Thai I.D / Pasport Problem

[cindyjacobs]

Hello, My name is Cindy Jacobs and I'm quite confuzzled about my sitution. I want to obtain my, Thai I.D card/passport so that I can stay in the kingdom for long periods of time without having to leave. I cant speak, read, or write Thai which makes things complicated. Do I need to go to Amphur in the same district/province that my house is registered to obtain my I.D card? Or, Can I go to Amphur in Bangkok with all the legal documents and get it processed? How long does the process take? People who work in Amphur friendly? what precautions do I need to take? can they speak General English? what questions will they ask me? Taking into note that I've never had a previous I.D card because I was only 1yr old when I moved to oz. I'd like you feedback on what would be the best way on going about this situation...

My documents:

1) House registration.

2)Birth certificate.

3)Thai passport (expired 18 yrs)

4)Change of name certificate.

5) Australian passport.

Is there anything else I need?

Thanks in Advance.

Cindy Jacobs x

[Mario2008]

Seems you where born in Thailand. You need to apply for a Thai-ID card at the amphur you are registered, with your birth certificate and current passport as means of ID to check that you are the same person as on the birth certificate. If you changed your name, you will need proof of that also. I suspect you aso need to bring a few family members along, to vouch that you are indeed the person mentioned on the birth certificate. Might need a translation of the English documents, but inquire at the amphur first.

Did you enter Thailand with your expired Thai paspsort or on the Australian one? If on the Australian one, you still need a visa and extensions of stay (easy to get for someone with Thai nationality) till you leave the country and re-enter on a Thai passport. (You can always re-enter on a hai passport).

Our members Samran and Arkady know much more about this than I.

[cindyjacobs]

My grandparents are living in the house that I'm registered to. My Grandfather is 78yrs old and unfortunately he isn't able to move he's arms or legs, for this reason I won't be taking any family members with me when

I register for my I.D card. I hope the people at Amphur take this into consideration. If I have any communication problems, I have family willing to talk over the phone and translate any questions. I'm not exactly sure how else to go about it, not being able to speak a word of Thai, I'm basically a foreigner in my own country. I have a 2x entry tourist Visa, but was able to extend it for a year with a simple stamp because I'm Thai. So, this gives me plenty of time to go back and fourth with no stress or hassles. I'm taking a bus from mo-chit to Khan khan at 12:00am, and will arrive at approx 6 -7 am. From there my friend will be waiting for me then we will go to Amphur together.

How long does the actual process take?

I'm I able to re-new my expired passport without having my I.D card?

Cindy jacobs x

[Berek]

I spent 2 hours registering my marriage at an Amphur. Good luck trying to do it by phone if you can't speak Thai. I'd say hire an interpreter or take someone who speaks the lingo. It's nothing like any modern western system. All paperwork and forms shuffling between multiple desks.

[KimoMax]

Cindy,

My Thai wife says you will need to have a local official pull all the facts together for the Amphur to establish the true Thai relationship between you and your Thai family to the Amphur.

She says to contact the Village Headman to assist you. That is all part of his job to coordinate between the villagers and the government if an issue is complex.

It may be taken care of quickly or take a little time. Be patient.

Your documentation tho sounds quite complete. It is always good to have local help from a Village Headman with a technical issue.

The headman's position is highly respected by the local government offices.

[samran]

You have all the documentation. Just go there and explain your situation. It might take some time, but it shouldn't be an issue. If my mother who lived in Australia could get her ID card after 40 years, then so should you.

A couple of tips.

1) take a Thai speaking friend. This will take some time to get some questions answered.

2) Under no circumstance should you let on that you actually have Australian citizenship. Repeat, do not let the Ampur know.

While Thailand has no issue whatsoever with the issue of dual nationality, and the law was changed to essentially allow it back in 1992, for some reason this fact never filters down to the Ampur level.

Just tell them that you are a Thai citizen who has lived OS for a long time and is now back.

[cindyjacobs]

h

[cindyjacobs]

Well I entered the kingdom on my Aussie passport. I have to show Amphur my passport when proving my identification. I don't exactly know how I'd talk my way out for them to believe otherwise.

Also, I don't want to give Amphur false information. Why would it make a difference? Please be more specific as to why it could possibly interfere with me obtaining my

I.D card..

Thanks in advance

Cindy Jacobs x

[samran]

Well I entered the kingdom on my Aussie passport. I have to show Amphur my passport when proving my identification. So I don't exactly know how I will talk my way out for them to believe otherwise.

Also, I don't want to give Amphur false information. If they find out it will look bad on my behalf. Why would it make a difference?

Start with all your Thai ID first. There should be no reason why they'd need to see your Australian ID.

What will be required (perhaps) is a Thai person to vouch for who you are. Probably the head of the household as recorded on the house registry. This is what counts.

Australian ID counts for zilch. Trust me, from experience, you don't want to muddy the waters and given them an excuse not to issue with you with a new ID card (ie...telling you that you are no longer eligible cause you have Australian citizenship etc etc.

[KimoMax]

Cindy,

This is why it is wise to go to the Grandparent's Village Headman first. He will know how to help you and your Thai family to deal with your situation.

You will need to have someone that can translate speaking and reading writing Thai and English properly to properly communicate with the Village Headman.

If you come from a large city and the Tambon's of Bangkok, things are more difficult, but if from the rural or country area's, the Headman will be farmiliar with your Thai Grandparents and family.

Try that first before going to the Amphur on your own.

[ThaiAmy]

Cindy,

I have a translator that lives in Thailand handling all of this questions before I return to Thailand. Hire a translator and tell him what you need done and pay for his service.

[samran]

how did it go Cindy? You seem to indicate success in another thread...

[cindyjacobs]

how did it go Cindy? You seem to indicate success in another thread...

Having been registered to an Amphur in a rural area, everyone seemed to know each other. When my grandmother arrived almost everyone in the building greeted her, she pretty much knew everyone. Coincidentally, the lady who processed my papers went to the same high school

as my mother. It caught me by quite a surprise LOL !!

I don't think everyone will be as lucky as me in this case.

It was a bumpy ride on the way there, but well worth the destination time and travel...

[KimoMax]

Great to hear Cindy !

Having relations still in the village makes it all easier to establish things full circle.

I was worried originally that if your Grandmother was unable to go to the Amphur, that you would need another respected Village person to assist you. That person would be the Village headman, who would know your family and be able to assit you in person or by other contact with the local Amphur.

Great news for you Cindy. Congratulations !

[SinX7]

Good to hear you got your Thai I.D.! Thats one of the reason why I love where my family lives, because everyone knows each other if you live in the Rural area (Well at least my area.)

Congrats once again!

[MianMianSuthida]

hi! i'm 15 this year, i was born in thailand but i left when i was a year old and grew up in singapore.my mum has switched from Chinese to Thai citizenship form more than 10 years.i know only a little bit of basic Thai, hence is it possible for me to obtain my thai identification card?thanks in advance=)

[samran]

hi! i'm 15 this year, i was born in thailand but i left when i was a year old and grew up in singapore.my mum has switched from Chinese to Thai citizenship form more than 10 years.i know only a little bit of basic Thai, hence is it possible for me to obtain my thai identification card?thanks in advance=)

It depends. What nationality are your parents when you were born?

If one of your parents is a Thai citizen, then you are automatically a Thai citizen.

Easiest thing is get your birth certificate from Thailand and it will state on it whether you are a Thai citizen or now.If you have this, you should be able to apply for a Thai passport from the Thai embassy in Singapore.

Also, what nationality papers do you have now to live in Singapore?

You would have had to have left Thailand on a passport when you were one year old....so you need to find out what passport you used when you came to Singapore.

[Mario2008]

As Samran said, you are Thai if one of your parents was Thai at the moment of your birth. Seems your mother was then still Thai, so you would be Thai too.

For obtaining a Thai ID-card you would have to be in Thailand and registred on a house hold book. If abroad, you could obtain a Thai passport as Samran said. Both parents would have to aprove you obtaining a passport.

Your current nationality is important, as I believe Singapore does not allow its citizens to hold dual nationality.