onthemoon

Yeah, that's what I want to know from my bank. "Cannot transfer to own account overseas", the error message says. I hope it is just a software bug.

Thanks. So there is no problem.

Does your bank know you are a Thai citizen?

Suddenly I cannot transfer money from my Thai account to my home country account anymore with my bank's software (both website and mobile app) when using "repatriate income of foreign workers" as the purpose of transfer. The error message says "you cannot send money to your own account" or something like that. Apparently, this works for people who use their passport but not for people with pink card and PR. I have now changed my registered ID in the bank's system from the pink card back to my passport, and now it works again. Is it true that PR holders cannot repatriate income anymore (as they told me at the call center), or is that a new software bug at my bank? It only started recently, so if there is a new regulation, I think I would have read about it here.

Here is a banking question: As a foreigner working in Thailand, I can "repatriate earnings", i.e. send (part of) my salary back to my own account in my home country. Once I get Thai citizenship, how would I transfer money out?

It was more than 10 years ago admittedly. However, I don't pay bribes as a matter of principle. Had they not accepted my application even though it was complete and asked for funds without receipt, I would have gone straight to their superior, and up and up. I've done that with other government offices and never paid anything. You have to talk in a polite and friendly tone, use the right vocabulary etc. It helps if you do negotiations for a living, so the accountant might not have been the right person to discuss with them on your behalf, I don't know that. Sorry to hear that you gave up, but maybe you want to reconsider. They can change the regulations for the LTR at any time, and on the other hand, the automatic work permit is of course very nice.

How exactly did the consultant reduce the paperwork for you? Did they request certain documents from your home country for you, or did they contact the accounting department in your company for the documents directly? The latter actually can be done by your secretary if you don't want to do that by yourself. Did they make the photocopies of old passports for you? I really don't get how they could help in any way. Of course they would say it's a lot of headache, otherwise you wouldn't need them. Oh, you don't.

No, never had to pay any, and I recommend not to pay them. They go straight to the agent's coffers.

This is what the agency can do: Get the list of documents required (it's in English), get all the documents together (they will need to get all from you and your company), hand it in. In other words, an agency can do exactly nothing, except tell you what documents you have to get (it's in the list) and charge THB 100,000. I can do that for you, if you want. ????

True, I am active in some foreign chambers, and we are getting nowhere. Each ministry we talk to say that this is an issue were many ministries need to agree, e.g. Min of Interior, Min of Labour, Min of Finance, to waive the requirement. I am not sure about the laws, but if a change a law is required, this means that parliament have to approve it too, which is a very lengthy process. There is no political will on the Thai government side to go through all this convincing work, because they don't see what the advantage for Thailand would be. They'd rather spend their time working on issues closer to their hearts or constituents - they can't lose our votes, and even if they lose the votes of our loved ones, we are just a very small minority.

Thank you for the history lesson, much appreciated. Yes, I remember that it was changed at some time, and PR holders did not need 4 employees at the time. I have a lot more employees in my company, so that doesn't really affect me. My point is that PR holders have been vetted a lot more than LTR visa applicants, so the fairness here is questioned. You are right, the LTR visa's purpose is to attract more foreign investors and we - the PR holders - are already here, so there is no political incentive to change anything to make it easier for us.

Labour Law says that foreigners intending to work in Thailand need a work permit. There is no government order or anything stating that PR holders are exempted. I had a discussion with someone from the Ministry of Industry who held an event touting the new Thailand Long Stay Visa, holders of which don't need a work permit (it explicitly says so in the regulation). I asked him why PR holders do need one, he couldn't answer that. So, you won't find any regulation that says PR holders must get a WP. You just find that that there is no regulation that says that PR holders do not need one. HTH

Oh, I see.

I stand corrected.

It has nothing to do with NIA but yes, you have to reserve a Thai name. Everybody does, married or not. You don't need to use it, though.

If you want to stay here forever, what are 3 years? ????

No, I wouldn't call them liars. They tell you what they believe is right, but the final date is not up to them. For example, sometimes there aren't any meetings/interviews for months, and that is out of their control. They invite the applicants to the interviews only one week in advance, because nothing is for sure any earlier.

I meant this tongue-in-cheek.

Since you are already Thai citizens, you can go into politics and actually change things! ???? Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

Since you are applying for Thai citizenship, I would think you have lived here for a while. Hence, I am surprised about your reply. ????

Hm, and they thought getting angry and talking harsh will speed up the process?

Yes, apparently.

I waited 5 years to let my PR age in grace before applying for citizenship. ????

1.) Donations to temples count. Use the receipts. 2.) Also use the hospital receipt. Do not say that your donation to the hospital was for applying for citizenship. They want people who have a genuinely good heart, not people who have a selfish purpose when donating. HTH

He said I should expect to be interviewed within this year. They will call me 7 days in advance. If I am overseas at the scheduled time, I can reschedule, no problem. Note for those who are new: MOI received my docs in April 2020. I was told last year that I should expect to be interviewed early this year. I don't mind the waiting, I'm not going anywhere.