Wife Needs Help. In Thailand On British Passport.

[Hailfire101]

Hi there.

I really need some help and advice, and think this is the best place to ask.

My wife is Thai, born there.

She's been living in England with me for 5 years. She has the ILR and a British Passport too.

She's recently just gone back to Thailand, but as she had lost her ID card, Driving licence and her Thai Passport had expired (and was also in her Maiden Name) she flew out on her British passport.

She has decided she wants to stay in Thailand now, and I'll be moving over there next year.

The problem is, she's now in Thailand on a British Passport, with the 30 day holiday visa.

What can she do to stay there, and not have to over stay or pay fines?

She now has her Thai ID card, Her driving Licence and her Thai Passport (same name as British Passport).

She's been to Camboida today, to try and get an Exit Stamp on the british passport, and then re-enter on the Thai one.

But they wont give her an Exit stamp.

What can we do?

Does she have to fly out to any country on the British one, get the stamp then fly back, and enter on her Thai passport?

Or would that cause issues with the British passport?

Any help would be appreiciated.

(She should have renewed her passport before leaving, but as it was a long wait, she wanted to do it in Thailand instead...)

Thanks.

Hailfire101

[wayned]

She should fly out on her British passport and get the exit stamp there and when she reenters, reenter using her Thai Passport. It seems that it cannot be done via a land crossing.

[Hailfire101]

Will a flight anywhere out of Thailand do? Say a cheap 1 day return to Laos or would it have to be somewhere like Singapore or Malasia?

[lopburi3]

Singapore or Malaysia will likely be cheaper than Laos as have discount airlines available. If she wants to wait until after you move here she can easily obtain one year extension of stay from Immigration with her proof of Thai nationality and remain on British passport until you both plan a vacation sometime. Cost is only 1,900 baht per year for the TM.7 extension.

[Hailfire101]

Thanks.

She's been reccomended the 1 year visa (1900bht) by the people at the cambodian crossing.

Would she have to report every 30/60/90 days with that or is it good for a year as she has all her Thai ID's, passport and licence.

[crazykopite]

You do not state where in Thailand she is staying in some areas such as Koh Samui there are British consulates who I am sure could help and advise her as it is clear that she is a British citizen however I note that she now has her Thai ID Thai passport and Thai driving license so I do not understand the problem if she decided to return to the UK she could leave on her Thai passport or if that became a problem she could leave on her British passport and all she would have to apy is a 20,000 baht overstay I know a guy who overstayed by 6 years he went to the airport last year was charged the Maximum fine which is the 20,000 went back to the UK for treatment came back 6 months later but sadley died a few weeks ago

[Hailfire101]

She's living in Bangkok.

So as she has all the other things, its not a major issue. Just a 20,000 fine if she ever left?

I know she's a bit tight with money, so she wants to avoid any fines. (she's the one paying, not me. lol)

I'm going to advise her to ether get the 1 year visa TM.7 extension (which sounds like the cheapest and easier route) for now.

And if later on, she has a trip to Malasia or Singapore, she can leave Thailand on the British one (for the exit stamp) and on returning to Bkk, she should show her Thai one.

I'm guessing she may need the British one handy, as it'll have the Exit stamp not her Thai one?

[lopburi3]

Her exit must be on UK passport. UK consul has nothing to do with this matter. She can easily extend on current entry or leave and return by air on Thai passport - there is no reason for any overstay.

If she is here on foreign passport extension of stay expect they will want address reports but that can normally done with a simple letter it is not much of an issue.

[Hailfire101]

Thanks for your help everyone.

I'll pass on the infomation to her.

She's currently all flustered on the border and not really listening to my advice. lol

Hope when I apply for my visa, its easier... lol

[lizardtongue]

All she has to do is renew her Thai passport and use that if and when she leaves Thailand and use the UK passport upon arrival in the UK?

[Hailfire101]

Thats what I was thinking... this way they'll not fine her...

I dont think its a serious issue, just she wants it all done collectly and cheap. lol

[samran]

Thats what I was thinking... this way they'll not fine her...

I dont think its a serious issue, just she wants it all done collectly and cheap. lol

unfortunately as she decided to enter Thailand on a Brit passport she is subject to Thailand visa and immigration rules as they apply to British citizens - in other words she'll have to leave on the Brit passport and cop the overstay fine (that is if she overstays).

Passport swaps are generally not done at land borders, only by air.

Two options as others have said

- short hop on a LCC to Singapore an back exiting on the brit PP and re-entering on the Thai.

- regular extensions of stay in her Thai PP which is available to Thai citizens travelling on a foreign passport, but with all the hassle of 90 day reporting and extensions which go with it.

If I was her - and for your mental health - I'd suggest she travels to Singapore.

[simple1]

All she has to do is renew her Thai passport and use that if and when she leaves Thailand and use the UK passport upon arrival in the UK?

No, read post #8 that is the correct procedure

[Hailfire101]

I wonder if one day, the Visa system in Thailand will come out of the dark ages.

So much hassle.

I'm so looking forward to applying for the Spouce visa...

I'll do the 1 year mutiple entry non-imigration visa 1st... then apply for the marriage one later.

(Squeeze all 15 months or so out of it.)

[samran]

I wonder if one day, the Visa system in Thailand will come out of the dark ages.

So much hassle.

I'm so looking forward to applying for the Spouce visa...

I'll do the 1 year mutiple entry non-imigration visa 1st... then apply for the marriage one later.

(Squeeze all 15 months or so out of it.)

As a Thai dual citizen- it is actually pretty straight forward.

Simple rule- as a Thai citizen always enter on your Thai passport. Indeed, other countries (Australia, US for instance) refuse to let their citizens enter on their 'other' passports.

Even if the passport is expired, as a Thai citizen you can not be denied entry. Applying for a Thai passport is more high tech and efficient that applying for a western passport to boot.

[noob7]

"She's recently just gone back to Thailand, but as she had lost her ID card, Driving licence and her Thai Passport had expired (and was also in her Maiden Name) she flew out on her British passport.

She has decided she wants to stay in Thailand now, and I'll be moving over there next year.

The problem is, she's now in Thailand on a British Passport, with the 30 day holiday visa.

What can she do to stay there, and not have to over stay or pay fines?

I think, the easiest way will be (no joke!):

Forget about the UK-Passport thing, let her apply for a new Thai Id card in her home town.

(lost and found ;-)

After that, get her a new Thai Passport,

After that go to the UK embassy and apply for a new UK passport, b/c the other one got wet (or so), before she walked to the UK-Embassy.

Throw the old passport away, after getting the new one!

Next time, she flies to Europe, she should use the Thai passport in Thailand, and the new UK passport for entering the world!

Worked like this for a friend of mine, coming back after a couple of years in Europe, arrived on her other nationality, but didn't bother, to exit Thailand, for becoming a Thai in Thailand, again!

[IMA_FARANG]

Yes she should leave Thailand using her British passport. Get the exit stamp.

To the immigration mind set it balances out.

One British passport with that number entered the country...one British passport with the same number exited the country.

Balanced out.

Then she re-enters Thailand as a Thai on her Thai passport

This is best done at the airport...they've seen it before.

Tell her to make sure she has both passports with her to show if asked.

Actually that same procedure is actually legal at land borders too...but they just don't see it as often, so it might confuse them.

Their supervisor should know...but after all it is Thailand.....and face is very important....never admit you don't know.

[noob7]

Oh, one more thing:

With the id card/passport, even with the driving license, it can be a great help, to get a 'lost, not found' police report!

The police will take her words for granted, so usage of old address will work with this report in the id/passport department, as well in the driving license dept.!

This way, she may need only to do the 'eye-test' for the driving license.

[simple1]

"She's recently just gone back to Thailand, but as she had lost her ID card, Driving licence and her Thai Passport had expired (and was also in her Maiden Name) she flew out on her British passport.

She has decided she wants to stay in Thailand now, and I'll be moving over there next year.

The problem is, she's now in Thailand on a British Passport, with the 30 day holiday visa.

What can she do to stay there, and not have to over stay or pay fines?

I think, the easiest way will be (no joke!):

Forget about the UK-Passport thing, let her apply for a new Thai Id card in her home town.

(lost and found ;-)

After that, get her a new Thai Passport,

After that go to the UK embassy and apply for a new UK passport, b/c the other one got wet (or so), before she walked to the UK-Embassy.

Throw the old passport away, after getting the new one!

Next time, she flies to Europe, she should use the Thai passport in Thailand, and the new UK passport for entering the world!

Worked like this for a friend of mine, coming back after a couple of years in Europe, arrived on her other nationality, but didn't bother, to exit Thailand, for becoming a Thai in Thailand, again!

Are you 100% sure that when departing Thailand it will not come up on the immigration database that she entered Thailand on her UK passport?

[samran]

"She's recently just gone back to Thailand, but as she had lost her ID card, Driving licence and her Thai Passport had expired (and was also in her Maiden Name) she flew out on her British passport.

She has decided she wants to stay in Thailand now, and I'll be moving over there next year.

The problem is, she's now in Thailand on a British Passport, with the 30 day holiday visa.

What can she do to stay there, and not have to over stay or pay fines?

I think, the easiest way will be (no joke!):

Forget about the UK-Passport thing, let her apply for a new Thai Id card in her home town.

(lost and found ;-)

After that, get her a new Thai Passport,

After that go to the UK embassy and apply for a new UK passport, b/c the other one got wet (or so), before she walked to the UK-Embassy.

Throw the old passport away, after getting the new one!

Next time, she flies to Europe, she should use the Thai passport in Thailand, and the new UK passport for entering the world!

Worked like this for a friend of mine, coming back after a couple of years in Europe, arrived on her other nationality, but didn't bother, to exit Thailand, for becoming a Thai in Thailand, again!

very misleading.

The Thai immigration system is computerised. You enter on a passport, you depart on it. She entered as a Brit, she departs on it.

If she flicks out her Thai passport at immigration on this trip, they WILL cross match, and see that she entered as a Brit. Been numerous posts here attesting to that fact.

What you've also done is advised the OP's wife to commit fraud, pay for another expensive 200+ quid brit passport, when all she needs to do is get her 1000 baht (20 quid) Thai passport in order and do a cheap flight to Singapore and back.

[samran]

"She's recently just gone back to Thailand, but as she had lost her ID card, Driving licence and her Thai Passport had expired (and was also in her Maiden Name) she flew out on her British passport.

She has decided she wants to stay in Thailand now, and I'll be moving over there next year.

The problem is, she's now in Thailand on a British Passport, with the 30 day holiday visa.

What can she do to stay there, and not have to over stay or pay fines?

I think, the easiest way will be (no joke!):

Forget about the UK-Passport thing, let her apply for a new Thai Id card in her home town.

(lost and found ;-)

After that, get her a new Thai Passport,

After that go to the UK embassy and apply for a new UK passport, b/c the other one got wet (or so), before she walked to the UK-Embassy.

Throw the old passport away, after getting the new one!

Next time, she flies to Europe, she should use the Thai passport in Thailand, and the new UK passport for entering the world!

Worked like this for a friend of mine, coming back after a couple of years in Europe, arrived on her other nationality, but didn't bother, to exit Thailand, for becoming a Thai in Thailand, again!

Are you 100% sure that when departing Thailand it will not come up on the immigration database that she entered Thailand on her UK passport?

No he's not. He is making it up as he goes along.

[noob7]

"She's recently just gone back to Thailand, but as she had lost her ID card, Driving licence and her Thai Passport had expired (and was also in her Maiden Name) she flew out on her British passport.

She has decided she wants to stay in Thailand now, and I'll be moving over there next year.

The problem is, she's now in Thailand on a British Passport, with the 30 day holiday visa.

What can she do to stay there, and not have to over stay or pay fines?

I think, the easiest way will be (no joke!):

Forget about the UK-Passport thing, let her apply for a new Thai Id card in her home town.

(lost and found ;-)

After that, get her a new Thai Passport,

After that go to the UK embassy and apply for a new UK passport, b/c the other one got wet (or so), before she walked to the UK-Embassy.

Throw the old passport away, after getting the new one!

Next time, she flies to Europe, she should use the Thai passport in Thailand, and the new UK passport for entering the world!

Worked like this for a friend of mine, coming back after a couple of years in Europe, arrived on her other nationality, but didn't bother, to exit Thailand, for becoming a Thai in Thailand, again!

Are you 100% sure that when departing Thailand it will not come up on the immigration database that she entered Thailand on her UK passport?

No he's not. He is making it up as he goes along.

Why you know this things so much better, as the people, who have done this things?

Are you a Thai national?

[oxymoron]

All she has to do is go to the closest immigration office ( in my wife's case Chiangmai) with a letter to say she has special circumstances eg mum or dad sick and the will give her a 12 month extension ( as she is Thai) cost is 1900 Baht and she does not have the 90 day reporting that other nationalities have. Can pay an extra 3800 Baht and get a multi entry. That solves your problems for 1 year. My wife has done this before as she only has and always travels on an Ozzie Passport and her girlfriend did it 2 months ago in Chiangrai as she was recovering from a serious medical situation and would have been in over stay otherwise. Note it only applies to Thai nationals.

[noob7]

Are you 100% sure that when departing Thailand it will not come up on the immigration database that she entered Thailand on her UK passport?

What name is written in a UK passport for a married Thai national female to a UK citizen male?

What name is written in a Thai Passport, for the same Thai national female?

And for the money, that a UK-Passport may cost: The OP will follow next year, so there is maybe not even the need, to get a new UK-Passport, right now! For travels in this area, the Thai Passport is, at least in 2 years, more useful anyway!

And if the UK-Passport isn't new (livin some years already in the UK, old Thai passport expired, I assume, she got the passport not some weeks before the departure)

So in some years, she would need a new one, anyway!

[samran]

Why you know this things so much better, as the people, who have done this things?

Are you a Thai national?

Indeed I am a Thai national. And I have an Australian passport to boot.

Just to re-iterate, the information you have given is highly misleading.

[simple1]

@noob7 - has your friend who entered Thailand on her UK passport recently successfully departed Thailand on her Thai passport in contradiction to samran's post? In any case the immigration software is constantly being upgraded with additional functionality, so it's just not worth the risk.

[samran]

@noob7 - has your friend who entered Thailand on her UK passport recently successfully departed Thailand on her Thai passport in contradiction to samran's post? In any case the immigration software is constantly being upgraded with additional functionality, so it's just not worth the risk.

[noob7]

Why you know this things so much better, as the people, who have done this things?

Are you a Thai national?

Indeed I am a Thai national. And I have an Australian passport to boot.

Just to re-iterate, the information you have given is highly misleading.

Your answer to my second question is kind of one to my my first, too, I guess!

I'm totally sorry, that giving a information about useful, known anf done procedure is misleading anyone, here in TV.

Do you think, the op's wife is the first ever Thai female, arriving on the only passport she have, a foreign one, and 'changing' back to Thai nationality INSIDE Thailand?

That would be a misleading information, me think!

Getting a Thai ID, a Thai Passport, a Thai driving license is solving her 30 day stamp problem 100 %

And using the Thai passport for the next travel outside Thailand via any airport to any destination will not lead to a crosscheck in the computers, b/c the arriving Mrs. "Hailfire" is using a passport in her Thai name.

[noob7]

@noob7 - has your friend who entered Thailand on her UK passport recently successfully departed Thailand on her Thai passport in contradiction to samran's post? In any case the immigration software is constantly being upgraded with additional functionality, so it's just not worth the risk.

She went on to a flight to Singapore (with me), about 6 month after she got her 'done in 3 days' new Thai passport.

No problems on way out, no problems on way in.

[samran]

Why you know this things so much better, as the people, who have done this things?

Are you a Thai national?

Indeed I am a Thai national. And I have an Australian passport to boot.

Just to re-iterate, the information you have given is highly misleading.

Your answer to my second question is kind of one to my my first, too, I guess!

I'm totally sorry, that giving a information about useful, known anf done procedure is misleading anyone, here in TV.

Do you think, the op's wife is the first ever Thai female, arriving on the only passport she have, a foreign one, and 'changing' back to Thai nationality INSIDE Thailand?

That would be a misleading information, me think!

Getting a Thai ID, a Thai Passport, a Thai driving license is solving her 30 day stamp problem 100 %

And using the Thai passport for the next travel outside Thailand via any airport to any destination will not lead to a crosscheck in the computers, b/c the arriving Mrs. "Hailfire" is using a passport in her Thai name.

I have no idea what you just wrote.