Dual nationality and passports

[migrant]

Thanks All!!

I found in looking around, like others said here, that she should use the US passport leaving and entering US, and Thai passport for Thailand. Since Thailand recognizes dual citizenships there is noproblem.

Mattoz brings up a great point, what about going to another country?

It sounds as if she should use her Thai passport if we are going from, and back to, Thailand since visas wouldn't be a problem.

[ian71]

I was told by a Thai/English girl when 18 she would have to chose between her Thai and English passport as you cant have both? she told me she would chose the English passport, so please someone confirm this as im told Thais cant have dual citizenships, only one passport? also was told you can keep both passports up to date and travel on either, which other is easier, but its basically illegal,her father is a high ranking tourist police officer and sorts out many falang problems, so i believe its not as simple as some of the earlier posts suggest!!!! interesting.

[David_Loves_Ubonwan]

Whilst Thailand doesn't officially recognise dual citizenships there is no Thai law against a Thai having citizenship of another country, and if there is no law against it therefore it is not ilegal.

Thais also cannot have their citizenship taken away from them (if that was possible I'm sure Thaksin would have lost his citizenship.)

David

[David_Loves_Ubonwan]

On the other hand an English passport would be ilegal as it would be fake, English people should hold a British passport...

David

[ian71]

Whilst Thailand doesn't officially recognise dual citizenship's there is no Thai law against a Thai having citizenship of another country, and if there is no law against it therefore it is not illegal.

If that's so why is there a problem holding 2 passports? just another Thai grey area to cause people problems.
Also while thinking about it i have a English friend who now retired in Thailand that's lived in America and has a green card, he told me something along the lines being out of America for more than 3 or 6 month at a time sorry cant remember exact time he will lose his green card for work next time he go's back!!!! rules and regs, what a mine field.

[David_Loves_Ubonwan]

If that's so why is there a problem holding 2 passports?

Is there a problem? A number of people in this thread have already said there isn't...

David

[Susana]

Ian,

If someone holds a green card in the U.S., and leaves the country, he must return every 2 years to renew the green card.

That is the way it was last I knew.

[Curt]

To quote Ian:

...rules and regs, what a mine field.

Thailand, like the US, pretty much has a "don't ask; don't tell" policy on dual citizenship. Therefore, there are no "laws" governing dual citizenship in Thailand; it's ripe for corruption. That is why we would rather do the visa process. It also keeps us under the same flag.

The US' "green card" is actually a "permanent resident visa". Therefore, "residence" is a requirement. Any "holidays" over 1 year will be closely scrutinized. Depending on how deeply the visa holder is or isn't "rooted" in the States, shorter holidays can be questioned. It must be renewed every 10 years.

[KhaoNiaw]

If that's so why is there a problem holding 2 passports? just another Thai grey area to cause people problems.

The law allows women married to foreigners or children reaching the age of 20 with another citizenship to take the option of renouncing their Thai citizenship, but there is no penalty or provision to automatically revoke their Thai nationality if they choose not to do so. They retain their Thai citizenship.

While it is something of a grey area, practice on the ground is quite consistent and if you search around online a bit, you'll find explanations by senior immigration officers and government officials explaining how to use the two passports.

I've read reports of the odd problem with junior immigration officers and they are solved by talking to someone more senior.

There are so many Thais with dual nationality, including some very high-ranking ones, that it would probably stir up all kinds of problems if they now tried to disallow it. It could happen, of course, but hasn't yet.

A couple of links:
http://www.phuketgazette.net/issuesa...ls.asp?id=1066 (A great 'no but yes' answer!!)
http://www.phuketgazette.net/issuesa...ils.asp?id=935
http://www.meechaithailand.com/ver1/...view&id=019854 (Thai language)
http://www.phuketgazette.net/archive...rticle694.html

[Betti]

regarding the green card, my sister's childhood friend said she wasn't allowed to leave the US for a couple of years before she got the green card, I think she was stuck there for 3 or 4 years waiting. her mother didn't qualify for a tourist visa for a year or two because she was unemployed. same with her fiance and his mother, they didn't see each other for years either. it was really hard on them.