Hi guys!

I really want to move to Thailand when I turn 18 and I would like to know the procedures to become a legal immigrant or citizen in Thailand.

Thanks

Krittayot

And you are American with no Thai connection by birth? Even those married to Thai do not have a clear path for such status. Most people who do live in Thailand do so on non immigrant visa stay for various reasons - not because they are immigrants.

Ditto,

You'll need to learn alto about allot of things. How will you support yourself and what documents will you have to permit your stay! One word of advise DO NOT fall into to the trapping of working outside the Immigration system. Whatever you do make it legal. You are a rather young fellow and Thailand has a way of eating Farang males, without regard to age. Gee, I said one but here is another.... DO NOT use Soi Khao San as a base for your life. Problematic.

Ditto,

You'll need to learn alto about allot of things. How will you support yourself and what documents will you have to permit your stay! One word of advise DO NOT fall into to the trapping of working outside the Immigration system. Whatever you do make it legal. You are a rather young

fellow and Thailand has a way of eating Farang males,

without regard to age. Gee, I said one but here is another.... DO NOT use Soi Khao San as a base for your life. Problematic.

.

Hey lol I'm not a farang thanks very much. I'm part thai and I am completely familiar with thai culture and everything. Although im not completely immersed with the language yet, I have friends and family in Thailand also

And you are American with no Thai connection by birth? Even those married to Thai do not have a clear path for such status. Most people who do live in Thailand do so on non immigrant visa stay for various reasons - not because they are immigrants.

Does a non-immigrant visa cost anything..?

If you are part Thai, in essence have a Thai father or mother, than you have Thai nationality also.

Where were you born? In Thailand or abroad. if abroad, you need to apply for a Thai birth certificate, with the help of your parents. At the same time you can apply for a Thai pasport.

Under Thai alw you are a minor, till you turn 21.

If you have a Thai parent you are Thai so there is no immigration or visa issues. You just return to Thailand. You did have your birth certificate registered with Thai Embassy (if born in US) and have obtained a Thai passport?

If you are part Thai, in essence have a Thai father or mother, than you have Thai nationality also.

Where were you born? In Thailand or abroad. if abroad, you need to apply for a Thai birth certificate, with the help of your parents. At the same time you can apply for a Thai pasport.

Under Thai alw you are a minor, till you turn 21.

I was born in New York and my parents are completely against me going to Thailand

If you have a Thai parent you are Thai so there is no immigration or visa issues. You just return to Thailand. You did have your birth certificate registered with Thai Embassy (if born in US) and have obtained a Thai passport?

No I do not. Both of my parents are Khmer but one of them is half thai. However he was born in Cambodia. My grandma was born in Thailand, so should I ask her to help me?

If you are part Thai, in essence have a Thai father or mother, than you have Thai nationality also.

Where were you born? In Thailand or abroad. if abroad, you need to apply for a Thai birth certificate, with the help of your parents. At the same time you can apply for a Thai pasport.

Under Thai alw you are a minor, till you turn 21.

Is it possible to apply for one without parent consent?

If you have a Thai parent you are Thai so there is no immigration or visa issues. You just return to Thailand. You did have your birth certificate registered with Thai Embassy (if born in US) and have obtained a Thai passport?

No I do not. Both of my parents are Khmer but one of them is half thai. However he was born in Cambodia. My grandma was born in Thailand, so should I ask her to help me?

In that case you do not appear to be Thai or have an easy path as you were not born in Thailand and parents do not appear to have been Thai or willing to obtain that nationality if qualified.

The question is if your parent that is "half" Thai has a Thai birh tcertificate and as such is recognized by the government as a Thai national. That would also make you a Thai national.

But you will need docuemtns from your parent to proof that you are indeed Thai to obtain the Thai birh certificate from the Thai embassy or consulate in NY.

For a passport you will also need the help of your parents untill you turn 21.

http://www.mfa.go.th/web/473.php?id=3174 (Thai passport application abroad).

If he gets papers saying he's Thai -- and he moves to Thailand -- what is his military draft status?

He would be subject to military service as any other Thai.

You are in a hurry grass hopper. Finish school get a degree in some subject or vocation that will allow you obtain a good job and work in Thailand

So long as you can prove lineage back to your Thai born grandmother, the you shouldn't have a problem proving your claim to Thai citizenship

You are in a hurry grass hopper. Finish school get a degree in some subject or vocation that will allow you obtain a good job and work in Thailand

If I do college in Thailand, I can practice my thai and be better prepared for a job than going to an american college, spend way more money than I would in Thailand and be influent in thai

So long as you can prove lineage back to your Thai born grandmother, the you shouldn't have a problem proving your claim to Thai citizenship

Yes but here's the hard part. Only one of my parents was registered on my birth certificate and that's my fully khmer mom. So on my birth certificate, it lists me as "Khmer" and not thai at all. However, I have thai in me but it's just not registered on my birth certificate. Is it impossible for me to have full citizenship in Thailand??

Is your father a Thai national? If so it is possible to file for a a paternity suit, in essence have the court offcially establish that he is your father. With that you would automatically have Thai citizenship though your father.