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What travel document do U.S. permanent residents need for a Thai visa if they only have a reentry permit?
Thai visaU.S. permanent residentsReentry Permittravel documentsvisa application rejectionLao citizenshipThai embassy guidelinespassport requirements
Nov 2, 2024
a year ago
Muey ********
ORIGINAL POSTERI need some advice. I was helping my parents with their visa for Thailand and it got rejected for “incorrect travel document.” They are U.S permanent residents (green card holders) and they have a travel document “Reentry Permit” issued from US homeland Security. They were able to obtain a Lao visa but not a Thai visa? I called the Thailand embassy in Washington and they told me that they do not accept reentry permits. So what is the correct document/ travel document I need? Thanks in advance!
TLDR : Answer Summary
A U.S. permanent resident's application for a Thai visa was rejected due to using a 'Reentry Permit' as their travel document, which the Thai embassy does not accept. It's clarified that to enter Thailand, one must have a valid passport from their country of citizenship. The conversation discusses that since the parents in question are originally from Laos but do not hold Lao citizenship or a passport, they should explore applying for a Lao passport through the Lao embassy or consider obtaining U.S. citizenship to acquire a U.S. passport, which would facilitate future travel.
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Janelle *****
Certain Lao and Hmong people are allowed to get Thai citizenship . Should look into that
Dave **********
So you think a re entry permit to enter the States will allow you to travel the world ???? What planet are you living on??? A green card???
Muey ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Dave *********
hey dumbass stay the fuck off this post if you’re not going to give me any real advice. You old looking perv motherfucker.Reply to
Muey ********
Reply
Muey ********
ORIGINAL POSTERThank you everyone!
Elías ********
I didn't even know this existed, the thing you're referring to is this, maybe?
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Most countries won't allow people to enter without a passport, thoGary **********
They need you passport details not that document green card .means nothing except you can stay in USA
Muey ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Gary *********
a non us citizen cannot obtain a US passport- only a travel document which was submitted. I did not submit the green card I was just putting that info out.Muey ********
ORIGINAL POSTERNo they don’t. They were born in Laos and traveled to the US as refugees from Thailand and became US permanent residents.
Neal *******
@Muey *******
It seems as though their entry into the US took a great deal of time and effort. They probably had no desire to travel outside of the US once they arrived. So no passports?Are they still citizens of Lao? If so, could you reach out to the Lao embassy? I am not well informed so just an idea. Perhaps if they left Lao during the 60’s or 70’s could they be not in good standing with the government?
They will need passports to travel. The Thai government will determine what visas they are eligible for based upon the passport. I think that this situation requires informed help. Perhaps they could apply for US citizenship.
Muey ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Neal ******
they actually got approved for a Lao Visa using a reentry permit travel document. 20 years ago they were able to go back to Laos and Thailand using this type of travel document reentry permit. But that was a very long time ago. I think they’re considered a stateless person. But yes I’ve been trying to get them to get their citizenship for a while now, maybe that’s just the best route to take.Neal *******
@Muey *******
Definitely. They are in the US. Sell them on the benefits. Citizenship doesn’t need to be renewed every 10 years! Then they can have a US passport. Best wishes!Tore *********
@Muey *******
if they can’t get a Passport from lao embassy, or any passport at all they cannot travel. Sorry, but its as simple as thatElías ********
@Muey *******
I see. That's a special case, then. But unfortunately, Thailand won't let enter anybody without a passport (issued by any country).Jack ********
@Elías *******
totally incorrect. People from neighboring countries can enter with a border pass. For example Malaysia issues border passes for Thailand that aren’t passports. Stop posting incorrect information boyAngelo ***********
@Jack *******
But they can only enter with a valid ID, and they do not have that. Stop nitpicking. That helps no one.Kool *******
@Jack *******
they can only enter from neighboring countries if they have legitimate official ID issued by that country. They can not enter Thailand without ID.Jack ********
@Kool ******
did I say they didn’t boy?Kool *******
@Jack *******
why'd you delete your comment?Russell ********
@Kool ******
... I'm confused... 🤔 Is your nickname "boy"? (If not, then it sure sounds like a very condescending usage by someone.😉)Jack ********
@Kool ******
i didn’t delete anything boyKool *******
@Jack *******
yeah riiiiight....lolololJack ********
@Kool ******
all my posts are still there boy.Elías ********
@Jack *******
Oh, yeah, you're right and I knew about those permits you mention. I should have specified that what I wrote was intended when traveling by plane from a far away country. Any airline in the US won't allow them to board without a passport if they're not going to their home country.Jack ********
@Elías *******
don’t change your story. You had no idea these permits existed even with your googlingPhil *******
@Elías *******
I don’t know of any country that will allow anyone in without a valid passportPhil *******
@Jack *******
not wrong, but I have learnt something 😊Jack ********
@Phil ******
you should stop posting incorrect information about stuff you don’t know about boyPhil *******
@Jack *******
I said as far as I know, so I am not wrong, and as I said I have learnt something, but as far as I can see, your information still does not help their situationReply to
Phil *******
Reply
Elías ********
@Muey *******
not a US passport, but any passport. They have one, don't they?Gary **********
@Muey *******
I get that .but Thailand don't recognise that document only a valid passport and that's why it was rejected 😭..you need a valid passport only ..Muey ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Gary *********
how do we get that for a non US citizens lolAngelo ***********
@Muey *******
From the embassy in the US from the country your parents are from.Wayne ********
@Muey *******
why don’t they apply for a passport from their country of origin not from the United States?Ralph *******
@Muey *******
What country are they citizens of? Get the passport for that country.Muey ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Ralph ******
born in Laos traveled to America in the 90s as refugees living in the US as permanent residents.Kirsten *********
@Muey *******
ah well in this case there appear to be 4 choices: 1) apply to the embassy of Laos in the USA for a Lao passport. 2) apply for US citizenship based on length of time in the country and then a US passport 3) Travel to Laos on the Lao visa if the authorities permit travel with the documents they have, apply for a Lao passport within Laos, 4) don't travel to ThailandRalph *******
@Muey *******
So, they can’t get Lao citizenship or passports?Elías ********
@Muey *******
at the Embassy of their country of citizenship in the US.Darren *******
@Muey *******
I'm not a US citizen but I have a passport...Kirsten *********
@Muey *******
The information is pretty clear on both the Thai embassy site and the MFA site. ****************************************************
It seems you may be confusing 'passport' with 'US passport'. They surely have a passport if they are planning to travel? If not, they will have to gain a passport from their country of citizenship before applying. **********************************************************************************
Reply to
Kirsten *********
Reply
Muey ********
ORIGINAL POSTERI applied twice and got rejected twice. I submitted a travel document “reentry permit” from the United States. This travel document has a bio data page. The rejection email said “ Your visa application has been rejected. Please correct the info of type of travel document and reapply”.
Muey ********
ORIGINAL POSTERThat’s when I called the WA embassy and some lady told me they do not accept this travel document.
Kirsten *********
@Muey *******
because it is not a travel document on which they can enter Thailand. They can't enter Thailand on a re-entry permit to the USA. Only with an actual passport. The Thai embassy requires their passport details to issue the visa. Your parents will need to use that same passport to enter Thailand and to report to Thai immigration services within Thailand. Nothing says it has to be a US passport. They can apply for the non imm OA from country of residency and use the passport from the country they are citizens ofReply to
Kirsten *********
Reply
Kool *******
Immigration needs their actual passport details. A green card is not a passport.
Lynnette *******
Re entry for Thailand? What document are they travelling on, what passport?
Sasi ************
That’s strange, with the re-enter permit it should be sufficient?
Did you double check?
Did you double check?
Angelo ***********
@Sasi ***********
The reentry-permit is for USA. Not for Thailand.Sasi ************
@Angelo **********
Being an immigrant living in the USA I totally familiar with such documentation. Strange that the Thai embassy rejected the visa.Angelo ***********
@Sasi ***********
Because the applicant has no passport. And the re-entry permit is USA and not Thailand.Reply to
Angelo ***********
Reply
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