My Journey Towards Getting a Thai ID

[kebbertine89]

Hey everyone,

I wanted to start a thread that will document my journey towards getting a Thai ID/becoming a Thai national. The goal of this thread is to inform future readers of the steps that it takes to get a Thai ID and passport as a US citizen. Due to my current situation, the steps I will be taking are going to be in the point-of-view of someone doing it from abroad (Thailand) with their Thai parent being abroad as well (Thailand). A little background information on me...

I'm a 25 year old marketing director for a Canadian digital marketing agency. I was born in California to a Thai mother and a US father. Growing up, there was never a need nor want to obtain my Thai ID card or passport as I was totally fine living, studying, and working in the US. It wasn't until I decided to move to Thailand for studies that I realized how potentially awesome it would be to acquire these. Even then, I came under a student Visa and checked in every 90 days like other foreign students, oblivious to my option of obtaining citizenship. After finishing my studies I went abroad to Norway for work (I had a half-thai/half-Norwegian girlfriend at the time). I was working as a marketing manager for one of the largest restaurant franchises in Norway, and I decided to join a digital marketing startup based in Toronto. Fast-forward two years, an ended relationship, disagreements with my employer in Norway, I decided that it was time to pursue some entrepreneurial opportunities in Thailand. After hearing some of my Chinese, Korean, and British buddies using ED Visas to stay in Thailand while they work on the side, I figured there must be an alternative (and legal) solution to stay in Thailand and start a business...

I asked the community here and got some great feedback, but nothing exactly what I was looking for (apologies if anyone is offended by this, I just needed more specific details). I hope this post will help everyone of Thai descent born in the states (and hopefully other countries that allow dual citizenship) to acquire their citizenship.

[Fookhaht]

Two questions:

Number one: Are you currently in Thailand? Your post was a little bit ambiguous as to where you were.

Number two: What specific step(s) have you taken to obtain citizenship/ID, if any?

Edited January 20, 2015 by Fookhaht

[kebbertine89]

So since you've arrived back in Thailand, what step(s) have you taken to obtain citizenship/ID, if any?

You're going to find out as I fill out the step(s) I have taken and will take and document them within this thread.

[Fookhaht]

Edited my question after your first reply, sorry.

So, no steps taken as yet?

[kebbertine89]

My first step was figuring out if I was actually allowed to be a dual citizen of the US and Thailand. There are plenty of conflicting websites with misleading information. I decided Wikipedia was enough for me to validate whether or not I was allowed to be a dual citizen. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_nationality_law

Based on the U.S. Department of State regulation on dual citizenship (7 FAM 1162), the Supreme Court of the United States has stated that dual citizenship is a "status long recognized in the law" and that "a person may have and exercise rights of nationality in two countries and be subject to the responsibilities of both. The mere fact he asserts the rights of one citizenship does not without more mean that he renounces the other", (Kawakita v. U.S., 343 U.S. 717) (1952). In Schneider v. Rusk 377 U.S. 163 (1964), the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a naturalized U.S. citizen has the right to return to his native country and to resume his former citizenship, and also to remain a U.S. citizen even if he never returns to the United States.

Seeing that it was legal to have dual citizenship, I sought help on the forums for people who have gone through the steps to obtaining it, whether for themselves or for their children.

This is a pdf of the Thailand Nationality Act: Thailand Nationality Act 2508 (1965) amended until 2555 - English - refworld.pdf

Chapter 1.

Acquisition of Thai Nationality

__________________________

Section 7.6

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;

(2) A person born within the Thai Kingdom except the person under Section 7

bis paragraph one.

“Father” in (1) means also a person having been proved, in conformity with the

Ministerial Regulation, that he is a biological father of the person even though he did not

register marriage with the mother of the person or did not do a registration of legitimate

child.

According to this document, I acquired Thai nationality by birth, being born of a father or mother of Thai nationality outside the Thai Kingdom.

[kebbertine89]

I've taken a few more steps towards getting citizenship, but its 1:17AM, heading to bed. Will continue tomorrow.

[Fookhaht]

Well, your report of the time gives me a clue to my first question: you're in Thailand?

[kebbertine89]

Due to my current situation, the steps I will be taking are going to be in the point-of-view of someone doing it from abroad (Thailand) with their Thai parent being abroad as well (Thailand). A little background information on me...

Yup.

[BKKdreaming]

if you become a Thai officially can they make you do military service ?

I know when my friend went back to Yugoslavia many years ago they were going to grab him and make him join the Army !

[Langsuan Man]

So since you've arrived back in Thailand, what step(s) have you taken to obtain citizenship/ID, if any?

You're going to find out as I fill out the step(s) I have taken and will take and document them within this thread.

So basically this thread is going to tell us what you do or did, not ask advice from us on how to do it ?

[ubonjoe]

It seems you were given a good deal of advise in this topic. 25yr old Half-Thai interested in Thai ID Card

You were told dual nationality was not a problem in that topic.

You were also told you have Thai nationality from birth and the only thing you need is to proof of it. And that what you need for proof is a Thai birth certificate issued by the embassy in the country where you were born.

[asiaexpat]

While there have been a number of post about this subject it may be helpful to continue your story so it can be pinned. That is if you have successfully completed the process.

[Langsuan Man]

While there have been a number of post about this subject it may be helpful to continue your story so it can be pinned. That is if you have successfully completed the process.

That is a big if.......

[ubonjoe]

While there have been a number of post about this subject it may be helpful to continue your story so it can be pinned. That is if you have successfully completed the process.

That is a big if.......

Why?

It is not all that difficult.

[kebbertine89]

While there have been a number of post about this subject it may be helpful to continue your story so it can be pinned. That is if you have successfully completed the process.

That is a big if.......

Why?

It is not all that difficult.

From my experience thus far it is a somewhat tedious and difficult process. After contacting the Chicago Consulate via phone they stated that I have to contact the LA Consulate to be assisted. I asked if I could ask a few questions regarding the process and he responded with a "No" and hung up abruptly.

[Langsuan Man]

While there have been a number of post about this subject it may be helpful to continue your story so it can be pinned. That is if you have successfully completed the process.

That is a big if.......

Why?

It is not all that difficult.

You already mentioned that the OP failed to heed the advice that he was given in another thread ( post 11 above) and most of these dual nationality posts go down the tubes once the poster realizes that they are going to be subject to Thai mandatory military service

[Langsuan Man]

While there have been a number of post about this subject it may be helpful to continue your story so it can be pinned. That is if you have successfully completed the process.

That is a big if.......

Why?

It is not all that difficult.

From my experience thus far it is a somewhat tedious and difficult process. After contacting the Chicago Consulate via phone they stated that I have to contact the LA Consulate to be assisted. I asked if I could ask a few questions regarding the process and he responded with a "No" and hung up abruptly.

Next time contact the Embassy in Washington, they will help, Consulates are not staffed with the "cream" of the Diplomatic Corps

[kebbertine89]

Response from [email protected]

1 U got to make Thai certificate first. U can do it only in our Office or when we go to provide services at mobile Consul.

2 Documents to use when we make birth certificate read from www.thaiconsulatela.org click English and look at legalization

3 The first Thai ID can not be made by the Consulate. U have to make it in Thailand but only after U got birth certificate from the Consulate.

The official here stated that I can only do it in their office or when they provide services via mobile Consul. The information given to me is slightly incorrect, as you have the option of doing this process by mail. http://www.thaiconsulatela.org/service_legal_detail.aspx?link_id=36

Required Documents
1. Legalization Petition Form
2. Original and Copy of the Document(s) to be Legalized
3. Copy of the Identification Card of the Documents Owner(s)

Fees
$15.00 Per Document
Only Money Order or Cashier’s Check made pay able to Royal Thai Consulate General, Los Angeles Accepted (No Cash /No Personal / Company Check or Credit Card Accepted)

By Mail
1. Sending the Above Documents to the Royal Thai Consulate General, Los Angeles
2. Fees; Only by Cashier’s Check or Money Order; Payable to ‘The Royal Thai Consulate General, Los Angeles’
3. Please Including a Self – Addressed – Stamped – Envelope with Enough Postage for Mailing the Document Back to You

Remark
The Royal Thai Consulate General, Los Angeles Will Not Assure for Lose Mail

[ubonjoe]

Contacting the embassy would best.

Info for making an application to get a birth certificate is here on embassy website: http://www.thaiembassydc.org/?page_id=801

As suggested in the other topic you can do the application here at the Consular Affairs Department and they will send it to the embassy for them to do the birth certificate.

[kebbertine89]

While there have been a number of post about this subject it may be helpful to continue your story so it can be pinned. That is if you have successfully completed the process.

That is a big if.......

Why?

It is not all that difficult.

You already mentioned that the OP failed to heed the advice that he was given in another thread ( post 11 above) and most of these dual nationality posts go down the tubes once the poster realizes that they are going to be subject to Thai mandatory military service

This is just my experience behind getting dual citizenship. I've taken advice from my previous thread and it has come in handy, but I'm just interested in developing a more dynamic post, complete with URLS, the necessary PDFs to download, the length of time that it took, and the obstacles that presented themselves and how I'll overcome them. Regarding Thai mandatory military service, I am aware of it and I'll be posting the questions that I pose to the consulate as well as the responses.

[ubonjoe]

You already mentioned that the OP failed to heed the advice that he was given in another thread ( post 11 above) and most of these dual nationality posts go down the tubes once the poster realizes that they are going to be subject to Thai mandatory military service

I did not say he failed to heed advice. You are putting words in my mouth.

There are several that have successfully gotten it done.. Some were above the age 30 so the draft was not a concern.

People tend to overstate the chances of being conscripted in these topics.

[ChangMaiSausage]

I do hope that the English used in their response below is not word for word.

U got to make..... U can do it.......

Too much sms language used in modern day communications.

Response from [email protected]

1 U got to make Thai certificate first. U can do it only in our Office or when we go to provide services at mobile Consul.

2 Documents to use when we make birth certificate read from www.thaiconsulatela.org click English and look at legalization

3 The first Thai ID can not be made by the Consulate. U have to make it in Thailand but only after U got birth certificate from the Consulate.

The official here stated that I can only do it in their office or when they provide services via mobile Consul. The information given to me is slightly incorrect, as you have the option of doing this process by mail. http://www.thaiconsulatela.org/service_legal_detail.aspx?link_id=36

Required Documents
1. Legalization Petition Form
2. Original and Copy of the Document(s) to be Legalized
3. Copy of the Identification Card of the Documents Owner(s)

Fees
$15.00 Per Document
Only Money Order or Cashier’s Check made pay able to Royal Thai Consulate General, Los Angeles Accepted (No Cash /No Personal / Company Check or Credit Card Accepted)

By Mail
1. Sending the Above Documents to the Royal Thai Consulate General, Los Angeles
2. Fees; Only by Cashier’s Check or Money Order; Payable to ‘The Royal Thai Consulate General, Los Angeles’
3. Please Including a Self – Addressed – Stamped – Envelope with Enough Postage for Mailing the Document Back to You

Remark
The Royal Thai Consulate General, Los Angeles Will Not Assure for Lose Mail

[bendywire]

Rather than write about here on TV. Write a blog and then just go on twitter and friend thousands and tell them to read all about your amazing journey ( sarcasm ).

[ToddinChonburi]

Well if I read this right, you have a Thai mother so you already are a Thai citizen. Your parents should have reported your birth to the Thai Embassy in the United States. My guess now is your birth certificate showing nationality of your parents to , Where ? Thai Embassy in the United States . Keep us posted.

[ToddinChonburi]

I forgot, I am an American with Thai drivers License. So I have Thai ID .

[deepcell]

All questions about citizenship are related to the embassy and not t the consulate.

[samran]

You've been told what you need to do.

Liase with the department of consular affairs in bangkok who will work with the embassy to get your Thai birth certificate.

[kebbertine89]

if you become a Thai officially can they make you do military service ?

I know when my friend went back to Yugoslavia many years ago they were going to grab him and make him join the Army !

I'll figure out all the specifics and detail them thoroughly here after I head to the MFA in BKK.

[kebbertine89]

You've been told what you need to do.

Liase with the department of consular affairs in bangkok who will work with the embassy to get your Thai birth certificate.

I've been told, but it hasn't been explained to the point where I can tell my brother or sister, "hey, just go to this website, go to this forum, and talk to this person, and you'll know exactly what you need, how much of it you need, how long it will take, and what obstacles might be in your way."

As stated multiple times, this is a thread stating my journey towards getting a Thai ID, with detailed steps and references along the way.

Imagine, for example, if I wanted to start a business selling noodles in Thailand. There are many people who have had the same idea and executed it. Some have done well, some have given up, and some have no clue where to begin. My chances and ease of achieving a successful noodle empire would be increased reading "Noodle King Dean's Steps to Greatness - An in depth guide on how to start a noodle company." Or I could read "Slip Slurp - John's Journey to Selling Noodles for a Profit". Everyone's journey is different, and I would rather document my own than be told to go somewhere and they'll work with you.

[samran]

Like most things in Thailand you'll need to do it yourself. If you want a fool proof guide as to what floor, which desk and what phone number the you'll have to find that out and reprint after you go.

We can help you with tha general steps. When you go for your ID card for instance, what you need and happens to you will vary from others.