Dual Citizenship for a "U.S. Citizen born Abroad

[booboo07]

My son was born in Thailand in Feb. of 1974 while I was at Ramasun Station/Non Sung. Was born prior to marriage due to security clearance issues etc. Myself, my Thai wife, my son and a step-daughter came to the U.S. in the first part of 1976. In 1982 or so my wife and I were divorced and received custody of both children. We ended back In California which is where I'm from and my now ex-wife remained in North Carolina which is where my last duty station was. After the divorce the kids Mom basically abandoned them if you will. Very little contact and that is also the case today. She has been back to Thailand once since 1976 and at this point in time has zero contact with her family there. I also understand that she has never "updated" her Thai I.D. card (not sure how that works) but am told this adds to the problem I am about to mention. 

 

Because of the long standing policy regarding dual nationalities, my son has for quite some time wanted to become a "dual national", U.S./Thai. Here is where our problems begin. I am not sure when a child born in Thailand is "registered" or receives a Thai I.D. Whatever the requirements are, I know for a fact this was never done before we departed to the U.S. In addition to this his birth certificate has been lost somewhere along the line here in the U.S. When I was in Udon Thani in 2015 I went to the "District Office" to obtain a copy but was told that thousands of birth records, including his were destroyed in a flood in 1976. I have a certified letter from the Office of the Registrar Mueng Udon Thani District stating this. Have a copy in Thai and an English translation. In addition to that I have a copy of a document I will call "Intent to Marry a Foreign National" which is a 3 page question and answer session conducted by the S-2 (Intel and Security) staff of Ramasun Station. It mentions her Thai I.D. number, her family members and even mentions my son who was about 3 months old when this was done. It is dated 22 May 1975. In addition to that I have a form FS-240, Department of State REPORT OF BIRTH ABROAD of a Citizen of the United States of America and also a Form FS-545, Department of State Certification of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America. Thinking these documents would be enough to get the ball rolling for the Dual Nationality process, I spoke with a lawyer in Udon and was told flat out that these douments would not work and I either needed to get a birth certificate from the hospital he was born at (somewhere between Nam Phong and Khon Kaen) or his Mother (a Thai citizen) would need to come to Thailand and try to get this sorted out. Considering her past relationship with her children, this is not going to happen.

My son and I are coming to Thailand In February of 2019 to visit but it sure would be nice to get this resolved if possible. PLEASE, if anyone has ideas, suggestions etc., PLEASE get back to me. Thank you all very much.

 

 

 

[ubonjoe]

Not sure the lawyer is correct. 

If you have proof you are the father of your son it should be possible for you to do whatever is needed to establish his Thai nationality from birth. It would of course have to be translated to Thai.

Going to the hospital where your son was born would be a good start.

Are there any members of your ex wife's family you could contact that could state you are your sons father. Also a DNA test of a family member and you son may be needed to confirm he is Thai.

 

 

[booboo07]

Thanks Joe. Its been 42 years since we left and as I mentioned there has almost zero contact with family in Thailand. I have talked to "ex" and all she knows about hospital is "a small clinic type place somewhere between Nam Phong and Khon Kaen". Thank you again Sir.