Dual Citizenship Passport Use

[bangkokbanks]

My wife and kids are dual citizens, Thai/American. They have not been back to the States in four years, when we came here, we used the Thai passports. I have been told there is no problem (I hope) entering the States, but that coming back to Thailand there could be some issues. My question is, what is the best way to use the passports? Logic dictates to: Exit on the Thai, then enter into USA on the American passports, and exit on the USA passports, then once in Thailand, enter using the Thai passports. Is there anyone with experiance that can recommend what we should do?

Thank you.

[Mario2008]

You provided your own answer already, that is the correct way to do it. In fact you have to enter and exit the USA on your US passport.

At check-in for the airline present both passports, so they know that no visa for either contry is needed.

Don't worry, airlines and immigration deal with dual nationality all the time.

[Richard4849]

What if the names on the passports don't match? Ie., an Americanized name and a Thai name?

[bangkokbanks]

Thank you for your reply. Mario I agree with you and will do that method. Richard brings up a good point, although the name for the kids are the same on both passports, my wife has took my name in America but retained her birth name here in Thailand. Richard brings up a good point, and I do not know what to expect except to do as Mario already suggests.

[samran]

Thank you for your reply. Mario I agree with you and will do that method. Richard brings up a good point, although the name for the kids are the same on both passports, my wife has took my name in America but retained her birth name here in Thailand. Richard brings up a good point, and I do not know what to expect except to do as Mario already suggests.

No problem. My mother travels on dual passports. Her Australian one has her married name, Thai one uses her thai maiden name. She travels here 3-4 times per year.

[Pib]

When entering or exiting Thailand, use the Thai passport (may also have to show the U.S. passport to the airlines check-in upon exiting Thailand to prove you can enter the U.S...Thai Immigration checkpoint don't care as it's the airlines' duty to ensure you can enter the flight's destination country); when entering or exiting the U.S., use the U.S. passport. My wife, who holds both Thai and U.S. citizenships and passports, has been doing this for years.

[p_brownstone]

Why doesn't someone - Samran would be my nominee - write a Summary of the Dual Citizenship / 2 Passports situation and Pin it.

This comes up a couple of times a month - I have replied in the past but now just give up.

Samran has WAY more patience than I do obviously!

Patrick

[samran]

Why doesn't someone - Samran would be my nominee - write a Summary of the Dual Citizenship / 2 Passports situation and Pin it.

This comes up a couple of times a month - I have replied in the past but now just give up.

Samran has WAY more patience than I do obviously!

Patrick

I need an excuse to get to 7000 posts

[bangkokbanks]

I will agree that if this particular topic comes up often, it should be pinned into a must read first section. I might add, I knew if I posted the question; others with my same circumstances would help me. That is exactly what happened. Thanks to all, and thanks for this web site - although I do not understand the imporance (if any) of the ranking system. I have used the site often for four years, and noticed somehow I am no longer a Newbie. This I think is my 14th post; break out the Champagne. I enjoy some of the comments and think they are funny but not always at the expense of this culture. Until citizenship is attained, we are guests. Ouch! I just fell off my high horse.

[moonlightazn]

I have read topic of dual US-Thai a lot, and I think it is kind of confusing. People mentioned their experience from UK, Australia, or other Western countries as though the immigration process and travelling rule is the same.

For US-Thai dual, on returning from Thailand back to US, you should always use only US passport to checkin at the airlines, not the Thai passport. The Thai passport is no use for the airline. The US law requires all airlines from international flight to send in the passenger manifest list which has name and passport information to the port of entry 2-3 hours before arriving. This information will be scanned by U.S immigration and look into before the airplane lands.

Showing the Thai passport to airline will cause so much headache to them for no reason. Since they will need to ask for US passport and redo the checkin again to put your US passport as a check in passenger.

You don't want to have the airline made a mistake and have your Thai passport information in the passenger list, when you get into USA. One of my friend has bad experience about this already, but she is dual US-south american. Of course, they must let her in since she is a US citizen, except it was not fun for her stucking at the checkpoint for 2 hours.

Thai passport is only used when you hand in to Thai immigration officer at the enter/exit counter, and that's it.

[bangkokbanks]

Just a follow up regarding my posted question about travelling back to USA with dual citizens. I can say now that most of the replies were correct and for me there was no problem at all. It was a non issue because the Thai side never asked us anything, when we arrived in USA, they just looked at the US passports - then leaving the US same deal; they stamped us out of the country. Arriving Thailand the official said nothing with regard to the Thai passports. So at least I know in the case of traveling to the States, using two sets of passports is no problem at all.

[khunphil]

Hi,

There is one thing that puzzles me. I have a Thai friend who has a US passport. I understand that leaving Thailand with Thai passport, means re-entering Thailand with Thai passport, which is perfect because he is Thai and will go out of the country for some months only.

OK to show the US passport at checking so the airline staff will understand that he does not need a Visa to go Europe... Perfect.

But when passing immigration in Thailand (after checking), is showing only the Thai passport not a problem ? Will they ask to check the visa to go Europe or something like this (as the airline staff can ask) or is this really not their concern ?

Thanks to help if you understand my question.

Philippe

[p_brownstone]

Hi,

There is one thing that puzzles me. I have a Thai friend who has a US passport. I understand that leaving Thailand with Thai passport, means re-entering Thailand with Thai passport, which is perfect because he is Thai and will go out of the country for some months only.

OK to show the US passport at checking so the airline staff will understand that he does not need a Visa to go Europe... Perfect.

But when passing immigration in Thailand (after checking), is showing only the Thai passport not a problem ? Will they ask to check the visa to go Europe or something like this (as the airline staff can ask) or is this really not their concern ?

Thanks to help if you understand my question.

Philippe

Immigration Officers in (almost?) any Country are only interested to check that:

On Entry to their Country you have the required Visa or Exemption.

On Exit from their Country you have been there legally.

They do not care about where you have been or where you are going.

Patrick