Story Of My Thai Citizenship Application

[DrJoy]

54 minutes ago, Marcati said:

 

Funny enough, we got a message from SB 3 hours ago that everyone on the latest list from the Palace has finished swearing in and all paperwork being prepared to send to Anutin for signature and then publication.

Great

[DrJoy]

21 hours ago, rsskga said:

 

To clarify, are all 2019 applicants still waiting for their MOI interview, or an unlucky subset of them? Thanks.

Davids friend from Dec 2019 batch still waiting,

 

@saakura and @onthemoon and others from early 2020 still waiting.

 

Nothing lucky or unlucky.

 

[saakura]

On 2/24/2024 at 5:36 PM, DrJoy said:

@saakura Any good news ?

Sorry late reply. No news at all 😔

[DrJoy]

3 hours ago, saakura said:

Sorry late reply. No news at all 😔

ok

[Arkady]

On 3/7/2024 at 6:36 PM, david143 said:

https://ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/documents/16436.pdf

Loss of thai Nationality
Signed By Anutin .
his First RG which was signed by him on ๒๒ ธันวาคม พ.ศ. ๒๕๖๖ 22 December 2023 and Published Today

 

Glad to see these were all voluntary renunciations.

[onthemoon]

I called again recently to check up on the status of my application, as I haven't heard anything for a while. Apparently, the process has changed. That's why there have not been any interviews for 5 months or so. They are waiting for the new implementation instructions from the ministry before they can proceed. So, no new interviews until then.

What surprises me a bit is that the new regulations (whatever they may be) also apply for applications that are already in process. Does anybody have any more info?

[DrJoy]

4 minutes ago, onthemoon said:

I called again recently to check up on the status of my application, as I haven't heard anything for a while. Apparently, the process has changed. That's why there have not been any interviews for 5 months or so. They are waiting for the new implementation instructions from the ministry before they can proceed. So, no new interviews until then.

What surprises me a bit is that the new regulations (whatever they may be) also apply for applications that are already in process. Does anybody have any more info?

Thanks for the update.

 They maybe referring to the new amendment which Gen. O cha made around 2022

 

I will try to get more info and update here.

[GammaGlobulin]

On 3/15/2024 at 6:35 PM, DrJoy said:

Thanks for the update.

 They maybe referring to the new amendment which Gen. O cha made around 2022

 

I will try to get more info and update here.

 

Good Luck, Man!

Sincerely!

I would opt for Thai citizenship, if I could have dual citizenship....but....it seems to be such a long....

Row to hoe.

 

Good Luck.

Sincere best wishes for your success, Man!

 

Note:  Seemingly, too few try for this.  Maybe, they think it's just completely out of their reach.  Good Luck!

 

I would do it, in a heartbeat....if I thought I could.

 

 

Edited March 23 by GammaGlobulin

[GarryP]

14 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

 

Good Luck, Man!

Sincerely!

I would opt for Thai citizenship, if I could have dual citizenship....but....it seems to be such a long....

Row to hoe.

 

Good Luck.

Sincere best wishes for your success, Man!

 

Note:  Seemingly, too few try for this.  Maybe, they think it's just completely out of their reach.  Good Luck!

 

I would do it, in a heartbeat....if I thought I could.

 

 

Dual citizenship very much depends on the country you are from. I believe Denmark, Japan, South Korea and quite a few others do not allow dual citizenship. However, many countries do, including the UK, Australia, pretty much any Commonwealth country, USA, etc.

 

I thought it was out of my reach and there was no way in hell that I would qualify. However, a poster on this thread (he knows who he is) suggested that I check with Special Branch first before giving up and I will be eternally grateful for that, because, low and behold, I did actually qualify and now have a Thai ID card and passport. I would suggest you do the same, if you are from a country that allows dual citizenship. In my case, even if my home country did not allow dual citizenship, I would have been willing to give it up. I've been here for 41 years and it is my home.     

[DrJoy]

7 hours ago, GarryP said:

I believe Denmark, Japan, South Korea and quite a few others do not allow dual citizenship

China, India and Taiwan as well.

[Marcati]

211 people just issued Citizenship 💯🎉🎊👏🥰🥂

 

https://www.matichon.co.th/local/news_4534146

[DrJoy]

11 minutes ago, Marcati said:

211 people just issued Citizenship 💯🎉🎊👏🥰🥂

 

https://www.matichon.co.th/local/news_4534146

What about you?

[Marcati]

12 minutes ago, DrJoy said:

What about you?

Yes, mine is there as well. Will call SB tomorrow to see how long before I can get the certificate 😁🥰🙏

[DrJoy]

23 minutes ago, Marcati said:

Yes, mine is there as well. Will call SB tomorrow to see how long before I can get the certificate 😁🥰🙏

Congratulations.

 

Usually its 10-12 working days, but may vary

[Marcati]

16 minutes ago, DrJoy said:

Congratulations.

 

Usually its 10-12 working days, but may vary

Good to know, thanks. I'm traveling quite a bit the next several weeks so will need to block some time to get it all done

[onthemoon]

54 minutes ago, Marcati said:

Yes, mine is there as well. Will call SB tomorrow to see how long before I can get the certificate 😁🥰🙏

Congratulations!

Edited April 21 by onthemoon

[david143]

80% is burmes, only few front pages have foreigners . this is india and china is lower then before.
But anyways whose name in file , Heartily congrats

[Mortis]

6 hours ago, Marcati said:

Yes, mine is there as well. Will call SB tomorrow to see how long before I can get the certificate 😁🥰🙏

wow congratulations, can you please tell us which year did you apply and when did you had your last MOI meeting? Thanks!

[Marcati]

52 minutes ago, Mortis said:

wow congratulations, can you please tell us which year did you apply and when did you had your last MOI meeting? Thanks!

Applied in 2018, MOI meeting was 2022.

[DrJoy]

1 hour ago, Marcati said:

Applied in 2018, MOI meeting was 2022.

6 yrs from start to finish..

 

I can recall many here who applied in Dec 2018 and got their ID card within 3 yrs. Dont understand why it took so long for you.

[Marcati]

53 minutes ago, DrJoy said:

6 yrs from start to finish..

 

I can recall many here who applied in Dec 2018 and got their ID card within 3 yrs. Dont understand why it took so long for you.

Maybe it was 2019 then. Sorry, I was going from memory 😅

[Arkady]

On 4/21/2024 at 9:24 AM, DrJoy said:

Congratulations.

 

Usually its 10-12 working days, but may vary

 

Congrats to all in the latest batch.  I had to wait two months for the certificate but your mileage may indeed vary.  Bear in mind that many district offices now ask you to make an appointment to get your first ID card which can be a bummer, if you dash over there expecting to come out with an ID card like I did.

 

I note that Anutin signed the authorisation to publish in the RG on 5 April and it was published two weeks later which included Songkran.  That is very fast as there can often be a gap of six months or more between the publication date and the signature on the bottom. Somewhat less encouraging though is that this batch must have been approved by Anuphong, whereas Anutin merely approved publication in the RG of applicants already approved by the previous minister and probably by HMK before he actually started as interior minister.  Of course he has no choice but to publish applicants already approved by HMK in the RG.  So unfortunately it doesn't prove that Anutin is actually getting anything to do with citizenship done off his own bat and this batch might have been sitting in his in tray since his first day in the ministry.

 

Many are Thai names who are probably hill tribes or other minorities or displaced Thais.  I have never seen them mixed in with naturalisations of non-stateless applicants before.  They have always had their own batches.  They apply to district offices for initial processing but still have to go through the same section at the ministry for the final processing. I am not sure, if there is any significance to this new type of mixed batching. Probably not.

[Arkady]

On 4/21/2024 at 5:46 PM, DrJoy said:

6 yrs from start to finish..

 

I can recall many here who applied in Dec 2018 and got their ID card within 3 yrs. Dont understand why it took so long for you.

 

Things speeded up after the 2014 coup and 3 years became the new normal for a brief few years.  Things had already started slowing down a bit at the end of the coup government period and slowed down more under the Prayut government, despite no change in the minister. With Anutin as minister we are probably looking at 5+ years now to be realistic.  Before the 2014 coup 5 years years was considered good with many running at the 7-8 year mark and some 10-11. Before the first Thaksin regime it was 1-3 years.  Now Thaksin is back again.

[david143]

agree brother, 80 to 85 % are all from Chiang Rai , could possible Stateless or those Burmese who born in Thailand or any acceptable reason.
only first 3 pages are foreigners in BKK rest of all pages are Chiang Rai. 

[david143]

i also heard from one friend who has business in Silom claimed he got a call from MOI for interview on 25 April 2024, if anyone else received a call please provide further information, this guy is a friend of my friend and also claimed he applied 1.5 years ago based on Thai family, i am flabbergasted that is he so lucky while previous batch of 2019 still waiting for MOI interviews.
Please inform if anyone has received call.

[Marcati]

11 hours ago, Arkady said:

 

Congrats to all in the latest batch.  I had to wait two months for the certificate but your mileage may indeed vary.  Bear in mind that many district offices now ask you to make an appointment to get your first ID card which can be a bummer, if you dash over there expecting to come out with an ID card like I did.

 

I note that Anutin signed the authorisation to publish in the RG on 5 April and it was published two weeks later which included Songkran.  That is very fast as there can often be a gap of six months or more between the publication date and the signature on the bottom. Somewhat less encouraging though is that this batch must have been approved by Anuphong, whereas Anutin merely approved publication in the RG of applicants already approved by the previous minister and probably by HMK before he actually started as interior minister.  Of course he has no choice but to publish applicants already approved by HMK in the RG.  So unfortunately it doesn't prove that Anutin is actually getting anything to do with citizenship done off his own bat and this batch might have been sitting in his in tray since his first day in the ministry.

 

Many are Thai names who are probably hill tribes or other minorities or displaced Thais.  I have never seen them mixed in with naturalisations of non-stateless applicants before.  They have always had their own batches.  They apply to district offices for initial processing but still have to go through the same section at the ministry for the final processing. I am not sure, if there is any significance to this new type of mixed batching. Probably not.

There were 77 names in my batch, which were signed by HMK in Aug last year. SB didn't notify us to swear in until late Oct. I know some people were overseas and the final batch was only sent to Anutin in Feb.

[DrJoy]

7 hours ago, Marcati said:

the final batch was only sent to Anutin in Feb.

Good to know that they have become fast. Good news for the current candidates!

[Arkady]

14 hours ago, david143 said:

i also heard from one friend who has business in Silom claimed he got a call from MOI for interview on 25 April 2024, if anyone else received a call please provide further information, this guy is a friend of my friend and also claimed he applied 1.5 years ago based on Thai family, i am flabbergasted that is he so lucky while previous batch of 2019 still waiting for MOI interviews.
Please inform if anyone has received call.

 

It's good that interviews are getting under way now under the current government.  I have a couple of friends waiting for interviews who are getting very  pessimistic about the outlook.  One of them is even considering leaving Thailand due to despondency over his application, the remittance tax and some other issues he doesn't like this government for.

[onthemoon]

7 hours ago, Arkady said:

It's good that interviews are getting under way now under the current government.  I have a couple of friends waiting for interviews who are getting very  pessimistic about the outlook.  One of them is even considering leaving Thailand due to despondency over his application, the remittance tax and some other issues he doesn't like this government for.

 

Why would he consider leaving Thailand? Is he serious about wanting to become a citizen? Anyway, it's his decision, none of my business. 

What is remittance tax?

[Arkady]

On 4/24/2024 at 6:07 AM, onthemoon said:

 

Why would he consider leaving Thailand? Is he serious about wanting to become a citizen? Anyway, it's his decision, none of my business. 

What is remittance tax?

 

It is one of a number of recent disappointments and irritations about Thailand.  He wants to quit working but needs to continue for citizenship. Remittance tax is the reinterpretation of the Revenue Code by Revenue Department order P 161/2566 in September 2023 which means that foreign source income earned after 1 Jan 2024 have to be taxed, if remitted to Thailand, at regular personal income tax rates.  That has caused a number of expat retirees to review whether they want to remain as That tax residents or will spend less than 180 days a year in the Kingdom and avoid that tax. 

 

I had another friend whose goal was to get PR and stay in Thailand.  Finally he got his PR application together with the help of a law firm but found after a few months dound that they had screwed it up and he was rejected.  He could have reapplied the following year but he was so upset that he left Thailand and got a job somewhere else. Some people can be affected like that feeling a strong sense of rejection.  However, many others of us have families here and can't easily up sticks and have to persevere. In my case I had real curved balls thrown at me while applying for both PR and citizenship but kept fighting and managed against all odds o get the applications back on track without having to reapply.  I was told I was unqualified for PR and my citizenship file was knocked back to SB from the MOI.  I think of it like a combination of an obstacle course and a war of attrition where you mustn't fall into despair during long waits with no news.