Can't say for sure abt US embassy procedure but I guess it may complicate matters if your dad has 0 involvement--ultimately they'd process you via MFA in Bkk and it will aparenty be less headaches them processing you being you were presumably born in US--less step, etc.

if you do the nationality proving process directly with central government in Thailand (via Nationality division of Royal Thai police) like I did and many others have done/are doing, your Thai parent would be necessary for interviews and DNA test--otherwise in certain circumstances i.e. parent deceased, surviving Thai blood uncle/aunt can substitute, though the DNA test for that is a little more expensive--was like 17,000 baht when I did it three years ago in the apointed government hospital.

If your Thai parent was established/connected in some upcountry municipality, its been reported of cutting the central process headaches (ie DNA) out and jumping straight to having the civil servant adding name to system by others--me not being one of them. Girls seem to have an easier time in these things. Parent directly representing/verifying you also seems to make big difference (my Thai parent was long deceased during my application, so made things more complicated).

Conscription is something handled with wherever your house registration will be, prerequisite for your Thai ID--prereq. for everything else in Thailand incl. passport. I entered the Thai system in Thailand after a long difficult process dizzying throughh the red tape net of US legalization / Thai bureaucracy. I was 22-23 when it finalized, and havent heard any draft/orders info yet, albeit my house reg. is upcountry at relatives address, though they would have said something by now had orders come. Then again, apparently, they don't send orders via mail anymore and require self reporting.

Not worried anymore since a major motor accident few months back impairing my left arm to shoot a gun, let alone hold a one or be considered military capable...So if it comes to it, they couldnt use me, knockin on wood (with my goo arm).

Good Luck!

Where were you when you applied for your (Thai)citizenship? Is the DNA testing mandatory(No problem to prove, just wondering)? Me and my wife are planning to have our baby in Thailand, do you think it would be more difficult, even or less difficult to obtain Amer. citiz. for my child because of this?? Also my wife is leaving the country(America) which will apparently void her 2 year probationary green card status, is there any possible way to salvage her permanent resident status?

I got another question too! My dad actually got his (American)citizenship in like...2000-2004 not sure when. Does anyone know if you have to renounce your native country's citizenship in order to gain American Citizenship??

When You take an oath for US citizenship, you swear to renounce any other citizenship. Although it's required, I have never renounced my Polish citizenship as it is almost impossible to do so. US government will not make any issue out of this. Rules did not change but US government seems not to pay great attention to this anymore.

regards, Bartek.

I am going through the exact same thing. I am a 29 yr old american but father is thai. I am married to a thai wife who lives with me in the US. We plan to move back to thailand someday and I want Thai citizenship to make life easier(own land, work, etc.) I have all required documentation: birth certificate with father listed, parents marriage license from Vegas, passports, father passport, thai id, house id.

I have contacted and spoke to the Thai consulate in DC and Chicago and they have both informed me that my thai parent must be the one to apply and initiate the request for a thai birth certificate for me. i can not do this on my own. This is where the problem resides, because my father thinks that if he does this for me I will lose my American citizenship or have to enter the Thai draft. He also has concerns about me leaving my job, house, etc here in the states and trying to make a living in Thailand. So basically he has shot me down with helping me apply for this for the time being. (until I have a "bullet proof" plan for living in Thailand"

So for now My only option is a one year visa from being married to my Thai wife.

Lyceeicecream, check your messages. I sent you my contact info. I can elaborate on what ive ran into and what information Ive received from the Thai consulate.

You could find a lawyer to help you sue your father if he refuses to help you. It may be convenient to sue him in a US civil court, to force him to help you or you sue in a thai family court and have the court determine him to be your father.

Try to collect evidence for his refusal to help you or by the time the court summons him, he may deny that you ever even asked him to help you.

You could find a lawyer to help you sue your father if he refuses to help you. It may be convenient to sue him in a US civil court, to force him to help you or you sue in a thai family court and have the court determine him to be your father.

Try to collect evidence for his refusal to help you or by the time the court summons him, he may deny that you ever even asked him to help you.

A unique way of doing it...sue the b@stards!!

Anyway - tell your dad:

1) No way you can lose your US citizenship. Both Thailand and the US are fine with dual nationality

2) No way you can be conscripted: From the year you turn 30 onwards - you are automaticlally released from any obligation. Go through my old posts where I go over this.

If he can be assured of this...then he should be more happy to help you. The other thing you need to tell him is Thailand isn't as 'backward' anymore. My mother, who has lived in Australia for 40+ years now took a while to get used to the idea that things can work properly and efficently here as well. The Thailand they left is not the Thailand that exists today.

You could find a lawyer to help you sue your father if he refuses to help you. It may be convenient to sue him in a US civil court, to force him to help you or you sue in a thai family court and have the court determine him to be your father.

Try to collect evidence for his refusal to help you or by the time the court summons him, he may deny that you ever even asked him to help you.

AAAAAhahahaha maybe well see what happens haha

You could find a lawyer to help you sue your father if he refuses to help you. It may be convenient to sue him in a US civil court, to force him to help you or you sue in a thai family court and have the court determine him to be your father.

Try to collect evidence for his refusal to help you or by the time the court summons him, he may deny that you ever even asked him to help you.

A unique way of doing it...sue the b@stards!!

Anyway - tell your dad:

1) No way you can lose your US citizenship. Both Thailand and the US are fine with dual nationality

2) No way you can be conscripted: From the year you turn 30 onwards - you are automaticlally released from any obligation. Go through my old posts where I go over this.

If he can be assured of this...then he should be more happy to help you. The other thing you need to tell him is Thailand isn't as 'backward' anymore. My mother, who has lived in Australia for 40+ years now took a while to get used to the idea that things can work properly and efficently here as well. The Thailand they left is not the Thailand that exists today.

He owns private schools in Bangkok, so he knows its not "backwards". But he remembers the US as it was 20 years ago when he was here. Its not as nice of a place to live anymore.

You could find a lawyer to help you sue your father if he refuses to help you. It may be convenient to sue him in a US civil court, to force him to help you or you sue in a thai family court and have the court determine him to be your father.

Try to collect evidence for his refusal to help you or by the time the court summons him, he may deny that you ever even asked him to help you.

A unique way of doing it...sue the b@stards!!

Anyway - tell your dad:

1) No way you can lose your US citizenship. Both Thailand and the US are fine with dual nationality

2) No way you can be conscripted: From the year you turn 30 onwards - you are automaticlally released from any obligation. Go through my old posts where I go over this.

If he can be assured of this...then he should be more happy to help you. The other thing you need to tell him is Thailand isn't as 'backward' anymore. My mother, who has lived in Australia for 40+ years now took a while to get used to the idea that things can work properly and efficently here as well. The Thailand they left is not the Thailand that exists today.

That is alot of good advice. I will definitely include these truths in putting together my defense. So your mom hasn't been back in a while? My dad went back like earlier last year but I get the jist of what your saying. Only thing is I'm 22yrs old but like I said the conscription thing isn't something that cant be takin care of. Im just trying to understand how he could deny my right! his own son!! I will try to talk to him soon and i'll let you guys know what happens...peeaacceee

Good Luck,I'm sure the Thai Embassy will help

Not to throw a spanner in the works, but read page 196 of this URL: http://www.opm.gov/EXTRA/INVESTIGATE/is-01.PDF which is from the Office of Personnel Management Investigative Division. It lists rules of citizenship and dual citizenship for every country. Page 193 is Thailand - and states that generally speaking, Thailand does not recognize dual citizenship. There are extenuating circumstances, but it appears that it's the mother who must be Thai if the parents were not married at the time of birth.

For your sake, I hope I'm reading this wrong. But it implies the need for further investigation. Try Isan Lawyers, a sponsor of ThaiVisa.

Sorry to hijack this thread with this..but just a short question that came to mind after reading that: If an unwed female who is not Thai had a child with a Thai man (and his name on birth certificate), the child could not have dual-citizenship? (Actually now I have one more question too, sorry...). If a non-thai mother is unmarried is she and the child legally allowed to remain in Thailand?

The law doesn't make any distinction between legally married and unmarried parents and whether the Thai parent is the mother or the father in this respect. From the Nationality Act:

Section 7. The following persons acquire Thai nationality by birth:

(1) A person born of a father or a mother of Thai nationality, whether within or outside the Thai Kingdom;

There are guidelines provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on many Thai Embassy websites abroad that make clear that any possible combination of a Thai parent and a foreign parent, wed or unwed, legal or illegal immigrant (if in Thailand) leads to Thai nationality for the offspring. The law and its interpretation have been very liberal in this respect since the 1992 amendments.

The law doesn't make any distinction between legally married and unmarried parents and whether the Thai parent is the mother or the father in this respect. From the Nationality Act:

Section 7. The following persons acquire Thai nationality by birth:

(1) A person born of a father or a mother of Thai nationality, whether within or outside the Thai Kingdom;

There are guidelines provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on many Thai Embassy websites abroad that make clear that any possible combination of a Thai parent and a foreign parent, wed or unwed, legal or illegal immigrant (if in Thailand) leads to Thai nationality for the offspring. The law and its interpretation have been very liberal in this respect since the 1992 amendments.

Interesting point Arkady. Being married is indeed not required, but it must be established that one of the parents has Thai natonality. When not married the father is established by legalisation of the child by the father. (Every one can be named on the BC as the father, when marreid the law assumse the husband is the father, when not married the fahter has to state himself that he is the father).

But I would agree with you that a DNA-test might be sufficient to proof Thai Nationality. Although possible only in cases where nobody has legitimised the child. If someone else then the biological father has ligitimised the child I'm not sure if proof of nationality by DNA-testing would be allowed.

The question is which kind of parenthood is mentioned in the nationality act:

1. biological

2. social

3. legal

Often this is combined in the same person, but it can be 3 different persons.

You could find a lawyer to help you sue your father...

A unique way of doing it...sue the b@stards!!

Well, he is either with you or against you.

But I would agree with you that a DNA-test might be sufficient to proof Thai Nationality. Although possible only in cases where nobody has legitimised the child. If someone else then the biological father has ligitimised the child I'm not sure if proof of nationality by DNA-testing would be allowed.

DNA tests are often used to prove descendancy (and thereby elgibility for Thai citizenship) of hill tribe people in the mountains of the north, where births have not been properly recorded, partly because of the ignorance of the hill tribe people, partly because of the less than perfect work of the local government officials.

The Thai Citizenship Project is doing the Lords work in helping the hill tribe members pursuing their right to Thai citizenship and btw they are looking for donations for their DNA testing fund, so if you feel charitable and want to help a little, go and have a look at their their website.

They may also know, what to do in case of an uncooperative parent, so give them a call, they are very experienced with the laws concerning citizenship and you get practical, reliable information without having to pay a lawyer.

Section 7. The following persons acquire Thai nationality by birth:

(1) A person born of a father or a mother of Thai nationality

If the OP had a child (other parent not Thai) before the Thai government acknowledges his Thai citizenship, but later the OP actually becomes Thai because of his descendancy, would his child then also get Thai nationality, because the OP was Thai all along, only he lacked the documentation or would a child born before the OP holds his Thai passport in his hands have no claim to Thai nationality?

My wife showed me the Thai embassy's(DC) website and they did not say anything about having to have the parent apply or even be present. It simply said you need to provide a BirthCert and you need to goto the state department and get it certified blah blah blah,

here:http://www.thaiembdc.org/consular/LEGA/Lega1_1.aspx

It is mostly in Thai, not sure if they have a englsih toggle switch.

My wife showed me the Thai embassy's(DC) website and they did not say anything about having to have the parent apply or even be present. It simply said you need to provide a BirthCert and you need to goto the state department and get it certified blah blah blah,

here:http://www.thaiembdc.org/consular/LEGA/Lega1_1.aspx

It is mostly in Thai, not sure if they have a englsih toggle switch.

What you should inquire about is if they mean your orginal US birth certificate or a registration of the birth with the Thai government (embassy).

Note that the embassy is not considered the most userfriendly and here are several much friendlier consulates in the US.

Well everyone, the my father(the <deleted>) said he would not help me to get my citizenship because he does not want to. So looks like I will be going about getting the same ways as the foreigners. Thank everybody for their input, comments and replies.

Well everyone, the my father(the <deleted>) said he would not help me to get my citizenship because he does not want to. So looks like I will be going about getting the same ways as the foreigners. Thank everybody for their input, comments and replies.

Did you pay attention to the post about getting a passport at a Thai embassy and all you had to show was a birth certificate? No parent required.

Well everyone, the my father(the <deleted>) said he would not help me to get my citizenship because he does not want to. So looks like I will be going about getting the same ways as the foreigners. Thank everybody for their input, comments and replies.

Did you pay attention to the post about getting a passport at a Thai embassy and all you had to show was a birth certificate? No parent required.

I checked with the Thai Embassy in D.C. and they told me I needed my fathers passport, Thai ID card and house card I think. So presenting them with my birth certificate will not help at all. But thank you for caring enough to ask.

Well everyone, the my father(the <deleted>) said he would not help me to get my citizenship because he does not want to. So looks like I will be going about getting the same ways as the foreigners. Thank everybody for their input, comments and replies.

Did you pay attention to the post about getting a passport at a Thai embassy and all you had to show was a birth certificate? No parent required.

I checked with the Thai Embassy in D.C. and they told me I needed my fathers passport, Thai ID card and house card I think. So presenting them with my birth certificate will not help at all. But thank you for caring enough to ask.

photocopies of all of the above, signed by someone (anyone) verifying they are true copies should do the trick.

Well everyone, the my father(the <deleted>) said he would not help me to get my citizenship because he does not want to. So looks like I will be going about getting the same ways as the foreigners. Thank everybody for their input, comments and replies.

Did you pay attention to the post about getting a passport at a Thai embassy and all you had to show was a birth certificate? No parent required.

I checked with the Thai Embassy in D.C. and they told me I needed my fathers passport, Thai ID card and house card I think. So presenting them with my birth certificate will not help at all. But thank you for caring enough to ask.

photocopies of all of the above, signed by someone (anyone) verifying they are true copies should do the trick.

I have no chance of possessing those things to be able to photo copy them because my father is totally unwilling to help.