Monday, October 1, 2007
Getting a Thai drivers license...or not!!!
I really had my mind set on getting a Thai drivers license today. It seems that in Thailand getting something so small completed is such a huge task. I figured I'd give you some insights on my experience. A week or so ago we first went to the office about getting a Thai drivers license. We had lots of documentation ready, but felt like we still lacked a couple of things. We found that we lacked a lot: a physical from the Doctor, proof of residence, actual passports (which were in Bangkok), copies of everything, etc. We had to go to Bangkok anyway, so we got the physical done there, picked up the passports and headed home---not too bad. On another day, I went to get the copies of all of our important documents, so I went into town asking around about the nearest copy shop. The first person I asked told me to go to the 7-eleven and then go straight---no copy shop nearby. The next person I asked said to turn down one road and look on the left---no copy shop. The next person I asked tried to send me back towards the 7-eleven---I ignored his advice. After searching and searching, I finally found a place to make some copies. People in Thailand are very kind---they always give an answer, even if they have no clue. However, the icing on the cake was getting the proof of residence---which we needed to get done early b/c we were heading out of town. We had been told that we would need to get a letter from our village leader and that we needed to take that to a district office. We went above and beyond and took our village leader with us, along with passports, documents, and other stuff that we might need. I only needed 1 little letter to take to the drivers license office. All it had to say was that I live in that village. I was sent to my truck to get extra information 5 times, sent home to get more information about 3 times, and told that there is a problem about 100 hundred times. It had to be the slowest process for the smallest document. We had hoped to make it today to the drivers license office before heading out of town, but getting our drivers license will just have to wait---but on a good note, I did finally get the letter. Pray for us after we get back in town as we venture back to the drivers license office in order to make an earnest attempt to bring all of this excitement to an end.
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1 comment:
David,
After marrying a Thai, we needed documentation for her permanent resident application. One document that was required by the US government was a certified copy of a document stating that she had never been married.
A document like that here in the states would be impossible to obtain, but in Thailand, there are house certificates which officials can review and in their good time can decide to issue a letter stating the person has never been married.
When we inquired how long the letter might take, the official said a week or two. When asked if there was a way to reduce the time, we were told that the price of a bottle of whiskey would do the trick. When 500 Baht was offered, the word came that what was really needed was American whiskey. If memory serves, 2000 Baht did the trick.
Of course, this was never about whiskey. Having worked overseas some time this was called expedited service and is not called bribery by even our government.
As I grow older and have more time, these things are now viewed as interesting games rather than trials of life. :)
Larry
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