[Camerata's Guide To The Permanent Residence Process]

14 hours ago, Arkady said:

  I apologise for my misleading post.  Of course TM15 is not the ใบสำคัญถิ่นที่อยู่ as it says on the Chumporn Immigration site.  Here are some links from Immigration on TMs 15, 16 and 17 in English. Unfotunately the Thai versions don't provide the same detail.

https://www.immigration.go.th/content/service_62

https://www.immigration.go.th/content/service_63

https://www.immigration.go.th/content/service_64

 

From this it wouid appear that the TM15 is actually for foreigners who immigrated to the Kingdom before the first Immigration Act of 1927. I expect there was some transitional provision to allow foreigner who were already here to get PR more easily.  Application form TM18.

 

TM16 seems to be a regular PR application, as we know it. Application form TM18.

 

TM17 seems to be an application for a replacement book (alien book I presume). Application form TM20.

 

I no longer have one but I don't think there are any markings in the red books show their codes but they could indeed be TM15, 16 and 17. Whether they look different or not like the blue and white books, I don't  know.  I have never heard of anyone filling up a red book.  I think it might be hard to find someoe who had a red book based on having immigrated to the Kingdom prior to 1927 and still doesn't have citizenship to see what their book looks like.

I see that for TM17 they list ใบอนุญาตทำงาน (ถ้ามี). I'm on my second TM17 and I don't recall they wanted to see my work permit when applying for my previous one and it anyways says ถ้ามี. Not sure why they would list the work permit as a document to present when it is not really required to receive a TM17?

[Camerata's Guide To The Permanent Residence Process]

Hi guys, just a question out of curiosity here. I assume all of us PRs have either a TM16 (blue) or TM17 (white) certificate of residence.  However I recently saw there is also a TM15 certificate of residence apparently issued to foreigners that entered 'prior to Immigration Act'. Is this referring to the 1979 immigration act? Has anybody ever seen a TM15?

[E-Channel for Permanent Residents]

I tried again to get my German passport registered for the auto-channel but the problem remains that the machine in the small cubicle can't seem to read it. However I have noticed that the process at the manual channels both leaving and entering is a lot faster now: Whereas before they would need to scan my passport two or three it always seems to work the first time now. Maybe the software has been upgraded? Anybody else made the same experience?

[E-Channel for Permanent Residents]

I registered with my previous passport in September 2016 and got a sticker in the back of it but I never managed to use the auto channel. When scanning the data page of my -German- passport the gate would open but upon scanning my finger a 'data error' would pop of every time. I tried it a few times, endless discussions with various IOs at Suvarnabhumi, their IT department and also Chaeng Wattana. Finally I was advised it was a general problem for the machine to read German passports (?). 

 

I got a new passport a month ago (new design) and Chaeng Wattana -upon stamping my new non quota visa- advised that generally Immigration at Suvarnabhumi had been making a mess of data entries for auto channel applications for PRs. They provided me with a print out from their system highlighting in yellow the crucial parts the IO would have to enter. 

 

Leaving Thailand one week later I tried to update my data after passing through immigration. It took an IO about 30 minutes but he couldn't update my information as the machine wouldn't read my passport according to him. The IT guy was called in who advised that the auto channel gates generally have a problem reading the new German, US and Hong Kong passports. According to him they are waiting for a software update but he couldn't tell me when it would it would come. Traveling to the EU, US and also Singapore (going out) non of the auto gates or readers ever had any problems reading my passports.

 

Highly frustrating as especially going out -if not traveling in business class- there can be long ques at immigration. Coming in is of course less of a problem as you can always swing right and use the manual counters for Thais and special needs. Any other PR having similar problems?

 

 

[Thai (Non Thai) Id Card For Permanent Residents]

Glad to confirm I got my non Thai ID card issued today at Pattaya city hall. I had called in advance and they had told me to come around 3pm as they would be done with the Thai ID cards by then and the process would be a lot quicker. Documents needed were passport, residence certificate, alien certificate and tabien baan. They took my finger prints, asked for blood type and parents names and took my picture, The whole process took about an hour from arriving to holding the card in my hand and the staff was very friendly and courteous throughout.

[E-Channel for Permanent Residents]

I tried to apply today on my way out but just about didn't have enough time (takes app 30-45 minutes I was told). The immigration officers were super friendly and helpful though. I forgot to ask where to apply on the way in? Could anybody advise please?

[Thai (Non Thai) Id Card For Permanent Residents]

I got my permanent residence in October last year (applied in December 2013). I tried to apply for a pink id card at my local baan amphuer in Bang Lamung but they gave the usual answer saying this card is only for Laotians, Cambodians etc. Does anybody have experience in applying in Bang Lamung, Pattaya or Sri Racha?

Second question: I tried to change my bank account information from passport number to 13 digit id with my local SCB branch in Laem Chabang showing them alien registration book, residence certificate, tabien baan with 13 digit id. But they said it's not possible, I don't have a thai id card etc. Could anybody share details on SCB Branches that have changed the account information to 13 digit so I could ask my branch to call that branch?