Onward / return flight required for Visa Elite affixation?

[EscapetheUK]

I'm hopefully flying into Swampy from the UK this month where i'll have my Elite Visa added to my passport at the airport on arrival, (i have no current Thai visa).

 

Will i have any problems at Heathrow airport check in if i don't have an onward / return flight, can i just show them the documentation from the Thailand Privilege company and they'll be happy? 

 

Also the Visa Elite process is taking a lot longer than i thought, TPC say because of high demand, anyone else experiencing a long turnaround on receiving their membership recently?

 

Thanks for any feedback.

[ubonjoe]

The airline should accept proof you will getting a visa when you arrive.

You could also get a temporary onward ticket online for about $14 to insure you won't have a problem.

[ukrules]

2 hours ago, EscapetheUK said:

can i just show them the documentation from the Thailand Privilege company and they'll be happy?

Yes, there is a letter issued when you make the appointment, I was asked about this lack of visa for a one way flight once and explained then showed them a print out of the visa insertion appointment at the airport and they accepted that. This was only in Phnom Penh though.

 

2 hours ago, EscapetheUK said:

Also the Visa Elite process is taking a lot longer than i thought, TPC say because of high demand

What will you do if they take another 10 weeks to complete processing your application?

 

If you still come to Thailand as planned then you need to consider your options, you can make an appointment to go and have the visa inserted at Chaeng Wattana immigration office using the concierge service which I think is now the only way they will do it (free on first usage) - I've done this a couple of times before and it's a quick process. They will phone you and locate you at the entrance prior to going directly to the desk that issues the visa.

 

The last time I did this I stood right in the middle of the almost empty large clearing on the ground floor of Chaeng Wattana and started waving when the phone call came in looking for me just prior to the appointment time, the woman from TE saw me immediately.

 

Of course this might not be so convenient if you're up staying way in Chiang Rai or somewhere else far away from the place they insist you report to for the visa insertion.

 

I would also consider the possibility that it may take longer to get the membership approved and subsequent visa insertion appointment than your permission to stay duration, especially if you're forced to enter on a visa waiver.

 

Edited October 9, 2022 by ukrules

[EscapetheUK]

@ukrules thanks for the above, i won't be booking my flight until i get my membership through so don't need to worry about staying in Thailand until then.

 

TPC said i should get my membership welcome details by the 4th October at the latest but still nothing, i'll chase them again tomorrow.....

[Tropposurfer]

If you wait till you get you application success and 'welcome pack/materials' from Elite you will have zero issue when arriving in LOS to pass through IO and the Elite IO Stream Desk ... and having your passport stamped for the first time with your Elite and retirement visa entry stamps etc.

You don't need an onward flight.

I speak from personal experience (a few  years back) of this and it couldn't be easier.

Act calmly, quietly, warmly, confident, with humility and gentle smiles and you'll fly through. 

You might get an I Officer who looks through your passport stamp pages and ask a few questions to posture but being an Elite you've already been thoroughly IO checked to look for gremlins, Interpol, UK criminal history, overstays in your past so don't sweat.

Remember to quality you have to satisfy funding capacity and the nature of the visa structure does not carry the same imperative to have a near-date-exit onward ticket.    

 

NOTE: I would ask for the free Elite Concierge to meet you at the plane door and escort you through to the IO desk and handle everything for you ... You do this once you've booked/paid for your flight ... then simply send this confirmation to your Elite Concierge/Contact and ask for the Concierge to book a Concierge assist from the plane ... easy as pie.

Don't forget to ask Elite for the free limo Swampy to your BKK accommodation too.

 

 

Edited October 10, 2022 by Tropposurfer

[fgmr]

On 10/9/2022 at 9:38 AM, ubonjoe said:

The airline should accept proof you will getting a visa when you arrive.

You could also get a temporary onward ticket online for about $14 to insure you won't have a problem.

"Temporary onward ticket online"? Please advise.

[EscapetheUK]

@Tropposurfer thanks for the above, literally just received my welcome email and membership number (a quick reminder email from myself seemed to speed things up!)

 

Yeah i'll definitely book the Elite concierge to meet me at the plane and take care of all the IO stuff for me.

 

Regarding the other services Elite offer, did you use them to assist in setting up a Thai bank account? Thinking of using Bangkok Bank but i'll be based in Pattaya, i know they assist if you're in BKK, not sure about outside BKK though, might be easy enough without them anyway if i take along the Elite visa letter etc, i'll ask them when i'm in country i guess.....

[ukrules]

19 minutes ago, EscapetheUK said:

Yeah i'll definitely book the Elite concierge to meet me at the plane and take care of all the IO stuff for me.

You have no choice in this matter - in order for them to insert your visa when you arrive they will meet you at the plane gate and escort you to the 'fast track' area, this is the same area where the airline crew all seem to sign a book at a 'podium' and then proceed through immigration.

 

There's a couple of couch type seats in a waiting area, you will be offered a drink while the TE staff take your passport and get an immigration officer to insert your visa.

 

Then they walk you over to the immigration booth (there was no queue) and in my experience they accompany you when it's a new visa, the woman who did this was a senior immigration officer, looked like the one in charge of the whole place. They instruct the officer in the booth on what to do - in my case they then took the passport back into their little office to 'make copies' of the stamps, etc. After this you're on your way.......you're escorted back to the immigration booth and allowed to pass through to the baggage reclaim area.

 

Depending on where you're going you may have the free limo, I was going straight to Hua Hin so I had a driver waiting for me anyway, the limo service is only good for the Bangkok area and as such I have never used it.

 

The above was my most recent experience of 'airport visa insertion' towards the end of 2019.

I literally got it done just a couple of months before the pandemic hit and I haven't left the country since then.

 

[ubonjoe]

1 hour ago, fgmr said:

"Temporary onward ticket online"? Please advise.

There is are websites that provide legit temporary onward tickets. So a search for onward ticket an you find sites offering them.

[fgmr]

26 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

There is are websites that provide legit temporary onward tickets. So a search for onward ticket an you find sites offering them.

Thanks again Joe. 

 

[Tropposurfer]

58 minutes ago, EscapetheUK said:

@Tropposurfer thanks for the above, literally just received my welcome email and membership number (a quick reminder email from myself seemed to speed things up!)

 

Yeah i'll definitely book the Elite concierge to meet me at the plane and take care of all the IO stuff for me.

 

Regarding the other services Elite offer, did you use them to assist in setting up a Thai bank account? Thinking of using Bangkok Bank but i'll be based in Pattaya, i know they assist if you're in BKK, not sure about outside BKK though, might be easy enough without them anyway if i take along the Elite visa letter etc, i'll ask them when i'm in country i guess.....

Yo escape,

 

Elite are very kind I found/find.  

Just ask as many questions as you need, they understand.

 

It's easy to do the bank account through Elite with Bangkok Bank just to get you started n settled and change to another later if you want to.

I opened an account in Bang Tao/Cherngtalay area. I did my own with a tad of help from a friendly real estate agent I was dealing with. I can't answer if they'll do it in Patt's for you.

It might be tricky with you address details for the bank if you haven't got those in place first. 

 

BUT to get settled and have readies use your usual Visa or whatever at the bank ATM ... for a few weeks it won't cost you too much in fees and exchange rates ... If you have international transaction fee free UK cards then you'll give the Thai banks little by way of fees in that short period.

 

Once you've got a drivers license, condo lease or house bought things get a tad easier with all sorts of things. It takes no time at all for Elite to set the accounts up for you ...

 

You can set up Singapore banking (for big money account) from UK before you leave easy enough, should you wish to use this option.

 

As to your drivers license thats easy too Elite will help with that, and when you go to renew in 2 years for your 5 year license ... it'll be pretty easy then as you'll hopefully have some language skills and because you already have a valid Thai license renewing for the next 5 is pretty simple.

If you're adventurous, patient, and want to learn about the whole MOT process you can do it yourself, I did, and it was kinda fun. I only sat for an eye and reflex test so dead easy.

Seeing as you have a UK license (I assume its clean and your middle aged) you shouldn't have any issue with the license as our nations licenses are respected in LOS and translate to simple issuing here (well they did in Phuket MOT lol ????).

 

I'd suggest before you leave Ol' Blighty you get some great international money investment, and offshore money moving advice - not your local bank! And plan how to move your money out of the UK as efficiently as you can.

 

I got into Singapore Bank's for the majority of my cash (I don't think, based on members comments here of money disappearing without trace in LOS banks that putting any large sums here is a good idea - the junta thing made me seek other ways of money storage and investment).

But, that's up to the individual and may not be the majority of expat experience of banking here. 

Its expensive (fees and transfer fees) to leave money in my home country as an emigre overseas so I simply moved my money offshore.

Maybe UK is different in this regard so go check this if you haven't already. There's quite a few S'Pore banks that are very welcoming and helpful e.g. HSBC, Barclays etc. 

 

Don't forget to get a legal will set up asap after you land to cover your money and any assets you might procure e.g. house, car, bike/s etc. 

[DodgerRodger]

My recent experience (also UK applicant) went like this

 

Applied online direct to Thailand Elite on 9 August 2022 (confirmation email from TE received same day)

Approval email from TE received on 13 September 2022

Payment made via TE website by Visa credit card on 16 September 2022 and proof of payment sent to TE by email same day

Welcome letter and membership number received by email on 3 October 2022 (after I sent them a nudge email)

[EscapetheUK]

Thanks all for your detailed responses, everything has moved quite quickly since i nudged TE this morning, received welcome letter and membership number, booked my flight and requested TE to meet me when i land, what a difference a few hours can make! 

 

@Tropposurfer and @ukrules appreciate hearing about your personal experiences with the process and pointers, very reassuring, thank you.

 

@DodgerRodger had pretty much the same timeline, started my application on the 21 August and completed today, cheers

[Tropposurfer]

On 10/10/2022 at 11:01 PM, DodgerRodger said:

My recent experience (also UK applicant) went like this

 

Applied online direct to Thailand Elite on 9 August 2022 (confirmation email from TE received same day)

Approval email from TE received on 13 September 2022

Payment made via TE website by Visa credit card on 16 September 2022 and proof of payment sent to TE by email same day

Welcome letter and membership number received by email on 3 October 2022 (after I sent them a nudge email)

Pretty much the same timeline as me and mine was back in early 2020. Easy huh ? ????

[BritTim]

If you happen to run into a mentally defective airline supervisor who tries to insist that an onward flight is required, I suggest the following. Tell them that you are 100% certain there will be no problem arriving without an onward flight booking. However, just to satisfy them that the airline can have no financial exposure should you be denied entry, you will happily sign their indemnity form guaranteeing reimbursement of any costs that they could theoretically suffer.