Transcript of the above video:

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing Permanent Residence and Thai citizenship. I thought of making this video you after reading a recent comment on a prior video we did. I did a video where we posed the question "are basically foreigners in Thailand treated as "second class citizens?" As I pointed out in that video, well no, that's not really a good way to put it because foreign nationals in Thailand aren't citizens, so it is kind of a misnomer there.

I thought of making this video after reading a recent comment on that video, quoting directly: "Ben, you make an excellent point for visa holders. Can you turn this around and give an opinion for foreign residents and acquired citizen status if they feel like second class citizens?" Well I can't speak for anybody else but no, I am a naturalized Thai and I don't in any way feel like a "second class citizen". Thais are oftentimes excited to find out that I am Thai. They think that it is a novelty. They don't see a lot of big blonde haired, blue-eyed white guys that look like the Michelin Man who are Thai so they are always curious how I did it. Also, many Thais realize just how difficult and cumbersome the process of obtaining Thai citizenship is. 

Now point of reference, on Permanent Residence, let's be clear there. Permanent Residents are not citizens per se. They have Residence status akin to so-called Green Card status or Lawful Permanent Residence in the United States; they are allowed to remain in Thailand. It is like indefinitely to remain in the UK context where you are a landed immigrant, you're here, you're not going to be kicked out, you are residing in Thailand. You basically have to commit an affirmative crime in order to be put into proceedings, to be have your residency revoked and then deported. It's not an easy process. Residence is a substantial benefit but again it's not citizenship so maybe set Residence aside and just talk citizens and I can speak from personal experience again being a naturalized Thai, no I don't really feel like a second class citizen. Obviously I am different. I don't know how many times foreign nationals over here in Thailand tell me, "well you are not a real Thai." "Really? I'm not? Are you sure? I thought all Thais looked just like me!" I find that phrase strange, every time I hear it. It is like, “What?” Yeah no I was born in Kansas, I became Thai, I'm well aware. That said, I am Thai and I do respect my adopted countrymen for treating me like that. They are quite nice to me and very respectful of the fact that I wanted to be Thai and I became Thai. So yeah, no not so much, I really don't feel like a second class citizen in Thailand at all.