Just a callout to the others in this thread that were applying for Thai Citizenship.
ChalkyDee
kmart
yankee99
and anyone else applying
How’s it going? Where are you all at?
I've just read the thread from start to finish. I intend starting my application once Songkran is over. I'll be applying on the basis of having a Thai wife.
I'm looking forward to getting the ball rolling. I know I'll get frustrated at the length of the process but I've also been here long enough to know to keep my frustrations well hidden.
Congratulations to everyone who completed the journey.
Do not walk beside me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me for I may not follow. Just pretty much leave me the fuck alone!
One thing I am a bit concerned about is the 'Giving to charity' thing. I had no idea until a couple of weeks ago, that this was something they considered. I've never donated to a charity in Thailand and received a receipt. I have donated things to a couple of schools in the past (Long time ago). Given clothes and washing stuff to beggars near our home. Helped people who needed it, that kind of stuff.
To me, charity is something to be done in a quiet, personal way. Not 'Look at me. I've just given some money and I've got a receipt'.
The way I see it is, If I make a donation tomorrow, it looks like it's been done for all the wrong reasons.
You have to donate and get a receipt or you'll get the hose again.
Hhhhhhhmmmmmmm.
So now I'm thinking........Make a donation and ask for a backdated receipt.
I've really got to start thinking Thai lol.
I agree with what you are saying, however, most people keep their receipts for tax purposes. Also, keep in mind that the receipts must be from registered charities.
This is actually what they are looking for. They want to see a history of donations that precede your citizenship application. To "them" it indicates that you have a meaningful connection to Thailand.
Good luck with your application. If your wife is on board with the whole thing, it is very easy to do. You just have to be patient (jaiyenyen as they say).
Just a few of other thoughts;
If possible, try to use the Bangkok Special Branch Police for the application. It can be done in other provinces, but most don’t know what they are doing and there will be more delays and confusion with what documents are needed. If you can transfer your residence to a Bangkok address it will make life much easier.
Along the way, everyone that was involved with my citizenship application was helpful, cooperative and really seemed to want me to get Thai citizenship.
Learn how to read your name in Thai. Learn how to write (not sign) your full name in Thai. There are a number of documents that you need to put your hand printed name on, both at the beginning and the end of the citizenship process. Don't worry about how it looks, it can be a chicken scratch, so long as it is correctly spelled and done by your hand they don't care how it looks.
Make sure that your name on all government documents is spelled correctly. It is not uncommon for foreigners to end up with two or three different spellings of their name on various documents. If something is not correct, correct as soon as you can.
You will end up collecting a lot of documents from different government agencies. Make sure that they have spelled you name correctly and have the correct address on every document.
Make and keep multiple copies of everything. Keep copies of everything in a well organised folder and take it with you everywhere you go. Passport, work permit, visas, Tabian Baan, PR book if you have it, and so on. You are going to need them.
Think about what your Thai name will be, but don't stress about it. Most people don't change there names after they get citizenship.
Choose a religion. It doesn't matter what it is, but it is better that you have one. I was told during my application that I had to have a religion, so I choose Christian basically by default.
If you have a middle name, make sure that it is your middle name on Thai documents. Most older forms from the Thai government didn’t have a place for a middle name. This meant that on some computer systems foreigners ended up with a double first name and no middle name. If you have your name in a yellow or blue Tabian Baan book and it was originally made in the early 1990s it is most likely wrong. This is not an issue during the whole citizen process. I didn’t know it was a problem until I went to make my Thai ID card, but it needed to be corrected.
Edited to add. If you are married, and don't have children, be prepared to explain why.
Thanks for your replies.
I'm fortunate that I live in Bangkok and that my wife is keen to help me with the whole process. We don't have children together but my wife has three (Adult children). We've taken care of our granddaughter since she was 1 month old, she's 8 now.
Thanks for the advice about being organised, that's something I intend keeping on top of.
No middle name to worry about, thankfully.
Almost 8 months since i took the oath and no royal gazette announcement. This seems to be the hardest waiting period for me.
Are donations to a temple acceptable?
Quick honest question, if anyone with Thai citizenship can answer.
Did you get the vaccine like other Thais or do you have to wait and register like the rest of us for the 7th June rollout?
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