Thai And British Nationality - Thai Military Service

[iluck]

Hi all,

I'm new to this forum. I have searched the forum but some of the answer doesn't quite satify me.

My question is regarding the thai's military service in Thailand.

I'm a Thai and just successfully applied for the British citizenship. I was born in Thailand and moved over when I was 18 and now I'm 27.

I have been extending my military service since. I joined "Rau Door" for 1/5 year before I moved over that probably don't help!

I'm aware that I probably be in trouble if I was to go back.

Here are my questions;

• Can I enter Thailand with British passport to avoid the service or being questioned?
  
• As I hear people with very bad eye sight will be not be accepted..?, which is me. Do I need a peper from opticians??
  
• Having become a British, will they still want me to join the service?
  
• Should I just renounce my thai and how easy is that to get it back?
  
• What happen if I go back?
  

Many thanks for your help

[Soutpeel]

Only going to comment generally about national service and dual nationality.

Holding a British passport/citizenship does not excempt you from national service in the "other country"

[bina]

pm (personal message) to samran, he's thai /aussie ... he knows all the legal stuff for thais... search for his name/posts... we've written tons about that here.

lots of luck,

bina

and yes the army prefers people that are not with medical problems, not too short, not too fat, not with eye problems etc...

[iluck]

My case has already gone to court and I would need to pay a fine. I hope it's just that but I worry that I will be arrested at the airport.

As I couldn't make it back when they demanded me. I'm gutted.

Thanks for the info, i will ask samran if he knows.

[Soutpeel]

My case has already gone to court and I would need to pay a fine. I hope it's just that but I worry that I will be arrested at the airport.

As I couldn't make it back when they demanded me. I'm gutted.

Thanks for the info, i will ask samran if he knows.

Although I cant comment on the Thai national service. I am a dual national and had to do national service many years ago, followed by 10 years of "camps" and on one occassion received my papers for a camp while I was out the country concerned,

I wrote to them and said I have no problem turning up for the camp, but dont have the money so please pay for my flight back....recevied a letter a few weeks later saying my presence wasnt required and strangley enough that was the last time I ever got a letter from them

In your case, I assume you where in the UK when you got your call up papers ? and you replied you where out the country for an extended period ?...if so cant see how they could even fine you, I wouldnt worry too much about them springing you at the airport

[iluck]

My case is now in a file at a police station awaiting

for me to report in and I don't know what they would do of I turn up.

I hear that I needed to 6 months in service.

I'm living and working in uk so to be kept in my own country

would be an disaster, job and family.

I have heard of a friend of friend went back on his Thai passport and

get arrested right at the airport, jailed for 2 days and let our due to his health problem.

All I want is to visit Thailand with my gf. :'(

What's best option for me?

[astral]

Visit your girlfriend on neutral territory, say Malaysia.

How did your papers land up with the police?

Generally they do not bother if you are outside the country.

I believe they give up looking for you once you reach 30.

[iluck]

I just think that's what happen when you don't turn up on the day and too late extending the service..

My mum checked and that how we found out.

I have been to umpor when I was 18 for a draft. But my brother didn't so he doesn't have this hustle when he went.

[Soutpeel]

I just think that's what happen when you don't turn up on the day and too late extending the service..

My mum checked and that how we found out.

I have been to umpor when I was 18 for a draft. But my brother didn't so he doesn't have this hustle when he went.

Ok, but one would assume when your mum received your call up papers, you contacted them and told them you where out the country with no plans to come back for the foreseeable future due to work, study etc ?, that would be enough to get them off your back ?

If on the other hand you just ignored the call up, hoping they would forget, this could be the reason for the charges with the BiB, as in their eyes you would be draft dodging and in most countries where it existed/exists this would be a criminal offense.

I personally would try and contact them, (outside the country of course) and state your case.....ie never received the call up papers or have been studying/working the the UK with no plans to become resident again and see what the response is....they may not know you live in the UK, this may be enough for them to pull the complaint, after all, its been nearly 10 years and believe the 30 year old rule does actually exist, but even when you reach 30, the complaint, with the police may not automatically go away...it will need to be sorted out

As to visiting your family in the short term, you could chance it on your UK passport, or as Astral suggests meet up with the GF on neutral terrority somewhere in SEA

[samran]

not sure I can help on this, as there is a court case involved. Having said that, I'm pretty sure that the military and immigration don't really talk to each other, so I doubt you'd have any trouble entering Thailand on your Thai passport. The issue is, if you turn up the the police station, what are the consequences? A fine and then nothing? OR Are you then obligated to do the draft.

I'd get someone you know to go to the police station and ask what the consequences actally are.

In my case, when I reported 'late' at age 30, I did have to go to the police station and pay a 200 baht fine (max 400 baht if they don't like you) for reporting late. But, when that was paid, the military office across the road then simply gave me papers to discharge me, and that was that.

[iluck]

Thanks you to everyone for the reply.

I will try to send them a letter from uk to the police station that holding my case.

But I will ask them to send a reply to a family in thailand?

I don't think the case would has gone through court though, i don't know..? If they just send "mai jub" to your house is that mean it has gone to court?

I'm 27 to wait another 3 years to get back to my country is just a shame. My friend just changed his surname and will be travelling in his uk passport to avoid this. I don't if that even possible??

[samran]

Thanks you to everyone for the reply.

I will try to send them a letter from uk to the police station that holding my case.

But I will ask them to send a reply to a family in thailand?

I don't think the case would has gone through court though, i don't know..? If they just send "mai jub" to your house is that mean it has gone to court?

I'm 27 to wait another 3 years to get back to my country is just a shame. My friend just changed his surname and will be travelling in his uk passport to avoid this. I don't if that even possible??

letter probably wont work, you'll stuggle for them to answer. Best for someone physically to go down to the police station. Starts a personal relationship then.

[iluck]

What I'm worrying is to get arrested at the airport and I will have to leave my english girlfriend on her own and that will not be very present.

Also i'm only 27 so is there a chance of they keeping me there and do 6 months service? My mum also told me that they told her that I would need to do a 6 months service.

Have you heard of anyone that get arrested at the airport? Or should I travel in with british passport?

[Soutpeel]

What I'm worrying is to get arrested at the airport and I will have to leave my english girlfriend on her own and that will not be very present.

Also i'm only 27 so is there a chance of they keeping me there and do 6 months service? My mum also told me that they told her that I would need to do a 6 months service.

Have you heard of anyone that get arrested at the airport? Or should I travel in with british passport?

I personally dont think you would have a problem travelling into Thailand on your British passport, one would assume Thai immigration has no record of your passport number and Thai immigration, BiB and army would have to connect the dots so to speak, so highly unlikely they would tie your passport to your Thai id to your issue with the BiB.

But will stress this point again with reference to the second page in your British passport under note 5. Dual Nationality - If a British Citizen is liable for any obligation in the "other country" (such as military service) the fact they are a British Citizen does not exempt them from that obligation.

I mention this, as if you decide to come to Thailand and by some "miracle" you happen to get BiB involvement dont bother even going near the British Embassy for help....you will not get it...

How many people actually know about all this ?.....hate to be cynical, but you might come to Thailand no problem and some spiteful indivdual grasses you up...just a thought...

On a lighter note.....I am supprised to learn the Thai army call up is only 6 months... ....wish I only had to do 6 months for my national service....

Best of luck with what ever you decide to do

[iluck]

British passport under note 5. Dual Nationality - If a British Citizen is liable for any obligation in the "other country" (such as military service) the fact they are a British Citizen does not exempt them from that obligation.

Thanks for pointing this out. I guess I will just wait til i turn 30. I will go to other places instead then.