onthemoon

While you correct yourself later in your post, let's make it clear that the PR in Thailand is NOT permanent. If it were, you wouldn't have to apply for a visa and endorsement every time (or once a year) you leave the country. This is a major flaw in the Thai PR system and highly annoying. I once almost lost my PR because I had forgotten to get these stupid stamps. Luckily that was in the morning on a weekday, and I could jump over from Suvarnabhumi to CW and back in time to catch the evening flight. Missed one business meeting in Vietnam, though. Sure, if you know for a fact that you will never travel again until the end of your life, you won't need the visa and endorsement, but that case is too rare to claim that this is the rule. The other major flaw is that PR holders still need work permits. And then there is a long list of minor ones.

She was clearly wrong on both ethical and legal grounds. BTS' policy is also wrong; however, the employees I talked to (on three different stations, actually) were just following the rules. Who sets these rules?

I recently turned 60 and asked the staff at the BTS to issue a Senior pass for me. They checked and said this is only for Thai citizens. I understand that they don't want to discount the fares for tourists, but I have PR and I pay taxes, like every Thai citizen. Does anybody know anything more about this?

FWIW, I know a few Thai people living in German who got the German citizenship. They also travel back and forth between Thailand and Germany, and they use their Thai passport in Thailand. One of them is currently in Thailand. Let me call her tomorrow and ask whether the German authorities ever asked her to revoke Thai citizenship, and whether the Thai immigrations officers ever mentioned anything when she left/arrived without a valid Schengen visa.

You have to apply for approval from the Bundesverwaltungsamt in Cologne first. This goes via the Embassy. If you receive Thai citizenship before the actual certificate (Beibehaltungsgenehmigung) has been physically handed to you by the Embassy, you will automatically lose your German citizenship. Contact the Embassy or send me PM for more details.

Thanks. Let me c&p this sentence: "The competent official must complete the process within 90 days or 120 days in the case of filing abroad. which can be extended for no more than 30 days at a time". I don't know whether this means the DOPA needs to send the file to the committee within that time frame, or who the "competent official" is. I haven't read the original Thai text yet, though. FWIW I am attaching a file I saved on my computer in 2020. Hm. BTW I did not see anything about a language test by Chula in the files you attached, I did read this: "Tuition from an educational institution in Thailand at least at the primary level". It's a course offered by some established language schools, and you study at your own pace. Three months, two years, up to you. The primary school final exam for foreigners is at the Ministry of Education (I think once or twice a year). I got my Thai Primary School degree (ป. 6) this way in the early 2000s.

I do not doubt that this is your experience. As I said, YMMV.

I know Thais with dual nationality. However, when you naturalise as a Thai, you cannot use your other passport in Thailand anymore. In fact, you have to have the intent to give our original nationality up once you become a Thai citizen.

I don't know about most Thais. How big was the sample size you surveyed? The Thais I know tell their friends when they first introduce me that I am Thai. Some are surprised that I don't have Thai nationality yet. YMMV.

I have heard people say (in Thai), "I am not a farang with a Thai passport, I am a Thai with a farang face". ???? I liked that.

I am always amazed by your in-depth knowledge and find it very interesting. Thanks for sharing. Would you know any details about the new ministerial regulations? I am aware that they have not become valid, as they were never published in the RG, but it will show us what direction the line of thought was last year.

1. You need to stay in Germany for 7 years consecutively on any visa and pass a basic language test and have some basic knowledge about the country (like we have this test at SB). They want to reduce this to 5 years now, at least if you are married. I know a number of Thai people who have German citizenship. 2.) It is a myriad of papers that have to be handed in if you want to become a Thai citizen. The list will have been posted here several times and is probably available on the SB website as well. You have to have paid at least so much in taxes, hand in your company's documents (too bad if you don't work), have made donations to "prove" that you are a good citizen, and it takes many many years. I'm sorry, it simply does not compare. You must be really committed if you want to become a Thai citizen. Which I am. I'm just saying it is not easy.

It is also much easier for a Thai to get German citizenship than for a German to get Thai citizenship.

Is your ID at Kbank your passport or your pink ID? I think that is the issue. No problem if it is the passport.

Noted. Thanks for your reply.

Thanks. At least now I know I am not the only one. ???? Was that also at Kbank, or was it at another bank?

As expected. ???? I agree with your sentiment of the Thai language education system.

In my pink ID, it shows only my middle initial, not the full middle name. In the work permit, it shows the full middle name, and I also have the full middle name in the citizen ship application. Of course, it is only one long first name with a blank in the middle, but since the computer can handle that, I have no problem. Anyway, I wonder whether the middle initial in the pink ID will cause a problem when I apply for my first light blue ID card... I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. ????

For ID, we often need both the ID card and the tabien baan from Thai customers, for example at customs. That's why I thought the land department might ask for it too.

Very interesting, thanks. Shouldn't be necessary - they are saying that the Thai ID is a fake, or that the office that issued the ID made a mistake, so they need to double-check their colleagues.

I think this was the main reason. Thank you also for your elaborate explanations of scams. This will be useful for some of us.

I am not sure whether this request for your foreign passport despite your Thai ID card was from customs or rather an idea of the UPS staff. They should also have asked for your tabien baan, BTW.

Was that a mandatory interview, or were they just curious? I mean, "how long have you had Thai nationality" - what difference does it make?

Thank you. What is say is good news.

Noted, thanks.