onthemoon

It was terribly hard for me, but everybody is different. I now sing them to myself every couple of days to keep them in memory, waiting for the big day.

I didn't think so. ???? These are multiple-choice questions, I remember one of them: What is the capital of Thailand? 1.) Chiang Mai 2.) Bangkok 3.) Ayutthaya

You have to sign from memory (I asked SB at the time when I had to test sing) I am not aware of any reading or writing tests. However, I read the questions to the Thai language test to them aloud by myself, and then answered them. I had the impression that they did not expect the applicant to be able to read at all. I think the test is only meant to be an oral test.

I am currently out of the country and plan to call them again when I am back in Thailand later this month.

You didn't mention that you give them your ID first. You said you wouldn't bring your ID. I never bring my passport, and they won't ask for it when they see the ID. Well, YMMV.

Why would you do that? I don't have the Thai ID yet, I still have the pink ID. When they ask for passport, I just give them the pink ID. Easy for everybody, no questions asked.

Have a copy of the naturalisation certificate signed HM the King on your phone and ask them to take it up with the signatory! ????

1.) Keeps the hope up for those who are still waiting 2.) Once my name is in there, I will appreciate it a lot. That's my 2 cents.

555 No, it's not bizarre. It's a slight variation of an existing surname and I was surprised it didn't exist yet. Well, I am currently not planning of ever using it, but who knows what the future will bring.

Oh, I thought this name is now mine forever. I wasn't aware that they cancel it if I don't apply for documents under this name... Thanks for the heads-up.

Oh, I see.

When I applied for citizenship, I was asked to choose a Thai name, first name and surname. Can't you just use this?

My bad. I mixed this up with my citizen application. For my PR, I took six years. Applied in 2006, received it in 2012. Those were other times...

Gee, I was just a few months too late. My application was sent to MOI in April 2021, still waiting for the MOI interview.

The question is who wrote this. If that was your case officer at SB, he will just send your file to MOI next month. I am celebrating my 2-year anniversary of my file being at MOI this month.

When was your file transferred to MOI?

Funny anecdote. No, the street police don't know the white book, and I don't think it has anything to do with them. I always show my pink ID, never had a problem. (I have also never been stopped or fined by traffic police without reason in the past 33 years.) I did use the white book at the airport though to get through the Fast Track when I was flying eco. The security guards there just saw the Thai Garuda and waived me through. This usually doesn't work anymore though (depending on who is on duty).

It seems the problem here is with the UK authorities, not the Thais. Does your passport show your residence? Mine does, and it shows Bangkok, Thailand. That's why I get "VAT refund for tourists" anywhere in the EU. I haven't tried outside of the EU, but then, I'd be a tourist anywhere outside of the EU anyway. (Except in Thailand, of course.)

At least at DLT Prakanong, they understand PR very well. Yes, you do have to present your (pink) ID and your tabien bahn, exactly the same as Thai citizens. I don't know why you think there is something wrong with that.

No, I didn't say that. I said that if you need a new white book (for example because the old one is full), they ask for the tabien bahn. I don't know what happens if you don't have one, didn't try that. The OP intends to reside overseas and travel to Thailand at least once a year. He will get his entry and exit stamps into the white book, and a new endorsement every year, which is a full page. Sooner or later his book will be full. That's why this information might be relevant to him. I don't know whether someone who never travels needs a tabien bahn. They can probably renew their drivers licence using their passport and a residence certificate from the embassy, instead of the pink card and tabien bahn. The white book and the drivers licence are the only times I have needed the tabien bahn (I think).

Example: I recently needed a new white book and forgot to bring my tabien bahn. (They believed me when I said I will bring it when I pick up the new book - it takes a couple of days - so I presented it when I picked up the new white book. I don't remember whether I had to show the tabien bahn when I renewed the red police book.

Bubbha already answered this: The "P" in "PR" does not mean it's permanent; you lose it if you leave the country without visa+endorsement. On the other hand, they take the "R" seriously. So, if you don't reside in Thailand (with a tabien bahn to prove it) you lose your PR.

Blue Book: You need to renew/replace it when it's full. I travel a lot, so I get a lot of exit and entry stamps, including the full-page "Endorsement" (re-entry permit) every year. Need a new book every few years. Only the first one is blue, the replacement books are white. Don't forget to bring this PR book (whether blue or white) along with you when you travel! You have to show it together with your passport upon leaving and entering the country. And you need to have an immigrant visa in your passport and this endorsement in your PR book. Otherwise, your "Permanent" Residency will be cancelled the moment you return to Thailand.

The red book which you have to renew every 5 years at the police station, right? I was a year late once, I had to pay a fine of THB 400. That was all. However, you need an address in Thailand (and a blue tabien bahn) in any case. Otherwise you cannot renew your blue or white book, which you renew at Chaeng Wattana, and you lose PR status.

You will be asked the meaning? OK, with the National Anthem that's not so difficult, but the Sansern Baramee uses Ratchasap, so that's a lot of vocabulary I'm not familiar with. Thanks for pointing this out.