Dual Thai/Us Citizen Travelling To The Us Jan 21St

[dman]

Hi Mates

This is a strange one and very much appreciate any advice since time is short.

My 6 year old son was born in Thailand and holds both US and Thai passports. He has never travelled to the USA, but my 86 y/o Mother is ill so I booked tickets for him and I to fly to the US departing on January 21st for a 10 day visit. The R/T tickets are booked and paid for and today while getting some things together I noticed that my sons Thai passport expires on the day we depart BKK, January 21st. Will we be able to depart and return on his US passport and sort out the renewal of his Thai passport when we return in 10 days or is there a problem. Since I just discovered this today we only have Tuesday-Thursday to try and resolve issues if any. Is there a problem or are we good to go? Air tickets are non-refundable and my Mom is not well and would like to see her Grandson for the first time before things get worse. Any advice or help is very much appreciated in advance as I do not have experience travelling abroad with my 6 y/o son. BTW, am married but my Thai wife is not going on the trip with us since this was all done on short notice.

Cheers

DD

[tripplejjj]

I believe that Thai Immigration would not let your son depart Thailand using a Thai Passport. Your son would be able to depart / enter Thailand using a US Passport. To enter Thailand using a Thai Passport would be a problem since there was no depart stamp on his Thai Passport. The best thing to do is get him a new passport before departing. Getting a Thai Passport is a one day affair. I am thinking!

[p_brownstone]

I believe that Thai Immigration would not let your son depart Thailand using a Thai Passport. Your son would be able to depart / enter Thailand using a US Passport. To enter Thailand using a Thai Passport would be a problem since there was no depart stamp on his Thai Passport. The best thing to do is get him a new passport before departing. Getting a Thai Passport is a one day affair. I am thinking!

No.

The Thai Passport is still valid when he leaves Thailand on the 21st, and a Thai Citizen can ENTER Thailand on his return even on an Expired Thai Passport.

On Exit from Thailand, at Check-in, you will need to show the Airline Staff BOTH Passports, simply to show them that your son has the right to enter the U.S. without a Visa in his Thai Passport.

When going through the Exit Immigration at Suvannabhumi only show your sons' Thai Passport and his Boarding Card - there is nothing illegal about holding 2 Nationalities / Passports (at least not Thai and US) but some junior Immigration Officers may not know that and cause a fuss, if that happens simply ask, politely, to speak to a more Senior Officer who will know the rules.

Under US Law a US Citizen MUST enter and leave the US on his US Passport, so just show that on arrival and departure.

As already stated, once he arrives back in Thailand he cannot be denied entry - as a Thai National - even on the expired Thai Passport. (Again, just keep the US Passport out of the way to avoid any complications).

Not a problem at all.

Patrick

Edit: Just to add; to be completely sure and bulletproof you should take your sons Thai Birth Certificate too, just in case it's asked for at Suwannaphumi.

[samran]

Thai passport is a three day affair I think. Go tomorrow with your wife to the passport office and the passport can be finished the day before you travel.

If your son returns to Thailand on a US passport, he will be subject to Thai immigration rules.

nb...just saw P brownstones post, and he is right...