ilyushin

Hi All,

For those who are interested, the application process for Thai
Citizenship in my case went as follows:

Late 2003 - Picked up the checklist from the Police Headquarters on
Rama 1 Road

January 2004 - Took all my documents to the Police Department, in what
I thought was a word perfect application. However, since I was
applying in January and this being a new tax year, my tax returns from
the three preceding years were not enough. An oversight on my part, so
waited until I got my most recent tax retirn PNG 91 for 2003

March 2004 - Try again. This time my application was successfully
lodged. Paid the 5,000 Baht fee. Got fingeprinted. Signed my name (in
Thai) on dozens of firms. Took two Thai witnesses and later my wife
plus kids to show that they were real. Took forms issued to me by the
police department to immigration and my disctrict office. Later went
back to pick up the completed forms and take them back to the police
department

April 2004 - Thai language interview at the Police Department

September 2004 - Invited to the Interior Ministry. Showed them my work
permit, passport, alien registration certificate and certificate of
residence. Then, I was shown into a room with around 40 people
watching me. I was given a microphone and asked to sing the Thai
National anthem and Phra Baramee (the one they play in the cinema).
Yes, really. Managed to keep a straight face. Got interviewed in Thai
- basic Q&A about my circumstances. Around the same time, a group of
three officials from the Interrior Ministry visited my house to see if
my domestic circumstances were as described on my application form

Waited

Waited

February 2006 - Got the good news that the then Interior Minister Khun
Kongsak had approved my application

March 2006 - Got a letter to notify me of the above

Waited

(September 2006 - military coup)

Waited

November 2006 - Got the good news that the King had countersigned my
application

December 2006 - One of the most memorable parts: the oath. Just
after the King endorsed my application, I was asked to report to the
police department in business attire, armed with a candle, a lotus
flower and an incense stick. I then had to stand with these in my
hands while clasped in a wai, in front of a Buddhist shrine, repaeting
an oath of allegance to King and country, and promising to be an
upright and law-abiding citizen.

Waited

Waited

April 2007 - Got the good news that the new Interior Minister Khun
Aree had announced in the Interior Ministry notices that a bunch of
applicants including me could now get Thai nationality

May 2007 - Got the paperwork and certificate from the Police HQ to
take to the disctrict office to get my ID card. Now I must return my
work permit, alien residence certificate and certificate of residence
to respective authorities as these are no longer needed. Now I can
apply for a passport

Told that my application was one of the faster ones these days.
Getting Thai Citizenship IS a pain in the arse - but look on the
bright side:

1) Now I can own what I buy, land, house, etc

2) No need for a work permit, and no restricted occupations. I can now
drive a Tuk Tuk for a living if the going gets tough in the IT
industry

3) Now I can get in free to the Grand Palace and pay the Thai rate for
national parks

4) I can own a business

5) I can get a Thai passport and visit countries like Laos and Vietnam
visa free

6) No need for that expensive old yearly Resident Return visa. No
limit to the amount of time that I spend out of Thailand without
losing my residency

7) I can use the Thai passport lane at the airport (shorter queues)

8) In my case, no need to give up my old nationality

9) I have a new Thai identity, forename and surname. Good for
travelling to places that dislike my country of origin

10) I think that I can even vote, although I am not sure who is worth
voting for

All you need to do is satisfy the following to apply:

http://phuketgazette...ails.asp?id=759

Golden rules are:

1) Be patient and never get upset. The people that handle your
application do not make the rules and do not have any power over what
happens in the Interior Ministry

2) Get a coach. Not an expensive lawyer - just make friends with one
of the officials that handles your application

Cheers

Just did all of the above on Tuesday April 24th as well. It went as smoothly as listed above for me. I had emailed the consulate before leaving and they gave me the following list of items required;


I would like to answer your question that you asked Non-immigrant Type O visa based on marriage like that:
- Visa application form
- 2 photos
- Passport copy and original
- Wife Thai ID card (copy)
- Wife Thai Tabien Ban (copy)
- Marry certificate (copy) and original
- Wife Thai Passport copy
- Bank statement  
Fee 5,000 THB
Time for give Visa 9:00A.M – 11:00 A.M you get back next day 2:00 P.M

I was not asked for any of the above I just handed them all over except the bank statement and was not asked for it. On the line How long is your intended stay? I entered - 1 year multiple entry - and was not asked any questions. Was in line for a total of 45 seconds!

Had a vehicle and found it much easier and quicker then the Nong Khai border..as much less busy. Just one snag which I did not catch in time. Sister in law had a border pass from Nong Khai and the Laos official would not let her into the country with it. had to go back to the Thai border and get a border pass issued by Mukdahan authorities. Other than that easy border crossing. Given the time frame to drive, how easy it was to get a visa and the quietness of Savannakhet, it makes a great option if you have your own wheels (or if you don't still a good choice).

Also the casino there is fun for about an hour, some good restaurants (river front), and decent guest houses and hotels. Looked at the Nong Soda and it was terrible. Looked at 4 different rooms and they all had a terrible body odour smell to them. DaoSavanna (i think) was very nice rooms 4,000baht ish. My wife talked to the front desk clerks and they had three guests staying there...bit creepy for such a large place. Stayed at a place called the Savansouk Hotel (i think) with big elephants in the courtyard and some great teak furniture inside. Rooms okay. Do not need WIFI so do not if they had it or not. 520-720 baht per room.

The level of corruption is staggering, the Shinawatra clan will suck Thailand dry.

Two Irish Men Went on Rampage, Stab Two People in Pattaya


Picture from PattayaDailyNews.com

PATTAYA: -- Two Irish men went on a drunken rampage early this morning, stabbing and injuring a total of 4 people. The claimed they were forced to defend themselves after they were attacked by local motorcycle taxi drivers in Pattaya.

At 4.30AM this morning, the Pattaya Police received a report of a public disturbance involving 2 foreign nationals in front of Boom Boom Beer Bar on Pattaya New Plaza Road in Banglamung, Chon Buri Province.

When police officers arrived at the scene, they found a security guard lying on the floor in front of the bar. The guard, Yongyuth Yaiying, 23 years old, sustained a serious injury from being stabbed once on his upper left thigh. He was immediately rushed to the Pattaya Memorial Hospital for treatment. Another victim, 41 year old motorcycle taxi driver Phromma Traisawan, was also stabbed in his torso and neck. He had already been transported to the Pattaya Memorial Hospital by the time the police arrived at the crime scene.

Witnesses at the bar told the police that the 2 men responsible for the stabbing had already fled the scene on a motorcycle. The bar owner identified one of the suspects as Darren Philip Delaney. According to the bar owner, Delaney, 40 years old, had paid for sexual services of 2 bar girls. However, the girls returned to the bar a short time later claiming they feared for their safety once they arrived at Delaney's house, seeing how intoxicated he and his friend, 40-year old Irish national, Thomas Plunkett were.

According to the bar owner, Delaney who seemed badly intoxicated, followed the girl back to the bar and angrily demanded his money back. The bar owner quickly complied to Delaney's request but that did not calm him down. He attacked 2 bar patrons and a handful of motorcycle taxi drivers who tried to restrain him.

Delaney then fled the scene on a motorcycle. The bar owner immediately shut down the bar and accompanied the two patrons to the hospital and filed a police report against Delaney.

Later that night, Delaney, accompanied by his friend, Thomas Plunkett, came back and began to attack the motorcycle taxi drivers and security guards in front of the bar. Witnesses told the police that Plunkett was responsible for stabbing the 2 victims.

Plunkett and Delaney later fled the scene once again.

The police rushed to the place of residence of the two suspects at a house in the South Pattaya area. The two suspects were reportedly badly intoxicated and attempted to resist arrest. The police, however, were unable to recover the knife that was used to stab both the security guard and the motorcycle taxi driver.

Both Delaney and Plunkett claimed they acted out of self-defence after they were attacked by the security guard and the motorcycle taxi drivers. The two are now being interrogated and detained by the Pattaya Police.

Translated from http://www.pattayadailynews.com


-- Tan Network 2012-02-03