I'd get your application in as soon as possible, if I were you.

When I did mine in 2006 there was no time pressure for everything to be 100% perfect by the end of December. If thats all you are waiting for, I'd get the application in anyway.

True - I was still correcting documentation up until about May 2007, its the initial application you need to get in on time.

G

grtaylor, I am happy to hear that you received your approval letter (and congratulations!) despite the fact that it isn't the best timing for you. However, it begs the question whether other 2006 applicants have received their approval letters? Surely you can't be the only one? When I phoned the PR section they categorically said that no 2006/2007 applications have been signed by the Minister of Interior.

If anybody else has received their approval letter please speak up.

The plot seems to thicken......

I was out at Chaengwattana on Monday to get my Non-Quota Immigrant visa and Resident Certificate endorsement (I was a successful 2005 applicant). There are no individual rooms in the new office layout, but the Permanent Resident functions are all performed in Section "E". Staff are all the same crew from Suan Phlu.

I have not received notification either for 2006 but my wife who works for The Government checked and was told that they were still waiting to be signed off by The Minister of Interior. Thjey have however sent out the letters to the applicants that failed so not sure what GR Taylor has received as he is in Philippines
.
Suppose in our case then NO news is GOOD news butwho really knows.

The letter I have is signed by the Director General of Immigration. It was sent to my office address as registered at the time I applied. It is not a letter of rejection. . . . . .

This post has been edited by grtaylor: 2009-10-23 10:36:10

My impression was you had to get the requested documents on the list in with your application by the last working day of December. After that, if they find they missed something or need something extra, it's no problem. I don't know if, say, you were missing one basic document at the time of application, they would allow you to provide it later. I wouldn't count on it.

Thanks. I will update the first post in the topic about this. The more info we have about the new office and how to reach it, the better. I am not due there for another 10 months.

If it's not stated on the FBI website, call them up and ask them. That's what I did with my home country, just to make sure I had everything straight and knew I wasn't going to miss the deadline.

I guess that's the best way to go...thanks for all the useful info.

I am also in the class of 2006 & applied under "spouse" category. Have not received any letter yet.

I did my last 6 monthly check in, in the 3rd week of Sept, where the team in 301 were saying end of year, maybe.

Cheers

What time do they open in the morning at the new Cheang Wattana office?

They open at 8:30 as normal, residency is "D" section

I asked the officer there and she explicitly told me that they would contact me approx in May (for information but what info?) and then (vaguely) told me and again "later in the year for the interview". The May thing sounds normal

Another interesting thing. She showed me sample of criminal record that I must have and that was an original from a 2008 applicant. It seems that 2008 applications have not yet left immigration

This post has been edited by MikeyIdea: 2009-10-30 09:45:27

I have a friend who applied in 2008, who was contacted two weeks ago to provide some additional photos.

He has still not had his interview.

Anybody get the PR letter so far this year ?

Hi Guys!

Well, some news... A friend of mine and me applied 2008 , were accepted and pre-interviewed last mont. I got a letter today, stating I have to be at Chaeng Wattana at this friday at 8.oo h morning for the video interview in the meeting room at the second floor of building B

Anyone been there yet?

My friend, who was at suan plu the same time for the first pre-interview without video did not receive anything yet...

Now: Can anyone help me a little bit-

I am a pretty scared about the interview as my Thai is not so good.....Cannot read or write any Thai a all. ( Officer told me: no problem... ;-)

I read something about a multiple choice test with questions about how many provinces etc... ??? What other questions will be in this interview? Any ideas?

What should I say in the video introduction? I love Thai Culture?

And finally:

They told us, the 2006 guys will be processed now and ready until the end of the this year, but our application will be processed very fast this time....

Lets see what happens !

Good luck to all other applicants. ( btw: I am German No. 3 ...)

Thanks for the progress update, as a 2006, I hope I'll be done by the end of the year!

Firstly the good news, to help you.

As far as I know, unless things have changed very much since 2006, there is no reading or writing involved in the Thai test. I was asked if I could read, and when I said no, the lady read out all of the questions for me to answer (still in Thai, though).

Now for the bad news. According to the earlier posts in this thread, the multiple choice has been replaced by a bit of a chat session. I'm sure it will be very simple, still though. I'd try and remember things about the application process, how much the fee is. when HM the Kings Birthday is etc. etc.

For the video, I just told them what my name and job was, how old, why I wanted to stay in Thailand (not a good idea to mention Soi Cowboy at this point, I'd suggest) and simple stuff like that. My Thai is reasonable, but nowhere near fluent, so I just memorised it.

As everybody says, the Thai part is only a small proportion of the points, so don't get too stressed. As I'm sure you've found out already, they are very very helpful.

Good luck to all you 2008 guys!

In my interview they asked a question about how much income one had to make to qualify for a visa if one was self employed, or how much tax was required to have been paid (or similar) - one of the categories for applying for a permit, but not a category that related to me (and I had no idea). Also about Songhkran, mother's day date, province where the airport is and colours of the flag. Staff were fine; the personal interview was videoed. Other info about charities, the staff at your place of work, etc all help.

good luck

Well, this will be my last contribution to this thread. I received the letter offering PR three weeks ago (2006 applicant - still not sure why I got it before anyone else). However, I am out of the country and it will not be possible for me to return until mid-December.

When told of my plight, the staff at Immigration suggested I write to the Director of Immigration, asking for a deferment of the date until then. This I did, and got a response just today through the office of my former employer in Thailand. To sum it up "if you cannot report in person to Immigration by Friday, the offer will be withdrawn".

To say I am pissed off would be an understatement. I wait almost three years for their decision, and then they won't allow me six extra weeks to deal with it! In all honesty though, I can't say I'm surprised.

All I can console myself with is the fact that the 194,000 baht is still in my pocket and not theirs!!!

Best wishes to all, and I hope you have better luck than I did . . . . . .

Graham

This post has been edited by grtaylor: 2009-11-03 16:41:02

Hi Graham,

With all the political turmoil that has been going on during these years may one would suggest you writing a letter to our, Prime Minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva and explain your plight.

Worked before with the little lad going to Japan , so why not try as this will be you last stand.

Yours truly,

Kan Win

I had actually considered that, as I know someone who is a friend of his personal secretary, and I'm fairly sure I could get a letter directly into his hands - maybe I will.

Thanks.

Hi Graham,

I cannot imagine how frustrated (to say the least!) you must be.

The suspense is killing me, even though the light/oncoming train appears to be visable at the end of the tunnel.

I think the letter is a very good idea, especially considering the 3 years we have been waiting is hardly our fault. You would hope that somebody high enough up might have the courage to show some consideration/compassion in this case.

Very good luck, and if you decide on that last throw of the dice, let us know how it works out.

stbkk.

I'm sorry to hear of your predicament.However I'm not surprised at the official response to your deferment request.If I understand the situation correctly you are now working overseas and have no valid Thai work permit and appropriate visa.Regardless of the approval letter the fact you have cut the continuous Thai work connection (plus payment of taxes etc etc) and are now working overseas makes your application null and void.

Now in practice this needn't have been a problem because the authorities tend not to take notice of events post dating approval.However unless you have briefed your former employers office very carefully indeed in terms of what to say, your request to defer is actually drawing attention to the breach of the rules and in Thailand that's just not going to work.The letter to Abhisit is a waste of time.Why should he overrule conscientous officials for sticking to the rules? I'm assuming you're not an Old Etonian?

If it was me I would jump on a plane and do what's expected.It's not too late and your employer would probably understand if the importance was explained.Go for it!