Curious George

I would also like to know of experiences when importing pet birds into Thailand. I have several African Greys that I would like to bring with me in a couple years. I have asked on several forums in the past, including here, with no response. Surely, someone on this forum must have brought birds in before and have some information to share with us.

I just cannot understand how some of you idiots can make claims like "The USA has never had a problem with dual citizenship", or "I am a naturalized US citizen. THere as no requirement of renouncing...". Take a look at history:

It indeed used to be the case in the US that you couldn't hold dual citizenship (except in certain cases if you had dual citizenship from birth or childhood, in which case some Supreme Court rulings -- Perkins v. Elg (1939), Mandoli v. Acheson (1952), and Kawakita v. U.S. (1952) -- permitted you to keep both).

However, most of the laws forbidding dual citizenship were struck down in 1967 by the US Supreme Court. The court's decision in this case, Afroyim v. Rusk, as well as a second case in 1980, Vance v. Terrazas, eventually made its way explicitly into the statute books in 1986; up till that time, the old laws were still on the books, but the State Department was effectively under court order to ignore them.

Rules against dual citizenship still apply to some extent to people who wish to become US citizens via naturalization. The Supreme Court chose to leave in place the requirement that new citizens must renounce their old citizenship during US naturalization. However, in practice, the State Department is no longer doing anything in the vast majority of situations where a new citizen's "old country" refuses to recognize the US renunciation.

The official US State Department policy on dual citizenship today is that the United States does not favor it as a matter of policy because of various problems they feel it may cause, but the existence of dual citizenship is recognized in individual cases. That is, if you ask them if you ought to become a dual citizen, they will recommend against doing it; but if you tell them you are a dual citizen, they'll usually say it's OK.

Now, READ the current Naturalization Oath of Allegiance here, from the US GOVERNMENT website.

Nam,

I am an amateur Herpetologist, and have kept/cared for many species. I felt I needed to make comment, after getting the "cuddly as a bear" feeling about Geckoes on your post. Please don't get me wrong, I don't want to see any unnecessary killing of any species. Most of them are more beneficial to our household than not.

I just thought it may be educational to reveal a little about the largest Gecko, the Tokay. It is a nocturnal creature and indigenous to Thailand. It is an insectivore, but when confronted, it has an unpleasant disposition and can inflict severe bites.

When attending to biological duties in the middle of the night at the hawng soo-um, much care must be taken since these Geckoes have also been known to attack those poor 6 inch snakes.

Jazzbo,

You have already decided on your plan of action, but I would like to reply to one of your previous questions for the benefit of others. The Thai Consular office in Coral Gables (Miami) Florida is very efficient. If one calls ahead for an appointment, the most it may take is an overnight stay in the area. For any Florida resident, this would be a much better choice than to travel to Washington, D.C. to appear in person. Even in D.C., you would apply one day and pick up the Visa on the next.

Maybe this answers the 2000 or 5000 baht question, quoted from another board:

2000 baht is the fine if you pay at the immigration point - whereever.

5000 is the fine if you don't pay and it goes to court...plus 200 baht a day for the outstanding time

can't imagine anyone being stupid enough to want to take it to court!

alykev8892,

I didn't see your original post, so maybe this doesn't apply to you. If your Thai wife has been in the US for over twelve months, she can move her whole household duty free.

She can bring any used items (six months or older), and no more than one of the same. She is allowed one duty free shipment within six months of her return to Thailand.

Now, concerning a non-Thai bringing personal items into Thailand. Several references indicate the need for a work permit with a non-immigrant visa and a one year extension or a one year resident visa. Other sources just mention a visa with a one year extension. The latter makes more sense because people living long term in Thailand with a non-immigrant O or O-A are expected to transfer their possessions to their new home in Thailand.

I must say I've read the same about the Condo building being constructed with a minimum number of floors, and also the farang can only purchase above the fourth floor. But, reading the following current Act, I see no mention of that. (Note: this is only the first part since it goes on and on)

--------------

Condominium Act of 1999

Section 19 (1): Aliens and Juristic persons which the law treats as aliens may own a condominium unit if they qualify as one of the following types of aliens or juristic persons:

1. An alien who has been permitted to stay in the kingdom as a resident under the laws of immigration.

2. An alien who has been permitted to enter the Kingdom under the laws on promotion of investment.

3. A juristic person as prescribed under Sections 97 and 98 of the land code which has been registered as a juristic person under Thai law.

4. A Juristic person who is an alien under Announcement of the National Executive Council No. 281, dated 24 November B.E. 2515, and which has received a promotion certificate under the laws on promotion of investment.

5. An alien or a juristic person which the law treats as an alien which imports foreign currency into the Kingdom or withdraws money from a deposit account of Thai Baht of a person having residence abroad or withdraws money from a deposit account of foreign currency

Section 19 (2): Each condominium may have aliens and / or juristic persons as stated under section 19 take ownership of its units in total of not more than forty-nine per cent of the whole area of all units in that condominium as shown at the time the condominium was registered.

In any condominium where aliens or juristic persons as stipulated in section 19 take ownership of units in excess of the rate as prescribed by the preceding paragraph, that condominium shall be located in Bangkok, municipal or other local government areas as prescribed by Ministerial Regulations, and the area of the land on which the condominium is situated including the land available for use or for common interests of its co-owners shall not exceed five rai.  (it continues)

--------------

Stan,

Not much to worry about, but you need a lot of patience and be 'cool' with the Thai Nationals working there. They were extremely rude to me, and nasty to my wife (girlfriend at the time) when she went for her interview. Either they are envious of a Thai lady being given permission to go to the US, or it may be a status thing of a Thai lady going with a foreigner. I don't know the reason, but you must hold back the temper!

Every American at the Embassy that I had interfaced with was very considerate and helpful.

Good Luck!

Under American (and UK law) you do NOT have to renounce your current citizenship to become a US citizen.

I have no intention to start an argument, but the second phrase of the United States Naturalization Oath of Allegiance, sworn by all those becoming US citizens states:

"...that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen...."

The US tries to discourage dual citizenship, but has no law against it.

I don't see any mention of Phuket Island Lager distributed by Island Pride Co., Ltd. under contract from Thai Amarit Brewery, Bangkok. I've never had it, but it is supposed to be packaged in 330 ml bottles, having 5% abv.

Does anyone know if this is still available?