Camerata's Guide To The Permanent Residence Process

onthemoon · March 16, 2023

20 minutes ago, scorecard said:

Can you please share some specifics of 'losing PR if you don't have your name in a Tabien Baan'.

Example: I recently needed a new white book and forgot to bring my tabien bahn. (They believed me when I said I will bring it when I pick up the new book - it takes a couple of days - so I presented it when I picked up the new white book.

I don't remember whether I had to show the tabien bahn when I renewed the red police book.

scorecard · March 16, 2023

40 minutes ago, onthemoon said:

Example: I recently needed a new white book and forgot to bring my tabien bahn. (They believed me when I said I will bring it when I pick up the new book - it takes a couple of days - so I presented it when I picked up the new white book.

I don't remember whether I had to show the tabien bahn when I renewed the red police book.

So you assume that specifically means; no Tabien Baan book presented and PR is cancelled?

onthemoon · March 16, 2023

10 minutes ago, scorecard said:

So you assume that specifically means; no Tabien Baan book presented and PR is cancelled?

No, I didn't say that. I said that if you need a new white book (for example because the old one is full), they ask for the tabien bahn. I don't know what happens if you don't have one, didn't try that.

The OP intends to reside overseas and travel to Thailand at least once a year. He will get his entry and exit stamps into the white book, and a new endorsement every year, which is a full page. Sooner or later his book will be full. That's why this information might be relevant to him.

I don't know whether someone who never travels needs a tabien bahn. They can probably renew their drivers licence using their passport and a residence certificate from the embassy, instead of the pink card and tabien bahn.

The white book and the drivers licence are the only times I have needed the tabien bahn (I think).

scorecard · March 16, 2023

1 hour ago, onthemoon said:

Example: I recently needed a new white book and forgot to bring my tabien bahn. (They believed me when I said I will bring it when I pick up the new book - it takes a couple of days - so I presented it when I picked up the new white book.

I don't remember whether I had to show the tabien bahn when I renewed the red police book.

I've just sent an e.mail to Immigration Division 1 asking them to provide some clarity on this. I'll share their response.

Bangel72 · March 16, 2023

12 minutes ago, scorecard said:

I've just sent an e.mail to Immigration Division 1 asking them to provide some clarity on this. I'll share their response.

Its interesting on the tabien bahn, I suspect in most cases the PR holder is not the owner of the house so its not their tabien bahn but someone else's.

Whilst it's likely easy to get a copy of the page to take to immigration or the police station getting access to the actual book is not a given, house owner may be away for long periods of time so its not something that a PR holder generally has access to.

I was already in a yellow book when I started the PR and the police used that to set up my red police book, I've done a couple of renewals and nobody has every asked for the blue house book in the 8 years since.

That includes CW, re-entry, immigration and work permits, never been asked for blue house book.

Dogmatix · March 16, 2023

32 minutes ago, Bangel72 said:

Its interesting on the tabien bahn, I suspect in most cases the PR holder is not the owner of the house so its not their tabien bahn but someone else's.

Whilst it's likely easy to get a copy of the page to take to immigration or the police station getting access to the actual book is not a given, house owner may be away for long periods of time so its not something that a PR holder generally has access to.

I was already in a yellow book when I started the PR and the police used that to set up my red police book, I've done a couple of renewals and nobody has every asked for the blue house book in the 8 years since.

That includes CW, re-entry, immigration and work permits, never been asked for blue house book.

My first tabien baan after I got PR was very difficult to get and took months. Then the owner of the apartment building refused to let me have a copy of the book. The solution to this problem was to go to the district office and get an official certified print out confirming that I was registered at that address. These certified copies are accepted as evidence of tabien baan everywhere but are only valid for three months. So I had to keep going back to the district office to get a new one. I later found out that you can get them at any district office. I was very happy to get my own tabien baan eventually and stop having to keep on getting a new certified ccopy.

The yellow tabien baan has been around for a long time but was originally issued mainly to stateless people. It was only commonly available to expats after they amended the law in 2008 to require district offices to issue them to all foreign residents.

Edited March 16, 2023 by Dogmatix

Michael Hare · March 16, 2023

36 minutes ago, Bangel72 said:

Its interesting on the tabien bahn, I suspect in most cases the PR holder is not the owner of the house so its not their tabien bahn but someone else's.

Whilst it's likely easy to get a copy of the page to take to immigration or the police station getting access to the actual book is not a given, house owner may be away for long periods of time so its not something that a PR holder generally has access to.

I was already in a yellow book when I started the PR and the police used that to set up my red police book, I've done a couple of renewals and nobody has every asked for the blue house book in the 8 years since.

That includes CW, re-entry, immigration and work permits, never been asked for blue house book.

Exactly. Never get asked for it at the policestation and never at immigration. But I do show the blue house registration book when renewing my five year driver's licence. The guys there never seem to understand about PR.

Etaoin Shrdlu · March 16, 2023

It has been ten years since I've had to get a new TM17, so I don't recall whether I had to submit my tabien baan, but apparently it is a requirement, at least as of now.

guid_en2.pdf

Michael Hare · March 17, 2023

17 hours ago, Etaoin Shrdlu said:

It has been ten years since I've had to get a new TM17, so I don't recall whether I had to submit my tabien baan, but apparently it is a requirement, at least as of now.

guid_en2.pdf 215.28 kB · 8 downloads

My blue book (TM17) is nearly filled up. Only half a clean page left. I will pop along to Ubon Ratchathani Immigration sometime this year and see what they want me to do. Always takes a little bit of time as they never seem to know what to do. I think they only have a few people with PR in their area.

Dogmatix · March 17, 2023

1 hour ago, Michael Hare said:

My blue book (TM17) is nearly filled up. Only half a clean page left. I will pop along to Ubon Ratchathani Immigration sometime this year and see what they want me to do. Always takes a little bit of time as they never seem to know what to do. I think they only have a few people with PR in their area.

I filled up the the blue book in a couple of years and had several white books. Once I presented the white book to UK customs when they demanded evidence I really lived overseas to get a largish VAT rebate on an auction commission. The officer demanded to know why it was only a duplicate residence book as stated on the cover and asked to see the real one, not that much of it was comprehensible to her. In the end they refused to give the VAT rebate anyway.

Edited March 17, 2023 by Dogmatix

onthemoon · March 17, 2023

18 hours ago, Michael Hare said:

Exactly. Never get asked for it at the policestation and never at immigration. But I do show the blue house registration book when renewing my five year driver's licence. The guys there never seem to understand about PR.

At least at DLT Prakanong, they understand PR very well. Yes, you do have to present your (pink) ID and your tabien bahn, exactly the same as Thai citizens. I don't know why you think there is something wrong with that.

onthemoon · March 17, 2023

11 minutes ago, Dogmatix said:

I filled up the the blue book in a couple of years and had several white books. Once I presented the white book to UK customs when they demanded evidence I really lived overseas to get a largish VAT rebate on an auction commission. The officer demanded to know why it was only a duplicate residence book as stated on the cover and asked to see the real one, not that much of it was comprehensible to her. In the end they refused to give the VAT rebate anyway.

It seems the problem here is with the UK authorities, not the Thais. Does your passport show your residence? Mine does, and it shows Bangkok, Thailand. That's why I get "VAT refund for tourists" anywhere in the EU. I haven't tried outside of the EU, but then, I'd be a tourist anywhere outside of the EU anyway. (Except in Thailand, of course.)

Bubbha · March 17, 2023

2 hours ago, Michael Hare said:

My blue book (TM17) is nearly filled up. Only half a clean page left. I will pop along to Ubon Ratchathani Immigration sometime this year and see what they want me to do. Always takes a little bit of time as they never seem to know what to do. I think they only have a few people with PR in their area.

I am also ready to apply for a new TM.17.

The application form for this (TM.20) is attached.

24.คำร้องขอรับใบแทนใบสำคัญถิ่นที่อยู่-ตม.20.doc

Naiyana · March 17, 2023

Hello,

As a PR holder, can I also have a yellow book?

I’m tired of authorities asking for the blue Tabien Baan, I’m under my friend’s blue Tabien Baan and can’t bring the original. Today I went to change the name of my scooter and I got rejected even if I had the certificate of residency from the embassy - the officer kept asking for the paper from Immigration (based on TM 30) which I can’t get. He didn’t know what PR is. So annoying.

scorecard · March 17, 2023

51 minutes ago, Naiyana said:

Hello,

As a PR holder, can I also have a yellow book?

I’m tired of authorities asking for the blue Tabien Baan, I’m under my friend’s blue Tabien Baan and can’t bring the original. Today I went to change the name of my scooter and I got rejected even if I had the certificate of residency from the embassy - the officer kept asking for the paper from Immigration (based on TM 30) which I can’t get. He didn’t know what PR is. So annoying.

21 hours ago, Michael Hare said:

Exactly. Never get asked for it at the policestation and never at immigration. But I do show the blue house registration book when renewing my five year driver's licence. The guys there never seem to understand about PR.

Yes It's true the basic RTP officer (and high) have no understanding whatever of Thai PR and how it's documented/administered.

Many years ago I was coming off RAMA 4 road to go up onto the overhead tollway to Chonburi. My Thai adult son with me sitting in the passengers seat (son speaks fluent Thai and english).

My son hates the cops, mainly because of a previous incient when they pulled us over and son argued with them that I was not speeding. Cop respondedd to son "You are Thai, why won't you help me to cheat the farang?" Son was livid and said "The farang is my father, and I'm not going to help you to cheat my father"

Back to RAMA 4 incident; as we got through the toll gate a cop stepped in front of the car and stopped us. Cop then says I went through a red light and asked for my passport. Son quickly took my white covered PR book out of a bag on the console and handed it to the cop. Cop is lost what it is.

Meanwhile another cop has joined the discussion, he looks at the white book and says "He's from an embassy!"

All cops now stand to attention and salute.

First cop says "Sorry misunderstanding, where are you going?" Son says "Chonburi city."

First cop now says "Do you want a police escort to Chon."

Son responds "No thanks".

By this stage passport request has been forgotten.

All the cops, now 4 or 5 of them (they've all looked at my white PR book, none have any clue what it is.) all stand back and salute and first cop waves us to proceed.

Edited March 17, 2023 by scorecard

scorecard · March 17, 2023

3 hours ago, onthemoon said:

At least at DLT Prakanong, they understand PR very well. Yes, you do have to present your (pink) ID and your tabien bahn, exactly the same as Thai citizens. I don't know why you think there is something wrong with that.

I went to the main HO of DLT a few years back to get my old Thai lifetime driving licenses (photo glued on a tattered card), transferred to the plstic cards.

I showed my passport and my PR book. Quick smart another officer (more senior) came, he spoke excellent English and he clearly understood what PR was, He guided the first offficer how to / what to type into their system. Then he took me to the photo area, then asked to to sit and wait for a few minutes. Less than 5 minues later he reappeared with 2 new plstic driving licenses (car and byke) and went throught the words printed in Thai and asked me to check that the spelling of my name (in English) was correct. It was. And on the back of both cards the word 'Lifetime' in English.

A very pleasant experience.

Edited March 17, 2023 by scorecard

onthemoon · March 17, 2023

59 minutes ago, scorecard said:

21 hours ago, Michael Hare said:

Exactly. Never get asked for it at the policestation and never at immigration. But I do show the blue house registration book when renewing my five year driver's licence. The guys there never seem to understand about PR.

Yes It's true the basic RTP officer (and high) have no understanding whatever of Thai PR and how it's documented/administered.

Many years ago I was coming off RAMA 4 road to go up onto the overhead tollway to Chonburi. My Thai adult son with me sitting in the passengers seat (son speaks fluent Thai and english).

My son hates the cops, mainly because of a previous incient when they pulled us over and son argued with them that I was not speeding. Cop respondedd to son "You are Thai, why won't you help me to cheat the farang?" Son was livid and said "The farang is my father, and I'm not going to help you to cheat my father"

Back to RAMA 4 incident; as we got through the toll gate a cop stepped in front of the car and stopped us. Cop then says I went through a red light and asked for my passport. Son quickly took my white covered PR book out of a bag on the console and handed it to the cop. Cop is lost what it is.

Meanwhile another cop has joined the discussion, he looks at the white book and says "He's from an embassy!"

All cops now stand to attention and salute.

First cop says "Sorry misunderstanding, where are you going?" Son says "Chonburi city."

First cop now says "Do you want a police escort to Chon."

Son responds "No thanks".

By this stage passport request has been forgotten.

All the cops, now 4 or 5 of them (they've all looked at my white PR book, none have any clue what it is.) all stand back and salute and first cop waves us to proceed.

Funny anecdote. No, the street police don't know the white book, and I don't think it has anything to do with them. I always show my pink ID, never had a problem. (I have also never been stopped or fined by traffic police without reason in the past 33 years.)

I did use the white book at the airport though to get through the Fast Track when I was flying eco. The security guards there just saw the Thai Garuda and waived me through. This usually doesn't work anymore though (depending on who is on duty).

Michael Hare · March 21, 2023

On 3/17/2023 at 12:23 PM, Bubbha said:

I am also ready to apply for a new TM.17.

The application form for this (TM.20) is attached.

24.คำร้องขอรับใบแทนใบสำคัญถิ่นที่อยู่-ตม.20.doc 110 kB · 7 downloads

From reading many posts here I started getting a bit worried about my change of address here in Ubon Ratchathani. I sold my house in Ubon city seven years ago and moved into a new house a few hundred metres up the same road. I notified the police at the station where I report every five years, but they never wrote the new address from my new house registration in the red book. I just popped along to ask if the new address should be written in the red book. No, they said. Only if one moves to a new province is the change-of-address written into the book.

cocoonclub · March 22, 2023

Questions about house registration

I learned that after you received the PR you have to:

1. Go to the police station for alien registration, together with your landlord and his tabian baan

2. Go to the district office together with your landlord and his tabian baan, only for them to make copies and send a letter to the IB

3. Go to the district office again, together with your landlord and his tabian baan and a Thai witness for another Thai interview

4. Go to the district office again, together with your landlord and his tabian baan and the Thai witness, only to pick up your pink card

Questions:

— What happens if you fail that additional Thai interview?
— Do you have to go through these steps again every 5 years?
— Do you have to go through these steps again every time you change your residence?
— Do you need any of this for the yearly endorsement and re-entry visa (the letter from the IB says you only need your alien registration, but then it also never mentioned that you need to go to the district office 3 times with an additional witness)

I didn’t expect the process to be this over complicated and cumbersome after you’re supposed to already have received your PR. Im wondering what people do who don’t have a Thai witness or who are single and living in a rented condo. What Thai landlord would join his tenant 4 times?

This must be a conspiracy to make you never break up with your Thai gf or to buy a condo haha

Edited March 22, 2023 by cocoonclub

scorecard · March 22, 2023

1 hour ago, cocoonclub said:

Questions about house registration

I learned that after you received the PR you have to:

1. Go to the police station for alien registration, together with your landlord and his tabian baan

2. Go to the district office together with your landlord and his tabian baan, only for them to make copies and send a letter to the IB

3. Go to the district office again, together with your landlord and his tabian baan and a Thai witness for another Thai interview

4. Go to the district office again, together with your landlord and his tabian baan and the Thai witness, only to pick up your pink card

Questions:

— What happens if you fail that additional Thai interview?
— Do you have to go through these steps again every 5 years?
— Do you have to go through these steps again every time you change your residence?
— Do you need any of this for the yearly endorsement and re-entry visa (the letter from the IB says you only need your alien registration, but then it also never mentioned that you need to go to the district office 3 times with an additional witness)

I didn’t expect the process to be this over complicated and cumbersome after you’re supposed to already have received your PR. Im wondering what people do who don’t have a Thai witness or who are single and living in a rented condo. What Thai landlord would join his tenant 4 times?

This must be a conspiracy to make you never break up with your Thai gf or to buy a condo haha

This doesn't sound correct unless the process has recently changed a lot.

When I got my PR approval letter:

- When I got PR all very straight forward: get PR book at amphur office, then name recorded in Tabien Baan (can be any Tabien Baan, no need to be family, and name can be moved to another Tabien Baan, no issues whatever) at same amphur office.

Then to local big police staion with above docs, within 20 minutes fingerprints taken and RED Police registration book issued. There was no interview, PR already approved, police not involved to approve anything, their job just prepare the RED police reg. book, add photo and fingerprints. All done.

Etaoin Shrdlu · March 22, 2023

1 hour ago, cocoonclub said:

Questions about house registration

I learned that after you received the PR you have to:

1. Go to the police station for alien registration, together with your landlord and his tabian baan

2. Go to the district office together with your landlord and his tabian baan, only for them to make copies and send a letter to the IB

3. Go to the district office again, together with your landlord and his tabian baan and a Thai witness for another Thai interview

4. Go to the district office again, together with your landlord and his tabian baan and the Thai witness, only to pick up your pink card

Questions:

— What happens if you fail that additional Thai interview?
— Do you have to go through these steps again every 5 years?
— Do you have to go through these steps again every time you change your residence?
— Do you need any of this for the yearly endorsement and re-entry visa (the letter from the IB says you only need your alien registration, but then it also never mentioned that you need to go to the district office 3 times with an additional witness)

I didn’t expect the process to be this over complicated and cumbersome after you’re supposed to already have received your PR. Im wondering what people do who don’t have a Thai witness or who are single and living in a rented condo. What Thai landlord would join his tenant 4 times?

This must be a conspiracy to make you never break up with your Thai gf or to buy a condo haha

I can't imagine that the steps you've listed above are correct unless they've changed radically.

To answer your questions:

There is no additional Thai interview at the district office. At least not one upon which your PR status depends. You just need to get registered in the blue tabien baan.

No. You will only need to check in at your local police station to get your red police book signed every five years. Initially, you may only be granted a one-year validity in your red police book and after that it is every five years.

You will need to be added to the tabien baan of your new residence after you move and you will need to notify the new local police station of your move so they can update your red police book. I do not know if one is still required to remove oneself from the old tabien baan and take the removal document to the new district office. I think I had to about twenty years ago when I moved, but I'm not sure. The procedure may have changed, too.

No visits to the district office or local police station are required for the endorsement and non-quota immigrant visa. Just keep your red police book up-to-date as you'll be required to submit it.

cocoonclub · March 22, 2023

1 hour ago, scorecard said:

This doesn't sound correct unless the process has recently changed a lot.

49 minutes ago, Etaoin Shrdlu said:

I can't imagine that the steps you've listed above are correct unless they've changed radically.

Interesting. Any idea how to address this? The lady at the district office was pretty clear about this and said she’s processing a lot of PRs. In fact, it’s actually in line with what the original author of this PR guide here described on the very first page of this thread. But even my friend who received his PR some 10 years ago or so couldn’t remember having to jump through these hoops. Could it be because I don’t own a condo but will be on my gf‘s house book?

The instruction letter from the IB only said that I have to do: (1) pick up PR book from IB; (2) go to police station for red book alien registration; (3) go to district office for house registration tabian baan. It didn’t mention I have to bring a witness and go there three times.

I’ve completed (1) and (2) and received 6 years red book (1+5 years).

cocoonclub · March 22, 2023

On 7/2/2006 at 8:46 PM, camerata said:

Being put on a House Registration book

You apply at your district office to be put on a tabien baan. You'll probably deal with someone senior and have to provide copies of passport, tabien baan, Residence Book and Alien Book. There is no charge at all. After submitting the documents, they give you a letter which you take back to Immigration and make an appointment to go back to the district office. Immigration then gives you another letter which you take back to the district office.

For the second interview at the district office you need two Thais to act as witnesses. One will normally be the owner of your residence. The officer will ask you all a lot of detailed questions (how you know the witnesses, what's your blood group, etc) and write out an interview form for each of you, to which he'll add your photo and thumbprint and send them to the Interior Ministry "as evidence." Then you are put on the tabien baan and have reached the end of the process.

This is from the first page of this thread.

Etaoin Shrdlu · March 22, 2023

3 minutes ago, cocoonclub said:

This is from the first page of this thread.

It has been too long ago for me to remember the exact process and sequence at the district office or immigration when registering in the blue tabien baan, but if you have explicit, recent instructions from your district office, you're probably best advised to follow them.

I think the "interview" at the district office is simply to allow them to record the necessary information for their files. It isn't an interview to assess your Thai language skills or suitability for PR.

I don't have recollection of this being a complicated matter, but perhaps more recent PR recipients can add their experiences.

scorecard · March 22, 2023

55 minutes ago, cocoonclub said:

Interesting. Any idea how to address this? The lady at the district office was pretty clear about this and said she’s processing a lot of PRs. In fact, it’s actually in line with what the original author of this PR guide here described on the very first page of this thread. But even my friend who received his PR some 10 years ago or so couldn’t remember having to jump through these hoops. Could it be because I don’t own a condo but will be on my gf‘s house book?

The instruction letter from the IB only said that I have to do: (1) pick up PR book from IB; (2) go to police station for red book alien registration; (3) go to district office for house registration tabian baan. It didn’t mention I have to bring a witness and go there three times.

I’ve completed (1) and (2) and received 6 years red book (1+5 years).

"Could it be because I don’t own a condo but will be on my gf‘s house book?"

I can't see this is any reason for any complication, it's just not relevant and the amphur folks (or anybody else) should NOT be 'studying' who the person who is the 'house master' is and should NOT be studying what, if any, the relationship is between you and the house master. If they do ak questons on this subject they are way out of line becaue it'e NOT relevant.

I repeat: It's not the business of the amphur folks and they are way out of line if they are asking you or the TB House Master questions in this subject area.

As said the amphur folks don't give APPROVAL re what TB book etc., your name can/can't be entered in. Their responsible if very simple they take the TB book, the house master indicates he/she will allow your name to be entered in that TB book (they DON"T have to give any reason / they don't have to make any comment at all) and the amphur folks immediately proceed to enter your name and your Thai ID number into the TB book. As said the amphur folks don't APPROVE this.

It's quite simple, your name must be in a Tabien Baan (TB) book; can be:

- The TB book for a property you own but that's not even compulsory

because it can ANY TB book.

If you're going to have your name in a TB book for your wife, gf, friend or whoever then that person must come with you and bring the TB book because they have to give a verbal permission for you to be entered in the TB book they're holding. Nothing more / nothing less.

There is no interview / you don't have to pass an interview.

When I got PR the dark blue PR book was issued (no interview because already approved to hold Thai PR by the Immigration Bureau) then the same amphur guy asked for my TB book so he could enter my name. I didn't have a TB book. Instantly my Thai friend who had been driving me around offered his TB book and said 'can he be entered in my TB book?

The amphur guy took the TB pages, looked at the opening entry for about 1 second then proceeded to enter my name. No comments or questions, when completed he handed the TB pages back to my Thai friend. Neither the owner of the TB book or myself were inerviewed by anybody. PR is already approved.

Perhaps also worth mentioning:

1. Applying for and approval of PR is an Imigration matter

2. TB pages/books are administered by local amphurs which comes under the Ministry of the Interior.

3. RED Police Registration Books are issued and updated by the Royal Thai Police.

The 3 agencies above are different ministries who barely talk to each other. After PR is approved by the Immigration Bureau there is no further interview / there is no further approval.

2. and 3. above are mechanical administrative items which must be completed, they don't give APPROVALS for anything. They complete pure adminitrative tasks accordng to whatever is in front of them, nothing more, they have no work/task related reason whatever to be interested and they have no tasks whatever to be asking question on this let alone be conductig 'interviews' on these items.

Back to "Could it be because I don’t own a condo but will be on my gf‘s house book?"

This is not relevant and none of the various agencies have any legitimate reason to be interested.

Bottom line, your name must be in a TB book, can be any TB book. The personal relationship (if any) between you and the person who is showing as the 'house master' in the front of the TB book is absolutely not relevant at all, and the amphur folks should not be asking any questions about his matter.

And, sorry to be repetitive the amphur folks don't APPROVE where your name / what TB book is used to record your name. They carry out a simple administrative process.

As I've mentioned above for the purpose of adding your name to a TB book there is no interview therefore the notion that you 'have to pass an interview' is not in the picture, not at all.

Edited March 22, 2023 by scorecard

cocoonclub · March 22, 2023

31 minutes ago, Etaoin Shrdlu said:

I think the "interview" at the district office is simply to allow them to record the necessary information for their files. It isn't an interview to assess your Thai language skills or suitability for PR.

27 minutes ago, scorecard said:

As I've mentioned above for the purpose of adding your name to a TB book there is no interview therefore the notion that you 'have to pass an interview' is not in the picture, not at all

The lady didn’t mention the contents or purpose of the interview. She just said I have to come in for an interview, together with the house owner and a Thai witness. After that I’ll have to come again one more time to pick up the pink card, again together with the house owner and the Thai witness. So altogether that’s three visits to the district office.

Anyway, guess there’s no point complaining but I’ll just have to follow their orders even though it’s all quite over complicated and cumbersome especially after already having received the PR book and having fulfilled all those requirements.

27 minutes ago, scorecard said:

The 3 agencies above are different ministries who barely talk to each other. After PR is approved by the Immigration Bureau there is no further interview / there is no further approval.

Is that really the case? It seems that, at least in practice, your PR depends on the police registration and the house registration. Otherwise I would simply ignore these steps and keep living in my rented condo as I do, without all these additional registrations that I never needed. But it seems in that case I would lose the PR or at least get fined or not get the endorsement and reentry permit, so it seems in practice there’s no PR without the police and house registration, unfortunately.

Edited March 22, 2023 by cocoonclub

scorecard · March 22, 2023

31 minutes ago, cocoonclub said:

The lady didn’t mention the contents or purpose of the interview. She just said I have to come in for an interview, together with the house owner and a Thai witness. After that I’ll have to come again one more time to pick up the pink card, again together with the house owner and the Thai witness. So altogether that’s three visits to the district office.

Anyway, guess there’s no point complaining but I’ll just have to follow their orders even though it’s all quite over complicated and cumbersome especially after already having received the PR book and having fulfilled all those requirements.

Is that really the case? It seems that, at least in practice, your PR depends on the police registration and the house registration. Otherwise I would simply ignore these steps and keep living in my rented condo as I do, without all these additional registrations that I never needed. But it seems in that case I would lose the PR or at least get fined or not get the endorsement and reentry permit, so it seems in practice there’s no PR without the police and house registration, unfortunately.

I can only repeat what I've shared with you.

Whether you buy or rent a condo etc. is your personal business.

I got PR 27 years ago. From my experience, many comments made on this site,and a call I had with a Snr. immigration officer (speaks perfect English) when (during the Covid- 19) I couldn't get back to Thailand. In response to one of my quetions he firmly stated: Amphur offices nor the Thai police can cancel PR.

PR is an immigratiion matter, no other agency/ministry can cancel your PR.

However I have heard of PR holders being fined for late update of their RED Police Registration Book and taking too long to remove their name from a TB book / add their name to another TB book when they have changed their location.

Edited March 22, 2023 by scorecard

scorecard · March 22, 2023

4 hours ago, cocoonclub said:

Questions about house registration

I learned that after you received the PR you have to:

1. Go to the police station for alien registration, together with your landlord and his tabian baan

2. Go to the district office together with your landlord and his tabian baan, only for them to make copies and send a letter to the IB

3. Go to the district office again, together with your landlord and his tabian baan and a Thai witness for another Thai interview

4. Go to the district office again, together with your landlord and his tabian baan and the Thai witness, only to pick up your pink card

Questions:

— What happens if you fail that additional Thai interview?
— Do you have to go through these steps again every 5 years?
— Do you have to go through these steps again every time you change your residence?
— Do you need any of this for the yearly endorsement and re-entry visa (the letter from the IB says you only need your alien registration, but then it also never mentioned that you need to go to the district office 3 times with an additional witness)

I didn’t expect the process to be this over complicated and cumbersome after you’re supposed to already have received your PR. Im wondering what people do who don’t have a Thai witness or who are single and living in a rented condo. What Thai landlord would join his tenant 4 times?

This must be a conspiracy to make you never break up with your Thai gf or to buy a condo haha

This doesn't sound correct unless the process has recently changed a lot.

When I got my PR approval letter:

- When I got PR all very straight forward: get PR book at amphur office, then name recorded in Tabien Baan (can be any Tabien Baan, no need to be family, and name can be moved to another Tabien Baan, no issues whatever) at same amphur office.

Then to local big police staion with above docs, within 20 minutes fingerprints taken and RED Police registration book issued. There was no interview, PR already approved, police not involved to approve anything, their job just prepare the RED police reg. book, add photo and fingerprints. All done.

cocoonclub · March 22, 2023

5 minutes ago, scorecard said:

However I have heard of PR holders being fined for late update of their RED Police Registration Book and taking too long to remove their name from a TB book / add their name to another TB book when they have changed their location.

I guess it is as so often with the authorities here and will depend on how each officer interprets things. The instruction letter I received from IB only states I would need to bring the red book for the endorsement and reentry permit, so technically they would never know if I fail to remove myself from/add myself to a tabian baan as long as I keep going to the police station every five years. Then others in this thread apparently were asked for the TB at the immigration.

Anyway, thank you everyone for the information.

scorecard · March 22, 2023

Perhaps you should send an e.mail to:

[email protected]

They always reply, in English, normally wihin a few days up to say 10 days.

They're friendly and focused. Give it a try.

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imm

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