Sawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)

[thongd4me 69]

I'm curious... I had always planned my wife would remain a Thai citizen here on a Green Card. I really would like to retire to Thailand some day and I think it would be an advantage if she officially remained Thai. I honestly can't think of a good reason for her to become a US citizen (she won't get a Federal job and I doubt she would care enough about politics to vote), so I am wondering if I'm missing something. Are there any requirements for her to either become naturalized or remain Thai?

I agree with others that responded - at first my opinion of US citizenship for my wife was the same as yours,

but if you go to the State Department website you will find that although the US does not "recognize" dual

citizenship, they do not prohibit it. Not recognize just means that if someone has US citizenship (by naturalization,

for example) they won't give any special privileges to that person by virtue of their Thai citizenship. The same goes

for Thailand; US citizenship for a Thai citizen is not recognized but not expressly prohibited. When in Thailand the

Thai won't have any special privileges derived from his/her US citizenship.

Dual Nationality

The wording there may appear to be a little confusing, but be assured that both nationalities can be held simultaneously.

However, dual nationals owe allegiance to both the United States and the foreign country. They are required to obey the laws of both countries. Either country has the right to enforce its laws, particularly if the person later travels there.Most U.S. citizens, including dual nationals, must use a U.S. passport to enter and leave the United States. Dual nationals may also be required by the foreign country to use its passport to enter and leave that country. Use of the foreign passport does not endanger U.S. citizenship.Most countries permit a person to renounce or otherwise lose citizenship.

[thongd4me 69]

...@td4me...unfortunately there has always been a chance to buy your freedom in thailand. i would say the article title is horrid since if he is guilty of even one of those charges then he deserves to ROT, and him gaining freedom is not justice.

story is reminiscent of one from about 3-4 years ago about a san francisco cop who had been traveling back and forth to thailand for like 15 years or something and he was caught with a VERY young child they didn't say exact age or gender but ultimately the justice he got was..."he committed suicide in his jail cell by shooting himself in the head/face TWICE". "suicide eh?

I was impressed by the article because it clearly showed that this dirtbag was getting away with murder,

while it also exposed his partners in crime because in any rotten business, it takes two sides to make a deal.

[Kang Lang 7]

I was impressed by the article because it clearly showed that this dirtbag was getting away with murder,

while it also exposed his partners in crime because in any rotten business, it takes two sides to make a deal.

true...what a shameful dirty rotten business although the cynic in me doesn't see that it will change anything.

[toma1 10]

I'm curious... I had always planned my wife would remain a Thai citizen here on a Green Card. I really would like to retire to Thailand some day and I think it would be an advantage if she officially remained Thai. I honestly can't think of a good reason for her to become a US citizen (she won't get a Federal job and I doubt she would care enough about politics to vote), so I am wondering if I'm missing something. Are there any requirements for her to either become naturalized or remain Thai?

You CAN be a dual citizen. Thailand does NOT recognize the renouncement of citizenship that your wife will have to give to USCIS. Thai citizens always retain Thai citizenship from the perspective of the Thai government.

Advantages of US Citizenship

Visa free travel for many locations (Though Thailand has visa free travel to many locations that the US does NOT.)

Voting

Do not have to renew it.

Cannot lose it unless you were a war criminal before you applied.

You are no longer bound by the I-864 form that you completed.

Disadvantages of US Citizenship

Even if you move back to Thailand she will still be required to file a US Tax return

Terrorists will automatically hate her.

[daboyz 36]

You CAN be a dual citizen. Thailand does NOT recognize the renouncement of citizenship that your wife will have to give to USCIS. Thai citizens always retain Thai citizenship from the perspective of the Thai government.

Advantages of US Citizenship

Visa free travel for many locations (Though Thailand has visa free travel to many locations that the US does NOT.)

Voting

Do not have to renew it.

Cannot lose it unless you were a war criminal before you applied.

You are no longer bound by the I-864 form that you completed.

Disadvantages of US Citizenship

Even if you move back to Thailand she will still be required to file a US Tax return

Terrorists will automatically hate her.

True though.

[ArizonaMike74 0]

She can have dual citizenship. In my mind the best reason is for traveling. If she has a US passport she wont need visas for most countries in the world.

You make a good point I had never thought of before. I would like to take a European vacation with Mimi in a few years visiting Spain, France, Greece, and Britain. It never occurred to me before that she will not be able to get a US Passport since she will be here on a Green Card. If that is the case then she would have to apply for a Visa for each of those countries at their nearest Embassy? Wow that sucks

[daboyz 36]

You make a good point I had never thought of before. I would like to take a European vacation with Mimi in a few years visiting Spain, France, Greece, and Britain. It never occurred to me before that she will not be able to get a US Passport since she will be here on a Green Card. If that is the case then she would have to apply for a Visa for each of those countries at their nearest Embassy? Wow that sucks

http://www.delta.com/planning_reservations/plan_flight/international_travel_information/visa_passport_information/index.jsp

Kind of a cool website for visa questions.

[toma1 10]

You make a good point I had never thought of before. I would like to take a European vacation with Mimi in a few years visiting Spain, France, Greece, and Britain. It never occurred to me before that she will not be able to get a US Passport since she will be here on a Green Card. If that is the case then she would have to apply for a Visa for each of those countries at their nearest Embassy? Wow that sucks

For that trip, she would need a UK visa plus a Schengen visa which would work for the other three.

[AaronLV 12]

The other advantage is she can get social security. Even if she works enough hours to become eligible, a non us citizen can not get any SS benefits of any kind, including spousal benefits, when you kick it. I doubt my wife will ever work enough to get her own benefits, but I would like her to be able to get mine when I die. Plus the fact if you do decide to live out of the US and she is a green card holder, after 6 months or 1 year (can't remember which), she would lose her PR Status without an extension, and have to go through the visa process again.

[daboyz 36]

The other advantage is she can get social security. Even if she works enough hours to become eligible, a non us citizen can not get any SS benefits of any kind, including spousal benefits, when you kick it. I doubt my wife will ever work enough to get her own benefits, but I would like her to be able to get mine when I die. Plus the fact if you do decide to live out of the US and she is a green card holder, after 6 months or 1 year (can't remember which), she would lose her PR Status without an extension, and have to go through the visa process again.

Yeah that also. Kind of a gray area, but I know over a year and you have start over. I've seen some things here where 6-12 months is kind of up to the CBP without the re-entry permit.

[toma1 10]

The other advantage is she can get social security. Even if she works enough hours to become eligible, a non us citizen can not get any SS benefits of any kind, including spousal benefits, when you kick it. I doubt my wife will ever work enough to get her own benefits, but I would like her to be able to get mine when I die.

100% false.

http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/11051.html

http://immigration.findlaw.com/immigration/immigration-more-topics/permanent-resident-rights.html

[rin and john 71]

@rin and john, how did you finally get rin to study for the driving exam, my husband says he's nervous to drive here and parking in abysmal in san francisco.

I didn't! She took the written test twice, missed too many questions, and decided she doesn't need to drive! Her oldest daughter turns 15 in Feb, so maybe they can take the test together.

[rin and john 71]

We also plan on Rin getting citizenship as when she passes the test, her minor children become USCs. They, in all likelihood, will never return to live in Thailand, thus it would be much more convenient to be USCs rather than LPRs.

[AaronLV 12]

100% false.

http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/11051.html

http://immigration.findlaw.com/immigration/immigration-more-topics/permanent-resident-rights.html

Interesting. I was mis-informed. I never went and looked it up, I got the information from someone else I knew that recently had become a citizen.

Thanks for the links.

[rin and john 71]

100% false.

http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/11051.html

http://immigration.f...ent-rights.html

Seems like awhile back I saw that ssi for non-citizens who live in the USA didn't have a problem getting SSI ( believe that is what the pubs above are about), but that there was a limit on a non-citizen living overseas and drawing SSI. Can't find it now, but I swear I saw it somewhere. Since Rin and I plan to retire in Thailand, her being a USC would assure she was able to receive SSI if she outlives me.