Thai is the best nationality there is!" Former American pays through the nose to renounce US citizenship

[SupermarineS6B]

1 hour ago, Iron Tongue said:

Wonder how long before he gets drafted.

Looking at the current situation i'd say around April/May............As the heat rises so do tempers......

[JustAnotherHun]

3 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

How many foreigners here can honestly say they wouldn't want Thai citizenship instead of their current one?

 

99 percent?

[SupermarineS6B]

1 minute ago, Neeranam said:

How many foreigners here can honestly say they wouldn't want Thai citizenship instead of their current one?

Strangely. It's the ones that could never qualify that criticize those of us who do.

Well, i might not like living in my homeland at the moment, but i'm proud that i was born there.....  

[JustAnotherHun]

7 minutes ago, SupermarineS6B said:

Well, i might not like living in my homeland at the moment, but i'm proud that i was born there.....  

How can one be "proud" just to be born in a specific country? At best it was good luck.

[Dustdevil]

22 hours ago, Andrew65 said:

As I understand it, once one has squared-up any tax etc with Uncle Sam, one is free to renounce.

Foreigners can also owe the IRS money if they've worked for an American-owned entity. Or laundered money through the US financial system. Or sold da <deleted> weed in the U.S. You get the picture.

[PlastikbinLina]

Home is where uour heart is. If he's happy here good luck to him. Many foreigners live here from the day they arrive until they die, complian like they're at the end of their tether but never leave. Why?

[nausea]

Yeah, I knew a girl who did this. Pretty weird. I'm guessing as an attractive English native speaker she thought it was advantageous, like you're nothing in the US, but in Thailand you're a valuable commodity. Anyway, she ended up marrying a US guy, so she got with one hand what she handed away with the other.

[KamalaRider]

23 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

poor guy. he has made a huge mistake. 

Why do you think that? 

I personally would never file for US citizenship if I got the chance. Having Swedens IRS breathing down my neck is plenty enough.

[JustAnotherHun]

4 minutes ago, PlastikbinLina said:

Home is where uour heart is. If he's happy here good luck to him. Many foreigners live here from the day they arrive until they die, complian like they're at the end of their tether but never leave. Why?

Some are trapped in family ties, others might be wanted in their home countries and others on small pension are possibly thinking they can have a better life in Thailand than as a poor at home.

[ravip]

I admit I did not read all 218 posts on this thread. But, I can guess the 'gist' of it!

HE did what HE thought is right, for reasons HE knows very well. Who are the others to judge HIM for HIS actions? 

 

[jayboy]

22 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

How many foreigners here can honestly say they wouldn't want Thai citizenship instead of their current one?

Strangely. It's the ones that could never qualify that criticize those of us who do.

I'll bite.I have PR and was very well qualified to go on to achieve citizenship.But I would not want Thai citizenship in a thousand years even though I'm fully aware I could still hold on to my British citizenship.Why? Because I did not need it for any significant practical reason and more importantly I have major problems in identifying in such an inextricable way with the bankrupt and negative values of the Thai state and the tiny minority that control it.I would be ashamed to hold a Thai passport in current circumstances.

 

That doesn't in any way affect my obedience to Thai laws and my respect/affection for the Thai people.If the poison was removed from the system that would be entirely different.But by the time that comes I shall long be mouldering in my grave.

[Chiang Mai Bill]

''He went through the Thai education system'' -- explains a lot!

[Monkeyrobot]

So how did he live here from the age of 2, what Visa was he on

[Dap]

23 hours ago, rabas said:

Shows he's paid his US taxes. All Americans have the right to renounce citizenship, except if they owe taxes.

 

One way or another, it's gonna' be about the money 

Edited February 29, 2020 by Dap

[Bob12345]

Funny to see people say that he is indoctrinated by the Thai educational system into liking Thailand so much, while in the same post saying that the USA is the greatest country in the world.

 

I doubt many Scandinavians would want to have American citizenship, unless they are tremendously wealthy. And i think many Americans would love the "free" healthcare and education of scandinavian countries. Don't get me wrong, the USA must be a great place when you have a roof over your head, a job, an education, and health insurance (and are white), but not everybody has those things...

[KenKadz]

Dual Thai U.S. Citizenship is permitted if he wanted.

 

Which Countries Allow Dual Citizenship with the USA? | NNU ...

https://www.nnuimmigration.com/dual-citizenship-usa/

Naturalizing as a US citizen: dual citizenship in the USA. Section 101(a)(22) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) states that "the term 'national of the United States' means (A) a citizen of the United States, or (B) a person who, though not a citizen of the United States, owes permanent allegiance to the United States."

[talahtnut]

1 hour ago, jayboy said:

bankrupt and negative values of the Thai state and the tiny minority that control it.I would be ashamed to hold a Thai passport in current circumstances.

Same as the UK then.

[oobar]

My wife and I recently cashed out of Thailand (personal earnings and stocks), all amounts worked for and gained only in Thailand.  We haven't been back to the US in 21 years.  The only thing we have required from our home country is the great joy of getting to pay $50 for a document notarized at the embassy.  We get no medicare, which would certainly be a nice thing to have at our age, but living overseas means that's a no go.  Still, the IRS just hit us for well over a million baht in taxes.  We console ourselves with the thought that a US passport is, at least in some instances, a relatively magic thing to have, but it can feel a bit rotten to have to pay through the nose and get -- well, nothing in return.  In any case, we still prefer to be Americans, though as we write out that IRS check, we don't take much pride in belonging to one of only two countries in the world that treat their citizens like this.

[Stargeezr]

This guy lived a total of 2 years in the USA, He wanted to be a one country citizen, what is wrong

with that. He has lived the rest of hie life here, so how would he feel any attachment to that 

country?  Thailand is not the country with trillions of dollars of debts, or a massive military

as well to maintain. Thailand does not need 2 Boeing 747 Airforce ones, and C17 cargo lift aircraft, special helicopter, the Beast, and escort vehicles to move their leader around. So why

do some commentors think this guy will regret his decision?

Geezer

 

[Stargeezr]

I do have another question on this subject. How much money does it cost to keep

your USA passport up to date?

Geezer

[ToS2014]

On 2/28/2020 at 3:22 PM, canuckamuck said:

He had something greatly valued by many people and he paid to get rid of it. If there isn't more to the story than the guy is a true representative of the Thai school system he was brought up in.

America is by far a perfect country.  Unless drunk on your own hubris there simply isn't a 'perfect' country.  Enjoy your new citizenship while thousands point their compass to the US.

[sanemax]

3 minutes ago, Stargrazer9889 said:

I do have another question on this subject. How much money does it cost to keep

your USA passport up to date?

Geezer

 

You just need to find out how much a USA passport costs and how long its valid for 

[mal2018]

Easy fodder for brainwashing. His parents were missionaries ???? Need to say no more than a victim of child abuse.

 

[Thingamabob]

He is to all intents and purposes a Thai already so not entirely surprising. Not something I would have done, but it avoids the bureaucracy we foreigners have to deal with in order to stay in Thailand.

[Neeranam]

1 hour ago, jayboy said:

I'll bite.I have PR and was very well qualified to go on to achieve citizenship.But I would not want Thai citizenship in a thousand years even though I'm fully aware I could still hold on to my British citizenship.Why? Because I did not need it for any significant practical reason and more importantly I have major problems in identifying in such an inextricable way with the bankrupt and negative values of the Thai state and the tiny minority that control it.I would be ashamed to hold a Thai passport in current circumstances.

 

That doesn't in any way affect my obedience to Thai laws and my respect/affection for the Thai people.If the poison was removed from the system that would be entirely different.But by the time that comes I shall long be mouldering in my grave.

Paying 90/190,000 baht for PR or 5,000 for citizenship, I chose the latter. It's a no brainer. 

I'd hate to be old, worrying about rentry permits and having to report to the police station, etc.

You respect and are fond of Thais, but don't want to be one - something doesn't add up here. 

 

The readings you don't want to be a Thai are the same readings many don't want to be a Yank. Sorry if Yank offends some but I'm not calling those from the US, American and don't know what else to call them.

[Neeranam]

34 minutes ago, Stargrazer9889 said:

This guy lived a total of 2 years in the USA, He wanted to be a one country citizen, what is wrong

with that. He has lived the rest of hie life here, so how would he feel any attachment to that 

country?  Thailand is not the country with trillions of dollars of debts, or a massive military

as well to maintain. Thailand does not need 2 Boeing 747 Airforce ones, and C17 cargo lift aircraft, special helicopter, the Beast, and escort vehicles to move their leader around. So why

do some commentors think this guy will regret his decision?

Geezer

 

They feel hurt because Thailand is better than the mighty USA. 

Yet, they choose to live here. Sad.

[ChaiyaTH]

If he really never travels anywhere much outside the region and is well off in life already, there is not much need for keeping it.

Still think there is little logic to it and somehow as if he tries to get a boat load of fame to boost his business / life in Thailand. 
I assume his kids also have right on USA nationality, if they were to study there later, he even needs a visa to come and visit them.

[ravip]

1 hour ago, jayboy said:

I'll bite.I have PR and was very well qualified to go on to achieve citizenship.But I would not want Thai citizenship in a thousand years even though I'm fully aware I could still hold on to my British citizenship.Why? Because I did not need it for any significant practical reason and more importantly I have major problems in identifying in such an inextricable way with the bankrupt and negative values of the Thai state and the tiny minority that control it.I would be ashamed to hold a Thai passport in current circumstances.

 

That doesn't in any way affect my obedience to Thai laws and my respect/affection for the Thai people.If the poison was removed from the system that would be entirely different.But by the time that comes I shall long be mouldering in my grave.

Because I did not need it for any significant practical reason and more importantly I have major problems in identifying in such an inextricable way with the bankrupt and negative values of the Thai state and the tiny minority that control it.I would be ashamed to hold a Thai passport in current circumstances

 

But, you still prefer to live in TH than your home country?

Good. Thats the best policy! Best of both worlds... need I continue?

[transam]

1 minute ago, Neeranam said:

They feel hurt because Thailand is better than the mighty USA. 

Yet, they choose to live here. Sad.

Not sad at all...

[ChaiyaTH]

4 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

They feel hurt because Thailand is better than the mighty USA. 

Yet, they choose to live here. Sad.

Well, if I just were the average Thai with a Thai passport, Thailand would not be a paradise at all.
I would be working my ass off and still be eating noodles. Changes the perspective quite a bit if looking at the majority of Thais their lives.

Figuring you then have a USA passport and are able to go anywhere to work for some real dollars, and spend them back in Thailand, sounds better.

Edited February 29, 2020 by ChaiyaTH