thai wife passport question?

[moose 961]

the wife has a u.s. and thai passport. heard that some come and go from thailand on thai passport
then land in states and show u.s, passport. how can that be . you need a visa in your thai passport to leave thailand.

[Big Boy]

I'll give you my understanding first, but need to be corrected if wrong please. Mrs BB will have to start to do exactly the same to and from the UK soon.

UK or US to Thailand:

Airplane check-in - show Thai Passport
UK/US Emigration - show UK/US Passport
Thai Immigration - show Thai Passport

Thailand to UK or US:

Airplane check-in - show UK/US Passport
Thai Emigration - show Thai Passport
UK/US Immigration - show UK/US Passport

[moose 961]

big boy your thinking no visa check at thai emigration only at airline check in. it's been awhile but don't you hand them both ticket and passport at emigration.

[Big Boy]

As far as I understand (but I fully admit that I'm still learning) there is no visa check at emigration - that's the airline's job. The airline do that check because if you arrive at your destination without the correct documentation, then the airline have to return you at the airline's expense.

We did have a similar thread on here a few years ago, I'll have a quick look to see if I can find it.

[Big Boy]

This is the thread that I was thinking of.
www.huahinforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=11583

You will see as you read through it that my understanding was similar to yours now. However, I was proved wrong back then.

[chopsticks]

Not sure if this is relevant but for the last few years no uk visa stamps (Vignette stickers) are put in the Thai spouse's passport anymore as they now use those plastic id biometric cards instead for FLR and ILR status.
So the Thai passport would not show anything inside to indicate UK residence.
Many countries, unlike UK, do continue to stamp passports when departing.

[moose 961]

good thread thanks big boy. still wonder about no stamps in passport. maybe chopsticks post
will help ease my mind. called thai embasey in washington today. talked to a old fart (what you want,
you need visa, what you want) no help

[jimk]

My wife travels on her UK passport, except at Thai immigration on entering and leaving Thailand, where she shows her Thai passport. If either party (airline or immigration) queries her lack of visas, which happens occasionally but not often, she produces the other passport. We've been doing this for 25 years without a problem.

[Big Boy]

good thread thanks big boy. still wonder about no stamps in passport.

Hang in there moose. It would be very unusual if the guys on this forum left you without a definitive answer.

[bapak]

My wife travels on her UK passport, except at Thai immigration on entering and leaving Thailand, where she shows her Thai passport. If either party (airline or immigration) queries her lack of visas, which happens occasionally but not often, she produces the other passport. We've been doing this for 25 years without a problem.

Absolutely right... Same with Australian/Thai Passport...
Entry and departure into Thailand with Thai Passport..
Entry and departure in any other country on the other passport.
It is the airlines responsibility to confirm that you can enter the destination country and this will often involve showing both passports. Authorities are well aware these days that people travel on more than one passport.

[Big Boy]

It is the airlines responsibility to confirm that you can enter the destination country and this will often involve showing both passports. Authorities are well aware these days that people travel on more than one passport.

Thanks bapak, that clarifies one element for me.

[moose 961]

thank you

[migrant]

My wife travels on her UK passport, except at Thai immigration on entering and leaving Thailand, where she shows her Thai passport. If either party (airline or immigration) queries her lack of visas, which happens occasionally but not often, she produces the other passport. We've been doing this for 25 years without a problem.

We do it this way also from Los Angeles, never a problem!

[moose 961]

if i read this right my wife can show up at airport with a one way ticket to thailand. it will be some time before our next trip anywhere

[dtaai-maai]

Even bearing in mind that TIT, if your wife is Thai why on earth would she need evidence that she will leave Thailand? They can hardly deport her!