Arun Mai

Thank you for the update. Much appreciated.

For the sake of clarity, I am not making any assertions. I'm attempting to better understand @rimmae2 experience. As I understand it @rimmae2 has been using the e.gates at Suwannabumi for exiting Thailand without any pre-registration (I may be wrong on this). As I understand it, he has not been using e.gates on arrival. Therefore, presumably, he only has stamps coming into the country but none for leaving. I was also curious whether he had since renewed his non-quota immigrant visa, as that is when it would be subject to most scrutinisation. Presumably, if he has done this several times the immigration upon entry must have noticed he only has entry stamps and they have not said anything about it. As I say, I'm attempting to better understand @rimmae2 experience.

Hi... Have you obtained a new non-quota immigrant visa since using the e-gates for exits? Did you have any problem with immigration officer on arrival, as you must have only stamps for entering the country but none for leaving, is that correct?

Original application submitted in 2021 and awaiting main interview.

I do not have the original Thai language text, so I am unable to oblige you in that regard. The cynic in me can't help but suspect that whatever it does say in Thai it is likely to be ambiguous leaving much to interpretation. I may be pleasantly surprised on this occasion, but I will reserve judgement.

I was given the same information and also waited more than five years after obtaining PR. The extra time was due to covid, which delayed my application for citizenship.

I don't plan on retiring just yet, but I agree that it is frustrating. Essentially I can't retire as long as this process is ongoing. My file was sent to the MOI in July 2022 and I am still waiting for THE interview. Still, I tend to put it out of my mind and every now and again I come back to check to see if there have been any developments. Happy for @Marcati. Congratulations.

Nothing new, alas. My application was submitted (paid the 5,000 baht fee) in October 2021. I had my NIA interview in March 2022 and my file was sent to MOI in July 2022. Since then nothing. I am prepared for the long-haul. As I have PR already it doesn't make a lot of difference to me at this point in time so I'll just wait. One day I expect to receive notification out of the blue, just as with PR.

rsska..... I think this post from Arkady resolves the mystery. I think you only submit what you have from the list. In my case I have a Thai driving licence whereas I don't have a pink ID card.

Yes, I think that is very likely also.

My docs went to MOI on 1st July 2022. Maybe we're on the same list?

It seems the link doesn't work well. When I click it it takes me to the post shown in the image file. With respect to the driving licence, I don't recall the specifics, but what I can say is that it certainly wasn't one of the essential documents for my application. Good luck at the Embassy with your documents.

You say 'driver's license (Arun Mai reports being asked for this here - I only have an American license)'. I must confess, I don't recall remarking about being required to present my driving licence, which isn't to say that I didn't or that I wasn't. Unfortunately the link doesn't pinpoint the post to which you are referring. If you can pinpoint the post, I'd be happy to comment.

But will that always be the case? During covid, restrictions were imposed on retirees such that many effectively couldn't leave Thailand without jeopardising their rights in Thailand principally because many were unable to obtain health insurance coverage of sufficient value.