Do You Have Residency?

[Desertexile]

Hi All,

As per title - Do you have residency and why did you make the choice to obtain it?

Im really interested to understand what you preceive to be the benfits to you, personally.

Thanks

[KamnanT]

OK, I'll bite. I applied for PR for myself, my spouse and 2 children in December 2005 and eventually received the little blue books in July 2007. Yes, it is a difficult process and if accepted, the fees for the residence books are chunky (just short of 500,000 baht for the whole family). I debated both before the application and at many points along the way whether or not it was worth the time, hassle and money.

So why did I do it? I have been working in Thailand for a multinational since September 2001. We enjoy our lifestyle here and have little desire to move anywhere else at this point in time. While I continue to be employed by a big company, remaining in Thailand is pretty straightforward - just have to head up to the One-Stop Shop once a year. But having witnessed a couple of friends lose their jobs and the immigration quagmire into which they descended (more than eloquently described in other threads of this forum), I realised that I was only ever one pink slip away from having to pack up and leave. The biggest appeal for me was to have the right to remain in Thailand regardless of how my employment situation might change.

Changes to the immigration regulations between the time I applied and now have only convinced me that getting PR was a good idea for us. Limitations on visa-less entry and, more recently, restrictions on the issuance of tourist visas are making staying in Thailand without long-term employment by a well-established company increasingly difficult. Retirement is the only other option that seems relatively painless but I'm not close to retirement age yet.

Having said all that, this is Thailand and they could just as easily decide to change the rules for those of us with PR and make us jump through hoops every 90 days. Unlikely, but possible. All part of the great kaleidoscope of change that is the Land of Smiles.

[Desertexile]

Thank you for taking the time to respond, much appreciated. I think you summed up the situation well for a , I'd guess, well off expat. Thanks again mate.

Anyone else have a different take on things?

[Artisi]

Do a search for past postings as there was one fairly long exchange from many people as to the pros and cons of PR.

It probably started round 12 -18 months ago.

[lopburi3]

At the top of forum there is a pinned item area. There is a lot of useful information in it.

Camerata's PR Guide

[grtaylor]

I realised that I was only ever one pink slip away from having to pack up and leave. The biggest appeal for me was to have the right to remain in Thailand regardless of how my employment situation might change.

Changes to the immigration regulations between the time I applied and now have only convinced me that getting PR was a good idea for us. Limitations on visa-less entry and, more recently, restrictions on the issuance of tourist visas are making staying in Thailand without long-term employment by a well-established company increasingly difficult. Retirement is the only other option that seems relatively painless but I'm not close to retirement age yet.

Similar reasons to the above. I don't have it yet, as I applied in December 2006, and am still waiting to hear the result! I have property here, and I plan to stay and eventually retire, so it seemed to make sense to apply. I only see the requirements for a retirement visa getting more and more strict.

G

[p_brownstone]

I have Residency but my situation is probably fairly unique.

When I first came to Thailand in the very early 70’s, employed by a large Trading Company here, it was that Company's practice to apply for Permanent Residence status for all Expats automatically.

In those days – although there was still a Quota for each Nationality – the process was very straightforward; the Company Personnel Department handled the paperwork and I don’t think I even attended an Interview.

I can’t recall the Fees involved because the Company paid for it all but I know it was not a great deal – bearing in mind that my Salary in those days was Baht 12,416.25 per month (strange how figures stick in the mind!).

I kept up the Residency even during a 4 year period working in Nigeria – paid leave to Thailand every 6 months so not a problem.

It is certainly a valuable thing to me personally (particularly when reading of all the problems people are now having with other Visas etc.) since my homes, business and most of my friends and relatives are in Thailand ……… and I am reasonably confident that there will be no changes in the regulations concerning Residency affecting those of us who already have it.

Patrick

[DavidS]

OK, I'll bite. I applied for PR for myself, my spouse and 2 children in December 2005 and eventually received the little blue books in July 2007. Yes, it is a difficult process and if accepted, the fees for the residence books are chunky (just short of 500,000 baht for the whole family).

OUCH! 500K. I take it that this astronomical figure is because your spouse and 2 children are non-Thai?

I thought it was 195K per applicant all in. Do you remember how it came up to 500K?