Story Of My Thai Citizenship Application

[onthemoon]

19 hours ago, GarryP said:

Had that been proposed by any other person in the government, I would have thought it a good idea. However, I would not trust Anutin as far as I could throw him and on top of that, there have been a number of instances where he has come across as xenophobic (to put it sort of politely). Not really the person you would want in control of establishing a new PR and citizenship policy.

This is one thing where I agree with Anutin. I had discussions with different govt people about PR and citizenship and the whole inefficiency of the processes, but nobody wants to put energy into changing it as there are many Ministries and Departments involved, and they would have to coordinate and convince. With everything in one department, we would have somebody to talk to.

[onthemoon]

(Deleted due to duplication)

[moochai87]

Hey all. I haven't posted here in a while but I just want to provide you all with an update. 

 

I had my MOI interview in Nonthaburi in August last year (2024). I was expecting a similar experience to my other interviews but it was actually pretty rough. The SB officer handling my case told me I wouldn't need to sing the national or royal anthem (as I'm married to a Thai with kids) so stupidly I didn't practice for that - because I was asked to sing. Luckily I know the national anthem anyway but I wasn't able to complete the royal anthem. The official in charge was pretty strict and criticized me for not standing up straight enough when singing and how I should have worn yellow... etc. There was something about me he didn't like. I left that day feeling pretty disappointed.

 

Anyway, I left it a few weeks then I asked the SB officer if there was any update. He informed me that the application was sent to Bangkok MOI for signing, much to my suprise. It's been there for at least 6 months.

 

Just so the rest of the process goes as smoothly as possible, can you let me know what to expect if I get to the oath ceremony. What should I learn for this?

 

Congratulations to all those who have obtained citizenship already!

[GarryP]

6 hours ago, moochai87 said:

Hey all. I haven't posted here in a while but I just want to provide you all with an update. 

 

I had my MOI interview in Nonthaburi in August last year (2024). I was expecting a similar experience to my other interviews but it was actually pretty rough. The SB officer handling my case told me I wouldn't need to sing the national or royal anthem (as I'm married to a Thai with kids) so stupidly I didn't practice for that - because I was asked to sing. Luckily I know the national anthem anyway but I wasn't able to complete the royal anthem. The official in charge was pretty strict and criticized me for not standing up straight enough when singing and how I should have worn yellow... etc. There was something about me he didn't like. I left that day feeling pretty disappointed.

 

Anyway, I left it a few weeks then I asked the SB officer if there was any update. He informed me that the application was sent to Bangkok MOI for signing, much to my suprise. It's been there for at least 6 months.

 

Just so the rest of the process goes as smoothly as possible, can you let me know what to expect if I get to the oath ceremony. What should I learn for this?

 

Congratulations to all those who have obtained citizenship already!

That is scary if you applied based on marriage, rather than PR. I think most people applying based on marriage understand that they are not required to sing the anthems. Had that happened back during my interview, I would be screwed as I can't sing either and even if I knew the words, my singing would have been a pain to the ears of all who had to listen. On the other hand, it is my understanding that if you are applying based on PR, then whether or not you are married to a Thai, you will be required to sing the anthems.  

[onthemoon]

6 hours ago, moochai87 said:

Hey all. I haven't posted here in a while but I just want to provide you all with an update. 

 

I had my MOI interview in Nonthaburi in August last year (2024). I was expecting a similar experience to my other interviews but it was actually pretty rough. The SB officer handling my case told me I wouldn't need to sing the national or royal anthem (as I'm married to a Thai with kids) so stupidly I didn't practice for that - because I was asked to sing. Luckily I know the national anthem anyway but I wasn't able to complete the royal anthem. The official in charge was pretty strict and criticized me for not standing up straight enough when singing and how I should have worn yellow... etc. There was something about me he didn't like. I left that day feeling pretty disappointed.

 

Anyway, I left it a few weeks then I asked the SB officer if there was any update. He informed me that the application was sent to Bangkok MOI for signing, much to my suprise. It's been there for at least 6 months.

 

Just so the rest of the process goes as smoothly as possible, can you let me know what to expect if I get to the oath ceremony. What should I learn for this?

 

Congratulations to all those who have obtained citizenship already!

 

I had my interview 30 August 2024, too. The mic was taped to the desk. I stood up straight for the songs - that's basic politeness when you sing a national anthem or a royal anthem! I had to sing very loud so that the mic could pick it up, so I think maybe that's why you didn't stand up straight. A bit hunched over? Hm.

 

I was not questioned about my attire or asked to wear yellow; I wore a blue suit and tie as I had read here was considered appropriate, and there were no comments about that.

 

I think it must have been the same batch of officers. So, I am surprised about your negative experience. I found them very polite and professional.

 

I talked to the MOI office only recently, and the documents are still in the process. They couldn't say yet when I will be invited for the next step, the oath ceremony, as "many people" still have to sign. I have a vague hope that I'll get to take the oath still within this year.

[moochai87]

2 hours ago, onthemoon said:

 

I had my interview 30 August 2024, too. The mic was taped to the desk. I stood up straight for the songs - that's basic politeness when you sing a national anthem or a royal anthem! I had to sing very loud so that the mic could pick it up, so I think maybe that's why you didn't stand up straight. A bit hunched over? Hm.

 

I was not questioned about my attire or asked to wear yellow; I wore a blue suit and tie as I had read here was considered appropriate, and there were no comments about that.

 

I think it must have been the same batch of officers. So, I am surprised about your negative experience. I found them very polite and professional.

 

I talked to the MOI office only recently, and the documents are still in the process. They couldn't say yet when I will be invited for the next step, the oath ceremony, as "many people" still have to sign. I have a vague hope that I'll get to take the oath still within this year.

You did it in Nonthaburi? Yes I did stand btw, I just didn't have my back at the right angle I guess.

[onthemoon]

22 hours ago, moochai87 said:

You did it in Nonthaburi? Yes I did stand btw, I just didn't have my back at the right angle I guess.

 

I did it in Lamlukka. I just saw this is in Pathum Thani. You mean they also take interviews in Nonthaburi? I didn't know that, I thought there is only one place in Thailand where the conduct the interviews.

[THAIJAMES]

2 hours ago, onthemoon said:

 

I did it in Lamlukka. I just saw this is in Pathum Thani. You mean they also take interviews in Nonthaburi? I didn't know that, I thought there is only one place in Thailand where the conduct the interviews.

I did mine in Chiang Mai I think every province can accept citizenship applications and do the MOI interviews. Not that they're all well prepare to handle it, but The officers in Chiang Mai we're very professional.

[onthemoon]

3 hours ago, THAIJAMES said:

I did mine in Chiang Mai I think every province can accept citizenship applications and do the MOI interviews. Not that they're all well prepare to handle it, but The officers in Chiang Mai we're very professional.

I see. I actually applied in Bangkok, but the MOI interview was in Pathum Thani.

[Arkady]

On 5/1/2025 at 6:11 PM, GarryP said:

Had that been proposed by any other person in the government, I would have thought it a good idea. However, I would not trust Anutin as far as I could throw him and on top of that, there have been a number of instances where he has come across as xenophobic (to put it sort of politely). Not really the person you would want in control of establishing a new PR and citizenship policy.

 

 

Good point.  If it were a proposal to put all of this under the BOI like the LTR visas which was done deliberately to bypass the dead weight and corruption of Immigration police and potentially other corrupt government agencies, it might be great.  It is rather huge and unwieldy in that it needs offices nationwide for regular visas and WPs and smells of a power grab for personal reaons.  A small office under the BOI or similar to take care of PR and citizenship only would be better.

[moochai87]

On 5/2/2025 at 1:14 PM, onthemoon said:

This is one thing where I agree with Anutin. I had discussions with different govt people about PR and citizenship and the whole inefficiency of the processes, but nobody wants to put energy into changing it as there are many Ministries and Departments involved, and they would have to coordinate and convince. With everything in one department, we would have somebody to talk to.

Rumor has it that there will be another cabinet shuffle in a few weeks. Not sure if that's good news or not, but at the least it might cause a delay if there is a new MOI who wants to get his team in place. Probably + a couple of months of idle time with citizenship applications.

 

[THAIJAMES]

44 minutes ago, moochai87 said:

Rumor has it that there will be another cabinet shuffle in a few weeks. Not sure if that's good news or not, but at the least it might cause a delay if there is a new MOI who wants to get his team in place. Probably + a couple of months of idle time with citizenship applications.

 

That would probably be good news. As far as I know the current interior minister has not signed any new citizenship applications except for those women that were already in the pipeline from the previous administration.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[sas_cars]

29 minutes ago, THAIJAMES said:

That would probably be good news. As far as I know the current interior minister has not signed any new citizenship applications except for those women that were already in the pipeline from the previous administration.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

Any change will be good as the current IM has already been the worse which could happen to the citizenship and PR applications

[Arkady]

3 hours ago, sas_cars said:

 

Any change will be good as the current IM has already been the worse which could happen to the citizenship and PR applications

 

At least, if he does nothing,  he is not the worst in recent memory.  Thaksin's first IM Purachai signed nothing but rejected a lot of applications for PR out of hand for no particular reason other than  he disliked foreigners (despite being a NZ PR himself) and knocked back a lot of citizenship applications to SB for recchecking, costing them around 3 years extra wait.  One of the rejected PR applicants, as Swiss guy, sued in the Administrative Court because he knew he was perfectly well qualified but lost the case a few years later on the grounds that the minister is allowed to use his discretion for any reason.  Thaksin got rid of Purachai after a year or two because he became too popular and thus became a threat to Thaksin. The Swiss guy would have done better to wait it out and reapply after Purachai got dinged.