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Thread: Advice required

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    Advice required

    My little lad is now 5 years old, and the other day I was wondering whether or not, it would be worth while getting him his Thai citizenship. When he was born, I was adamant he wouldnt need it (loads of different reasons). My main reason was him possibly having to do national service (doesnt he need to speak fluent Thai though?)

    Fast forward 5 years, and im wondering if we were too quick to make that decision? Im thinking more in terms of 15-20 years down the line, will there be any advantage to him having Thai citizenship? Any constructive thoughts welcome.
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    If he had dual citizenship would he still have to do his National service ?

    If not I'd go for it , mabe he will get a good paying job in the UK or somewhere else in the future and fancy buying a piece of land or some rubber plantation to invest in for an early retirement ?

    Just a few thoughts ,, lucky lad
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    Quote Originally Posted by nigelandjan View Post
    If he had dual citizenship would he still have to do his National service ?

    If not I'd go for it ,
    Not sure Nigel. I was thinking, officially, he isnt allowed to have duel nationality if we want him to be a Thai national. I must admit, the national service bit is the big sticking point for me.
    Quote Originally Posted by nigelandjan View Post
    mabe he will get a good paying job in the UK or somewhere else in the future and fancy buying a piece of land or some rubber plantation to invest in for an early retirement ?

    Just a few thoughts ,, lucky lad
    Basically, I just want him to have as many options as possible, and be able to travel to as many places as he needs to, without all the added hassles.

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    Dual citizenship does not exempt a Thai from military service.

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    Quote Originally Posted by astasinim
    Basically, I just want him to have as many options as possible, and be able to travel to as many places as he needs to, without all the added hassles.
    Sure you do mate as any Dad would ,, sorry I don't have the answer ,, good luck with it anyway

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    Quote Originally Posted by Gerbil View Post
    Dual citizenship does not exempt a Thai from military service.
    What about an inability to read, write and speak the language fluently?

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    Might pay you to do a bit more homework.

    If he doesn't speak Thai then a bit difficult for him to do national service. What are the rules here, I'm sure it's happened before now.

    As you would know, he has to be Thai to own land so depends what you want to do in this regard.

    My two sons ( 3 and 5 ) speak both English and Thai. Did you make a concious decision not to teach him Thai for this reason?

    You say you want him to have many options - English citizenship and passport should give him a fair run I would have thought.

    Don't over complicate things now if you don't need to, unless you have a pressing reason to do something now.

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    If you can get him two passports (despite the legalities or not), then why not? I've given my kids 2 passports each.

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    What is so awful about Thai National Service duties ? Surely the benefits of dual nationality outweigh all other matters ? It doesn't seem the boy is properly equipped to live outside Thailand anyway. Win/win situation if free to live in both as a citizen.

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    Quote Originally Posted by AUSSIE EXPAT View Post
    Might pay you to do a bit more homework.
    Hence the question here. Im sure there are many here who have the experience.
    Quote Originally Posted by AUSSIE EXPAT View Post
    If he doesn't speak Thai then a bit difficult for him to do national service. What are the rules here, I'm sure it's happened before now.
    He can speak some Thai, but is very shy about it. He cant read or write it though

    Quote Originally Posted by AUSSIE EXPAT View Post
    As you would know, he has to be Thai to own land so depends what you want to do in this regard.
    Not really bothered about all that. He`ll have far more left to him here, than in Thailand.

    Quote Originally Posted by AUSSIE EXPAT View Post
    You say you want him to have many options - English citizenship and passport should give him a fair run I would have thought.
    I agree. Its not a bad start for him, but if he can add more options then surely thats a bonus?

    Quote Originally Posted by AUSSIE EXPAT View Post
    Don't over complicate things now if you don't need to, unless you have a pressing reason to do something now.
    None what soever. Although I understand there is a certain time frame in which this needs to be done.

    Quote Originally Posted by Sir Wilson View Post
    If you can get him two passports (despite the legalities or not), then why not? I've given my kids 2 passports each.
    Thats kind of what im thinking. Its just the military thing im bothered about. If he`s going to join any mans army, then it would be the British, and I wouldnt be overly happy about that. Speaking from experience, I would say, unless your joining as an officer, then its not really an ideal career choice.

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    Quote Originally Posted by can123 View Post
    What is so awful about Thai National Service duties ? Surely the benefits of dual nationality outweigh all other matters ?
    You`ve got to be kidding, right?




    Quote Originally Posted by can123 View Post
    It doesn't seem the boy is properly equipped to live outside Thailand anyway. Win/win situation if free to live in both as a citizen.
    He was born, and is being raised in the UK, so I would say he`s quite well equipped.

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    Don't quote me on this as I'm not completely sure, but one of my co-teachers asked one of his students why he keeps turning up to learn English in military fatigues. He said that at his Thai school, if you joined the military training classes, you don't have to do national service when you finish school. Don't know if this is correct or not, but you might want to make further enquiries in this direction.
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    You are correct Benbaaa.

    Quote Originally Posted by astasinim
    Basically, I just want him to have as many options as possible, and be able to travel to as many places as he needs to, without all the added hassles.
    You answered the question yourself.

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    Quote Originally Posted by benbaaa View Post
    Don't quote me on this as I'm not completely sure, but one of my co-teachers asked one of his students why he keeps turning up to learn English in military fatigues. He said that at his Thai school, if you joined the military training classes, you don't have to do national service when you finish school. Don't know if this is correct or not, but you might want to make further enquiries in this direction.
    Correct. Voluntary military training during school years exempts kids from the national service call-up. There are other ways to avoid the call-up as well.

    I would say that dual nationality expands a child's options quite a bit. My 1 yo son has both now.

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    My twins have US and Phil, primarily for future land ownership issues. But, there is no compulsory National Service here. I also at one time thought being a documented Asian minority when applying to US colleges might be a plus. But, by the time they apply, it may be a negative as they will probably no longer be a minority.

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    I assume you are not presently living in Thailand and he is entitled to Thai Nationality because one of his Parents is Thai?

    If that is so he is already a Dual National (Thai and British) - he simply does not have the necessary documentation, - I.D. Card, Passport etc. for his Thai Nationality. (He - or his Parents - need do nothing to "apply" for his Thai Nationality, he already has that and it cannot be lost or revoked except in very extreme circumstances - and neither Thailand or the U.K. have any legislation against a person holding Dual Nationality.)

    There is no time limit for applying for this documentation so unless he needs a Thai Passport (for example) immediately for some reason you need do nothing at all; he can even wait until he retires and if he decides to live in Thailand then he can apply for his Thai I.D. Card (assuming he can get himself on a Thai House Registration - your wife's Thai Family should be able to arrange that so keep in touch with them!), then get a Passport so he can live here without any Visa hassle etc..

    If you are living in the U.K. and you wish to visit your wife's Thai family here (again, for example) he can enter on his U.K. Passport - with the necessary Visa - but would be subject to the same rules as any other foreign National visiting Thailand with reference to length of stay etc. etc., however if he had a Thai Passport then he should enter on that and would thus avoid any limitation on length of stay).

    As regards liability for Thai National Service, he would only come to the notice of the Draft Board here if he was already on a Thai House Registration; if he is not, and you are all living abroad, there is no issue there, they simply do not know he exists. Further, if he returns to live permanently in Thailand after the age of 30 his liability for National Service lapses - although he would need to get a document from the Thai authorities confirming that, however that document is easily available.

    Patrick

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    No - awful idea.

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    There is no guarantee he will have to do national service as its a bit of a lotto ,, apparently you have to choose a card red your in black your out ,, good luck

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    What's so bad if he has to do National Service anyway ?
    It will give him a bit of character and make a man out of him.
    They should bring it back in the UK too IMO

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    Quote Originally Posted by Patrick View Post
    I assume you are not presently living in Thailand and he is entitled to Thai Nationality because one of his Parents is Thai?

    If that is so he is already a Dual National (Thai and British) - he simply does not have the necessary documentation, - I.D. Card, Passport etc. for his Thai Nationality. (He - or his Parents - need do nothing to "apply" for his Thai Nationality, he already has that and it cannot be lost or revoked except in very extreme circumstances - and neither Thailand or the U.K. have any legislation against a person holding Dual Nationality.)
    How so? Other than his immediate family, no one in Thailand knows he exists.
    Quote Originally Posted by Patrick View Post
    There is no time limit for applying for this documentation so unless he needs a Thai Passport (for example) immediately for some reason you need do nothing at all; he can even wait until he retires and if he decides to live in Thailand then he can apply for his Thai I.D. Card (assuming he can get himself on a Thai House Registration - your wife's Thai Family should be able to arrange that so keep in touch with them!), then get a Passport so he can live here without any Visa hassle etc..
    Great. No time limit, so he can make his own choice when he`s old enough.
    Quote Originally Posted by Patrick View Post
    If you are living in the U.K. and you wish to visit your wife's Thai family here (again, for example) he can enter on his U.K. Passport - with the necessary Visa - but would be subject to the same rules as any other foreign National visiting Thailand with reference to length of stay etc. etc., however if he had a Thai Passport then he should enter on that and would thus avoid any limitation on length of stay).
    Already fully aware of that thanks.

    Quote Originally Posted by Patrick View Post
    As regards liability for Thai National Service, he would only come to the notice of the Draft Board here if he was already on a Thai House Registration; if he is not, and you are all living abroad, there is no issue there, they simply do not know he exists. Further, if he returns to live permanently in Thailand after the age of 30 his liability for National Service lapses - although he would need to get a document from the Thai authorities confirming that, however that document is easily available.

    Patrick
    Hmmm after 30. Is there no rule that gives exemption, such as inability to speak, read and write Thai (easy to play dumb) due to being brought up over seas?
    Quote Originally Posted by Dillinger View Post
    What's so bad if he has to do National Service anyway ?
    It will give him a bit of character and make a man out of him.
    They should bring it back in the UK too IMO
    I guess you havent read all the replies? Funny, most people I meet who support national service, are ones who have never served themselves. Why not start a thread about national service, and i`ll offer my opinion as to why I dont really support it.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Dillinger View Post
    What's so bad if he has to do National Service anyway ?
    It will give him a bit of character and make a man out of him.
    They should bring it back in the UK too IMO
    I said this above but I drew the usual "gloom and doom" answer from a poster. Even if he was unlucky in the drafting lottery it's not as though he's going to join the bloody SAS, is it ? As it happens, these elite troops train on the mountains near me and every time I talk to them it is clear how much they love their jobs. Never seen soldiers do anything other than smile when they working here. The term "band of brothers" is a bit naff but I suppose it does illustrate, in part, how comradeship works.

    The big mistake you have made is failing to insist that he has kept up his Thai. Most kids lose it when they come to the UK but we nagged our daughter to read Thai Rath every day. The result is she is now fluent in English, Thai and Laotian although the lazy little bugger has not yet learned the "Lao" alphabet ( it would take her a couple of hours at most to enable here to read ). She has a good GCSE pass in English, better than most native Welsh kids in my town, and is now studying for a degree in nursing. Not bad for a little girl from Isaan ?

    Dual nationality is obviously the way forward and you should ignore the muppets who tell you otherwise.
    Why can't I make new posts?

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    Quote Originally Posted by astasinim
    most people I meet who support national service, are ones who have never served themselves
    It ended in 1960, before my time.
    I had discipline instilled in me growing up a Squaddie brat. I was in the Cubs, Scouts and Army Cadets and a member of Dennis the Menace's Fan Club(had the Gnasher badge).
    Not much difference I should imagine. I doubt very much they are used on the Front Line

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    ^^
    Perhaps if you wasnt such a pompous git, then you`d receive a more courteous reply. The big mistake you made, was assuming my son was born outside the UK, even though I stated otherwise. Therefore how can he have lost anything, when he never had it to start with. Secondly, you dont join the SAS, you are invited to take selection, in order to test ones suitability for the regiment. Have you seen the general make up of the British army? I have, which is part of the reason I left. So there is no way on this earth my lad will be joining the Thai forces, and helping them perpetuate their racist and overt corrupt society.

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    Quote Originally Posted by astasinim
    Have you seen the general make up of the British army? I have, which is part of the reason I left.
    Yes, I have, and I clearly understand why you felt that you did not fit in there.

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    Quote Originally Posted by can123 View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Dillinger View Post
    What's so bad if he has to do National Service anyway ?
    It will give him a bit of character and make a man out of him.
    They should bring it back in the UK too IMO
    I said this above but I drew the usual "gloom and doom" answer from a poster. Even if he was unlucky in the drafting lottery it's not as though he's going to join the bloody SAS, is it ? As it happens, these elite troops train on the mountains near me and every time I talk to them it is clear how much they love their jobs. Never seen soldiers do anything other than smile when they working here. The term "band of brothers" is a bit naff but I suppose it does illustrate, in part, how comradeship works.

    The big mistake you have made is failing to insist that he has kept up his Thai. Most kids lose it when they come to the UK but we nagged our daughter to read Thai Rath every day. The result is she is now fluent in English, Thai and Laotian although the lazy little bugger has not yet learned the "Lao" alphabet ( it would take her a couple of hours at most to enable here to read ). She has a good GCSE pass in English, better than most native Welsh kids in my town, and is now studying for a degree in nursing. Not bad for a little girl from Isaan ?

    Dual nationality is obviously the way forward and you should ignore the muppets who tell you otherwise.
    My Italics and underline :

    Words fail me.

    Why on earth would you make your child read Thai Rath to learn Thai??

    Did you make her read the Sun to learn English??

    Patrick

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