New requirement to show air ticket at land border

[PeaceBlondie]

Actually you can do better than THAT:

Month 1 - 3 -----3 x Visa Runs 30 days each

month 3 - 6 -----2 month tourist visa + 1 month extention

month 6 - 9 -----2 month tourist visa + 1 month extention

Month 9 - 12 -----3 x Visa Runs 30 days each

Month 12 - 15 ---- 2 month tourist visa + 1 month extention

Month 15 - 18 ---- 2 month tourist visa + 1 month extention

Month 18 - 21 -----3 x Visa Runs 30 days each

THIS WAY - YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN IN THAILAND WITHOUT PROPER VISA FOR MORE THAN 90 DAYS IN **ANY** 6 MONTH PERIOD. WHATEVER YOUR INTERPRETATION OF THE RULES THIS ITINERY FITS ALL EXPLAINATIONS AND SHOULD BE ALLOWED.

If you try to do 90 days visa runs than 90 days on a tourist visa and then 90 days on visa runs again you have broken the rule. As you will have been in thailand for 90 days already dring the previous 6 month period without a visa when you attempt to get a free visa on the day your tourist visa (extension) runs out.

Using the better above itinerary you only need to get a proper tourist visa twice a year and you will not be in thailand, at any point, in any 6 month period - historically, for more than 90 days in that period withot having a proper tourist visa.

As for this cra_Ap about land borders and onward flights - i think this is an april fools joke.

WOULD ONE OF THE MODS PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS - AND REMOVE THE POST IF IT IS A JOKE BECAUSE IT IS ALARMING MANY OF THE POSTERS - THANK YOU

uk falang, what are you asking the moderators to investigate: the posts by wneauc, dgrohl, krazyboi, Kilogore Trout, Flatlander, wowpow, mopenyang, Lopburi3, Mike l, and the latest two from this morning, by Crouton and bubba? Are you doubting that more than one border crossing, more than one MFA agency and website, and more than one airline, are stating that a return ticket is needed? Or are you asking us to investigate the ironclad veracity of your scheme to stay in Thailand for 21 months, as if that's official policy actually administered by the Immigration Police? It's long past April Fool's Day, and these reports of a required return ticket make sense. Note that in bubba's quote from the airline of the policy,Visa not required for a max. stay of 30 days, provided coming for touristic purposes. the 30 day stamp without visa is for touristic purposes. Living for 21 months in Thailand is not touristic.

[sriracha john]

"Entry may be refused if of "hippy" appearance."

let's just hope they don't insert an "a" in place of the "i"....

[Jimjim]

That can't be serious. Not letting those with hippy appearance into a country? Who evidently wrote this? Thai authorities? I've never heard of such a thing. Who is to decide whether someone looks hippy or not? So Thailand will start openly discriminating against tourists and put it in writing? That's just unheard of in my opinion.

And you still need a ticket out with a proper non-immigrant visa?

[bubba]

And you still need a ticket out with a proper non-immigrant visa?

That's what UA were telling me. And the rules that airlines are citing (presumably from Thai Immigration) do not make any exceptions for visa holders, which was once the case not all that long ago.

[CobraSnakeNecktie]

For what its worth,

I went to a Thai Consulate in the US today to get a tourist visa. I had to show a return ticket. I told them I would be traveling in and out of the country and asked them to explain what I would need and if I would be ok ( i threw out a for instance if I traveled out of the country came back in on a 30 but my plane didn't leave for 40 days so I would run out of 30 day exempt). They told me what is SUPPOSED to be happening is the 90/6 month rule with proof of return flight at the border but admitted they had no idea how the border people were counting the days and how strictly it was being enforced. I told them I was worried I would get caught running out of time on a 30 day exempt so they nicely gave me a 3x tourist visa. Very nice of them.

This maybe should be its own post but I also learned there that "Non residents are allowed to open foreign currency accounts with any commercial bank on Thailand" They use non-resident not in the visa sense of the term just a non-thai national. This seems to contradict what I read in other threads with the banks refusing to open accounts. I have it in Black and White here in the "Thailand Travel Guide" published by the "Tourism Authority of Thailand". Odd

which US consulate was that?

[PeaceBlondie]

And you still need a ticket out with a proper non-immigrant visa?

That's what UA were telling me. And the rules that airlines are citing (presumably from Thai Immigration) do not make any exceptions for visa holders, which was once the case not all that long ago.

That's crazy, although true. Those of us who live here legally year after year, as residents with extended visas, and with re-entry permit paid and stamped in our passport, would not be allowed back in to Thailand? Hey, that applies to me, in June! After a round trip to Europe, would I have to show that I am coming to Thailand with another ticket back to my home country? Absurd, yet that's what the mandate to the airlines seems to require.

But maybe that makes me a hypocrite: I'm sympathetic to the plight of the travellers who don't get visas and pretend to be perpetual tourists, and I'm indignant when it might apply to me.

[Jimjim]

And you still need a ticket out with a proper non-immigrant visa?

That's what UA were telling me. And the rules that airlines are citing (presumably from Thai Immigration) do not make any exceptions for visa holders, which was once the case not all that long ago.

I think the customer service rep at UA was wrong. According to how I read the requirements, it's only talking about those visitors with no visa who will get a 30-day tourist visa exemption. I'm sure it'd be easy for the counter agent to make a mistake on this, especially if they're unclear on the intent, which seems to be for tourists to have an outgoing ticket. However, the words in your post don't clearly state this. So I can't be sure.

[bubba]

And you still need a ticket out with a proper non-immigrant visa?

That's crazy, although true. Those of us who live here legally year after year, as residents with extended visas, and with re-entry permit paid and stamped in our passport, would not be allowed back in to Thailand? Hey, that applies to me, in June! After a round trip to Europe, would I have to show that I am coming to Thailand with another ticket back to my home country? Absurd, yet that's what the mandate to the airlines seems to require.

Not a ticket back to your home country, but an outward bound ticket to anywhere outside of Thailand. It would be possible to buy a refundable ticket one-way ticket to somewhere on the spot during checkin if things got serious.

[dantilley]

Does one need to show an onward ticket if a tourist visa is present ?

No, but when you're applying for the visa you should have this.

And you still need a ticket out with a proper non-immigrant visa?

No, you get a re-entry permit before you leave Thailand and then you can return with no problem, and no need for an onward ticket.

[bubba]

It's all in the reading I guess. It looks to me like what the airlines are quoting (from IATA) is a list, with a header entitled "In all other cases". One of the items under that is: Return/onward ticket is required.

1. If holding passport issued in Marshall Islands:

passport (must be valid for period of intended stay) and

visa required.

Travelling on one-way ticket is allowed.

2. In all other cases:

passport (valid at least 30 days) required.

Visa not required for a max. stay of 30 days, provided

coming for touristic purposes. Extension up to 10 days is

possible. Fee THB 500.- (1 photo required).

If passport is valid less than 30 days, stay will only be

permitted up to the validity of the passport.

Note: there is a max. limit of a total of 90 days within

any 6 month period.

Return/onward ticket is required.

[/i]

[dantilley]

It's all in the reading I guess. It looks to me like what the airlines are quoting (from IATA) is a list, with a header entitled "In all other cases". One of the items under that is: Return/onward ticket is required.

1. If holding passport issued in Marshall Islands:

passport (must be valid for period of intended stay) and

visa required.

Travelling on one-way ticket is allowed.

2. In all other cases:

passport (valid at least 30 days) required.

Visa not required for a max. stay of 30 days, provided

coming for touristic purposes. Extension up to 10 days is

possible. Fee THB 500.- (1 photo required).

If passport is valid less than 30 days, stay will only be

permitted up to the validity of the passport.

Note: there is a max. limit of a total of 90 days within

any 6 month period.

Return/onward ticket is required.

[/i]

I think point 2 here is referring to those without a visa already, that's the way I understand it anyway, as it says "Visa not required for a max. stay of 30 days", so I then assume that the rest is talking about the 30 day visa exemption stamp.

Also, unless I'm way behind on the rulings, some of that seems very wrong to me. The extension is not 10 days any more, it's 7, and even before the new rule changes the cost of the extension was 1,900 Baht, it was years ago when it was as as little as 500 baht.

Also, doesn't a passport have to be valid for about 6 months before you can enter Thailand? So what's all that about the passport being valid for less than 30 days?

Unless something's changed very recently, this all seems way out of date...???

Edited April 10, 2007 by dantilley

[sjaak327]

Yep, outdated or wrong information for sure. Extension fee has been 1900 baht for a long time, since october 1st only 7 days, and the passport validity has been around for a long time as well.

[astor]

It’s clear by now, that they want to create some problems to wisarunners

I think that if they could, they’d make them outside of the country for at least 6 mounts a year.

But they cannot do it, because luckily the international laws exists. And according that laws, no country can prevent the entry, and the stay to a traveller equipped by a valid passport recognized by the thai authorities .

Unless the traveller above mentioned turns out be blacklisted.

[Totster]

No, but when you're applying for the visa you should have this.

Ok, thanks.. I have confirmed this here

totster

[Mid]

Chiang Mai occupancy may have little, if anything, to do with visas I suspect. Most visited Chiang Mai during the agricultural festival which has ended so are going elsewhere at this time of year. Also the pollution has been a major factor. I sure would not visit with the air as bad as it has been. Made that mistake in previous years.

Tourist bookings in the South are full up according to Thai newspaper reports and even the Northeast is 20% higher. I could not even obtain rooms in my normal Cha Am hotel last month. Last year it was no problem.

Tourist bookings in the South are full up according to Thai newspaper reports

could I get a defination of ,

a) South , and

b ) full ...................

[lopburi3]

Believe they are talking Phuket, Smaui, Karbi and the other islands. Full as in no vacancy during the holiday period.

[PhilHarries]

It’s clear by now, that they want to create some problems to wisarunners

I think that if they could, they’d make them outside of the country for at least 6 mounts a year.

But they cannot do it, because luckily the international laws exists. And according that laws, no country can prevent the entry, and the stay to a traveller equipped by a valid passport recognized by the thai authorities .

Unless the traveller above mentioned turns out be blacklisted.

Incorrect.

Any country can prevent the entry and stay of any traveller who does not have a valid passport and either a valid visa or is eligible for a visa exemption.

[Braccobaldo]

I'm just back from Aranyaprathet (just go there for curiosity) and I also see the signs:

THE ALIENS ENTERING KINGDOM WITH NO VISA MUST PRESENT TICKET OR TRAVEL DOCUMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN PAID ALREADY OR CONFIRMED TO EXIT THE KIGNDOM AND MUST NOT EXCEED 30 DAYS UPON THE DATE OF ENTRANCE TO THE KINGDOM

Ok..all of you are speaking about air ticket but what about if someone show them (let's say) a bus ticket to Siam reap or Phnom Pehn???

It is also a TRAVEL DOCUMENT or not???

Hehe..I would like to try to do that...and if they deny me to entry I'll spend my money in another country. NO PROBLEM!!!...but, please, let me say that Thai immigration laws are getting more and more ridicoulous.

[JimsKnight]

To answer some questions.

On the rig workers concern about visa conundrum, this should be no problem.

I spoke to one my collegues on the Thistle Platform (who lives in Thailand permenantely) he confirmed that Airline entry and exit were fine as it was not land border crossings that were being used. I've seen this spoken of already on the forum too. Unless the laws have changed AGAIN its likely to be still in effect.

From what I've gathered on the Poi Pet crossing point, yes, it seems like onward travel is needed but it seems only to be this crossing point and not the others (so far). So its reasonable to assume that Mae Sai and Ranong, Penang and Sungai Koluk are doable without air travel docs. Unless someone knows any better?

The bulk of farang they may wish to concentrate on in the eyes of the thais are best 'weeded' at Poi Pet, hence the air ticket enforcement.

Interesting times are in store. Its a necessary evil though, if it means Thailand loses some of the scummy element that, lets face it, seems intent on giving farang a bad name then so be it.

If the thai economy takes a down turn I won't be losing any sleep over it. If anything living becomes easier as the baht plunges!

Hey Sir Lancelot. Your mate's a Thai lawyer is he? More gossip, more moralistic garbage. Your in Thailand mate, not ruddy heaven.

Sir Bannedalot, Do you have to be a lawyer to read the Thai regs which state that Airports are exempted from this?

If somebody has fallen afoul of this then please, by all means, do tell...

Otherwise, quit the negative verbal.

The whole concept behind the new visa rules was to clamp down on LAND BORDER crossings, not airports.

[toret]

I wonder how this will work for me, I am in Cambodia with a one year multiple entry cambodian visa but travel around in southeast asia quite a bit. It is quite obvious that i am not a "visarunner", so i wonder how this will function on either land or airport immigraiton...

[astor]

It’s clear by now, that they want to create some problems to wisarunners

I think that if they could, they’d make them outside of the country for at least 6 mounts a year.

But they cannot do it, because luckily the international laws exists. And according that laws, no country can prevent the entry, and the stay to a traveller equipped by a valid passport recognized by the thai authorities .

Unless the traveller above mentioned turns out be blacklisted.

Incorrect.

Any country can prevent the entry and stay of any traveller who does not have a valid passport and either a valid visa or is eligible for a visa exemption.

I don't know what had you read. I talking about a valid passport not about a not valid passport.

Also the monkeys know that you cannot enter and stay in any country without a genuine and/or valid passport.

I just said that whoever has a valid passport (unless he's not be a grateful person) can stay in the country and is eligible for visa in accordance to the rules issued by that country.

[Mid]

Believe they are talking Phuket, Smaui, Karbi and the other islands. Full as in no vacancy during the holiday period.

Samui is empty .......................

[RoueLeJour]

Just to get back on topic, does this mean now three consecutive visa runs is not possible?

So, for example, a single entry tourist visa is good for 3 months and one visa run before having to fly out?

I've read through this whole thread and I'm still not clear on this. Am I missing something?

[ozzydom]

I wonder how this will work for me, I am in Cambodia with a one year multiple entry cambodian visa but travel around in southeast asia quite a bit. It is quite obvious that i am not a "visarunner", so i wonder how this will function on either land or airport immigraiton...

Plus how are the many farangs who live in Laos and Cambodia and who come into Thailand on a regular basis for shopping for their businesses going to get around this plane ticket business?

[Lippy]

Hi all

I've looked at your gr8 forum for awhile now but never really had anything worthwile to contribute so until now i have'nt registered.

I went to Ranong today to start a new batch of 3x1 month stamps.

I saw NO signs what so ever stating an onward ticket was needed was booked out without any warnings of a problem on my return.

I arrived back after the burma run and had no problem at all starting my new block of 3x1m and the immigration guy clearly said to me "you start new 6 month block ok".I confirmed that he meant i could go there 2 more times and he said yes 2 more then need visa.I was'nt asked for any onward ticket and no mention of any proof of money,just a quick and friendly enough service

Just to give a bit more detail on the dates of my last 6 months of stamp/visa/ext...

My 1st stamp after the Oct 1st changes was made on the 11th oct and the ext to my tourist visa took me till the 5th of April.I worked out i had 178 days and after reading here i went to hau hin and got a 7day ext on Tourist visa ext taking me to the 12th.

As far as ranong is corcerned they count forwards from the start date of the 1st 30 stamp.

I hope this eases a few troubled brows for the near if not long term future

[farangsay]

My personal congratulations Lippy for your post from one who has been waiting for

an actual account of a land border re-entry since this BS started.

Well done Sir.

[sriracha john]

Believe they are talking Phuket, Smaui, Karbi and the other islands. Full as in no vacancy during the holiday period.

Samui is empty .......................

Mr. Porn-Alert says otherwise:

All hotel rooms on Samui are nearly reserved

The head of the Tourism Coordination Center on Samui Island, Mr. Pornlert Auncharoen says many hotel rooms have already been reserved due to Songkran Festival.

Mr. Pornlert says this time is the good opportunity of Samui tourism due to Songkran Festival of Thaialnd and Easter Festival of foreigners. He says the number of reservation of hotel rooms is much greater than the same period of the last year. He reports that over 14,000 hotel rooms on Samui Island are nearly full.

- ThaiNews

===========================

with apologies...... it's not Porn-Alert, it's Pornlert

[cali4995]

Hi all

I've looked at your gr8 forum for awhile now but never really had anything worthwile to contribute so until now i have'nt registered.

I went to Ranong today to start a new batch of 3x1 month stamps.

I saw NO signs what so ever stating an onward ticket was needed was booked out without any warnings of a problem on my return.

I arrived back after the burma run and had no problem at all starting my new block of 3x1m and the immigration guy clearly said to me "you start new 6 month block ok".I confirmed that he meant i could go there 2 more times and he said yes 2 more then need visa.I was'nt asked for any onward ticket and no mention of any proof of money,just a quick and friendly enough service

Just to give a bit more detail on the dates of my last 6 months of stamp/visa/ext...

My 1st stamp after the Oct 1st changes was made on the 11th oct and the ext to my tourist visa took me till the 5th of April.I worked out i had 178 days and after reading here i went to hau hin and got a 7day ext on Tourist visa ext taking me to the 12th.

As far as ranong is corcerned they count forwards from the start date of the 1st 30 stamp.

I hope this eases a few troubled brows for the near if not long term future

yes, thank-you for the contribution lippy. i wasn't actually sure if you could get a 30 day extention on a tourist visa and then again get another 7 days but this appears to be exactly what you accomplished. so, at least at some immigration offices this is possible to put you over the 6 month block. friendly service even? there are still miracles.

Edited April 11, 2007 by cali4995

[LivinLOS]

Hi all

I've looked at your gr8 forum for awhile now but never really had anything worthwile to contribute so until now i have'nt registered.

I went to Ranong today to start a new batch of 3x1 month stamps.

I saw NO signs what so ever stating an onward ticket was needed was booked out without any warnings of a problem on my return.

I arrived back after the burma run and had no problem at all starting my new block of 3x1m and the immigration guy clearly said to me "you start new 6 month block ok".I confirmed that he meant i could go there 2 more times and he said yes 2 more then need visa.I was'nt asked for any onward ticket and no mention of any proof of money,just a quick and friendly enough service

Just to give a bit more detail on the dates of my last 6 months of stamp/visa/ext...

My 1st stamp after the Oct 1st changes was made on the 11th oct and the ext to my tourist visa took me till the 5th of April.I worked out i had 178 days and after reading here i went to hau hin and got a 7day ext on Tourist visa ext taking me to the 12th.

As far as ranong is corcerned they count forwards from the start date of the 1st 30 stamp.

I hope this eases a few troubled brows for the near if not long term future

Interesting report and good news thats how Ranong are looking at things (not being difficult counting both rolling and fixed blocks)..

I wonder how they would have looked at someone who came in Oct 11th on a tourist visa.. Then did 3 x 30 day runs (and some additional day padding with an extension).. Technically his 'block' would also have finished.. Would they give him a 4th 30 day stamp in a row as the block is now cleared ??

Also think how this block issue gets worked going forward ??? They will need to work back to Oct each time.. Wonder how the treat nbew passports ??? How long into the future can blocks be used ??

To me the 'block' issue over the rolling 6 months is way more complex for immigration..

[larvidchr]

Just returned from visa run yesterday to Cambodia with 5 star visa, I can confirm that a sign was posted there declaring that you need to show some sort of ticket, air/train/bus, we where told to do so next time, this was my second 30 day run in this bacht, and my visa stamp was marked with a nr. 2 indicating that I can have 1 more 30 day visa before I need a Penang trip, so next time I do the cambodia run I will have booked my Penang run for the following month and so have a ticket out of Thailand to show.

But it really is getting a bit of a pain in the backside.

This time I also had a brand new pasport with me + the old one with the last visa still valid inside, everything was carefully checked and days was counted before all my information old pasport number, visa information aso. from the old pasport was transferred to the new one, this was on my leaving Thailand, I initially did not show the new pasport, trying to se If he would just let me leave Thailand on the old one, and so maby starting with a new blank record reentering, but no, when the immigration officer saw the holes in the old one he asked for the new one, It was perhaps a bit naive of me to try, like small dogs!! but anyway no dice.

Regards.

Edited April 12, 2007 by larvidchr