mandatory registration military service for Thai men living in foreign countries (like USA)

[dcduffy]

Not sure how this forum works but would appreciate any information on how to resolve my Thai/American/Irish sons' error in never registering for Thai military service while living in USA since he was 5 years old.

Today while speaking to a Consular officer in Denver he was told that he would be arrested if he attempted to enter Thailkand using his Thai passport since he never registered for past six yeras,

, kind of confusing, any clear logical helpful and concise suggestions would be appreciated

[ubonjoe]

How old is he now?

Not likely to happen on entry to the country.

The registration is more or less automatic if he is registered in a house book. They send out a list of those turning 21 years old for the draft every year.

There a form that can be completed to waive him from being called for the draft if living outside the country. You would have to contact the embassy in DC or one of the official consulates in New York, Chicago or Los Angles to do it.

 

[Dustdevil]

Even I as an American was exempted from the US military draft in 1968-on, when I was 18+, because I was living in Europe at the time. Not to evade the draft--my parents took me over there when I was ten. Besides, I had a draft number of 300. Some of you will know what that means.

[Langsuan Man]

20 minutes ago, Dustdevil said:

Even I as an American was exempted from the US military draft in 1968-on, when I was 18+, because I was living in Europe at the time. Not to evade the draft--my parents took me over there when I was ten. Besides, I had a draft number of 300. Some of you will know what that means.

You may have been exempt from serving but you certainly were not exempt from registering for the draft, otherwise you could not have pulled a "300" number

[speckio]

1 hour ago, Dustdevil said:

Even I as an American was exempted from the US military draft in 1968-on, when I was 18+, because I was living in Europe at the time. Not to evade the draft--my parents took me over there when I was ten. Besides, I had a draft number of 300. Some of you will know what that means.

 

thailand laws are quite different... every thai citizen must register for military service or apply for an exemption .

 

IE if you are a male thai citizen living abroad you must return to serve. 

[speckio]

Short term fix if you are just planning to travel for a short period... Leave the Thai passport at home and enter on the American passport. (easy hassle free since there are no visa requirements)

 

I suggest if you want to clear things up correctly hire a lawyer to sort things out for you.. Laws can be tricky and complicated and if you try to do things on your own more than likely you will miss a detail that can really screw you over... Don't be cheap unless you are willing to risk your son going to jail.

[sawadeeken]

My Thai Wife in the US has a son who turned legal age about 10 years ago.. We were living in the US and she had a sister who had friends in the local Aumpur and she arranged to pay 10 or 20 Thousand Baht and the official had his record altered as if he had appeared and been exempted. It cost but it worked........

TIT....... Doubt it will ever change (TIT)

[khundon]

Our son (7) born in U.K. but has both THAI and EU passports, as does his mother.

We live in U.K. but travel to Thailand on a regular basis.

Can anyone advise us whether he is liable for national service when he reaches

18 years of age? 

We would not want to find that he is arrested on entry to Thailand on entry there

when he is over 18. 

Any avice would be greatly appreciated .

[dcduffy]

embassy suggested entering on US passport and contacting the regional military office for Buriram , I think I will have his uncle do it on the QT and see what happens, he is 26 now, his sister lives in BKK and mother is still in USA but still has home and house registration for buriram

[jimster]

On 4/25/2017 at 10:54 AM, speckio said:

thailand laws are quite different... every thai citizen must register for military service or apply for an exemption .

 

IE if you are a male thai citizen living abroad you must return to serve. 

Who can force you - you're living abroad. One of the main reasons for a Thai male to live abroad is to avoid military service.

 

Better question is how to file an exemption (both for thais living in Thailand and those living abroad). I don't understand the point of military service in a so-called "free" society - the requirement to serve should go the way of the dodo. Many countries have stopped making it mandatory to serve in the military.

 

Another question - at what age does the military service requirement cease? 30? For example, if a Thai male lives abroad between the ages of 21-30 they would avoid military service?