No PR issued since 2006.

Post by **Jaime** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 6:36 am

Let there be light!!

Great post SJ!

Spitfire · Post by **Spitfire** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 8:57 am

From the requirements quote, ".......and in the case of Vietnamese applicants, personal behavior."

What's that about? What have they been up to in the past here?

Post by **buksida** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 8:58 am

The reality of the matter is that you get 45 points for being minted and 5 for everything else.

A bit off topic (although I can see the similarities) but did anyone read the recent articles about the disastrous Elite Card scheme yesterday:

http://bangkokpost.com/business/economi ... or-auction

http://bangkokpost.com/business/economi ... to-be-sold

Post by **Winkie** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 9:42 am

I have a friend who was granted Thai Citizenship early last year.

He is married to a Thai. He speaks Thai fluently, reads a qute, but cannot really write. He did not have to pay any 'special fees', but it did take him many years to reach this stage. He had PR for many many years prior.

He has also retained his original citizenship

Super Joe · Post by **Super Joe** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 12:13 pm

buksida wrote:The reality of the matter is that you get 45 points for being minted and 5 for everything else.

You'd have to be really minted to score 45 points out of a possible 35 in the 'occupation' section. From accounts I've read of people that have done the process is that if you have high salary/tax returns you get the maximum points no question, whereas if you just have the minimum requirement then you still score points from the maximum, just a lesser amount. But if you have a Thai wife and child then you score additional points that high flying business people may not have.

There's 65 other points to be obtained, and anyone going for this is well advised to start doing a bit of community/charity work, simple things a lot of us do anyway (or should be if we've got anything about us) like giving a few computers to school in wife's village, contributing to events for under-priveleged kids, donate something to local temple etc, I read the minimum requirement for this to be considered is just 5,000 Baht per year.

Winkie wrote:He has also retained his original citizenship

Yeah I think that's quite important, many would not want to give up their original nationality. UK is one that allows dual nationality so we'd get to keep our British passports.
Apparently you get a new Thai name if you get citizenship. could be interesting ....

SJ

Post by **lomuamart** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 12:16 pm

To be honest, I can't see any point in "being Thai".
OK, there will probably be some benefits, but no matter how well any person may speak the language or understands the nuances of the land, you'll always be an alien.
That's just how it is.
If this country were to get rid of prejudice, then maybe I'd think about it (can't afford it anyway). Until then, I'm happy to be an outsider.

Super Joe · Post by **Super Joe** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 12:23 pm

Winkie wrote: .... but it did take him many years to reach this stage. He had PR for many many years prior.

Sorry forgot to add on citizenship that 'allegedly' for foreign men (but not for foreign wives of Thais), there's a requirement of holding PR for a minimum of 5 years before you will be considered. 5 years of 'temporary' permits to stay are not accepted.

You also have to hold a WP and be currently working up until the point they grant you citizenship.

SJ

Post by **buksida** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 1:05 pm

Super Joe wrote: There's 65 other points to be obtained, and anyone going for this is well advised to start doing a bit of community/charity work, simple things a lot of us do anyway (or should be if we've got anything about us) like giving a few computers to school in wife's village, contributing to events for under-priveleged kids, donate something to local temple etc, I read the minimum requirement for this to be considered is just 5,000 Baht per year.

Just a follow up on that one using my project to get old computers donated and built for the orphanage as an example. Wouldn't this and any other charity "work" be in violation of Thailand labour law which prohibits aliens from working (for profit or not) without a permit? Even with the permit the work an alien can undertake is extremely restrictive and often limited to one province, my work permit certainly doesn't allow me to build computers for an orphanage.

Super Joe · Post by **Super Joe** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 1:17 pm

lomuamart wrote:To be honest, I can't see any point in "being Thai".
OK, there will probably be some benefits, but no matter how well any person may speak the language or understands the nuances of the land, you'll always be an alien.

Agree with you from my point of view at the moment, although that may change on the future with circumstances. Can be important to others though, as I see it the key benefits include:

PR:
- No need for visas, reporting, annual extensions and the like, no-one can ever kick you out.
- Never have to leave the country if you get divorced if on that extension.
- Never have to leave the country if you lose your job if on that extension.
- Never have to worry about being able to stay here if you can't meet any future increases in financial requirements for extensions
- You get your bank 400k Baht (family support) or 800k (retirement) released to you to spend as you wish.
- Access to emergency medical treatment at 60, handy if you don't have a million Baht hanging around for a triple heart bypass.

Citizenship:
- Own land and house in your own name.
- No need for a work permit any longer and no restrictions on type of work you can do. You can get a job as a busty barmaid if you want.
- Can own your own business, no Foreign Business Act restrictions apply, you can become a rice farmer.
- Able to borrow money from banks, get a mortgage etc.
- Can vote for Thaksin in 5 years time

SJ

Post by **lomuamart** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 2:41 pm

Good points, SJ.
However, I just don't fundamentally see any real benefits in citizenship when I'll always be regarded as someone who's different because of the colour of my skin.
If this country could get rid of that attitude, then it would be a great place to be (and I have been for over 11 years).
Racism or xenophobia exists everywhere in the world.

Post by **STEVE G** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 4:37 pm

There is another point that has come up before about the nationality of children; seeing as Thailand doesn't allow dual nationality, would they require you to give up your current nationality?

Post by **BaaBaa.** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 5:04 pm

STEVE G wrote:There is another point that has come up before about the nationality of children; seeing as Thailand doesn't allow dual nationality, would they require you to give up your current nationality?

You might want to have a read of this thread Steve.

http://www.huahinafterdark.com/forum/po ... tml#123910

Post by **STEVE G** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 5:25 pm

Thanks for that BaaBaa; I remembered the topic coming up before, but not the outcome.

Post by **Name Taken** » Sat Nov 21, 2009 10:33 am

I'm not surprised at all.
The Thai's would probably cause a nationwide riot and protest if a white guy ever received PR or Thai citizenship.
You can call me a racist or whatever the f*** you like, but it's the truth.

Post by **Name Taken** » Sat Nov 21, 2009 10:40 am

lomuamart wrote:Good points, SJ.
However, I just don't fundamentally see any real benefits in citizenship when I'll always be regarded as someone who's different because of the colour of my skin.
If this country could get rid of that attitude, then it would be a great place to be (and I have been for over 11 years).
Racism or xenophobia exists everywhere in the world.

I really think that racism and xenophobia is much more prevalent here in Thailand than it is in "western" countries.