2 passports - Thai and US - how does it work for travel?

My wife has a Thai trespass and a US one. We are going to start spending 6 months in the US and 6 months in Thailand. We have been told if she arrives on her US passport, then she will have to get a VISA and be subject to VISA runs or some other sort of long stay VISA.

If she arrives on her Thai passport, they will see it was not stamped when exiting the US. When we go to leave Thailand I am thinking it will also be a problem if she shows her US passport. Also, when we arrive int yhe US, they will also see that Thailand did not stamp the US one when she leaves.

How do all of you juggle the 2 passports when your wife has dual citizenship in order to not have to deal with VISA's, hiding the fact that she has both and other headaches.

I was also wondering if she owns land and a house in Thailand (which she does) can that be a problem with her US citizenship?

Thank you for all the advice in advance!

Use the US one in and out of the US and the Thai one in and out of Thailand. If you're asked about visas at checkin produce the other passport.

end of story.

^ Yes. That's the way it works, but technically of course Thailand does not allow dual nationality. Currently that is ignored, but may change in the future. (Particularly with the problems in the South)

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Originally Posted by kingwilly

Use the US one in and out of the US and the Thai one in and out of Thailand. If you're asked about visas at checkin produce the other passport.

end of story.

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Precisely. In my case, it's Filipino and US, but same deal. Never had a problem in 13 years. Slightly different, however, as the Philippines does recognize dual citizenship, but it still should work without problem.

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Originally Posted by Gerbil

^ Yes. That's the way it works, but technically of course Thailand does not allow dual nationality. Currently that is ignored, but may change in the future. (Particularly with the problems in the South)

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Neither does Indonesia...

We have a client who spends 8 months in Thailand and 4 in the US, to save hassle she goes down to the Pattaya Immigration with her US passport and her original Thai birth certificate and they stamp her 1 year at a cost of 1,900 bht, as she is still in their eyes a Thai citizen.

There are other ways of doing it but this client finds it the easiest,

Does Thailand allow dual nationality?

Does Thailand allow its citizens to have dual nationality? For instance, can a Thai national keep her Thai citizenship and acquire a foreign one? If so, can that person then have two passports?
Akgun Kiciman, Turkey

Thursday, October 11, 2012 12:20:07 PM

“Yes, Thai citizens are allowed to have dual nationality and own two passports. If you are born in Thailand and have at least one Thai parent, you automatically have Thai nationality and can apply for a Thai passport. However, if you are only half-Thai and were born and raised aboard, and do not have Thai nationality, you can still get a Thai passport, but must contact the District Office that your Thai parent is registered at and have your name added to the Thai House Registration list.

For more information contact the Phuket Passport Office Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm at 076-222 081.” Thursday, October 11, 2012 12:20:07 PM Worrawan Pakamas, Phuket Passport Officer responsible for checking nationality and identity.

“Although you are allowed to own two passports, you must leave Thailand on the same passport you used to enter The Kingdom.” Thursday, October 11, 2012 12:20:07 PM Lt Col Napat Nusen, Head Supervisor of the Phuket Immigration office.

Phuket Issue and Answer: Does Thailand allow dual nationality?

^
That's been my understanding for some time now.

Good on ya Mid for digging that out. :)

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Originally Posted by key visa thailand

We have a client who spends 8 months in Thailand and 4 in the US, to save hassle she goes down to the Pattaya Immigration with her US passport and her original Thai birth certificate and they stamp her 1 year at a cost of 1,900 bht, as she is still in their eyes a Thai citizen.

There are other ways of doing it but this client finds it the easiest,

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Funny, I was told categorically by the UK embassy that anyone who has two passports cannot enter the country of one of those passports on the other passport.

i.e. if you have a passport of a country that is the only passport you are allowed to use by law to enter that country.

They would not allow any entry (visa or notation) into my kids Thai passports giving them access to the UK as that was illegal. Thay said it applies accross the board for all countries.

Then again, this is Thailand and the law enforcers don't know the law anyway and just enforce what suits them on any given day.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by key visa thailand

We have a client who spends 8 months in Thailand and 4 in the US, to save hassle she goes down to the Pattaya Immigration with her US passport and her original Thai birth certificate and they stamp her 1 year at a cost of 1,900 bht, as she is still in their eyes a Thai citizen.

There are other ways of doing it but this client finds it the easiest,

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Aaaah... reading again you don't say that she has two passports, just a US one....