regulations don't change, government officials and their interpretations change.

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This is one thing where I agree with Anutin. I had discussions with different govt people about PR and citizenship and the whole inefficiency of the processes, but nobody wants to put energy into changing it as there are many Ministries and Departments involved, and they would have to coordinate and convince. With everything in one department, we would have somebody to talk to.

This is one thing where I agree with Anutin. I had discussions with different govt people about PR and citizenship and the whole inefficiency of the processes, but nobody wants to put energy into changing it as there are many Ministries and Departments involved, and they would have to coordinate and convince. With everything in one department, we would have somebody to talk to.

Thanks for your confirmation. It took me a bit longer (interview after 2 months or so, completion and receipt of PR after 6 years). I was asking @NativeBob why he said the business way doesn't work. I think it is the most-used option to get PR.

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.

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