How to go with both Thai & US passport?

Question

My wife has both a US and Thai passport, We want to spend 3 months there this Winter. We have 4 questions:

- Is there any Thai law about having 2 citizenships & passports

- Which passport and name does she use when buying round trip airline tickets to Thailand?

- If she flies on her Thai passport does she produce both when re-entering the USA

- If you have been in the same situation, how do you do it?

Answer 1

Thailand allows Thai woman marrying to foreigners who gain additional citizenship by marriage. So, there's no problem with two passports. If the immigration asks any question if your wife shows the Thai passport on entrance into Thailand, tell them straight that she carries dual citizenship, and that the law has been reinterpreted during Prime Minister Ananda Panyarachun's administration.

Immigration may ask if your wife's passport doesn't show the stamp from the port she left, should she uses US passport in leaving the US and in the air ticket.

Answer 2

i have dual citizenship as well.

When she leaves the US show american passport. When she arrives in Thailand, show her Thai passport, when she leaves thailand show her US passport, when she re-enters the US show her US passport.

USA sucks when there are foreigners. You always have to wait on a longer line, etc.

For tickets use the US name.

its just easier for customs once she arrives in thailand to show her thai passport.

the rest, just use US passport.

Answer 3

The US allows people to maintain dual-citizenship, so your real issue is the laws of Thailand.  I do know a lot of nations require people with citizenship that are travelling back into the country from abroad to enter the nation with their passport from that nation.  Even the USA now requires us Americans to have a US Passport to re-enter the US even though we're citizens.

Your wife should carry both passports with her when she travels there.  It would be important for her to be able to prove her US citizenship if she needs services from the US Consulate, and will make re-entry into the US much easier for her.  Having her Thai Passport with her will make entry into Thailand easier too.

I'm sure Thailand has a governmental website where you can get your questions answered, and the US Department of State website will also answer your questions since she's an American travelling abroad.  She should definately check the US Department of State website.

Answer 4

1.  There are laws in both countries regarding it.  It is legal in the US to have dual citizenship, and for Thai women married to American men, it is also legal for them to have dual citizenship.

2.  The same as appears on the passport that she uses for travel

3.  Depends on the customs officers at the airport.  Likely, she will be asked for both.  Unlikely that they will detain her if she is only carrying one.

4.  If I have a valid visa in the Thai passport, I would fly back to Thailand on the Thai Passport.  Otherwise I would use the US passport.