Story Of My Thai Citizenship Application

[qualtrough]

On 9/3/2024 at 1:16 PM, sas_cars said:

I assume you memorized both songs. How was the singing and was it accepted gleefully? 🙂 

I obtained citizen through marriage and was not required to sing.

[qualtrough]

On 9/4/2024 at 10:51 AM, renaissanc said:

Thai nationality isn't for everyone. I've lived in Thailand for 40 years now by renewing my annual Marriage Visa each year. I'm 68 now. I can't see a single practical benefit of being Thai ... except that when I'm 90, 95, or 100+ years old going to Immigration might be troublesome, but by then I think that Marriage Visa renewals will be done online. Even Immigration will discover the benefits of online renewals eventually. If my wife dies before me I'll change my Marriage Visa to a Retirement Visa. Our 25 rescued cats couldn't care less if I'm Thai or British. Nor do my wife, my neighbours, the local shopkeepers, etc.

Cannot see one practical benefit??

 

No need to deal with immigration ever again. 

 

Immigrations fees/laws/requirements can change. You could wake up one day to find out that your retirement or marriage visa costs twice what it did the other day.

 

You can own or  co-own your home or other property. No need to own through a spouse or third party.

 

No need to obtain a work permit.

 

Can own your own company/business.

 

Thai prices for entry to national parks. Free entry if you are over 60.

 

Coverage under Thai 30 baht health scheme or whatever name it is known by now.

 

Visa free travel to ASEAN countries 

 

No need to sell your house if your wife pre-deceases you, or to have to engage is some kind of legal legerdemain to stay there.

 

No hassles signing up for bank accounts and other programs because you don't have a Thai ID.

 

You can use the Thai line at immigration, potentially savings hours during busy periods.

 

Substantial rail travel discounts for retired people for several months of the year.

 

Too many more to list.

 

And  all that cost less than  10,000 baht in fees, submitting documents, going in for a few interviews. Quite a bargain.

 

 

 

 

[qualtrough]

On 9/4/2024 at 1:13 PM, Sydebolle said:

And for all the other long staying non-Thais there is the Permanent Residency. I opted for that back in 1988 and never regretted it; never went for citizenship for mainly two reasons. The bureaucratic endeavour is endless and an absolute uphill battle. If an officer changes it is -more often than not - back to Square One. The second reason is, that all the quoted points were not really relevant for me personally; the work permit is a given guarantee as any country allowing a non-citizen to stay indefinitely in the country needs to be given the possibility to earn his living - as stipulated by the WTO. 

For me it was a pretty simple process.

 

Once I qualified and passed the points test it was simply a document gathering and submission exercise and attending a few interviews. And waiting. Painless really. All the officials I dealt with were very friendly and accommodating. I was lucky as mine too just 3 years start to finish.

[khongaeng]

11 hours ago, JayLeno said:

Guys. Should I wait for the 3 years timeframe (just got married) or can I introduce my request asap? I see the entire process takes at least 5 years 

Yes, But go ahead and get the yellow book process started.  I've heard that it could take as long as a year (mine took 6 months). If you have a baby sometime in the next 3 years then as soon as your baby is born you can apply (I highly recommend not rushing having children for the sole purpose of applying for Thai citizenship, though 😉)

[JayLeno]

Thanks!

[OJAS]

17 hours ago, qualtrough said:

Immigrations fees/laws/requirements can change. You could wake up one day to find out that your retirement or marriage visa costs twice what it did the other day.

 

Or that a significant additional requirement has been imposed on it - as in the case of mandatory health insurance which was abruptly slapped on non-OA visa holders past and present a few years ago.

Edited September 6 by OJAS

[Marcati]

On 9/6/2024 at 12:03 AM, khongaeng said:

Yes, But go ahead and get the yellow book process started.  I've heard that it could take as long as a year (mine took 6 months). If you have a baby sometime in the next 3 years then as soon as your baby is born you can apply (I highly recommend not rushing having children for the sole purpose of applying for Thai citizenship, though 😉)

The yellow book process is extremely fast an easy provided you have an owner of a property who will let you register at their address.

 

The most painful part is taking your passport to your embassy to get a certified copy and then taking it for an official and certified Thai translation. The certified Thai translation can be done using an online service and they will mail you the originals in 3 working days. Very painless now.

 

Once the documents are submitted at the District office the yellow book and pink ID card are done immediately.

 

My whole process took just a few days to complete.

Edited September 7 by Marcati

[qualtrough]

On 9/6/2024 at 12:55 PM, OJAS said:

 

Or that a significant additional requirement has been imposed on it - as in the case of mandatory health insurance which was abruptly slapped on non-OA visa holders past and present a few years ago.

I am mystified at the people who apparently live here long term and for whatever reason can't find  any benefit to obtaining citizenship. I suspect it is due to  either lack of imagination, sour grapes, or a combination of the two.

[qualtrough]

I just saw this on Google. It was a link description that shows up when you google citizenship. The thing is, these are listed as the myths of citizenship, but somehow the myth part gets left off!

 

How many foreigners get Thai citizenship?

 

 

 

Only 100 people per year are granted Thai citizenship. You have to live in Thailand for two decades before you can apply; Only people who have 'connections' in high places get citizenship; They only want millionaires to apply; or.

[DrJoy]

21 hours ago, qualtrough said:

I am mystified at the people who apparently live here long term and for whatever reason can't find  any benefit to obtaining citizenship. I suspect it is due to  either lack of imagination, sour grapes, or a combination of the two.

This thread sure attracts haters, just avoid them and motivate the candidates in the pipeline

[IsaanExpat]

3 minutes ago, DrJoy said:

This thread sure attracts haters, just avoid them and motivate the candidates in the pipeline

+1👍