Flashermac Posted October 7, 2005 Report Share Posted October 7, 2005 Only advantages I can see in a permanent residency are: 1. You don't have to be over 50 (as for a retirement visa). 2. You don't have to be married (as for a spousal visa). 3. You don't have to keep a certain amount of money here (400,000 for spousal, 800,000 for retirement). 4. You don't have to report every 90 days to Imigration. 5. You don't have to spend 1,900 baht every year to renew your visa. If you are 50 and don't need to work or are married to a Thai, why bother? You still need a work permit if you want to stay employed. Plus, as I said, leave Thailand for 366 days and you've lost it! It is a nice thing to have, but is it worth 200,000 baht and the hassle? Up to you. p.s. A couple of years ago every application was approved. I suppose the govmt wants that money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farangman Posted October 8, 2005 Report Share Posted October 8, 2005 Plus you can have your name included on house registration papers. You can also buy a condo without having to transfer money from abroad. And become a director of a Public company. Plus if you want Thai nationality later you have to have permanenet residency first. I agree the benefits are neglibable if any of the above don't interest you. Cheers farangman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bembaman Posted October 10, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2005 Thanks guys for the replies. BTW, if you are married to a Thai the fee is cut by 50% making it around B95k. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickfarang Posted October 12, 2005 Report Share Posted October 12, 2005 Bembaman, Just curious, but what is your reason for wanting one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bembaman Posted October 14, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2005 Rick, I do not perceive any big benefit right now; i have a good job and get 2 year visa/WP extensions with no problem. There is little to gain right now in my case. I do however intend going for citizenship in the next few years and it would seem to make sense. As I understand it, if you are legally married to a Thai and have Thai children you do not have to have residency to apply for citizenship but I am sure it is better to have than not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinning Dwarf Posted November 8, 2005 Report Share Posted November 8, 2005 Bembaman, I applied December 2004 and expect to get PR by the end of the year. There is a 10 question test administered in Thai with each question having 4 multiple choice answers. The immigration officer reads out the question and the multiple choice answers (and, if you are able to read Thai, you can read it yourself as well). I've been here 15 years and did not find the test difficult. The one question I got wrong was "Which flower is associated with Fathers Day in Thailand?". After the test, I was required to sit in front of a video camera with wife and child at my side and give a 5 minute description about myself in Thai.....Who I am, Where I'm from, Where I work, What's my job title, How much I make etc. Prior to this "interview", the immigration officer had told me all the things I needed to cover. There was only one question asked during the interview......Where does my wife work? I went through the whole process without the assistance of a lawyer. You may want to hire someone who can help you get all the documentation together and coach you on the test and interview. A friend, whom applied at the same time as me, hired someone for a hefty fee of 150,000 baht (payable only if the application is approved). Don't know how the points system works. See http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/en/base.php for more info and there is a list of the first round of approved names with the majority being Chinese or Indian. Cheers, SD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nervous_Dog Posted November 9, 2005 Report Share Posted November 9, 2005 So what is the flower? have you found it a benifit? DOG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinning Dwarf Posted November 9, 2005 Report Share Posted November 9, 2005 Dog, The main benefits for me are intangibles....a perceived sense of security, belonging and legitimacy. And, as farangman noted, it is a prerequisite for Thai nationality....something I may want to obtain in the future. About ten guys I know have PR and they are all glad to have it. Cheers, SD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bembaman Posted November 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2005 SD That is incredibly useful - thanks for that. I will dig further on the points issue. I could not do the Thai test and hope to pass right now but maybe next year i can pass it - there's the incentive needed to improve my Thai. Do you remember any of the other questions out of interest? I could not have understood that one in Thai. Like I said , my Thai is abysmal. There is hope, Thais tell me what little I speak I say very well, but the volume of vocabluary is just not there yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinning Dwarf Posted November 9, 2005 Report Share Posted November 9, 2005 Bembaman, There are ten versions of the test. Other questions on the version I took included: What is the national animal of Thailand? Elephant Which of these four colors is red? What is the first day of the new year? 1 January Which of these four pictures is a warship? Other options included a sailboat, plane, and train. As mentioned earlier, you can hire someone to guarantee you pass the test. And they will also rehearse the video interview with you. Cheers, SD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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