Unpopular Opinion: I appreciate the immigration policies here

[connda]

3 hours ago, TKDfella said:

I most certainly agree that married expats should get consideration...but what do they actually get? If they do extension via the marriage method it is more complicated than retirement. The incentive there is clear. Via marriage, 400K in the bank, more documentation, via retirement 800K in the bank less hassle. Shouldn't it be the other way round?That alone shows that all immigration thinks about more money in their banks.

But here's the rub.  Those rules for an extension via marriage only apply to foreign men married to Thai women.
With the topic: "I appreciate the immigration policies here" it would be interesting to here from foreign women married to Thai men.  In the almost 13 years I've been married to a Thai woman I've heard tomes of concerns from my fellow male expats also married to Thai women about the problems with the regulatory gauntlet we navigate annually.  But I've never hear as much as one post from foreign women discussing the complication associated with them attempting to stay in Thailand on a year to year basis to support a Thai family.

Here is an honest question:   Are the rules for them completely different?  I've never read a question from a foreign woman married to a Thai man such as: "What list of documents will I need to take to immigration this year, will I need to take my Thai husband, will my Thai husband need to show financial support, where do I need to take pictures, how many do I need, how long do I have to wait for approval, how long will the process take, are there differences between offices, have any other women had problems with getting extensions" - I've seen nothing like this.

How can the process be so different?
From that standpoint if the processes are nothing alike, then I could see why expat women married to Thai men would appreciate immigration policies, but on the other hand expat men would find them to be a problem.

 

[jomtienisgood]

8 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

I applied for Thai citizenship in Dec 2017 and took the oath of Allegiance in July this year. It's much easier for me to get citizenship in Thailand, after they changed the law in 2008 for sexual equality. Also, cost me 5000 baht, much cheaper than other countries. 

Q? did you get PR 1st or applied directly for Citizenship? Asking because I am PR and considering applying for Citizenship but am not sure if I have to go again through the whole process or is it an ' update' to my actual status?????

[Neeranam]

1 minute ago, jomtienisgood said:

Q? did you get PR 1st or applied directly for Citizenship? Asking because I am PR and considering applying for Citizenship but am not sure if I have to go again through the whole process or is it an ' update' to my actual status?????

I didn't need PR as I am married to a Thai.

[ubonjoe]

31 minutes ago, jomtienisgood said:

Asking because I am PR and considering applying for Citizenship but am not sure if I have to go again through the whole process or is it an ' update' to my actual status?????

It is almost the same as for people married to a Thai that don't have PR. A salary of 80k baht and etc is required.

[MAF666]

I brought my Thai son and wife to Oz on a PR, applied in Singapore.

Upon arriving in Darwin they were granted temporary PR. My wife could then work legally and we got full Medicare health cover, a blue card not the regular green one. Also free schooling.

Cost today with fees and translated docs would be ~$10000, which you never see in your bank account again.

Applying for a new Thai spouse visa in Canberra last week cost $120 and was approved in 1 week. The paperwork is trivial. Needed to show $2000 in the bank.

The CoE submission was much more involved. 
Thai Embassy in Canberra have been fantastic during this process, even calling me on Saturday night at 08:30 to resolve a COVID test quirk. 

 

 

[StevieAus]

20 hours ago, sanuk711 said:

True Steve

I also think it should be viewed on what progress that has been made over the years re the IO.

 

Not that long ago----

Leave the country every 90 days...not tap on the Computer or make a 10 minute visit to the IO

1 year Visa Leave the country--go to an embassy/Consulate outside and apply to come back to into Thailand (they didn't always say yes to 1 year, sometimes said 6 months only) Train/Bus overnight---I remember Georgetown  Consulate used to be a softer touch, but it got so swamped one time that the queue was right out into the street, you got a number to come back and queue the next day. So 2 days at hotel. Just love to hear from the posters on here how they live out of town a bit and have to come all the way in....really messes their day up --once a year.  

Spot on

[StevieAus]

19 hours ago, moogradod said:

Wow ! And I always thought Australians are strict. Not that it would matter for us here - in this respect you are right. But if you do compare things (which should be allowed without thinking something evil) then you naturally have to state the differences. In this regard it is relevant what happens elsewhere. Always nice to expand the horizon isn't it ? Thanks for the Australian insight.

It was more than 12 years ago and she managed to get a bridging visa due to a stuff up on her tourist visa.

I do accept that normally it wouldn’t be that easy we were just lucky particularly as the time on the bridging visa, nearly two years, counted to her getting the citizenship and passport so quickly.

[StevieAus]

19 hours ago, GreasyFingers said:

She must have has special qualifications. It does not work that way with ordinary Thais.

No you are correct,  I posted Details in a response to Moogrod, she was just very  lucky.

[seancbk]

1 hour ago, jomtienisgood said:

14 hours ago, AverageBloke said:

I've recently looked into permanent residency for my gf and I was also told that it would take 2 years. 

As far as I know it takes average 3-5 years ( mine 4 1/2 ) But you also have to realize you get a new ' under consideration extension' every 6 months free of cost during that period and no queues as separate counters.  

 

You need to have lived in Hong Kong for 7 years before you can get PR there.  That is 7 years with the correct visas and having paid tax. 
Fortunately for me I qualified whilst still only a young child.  Much harder to get now.

 

[StevieAus]

19 hours ago, Salerno said:

 

How long ago was that?

More than 12 years ago but to be fair hers was due to a lucky stuff up by Aus Immigration

I gave more details in a response to Moogradod.

I accept normally it can be hard

[khunPer]

8 hours ago, fishtank said:

Third world out dated thinking.

One of this countries problems.

A Western point of view, but that probably won't rapidly change the Asian culture, or the Asian's point of view...????

[overherebc]

I'm quite sure many gripes about staying here would go away if all Imm' offices followed the exact same rules.

[UKresonant]

On 11/15/2020 at 11:12 PM, 2009 said:

Yeah, basically as the title says.

 

People think it is too strict. Having to renew the visa every year. Employment limited to a few jobs.

 

But really, their immigration policy has Thailand in mind. They do it cos it is best for their own country.

 

I wouldn't want to see Thailand become like some western countries. Recent events in France spring to mind.

 

I like Thailand the way it is and wouldn't want it to be overrun and changed by migrants.

 

Not that those types of migrants would come here anyway cos there is no social security, but still....I think it is worthwhile having an immigration like Thailand's. 

 

If it means I need to do an extension every year, so be it.

Yes,  I would generally agree with the policy spirit of protecting Thailand etc.

 

But from,  a customer point of view, and the content of many posts I've read on here. The detail of the implementation, is what has derailed a positive attitude! It  all seems to have intensified over the last few years;-

Inconsistent notional administration,

Insurance that does not insure.

Suggested corruption, ???? (absence of improving trend)

Financial requirements that change the emphasis of having sufficient money, to having money in Thailand. In many aspects that contrasts with the spirit of the policy and seems to anticipate people have a single objective of being in Thailand all the time (a lot do, but many do not). Also the financial requirements require a Thai Bank  account, which I understand can be less than straight forward now.

Also 2019 changes of available Visas in the UK (Had planned to try and acclimatise to being part time in Thailand, initially using the the non O ME. After planning for many years for that situation, Visa availability evaporated in less than 18 months of use..).

etc, etc.

 

So IMHO whilst the main subject of the post is quite agreeable ????.

The Devils are in the stability & detail , as it currently prevails (mainly from what I've read), does not seem to be promoting a positive atmosphere ????.

"People think it is to strict" I would more likely say from a user point of view "People think it is to risky and unpredictable, augmented by the exchange rate trend, as regards value". 

 

(So I'm probably glad that the Son decided to do High School, perhaps uni, in the UK, so perhaps I shall just wonder what things may be like in four years time?? though anticipation and preparation does not appear to help, from experience ????)

 

[fishtank]

5 hours ago, khunPer said:

A Western point of view, but that probably won't rapidly change the Asian culture, or the Asian's point of view...????

Nope. You will never change an idiots point of view.

[Wongkitlo]

10 hours ago, GreasyFingers said:

If you are interested have a look at times quoted at the Immigration website. Happy for you, but not the same for us.

I guess times have changed. At least she can work and live there until is approved. I'm sure if people arrived in Thailand and could get a job immediately with no restrictions and did not need to go to Immigration regularly and queue up at the whim of Immigration officers half their age like they can once they apply for a visa In Australia, people would be happier with the Thai system. In Australia you don't even need to be married. My friend is getting a pr for his girlfriend- not even officially married. 

[jacko45k]

On 11/16/2020 at 2:24 PM, Salerno said:

 

Given the current situation in Europe and America why on earth would Thailand "open up" more than it already is?

Good point, hardly shining examples of multicultural and Covid success. 

[Salerno]

4 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Good point, hardly shining examples of multicultural and Covid success. 

 

Thanks, but it was actually a bad point having initially misread the post I was replying to which was actually talking about opening up more to business, not people. That said, there are pitfalls opening up too much to business too without the proper checks and balances and given the love affair with brown paper bags, can't say I'd be too confident the opening up would benefit all Thai people.

[jomtienisgood]

22 hours ago, Neeranam said:

I didn't need PR as I am married to a Thai.

So am I , but that was not the question....

[Neeranam]

Just now, jomtienisgood said:

So am I , but that was not the question....

What was the question?

[jomtienisgood]

3 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

What was the question?

The question was: Do I have to go through the whole process again? i.e. Tax papers, Marriage Docs, Non Conviction,etc, or will it just be an update to PR; In other words National Anthem etc,Interview in Th already happened.... for PR.  

[Peter Denis]

 

5 minutes ago, jomtienisgood said:

So am I , but that was not the question....

 

5 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

What was the question?

Which question? ????

[jomtienisgood]

5 minutes ago, Peter Denis said:

 

 

Which question? ????

The question was: Do I have to go through the whole process again? i.e. Tax papers, Marriage Docs, Non Conviction,etc, or will it just be an update to PR; In other words National Anthem etc,Interview in Th already happened.... for PR.   And furthermore, if for some reason the Nationalization would not be accepted, can I also lose PR? 

[Neeranam]

11 minutes ago, jomtienisgood said:

The question was: Do I have to go through the whole process again? i.e. Tax papers, Marriage Docs, Non Conviction,etc, or will it just be an update to PR; In other words National Anthem etc,Interview in Th already happened.... for PR.   And furthermore, if for some reason the Nationalization would not be accepted, can I also lose PR? 

Not sure exactly what you mean. I suggest you ask here as there are some who went the PR then citizenship route. I went straight for citizenship. 

 

[jomtienisgood]

4 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

Not sure exactly what you mean. I suggest you ask here as there are some who went the PR then citizenship route. I went straight for citizenship. 

 

Thanks, and I think the question went into a wrong topic for some reason. I'll try to find out at IO. And update if I can come up with some info.

[Neeranam]

Just now, jomtienisgood said:

Thanks, and I think the question went into a wrong topic for some reason. I'll try to find out at IO. And update if I can come up with some info.

Not immigration -  the place to go is Special Branch police, near Siam Square

[jomtienisgood]

4 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

Not immigration -  the place to go is Special Branch police, near Siam Square

OK, I know where it is as I had to go there before.