Again the visa exemption question

[Backpacker1990]

Hi all, 

 

On Friday I will fly back to Thailand after a 3 week stay in Holland. I'm married to a Thai but because of some unforeseen problems I wasn't able to go to a Thai consulate to get myself a visa. My question, will the following history give me problems on Suvarnabhumi on Saturday? I know that every officer make their own rules but maybe some input will help to reduce my stress 555

 

- April 2017 until May 2018 | Non O ME

- May 2018 until August 2018 | Visa exemption by land extended with 60 days based on marriage

- December 2018 until January 2019 | Visa exemption by air with 60 days extension based on marriage

- June 2019 until November 2019 | Visa exemption on air, extended with 60 days based on marriage and visa exemption at land border extended with 30 days based on tourist

 

Now the plan is to come back this weekend, get 30 days visa exemption and extend this with 60 days based on marriage and get 30 days at a landborder and then I will go back to Holland for 6 weeks and will get a visa. I will carry my flight ticket to Holland next year in March + more than 20.000thb in cash. 

 

Is this getting risky what I'm doing now? I'm getting scared after all the messages. I'm 29 years old and speak pretty good Thai what so far never gave me problems at the border. 

 

Thanks for the useful replies! 

[Backpacker1990]

So far I had 1 visa exemption by air this year and 1 at a land border. Not 180 days yet but with the upcoming 30 days it will be more than 180 days this year staying on a visa exemption + extensions.. 

[MeePeeMai]

Brave soul. My guess is that the 1st thing they will ask you is why don't you have the proper Visa?

 

If it were me I think I would  have booked my flight to Kuala Lumpur and flown in on Air Asia from KL.  That way if they deny you entry you won't be sent back to Holland, you would be sent back to KL on Air Asia and then maybe you could attempt a land crossing to get in or just get a Non-O visa there.

 

Make sure you have a ticket out within 30 days (throw away to KL maybe?) to show them (along with the cash) and do a lot of praying on the way here.  You could always tell them that you needed to return to get a copy of your wife's tabian ban and ID card in order to apply for the correct visa (you forgot it last time you were here).

 

I don't understand why you don't just get your Non-O based on marriage when you do your next planned border run.  That would make more sense than hoping they let you back in on a land boarder and then waiting until you get back to Holland to get it.

 

Good luck!

[ukrules]

The airline will question your return date because you don't have a visa and want to see evidence of onward travel within the 30 days.

 

Without this they can be difficult. By difficult I mean refuse to let you check in but it's really down to the person on the check in desk.

 

[elviajero]

I suggest you carry a copy of your wife’s ID and a copy of your marriage certificate. The chances of being denied entry are low, but if you get questioned you can demonstrate a need for your frequent visits.

[DrJack54]

Why don't you have visa based on marriage to Thai?

Crazy!

[Peter Denis]

6 hours ago, ukrules said:

The airline will question your return date because you don't have a visa and want to see evidence of onward travel within the 30 days.

Without this they can be difficult. By difficult I mean refuse to let you check in but it's really down to the person on the check in desk.

When you need evidence of onward travel for Visa/entry-reasons, you can simply 'rent' a legit onward travel ticket back to the destination you came from.  Just type FLY ONWARD on Google to choose one of the companies that offer that service.  Costs between 8 and 12 US $, and ticket is valid for 24 to 36 hours.

[elviajero]

4 hours ago, Peter Denis said:

When you need evidence of onward travel for Visa/entry-reasons, you can simply 'rent' a legit onward travel ticket back to the destination you came from.  Just type FLY ONWARD on Google to choose one of the companies that offer that service.  Costs between 8 and 12 US $, and ticket is valid for 24 to 36 hours.

It is not a “legit onward ticket”, because it can never be used. It’s fraud.

[Peter Denis]

2 minutes ago, elviajero said:

It is not a “legit onward ticket”, because it can never be used. It’s fraud.

Technically you are correct.

The alternative is to buy the cheapest 'real' one-way ticket (probably AirAsia from HuaHin to KL for under 30 US $).  But you could also label that option as fraud because when buying it you have no intent of actually using it.

Also, there are legitimate reasons for not wanting to be forced to buy an expensive 'throw-away' ticket, e.g. when you plan to leave the country using a land-border.

Same goes for the requirement that you need to show a hotel-booking for arrival when applying for a Tourist Visa.  If you have different plans (e.g. staying at a friend or flying out to a neighboring country on arrival) the 'fraud' solution is to book a hotel-room and cancel it once you got your Visa. 

Technically you could consider it fraud, but I feel that's too harsh a word for a creative solution to an administrative hurdle.

 

[Backpacker1990]

Thanks for all the replies. Ive got flight ready in March, I booked a flight for the 10th of december to Ho Chi Minh for under 40usd what I won't use. Got all copies ready like marriage certificate, passport of wife and 20.000+thb in cash. Hopefully I don't have to use it and I will keep you guys updated. Cheers!

[elviajero]

7 hours ago, Peter Denis said:

Technically you are correct.

The alternative is to buy the cheapest 'real' one-way ticket (probably AirAsia from HuaHin to KL for under 30 US $).  But you could also label that option as fraud because when buying it you have no intent of actually using it.

Also, there are legitimate reasons for not wanting to be forced to buy an expensive 'throw-away' ticket, e.g. when you plan to leave the country using a land-border.

Same goes for the requirement that you need to show a hotel-booking for arrival when applying for a Tourist Visa.  If you have different plans (e.g. staying at a friend or flying out to a neighboring country on arrival) the 'fraud' solution is to book a hotel-room and cancel it once you got your Visa. 

Technically you could consider it fraud, but I feel that's too harsh a word for a creative solution to an administrative hurdle.

 

If really doesn’t matter how it’s justified. The requirement is to have a paid up ticket out of the country to anywhere; and a rented ticket doesn’t meet that.
 

It’s no different to providing a fake bank statement or other document.
 

If the embassy/consulate knew the ticket was rented they wouldn’t issue a visa. If you turned up at a Thai border and the IO new the ticket was rented you wouldn’t be let in.

Happy to downgrade to ‘deception’.

[Backpacker1990]

A small update. I'm back in the country without problems. IO asked me many questions, why don't you have visa, what's the name of your wife, where will you stay and again the why don't you have a visa question. He got little bit irritated but stamped me in after my explaination and he advised me to get a proper visa next time. Something I'm aware of so time to get a visa next year! 

 

Arrive on VOA is definitely getting harder and harder especially with many visa's and stamps in the passport. 

[Peter Denis]

43 minutes ago, Backpacker1990 said:

A small update. I'm back in the country without problems. IO asked me many questions, why don't you have visa, what's the name of your wife, where will you stay and again the why don't you have a visa question. He got little bit irritated but stamped me in after my explaination and he advised me to get a proper visa next time. Something I'm aware of so time to get a visa next year! 

 

Arrive on VOA is definitely getting harder and harder especially with many visa's and stamps in the passport. 

Hi Backpacker1990,

Thanks for the update and glad you made it!

Curious about 3 things:

1. When boarding in Holland did the airline ask for proof of onward-travel?

2. What was the thai airport of entry? BKK - Suvarnabhumi?

3. On arrival in Thailand were you queried about

- an onward-flight ticket

- equivalent of 10.000 THB cash

- a hotel-booking for first days

Thanks!

[Backpacker1990]

23 minutes ago, Peter Denis said:

Hi Backpacker1990,

Thanks for the update and glad you made it!

Curious about 3 things:

1. When boarding in Holland did the airline ask for proof of onward-travel?

2. What was the thai airport of entry? BKK - Suvarnabhumi?

3. On arrival in Thailand were you queried about

- an onward-flight ticket

- equivalent of 10.000 THB cash

- a hotel-booking for first days

Thanks!

1. The airline asked for it but I said I have it and they didn't check it. 

2. Suvarnabhumi 

3. I had an onward flight ticket I'm not using. I showed him the ticket but he wasn't very interested in that. I had more then 20k to show which they didn't ask for and no hotel reservations as I'm married to a Thai girl and got yellow book at the place I stay.