Hi guys,

I have recently been issued a second newer current UK passport by UK passport office with support letter from my employers who sometimes need a passport for visa applications ongoing whilst I travel with other. These visas sometimes need applying overseas although I am based in Thailand on a Non Imm O.

Two Questions:

1. Suppose I send the second newer passport overseas to apply a visa to a third country thro an agent. When I leave at BKK airport they will see I have no destination visa in my UK passport used to exit Thailand. Is it normal/OK to show them the second current UK passport with the destination visa in it? Opposite also applies coming back.

2. Could I apply at embassies in Bangkok for destination visas using the newer passport without any Thai entry/exit stamps in it?

Anyone done this regularly?

Thanks for any input guys.

I have 2no UK passports with a current Retirement extension in one of them.

For point 1, my experience indicates that, on leaving BKK, the I/O is not looking for any visas in connection with your destination. They don't check for that, only checking your Thai visa status and ensuring valid stamps / no overstay issue. I frequently travel to Egypt / India and often have visas for those destinations in my second passport, which is never shown at BKK. Never had a problem.

For point 2, have rarely obtained a visa in Bangkok for other countries but do recall that status of current stay in Thailand is usually requested. Have only used same passport so not sure whether showing a 2nd passport with Thai visa details would be a problem or not. Certainly, when obtaining, e.g. an India visa in Cairo on my UK passport, it needed to be the one that contained my Egypt visa. But that may just be the usual India issues!!

• The IO at BKK will only be interested in the passport (old) with your Thai permit to stay.

You should book your flight using the passport (new) with the visa for your country of destination and check in to the flight using that passport.

Sometimes the destination country will want to see an exit stamp in which case it's no problem showing your other passport (old).

Embassies are familiar with what you are doing so there will not be a problem. It will probably depend on the embassy you apply at but in my experience the Thai entry stamps will be of no interest at the consulate issuing the new visa. Take both passports then it will not be an issue if they want sight of your Thai permit.

Not sure exactly how asking about using two U.K. passports, but be warned:

YOU (as a person) does not enter Thailand, your passport enters Thailand.

Hence YOUR PASSPORT will get an entry stamp as you enter Thailand and the same passport must exit Thailand receiving an exit stamp on leaving Thailand.

If you fail to show an exit stamp on that same passport that has an entry stamp, and your visa has expired, then you are on overstay and can be fined.

You can not enter Thailand on one passport getting an entry visa on that passport and later exit on another U.K. passport even if that 2nd passport is in your name.

Though it may seem foolish to you, in the immigration's eyes, your passport allows you entry and that same passport is what you use to show you are legally exiting Thailand.

In that sense it is the Passport and not you who enters and leaves Thailand legally.

You need to think like a government immigration functionary, not a human being.

Appreciate the feedback guys. I suppose the last poster missed my point but I welcome the input as always. The first two replies were spot on what I was looking for so that is indeed a big help for my planning ahead and thank you for your experience.

Thanks.