My husband and I went to Special Branch today. There is a specific office dedicated to women applying through their husbands. We were delighted to meet the very helpful Police Senior Sergeant Major that had advised us by phone briefly last year.
We received the application forms (one for my husband and one for me) that we'll need to fill out as well as the witness forms. I had looked for them online but had never been able to find them.
Some of the answers are pre-filled on my application form. For instance, in response to a question regarding income, property and securities, it is pre-filled to say that my occupation is housewife and I will be financially dependent on my husband. In response to a question regarding membership in any organization, association or club, it is pre-filled that I am not a member of any. And in response to questions about having ever declared bankruptcy, ever received insignias, or ever required criminal punishment it is pre-filled that I never have.
A few takeaways from our experience thus far (subject to change as the process unfolds):
• The senior sergeant major indicated that if my husband had been previously married and divorced they would want records of it, but that he doesn't think there will be any interest in the foreign wife of a Thai man having had a prior marriage and divorce to a non-Thai. Still, I'm prepared with my divorce decree and intend to have a related affidavit notarized at my embassy. I'll likely have an affidavit related to my "intention to denounce" my American citizenship notarized at the same time so I'll be prepared with both and can minimize trips to the Embassy since their online scheduling process is a source of frustration for me.
• The senior sergeant major requested that my husband file a PND 90 for 2022 and get the official tax receipt so that we can include it with our application. My husband claimed 40,000 THB per month in self-employment income for 2021 and we'll do the same for 2022. The senior sergeant major is aware that my husband actually works remotely for an American company, and that we're filing Thai taxes specifically to create the necessary paper trail for my citizenship application. I believe my husband offered to further substantiate/document his income but the officer indicated the tax receipt is all he wants/needs.
• We asked about my ability to travel outside of Thailand during the process (I want to be prepared in case I need to visit my parents urgently). We were advised that I should remain in Bangkok for about 4 months after submitting the application so that I am available for a home visit and other interviews. After that traveling might be ok, and after the first year traveling should be ok.
My husband was very excited after our visit to Special Branch. He feels reassured that they want us to succeed with our application, and that we do have everything in order that we should need for the process.