sabbatical year

[vivelasieste]

Good morning, everyone, 

 

My friend and I plan to take a year off and travel as soon as the world's borders open up again. Passage for us in Thailand :) 

 

I have French nationality and she is Senegalese. For the moment, we haven't really determined yet how much time we will spend in each country. We left on a 2 to 3 weeks basis but I wanted to know if it was easy (once we are there) to extend the visa if we want to stay longer in Thailand finally.

 

Thanks

 

[ubonjoe]

You could enter and get a 30 day visa exempt entry that can be extended for 30 days. Or apply for a single entry tourist visa at a embassy or consulate that will allow a 60 day entry that can be extended for 30 days.

Your friend would have to get a tourist visas to enter the country. She does not qualify for a visa exempt entry.

 

[scubascuba3]

Probably the worse year to go travelling for sabbatical. Very uncertain times, who knows when borders will re-open and if they will close again if further outbreaks

[cheapcanuck]

Agreed on bad timing.

On the other hand, there are outstanding travel deals to be had right now. If you can manage the uncertainty on boarders being open and closed on a moments notice then good on you.

As per visa, a simple tourist visa (30 days) on arrival would be your best option. You can extend if need be. Or bounce across one of Thailands many boarders to get another 30 days if you decide to stay longer. 

Good luck, happy and safe travels.

[Nikkiesan]

Do you need an outbound flight to get a 30 day visa exempt. What if I just want to come on a 1 way flight for 30 days and not sure where I want to go before my 30 days are up? 

[DrJack54]

4 hours ago, Nikkiesan said:

Do you need an outbound flight to get a 30 day visa exempt. What if I just want to come on a 1 way flight for 30 days and not sure where I want to go before my 30 days are up? 

Most likely you will not be able to board flight. It's the airline what will insist upon onward flight. Does not need to be return.

You can Google stuff like "rent a flight" companies that provide a ticket.

[vivelasieste]

Thank you all for both the information and advice. 

Indeed, we have discussed it again with my friend and we will postpone our sabbatical year until the world situation calms down. 

Instead, we are going to visit some cities in France even for this year. 

 

however, if you have any good spots to recommend right now, we'll put them on our "to visit list" right away.

 

[scubascuba3]

2 hours ago, vivelasieste said:

Thank you all for both the information and advice. 

Indeed, we have discussed it again with my friend and we will postpone our sabbatical year until the world situation calms down. 

Instead, we are going to visit some cities in France even for this year. 

 

however, if you have any good spots to recommend right now, we'll put them on our "to visit list" right away.

 

Good decision, well done. I feel sorry for the backpackers this year, the worse for decades

[vivelasieste]

Yeah, it's a real shame, but I figure it's only a rain check. 
It'll all work out in the end, let's just hope it happens soon.

[hotandsticky]

On 6/11/2020 at 6:20 AM, DrJack54 said:

Most likely you will not be able to board flight. It's the airline what will insist upon onward flight. Does not need to be return.

You can Google stuff like "rent a flight" companies that provide a ticket.

 

 

I have often flown on a one-way ticket and never been challenged.  

 

Having something like a Booking.com (duly cancelled) booking confirmation for a hotel in Siem Reap, and a story that you are crossing the land border at Osmach after 3 weeks would do the trick.

[DrJack54]

17 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

I have often flown on a one-way ticket and never been challenged.  

 

Having something like a Booking.com (duly cancelled) booking confirmation for a hotel in Siem Reap, and a story that you are crossing the land border at Osmach after 3 weeks would do the trick.

I fly every 2 weeks (obviously not currently), I can assure you that onward flight is required by airline if you do not have visa or reentry permit. Fact that you and some others have obtained a boarding pass is luck.

Even last year when returning to bkk from Australia, I was flying to HCMC first for weekend then onto Bangkok. My visa for Vietnam only had few days left. The airline staff at Melb wanted to see my onward flight out of Vietnam. She was out of line but I showed screenshot, no problem. 

Trust me you have just gotten away with it.