Gf Got Her Thai Id Card - Legit!

[brahmburgers]

When she started the quest to get an ID card, she was told 250,000 baht - and it probably wouldn't even be a legit card. Later, the price came down to 200,000 for the same - probably the usual way of taking the identity of a similar-aged girl who had died. As the payer, I said 'no' each time those options were presented.

I insisted she try going legit, so she tried that. Because she's hill tribe (a mix of Muser, Akha, Lisu and Chinese) and her parents were low-lifes, she had a tough row to hoe. When she was born, her parents didn't register her, and she doesn't even know her birth date. She had to get two old folks from the faaaaar away village (just inside the Thai border by Burma) to vouch that she was born in that village. ....pay their expenses to go all the way to Chiang Mai (1.5 journey each way) and be interviewed by gov't person after sitting and waiting in the gov't office for hours.

One of the oldster's stories didn't hold up, so the gal had to take him back to the village and bring an old lady - which added another 4 to 5 days to the ordeal.

Then the waiting. Gov't person said maybe. More waiting. After several more months, I ask my gal what's next. She says the gov't wants a pay-off. I say 'how much?' She says not sure. I say 'go check and ask them directly.' She does. NOTE: her whole ordeal is done without saying there's a farang (me) by her side.

If the gov't knew I was footing the bill, it would have been a lot costlier. As it was, the gov't worker said Bt.60,000. My gal countered with Bt.50,000, and it was settled.

Now she's so proud, she has the baby blue ID card, and her birthday is Jan. 1st. The photo's not bad either.

Watch out Canada or Australia, those are the two countries on the top of her list to travel to.

[alfieconn]

Irrevelent comments were put by mistake and therefore edited, good luck to both of you for the future.

Edited March 9, 2010 by alfieconn

[kandahar]

Congratulations. Nice success story.

I hope all of the future is easier and better for her and for you.

kandahar

[gotlost]

Nicely done. Congratulations.

[mcgriffith]

Good deal and congrats, BB!

Happy for the both of you.

[sbk]

Congrats to your GF brahms. It seems alot of hilltribes got the very short end of the stick so its nice to see your gf grab the stick back, even if it was a fairly expensive stick.

[dindong]

Congrats to your GF brahms. It seems alot of hilltribes got the very short end of the stick so its nice to see your gf grab the stick back, even if it was a fairly expensive stick.

Yes indeed they have been victimised and unfortunitly brahms actions are only adding to it.

These ID cards are not supposed to be paid for, but when people are willing to pay out 50,000 baht for it no wonder the price is going up.

I'm happy that his wife has her card, but I feel sorry for the rest of the hilltribe people nearby who will also have to pay the same.

[Thongkorn]

I think maybe i have miss read , I got my Thai Lady's Id card from Tosco Lotas in bangkok for 50 baht. I also got a friend an ID card that she never had before for the same , I took her to the local government office with a person who knew her , there was no problem at all got it in about 10 Min's,

[brahmburgers]

Congrats to your GF brahms. It seems alot of hilltribes got the very short end of the stick so its nice to see your gf grab the stick back, even if it was a fairly expensive stick.

Yes indeed they have been victimised and unfortunitly brahms actions are only adding to it. These ID cards are not supposed to be paid for, but when people are willing to pay out 50,000 baht for it no wonder the price is going up. I'm happy that his wife has her card, but I feel sorry for the rest of the hilltribe people nearby who will also have to pay the same.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of things in Thailand that 'are not supposed to paid for' - particularly from a westerners' perspective. Yet pay we must, if we want to get certain things done. Quite simple, either pay the bribe, or don't get what you want.

I'll be the first to stand up and say, 'no way, that should be a free service' or 'I'll pay the clerical/published fee, and not a penny more.' Indeed, there have been times when I've been able to skirt around paying a bribe that I was told was required.

Silly little twist to the 'bribe mentality': Recently I arranged to get AC power strung to my rural property. 220 meters. The arrangement was I pay for all materials (roughly 17,000 baht) and labor to string the wire and put in 5 cement poles (Bt.14,000). The final step was getting the meter installed and activated at the first (common) pole. I was told Bt.3,000 and a bottle of whiskey to the village headman. I paid the money, but instead of buying Johnny Walker whiskey, I bought Seagram's 100 Pipers, which was half the price of JW (and the same taste). That little savings caused a 3 day delay in getting the meter put in.

Exception to the rule: I got a yellow 'tabian ban' house registration booklet in my name (spelled in Thai alphabet) - with no bribe.

I think maybe i have miss read , I got my Thai Lady's Id card from Tosco Lotas in bangkok for 50 baht. I also got a friend an ID card that she never had before for the same , I took her to the local government office with a person who knew her , there was no problem at all got it in about 10 Min's,

You're either jesting (Tesco?) or your lady friends have an easier situation than my friend. If you had spoken to a gaggle of Thai lawyers earlier on (and we spoke to two, prior to going it alone) they would have all said she had no chance at all at getting a legit Thai ID card, because of her situation (no birth certificate, both parents deceased, dark skin, etc.). It's a minor miracle she got the card, and hopefully an inspiration to disenfranchised men and women throughout northern Thailand. Note: there have been more than a few suicides on just this issue of people not being able to get legal ID's because of intractable, biased and uncaring bureaucracy.

Thailand is still a very stratified society - with vast differences in attitudes afforded the various social strata. It rivals India in that way.

Edited March 9, 2010 by brahmburgers

[Limbo]

"Now she's so proud, she has the baby blue ID card, and her birthday is Jan. 1st.

Watch out Canada or Australia, those are the two countries on the top of her list to travel to"

.... you wrote.

I am afraid Canada and Australia have to wait a little bit.

If I am informed correctly the blue ID is valid in Chiang Rai only and the holder

needs special permission every time he or she wants to leave the province.

Before you can apply for a passport you will probably have to get her the same

ID as Thai people have (let's say a 'class one' ID).

I think she can register land on her name now and when she is able to prove that she

owns a minor piece of this country things get a little bit easier.

Good luck!

Limbo

PS: Most hilltribe people have their birthday the first of January. Thai civil servants

don't bother when you are born when you are hilltribe.

They are too low class for it (I mean the civil servants).

[dindong]

"Now she's so proud, she has the baby blue ID card, and her birthday is Jan. 1st.

They are too low class for it (I mean the civil servants).

[jubby]

Are you sure Limbo ?

You're not getting your pink & blue mixed up ?

[mackayae]

Nice story. Also, this story presents other questions. How many types of ID cards are there? How many people in Thailand do not have or cannot get an ID card?

[jubby]

Nice story. Also, this story presents other questions. How many types of ID cards are there? How many people in Thailand do not have or cannot get an ID card?

I've only come across two types. Blue - Legit. and Pink , sort of a refugee status , I think. Got to be at least half a million without I would think.

I'm certainly no expert on either subject.

[Limbo]

You're not getting your pink & blue mixed up ?

That's quite possible Jubby!

It wouldn't be the first time that I mix up things!

I just think to know that many hilltribe people have blue ID cards

that allow them to take the bus and do similar things that we would

consider to be absolutely normal.

I think also that a blue card allows a child to go to elementary school,

but I am not sure if they can go to high school, at least beyond Matayom

3 level.

I am also not sure if a blue ID card entitles them to the legal minimum

salary when they do work that nobody else wants to do.

Until recently Thai children learnt at school that the hilltribes were to blame

for the destroyal of the forests of the north (their slash and burn technique).

That British and French companies (and yes, I have to admit it, the Holland Borneo

Handelsmaatschappij as well) floated the northern teak forests to Saigon for further

transport to Europe might not even be known to the older generation of teachers.

And think how embarrassing it would be if students would ask why Siam allowed

the foreign companies to exploit Thailands natural resources ...

Limbo

[Jonathanpattaya]

That's a good outcome. Well done.

[jubby]

Sounds like the 'See Shampoo' ID to me Limbo, but ofcourse it wouldn't be the first time I've been wrong either

I always thought the Thai's were responsible for there own deforestation problems seeing has they have never had to answer to a foreign power

Anyway, back on Topic, Congratulations Brahms. Even though it should have been free in a perfect world; I'm sure your both thinking its the best 50k you've ever spent.

[ericthai]

"Now she's so proud, she has the baby blue ID card, and her birthday is Jan. 1st.

Watch out Canada or Australia, those are the two countries on the top of her list to travel to"

.... you wrote.

I am afraid Canada and Australia have to wait a little bit.

If I am informed correctly the blue ID is valid in Chiang Rai only and the holder

needs special permission every time he or she wants to leave the province.

Before you can apply for a passport you will probably have to get her the same

ID as Thai people have (let's say a 'class one' ID).

I think she can register land on her name now and when she is able to prove that she

owns a minor piece of this country things get a little bit easier.

Good luck!

Limbo

PS: Most hilltribe people have their birthday the first of January. Thai civil servants

don't bother when you are born when you are hilltribe.

They are too low class for it (I mean the civil servants).

I believe you are wrong. Blue is the regular ID card color, the government changed colors about 3-4 years ago when they changed the type of card. 9the card used to be white) I just doubled checked and my wifes card is blue. Born and raised in Surin has had an ID card since she was 15. She also has per passport and has traveled to visit her sister who lives in Belgium. so I don't thing the OP's GF will have any problems.

OP that's great news! really nice to hear something good one in awhile. Hope she enjoys the views of the world!!

[skybluestu]

Yes, the standard Thai ID card is blue.

[sceadugenga]

Don't different minorities have a different coloured ID card?

Tai Leu for exanple have a green card? Tai Yai/Shan orange?

Edited March 10, 2010 by sceadugenga

[jubby]

Don't different minorities have a different coloured ID card?

Tai Leu for exanple have a green card? Tai Yai/Shan orange?

There's a lot of minority groups out there Scea, I'd have thought they'd want to keep things simple.

[skybluestu]

http://asiacalling.kbr68h.com/index.php/archives/1785

[sceadugenga]

Don't different minorities have a different coloured ID card?

Tai Leu for exanple have a green card? Tai Yai/Shan orange?

There's a lot of minority groups out there Scea, I'd have thought they'd want to keep things simple.

I suppose there's got to be a first time for everything.

My information comes from a friend who's spent years working with minorities in Thailand and Burma, he usually gets it pretty right, but, he admits it's complicated and the goal posts are constantly moved, so sometimes he doesn't.

[brahmburgers]

Brought to mind a nursery school song my daughter used to sing:

"red, yellow, black or white, they are precious in his sight.

Jesus loves the little children of the world'

ok, I'm not a Bible thumper (far from it) but all the talk of colors.......

[jubby]

Brought to mind a nursery school song my daughter used to sing:

"red, yellow, black or white, they are precious in his sight.

Jesus loves the little children of the world'

ok, I'm not a Bible thumper (far from it) but all the talk of colors.......

Red and Yellow and Pink & Blue; Orange & purple & Green; I can sing a Rainbow, Sing a Rainbow , Sing a Rainbow Too.

Or something like that.

[halfhead]

If the gov't knew I was footing the bill, it would have been a lot costlier. As it was, the gov't worker said Bt.60,000. My gal countered with Bt.50,000, and it was settled.

Congrats to you both,but you should teach your wife some better countering skills there

btw did you get sorted for a V.camera?(new baby etc,Forgot to reply)

Cheers

[johndpoole]

How easy is it to change identity in Thailand? I know there is no problem with changing names but can people here but does the ID# still follow them?