By Yoon Sat - Jun 21, 2024
It is reported that 2 of the 8 offices issuing Certificate of Identity (CI) books for Myanmar workers who are working in Thailand have been closed.
“The lifespan of the visa of the CI and the pink card is the same but CI would cost more. The brokers already counted the travel expenses to go to the nearest CI center. The expenses would cost more to go to further city. Some workers have to go but there are many people who don’t go as well. The brokers charged 6,500 – 7,000 bahts. Without CI, it is difficult to go to other districts. CI is only usable to go back to Myanmar or to go to other districts in Thailand,” said a Myanmar workers activist in Thailand.
Although there is no major problem for the workers for the closure of two CI centers, those who will attempt will cost more travel expenses.
The two CI centers from Songkhla and Nakhon Sawan Districts had closed after Thai government instructed on June 16th but the remaining centers are operating as before starting at June 19.
“CI visa is legal. Holder can go anywhere in Thailand at anytime and it can use to go back to Myanmar legally,” said a Myanmar worker in Thailand.
The CI process was recontinued at mid-November 2016 as Myanmar workers in Thailand were issued pink cards.
