Thai & American Passport Conundrum

[CNXAndy]

Hello All,

Sorry in advance for the long post but I want to be as detailed as possible.

So recently I have found myself dealing with two issues in regards to immigration that I will have to deal with in the next couple of months. I don't have the slighest idea of what to do and was hoping that those in similiar circumstances would possibly help me.

Situation: I have citizenships to both Thailand and US as a result of being half Thai half American and being born in Thailand. This means that currently I possess two passports: Thai & US. For the majority of my life I lived in the USA but in May of 2014 I moved back to Thailand to work. When I bought the one-way ticket to Thailand last year, I used my US passport information to buy the ticket and used my US passport when checking-in at the airline counter in New York. When I arrived in Thailand, I just filled out the arrival form on the airplane and used my Thai passport to enter Thailand through the automatic immigration at Suvarnabhumi airport. This was the first time ever using my Thai passport. I did this because I wanted to work in Thailand and ended up getting a job here. OK, so as of right now, I am living in Thailand as a Thai citizen.

Issue #1: I just found out that I have to go to Taiwan for work with my collegues. Taiwan requires a visa for Thai citizens but do not require one for American citizens. Originally, I was going to just apply for the Taiwan visa on my Thai passport and everything would have worked out smoothly but due to other conflicts (I need to use my Thai passport during the processing period for the Taiwan visa) I am forced to have to use my American passport to enter Taiwan. Here is where it gets a little "gray" and I have absolutely no idea what to do:

1) When I buy the ticket to Taiwan, should I use the information from my American passport or Thai passport?

2) When I check-in at the airport, should I show my American passport or Thai passport? Should I instead show both passports at check-in? I am pretty sure the airline check-in will validate whether I am able to enter the destination country. Remember that my American passport does not have a departure slip because I came into Thailand a year ago with a Thai passport. This probably means that I need to go through Thai departure immigration with my Thai passport.

Because I am leaving Thailand as a Thai citizen, entering/leaving Taiwan as an American, and entering Thailand once again at the end of the trip as a Thai citizen, will this cause any issues with Thai immigration? My Thai passport will only show a stamp leaving Thailand but won't show any stamps entering Taiwan (because it is in my US passport). I am not exactly sure what the immigration officer in Thailand checks.

Any suggestions on what I should do would be appreciated.

Issue #2: Assuming that the above mentioned business trip goes by smoothly and I am back in Thailand again living as a Thai citizen. So now at the end of the summer I will need to move back to the US to further my education for about 4 years. I will need to buy a one-way ticket back to the US.

1) When I buy the ticket, should I use the information from my American passport or Thai passport?

2) When I check-in at the airport, should I show my American passport or Thai passport? Should I instead show both passports at check-in?

As you can see both of these issues are quite similar. There are essentially three things that I am unclear about. If I use my Thai passport to check-in I am afraid that the airline check-in person won't allow me to go because I don't have the valid visa in my Thai passport. On the flip-side, if I check-in using my US passport, I am afraid that the check-in person won't allow me to go because I don't have the stapled departure slip in my US passport. Lastly, I am not sure if there are risks involved by showing both passports at check-in.

I kinda feel like I am stuck between a rock and a hard-place and I don't know enough about the immigration process to answer my own questions.

Thank you in advance for your answers

[Mario2008]

You can buy either passport to buy the ticket on.

When you check-in at the airline you show the US passport (and Thai passport if you bought your ticket on that one) to confirm no visa is required. At immigraton you use the Thai passport and at immigraiton in Taiwan you use the US-passport.

On the trip back you show both passports to the airline to confirm no visa for Thailand is required. You show immirgation your US passport you entered on and when arriving in Thailand show immirgaiton your Thai passport.

Regarding your US trip it is the same. enetr and leave the US on the US passport and show both passports at the airline.

[CNXAndy]

Isn't the Thai immigration on the way back into Thailand going to question where I went? There won't be any stamps in my Thai passport showing that I went to Taiwan (because it is in my US passport) and it won't be in the system showing that I entered Taiwan using my Thai passport. I am not sure if this is something that Thai immigration checks or if they only care about the Thai departure stamp.

The above situation in your reply is what I would like to do, I am just afraid that it will be a big issue showing two passports at check-in and coming back into Thailand.

[stevenl]

Isn't the Thai immigration on the way back into Thailand going to question where I went? There won't be any stamps in my Thai passport showing that I went to Taiwan (because it is in my US passport) and it won't be in the system showing that I entered Taiwan using my Thai passport. I am not sure if this is something that Thai immigration checks or if they only care about the Thai departure stamp.

The above situation in your reply is what I would like to do, I am just afraid that it will be a big issue showing two passports at check-in and coming back into Thailand.

Many countries don't stamp.

You're in the same situation many others are in with 2 passports. Just do as Mario said and you'll be ok.

[skatewash]

How to do this with the minimum of fuss and bother is well-documented here: http://www.stylehiclub.com/cruising-flying/step-step-guide-to-traveling-with-two-passports/

It's quite commonly done for people who are dual-national. The key is knowing which passport to present to which entity. If done correctly, as recommended in the link given above, you will have no problems. I would suggest you never show anyone you have two passports because 1) it's not necessary, and 2) it can lead to confusion and unnecessary delay dealing with same.

[skatewash]

More specifically for your situation:

Issue #1

Step 1) Traveling to Taiwan using your US passport

Step 2) Buy ticket to Taiwan using US passport

Step 3) Check-in at Thai airport using US passport

Step 4) Exit Thai immigration using Thai passport

Step 5) Enter Taiwan immigration using US passport

Returning from Taiwan to Thailand

Step 6) Check-in at Taiwan airport using Thai passport

Step 7) Exit Taiwan immigration using US passport

Step 8) Enter Thailand immigration using Thai passport

Issue #2

Step 1) Traveling from Thailand to the US

Step 2) Buy ticket to US using US passport

Step 3) Check-in at Thai airport using US passport

Step 4) Exit Thailand immigration using Thai passport

Step 5) Enter US immigration using US passport

Returning to Thailand

Step 6) Check-in at US airport using Thai passport

Step 7) Exit US immigration using US passport (except US doesn't stamp people out, so this step is skipped)

Step 8) Enter Thai immigration using Thai passport.

If you follow this procedure at no point will you have to show more than one passport to a single person. It will not be necessary for any single person to know you are a dual-national. You will be treated as a run-of-the mill, uncomplicated case, not a special case. That is to your advantage because it avoids complications, confusion, and possible delays straightening those out.

Best wishes for happy travels.

[CNXAndy]

Thank you all for the response

More specifically for your situation:

Issue #1

Step 1) Traveling to Taiwan using your US passport

Step 2) Buy ticket to Taiwan using US passport

Step 3) Check-in at Thai airport using US passport

Step 4) Exit Thai immigration using Thai passport

Step 5) Enter Taiwan immigration using US passport

Returning from Taiwan to Thailand

Step 6) Check-in at Taiwan airport using Thai passport

Step 7) Exit Taiwan immigration using US passport

Step 8) Enter Thailand immigration using Thai passport

Issue #2

Step 1) Traveling from Thailand to the US

Step 2) Buy ticket to US using US passport

Step 3) Check-in at Thai airport using US passport

Step 4) Exit Thailand immigration using Thai passport

Step 5) Enter US immigration using US passport

Returning to Thailand

Step 6) Check-in at US airport using Thai passport

Step 7) Exit US immigration using US passport (except US doesn't stamp people out, so this step is skipped)

Step 8) Enter Thai immigration using Thai passport.

If you follow this procedure at no point will you have to show more than one passport to a single person. It will not be necessary for any single person to know you are a dual-national. You will be treated as a run-of-the mill, uncomplicated case, not a special case. That is to your advantage because it avoids complications, confusion, and possible delays straightening those out.

Best wishes for happy travels.

I just have question regarding Step 3) Check-in at Thai airport using US passport

Aren't the people at the check-in counter going to ask where my departure card is when I show them my US passport? Because when you enter Thailand with US passport you have to fill out an arrival card and departure card. If I can recall from previous trips where I entered Thailand using US passport, the immigration keeps your arrival card and staple the departure card to your passport page.

[skatewash]

Thank you all for the response

More specifically for your situation:

Issue #1

Step 1) Traveling to Taiwan using your US passport

Step 2) Buy ticket to Taiwan using US passport

Step 3) Check-in at Thai airport using US passport

Step 4) Exit Thai immigration using Thai passport

Step 5) Enter Taiwan immigration using US passport

Returning from Taiwan to Thailand

Step 6) Check-in at Taiwan airport using Thai passport

Step 7) Exit Taiwan immigration using US passport

Step 8) Enter Thailand immigration using Thai passport

Issue #2

Step 1) Traveling from Thailand to the US

Step 2) Buy ticket to US using US passport

Step 3) Check-in at Thai airport using US passport

Step 4) Exit Thailand immigration using Thai passport

Step 5) Enter US immigration using US passport

Returning to Thailand

Step 6) Check-in at US airport using Thai passport

Step 7) Exit US immigration using US passport (except US doesn't stamp people out, so this step is skipped)

Step 8) Enter Thai immigration using Thai passport.

If you follow this procedure at no point will you have to show more than one passport to a single person. It will not be necessary for any single person to know you are a dual-national. You will be treated as a run-of-the mill, uncomplicated case, not a special case. That is to your advantage because it avoids complications, confusion, and possible delays straightening those out.

Best wishes for happy travels.

I just have question regarding Step 3) Check-in at Thai airport using US passport

Aren't the people at the check-in counter going to ask where my departure card is when I show them my US passport? Because when you enter Thailand with US passport you have to fill out an arrival card and departure card. If I can recall from previous trips where I entered Thailand using US passport, the immigration keeps your arrival card and staple the departure card to your passport page.

I understand what you are saying about your US passport and the departure card (T.M. 6), but the I seriously doubt that the check-in counter staff will check for that. At the point you show your US passport to the check-in counter staff person is basically only concerned with two things: 1) that you are who you claim to be, 2) that you will have no problem entering the US. The US passport satisfies both concerns: it's a valid identity document, and US citizens are allowed to enter the US without restriction. In my opinion, it is highly unlikely that you will be questioned about this, since it is really of no concern to the airline at all.

However, if the unlikely happens and you get a really curious check-in counter staff person with a lot of time on his or her hands, you can explain that the reason you do not have a departure card (T.M. 6) is that you are a Thai national and you entered Thailand using your Thai passport. That should put the matter to rest.

Plan A is always to present only one passport. Plan B may require you to show both passports and explain what you are doing. I would only go to Plan B if plan A wasn't working.

[Mario2008]

At check in they do not ask for the departure card and you can just show them your Thai passport. They are familiar with dual nationality and all that implies.

[CNXAndy]

Thank you for the responses and putting my mind at ease

[CNXAndy]

Sorry to bring this up again but I am being told by some people at work (not sure if it is true or not) but they are saying that when I "Step 4) Exit Thai immigration using Thai passport" the immigration in Thailand will check my Thai passport to see if I have the correct visa to go to Taiwan

Can someone please elaborate if this is really the case?

[nzexpat]

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Sorry to bring this up again but I am being told by some people at work (not sure if it is true or not) but they are saying that when I "Step 4) Exit Thai immigration using Thai passport" the immigration in Thailand will check my Thai passport to see if I have the correct visa to go to Taiwan

Can someone please elaborate if this is really the case?

Seems you have some "helpful" colleagues !

Immigration Officers are not usually involved with checking the "visa" status of outward bound travelers !

My advice is to rest assured that many, many people follow the process which has been explained with no problems.

[skatewash]

The interest of the Thai immigration officer when you exit at the airport is that your stay in Thailand was legal and that there are no outstanding issues arising therefrom (for example, did you overstay? Is there a warrant for your arrest? etc.). I don't think there could ever be anything less fraught with difficulty when going through immigration than a citizen leaving their own country. Assuming said citizen has a passport from that country, which you do. I don't think Thai immigration officers take much of an interest at all in where you are going. It is, in my opinion, highly unlikely that the Thai immigration officer will ask you any questions, let alone check to see that you have permission to visit wherever you happen to going. Not his job.

In the highly unlikely event that the Thai immigration officer is interested, and questions you, you can explain that you have a US passport and you intend on using that to enter Taiwan.

[skatewash]

Depending on when you are planning to travel to Taiwan and if you are leaving out of Suvarnabhumi you may be able to take advantage of the automatic immigration machines for Thais (supposedly coming online in July): http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/804852-automatic-immigration-machines-coming-to-suvarnabhumi-airport/

Given that you only scan the photo page of your passport when using the automatic immigration machines, it would seem that visas are not checked for on exit when using them.

[samran]

Depending on when you are planning to travel to Taiwan and if you are leaving out of Suvarnabhumi you may be able to take advantage of the automatic immigration machines for Thais (supposedly coming online in July): http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/804852-automatic-immigration-machines-coming-to-suvarnabhumi-airport/

Given that you only scan the photo page of your passport when using the automatic immigration machines, it would seem that visas are not checked for on exit when using them.

Automatic machines for Thai passports have been around a few years now.

With regards to immigtation, they don't care about visas for your destination.

Only the airline does. And they won't issue you with a boarding pass unless they know you have the correct documentation. The U.S. passport ticks that box.

With the issued boarding pass, simply head to inmigration and use the Thai passport to exit. Auto gates or a real person, up to you...

[CNXAndy]

Thank you all for your response and sorry for my "thoroughness". This should be the end of this matter.