My Thai Mother needs a Thai ID, she never had one?

[tampa3]

I am in the process of getting my Thai passport since my mother is Thai, and I am american born. I should be entitled to dual citizenship, and the Consulate office agrees, if we provide the proper documentation.

In order for me to get my Thai passport, I need a Thai Birth Certificate to be issued. The requirements say that my mother has to send the Thai Consulate her Thai Passport and Thai ID.

This is where it gets complicated. My mother left Thailand over 40 years ago, and became an American citizen. We have her old Thai passports, but they are so old, Thai National ID numbers were not used at that time and they are not in the expired passports. No Thai ID either, I don't think they made them in the early 70s. She has no birth certificate either. I have been in contact with both the Chicago Thai Consulates, and Washington offices, and they both say different things. Chicago says she will never get a Thai ID because she became an American. That is BS because she never renounced in writing. The Washington Consulate says she can. We faxed all the old documents to Washington, and they cannot use them because the lack of Thai ID number. The old Ta Bian Ban that we have issued in the 70s, does not list her Thai ID Number on it, its too old. They told my mother that she will have to travel back to Thailand and find relatives to put her on a "Ta Bian Ban", and get a Thai ID. After we have done this, a Thai Passport can be issued. This sounds a little fishy. What stops foreigners from doing this? There must be something I am missing.

You would think that the current documentation that we have, old Ta Bian Ban, old Thai Passport, Thai marriage certification, would be sufficient to get this done in the USA, since they were sufficient for renewal process of her old passport 1 time in the 70s here in the USA. They only thing that changed since then was the creation of Thai ID numbers.

So, lets say this is all correct. I have already booked tickets for me and mother to travel there for 4 weeks to get this all accomplished. My mother was born and adopted in Thailand and surely her biological parents are long gone. My Thai girlfriend says that we can do this and shouldn't be a problem. If we cannot find her family there, Her sister is a Thai police commander and her family will put her on a "Ta Bian Ban", and I am not sure if that is going to help us out or not.

Am I missing something here, or is this as easy as it sounds? Any other avenues that are easier to get this done? Thai Attorneys that I can hire?

[skyaslimit]

If your mother still holds her old thabian baan & passport there will be no problems to convert these documents to the new ones, simply bring the old thabian baan to the amphur which issued it in the first place a new thabian baan with thai ID number should be issued, you may require some witnesses during the process.

[tampa3]

If your mother still holds her old thabian baan & passport there will be no problems to convert these documents to the new ones, simply bring the old thabian baan to the amphur which issued it in the first place a new thabian baan with thai ID number should be issued, you may require some witnesses during the process.

Perfect. Thanks. I just needed some moral boosting. I hope it is this easy.

[samran]

My mother and aunt were in the same position as your mum. They both came back and located their old tabieen baan at where they used to be registered. They should got those updated and got registered with a new ID number and got a new ID card. 40+ years after they left.

It will be useful if your mum brings all of her old documents to help along the process.

From there you can get your thai BC sorted and then your passport from DC.

Edited October 28, 2014 by samran

[David48]

tampa3 ... I'm envious.

you have a wonderful opportunity to share with your Mum the experience of revisiting her homeland.

Sure, many things will have changed, but it will still 'feel right for her'.

"Her sister is a Thai police commander" ... MASSIVE advantage ... use it as you need it.

It's a key that many of us Westerners wish we could occasionally turn in our favour.

Don't look forward with trepidation ... overcome the small challenges and enjoy, with your Mum, the journey ...

[tampa3]

tampa3 ... I'm envious.

you have a wonderful opportunity to share with your Mum the experience of revisiting her homeland.

Sure, many things will have changed, but it will still 'feel right for her'.

"Her sister is a Thai police commander" ... MASSIVE advantage ... use it as you need it.

It's a key that many of us Westerners wish we could occasionally turn in our favour.

Don't look forward with trepidation ... overcome the small challenges and enjoy, with your Mum, the journey ...

I got mixed emotions about the trip but it must be done. I do agree, it will be neat seeing her reaction to things. I have a hard time spending a few hours with her because Thai woman have their ways, let alone spending 4 weeks with her. I grew up very Americanized and me and my Thai girlfriend constantly argue about small things, the same as I do with my mother. Its me that needs to change, but I am getting better at it. Hopefully I do not need to use the "Massive advantage" since I like to do things the proper way. Again thanks for all the encouragement.

[tampa3]

So after having my girlfriend translate the tabien baan so I can find the amphur where it was issued at she comes back with Ta Kyle Nakhonsawon. After some quick research, there is a Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base where USAF personal were stationed there in the 70s. I guess that is where my dad was stationed at. Its all coming together.

[David48]

tampa3 ... I'm envious.

you have a wonderful opportunity to share with your Mum the experience of revisiting her homeland.

Sure, many things will have changed, but it will still 'feel right for her'.

"Her sister is a Thai police commander" ... MASSIVE advantage ... use it as you need it.

It's a key that many of us Westerners wish we could occasionally turn in our favour.

Don't look forward with trepidation ... overcome the small challenges and enjoy, with your Mum, the journey ...

I got mixed emotions about the trip but it must be done. I do agree, it will be neat seeing her reaction to things. I have a hard time spending a few hours with her because Thai woman have their ways, let alone spending 4 weeks with her. I grew up very Americanized and me and my Thai girlfriend constantly argue about small things, the same as I do with my mother. Its me that needs to change, but I am getting better at it. Hopefully I do not need to use the "Massive advantage" since I like to do things the proper way. Again thanks for all the encouragement.

Sweet ...

Don't sweat the small things.

Embrace your Mum ... it's going to difficult for you ... but equally, if not more difficult for her.

You have to rise above that and be there for her.

About using the "Massive advantage" ... be like the US General Sherman ... speak lightly ... carry a Tank in the pocket if you need it. When/if the brick wall appears ... know you have a tank to bust a path through it.

Ha Ha ... do you like spicy?

.

[ridge runner]

did not read all posts. but what you were told is correct. my wife had to do this about ten years ago in khon Karen. it was for her and son. we left Thailand in 72 and never came back. used her half brothers house book and had to get people to say they remembered her. for the most part pretty smooth. only a little money exchanged hands. this was in khon Karen.

[CMHomeboy78]

In Thailand it's not what you know, but who you know.

If your mother's sister is police brass, then things can be worked out the Thai way.

Choke dee.

[Leung Falang]

tampa3 ... I'm envious.

you have a wonderful opportunity to share with your Mum the experience of revisiting her homeland.

Sure, many things will have changed, but it will still 'feel right for her'.

"Her sister is a Thai police commander" ... MASSIVE advantage ... use it as you need it.

It's a key that many of us Westerners wish we could occasionally turn in our favour.

Don't look forward with trepidation ... overcome the small challenges and enjoy, with your Mum, the journey ...

This portal often not let me "like" a post such as this one......so I am liking what you said this way.

[mutha289]

A few years ago my wife went through a similar process that you are describing that your mother needs to do . . . it was NOT an easy process! She had copies of her last Thai passport however it had been issued from an embassy and not within Thailand, I don't recall exactly why but this seemed to complicate matters. She first attempted to start the process in her home town, Phitsanulok, however she ran into a stone wall there. Eventually she went to the town where she last was issued an ID, Rayong, and brought along her brother and sister to provide additional verification of her identity. From what she has told me I don't think she would have obtained her ID without her brother and sister's assistance and the fact that she brought as many of her old documents that she could find, by the way her last Thai documents were issued in the late 70's. My recommendation is to:

• Start at the town / seat of government that last issued your mother a Thai ID
• Bring as many documents as possible to include: old Thai passports, Thai ID, marriage certificate, US Naturalization certificate, US Passport, drivers license, etc. Make copies of all before you leave and be prepared to have to get Thai translations of the US / English language documents.
• Finally have your mother bring the sister that you mention and any other relatives and or step relatives she can find, the more the merrier to help verify her identity. The fact that her sister is a police officer may help.

It took my wife two separate trips to Thailand to sort out all of this, but that was mainly due to the fact that she didn't know where to start. Many of the officials she first spoke with had no clue how to proceed in re-establishing her Thai citizenship, and as you mentioned the Washington embassy provided no help. In the end she did get a new Thai ID (no passport yet). However the ID that was issued to her is in a different name than her current name, this is why she hasn't proceeded with getting a Thai passport! The explanation for issuance of the ID in a different name was that there was already someone in Thailand with the same name and they could not issue her an ID in that name . . . I still have not figured that one out! I believe that part of the problem is that when she left Thailand she had just married an American. That marriage did not last long and sometime after their divorce she married me, and so she had two last name changes and then when she became a naturalized US citizen she changed her first name to the name that she commonly went by and used what was her Thai first name as her now middle name. Yes I know, very complicated but then so is life!

Our daughter is now married with children of her own and would like to get Thai citizenship, but now with her own family it is harder for her to visit Thailand, maybe the next family trip we will see if it's possible.

Hopefully you had a chance to visit Thailand previously, if not be prepared for a little culture shock . . . things are not done in Thailand as they are here in the US. Having said all of that I do believe that you and your mother can do this and I wish you the best of luck!

Edited October 28, 2014 by mutha289

[Thongkorn]

I got a Thai Id card for a person whom never had one. I took them to their Local Amphur, We took some people who would vouch for her, they knew her from long ago. when she lived in the Village. They issued one, it took about twenty minutes. Hope you can possibly do the same.

[kinmaew]

You lucky dog go and buy land 100% in your name!! I am sure you have already good luck while the rest of us rent.

[cooked]

She can cut a few years off her age while she's at it. I wonder what kind of culture shock she will experience.

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