A quick call to the dealer confirmed that VWoA discontinued their "Pick it up
in Germany" program a few years ago; evidently it was too costly for them!

Though not applicable to this group, Saab still does it, but it is severely
limited - they have set a quota of only a couple hundred per year.

Another possibility is that the car was purchased new, with US safety and
emissions specs, by a G.I. or state department employee overseas.  An Air
Force friend of mine returned from a stint in Italy with a mid-eighties
Caravelle (Vanagon) with a turbo diesel. Neat car until he blew the turbo on a
trip to Alaska - I think he eventually was able to work some Passat parts into
the mix to get it fixed and running, tho'.

-Blaine