visa help - sick family member in thailand

[pumpjack]

my dad is seriously ill in thai hospital.  i been told to fly over there ASAP .     i have just just left thailand 2 week ago as i was there for 2 week holiday.  

can i fly back on a one way ticket or not ?  i need be at my dads hospital every day and dont know if he will be able to fly back or even if " god forbid " he dies.

 

i have hospital papers etc to prove.  

i dont want book a return for 2 weeks incase he is still in need of my help.

 looks like only option for me is book " open " ticket ? 

 

thanks 

jack 

[sanemax]

You could buy a cheap outward ticket to a neighboring County to cover you

[pumpjack]

Just now, sanemax said:

You could buy a cheap outward ticket to a neighboring County to cover you

 

thanks,  though would this work ? i need be certain !

thankyou

[jenny2017]

What's your nationality?

 

   I'm only asking because i know an institution that could be of help for certain nationals. 

 

  The hospital papers could help you, but to make sure better book a cheap flight to a neighboring country. 

[rasg]

51 minutes ago, pumpjack said:

my dad is seriously ill in thai hospital.  i been told to fly over there ASAP .     i have just just left thailand 2 week ago as i was there for 2 week holiday.  

can i fly back on a one way ticket or not ?  i need be at my dads hospital every day and dont know if he will be able to fly back or even if " god forbid " he dies.

 

i have hospital papers etc to prove.  

i dont want book a return for 2 weeks incase he is still in need of my help.

 looks like only option for me is book " open " ticket ? 

Sorry to hear this.

Just buy a normal return ticket and if you need to be in Thailand longer than you expect, change the return date.

[Sheryl]

Yes, a return ticket with changeable dates is usually cheaper than an "open" ticket.

 

Once in Thailand, Should it prove necessary for you to extend your father's visa or your own, this is possible on medical grounds, process is that you must get a letter form the hospital stating your father;'s diagnosis, condition and that he is unable to travel (that phrase must be in there) and (if your visa needs extending) that he requires your presence as family member to look after him. In addition, the imm offices like to have photos of the patient in their hospital bed, the more the better.

[siam2007]

4 hours ago, pumpjack said:

 

thanks,  though would this work ? i need be certain !

thankyou

 

 

I hope he is in a good hospital and has good, trusted and recommended physicians with the appropriate skills caring for him, otherwise, if he is fit for transport, consider taking him to a world-class facility such as Bumrungrad or maybe BNH (if they are well-equipped for his illness). Many recommendations for numerous excellent physicians can be found here on the board. Bumrungrad would be the no. 1 choice for me by any means.

Good luck!

[saakura]

Why not buy a normal return ticket with a longer validity like 3, 6 or 12 months as you feel necessary? Return date can be changed to suit your needs, i do it all the time. 

[BritTim]

Depending on where you live, you can often get a single entry tourist visa the same day (especially when you can show you need it for an emergency). With that, the necessity for onward/return flight tickets does not arise. Best (if possible) is to visit an honorary consulate in person, having phoned them to explain the situation. The majority, in a case like this, will even be willing to issue the visa out of hours.

[FritsSikkink]

Get a tourist visa (60 days), which can be extended in the country and a year ticket with changeable dates without a fee,

[gk10002000]

don't know where you are flying from, but EVA air has some pretty cheap change fees.  Used to be 0 change fee if you change the return date, 100 USD if you change the outbound trip.  And a few times I booked an open return flight with EVA and I know that wasn't much of a price increase either.  This was flying out of LAX and Seattle on another trip

[Ulic]

Buy the cheapest ticket one way to Thailand. Buy an expensive fully refundable one way

home in the 30 day return window. As soon as you arrive in Thailand cancel that ticket

and book a cheap one way ticket home when you know what return date you will need.

One more thing and this is very important. Do not let a travel agent or the check in person

attach the two tickets. If they do once you start the journey you will no longer be able to

get a refund on the return ticket as your journey has begun. Only change the date. To make sure

there is no confusion and joining of the tickets the return ticket should be with a different airline.

 

 

[connda]

Many airline will offer discounted airline tickets and priority booking for cases such as these where there is a life threatening family emergency or death in the family.  My family booked flights from SEA/TAC in Washington State to Arizona to be with my Dad who had suffered a massive heart attack and was in ICU within 24 hours of him passing away.  I have nothing but accolades for that airline, which I believe was Southwest Airlines.  You might want to check in on that.  
Now Thai immigration may be another can of worm - you may want to check with UbonJoe on how to work with immigration to expedite getting to your fathers bedside.

Here's one example:  Plan to be flexible and have all your documentation in order.  Best of luck, and having been there, my heartfelt wishes. 
https://getawaytips.azcentral.com/reduced-air-fares-for-family-emergencies-12204138.html

[greenchair]

On 11/5/2017 at 8:16 PM, siam2007 said:

 

 

I hope he is in a good hospital and has good, trusted and recommended physicians with the appropriate skills caring for him, otherwise, if he is fit for transport, consider taking him to a world-class facility such as Bumrungrad or maybe BNH (if they are well-equipped for his illness). Many recommendations for numerous excellent physicians can be found here on the board. Bumrungrad would be the no. 1 choice for me by any means.

Good luck!

Bumrungrad and bnh charge exhorbatant fees that will probably kill him when he sees the overpriced, rip off bill. 

Princess chublakorn hospital is wonderful, a quarter the price and everyone speaks English. Very new and modern also. 

[jenny2017]

On 11/6/2017 at 11:32 AM, connda said:

Many airline will offer discounted airline tickets and priority booking for cases such as these where there is a life threatening family emergency or death in the family.  My family booked flights from SEA/TAC in Washington State to Arizona to be with my Dad who had suffered a massive heart attack and was in ICU within 24 hours of him passing away.  I have nothing but accolades for that airline, which I believe was Southwest Airlines.  You might want to check in on that.  
Now Thai immigration may be another can of worm - you may want to check with UbonJoe on how to work with immigration to expedite getting to your fathers bedside.

Here's one example:  Plan to be flexible and have all your documentation in order.  Best of luck, and having been there, my heartfelt wishes. 
https://getawaytips.azcentral.com/reduced-air-fares-for-family-emergencies-12204138.html

Thai Immigration is usually pretty cool in emergency situations. They might be okay when you show them a doctor's note and photos of your father in bed. Your extension of stay under these circumstances with a letter in Thai shouldn't be a problem as well.

 

        Best of luck, I hope he gets well soon. 

[Sheryl]

Yes, he can if necessary get an extension of stay on a visa exempt entry based on lettet from hospital as per my earlier post.

Roundtrip flight with changeable return date is best. If the issue is that such tickets cost too much could consider doing as per Uluc's post.



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[BritTim]

2 hours ago, greenchair said:

Princess chublakorn hospital is wonderful

Sorry for an off topic question. I was under the (possibly incorrect) impression that Chulabhorn Hospital was basically a cancer hospital. Is it also a good choice for general medical treatment?

[greenchair]

25 minutes ago, BritTim said:

Sorry for an off topic question. I was under the (possibly incorrect) impression that Chulabhorn Hospital was basically a cancer hospital. Is it also a good choice for general medical treatment?

Absolutely. I just went there for my yearly check. Full course for over 50. They have a general clinic also. If you do have early cancer, they are going to find it. I had a colonoscopy. They recommended I bring 15000 would need at most. 

After procedure, I got only a 5000 baht bill. I was shocked, for the first time I was not ripped off at a Thai hospital. No waiting, great English. I will not go to another hospital