#Home Office Application Fees

[lexlawuk]

UK Visit Visa Refusals: Implications and Next Steps for Success

Where the Home Office refuses your visitor visa application, you will receive a letter or email outlining the grounds for the decision. Refusals mean missed opportunities; whether you intended a family visit, a business trip, a quiet getaway, or a chance to tick off your bucket list. At DJF Solicitors, we provide expert guidance on your refusal and strong legal representations to ensure a…

[thetyger]

ok i finally found an apartment i love enough to apply to...assuming they accept my application i will be moving next year aaaaaaaaa

[mousedetective]

Homeless Disabled/Mostly Queer Family Needs Help...In The Home Stretch Now!

PAYPAL | AMAZON WISHLIST | KOFI | GOFUNDME

VENMO: @penaltywaltz | CASHAPP: $afteriwake23 | ZELLE: DM me for email address

3/21/24

So things have taken a slight turn for the worse, and while the shelter staff is amazing and our caseworker is doing everything she can for us, we just need to get out of a toxic environment and get into housing as soon as we can. The low-income housing fell through (we don't make enough money for a three-person household, even though we could cover the rent), so tomorrow I'm going through the list I got from the Oceanside housing office and calling everyone. I did talk to a lovely person at a complex in Fallbrook about a place we could afford but she said check every week because there may be an opening if a military family has to leave on short notice.

A friend of mine is going to cover most of the last of the loans for us (around $1500) on the 27th or so so we'll have more money to put toward moving costs if a place opens up. I know I have one $140 loan payment, one $125 loan payment and my mom has a $210 payment we need covered, plus we owe the cable company $163 for equipment we have in storage and can't get to until we get housing.

I'm setting a goal for $1000; anything else will go for apartment application fees and food once my food stamps run out (we get three meals a day but Lena is gone from, like, 6 AM to 9 PM and misses them so I send her to Starbucks with food).

$1000/$1200

[aeternallis]

one of the things most frustrating to think about as someone who did go through the immigration system in the US is the fact that there seems to be a genuine belief by a significant portion of the populace in this country that the immigration system is a simple, straightforward process, when it most certainly is not.

for one thing, the applications to gain some form of legal status themselves are confusing af to actually read through. most of the applications uses confusing language and can be upwards of about 15-20 pages worth of documents you gotta spend time actually pouring through.

for example, currently the i-485 form (application for green card) sits at about 24 pages, and requires a couple of hours to fill out. for most immigrants who know little to no english, either they would have to sit with an english-speaking paralegal to help them, or one of their relatives who knows english would need to be the one to help them out.

the i-130 form (application for alien relatives) is about 12 pages, and just as hella confusing to go through.

the i-589 (application for asylum) and i-765 (application for worker's permit) aren't too bad in comparison, at about 7-8 pages, but even so, the legal language is still a hassle to try and understand.

(yes, I have helped both my parents fill out all these forms)

oh, and did i mention that every one of these forms cost money to file and submit to uscis for processing? this is not counting the typical immigration lawyer's fees immigrants have to fork up in order to get some decent representation, most immigrants still need to make a living one way or another, or how else are they to provide for their families and give their children a better future? (and ya know, afford the fees to try and actually go through the process of gaining legal status here???)

not only that, answering any of the questions wrong on any of these forms could be enough for uscis to reject the filing or outright deny it. and no, ofc there's no refunds on the application fees.

for a country that has a horrendous literacy crisis, i would so love to see the rest of y'all try to take a gander at these forms and see if you don't lose your goddamn mind.

have i mentioned how fucking terrifying it is when uscis officers grill you during the interview process???? because yes, there is an interview component to most of these forms. as if their questions are literally designed for you to fail???!!

this is just a few aspect of the immigration process that's so broken right now, it might as well be a 10k puzzle piece scattered in a room.

the strenuous waiting time between processing of applications, the anxiety of the elections every goddamn year because politicians cannot fucking make up their minds with how immigration ought to be tackled in this country, all the while immigrants also have to deal with the stress of everyday life and whatever challenges that brings.

uscis is still working through a backlog of applications from decades ago, and some people in this country really have the goddamn audacity to think, "they have to get here legally and go through the process that way"???!

a fucking luxury (ignorant af though, mind you) for some of y'all to say, indeed, especially if all it took back then for your family to get here was through ellis fucking island.

my aunt petitioned my dad with the i-589 form over 38 years ago when he was still living in the philippines, and mind you, the visa number from that filing was only granted and mailed to my dad's old house last year in december 2024, when we went home to visit relatives for the holidays and long after he's already become a US citizen.

i'm not asking for people to change their minds about immigration or that this country ought to let everyone in, i knowwwwww the system is broken and terrible.

but what i am asking is for people to educate themselves and to be open-minded, to not dismiss the struggles of immigrants, because those who think that the immigration process in this country is easy are hella ignorant and will never understand the sort of anxiety illegal immigrants go through, for the sake of trying to provide a better future for their children.

[carnivallsarchive]

hi everyone, long time no see! coming back to tumblr with a pitch that one friend rated 12/10, another 15/10, and no one less than a 10 (that i will be mentioning for the purposes of this post).

so basically me and my girlfriend are in our final year as university undergrads, and are fighting for our lives for stuff to put on our cvs / master applications that falls in line with our degree programs and interests (english literature for both). as much as i'd like it to, 'spending well over 80 hours mapping out dnd sessions' for some reason doesn't tend to appeal to employers or admissions offices.

this is where VULTURE CULTURE comes in.

we've laid out the principal tenets on the 'about' page, but a tldr for whoever is interested:

At Vulture Culture, we aim to take the works of people they may not necessarily feel the best about, works that may not otherwise see the light of day, and give them a ‘home.’ We believe that there’s no such thing as a story not worth telling. By not charging submission fees (be so for real) and keeping our guidelines few, we also hope to erode some of the traditional barriers in publishing, and create a more accessible space for all.

in other words, GIVE US YOUR LEFTOVERS.

we are a literary magazine that will accept anything that exists in the mid range of what you love and hate. have you ever wanted to be published but where do you even start? here. are you unsure what to do with that old work that's been sitting in your drafts forever (it's good enough to post, but not good enough to be picked up by anyone of significance)? hi.

our first issue theme is NEW BODIES, and we are just as curious as you to find out what that means. deadline is march 1st, 2024.

come help us be employable or whatever. also in return you get to clear up some draft space and see your name in print. together, love wins 🏆

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Hangover 5

Warnings: dubcon, noncon, other possible triggers. Proceed with caution.

Please leave any and all feedback! 💚💚💚💚💚💚

Part of The Club AU

You help Will fold his laundry. You refuse to do all of it but he’s brought enough that you feel bad letting him do it by himself. Besides, it’s a good opportunity to chat. A better one to distract yourself. 

Despite the time passed, a whole night, and your best efforts, you can’t shake your drive with Officer Storm. It’s impossible to forget the cold air and your nakedness. The humiliation lingers and has you restless. As you tuck away the last pair of socks in Will’s bag, you wince as he says, “mom?” 

“Yeah, what’s up?” You step back. 

“You okay? You been quiet.” 

“Oh, yeah, yeah, just tired,” you muster a smile, “work has been a bit much, you know?” 

“Right, yeah,” you see the flicker of guilt in his eyes, “mom...” 

You laugh, but not meanly, “how much do you need, honey?” 

“I’m sorry--” 

“Don’t be,” you wave off his apology. He shouldn’t be sorry. You know he’s only asking you because his father said no. You’re bum ex can’t be arsed to pay any tuition, so why would he cover any other expenses. “I’m sure I can figure something out.” 

“Yeah, you know, I wouldn’t ask unless... unless I really needed it. There’s this internship. It’s like kinda a grant but there’s an application fee so...” 

“It’s good,” you pat his bones chest, “Will, it’s money. If you happy and healthy, I’m happy.” 

He smiles offers a one-armed hug. For a boy his age, that’s a big gesture. You accept it but can’t help making it two-armed. You squeeze him tighter than you mean too and he wheezes as you cling to him. 

“Mom! I was just home two week ago.” 

“I know, honey, I just... missed you,” you stay as you are. He sighs and wraps you up. You rock him, closing your eyes against the sudden swell of heat behind them. “I love you so much.” 

“Mom, I know,” confusion laces his voice, “Mom,” he rubs your back, “I love you too.” 

You sniffle and dip your head down, hiding as you draw away from him. You roll your eyes back against your tears. You hold onto that feeling, of your son’s hug, it’s enough to chase away that heavy weight in your hips where Officer Storm had held you. 

“Are you sure you’re okay?” He scoffs. 

“Yeah, I... menopause,” you laugh off but it’s not as breezy as you intend. “Old ladies and their hormones.” 

“Right,” a shade of skepticism lingers in his voice. 

The doorbell rings suddenly and you both jump, laughing at the fright. You shake your head and tramp down the hall to answer it. Will hovers in the doorway but doesn’t follow.  

You open the door and nearly shriek. It’s him. Officer Storm. He smirks and his eyes twinkle. He winks and tilts his head pompously, reciting your name. 

You gulp, “sir?” 

“Mom? Is that a cop?” Will comes down towards you. 

“Ah, don’t worry about it, son,” Storm says, “I’m just doing my good deed for the day.” He flicks up a card between his thick fingers, “this was turned in down at the station. A king samaritan found it on the pavement.” 

You fight a tremour as it rises, “thank you, officer.” 

“Not at all, ma’am,” he holds it out between his index and middle fingers. 

You take it and look at it. It’s your ID. Or maybe it’s a trick. 

“Everything okay?” Storm asks. 

You flinch and nod, “of course. I appreciate you bringing this by.” 

“That’s what I do,” he winks. “You have a good day.” 

He nods and backs up. His eyes rove up and down before he turns and struts away. He has the type of swagger men who don’t last more than a minute have. You shudder and shut the door. 

“Nice of him,” Will says. 

“Sure,” you agree as you twist the lock into place. 

You turn back and walk to the kitchen. As you grab your purse, you can barely get it undone. You remember picking it up from the car seat, the bite of frost in the air, the noise of the police scanner. Your wallet falls out of your grasp as you pull it through the zipper. 

“Mom,” Will says, “you’re shaking.” 

“I’m fine,” you insist sharply, “I just... I didn’t sleep well. I need a coffee.” 

He stares at you, concerned tautening his jaw. You look back at him and nearly whimper. He isn’t much younger than that officer. A decade at most between them. Could he be like that? Officer Johnny is someone’s son too and he did that to you, someone’s mother. 

“Want me to make you one?” Will sounds afraid. 

“Please, sweetie, yes,” you bend to retrieve your wallet, your lower back twanging with the effort. You fall to your knees and whine, “shit.” 

“Mom!” Will grabs onto your arm, “what is it?” 

“My back,” you snivel, “ow, shoot. “ 

You can’t stand. It hurts too much. Your hips lock as you stay on your knees. You peer down at the floor. You can only see the cold ground lit by yellow headlights. You back seizes up again. 

“Mom, please, get up,” Will begs. 

“I-- I can’t, honey, you’re going to have to help me.” 

“What happened--” 

“Work,” you grit out, “please,” you reach to grab his forearm and manage to drag a leg out and plant your foot, “just put me on the couch.” 

You latch on and he grunts as he helps you up. Any man, even one as slim as him, is stronger than you. You lean on him heavily and waddle stiffly, moaning with each step, and nearly collapse onto the couch. He lifts your legs onto the cushions as you whimper. 

Will steps back and stands straight. He looks at you with worry woven between his brows, “mom...” 

“Hon, I’m fine. Just some advil... and coffee, please, if you don’t mind.” 

“I... I can’t stay past tonight. I have a midterm.” 

“I know, honey, don’t worry about that. I’ll be fine,” you assure him through your teeth, struggling to shift into a position that doesn’t hurt. “Really, I just need to sleep it off.” 

He frowns. You hold back a similar expression though you know you must look miserable already. You hate that he’s worried. He shouldn’t be. You're his mother, you’re supposed to worry about him. It’s just another flare up, it’s okay. 

Just like Officer Storm, it’ll go away. 

[weeeeeekly]

the inheritance – hybrid!ot5 txt x human gn!reader

🐾・・・🐾・・・🐾・・・🐾・・・🐾・・・🐾・・・🐾・・・🐾・・・🐾

blurb !!! Your grandmother left behind her home to you in her will. As a recent college grad, you take on the responsibilities – you never expected to find 5 hybrids living in your new home

info !!! gender neutral pronouns for reader, no reader body shape mention, no use of y/n, non-idol au, hybrid au, strangers to lovers, ot5 txt x reader, kinda a/b/o, inspired by the monster’s bride webtoon, ppulbatu, & txt lore (please do not ask me about it bcuz I don’t know anyyyythingg)

WARNINGS !!! SFW but MDNI 18+ blog, swearing, not proofread just pure free flowing thought, wouldn’t recommend reading if you were close to your grandmother, she passed away, & are still grieving

wc 1.2k

author’s note !!! if you don’t like it – don’t read it!

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CHAPTER TWO

You’re sitting on the couch as you stare up at the 5 men. Well, 5 men with animal ears and tails: a 6-foot tall man brown hair and floppy white dog ears on top of his head (the one that slept next to you), a man with black hair and white fox ears that were too big for him (a new face), another man with black hair and smaller white dog ears on top of his head (part of the pair sleeping on the top bunk), a shorter man with brown hair and gray cat ears (the other half of the pair), and the 6-foot tall man with blonde hair with golden dog ears on top of his head (the one that tackled you).

Now that the adrenaline had worn off and the fear slowly dissipated from your body, you realize that the situation at hand was unusual.

Every fiber in your being was screaming at you to get the fuck away from this house and them once your brain put the pieces together that they were hybrids.

If owning an exotic pet was illegal then one can imagine how much more illegal it would be to own an exotic hybrid. You didn’t even know that hybrid species expanded past the usual pets like dogs, cats, and bunnies. You didn’t even know anyone that owned hybrid due to how expensive it is to even place an application let alone pay the fees to own one. The news would sometimes showcase when a celebrity got one and the gossip channels would give updates on them, usually not-so-happy endings for the hybrid pets that were either abandoned or worse.

You always believed, and still do, that the system of owning hybrids was out-of-this-world. Either buying, which made you uncomfortable, or adopting. Most hybrid facility didn’t even have to follow a code of conduct due to the nature of human and animal parts, so there were many loopholes in the laws and legality.

One of the legalities being that no one could own a hybrid without properly processed paperwork, up-to-date wellness checkups, and a license.

“Is this some kind of elaborate Halloween prank? I don’t have time for this.” You glance to your phone that shows the time and you were going to be very late to work if you didn’t leave in the next 5 minutes. “I really don’t have time for this.”

You walk back to your room to get your stuff ready, realizing that you won’t be able to do your usual morning routine and will ultimately have a bad day. All 5 of them start talking over each other with only a few shared words that you picked up on “run away” and “scared”.

Once you’re ready, you walk back downstairs to the front door and turn back to them.

“I’m going to work. I’ll be back by 6 PM. Please stay inside and don’t do anything crazy.”

One of the tall ones speaks up, “Okay.”

You shoot them a smile and walk out, locking the door.

Your entire day goes by too slowly for your liking. This was your usual shift 9 to 5 at the local post office, but it felt like it was your first day despite working this job for over a year. You kept mixing up the mail while sorting — almost giving your coworker the wrong mail for their delivery run. Embarrassingly, you accidentally stamped a few letters upside down when you were thinking over the events that happened earlier today.

On your lunch break, you call your friend for a favor.

🐾・・・🐾・・・🐾・・・🐾・・・🐾・・・🐾・・・🐾・・・🐾・・・🐾

Getting back to your grandmother’s house, you’re not expecting the one of the strangers to bring you into a hug as soon as you open the door.

“You’re back.”

You awkwardly pat the back of the guy, “Uh, yeah I said that I would be back.”

Trying to get out from the hug, the boy just hugs you tighter so you sigh and shuffle forward. When you reach the kitchen, the other 4 shocked faces look back at you.

“Can someone please get him off me?”

Before you finish your sentence the two tall members pull him away.

“Beomgyu, stop it.”

“I’m not doing anything.”

The tall brunette glares at the guy as the tall blonde smiles at you apologetically. You smile back as you sidestep around the others to open a bag of your favorite chips.

“Can you guys help me bring my stuff in?”

The guys don’t let you touch any of your stuff saying “it’s heavy and this is the least they can do”. You don’t argue since you were dreading to bring items from the rental trailer to upstairs. You just tell them where to put it in your room as you sit on your sleeping bag and continue eating chips. They finish helping you setting up the basics in your room in under 2 hours.

“Do you guys want to order in and then have a proper conversation?”

They all agree as you begin listing off places to order takeout from settling on a local pizzeria that made your favorite pizza.

After the pizzas had been eaten and their situation had been explained, they sit on your bed as you pace in front of them.

“Okay, all of 5 of you were from the same facility and while you were being transported to a new facility the truck flipped over during a thunderstorm and you guys escaped. Then you found this house that was abandoned and made this your home. Is that right?”

A chorus of “yeah”s are your response as you frown.

“How did you guys survive all this time?”

“We, um, stole out of necessity.”

“Only twice a month at night.”

“For how long?”

“2 years…”

You shut your eyes and sigh as you get your phone out, texting one of your best friends for a huge favor as the group look nervously at each other.

🐾・・・🐾・・・🐾・・・🐾・・・🐾・・・🐾・・・🐾・・・🐾

After making some arrangements, you turn back to your new… roommates to explain, “Tomorrow afternoon, a trusted friend is coming by to give you all a wellness checkup. Make sure everyone’s okay.”

They nod as you force yourself to calm down as they could probably sense your elevated blood pressure and heartbeat. You grit your teeth into a smile as you realize that they look like models lounging on your bed.

“I don’t want this to be a bad memory and I trust new people too much, but would it be okay if I took a picture of you guys?”

They agree and look like models as you take a picture on your phone. A real smile spreads across your face as you look at the result.

“Oh!” You smack your forehead, “Almost forgot to introduce myself.”

You tell them your name as they reciprocate. You make sure to make direct eye contact as they go one-by-one to match their name to their face.

“It’s nice to meet you guys, properly, I’m going to go to bed soon so.”

You hope they pick up on the hint that you want to be left alone and Taheyun picks up on it as his eyebrow raises.

“We should go back downstairs.”

The group file out of the room as you mouth him a “thank you” and go to the bathroom to change. But when you come back, a fox and maltese are curled up on your bed.

“I’ll let it slide only for tonight.”

masterlist | previous | next

author’s note thank you for all the love on this series!! i was not expecting that.

i will edit when i’m back on a computer. apologies, but still just writing on my phone.

[coochiequeens]

“The motives of the two applicants in wanting to become parents of babies in their late sixties would seem to have been entirely self-centred, with no thought as to the long-term welfare of the resulting children,” - Mr Justice McFarlane

By Angus Thompson Thursday 20 February 2025

Would-be parents seeking out commercial foreign surrogacies are being warned the government may fight their bids for adoption, rendering the infants both permanently stateless and legally parentless.

A High Court case revealed a “self-centred” older UK couple - their identities concealed by the court - whose unlawful arrangement with a clinic in Cyprus saw two siblings born to Ukrainian women. The children were then left in limbo for four years before the judge granted adoption as their only option.

An application for a parental order following a conventional surrogacy may only be made if the gametes of the applicant were used to bring about the creation of the embryo. But in this case, the women in their sixties had used donors for the eggs and sperm.

Furthermore, the order can’t be made if the surrogate has been paid, other than for expenses “reasonably incurred”, but the fee paid for the arrangement was around £120,000.

Lawyers acting for the Home Office warned the government may oppose on “policy grounds” future attempts to adopt children born through overseas, commercial surrogacy arrangements before being brought to the UK.

Andrew McFarlane, president of the court’s family division, said the decision should put would-be parents “on notice that the courts in England and Wales may refuse to grant an adoption order ... with the result that the child that they have caused to be born may be permanently stateless and legally parent-less”.

“Put bluntly, anyone seeking to achieve the introduction of a child into their family by following in the footsteps of these applicants should think again,” Mr Justice McFarlane said.

It is the latest case of a judge criticising aspiring parents who have become embroiled in clandestine and costly ordeals, particularly involving countries that ban arrangements with same-sex couples.

In the most recent case, the court heard the women, who were beyond child-bearing years, had connected with a foreign surrogacy clinic which they had understood was based in southern Cyprus.

It was only after the arrangements had been significantly advanced they came to realise the clinic was in fact operating in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, where surrogacy is unlawful and where the placement of children with same-sex couples is also not permitted.

Mr Justice McFarlane also made reference to the age of the two women, who will be in their seventies and eighties when the children are in their teens.

“The motives of the two applicants in wanting to become parents of babies in their late sixties would seem to have been entirely self-centred, with no thought as to the long-term welfare of the resulting children,” he said.

“It was astonishing to learn, and have confirmed by their solicitor, that the applicants had not given any consideration to the impact on the children of having parents who are well over 60 years older than they are.”

In summarising the submission of lawyers for the Home Office, the judge said the government will consider in future cases whether to oppose an adoption order on policy grounds.

Here's another story that gives more details

President of the England and Wales Family Division Sir Andrew McFarlane has commented on the case of a couple, one in her late 60s and one over 70, who commissioned the birth of two babies abroad through surrogacy. 

Ruling in Re Z (Unlawful Foreign Surrogacy: Adoption), he said that the applicants, Ms W and Ms X, had commissioned the babies for £120,000 in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. 

The unlawful clinic used women from Ukraine as surrogate mothers. The two individuals who donated gametes to create the embryos had been chosen by Ms W and Ms X to replicate their own racial characteristics.   

Both surrogacy, and the placement of children with same-sex couples, are unlawful in that jurisdiction. 

The two children were born on the same day to two different surrogate mothers and through donated eggs. 

Though the children were born in Northern Cyprus, they did not have any rights there, or in Ukraine through their birth mothers. 

Refused leave to enter 

The commissioning parents were refused leave for four years to enter Britain with the babies. 

In Britain, the only route to lawful parentage of the children was through adoption, since the surrogate mothers were legally their parents.

The women who gave birth to the children had since returned to Ukraine and could not be found. 

The judge agreed to make an adoption order but warned that the decision should not be taken as a precedent. 

A court declining to make an adoption order would result in children that were “permanently stateless and legally parentless”, he said. 

The unlawful operation was exploitative and purely for commercial gain, he commented. 

The judge criticised the commissioning parents as “entirely self-centred”, with no thought as to the long-term welfare of the children. 

'No thought'

The judge said it was astonishing that the applicants had given no thought to the impact of having parents over 60 years older than them, and said that the children would likely become carers in their teens. 

Anyone considering following the pair’s footsteps to introduce a child into their family “should think again”, he said. 

“If the court had been asked before these applicants set off for Cyprus whether this was a good idea, let alone one that was legally compatible with domestic policy in these matters, the court’s view would undoubtedly have been a negative one,” the judgment states. 

It concludes that the authorities in Britain may in future oppose the making of adoption orders in such cases. 

[carriehobbs]

tags by @agentnatesewell

alina wanted to go to medical school and become a doctor! i picture her having been in her 4th year of a premed program when the plagiarism incident with bobby happened. we don't know enough about what really happened with the plagiarism incident, or its repercussions (was the plagiarism ever discovered by the university? if it was, who was punished for it, bobby or alina? was this kind of incident severe enough to go on her academic record in some way? would it have been enough to prevent her from being admitted to graduate schools?), to use it as a basis for any of alina's return to wayhaven, so i tend to base her return more on the dissolution of her relationship with bobby.

at least for alina, i picture her relationship with bobby having been a long-term one. i picture them having been together for multiple years, sharing mutual friends, living together even. i think alina genuinely used to be in love with him (or, at least, with the attention he gave her), but that feeling gradually slipped away over time (i certainly don't picture bobby being the sort of person to invest his time and energy in maintaining his relationships, and i don't see alina as having been the kind of person to expect more from a partner). there's a sort of stability in a long-term relationship - a consistency or a dependability. and bobby possessed a kind of reliable unreliability that alina could anticipate as she became accustomed to the monotony of their daily lives together. they weren't unhappy, but they weren't happy either. and, before the plagiarism incident, alina likely would have stayed with him forever: nothing was bad enough to make her feel like she had to leave, and secretly she was afraid that, if she left bobby, no one else would ever want her.

so when bobby plagiarized her work, it was a massive betrayal. alina broke off their relationship and left and, in one fell swoop, lost her partner, all of her friends, and her home. she went back to wayhaven because she had nowhere else to go and she stayed in her childhood home until she was together enough to find her own apartment. but in the wake of that kind of emotional devastation, you're not thinking about grad school applications or tuition fees. all of her academic goals suddenly became subordinated to the more immediate goals of "find housing" and "remember to stop crying long enough to get out of bed and eat".

it was in this emotionally low state that she ended up deciding to join the police force. for years her plans had been to get out of wayhaven, become a doctor, and build this life together with bobby, and now she had none of these things. she had to start from the bottom and build a new plan for her life. i think it makes sense for someone like alina, who had always loved wayhaven as much as she wanted to get away from it and who had always privately desperately wanted a connection to rook, that, at this point in her life, she would latch on to the idea that she could follow in her father's footsteps and find meaning in a life in wayhaven, doing the kind of work he did. if she wanted to become a doctor to use her scientific interests to help people, then maybe she could help people in a different way as an officer while following her father's path (and, just maybe, she could use the excuse that there was no one else with any medical or scientific expertise in wayhaven to poach verda's position before he came along to fill it). from there, it was a simple case of having remade her life in wayhaven and having started to work to pay her expenses, which pushed that dream of grad school farther and farther away until it stopped feeling feasible. tale as old as time

[kenyatta]

NOT LONG AFTER she started, Uber deactivated Barbosa’s account out of the blue. So she switched to renting one on Lyft from the same guy. Now she drove as “Shakira.” When the Lyft app prompted Barbosa to confirm her identity by scanning her license, she texted the guy she was renting from: What now? He sent back a photo of Shakira’s ID. Oh. She was real. He paid Shakira a fee each week. Driving without a license, under the table on a tourist visa, loaded Barbosa with stress. One night, Barbosa picked up a passenger at 2 am and he tried to kiss her. She had to fight him off and left him one star on the app; she didn’t want to risk calling the cops. Another time, she was pulled over for having her lights off. Barbosa froze as the officer strode up to her window, worried she might get her car towed and end up in jail, or even—who knows?—deported. She showed the cop her Brazilian driver’s license, and said she’d left her American one at home. He let her go. In WhatsApp groups, and while waiting for riders at Logan Airport, Barbosa chatted up other Brazilian drivers also renting accounts. They traded tips about driving without papers, the nuances of the fuzzy don’t-ask-don’t-tell status quo in a country that hasn’t passed comprehensive immigration reforms in more than three decades. Far from an ICE officer on every corner, she heard, if you kept your head down, didn’t drink and drive or pick fights, you could manage. [...] One of her customers left their wallet in her car. She followed the woman’s convoluted instructions to return it, driving to two far-flung locations over two hours. Miffed, at one point Barbosa opened the wallet. She looked at the woman’s license, blonde with blue eyes. Barbosa snapped a picture. She thought the woman might tip her or at least say “thank you” for having wasted two hours, unpaid, to do her a favor. Instead, the woman was rude and short, giving Barbosa the push she’d been looking for. “I said, yeah, now I’m going to use this.” Over the next few weeks, she would click through the driver onboarding process on both Uber and Lyft, reading over the steps to create her own account, mulling the risk. Finally, lying in bed on Christmas night, the first one she’d spent without her family, it was time: She opened her phone and scrolled to the blonde woman’s license. Barbosa uploaded the license to the Uber app. She used the woman’s name but her own insurance and registration. She entered her own iCloud email and phone number and set her own picture—brown hair, brown eyes—on the driver profile. She made up a Social Security number, submitted the application, and went to sleep. The next day, Uber approved the account. Like that, Barbosa was in business for herself.

[attorneyssphuket]

Thailand Permanent Residency

Thailand’s Permanent Residency (PR) status is a highly sought-after immigration option for long-term foreign residents who wish to settle in the country without the need for constant visa renewals. Unlike temporary visas, PR grants the holder indefinite stay, along with certain rights and privileges that closely resemble those of Thai citizens—albeit with some key limitations.

This article provides an in-depth analysis of Thailand’s PR system, covering eligibility, application procedures, benefits, and strategic considerations for prospective applicants.

1. Understanding Thailand’s Permanent Residency

Permanent Residency in Thailand is governed by the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979) and subsequent amendments. Unlike citizenship, PR does not confer voting rights or the ability to own land outright, but it offers long-term stability by eliminating the need for visa extensions or work permits (though PR holders must still obtain a work permit if employed by a Thai company).

Key Features of Thai PR:

Indefinite stay without visa renewals.

Multiple re-entry permits (allowing travel in and out of Thailand without losing status).

Pathway to Thai citizenship (after holding PR for 5+ years).

Ability to work without a separate work permit (if self-employed or running a business, though employment with a Thai company still requires one).

Access to certain privileges, such as easier business registration and property ownership (though land ownership remains restricted).

2. Eligibility Criteria for Permanent Residency

Thailand’s PR system is highly selective, with quotas limiting approvals to 100 applicants per nationality per year (with some exceptions for special cases). The eligibility requirements vary slightly depending on the applicant’s basis for residency, but the core criteria include:

A. General Requirements

Visa Status: Must hold a Non-Immigrant Visa (typically based on work, investment, or family ties) for at least 3 consecutive years before applying.

Financial Stability: Proof of a minimum annual income of THB 80,000 per month (or THB 30,000 for spouses of Thai nationals).

Tax Compliance: Must have filed and paid personal income taxes in Thailand for at least 3 years.

Character & Health: No criminal record in Thailand or abroad; must pass a health check.

Language Proficiency: Basic Thai language skills (tested during the interview).

B. Categories for PR Application

Applicants must qualify under one of the following categories:

Employment-Based PR

Must be employed by a Thai company for at least 3 years.

The company must meet certain financial and operational criteria.

Investment-Based PR

Minimum investment of THB 3-10 million (depending on the type of investment).

Investments can include:

Thai government bonds.

Fixed deposits in Thai banks.

Real estate (though land ownership remains restricted).

Family-Based PR

Spouses of Thai nationals (must be legally married for at least 2 years).

Parents of Thai children (if the child holds Thai citizenship).

Expert/Special Case PR

Reserved for individuals with exceptional skills (scientists, researchers, etc.).

Requires endorsement from a relevant Thai government agency.

3. The PR Application Process

The PR application is a multi-stage, bureaucratic process that can take 12-24 months (or longer, depending on backlogs). Below is a step-by-step breakdown:

Step 1: Pre-Qualification & Document Preparation

Ensure compliance with financial, tax, and visa requirements.

Gather documents, including:

Passport & visa history.

Work permit (if applicable).

Tax records (3 years).

Criminal background check (from home country and Thailand).

Medical certificate.

Step 2: Submission to Thai Immigration

File the application at the Immigration Bureau (Chaeng Wattana, Bangkok) or a designated provincial office.

Pay the THB 7,600 application fee.

Step 3: Background Checks & Interviews

Immigration conducts a thorough background check, including employer verification (if employment-based).

An interview (conducted in Thai) assesses language ability and ties to Thailand.

Step 4: Approval & Alien Registration

If approved, the applicant receives a PR Certificate (Red Book).

Must register as an alien resident and obtain an Alien Registration Book (Blue Book).

Pay the THB 191,400 fee (for most applicants; THB 95,700 for spouses of Thais).

Step 5: Issuance of PR Status

A PR visa stamp is placed in the passport.

Must obtain a re-entry permit before traveling abroad (single or multiple-entry).

4. Benefits & Limitations of Thai PR

Advantages:

✅ No visa renewals (indefinite stay). ✅ Easier business setup (compared to foreign-owned companies). ✅ Path to citizenship (after 5+ years as a PR). ✅ Reduced restrictions on employment (though some limitations remain).

Disadvantages:

❌ Quota system makes approval highly competitive. ❌ Cannot own land (only condos or leasehold property). ❌ Still requires re-entry permits for international travel. ❌ Strict financial & tax compliance requirements.

5. Strategic Considerations for Applicants

Timing: The PR quota opens once per year (usually December). Early submission is critical.

Tax Planning: Ensure consistent tax filings for 3+ years before applying.

Language Preparation: Basic Thai proficiency is mandatory; consider formal language courses.

Legal Counsel: Due to the complexity, many applicants engage immigration lawyers to navigate the process.

6. Conclusion

Thailand’s Permanent Residency offers long-term stability for expatriates committed to living in the country. While the process is rigorous and competitive, successful applicants gain significant advantages over temporary visa holders.

For those considering PR, meticulous preparation—especially in financial, tax, and language compliance—is essential. Given the bureaucratic hurdles, professional legal assistance may be advisable to maximize approval chances.

For individuals seeking deeper integration into Thai society, PR serves as a critical stepping stone toward eventual Thai citizenship, which unlocks further rights, including land ownership and political participation.

[lexlawuk]

UK Visa Fee Increase April 2025

If you’re planning to live, work, study or settle in the UK, you cannot afford to ignore the immigration fee increases coming into force from 9 April 2025. The UK government has announced a sweeping rise in visa and nationality application fees across all categories — including work, study, visitor, and settlement routes. At Lexvisa, we understand that visa costs are only one part of the bigger…

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Bagley

* * * *

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

August 14, 2024

Heather Cox Richardson

Aug 15, 2024

The July report for consumer prices from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which came out today, showed that prices rose less than 3% in the previous twelve months. Core inflation has fallen to its lowest rate since April 2021. For well over a year, wages have grown faster than inflation.

President Joe Biden cheered the news but added in a statement, “Prices are still too high. Large corporations are sitting on record profits and not doing enough to lower prices. That’s why we are taking on Big Pharma to lower prescription drug prices. We’re cutting red tape to build more homes while taking on corporate landlords that unfairly increase rent. And we’re taking on price gouging and junk fees to lower everyday costs from groceries to air travel.” 

When a reporter asked Biden if the U.S. has beaten inflation, Biden answered: “Yes, Yes, Yes. I told you we were going to have a soft landing…. My policies are working. Start writing that way.” 

Just yesterday, the administration announced $100 million worth of investments in new housing in the form of grants to state and local governments to spur the production of new housing. Kriston Capps of Bloomberg reports that “more housing units are under construction now than at any point in half a century—some 60,000 multifamily units were completed in June alone—and rents are stabilizing in some areas as a result.” 

Single-family home construction is slower, and with Senate Republicans having blocked a $78 billion tax deal that would support housing tax credits that promote the construction of housing, the White House is finding other ways to spur housing construction. 

On Monday the White House continued its attempt to protect the interests of consumers after years in which they lost ground. Continuing to combat junk fees, it proposed rules to fight back against “all the ways that corporations—through excessive paperwork, hold times, and general aggravation—add unnecessary headaches and hassles to people’s days and degrade their quality of life.” 

Companies deliberately design processes to be burdensome in order to deter people from getting a refund or a rebate, or canceling a membership or a subscription. Those frustrations waste money and time, the administration said, and after listing some of its own proposals for making it easier to navigate ending subscriptions or activating insurance coverage, it invited Americans to submit their own on a public portal. 

In a speech on Friday in North Carolina, Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to take on the issue of price gouging by large corporations. Researchers for U.K. think tanks Institute for Public Policy Research and Common Wealth found in late 2023 that profiteering, or “greedflation,” “significantly” boosted prices, leading to increases of 30% or more in corporate profits. “Excessive profits were even larger in the US, where many important sections of the economy are dominated by a few powerful companies,” wrote Phillip Inman of The Guardian. 

Responding to today’s news that inflation is coming down, the stock market ticked up in expectation that the Fed will now be more likely to cut interest rates in September. 

The White House took notice today of the fact that applications for small businesses continue to boom across the country, with 19 million new business applications since Vice President Harris and President Biden took office, an annual growth rate 90% higher than prepandemic averages. The White House also noted that congressional Republicans are trying to cut the Small Business Administration and to cut taxes for big corporations.

Politico greeted today’s economic news with a headline saying, “Inflation is easing. Now, Harris has an even bigger problem with the economy.” And the New York Times reported that in a speech in North Carolina, “Harris Is Set to Lay Out an Economic Message Light on Details,” adding that she is expected to tweak Biden administration themes “in a bid to turn the Democratic economic agenda into an asset.”

The United States economy under Biden and Harris has been the strongest in the world, and now that inflation seems to be under control as well, Harris needs to turn that record “into an asset”? Political journalist James Fallows wrote: “Now they are all just trolling us.”

The Biden-Harris administration has changed the orientation of the United States government from relying on markets to order society and protecting the interests of wealthy Americans in the expectation that they would invest in the economy more efficiently than they could if the government interfered by protecting workers and consumers. Biden and Harris, along with the cabinet officers and staff of the executive branch, revived an older ideology calling for the government to promote the interests of the American people as a whole. This means regulating business and providing government services and oversight to make sure no interest can run the table. 

What the two different worldviews look like was on display earlier this month, when Republicans and a few Democrats in the Senate killed a bipartisan expansion of the child tax credit, a tax break for parents with dependent children. A hike in that credit during the pandemic cut child poverty dramatically, only for that rate to bounce back when the pandemic relief expired and dropped five million U.S. children back into poverty in 2022. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities noted that the change “underscores the fact that the number of children living in poverty is a policy choice.”

On January 31, 2024, the House passed an expansion of the child tax credit that was smaller than the one in place during the pandemic, and Republican vice presidential hopeful Ohio senator J.D. Vance, who has been criticized for comments about “childless cat ladies,” seemed to support the measure when he said, “If you’re raising children in this country, we should make it easier, not harder. And unfortunately it’s way too expensive and way too difficult.” He then falsely accused Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris of calling for ending the child tax credit (she has actually called for expanding it).  

But Vance missed the vote, and before it, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) told colleagues that passing the bill would “give Harris a win before the election.” According to Chabeli Carranzana of The 19th, Tillis “printed out fake checks made out to ‘millions of American voters’ with the memo: ‘Don’t forget to vote for Kamala!’”  

The two different worldviews were also on display Monday night when Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump complimented X owner Elon Musk for firing workers who threatened to strike. The right to strike is protected under federal labor law, and the Biden-Harris administration has stood firmly for workers’ rights. 

On Tuesday the United Auto Workers union filed charges against Trump and Musk with the National Labor Relations Board for threatening and intimidating workers. “When we say Trump stands against everything our union stands for, this is what we mean,” said UAW president Shawn Fain. 

Tonight, Trump gave a speech in Asheville, North Carolina, that was supposed to be about the economy. Before he could appear, Trump had to pay the city $82,247.60 in advance, with city officials apparently concerned about the candidate’s habit of skipping out on costs associated with his rallies. Once on stage, he tossed economic issues overboard and concentrated on personal attacks on Biden and Harris, along with stream-of-consciousness musings on tampons and socialism. Apparently speaking of his campaign aides, he said: They wanted to do a speech on the economy. They say it’s the most important subject. I’m not sure it is.”

The era of unfettered markets and the concentration of wealth may be coming to an end. In late July, the finance leaders of the Group of 20 (G20), a forum of the world’s major economies, agreed to cooperate on fair taxation of  "ultra-high-net-worth individuals,” although they did not agree as to whichinternational body should lead. 

But yesterday, Joe Perticone of The Bulwark noted that MAGA Republicans appear to have figured out a way to use the struggle over the nation’s economic ideology to elect Trump. 

The House recessed in late July having failed to pass a single one of the 12 appropriations bills the government needs to stay in operation because, although the appropriations bills are traditionally kept “clean” of anything extraneous, extremist members of the House Freedom Caucus insist on making extreme cuts and adding their culture war items to the bills. Congress doesn’t reconvene until early September, and the new fiscal year starts on October 1, leaving the House very little time to pass the necessary bills.

Yesterday, members of the House Freedom Caucus called for Republicans to return to Washington, D.C., to pass the bills “to cut spending and advance our policy priorities.” If they can’t pass the bills—and they failed all spring—the extremists want a short-term fix just into “President Trump’s second term.” But they also want the fix to include the SAVE Act, “as called for by President Trump—to prevent noncitizens from voting [and] to preserve free and fair elections in light of the millions of illegal aliens imported by the Biden-Harris administration over the last four years.” 

It is already illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal elections. As Perticone notes, Trump’s own 2017 commission to find evidence that undocumented immigrants voted in 2016 disbanded without finding any, and another audit, led by Georgia Republicans before the 2022 midterms, found not a single successful attempt of noncitizens to vote in the previous five years. 

Perticone reports that the measure is designed to suppress legitimate Democratic voting and, if Trump still loses, by claiming that Trump lost, again, because the election was stolen by illegal voters.

Trump continues to insist that Biden’s replacement at the top of the Democratic ticket was a “coup,” partly because he wants to face off against Biden, rather than Harris. But he also is priming his supporters to believe that those Americans who want the government to work for them rather than the very wealthy are illegitimate.

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

[bangkoklawyr]

Tourist Visa in Thailand

Thailand remains one of the world’s most popular travel destinations, attracting millions of visitors each year. For many travelers, understanding the intricacies of Thai tourist visas is essential—whether for short-term holidays, long-term stays, or digital nomadism. Unlike visa-free entry (which varies by nationality), a formal tourist visa provides greater flexibility and longer stays.

This guide provides an in-depth analysis of Thailand’s tourist visa system, including application processes, extensions, conversion options, and strategic insights for maximizing legal stay durations.

1. Types of Tourist Visas for Thailand

A. Visa Exemption (Visa-Free Entry)

Eligible Countries: Passport holders from 64+ nations (including the US, UK, EU, Australia, and Japan).

Duration:

30 days (most nationalities).

45 days (temporarily extended for some countries until 2025).

Entry Conditions:

Must arrive via international airport (land border entries often limited to 15-30 days).

No extensions unless under special circumstances (e.g., medical treatment).

B. Single-Entry Tourist Visa (TR, 60 Days)

Issued by: Thai embassies/consulates abroad.

Validity:

60 days per entry.

3-month validity period (must enter Thailand before the visa expires).

Extensions: Can be extended once for 30 days at an immigration office (total: 90 days).

C. Multiple-Entry Tourist Visa (METV, 6 Months)

Issued by: Thai embassies/consulates (requires stricter documentation).

Validity:

6 months from issue date.

60 days per entry (unlimited entries during validity).

Extensions: Each entry can be extended by 30 days.

Financial Requirements:

Proof of THB 200,000+ in bank account (or steady income).

Employment verification (if applying from home country).

D. Special Tourist Visa (STV, 90 Days, Renewable)

Introduced during COVID-19 but still available in limited cases.

Duration:

90 days per entry, renewable twice (total 9 months).

Requirements:

Proof of long-term accommodation.

Health insurance (USD 100,000 coverage).

2. Application Process for a Tourist Visa

A. Where to Apply

Thai Embassy/Consulate Abroad: Most common method.

E-Visa System: Available for some nationalities (faster processing).

Visa on Arrival (VoA): Only for 18 nationalities (e.g., India, China), granting 15 days (THB 2,000 fee).

B. Required Documents

Passport (6+ months validity, blank pages).

Visa Application Form (signed).

Passport Photos (4x6 cm, white background).

Proof of Travel (flight itinerary).

Financial Proof (bank statements, ~THB 20,000 per person).

Accommodation Details (hotel booking or invitation letter).

Visa Fee (varies by country, ~THB 1,000–5,000).

C. Processing Time

3–5 business days (standard).

Express services (24–48 hours) at extra cost.

3. Extending a Tourist Visa in Thailand

A. Standard 30-Day Extension

Where: Local immigration office (e.g., Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket).

Cost: THB 1,900.

Documents Required:

Passport + visa copy.

TM.7 form (downloadable).

Passport photo.

Proof of address (hotel receipt or TM.30).

B. COVID-19 Extensions (Discontinued in 2023)

Previously allowed long-term stays under "amnesty" rules.

Now replaced by stricter enforcement of standard visa policies.

C. Border Runs (Visa Reset)

Land Crossings: Limited to 2 entries per year (new 2024 rule).

Airport Re-entry: Unlimited but scrutinized for "visa runs."

Risk: Immigration may deny entry if frequent tourist visas are detected.

4. Converting a Tourist Visa to a Long-Term Visa

A. Tourist Visa to Non-Immigrant Visa (e.g., Education, Retirement, Work)

Possible within Thailand at immigration offices (but complex).

Common Conversions:

Non-Immigrant ED (Education): Requires enrollment in a Thai school.

Non-Immigrant O (Retirement): Must be 50+ with financial proof.

Non-Immigrant B (Work): Requires a job offer and work permit.

B. Elite Visa Option (5–20 Years, THB 600,000–2M)

For long-term stays without visa runs.

Benefits: Multiple entries, no work permit needed (for remote work).

5. Common Pitfalls & Immigration Risks

A. Overstaying

Fine: THB 500/day (max THB 20,000).

Blacklisting: For overstays >90 days.

B. Visa Run Crackdowns

Immigration may deny entry if suspicious of "back-to-back tourist visas."

Solution: Use proper long-term visas (ED, O, Elite).

C. Scams & Fraudulent Visa Agents

Fake extensions or illegal visa stamps can lead to deportation.

Always verify agents with Thai Immigration.

6. Strategic Considerations for Long-Term Stays

A. Alternative Visa Options

Digital Nomad Visa (Coming 2025): For remote workers.

LTR Visa (10 Years): For wealthy retirees/professionals.

B. Tax Implications

Staying 180+ days/year makes you a tax resident.

C. Future Policy Changes

Thailand is tightening tourist visa rules while promoting high-value tourism.

7. Conclusion

Thailand’s tourist visa system offers flexibility but requires careful planning for long-term stays. While 60-day visas + extensions work for short visits, frequent travelers should consider METV, Elite Visa, or conversions to avoid immigration issues.

Understanding the latest regulations, avoiding overstays, and using legal visa strategies will ensure smooth and uninterrupted stays in Thailand. For those seeking residency, transitioning to Non-Immigrant or Elite Visas is the next logical step.

[thaiattorney]

Thailand Permanent Residency

Thailand is a dream destination for many expats, offering a vibrant culture, affordable living, and stunning landscapes. While most foreigners stay on long-term visas (like retirement, work, or marriage visas), obtaining Permanent Residency (PR) in Thailand is a coveted option for those who want to settle indefinitely without visa renewals.

This guide covers everything you need to know about Thailand Permanent Residency, including eligibility, benefits, costs, and the step-by-step application process.

1. What is Thailand Permanent Residency (PR)?

Permanent Residency (PR) allows foreigners to live in Thailand indefinitely without needing visa extensions. PR holders receive a Red Alien Book (Certificate of Residence) and a PR visa stamp in their passport.

Key Features of PR in Thailand:

✔ Indefinite stay (no need for annual visa renewals). ✔ Work without a work permit (but some jobs still require one). ✔ Easier path to Thai citizenship (after 5+ years as a PR). ✔ Multiple entries without re-entry permits (but must report every 5 years). ✔ Ability to buy land (only if investing 40M THB under BOI promotion).

Note: PR does not grant voting rights or a Thai passport—only citizenship does.

2. Who is Eligible for Thai Permanent Residency?

Thailand’s PR system is strict and quota-based (only ~100 people per nationality per year). Applicants must meet one of the following categories:

A. Investment-Based PR

Invest 10M THB in Thai government bonds, real estate, or a business.

OR own a company that meets BOI (Board of Investment) requirements.

B. Work/Business-Based PR

Hold a Non-B Visa & Work Permit for at least 3 consecutive years.

Earn a minimum salary (varies by nationality, e.g., 80K THB/month for Westerners).

Pay Thai taxes consistently.

C. Retirement-Based PR (for those aged 50+)

Must have 3+ years on a Retirement Visa (O-A).

Show stable income/savings (similar to retirement visa requirements).

D. Marriage/Family-Based PR

Married to a Thai national for 5+ years (with a Non-O Marriage Visa).

Have 400K THB in a Thai bank or 40K THB/month income.

E. Expert/Skilled Worker PR

Work in a high-demand field (e.g., medicine, engineering, academia).

Must be employed by a Thai company or government agency.

3. Documents Required for PR Application

The exact documents vary by category, but generally include: ✅ Passport (valid, with at least 1 year remaining) ✅ Non-Immigrant Visa (held for at least 3 years) ✅ Work Permit (if applying via employment) ✅ Tax records (3 years of Thai tax payments) ✅ Bank statements (proof of funds) ✅ Criminal background check (from home country & Thailand) ✅ Medical certificate (no serious diseases) ✅ Marriage/birth certificates (if applying via family) ✅ Thai language test (basic proficiency required)

4. Step-by-Step PR Application Process

Step 1: Check Quota & Eligibility

PR applications open once per year (usually in December).

Only 100 applicants per nationality are accepted annually.

Step 2: Submit Documents at Thai Immigration

File at Chaeng Wattana Immigration (Bangkok) or a local office.

Pay 7,600 THB application fee.

Step 3: Interview & Background Check

Attend an interview in Thai (basic language skills required).

Police & immigration checks take 6-12 months.

Step 4: Approval & PR Fee Payment

If approved, pay 191,400 THB (for main applicant) + fees for dependents.

Receive Red Alien Book (Certificate of Residence) and PR visa stamp.

Step 5: Report Every 5 Years

PR holders must confirm residency every 5 years (no need to leave Thailand).

5. Benefits of Thai Permanent Residency

✅ No visa renewals (live in Thailand indefinitely). ✅ Work without a work permit (in most cases). ✅ Easier to get Thai citizenship (after 5+ years as PR). ✅ Buy a condo without restrictions (but land ownership still limited). ✅ Access to government services (e.g., healthcare, banking).

6. Common Questions (FAQs)

Q: Can PR holders buy land in Thailand?

No, unless investing 40M THB under BOI rules. PR allows condo ownership.

Q: Does PR lead to Thai citizenship?

Yes, after holding PR for 5+ years, you can apply for citizenship.

Q: Can my family get PR with me?

Yes, spouses/children can apply as dependents (additional fees apply).

Q: Can I lose my PR status?

Yes, if you leave Thailand for over 1 year without a re-entry permit or commit a serious crime.

7. Conclusion

Thailand’s Permanent Residency (PR) is a golden ticket for expats who want long-term stability without visa hassles. While the process is competitive and complex, those who qualify gain lifetime residency rights and a smoother path to citizenship.

[thailandlawyerss]

Thailand Permanent Residency

Thailand's permanent residency (PR) system is governed by:

Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979), Sections 37-47

Ministerial Regulation No. 20 (B.E. 2543)

National Police Office Orders

Cabinet Resolutions (periodic quota adjustments)

1.2 Constitutional Context

While Thailand's 2007 Constitution (Section 48) guarantees equality before the law, PR status remains a privilege rather than a right, granted at the discretion of the Interior Ministry.

2. Eligibility Requirements

2.1 General Qualifications

Applicants must:

Hold a non-immigrant visa for 3+ consecutive years

Demonstrate financial stability (varies by category)

Meet character requirements (clean criminal record)

Pass Thai language/culture evaluation (since 2021 reforms)

2.3 Annual Quota System

Country Caps: Maximum 100 persons per nationality

Total Quota: Typically 500-1,000 annually (varies by cabinet decision)

Priority Groups: STEM professionals, investors, spouses of Thais

3. Application Process

3.1 Step-by-Step Procedure

Pre-Application (6-12 months)

Maintain continuous visa status

Gather documentation (see 3.2)

Application Window

Opens late December for ~2 weeks

Must apply in person at Chaeng Wattana Immigration

Document Verification (3-6 months)

Background checks

Home visit by immigration officers

Interview & Exams

Thai language test (basic conversation)

Culture/history exam (20+ correct answers required)

Final Approval (12-24 months)

Published in Royal Gazette

PR certificate issuance

3.2 Required Documentation

Core Documents:

Passport + visa history

House registration (Tabien Baan)

Tax records (3 years)

Bank statements (6 months)

Category-Specific:

Employment: Work permit copies

Investment: BOI certificates

Marriage: Wedding certificates + spouse's ID

4. Rights and Obligations

4.1 Privileges Granted

✔ Indefinite stay without visa renewals ✔ Work without WP (in registered profession) ✔ Property ownership rights (with restrictions) ✔ Pathway to citizenship after 5+ years

4.2 Ongoing Requirements

Annual reporting (similar to 90-day reports)

Re-entry permits for international travel

Tax compliance monitoring

5. Financial Considerations

5.1 Hidden Costs

Legal fees: THB 50,000-200,000 for full-service assistance

Translation/notarization: THB 5,000-15,000

Expediting services: Unofficial costs may apply

6. Comparative Analysis

6.1 PR vs. Other Long-Term Options

StatusDurationWork RightsPath to CitizenshipPRPermanentFull (registered)5 yearsElite Visa5-20 yrsNoneNoRetirement Visa1 yrNoneNoBOI Smart Visa4 yrsRestrictedNo

6.2 Regional Comparison

CountryMinimum StayInvestment OptionCitizenship PathThailand3 yearsTHB 10M5+ years post-PRMalaysia5 yearsMYR 2M10+ yearsSingapore2 yearsSGD 2.5M2+ years post-PRVietnam5 yearsNo5+ years

7. Recent Policy Changes

7.1 2023-2024 Reforms

Stricter language requirements (now A1 CEFR level)

Digital application tracking (pilot program)

Quota adjustments favoring tech professionals

7.2 Proposed Changes

Wealth visa pathway under consideration

Fast-track PR for STEM PhDs

Dual citizenship tolerance study

8. Common Rejection Reasons

Incomplete documentation (68% of rejections)

Tax discrepancies (23%)

Failed background checks (7%)

Quota limitations (2%)

9. Strategic Considerations

9.1 Application Optimization

Pre-application audits of tax/visa history

Early language preparation (minimum 6 months)

Category selection based on strongest qualifications

9.2 Post-Approval Planning

Citizenship roadmap development

Asset restructuring to maximize PR benefits

Compliance system for reporting obligations

10. Conclusion: Key Takeaways

Thailand's PR system offers: ✔ Unparalleled stability for long-term residents ✔ Business advantages over visa-based stays ✔ Unique pathway to eventual citizenship

Critical challenges:

Stringent documentation requirements

Limited annual quotas

Protracted processing timelines

Prospective applicants should:

Begin preparations 2-3 years in advance

Engage specialized legal counsel

Align with priority categories where possible

The system continues evolving with:

Increasing professionalization of requirements

Technology integration in processing

Strategic immigration targeting of high-value residents

Note: All information reflects 2024 regulations and is subject to change via Interior Ministry announcements.