Yellow Housebook Question

[Freddy]

Been a while since the Yellow Housebook  topic was discussed and I'm wondering if the have been any changes.

I was discussing this with a friend in Saturday. He has been married to his Thai wife for 12 years but has been living/working in Singapore and visiting back here monthly.
He has now moved here permanently (3 weeks ago) and is I. The process of abtaining a Yellow book and Thai ID.

He visited the Lam Plait Mat land office and has been told the process is as follows.

1. They provided him with a letter that he had to present to Immigration in Buriram.
2. Buriram Immigration upon receipt of the letter gave him a Certificate of residence.
3. He needs a certified translation of his main passport page ( which he's getting done this week)
4. Photocopies of passport and photos etc.
5. Take all to land office and yellow book and ID card will be issued.

Sounds pretty simple so I may revisit myself as the process seems to have been smoothed out and previously (nearly 3 yrs ago) the land office told me I needed a certificate from British Embassy)

Can anyone advise please:-

Is it easier to obtain the yellow book if you are married and on an extension based on marriage.
Does the above sound correct and would it be the same if extension of stay is based on Retirement.

The reason I'm considering this is that I soon want to purchase a new motorbike and would prefer to have it in my name. My understanding is that the car and bike dealers no longer accept the certificate of residence from Buriram Police, that immigration are reluctant to issue them so a trip to Bangkok British Embassy is required.
I am also trying to verify an investment account in the UK and in the absence of a utility bill in my name they have asked for a Yellow Tabien Baan).

Advice please.

[iammike]

One question though.

In option 5, you write land office, Typo ??

In my Amphur (Krasang) it was definitely easy to get a Housebook as a Married guy, when I did it it was the only way to get one. But recently a friend of mine got one in the same Amphur and he is NOT married and did the same steps as you described only 1 and 2 weren't necessary as he could use his gf's Blue Book and that was prove enough for them.

It sounds about correct, only I didn't know that Immigration doesn't want to issue "Residency certificate" anymore as I need one shortly to get a new 5 year driving license.

[jmcet]

One question though.

In option 5, you write land office, Typo ??

In my Amphur (Krasang) it was definitely easy to get a Housebook as a Married guy, when I did it it was the only way to get one. But recently a friend of mine got one in the same Amphur and he is NOT married and did the same steps as you described only 1 and 2 weren't necessary as he could use his gf's Blue Book and that was prove enough for them.

It sounds about correct, only I didn't know that Immigration doesn't want to issue "Residency certificate" anymore as I need one shortly to get a new 5 year driving license.

Mike, FYI I was able to renew DL in Buriram using the  "Yellow Book"
Simple and easy just vision and reaction test...

[iammike]

@JMCET

Thanks, appreciated.

[Starman]

One of those situations where different offices what different things at different time. I did did some translations for a guy who went to Ampher muang to get a yellow book. They said they were not issuing at that time.


Drivers licence in Buriram can be obtained/renewed with a letter from the police station, if you don't have a yellow book.

Which leads to a question...what are the real advantages of having a yellow book?

[iammike]

Which leads to a question...what are the real advantages of having a yellow book?

I can't tell you that yet, tried to use it at Banks and wasn't needed / not necessary. I haven't used it since I got it, but I always carry a copy of it when I go somewhere (just in case).

Maybe the first time I will use it is when renewing my 5 year driving license

[Freddy]

Iammike - your correct, I said Land Office because I believe the Amphur office on Lam Plait Mat is in the same building the wife registered some land ownership,

Starman. I've managed for the past 3 years without a Yellow book.
The 2 reasons I want one now are:-

1. My understanding is that to have a vehicle,bike/car, registered in my name the dealers no longer accept the Buriram Police Certificate of Residence. It has to be an Embassy certificate or presentation of house book. Buriram Immigration won't do a certificate of residence without a request letter and the dealers don't do the request letters.

2. The money laundering controls seem to be getting more stringent with UK investment companies. One company I have an account with is requesting proof of address and has specifically mentioned the Yellow Tabien Baan as an acceptable document in the absence of a utility or phone bill.
I'm currently in a situation where an account has been frozen because I can't get it verified.
Also I recently tried to open account with one of currency transfer companies but they couldn't verify my account with the info I was able to provide.

On that note, I would be interested to know what documents others provide in such circumstances. Our electricity is in the wife's name as is the water. We use pay as you go mobile phones. CAT wouldn't let me do the Internet account in my name because no Housebook or probably that it was just easier to do in Noi's name. Bangkok Bank don't do statements and the passbook doesn't show my address.

I now have 2 companies that have said they will only accept a utility bill, bank statement or Yellow Housebook (in Thai which they are willing to translate).

Frustrates the hell out of me. I'm not exactly a millionaire transferring huge amounts of money at regular intervals.

[iammike]

Hi Freddy,

Fortunately the last time I was in my "Home" Country, I did all the verification's in person, but I can feel your pain.

Do you know someone who is "attached" or does know someone in the Amphur itself, that HELPS a lot. I had help of a local who knows the Boss of the Amphur and for me it was rather painless (long wait, but painless) and I didn't even need a Certified Translation of my passport (my Wife's Niece did that for me 55555)

I just remembered they also wanted the names (in Thai) of my Father and Mother. Maybe before you do all the legwork go and ask them as requirements seems to change from day to day.

Sorry that I can't help you any further.

Good Luck!

Edit: I just found the Thread where I described what I needed to get my Yellow House Book

http://www.buriramexpats.com/forum/index.php/topic,8283.msg53910.html#msg53910

[Buriramlanguageservices]

We have assisted many expats in getting locked bank accounts unlocked.

There are a few of the high street banks in UK that now send annual checks to ask for confirmation of address.

A translated Thai driving licence has been accepted. One expat did not have a licence so we advised him to go to the police station and  get a certificate of residence, the same as if you were applying for a driving licence. Once translated into English this was also accepted.

[Starman]

Wasn't there a post on here somewhere about a yellow book being refused when registering a vehicle? Was it Smooth that had the problem?

I don't have any personnal experience as all of our vehicles, 3 motorbikes and a pick up, are in my wife's name. Easier whe  buying and selling.

Before the doomers gloomers start commenting, if our relationship did go sour after 17 years together then she is welcome to them.

[iammike]

<snip>

I don't have any personnal experience as all of our vehicles, 3 motorbikes and a pick up, are in my wife's name. Easier whe  buying and selling.

Before the doomers gloomers start commenting, if our relationship did go sour after 17 years together then she is welcome to them.

555555. Same here, but we are only together for 7 years

[Freddy]

Iammike. Thanks. I'm going to pay them a visit this week and also my friend is returning with his translated passport page and immigration document so should have a good idea of the Lam Plait Mat requirements then.

Buriram language services. Thank you for the suggestion. Bank accounts are OK as I did the changes of address whilst last in the UK although now my particular bank refuses to send replacement debit cards to Thailand. I've had to use my Daughters address in the UK for her to send in to me.

Just a head up for all. Although I think that the UK financial establishments apply the rules differently they are required to periodically re-verify accounts, particularly where anything above a normal bank rate of interest is being earned. I do some P2P lending and it is these companies that seem to want regular verification documents if residing in Thailand ( and I'm sure other parts of the world) and they aren't terribly flexible on what they accept.

Regarding vehicle ownership. For me, I simply like to feel that I own my car, of nothing else here.

[fishy]

Freddy.. I am not married.. I looked at getting a yellow house book and did my research online through forums what was needed to obtain one.. Thai Visa Web sight is a really good link.... I gave up after finding a document which was the Thai Government requirements for a Foreigner to obtain a yellow book (In Thai script and legislated).. I met the requirements which means you need to show you are living in the kingdom on a permanent basis basically.. simple as that... You do not have to be Married either... In my case after visiting the local Ampher thinking this will be easy to get one they come up with the story I have to be Married to obtain the Yellow book... I knew I was not going to get anywhere after that because they put their heads back into Facebook. Story a bit longer than that but I just gave up... It was to hard for the Ampher to do something new like this and would loose face because fellang show them wrong.....

Keep updating what you find out..

[Freddy]

Fishy - Will do mate. From what my friend is telling me the process applied at the Lam Plait Mat office is now considerably simpler than it was nearly 3 years ago. If it goes as he believes it will that is!!

[DeputyDavid]

They may make you wait for the ID card because they have to change the computer program to print the card so if a few thai cards need to be printed you wait. The documentation they have to do in their handwritten log book takes a lot of work so they won't be too quick to offer assistance. If they have streamlined the process then thank goodness. Great for the next guy.