Thread: how to obtain the yellow book

Originally Posted by superman

Originally Posted by Boon Mee

I didn't say the Tessaban issued the Gold Card.

You are correct, and I never indicated you did. I was expressing my observations of me obtaining the 'Gold Card'. As to whether the 'Tessabaan' issue a visa -like document I have no knowledge. But my missus says her 'Gold Card' covers her at any government hospital. Her card is the same one as I should receive once they get around to issuing it. I'll let you know.

You won't receive the same kind of card or document a Thai citizen has. And too, it depends on where the Thai ID was issued determines the hospital. My wife's Thai ID was first issued in Bangkok and it entitles her to go to Sirarat Hospital - same one the King currently resides in.

It's all a bit complicated and this Farang doesn't pretend to understand it all.

The wife has just explained it this way to me. For Thais, they have to use the hospital that they're registered at, as per your wife Boon Mee. If the hospital cannot treat your problem, and you need to go to a doctor at a different government hospital, then a letter is required. That being issued at the hospital that can't treat you.
Also, on the back of the 'Gold Card' it states you can use any government hospital in Thailand, in cases of emergency or accident. If neither then they have to pay.
I'm sure someone will come up with a different variation

Originally Posted by superman

Also, on the back of the 'Gold Card' it states you can use any government hospital in Thailand, in cases of emergency or accident.

Thank you, that makes sense.

Originally Posted by superman

The wife has just explained it this way to me. For Thais, they have to use the hospital that they're registered at, as per your wife Boon Mee. If the hospital cannot treat your problem, and you need to go to a doctor at a different government hospital, then a letter is required. That being issued at the hospital that can't treat you.
Also, on the back of the 'Gold Card' it states you can use any government hospital in Thailand, in cases of emergency or accident. If neither then they have to pay.
I'm sure someone will come up with a different variation

No different variation although the local government hospital administrator explained to me that if I did use another hospital outside of this Changwat, the bills would revert to my local hospital. So, as a matter of courtesy, the drill (as previously mentioned) is to go 'round to my Tessaban and obtain a 'visa-like' document to present to another Changwat's hospital.

Originally Posted by Boon Mee

Originally Posted by superman

The wife has just explained it this way to me. For Thais, they have to use the hospital that they're registered at, as per your wife Boon Mee. If the hospital cannot treat your problem, and you need to go to a doctor at a different government hospital, then a letter is required. That being issued at the hospital that can't treat you.
Also, on the back of the 'Gold Card' it states you can use any government hospital in Thailand, in cases of emergency or accident. If neither then they have to pay.
I'm sure someone will come up with a different variation

No different variation although the local government hospital administrator explained to me that if I did use another hospital outside of this Changwat, the bills would revert to my local hospital. So, as a matter of courtesy, the drill (as previously mentioned) is to go 'round to my Tessaban and obtain a 'visa-like' document to present to another Changwat's hospital.

Nothing like socialist healthcare. Even works for those who are against government healthcare.

I might not ever make use of the Government Hospital System but it's nice to be there as a backup. A 'freebee' if you like that comes with the Tabien Baan Leung.

...btw, this kind of system only works where you don't have Trial Lawyers & impossible malpractice insurance in place.

Originally Posted by Boon Mee

I might not ever make use of the Government Hospital System but it's nice to be there as a backup.

Absolutely Boon Mee. I don't have immediate access to private health-care due to my location. So a government hospital is all I can basically use. It was the staff at the hospital that encouraged me to get 'Thai medical card'.

Thailand has a better medical system than the US in that everyone has access. I doubt it has as good quality for the bigger problems. At least the poor have something for most problems they face. Thais are healthier than most Americans so that must help. I bet there is less cancer and heart disease here too. A lot of car accidents and other odd accidents which don't help costs.

Originally Posted by Hampsha

I bet there is less cancer and heart disease here too.

Lots of cancer in Isaan due to the crap they eat.

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

Originally Posted by Hampsha

I bet there is less cancer and heart disease here too.

Lots of cancer in Isaan due to the crap they eat.

6 million people in Isaan alone are infected with stomach cancer caught from a fluke that lives in fresh water fish etc. https://teakdoor.com/north-east-thail...-how-many.html (6 million Thais infected, how many farang ?)

I seldom if ever eat fresh water fish here. Nasty looking things! The Pla Duke, which is supposed to be a Catfish, doesn't look like any kind of catfish I've ever caught!

On Topic: I'd do this as a Poll but not sure the mechanics involved.

How many expats have the Yellow Book and what was the paperwork involved in getting it? As we've seen from several posters, it varies from Amphur to Amphur.

^ I attempted to obtain a Yellow Book last year at my local Amphur and was informed that i needed to produce a letter from my Embassy. When I enquired as to why, the boss replied that they wished to receive confirmation of my identity

I had taken along my family, a government official, house documentation, produced my passport and Thai driving licence, still not good enough

I also pointed out that a Dutch friend of mine had been issued a Yellow Book at their office some months previously without the need for an embassy letter. They checked and confirmed this but still wouldn't relent over the issue.

Astonishing Thailand

Originally Posted by Mr Lick;1926321[QUOTE

^ I attempted to obtain a Yellow Book last year at my local Amphur and was informed that i needed to produce a letter from my Embassy. When I enquired as to why, the boss replied that they wished to receive confirmation of my identity

The letter from the Embassy is to confirm your passport is genuine and then it can be translated into Thai and authenticated at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

I had taken along my family, a government official, house documentation, produced my passport and Thai driving licence, still not good enough

The Ampur people are my neighbours, but still meant nothing.

I also pointed out that a Dutch friend of mine had been issued a Yellow Book at their office some months previously without the need for an embassy letter. They checked and confirmed this but still wouldn't relent over the issue.

The neighbouring Ampur does it for 2,000 baht under the table, no paperwork.

Astonishing Thailand

Very true.

You have to weigh up the odds as to whether it's financially beneficial to you at the end of the day.

Originally Posted by superman

The letter from the Embassy is to confirm your passport is genuine and then it can be translated into Thai and authenticated at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Hmmm! I'm not sure why there is a real necessity for this. My passport has pages full of visa stamps issued at Thai immigration at border control points and a consulate in the UK. It has already been tracked/checked and my presence/permanent residence here recorded many times over.

The British Embassy staff, as we know, wish us long term brits to register with them, and i suspect that this red tape is merely a manner in which they can achieve this.

Originally Posted by superman

You have to weigh up the odds as to whether it's financially beneficial to you at the end of the day

More of a convenience factor really. Being the proud owner of a Thai driving licence seems to open a few doors now and again so i'll stick with that for the time being.

Originally Posted by Mr Lick

^ I attempted to obtain a Yellow Book last year at my local Amphur and was informed that i needed to produce a letter from my Embassy. When I enquired as to why, the boss replied that they wished to receive confirmation of my identity

I had taken along my family, a government official, house documentation, produced my passport and Thai driving licence, still not good enough

I also pointed out that a Dutch friend of mine had been issued a Yellow Book at their office some months previously without the need for an embassy letter. They checked and confirmed this but still wouldn't relent over the issue.

Astonishing Thailand

Well, don't give up 'cause it took me 3 different times with the Paa Laat (Deputy Sherriff) at my local Amphur. I was given the run-around of all time! "No! You have to go to Chang Wattana for this!" 'No, cannot do here -go to the Police Station"

After sorting out all the bullshit, I found out what was going on. I was the first farang to be granted this Yellow Book from my Amphur and the Paa Laat was scared shitless that she would not have done the paperwork correctly.

She demanded that letter from the Embassy asserting your address in Thailand, the Thai Drivers License, copy of my passport (but didn't need it translated into Thai) and, the old bitch wanted a copy of the marriage cert which is Not required in the Rule Book they all have in each Amphur. Also wanted our Pooyai Baan in on the deal too - just to confirm that where I said I lived jived will all accounts.

On the third time confronting the Paa Laat, I brought a Thai friend of mine in with me who I knew in the States years ago - speaks fluent English and he had a 'go' too. I think what finally got her to say "OK" was his argument "What!?, You want everything to be in his wife's name?" "What if she runs off? This poor Farang will have nothing!" At one point in the 'negotiations' I slipped an 'envelope' over her desk with 2K Baht in it. She looks at me like "What's this? I wink and she just slides it back to me. Total cost of the Tabien Baan was zero baht.

Keep at it - by Law, they are required to grant you the Yellow Book. Chok Dii

Originally Posted by Mr Lick

Hmmm! I'm not sure why there is a real necessity for this. My passport has pages full of visa stamps issued at Thai immigration at border control points and a consulate in the UK. It has already been tracked/checked and my presence/permanent residence here recorded many times over.

Unfortunately the people in the Ampur haven't a clue what all those stamps/visas are in your passport are. They could be supermarket loyalty stamps for all they know. They certainly wouldn't know what a multi entry O visa was, printed in English. Best for them to confirm, from someone else, that what they're looking at is the real thing.

yes it seems like every amphur is different, i went into my one in ubon waited 30 mins got called and handed over papers and asked about tabien ban, and told not possible, then the lady looked at my papers and said oh you are over 60 so no problem fill this form out get the id page of your passport translated and your mothers and fathers names also, a letter from poo yai ban saying you stay in his area, wifes blue book and id was noted
put the paperwork into be translated collected next day all done and stamped 600 baht (bloody expensive)
day after poo yai ban came with us handed over papers he signed his name gave him 300baht for his time (he asked for nothing) told to come back in two days .

two days later paid 200 baht to amphurs office got a receipt waited 30 mins and was handed my wee yellow book, done and dusted in 2 hours approx

scotty

Originally Posted by highlander

yes it seems like every amphur is different, i went into my one in ubon waited 30 mins got called and handed over papers and asked about tabien ban, and told not possible, then the lady looked at my papers and said oh you are over 60 so no problem fill this form out get the id page of your passport translated and your mothers and fathers names also, a letter from poo yai ban saying you stay in his area, wifes blue book and id was noted
put the paperwork into be translated collected next day all done and stamped 600 baht (bloody expensive)
day after poo yai ban came with us handed over papers he signed his name gave him 300baht for his time (he asked for nothing) told to come back in two days .

two days later paid 200 baht to amphurs office got a receipt waited 30 mins and was handed my wee yellow book, done and dusted in 2 hours approx

scotty

Good on ya Scotty!

Forgot to mention in my tale I needed to present the wife's Blue Book too which raises an interesting question.

I wonder if any single guys have been able to get the Yellow Book? They should under Thai Law that says all Farang are entitled to the book. I wonder if as a single bloke owning (or even renting) a condo or house can get the Blue Book?

Anybody know?

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

Originally Posted by Hampsha

I bet there is less cancer and heart disease here too.

Lots of cancer in Isaan due to the crap they eat.

My experience tells me it is from their misuse of pesticides and the continuous house dusting (smoking) sessions they perform. Some of their cooking practices and the questionable coal they use probably does not help either.

Originally Posted by Boon Mee

After sorting out all the bullshit, I found out what was going on. I was the first farang to be granted this Yellow Book from my Amphur and the Paa Laat was scared shitless that she would not have done the paperwork correctly.

On the whole civil servants are utterly spineless and scared shitless of making a mistake that they could be held accountable for later. This goes all the way to the top. Its understandable when you realise that the administrative laws that cover civil servants have utterly draconian punishments, if you are very luckily you loose your job and pension; if you are unluckily you get to spend years in jail.

This is why every office behaves so differently. Nobody in bangkok is prepared to interpret the law into a work process that the officers should follow. They push that responsibility down to the people who run each office and force them to take on the responsibility of making a mistake; each office comes up with a different interpretation and work flow. or just tries to avoid the whole problem by saying cannot be done

Originally Posted by hazz

Originally Posted by Boon Mee

After sorting out all the bullshit, I found out what was going on. I was the first farang to be granted this Yellow Book from my Amphur and the Paa Laat was scared shitless that she would not have done the paperwork correctly.

On the whole civil servants are utterly spineless and scared shitless of making a mistake that they could be held accountable for later. This goes all the way to the top. Its understandable when you realise that the administrative laws that cover civil servants have utterly draconian punishments, if you are very luckily you loose your job and pension; if you are unluckily you get to spend years in jail.

This is why every office behaves so differently. Nobody in bangkok is prepared to interpret the law into a work process that the officers should follow. They push that responsibility down to the people who run each office and force them to take on the responsibility of making a mistake; each office comes up with a different interpretation and work flow. or just tries to avoid the whole problem by saying cannot be done

That's one of the most articulate explainations I've read hazz...