Onward Air Ticket Reqired For 30 Day Visa

[johna]

I have not heard anything about an onward air ticket being required by any person entering the country with out a visa,(30 day tourist visa on arrival) I do this quite often on an EU passport,has anyone on this forum been refused entry??

The letter below was in this mornings Nation

Immigration officials offer an unfriendly welcome to visitors

Thailand is a beautiful country with delicious food and a wonderful culture. Thais are also so friendly. To any foreigner though the people that ruin the image of the country are immigration. I leave my hotel, the receptionist and porters give me smiles, a student passing on the street gives me a smile, the taxi driver to the airport gives a smile, the toilet-cleaner gives me a smile, but when I get to immigration I get nothing but a look of contempt. Immigration officials are the first people that any foreigner meets when he arrives in a new country and Thai immigration really sends the wrong message across. Another foreigner told me lately that Thai immigration have to do a training course on being polite to foreigners. If this is true then I dare not imagine what they would be like otherwise.

Their new policy on giving out 30-day visas has changed matters so that you need to show a ticket out of the country. The problem is they change regulations without telling anyone in advance. Last week, I went to Cambodia by land to get a new 30-day visa and when I came back into Thailand I was refused entry because I didn't have my onward ticket with me I tried to explain that it was in Bangkok, but they were so rude and refused to allow an old man like myself back in because of a stupid policy. In his eyes I could have been left to rot in Cambodia with not a single dollar on me. In the end I had to phone my wife to ask her to fax a copy of the ticket through. I was very lucky.

Thailand's immigration officials are the most impolite, rude and arrogant that I have ever dealt with in Southeast Asia.

Tiger Trevor

[Crossy]

This thread discusses the matter in some depth http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=114167

In a nutshell, It's not a new rule but it's only now started being enforced mainly at land crossings.

[Krub]

I have not heard anything about an onward air ticket being required by any person entering the country with out a visa,(30 day tourist visa on arrival) I do this quite often on an EU passport,has anyone on this forum been refused entry??

The letter below was in this mornings Nation

Immigration officials offer an unfriendly welcome to visitors

Thailand is a beautiful country with delicious food and a wonderful culture. Thais are also so friendly. To any foreigner though the people that ruin the image of the country are immigration. I leave my hotel, the receptionist and porters give me smiles, a student passing on the street gives me a smile, the taxi driver to the airport gives a smile, the toilet-cleaner gives me a smile, but when I get to immigration I get nothing but a look of contempt. Immigration officials are the first people that any foreigner meets when he arrives in a new country and Thai immigration really sends the wrong message across. Another foreigner told me lately that Thai immigration have to do a training course on being polite to foreigners. If this is true then I dare not imagine what they would be like otherwise.

Their new policy on giving out 30-day visas has changed matters so that you need to show a ticket out of the country. The problem is they change regulations without telling anyone in advance. Last week, I went to Cambodia by land to get a new 30-day visa and when I came back into Thailand I was refused entry because I didn't have my onward ticket with me I tried to explain that it was in Bangkok, but they were so rude and refused to allow an old man like myself back in because of a stupid policy. In his eyes I could have been left to rot in Cambodia with not a single dollar on me. In the end I had to phone my wife to ask her to fax a copy of the ticket through. I was very lucky.

Thailand's immigration officials are the most impolite, rude and arrogant that I have ever dealt with in Southeast Asia.

Tiger Trevor

If you arrive without a visa, the rule wants that you can show an air ticket out of the country within 30 days of your arrival.

This rule has been there for ages but has just recently being applied at 1 or 2 border points between Thailand and Cambodia used widely by 'eternal tourists' seeking to re-enter endlessly on 30 days stamp entries.

Some 'real tourists' get caught in the net. To avoid this rule, bettwer get a tourist visa before arrival in Thailand.

[CRUNCHER]

I have not heard anything about an onward air ticket being required by any person entering the country with out a visa,(30 day tourist visa on arrival) I do this quite often on an EU passport,has anyone on this forum been refused entry??

The letter below was in this mornings Nation

Immigration officials offer an unfriendly welcome to visitors

Thailand is a beautiful country with delicious food and a wonderful culture. Thais are also so friendly. To any foreigner though the people that ruin the image of the country are immigration. I leave my hotel, the receptionist and porters give me smiles, a student passing on the street gives me a smile, the taxi driver to the airport gives a smile, the toilet-cleaner gives me a smile, but when I get to immigration I get nothing but a look of contempt. Immigration officials are the first people that any foreigner meets when he arrives in a new country and Thai immigration really sends the wrong message across. Another foreigner told me lately that Thai immigration have to do a training course on being polite to foreigners. If this is true then I dare not imagine what they would be like otherwise.

Their new policy on giving out 30-day visas has changed matters so that you need to show a ticket out of the country. The problem is they change regulations without telling anyone in advance. Last week, I went to Cambodia by land to get a new 30-day visa and when I came back into Thailand I was refused entry because I didn't have my onward ticket with me I tried to explain that it was in Bangkok, but they were so rude and refused to allow an old man like myself back in because of a stupid policy. In his eyes I could have been left to rot in Cambodia with not a single dollar on me. In the end I had to phone my wife to ask her to fax a copy of the ticket through. I was very lucky.

Thailand's immigration officials are the most impolite, rude and arrogant that I have ever dealt with in Southeast Asia.

Tiger Trevor

If you arrive without a visa, the rule wants that you can show an air ticket out of the country within 30 days of your arrival.

This rule has been there for ages but has just recently being applied at 1 or 2 border points between Thailand and Cambodia used widely by 'eternal tourists' seeking to re-enter endlessly on 30 days stamp entries.

Some 'real tourists' get caught in the net. To avoid this rule, bettwer get a tourist visa before arrival in Thailand.

Most posts indicate problem is at land borders. Anyone had any problem at the airport?

[HDRIDER]

HI

I had a problem in Singapore, had to change my ticket for a different time, they asked to see a ticket out of Thailand, went on the internet and bought a cheap one out of the country. This is about 8 months ago.

[lopburi3]

A problem in Singapore would have been with the airline - not Immigration. And yes the airlines have always enforced this requirement on a case/airline/traveler/agent basis (they may or may not check).

I believe the requirement is well marked and most travelers are warned before leaving Thailand to Cambodia that they will not be allowed to return without a ticket if they do not have a visa. It is also a requirement to have 10,000 baht so it appears this traveler may not have had that either.

[tropo]

Most posts indicate problem is at land borders. Anyone had any problem at the airport?

Arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport with my Filipino GF last week. We had onward tickets on hand, but were given 30 day stamps in about 2 minutes without being asked to show them....and with a very friendly attitude and smile from the female Immigration Officer.

She tried to answer my question about the color coded stamp but couldn't explain it in English, but the smile made up for it. It was green, which I assume was the color for the first visa-exempt entry stamp in a new 180-day block.

I've never been through an immigration check point so quickly. It seemed they had them all open and were waiting for the tourists.

Edited May 6, 2007 by tropo

[sriracha john]

She tried to answer my question about the color coded stamp but couldn't explain it in English, but the smile made up for it. It was green, which I assume was the color for the first visa-exempt entry stamp in a new 180-day block.

Probably we could merge this thread with the aforementioned, pre-existing thread on the exact same topic...

but nevertheless, just out of curiosity, are they initiating a traffic-light system now for the color-coding of stamps?

Green

Yellow

Red

I would presume we can assume there'll be tighter enforcement of the "red" visa stamp then there is for the "red" traffic light...

[PREM-R]

I crossed the border into Laos at Nong Khai on 3rd May and there were no signs suggesting an onward air ticket was required to enter Thailand without a visa as has been reported from the borders to Cambodia.

[PeaceBlondie]

In four years, the only unsmiling and unfriendly Immigration Police I've met were when they didn't accept a Thai doctor's medical statement in Thai, to waive the overstay. Otherwise, almost always they've been professionally and reasonably competent, considering that most of their day is spent with inconsiderate arrogant folks, and considering that their job is impossible.

[Crossy]

but nevertheless, just out of curiosity, are they initiating a traffic-light system now for the color-coding of stamps?

Green

Yellow

Red

I would presume we can assume there'll be tighter enforcement of the "red" visa stamp then there is for the "red" traffic light...

Dunno John, but just to confuse, my one and only visa exemption entry is highlighted in Yellow