Situation With Dual Citizenship And Visas

[avian304]

Hi, I found this forum upon searching the web for a solution to my problem. Here it is.

I'm of dual citizenship, Thai/American. I recently moved back to Thailand using my US passport (as my Thai one had expired) Thus, I am currently residing in Thailand without a visa (that will last for 30 days). I recently renewed my passport, so it's completely new, and would like to continue staying in Thailand.

Now the problem is that I am living in Thailand without a visa and I checked in with my US passport. What should be my next course of action? I'm thinking of travelling to a nearby country (maybe Cambodia) and checking out of Thailand using the US passport and then checking in again using the Thai one so I can stay as long as I want without a visa.

Would this be the correct course of action?

Many thanks to anyone who responds to this.

[thaiphoon]

Moving to Thai visas, residency and work permits forum.

[avian304]

Oops, thank you. I must've missed that forum.

[wayned]

Leave Thailand on your US passrpot and re-eter on your Thai passport. In the future, leave and re-enter Thailand on your Thai passport and the US on your Us passport. .

[lopburi3]

But you should use air for this as land borders require stamp in passport from departing country. It can be done but generally is more trouble. At Bangkok airport they get enough people like this to understand, or there supervisors will.

[avian304]

Ok, so it's best that I use air? So maybe fly to Singapore or something? Land travel is not ideal, huh? Why can't I simply go to Cambodia and have them stamp me out with my American passport and then later enter with my Thai one?

[lopburi3]

Because Thailand wants to see an exit stamp in your passport and failing to see that believe your entry is illegal (most often someone trying to do a border turn-around without paying for entry into other country).

[avian304]

OK, so should I fly to Singapore for like, a couple hours than fly back? Use American passport to exit, and Thai to get back into Thailand? Keep in mind that there will be no exit stamp on the Thai passport, but that wont be a problem, correct?

[winone]

NO, it wont work, I have tried it with my kids at the airport, no exit stamp.

[jamescollister]

OK, so should I fly to Singapore for like, a couple hours than fly back? Use American passport to exit, and Thai to get back into Thailand? Keep in mind that there will be no exit stamp on the Thai passport, but that wont be a problem, correct?

Think we had along debate about this on an earlier post. You can do it by land border if you explain to the imagration before you leave. They can update the computers and you can do a short turn around. Some have siad they may not want to be bothered and give you the run around. Be polite and mostlly they are happy to help. Jim

[JimGant]

Keep in mind that there will be no exit stamp on the Thai passport, but that wont be a problem, correct?

Shouldn't be. The wife, after getting tired of paying for one-year extensions on her US passport, got a brand new Thai passport in Bangkok. Then, left for the States on her US passport -- and re-entered Thailand on her Thai passport -- which, of course, didn't have an exit stamp. Immigration officer inquired, wife explained dual citizenship, he smiled and stamped her in. He did make some kind of notation next to the stamp alluding to the missing exit stamp.

But, you may get a newbie Immigration officer, so keep your US passport out of sight -- lest she asks to see it, then stamps you in on it. In such a scenario, ask for her supervisor. Should then not be a problem.

[samran]

Keep in mind that there will be no exit stamp on the Thai passport, but that wont be a problem, correct?

Shouldn't be. The wife, after getting tired of paying for one-year extensions on her US passport, got a brand new Thai passport in Bangkok. Then, left for the States on her US passport -- and re-entered Thailand on her Thai passport -- which, of course, didn't have an exit stamp. Immigration officer inquired, wife explained dual citizenship, he smiled and stamped her in. He did make some kind of notation next to the stamp alluding to the missing exit stamp.

But, you may get a newbie Immigration officer, so keep your US passport out of sight -- lest she asks to see it, then stamps you in on it. In such a scenario, ask for her supervisor. Should then not be a problem.

Exactly the way to do it.

Just one small addition which can be helpful, when you get to Thai immigration, hand over both old and new Thai passports - just to let them know you last exited Thailand (as a Thai citizen) on the old passport. They'll stamp you in on a new passport. Happened to me like 6 months ago.

nb also...for future reference, you can also enter Thailand on an expired Thai passport.

[lopburi3]

It is really the lack of the arrival/departure card that immigration is concerned with (Thai fill out on departure) so you will have to explain your last departure was using a foreign passport. If the insist you enter using that passport request to speak with supervisor (always available at airport) as they can not prevent your entry on your Thai passport but not all new officers will know this (but generally at airport they are aware - at land crossings it could become a serious issue of 'face' so best to avoid).

[jamescollister]

Everyone must be turning Thai and not like asking questions. If the OP is near a land border he can just go and ask. If they say no, so sad to bad. If they say OK he's saved a plane ticket and the trip. They won't throw him in jail for asking. Jim

[mmail2you]

I have a similar dilema and that is My thai wife has dual passports and wants to stay in Thailand for a greater length in time so the steps should be:

1. She Leaves Australia on her Aus passport

2. Enters Thailand on her Thai passport (even though she has no exit stamp from Thailand)

3. When she wishes to go back to Aus she leaves Thailand on her Aus passport ? even though she does not have an entry visa or stamp ? she can not leave Thailand on her Thai passport as they will require a visa even though she is an Aus citizen.

Please assist if these are the correct steps

[Mario2008]

I have a similar dilema and that is My thai wife has dual passports and wants to stay in Thailand for a greater length in time so the steps should be:

1. She Leaves Australia on her Aus passport

2. Enters Thailand on her Thai passport (even though she has no exit stamp from Thailand)

3. When she wishes to go back to Aus she leaves Thailand on her Aus passport ? even though she does not have an entry visa or stamp ? she can not leave Thailand on her Thai passport as they will require a visa even though she is an Aus citizen.

Please assist if these are the correct steps

You have asked your question and gotten a answer here: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/524886-thai-national-staying-in-thailand-from-other-country/

[lopburi3]

You always enter and leave on the same passport - you can leave Thailand on a Thai passport direct to Oz without a visa if you show airline your Oz passport.

[samran]

Everyone must be turning Thai and not like asking questions. If the OP is near a land border he can just go and ask. If they say no, so sad to bad. If they say OK he's saved a plane ticket and the trip. They won't throw him in jail for asking. Jim

and if he isn't the airport is the better bet, though I'm curious to see if there are any guinea pigs to give it a go.

I remember that you managed the land border crossing passport swap, and so have I, but I don't recommend it. Airport has always been a better bet and I've never been pulled up there. Land border for me required a friendly debate with the head immigration guy at 6am before I was let back into Thailand.

[jamescollister]

Everyone must be turning Thai and not like asking questions. If the OP is near a land border he can just go and ask. If they say no, so sad to bad. If they say OK he's saved a plane ticket and the trip. They won't throw him in jail for asking. Jim

and if he isn't the airport is the better bet, though I'm curious to see if there are any guinea pigs to give it a go.

I remember that you managed the land border crossing passport swap, and so have I, but I don't recommend it. Airport has always been a better bet and I've never been pulled up there. Land border for me required a friendly debate with the head immigration guy at 6am before I was let back into Thailand.

That may be the case, but you can just ask, don't think they will get all bent out of shape if asked. They will just say no. If the OP is a long way from a land border and closer to an airport it may be just as cheap to grab a flight. Land borders are changing fast, Chong Mek is now fully computerised with camers and all. Jim