Hi all,

I'm a Thai who has recently become a US citizen, and this is the first time I'm going to visit Thailand as a US passport holder.

I've purchased plane tickets with the departure and return dates 90 days apart and obtained a 90-day non-immigrant visa. So, for the first 90-day period I'm covered. However, the reason for my extended visit is my grandmother who may not be with us much longer. Wanting to spend as much time as possible with her, I'm planning on staying another two months after the end of the 90-day period.

Looking over the information on applying for an extension, it seems I need to have proof of employment. And even if you can get an extension, it would be for only 30 days.

My plan, then, is to gamble by changing the date of my return ticket immediatelt after I've arrived in Thailand (to ensure availability) so that it's 150 days apart from the departure. Then just before the end of my 90-day visa, travel for a few days to either Malaysia or Laos and try to get a 60-day tourist visa at the border.

Is this a good plan? Too risky? I'd greatly appreciate any advice you can give me. Thank you very much in advance.

If you simply exit and reenter the border, you only get 15 days.

If you want a 60 day tourist visa from Malaysia or Laos, you need to apply at a Thai embassy or consulate in either country. (Vientiane, embassy/Penang, consulate/KL, embassy). I don't see any problem with getting a 60 day tourist visa in this way.

Edited August 7, 201213 yr by Jingthing

1st a question, why don't you just use your Thai passport?

If you cannot use your Thai passport, simple options are -

-A 30 day extension (1900B) at immigration, followed by two border runs for 15 day visa exemptions at a time

or

-You can easily obtain a 60 day tourist visa at the Thai embassy in Vientiane or at one in Cambodia, but not at any border that I know of.

Both US and Thailand allow dual nationality.

What you normally do is enter and leave the USon the US passport and enter and leave Thailand on the Thai passport. At check-in for the airline at the airpor you show both passport to cnfirm that no visa is required.

There is no advantage in entering Thailand on the US passport. It will only mean that you need a visa, while being a Thai citizen. In case of problems with the authorities you are still a Thai citizen and treated as such (except for immigration purposes).

Thanks, everyone. If I'm not mistaken, another option, though more costly, would be to leave the country by air twice to stay without a visa for 30 days each time until I leave. Am I correct?

I never understand why you get 15 days when entering the country by land and 30 days if by air.... But oh well.

That is correct, or get an extension of stay based on your Thai nationality or visiting Thai family. (Extension will cost 1,900 baht for 1 year).

You have not answered the question of why you can not use your Thai citizenship. Even if you enter on a US passport you can easily obtain a one year extension of stay with proof of Thai citizenship for 1,900 baht. But you should use your Thai passport for entry - even if expired you can use it and obtain a new one while here (or get before you travel if you have time).

The US only requires you enter/exit the US with that US passport - you can use any valid passport for other countries.

@lopburi3 et al, my Thai passport expired years ago, so I didn't think I could use it. Good to know that I can. Also, I wasn't sure if using a Thai passport would create a problem later on in terms of security clearance. When you reenter the US, the immigration officer always asks you where you travel to, how long, etc., so I didn't know whether having two passports would make me look suspicious. I'm new at this.

@mario2008, whoa, really! I can use my Thai nationality as a basis for extension for up to a year for 1,900 baht? Sweet.

Yes, you can use the expired passport to gain entry into Thailand. But note that you cannot leave Thailand on it, you will have to apply for a new Thai passport which in Thailand only takes about 4 days to get. Application takes about 30 minutes and for 35 baht extra they will send it to your address. But you must be registered in a household registration book somewhere for the passport to be issued.