Visa On Arrival

[bmw]

I am flying into bangkok next week on a return ticket purchased here in LOS.I will not have a tourist visa so i will get a 30day on arrival.How much money must I show to Immigration as I do not have a TV?

[Axel]

BMW, you don't state your nationality. The ticket you bought in LOS? Is it Los Angeles or Land of smiles?

Assuming you have a US-p/port and bought the tkt in the US, i.e r/trip back to the States -

The applicant must possess instrument of means of living expenses 10,000 Baht per person and 20,000 Baht per family accordingly.

Quoted from:

http://www.mfa.go.th/web/12.php#Tourist

[lopburi3]

I am not sure what you said but if you plan to fly here with no visa and no onward ticket you may be denied boarding the aircraft so that should be checked.

You do not have a TV?

[lopburi3]

Is it Los Angeles or Land of smiles?

Didn't even think of that. Then TV must be tourist visa? It's a new generation!

[bmw]

I am flying in from Hong Kong and I have a UK Passport.I bought the ticket here in Bangkok.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

I am flying in from Hong Kong and I have a UK Passport.I bought the ticket here in Bangkok.

There won't be a problem if you have a confirmed outbound flight from LOS within that 30 day period.

[bmw]

I have a return ticket from BKK to HK and no onward ticket.The above website states that Baht10,000 is required.Is this correct?

[Axel]

As lopburi3 says, in such case the airline might deny boarding, as airline-rules require a ticket out of Thailand within 30 days if you have no visa.

The monetary requirement is rarely checked by Thai immigration for holders of European passports, but the figure stands.

[popelf]

What I do is book a ticket on the Thai Airways website just before I go back to Bangkok and then cancel it after I've cleared immigration on a 30 day tourist visa.

You can book a confirmed reservation without having to enter credit card details etc but you are supposed to pick your ticket up within 72 hours. Take a printout of your confirmed reservation and if the airlines ask show them it.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

What I do is book a ticket on the Thai Airways website just before I go back to Bangkok and then cancel it after I've cleared immigration on a 30 day tourist visa.

You can book a confirmed reservation without having to enter credit card details etc but you are supposed to pick your ticket up within 72 hours. Take a printout of your confirmed reservation and if the airlines ask show them it.

Is it that hard to get a visa in HongKong and avoid the hassles ?

[popelf]

I expect its quite easy to get a Visa in HK. The question was about Visa on Arrival with tickets purchased in LOS. I do it this way because I don't stay more than 30 days at a time and always buy tickets in BKK, cause its cheaper!

[Sunny Valentine]

What I do is book a ticket on the Thai Airways website just before I go back to Bangkok and then cancel it after I've cleared immigration on a 30 day tourist visa.

You can book a confirmed reservation without having to enter credit card details etc but you are supposed to pick your ticket up within 72 hours. Take a printout of your confirmed reservation and if the airlines ask show them it.

That would be an easy workaround. In fact, it looks too easy to be true and working.

As the regulations of Thai Authorities say that you have to be in possession of a ticket ....

Have you ever been interviewed by the Airline, and experienced that this Method is working and accepted.

If yes, I wonder why the Airlines would not accept that I could proof the necessary Funds of obtaining a Ticket as well?

Now, if this would really work, I guess the Problem would be solved for a lot of us.

Sunny

[popelf]

I started doing this after having problems with Thai Airwys in London (who previously let me board after showing a credit card!!!) who started ensisting on an onward ticket, so if it's good enough for them..........

In this day and age of E-Tickets, I've found that a paper ticket is not necessary. Strangely though I've never been asked by Thai Immigration to show proof of onward travel, it's the airlines who have given me a hard time.

[Axel]

In this day and age of E-Tickets, I've found that a paper ticket is not necessary. Strangely though I've never been asked by Thai Immigration to show proof of onward travel, it's the airlines who have given me a hard time.

I have quite a lot of friends, who visit Thailand regularly, let's say 3-4 times a month to stay for 2-3 days each trip. They always enter via BKK or HKT - airport

For them it is certainly easier, just to come on a 30 days visa exemption.

They as well found out, that the r/t tkt bought in Thailand is cheaper than, let's say in Cambodia or VietNam. So the reservation-slip usually does work.

As for checking an outbound or return ticket, I was unable to find any requirement by the Thai authorities to this effect as long as you hold a p/port from a country to which the 30-days-exemption applies. For citizens of countries allowed a 15 days visa on arrival it is a different story.

The 30 days requires Baht 10000 (20 K for family) the 15 days need specifically shown - The applicant must produce instrument of means of transport (full paid ticket) which is usable within 15 days since the date of entry.

Again refer to;

http://www.mfa.go.th/web/12.php#Tourist

The internal airlines guidelines are different, they insist on tickets if no visa.

Now, who wants to fight during check in? If no visa, try the reservation thing or buy your next ticket in advance. (I.e. b4 leaving BKK buy two tkts, so when returning on the first one you still have another one on hand, perhaps open, if the airline still give trouble, ask them for a confirmation sticker, you always can change.)

[bmw]

Thank you for all the feedback.I think I will go with the Online Reservation idea,sounds perfect.

[lopburi3]

Below is current web page from Royal Thai Consulate LA re requirements for 30 day stay:

LIST OF COUNTRIES WHOSE NATIONALS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A 30-DAY STAY IN THAILAND WITHOUT A VISA FOR THE PURPOSE OF TOURISM - Must have a valid passport (6-month validity with empty visa pages), proof of confirmed air tickets showing 30 days or less in Thailand, must have clean record in Thailand (no criminal history) and carry at least $200 per person or $400 per family

And below is quote from US State Department Consular Information Sheet for Thailand current as of today:

ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: U.S. citizen tourists staying for less than 30 days do not require a visa, but must possess a passport and may be asked to show an onward/return ticket. A Passenger Service Charge must be paid in Thai baht when departing the country from any of Thailand's international airports.

Edited May 16, 2004 by lopburi3

[chingy_]

for the next 4-5 month i'll be doing alots of travel between BKK and SING, and stay for only a day in SING, im usually on 60 tourist visa, but since i'll be jumping in and out 2-3 time a month, i will not get a tourist visa until the 4-5 month is up, i will book my flight from Thailand leaving in the morning and return late in the evening, last year i did the same thing with no trouble from the airline or immigration, they never ask anything. but i just recieve a architect job in SIN and will be doing the same like last year, i hope there will not be any problem as what you all been describing. should i be worrying about the return trip into Thailand, any advise. im holding US PP

[bmw]

Another suggestion would be to become a Frequent Flyer with the Airline that you will use and that may over come the issue.

Any thoughts?

[lopburi3]

should i be worrying about the return trip into Thailand, any advise. im holding US PP

I wouldn't worry as they probably notice all the stamps and assume you are ok. Also it is up to the airline/person checking how close they enforce this and you could always purchase a refundable ticket if you are not checking in at the last minute.

[bkk_mike]

Another suggestion would be to become a Frequent Flyer with the Airline that you will use and that may over come the issue.

Any thoughts?

Definitely second that.

Since I got my gold card with Thai, I don't think they've ever checked for the visa in my passport at check-in, and I book most of my flights as return trips to Bangkok, because booked from here, they're changeable for free...

(But I do have a visa, if they do decide to check sometime...)