Dual Citizen (thai And Us)-no Entry With Thai Pp

[Tonsils]

Despite reading the posts on this forum, I'm still seeing a lot of different opinions about using different passports when entering and leaving Thailand.

I recently moved to BKK and entered using my US PP. After a few weeks, I planned to go to singapore and reenter using my Thai PP so I could stay w/o visa extension issues. Now, upon reentry I showed my Thai PP to immigration and had to use my US passport to come in. Apparently the company had showed me entering and leaving Thailand with US PP, which caused a red flag. Should I have left on my Thai PP for SG despite entering BKK with my US PP?

As a bit of background, I got a one year extension on US PP before leaving for singapore. And now my reentry stamp reads that I only have a month allowance. Did leaving effectively negate my one year extension stamp?

The bigger issue is that I need to get a Thai ID card to start working in BKK (got hired but they want me to have a Thai ID for HR reasons). Can I get a Thai ID card even though I came in on a US PP? I also don't have a tabien baan right now. Can I get one despite my US PP status? I have my Thai birth certificate.

Any help is most appreciated. Thanks so much in advance...T.

[samran]

Looks like you only have to do another visa run....

You should have insisted that you use your Thai passport to enter the country. It is your right to and you shouldn't have let them boss you around. My mother recently re-entereed the country on a fresh Thai passport last week she obtained overseas and had no problems even though she usually travels on an Australian passport.

Explain to them that you are here for work, and that you need to be in the country as a Thai...evoking a bit of sympathy usually works.

As for the ID card, you need to go to the Ampur where your parents are registered. Do you know were that it? As you don't have a tabieen baan yet, your name will have to put on the same one as your parents. Its a lot of paperwork and is time consuming. If you have any relatives here, get them to come down to the Ampur with your. You will need at least two close relatives, preferably your parents, to certify who you are when obtaining the Tabieen bann and ID card.

[thaihome]

You also don't mention how old you are which could have an effect on your military draft status. Would be drag if you go to the trouble of getting the ID card and then find out you have to do a couple of years in military to keep it.

TH

[Tonsils]

Looks like you only have to do another visa run....

You should have insisted that you use your Thai passport to enter the country. It is your right to and you shouldn't have let them boss you around. My mother recently re-entereed the country on a fresh Thai passport last week she obtained overseas and had no problems even though she usually travels on an Australian passport.

Explain to them that you are here for work, and that you need to be in the country as a Thai...evoking a bit of sympathy usually works.

As for the ID card, you need to go to the Ampur where your parents are registered. Do you know were that it? As you don't have a tabieen baan yet, your name will have to put on the same one as your parents. Its a lot of paperwork and is time consuming. If you have any relatives here, get them to come down to the Ampur with your. You will need at least two close relatives, preferably your parents, to certify who you are when obtaining the Tabieen bann and ID card.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Samran, thanks for the reply.

It sounds like I can get the Thai ID without entering on the Thai PP, which is good since I need one to start work. I am turning 29 this month so I think I should be okay with regards to the military draft.

I'm only planning on being in BKK for around one year so I think I can use a one year extension for US PP holders. Since I reentered the country using my US PP, I now have a stamp that says I need to exit in one month. Do I need to go back to Suan Plu to have them correct this stamp. I also have the one year extension stamp but I'm not sure if its still effective. Thanks again for any advice out there...t

[lopburi3]

When you leave Thailand without a re-entry permit any extension of stay becomes invalid so you will have to obtain a new one.

[Tonsils]

When you leave Thailand without a re-entry permit any extension of stay becomes invalid so you will have to obtain a new one.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks!!!

[Nordlys]

This has happened to my brother too as I mentioned in several other threads. He was denied entry with a fresh new Thai PP without any stamps upon returning to Thailand on a trip he left Don Muang with a Japanese passport.

The bigger issue is that I need to get a Thai ID card to start working in BKK (got hired but they want me to have a Thai ID for HR reasons). Can I get a Thai ID card even though I came in on a US PP? I also don't have a tabien baan right now. Can I get one despite my US PP status? I have my Thai birth certificate.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I believe this is possible, if not illegal. I did get my Thai ID card renewed 4 years ago almost 15 years after it expired. As samran said, Khet/Amphur requested my closest kin to appear and certify my identification (in my case it was my mother, who's not a Thai citizen but a PR holder). They were suspicious why it took me so long to renew my ID card, which the renewal is required by law immediately after (or before) the expiration. I told them I've been out of the country most of the time before and after it expired. How did I prove that? With a Japanese passport I've travelled with since age 18 (with a valid non-imm visa stamped on).

I now work in my own company with work permit while at the same time working part-time as a Thai director in another company on the strength of my Thai ID card. While I still retain my immigrational status as a foreigner in this country, I have also exercised my right as a Thai citizen by voting in the general election early this year (they summoned me to vote!) and took advantage of the 30 Baht medical scheme with the gold card they sent to me in 2001 almost immediately after the inauguration of the first Thaksin administration (before renewing my Thai ID card).

[Tonsils]

This has happened to my brother too as I mentioned in several other threads.  He was denied entry with a fresh new Thai PP without any stamps upon returning to Thailand on a trip he left Don Muang with a Japanese passport. 

The bigger issue is that I need to get a Thai ID card to start working in BKK (got hired but they want me to have a Thai ID for HR reasons). Can I get a Thai ID card even though I came in on a US PP? I also don't have a tabien baan right now. Can I get one despite my US PP status? I have my Thai birth certificate.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I believe this is possible, if not illegal. I did get my Thai ID card renewed 4 years ago almost 15 years after it expired. As samran said, Khet/Amphur requested my closest kin to appear and certify my identification (in my case it was my mother, who's not a Thai citizen but a PR holder). They were suspicious why it took me so long to renew my ID card, which the renewal is required by law immediately after (or before) the expiration. I told them I've been out of the country most of the time before and after it expired. How did I prove that? With a Japanese passport I've travelled with since age 18 (with a valid non-imm visa stamped on).

I now work in my own company with work permit while at the same time working part-time as a Thai director in another company on the strength of my Thai ID card. While I still retain my immigrational status as a foreigner in this country, I have also exercised my right as a Thai citizen by voting in the general election early this year (they summoned me to vote!) and took advantage of the 30 Baht medical scheme with the gold card they sent to me in 2001 almost immediately after the inauguration of the first Thaksin administration (before renewing my Thai ID card).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This is really helpful. I'm going to go to the Ampur in the next day or so and will be bringing the following documents:

1. Thai passport

2. THai birth certificate

3. Copy of parent's Thai ID cards (parents are still in the states)

My uncle is going to take me to the Ampur for confirmation, plus my dad is registered at his house in BKK. Is there anything else I need? Can this be done in one day? Thanks. T

[samran]

This has happened to my brother too as I mentioned in several other threads.  He was denied entry with a fresh new Thai PP without any stamps upon returning to Thailand on a trip he left Don Muang with a Japanese passport. 

The bigger issue is that I need to get a Thai ID card to start working in BKK (got hired but they want me to have a Thai ID for HR reasons). Can I get a Thai ID card even though I came in on a US PP? I also don't have a tabien baan right now. Can I get one despite my US PP status? I have my Thai birth certificate.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I believe this is possible, if not illegal. I did get my Thai ID card renewed 4 years ago almost 15 years after it expired. As samran said, Khet/Amphur requested my closest kin to appear and certify my identification (in my case it was my mother, who's not a Thai citizen but a PR holder). They were suspicious why it took me so long to renew my ID card, which the renewal is required by law immediately after (or before) the expiration. I told them I've been out of the country most of the time before and after it expired. How did I prove that? With a Japanese passport I've travelled with since age 18 (with a valid non-imm visa stamped on).

I now work in my own company with work permit while at the same time working part-time as a Thai director in another company on the strength of my Thai ID card. While I still retain my immigrational status as a foreigner in this country, I have also exercised my right as a Thai citizen by voting in the general election early this year (they summoned me to vote!) and took advantage of the 30 Baht medical scheme with the gold card they sent to me in 2001 almost immediately after the inauguration of the first Thaksin administration (before renewing my Thai ID card).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This is really helpful. I'm going to go to the Ampur in the next day or so and will be bringing the following documents:

1. Thai passport

2. THai birth certificate

3. Copy of parent's Thai ID cards (parents are still in the states)

My uncle is going to take me to the Ampur for confirmation, plus my dad is registered at his house in BKK. Is there anything else I need? Can this be done in one day? Thanks. T

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

the 'head' of the house will need to be there to allow you to be added to the register. If thats your uncle, then that could be fine.

I'm not sure if copies of their ID cards will be enough...some want originals or at least certified copies. Go down tomorrow and see.

[Nordlys]

This is really helpful. I'm going to go to the Ampur in the next day or so and will be bringing the following documents:

1. Thai passport

2. THai birth certificate

3. Copy of parent's Thai ID cards (parents are still in the states)

My uncle is going to take me to the Ampur for confirmation, plus my dad is registered at his house in BKK. Is there anything else I need? Can this be done in one day? Thanks. T

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

the 'head' of the house will need to be there to allow you to be added to the register. If thats your uncle, then that could be fine.

I'm not sure if copies of their ID cards will be enough...some want originals or at least certified copies. Go down tomorrow and see.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I believe you can get it done in one day (well 15 minutes for Thai ID card if issued in BKK, if no queue) if you can get your name in Tabian Baan. But how is it that you have a Thai passport without Tabian Baan or Thai ID card?

[samran]

I believe you can get it done in one day (well 15 minutes for Thai ID card if issued in BKK, if no queue) if you can get your name in Tabian Baan.  But how is it that you have a Thai passport without Tabian Baan or Thai ID card?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thai embassies overseas don’t have any trouble issuing a Thai PP so long as you have a Thai birth certificate.

[Nordlys]

I believe you can get it done in one day (well 15 minutes for Thai ID card if issued in BKK, if no queue) if you can get your name in Tabian Baan.  But how is it that you have a Thai passport without Tabian Baan or Thai ID card?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thai embassies overseas don’t have any trouble issuing a Thai PP so long as you have a Thai birth certificate.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

And what if such a foreign-born Thai citizen comes visit Thailand for the first time? Should s/he be denied entry simply because his passport doesn't have a departure stamp from Thailand and whatever the form it is called stapled on?

[samran]

I believe you can get it done in one day (well 15 minutes for Thai ID card if issued in BKK, if no queue) if you can get your name in Tabian Baan.  But how is it that you have a Thai passport without Tabian Baan or Thai ID card?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thai embassies overseas don’t have any trouble issuing a Thai PP so long as you have a Thai birth certificate.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

And what if such a foreign-born Thai citizen comes visit Thailand for the first time? Should s/he be denied entry simply because his passport doesn't have a departure stamp from Thailand and whatever the form it is called stapled on?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

True - they do look for the TM stamp that they stapled into your last passport. It helps 'balance the books' for immigration as they have a matching record of your exit and entry.

BUT....they can let you in...don't let them tell you that they can't. The first time I entered Thailand this way (years ago) I had to insist that they stamp me in on my Thai passport, which they did. If they don't, they are just being lazy. Insist, insist, insist.

And as I said earlier, my mother came to town for a visit last week though Don Muang and was stamped in on her otherwise blank Thai passport which she had obtained in Canberra the month before. She had no hassels either, they simply took the PP and stamped her in.

[Tonsils]

True - they do look for the TM stamp that they stapled into your last passport. It helps 'balance the books' for immigration as they have a matching record of your exit and entry.

BUT....they can let you in...don't let them tell you that they can't. The first time I entered Thailand this way (years ago) I had to insist that they stamp me in on my Thai passport, which they did. If they don't, they are just being lazy. Insist, insist, insist.

And as I said earlier, my mother came to town for a visit last week though Don Muang and was stamped in on her otherwise blank Thai passport which she had obtained in Canberra the month before. She had no hassels either, they simply took the PP and stamped her in.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You guys are right. I really should have insisted on them stamping my thai passport. The immigration guys at Don Meung said that I would have problems getting back into the US if they allow me to enter with a Thai PP after six months or so. At the time, I wasn't sure but after thinking about it there's no way the US would deny me entry with a US PP also. ######.....

Ok so if I end up doing another visa run to HK then can I exit with my Thai PP? or do I need to exit with my US PP, since that's the one I entered with. Immigration control was weirded out since the computer indicated that I exited as US PP two days earlier.

[Sunbelt Asia]

Nordlys wrote

I now work in my own company with work permit while at the same time working part-time as a Thai director in another company on the strength of my Thai ID cardI now work in my own company with work permit

Nordlys, what type of visa or extension of stay permit do you have? The reason I ask is the Labor Dept won't allow you to apply for a work permit on an immigrant visa.

We have had the same case for three different times where the Labor Dept would not issue a work permit to a Thai American who did not have an ID card but had an immigrant permit. Major hassle still with everyone else, bank, phone company asking for a work permit

This last time was just yesterday, the Thai American just obtained his Thai ID card after two weeks of going thru lots of red tape. Boy was he a HAPPY camper today!

www.lawyer.th.com

[Heng]

Thai passport when entering an exiting Thailand. Thai passport when entering and exiting any country in Asia where you don't need a visa. US passport when entering and exiting the US.

What I haven't tried yet is US passport entering and exiting the EU after using the Thai passport to exit Thailand. Anyone in the same boat?

The Thai imm. and US imm. folks pretty much do the "I'm bored, gimme your passport so I can stamp it already" look, as you're just another local coming home. I'm not sure what the EU folks would think though.... a non-local US passport floating in "out of nowhere" but getting off a plane from the LOS.

[samran]

heng,

I've travelled between the the EU and BKK many times. No stress. Going into the UK is no problems. The rest of the EU is fine too. Outside the UK, immigration can be quite lax, so much so, it is quite hard to get a stamp these days.

They'll look at your nationaity first. If you have a 'safe' passport, ie US, Australian etc, they'll probably make sure that you look like the PP photo and wave you through. No stamping, no scanning.

[Heng]

thanks Samran.

If they give me any hassles, I'll show them your post.

[Nordlys]

Nordlys, what type of visa or extension of stay permit do you have? The reason I ask is the Labor Dept won't allow you to apply for a work permit on an immigrant visa.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I have non-immigrant B and I get auotomatic renewal of visa, one year W/P and one year extension of stay every year on the endorsement of BOI as my company receives BOI intensive, therefore I'm not subjected to normal non-imm B requirement as specified by immigration so long my company receives BOI intensive (eg. my salary is slightly below 60K Baht minimum required for one year extention of stay for Japanese citizen yet I do receive one year extention + one year W/P).

I'm not so familiar about immigrant visa...

[Tonsils]

As an update...I went to the Ampur/Kade with my uncle today...didn't get the ID yet since I lacked a few documents. I'm going to try again tomorrow morning now that my mom faxed me the stuff I needed.

Here's what they want for Thai Americans to get a Thai ID card...

1. Valid Thai Passport

2. Certified Thai Birth Certificate

3. Copies of both your parents' Thai ID cards

4. Copies of both your parents' Tabien Baan

5. Copy of your parents' marriage certifcate

6. Three photographs of yourself

Hopefully tomorrow goes smoothly. The guy at the ampur says I can get it in two hours...

[kenk3z]

Tonsils - both of your parents already have a Thai ID? If yes then hopefully this process will go easily for you.

I am wondering how all this should be handled for a foreign-born child of Thai wife and foreign husband. In this case of course the child is half-Thai but I understand still eligible for Thai citizenship. Can the whole process be done without actually registering the marriage in Thailand?

Having spent some time on the Thai Embassy website for the United States, I'm seeing some forms to fill out to obtain some of the necessary documents, such as a birth certificate. However you'd have to think getting into a house book would require a trip back to the Thai family's home town and getting the Thai family to sponsor the house book addition.

I just have this feeling that it would be of some benefit to the half-Thai child to have both US and Thai citizenship. Not sure why - quite a few couples that I observe here in the US don't bother to teach their child any Thai language nor care about Thai citizenship for their child. But it seems to me having dual citizenship keeps some door of opportunity open for the child.

kenk3z

[GuestHouse]

I'm a dual national and have used both passports to come and go from Thailand (obviosuly entering and leaving on one passport as a single journey set but using both passports as I wish).

I have never once had a problem with Thai immigration.

I did get hauled at the British embassy when I applied for a visitor visa for my then Thai girlfriend, and I was using my other passport, but that did not stop them issuing the visa.

[Tonsils]

Kenk3z, yes, my parents are both Thai and both back in the US.

As an update, I did finally get my ID after three hours in the Ratburana district govt office. Expect to be shuttled across many different people. And make a lot of copies of your Thai passport and birth certifcate. Anyway, I start work on Monday as an official Thai national. Woohoo!

Also, if you hold a Thai passport you can get a one year extension on your visa for 1900 baht. Multiple reentry stamp costs 3800 baht.

[lopburi3]

Kenk3z, yes, my parents are both Thai and both back in the US.

As an update, I did finally get my ID after three hours in the Ratburana district govt office. Expect to be shuttled across many different people. And make a lot of copies of your Thai passport and birth certifcate. Anyway, I start work on Monday as an official Thai national. Woohoo!

Also, if you hold a Thai passport you can get a one year extension on your visa for 1900 baht. Multiple reentry stamp costs 3800 baht.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I seem to missing the plot here. If you have a Thai PP you do not need a visa or any other stamps; if you use it. Perhaps you mean if you have a Thai ID card and have entered on a foreign passport?

[Nordlys]

I seem to missing the plot here.  If you have a Thai PP you do not need a visa or any other stamps; if you use it.  Perhaps you mean if you have a Thai ID card and have entered on a foreign passport?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm sure that's what OP meant as he entered Thailand on US passport, left with US and attempted to reenter with Thai passport which didn't work out as he mentioned in OP.

How weird it feels that I have to renew my visa, WP, one year extention and do the 90 days report thingy every year whilst I have a Thai ID card. Now my wife is seriously contemplating getting me a permanent residency when I already have a citizenship.

Anyway congratulations Tonsils.