Entry on Visa Exempt - Return Flight 2 Months

[justsignedin]

My parents arrive from the UK in December. They have no visa, and their return flight home is 59 days later. The plan is to either visit Angkor in Cambodia, or visit immigration and get 30 day extention. Are they likely to encounter any problems entering Thailand due to the fight being beyond the initial 30 days of the visa exempt?

[elviajero]

No, but the airline might not let them board without an onward ticket dated within 30 days.

 

They'd be best advised to get Tourist visa in the U.K. that will give them 60 days. They will then not need an onward flight, or need to extend at immigration. They should have no problem getting a 30 day visa exempt entry if returning from Cambodia.

[KhunBENQ]

The other option is that they (or you) do a "throw away" onward flight booking.

Oneway to Kuala Lumpur starts from 990 Baht/person.

This would satisfy the airline in case (a print of the booking needed).

It would save them the effort of visa application.

[Phuket Man]

Always get the appropriate vise for the stay.

Tourist Visa would save all sorts of problems.

[BritTim]

A return (or onward) flight 59 days out might not initially satisfy airline check in. A talk with the airline supervisor will usually resolve this. It is just a matter of explaining your plans, and your confidence that Thai immigration will have no objection. Be prepared to sign an indemnity form (promise to reimburse the airline for any costs they incur should you be denied entry) if necessary. Thai immigration will not care about an onward flight.

Really, though, the suggestion to get tourist visas is sound advice. If living near one of the honorary consulates, you can get the visas while you wait (20-30 minutes).

[steve187]

an extension of stay at immigration is 1,900 ( about £45) baht and involves some running around, in Thailand, which could also involve a tm 30 report having to be made. but coupled with this extension, you may have to satisfy your airlines boarding policy, on first boarding in the UK

 

 the other way would be to arrive on a visa exempt entry (VEE) and get a 30 day stamp, if a trip is made to  Cambodia you would receive another 30 day VEE on return to Thailand, but the return to the UK should be within 30 days of that entry, in order not to fall foul of an overstay.but again you may be stuck with the airlines boarding policy

 

a tourist visa is £35 if application is made in person at  local consulate in the UK, and again requires some running around in the UK,  no problem with the airline, if a trip is made to Cambodia then a 30 day VEE could be obtained on return to Thailand, but the return to the UK should be within 30 days of that entry, in order not to fall foul of an overstay.

[VBF]

18 hours ago, steve187 said:

an extension of stay at immigration is 1,900 ( about £45) baht and involves some running around, in Thailand, which could also involve a tm 30 report having to be made. but coupled with this extension, you may have to satisfy your airlines boarding policy, on first boarding in the UK

 

 the other way would be to arrive on a visa exempt entry (VEE) and get a 30 day stamp, if a trip is made to  Cambodia you would receive another 30 day VEE on return to Thailand, but the return to the UK should be within 30 days of that entry, in order not to fall foul of an overstay.but again you may be stuck with the airlines boarding policy

 

a tourist visa is £35 if application is made in person at  local consulate in the UK, and again requires some running around in the UK,  no problem with the airline, if a trip is made to Cambodia then a 30 day VEE could be obtained on return to Thailand, but the return to the UK should be within 30 days of that entry, in order not to fall foul of an overstay.

Alternatively, a SETV from London Embassy is £25 Visa Fees but agreed, once you paid postage etc it comes to more like £35.

No running around needed other than a trip to one's local post office to send it off. I've done this for the past 2 years  - PP usually back inside a week.

[lanng khao]

38 minutes ago, VBF said:

Alternatively, a SETV from London Embassy is £25 Visa Fees but agreed, once you paid postage etc it comes to more like £35.

No running around needed other than a trip to one's local post office to send it off. I've done this for the past 2 years  - PP usually back inside a week.

Don't forget the photos.

[VBF]

1 minute ago, lanng khao said:

Don't forget the photos.

I was commenting merely on the cost of the visa and postage, not the complete requirement - the photos would be the same cost whether you applied for the visa in person or via the post. And of course if you extend a visa or visa-free entry in Thailand, you need to provide a recent photo then too. I always keep some photos handy for such eventualities. 

[hawker9000]

Based on what the OP wrote about their plans, I would advise simply formalizing the Angkor visit, make it around the end of their 1st 30 days, and buy the plane tickets to Siem Reap to show at the airline check-in counter.   No extra money or footwork for an SETV, no re-entry permit fees, and probably some discount on the airfare for reserving ahead.  The only fly in the ointment might be where the holidays fall WRT their planned December arrival.

[BritTim]

3 minutes ago, hawker9000 said:

Based on what the OP wrote about their plans, I would advise simply formalizing the Angkor visit, make it around the end of their 1st 30 days, and buy the plane tickets to Siem Reap to show at the airline check-in counter.   No extra money or footwork for an SETV, no re-entry permit fees, and probably some discount on the airfare for reserving ahead.  The only fly in the ointment might be where the holidays fall WRT their planned December arrival.

Flights from Bangkok to Siem Reap right now are very cheap. That said, I am not sure we can assume they will be going directly from Bangkok. Even if they are, they may prefer to travel overland to see more of Thailand and Cambodia during the journey.

[hawker9000]

5 minutes ago, BritTim said:

Flights from Bangkok to Siem Reap right now are very cheap. That said, I am not sure we can assume they will be going directly from Bangkok. Even if they are, they may prefer to travel overland to see more of Thailand and Cambodia during the journey.

Understood.  Well, flexibility will have its price unless they want to take a chance on the airline check-in.  If the person at the counter requires the onward ticketing, I guess they could always ask to see a supervisor and explain the part about either taking an overland trip out of Thailand or obtaining the 30d extensions.  Airline check-in is all this really comes down to if I understand correctly.