Once They've Taken Your Passport And Paper, Can The Embassy Refuse A Tourist Visa?

[canadiangirl]

Hey guys,

I'm here in Ho Chi Minh City, and I want out of here *now*. I went to the Thai embassy to get a tourist visa (I'm Canadian), they took my passport and paperwork, and told me to come back at 4. My flight leaves at 6:30. ;-) Yeah. Nice, I know.

It's unclear to me if they're issuing the visa for sure, or if they're just "looking" at things. They were pretty bitchy about doing a same-day visa, but they told me to come back today when I told them my flight left today. I was there yesterday, where they told me I had to come back with my flight ticket. It's a one-way ticket, but they didn't say anything.

So if they've bothered to take all my paperwork, are they going to issue the visa?

If they don't, I can still get a VOA at the airport, but then I have to book some stupid throwaway flight to have proof of onward travel, in case they ask, and the way my week is going, they'll probably ask. ;-)

I am having *an absolutely horrible time in HCMC, it's honestly the worst city I've ever been to, ever, and I want out of here *now*. :-(

[Jingthing]

I think they can indeed take your money and refuse a visa. Its called an application, not an order form. Good luck!

[melbat]

Hey guys,

I'm here in Ho Chi Minh City, and I want out of here *now*. I went to the Thai embassy to get a tourist visa (I'm Canadian), they took my passport and paperwork, and told me to come back at 4. My flight leaves at 6:30. ;-) Yeah. Nice, I know.

It's unclear to me if they're issuing the visa for sure, or if they're just "looking" at things. They were pretty bitchy about doing a same-day visa, but they told me to come back today when I told them my flight left today. I was there yesterday, where they told me I had to come back with my flight ticket. It's a one-way ticket, but they didn't say anything.

So if they've bothered to take all my paperwork, are they going to issue the visa?

If they don't, I can still get a VOA at the airport, but then I have to book some stupid throwaway flight to have proof of onward travel, in case they ask, and the way my week is going, they'll probably ask. ;-)

I am having *an absolutely horrible time in HCMC, it's honestly the worst city I've ever been to, ever, and I want out of here *now*. :-(

If all else fails u can get 30 days on arrival at bkk airport

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Hey guys,

I'm here in Ho Chi Minh City, and I want out of here *now*. I went to the Thai embassy to get a tourist visa (I'm Canadian), they took my passport and paperwork, and told me to come back at 4. My flight leaves at 6:30. ;-) Yeah. Nice, I know.

It's unclear to me if they're issuing the visa for sure, or if they're just "looking" at things. They were pretty bitchy about doing a same-day visa, but they told me to come back today when I told them my flight left today. I was there yesterday, where they told me I had to come back with my flight ticket. It's a one-way ticket, but they didn't say anything.

So if they've bothered to take all my paperwork, are they going to issue the visa?

If they don't, I can still get a VOA at the airport, but then I have to book some stupid throwaway flight to have proof of onward travel, in case they ask, and the way my week is going, they'll probably ask. ;-)

I am having *an absolutely horrible time in HCMC, it's honestly the worst city I've ever been to, ever, and I want out of here *now*. :-(

If all else fails u can get 30 days on arrival at bkk airport

But only if he is holding a confirmed outbound airticket within that 30 days.

[skyblues]

Flying into Bkk???yes you can get a 30day no you dont need a outward ticket this is only being enforced at Cambodia which is tea money as you just pay 200baht for a onward ticket

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Flying into Bkk???yes you can get a 30day no you dont need a outward ticket this is only being enforced at Cambodia which is tea money as you just pay 200baht for a onward ticket

totally incorrect.

[007]

Flying into Bkk???yes you can get a 30day no you dont need a outward ticket this is only being enforced at Cambodia which is tea money as you just pay 200baht for a onward ticket

totally incorrect.

Wasn't the 200 baht for a Cambodian train ticket? As for the outward flight ticket: it is rarely enforced at Bangkok Airport; more often so by the airline you're flying with.

Edited December 8, 2007 by 7

[Jingthing]

I thought the problem with the ticket out of Thailand was on the boarding side, not the arriving at BKK side. Has that changed?

[lopburi3]

It can happen at either end - this summer it was often being checked at Bangkok but since the tourist season started it seems to have tapered off again.

[jstumbo]

It can happen at either end - this summer it was often being checked at Bangkok but since the tourist season started it seems to have tapered off again.

But almost definately the airline will not let you check in without it.

[mike_rad]

But almost definately the airline will not let you check in without it.

It depends on the check-in staff. I left for BKK from Hanoi two months ago and they asked me if I had one. I said yes (I didn't) and that was it. They didn't ask to see it so no probs. At BKK airport they asked how long I was staying, I said less than 30 days, and that was it, no asking to see a ticket.

[Jingthing]

That's ballsy saying you have it and not actually having it. Impressive.

[tropo]

Wasn't the 200 baht for a Cambodian train ticket? As for the outward flight ticket: it is rarely enforced at Bangkok Airport; more often so by the airline you're flying with.

They issue 200 baht "transportation tickets" at the Ban Laem border. They cannot be used for travel, however the Thai immigration there accept them.

[mickj88]

On all my trips to LOS the only arline that has asked me for an ongoing or return ticket is emirates .I have never been asked upon arrival at either Dom Muang or Suvamapoom . I just fill in the 30 day landing card and thats it. If asked I would just say I am travelling on to Xambodia or Loas by train. or just get the mrs to speak to them in Thai

[IMA_FARANG]

Flying into Bkk???yes you can get a 30day no you dont need a outward ticket this is only being enforced at Cambodia which is tea money as you just pay 200baht for a onward ticket

I'm not trying to be picky.....and I know those getting a stamp on arrival at the airport aren't usually asked for a return or onbound ticket but don't be sure that the immigration officer wont' ask. They have the right to do it if you arrive without a visa. It has only happened to me once in over 10 years, but they did ask me last June when I entered old Swampyboom. So just know that, and it's up to you to take your chances if that's what you want. The odds are on your side, but it isn't a certainty.

[Maestro]

Excellent advice, IMA_FARANG.

--

Maestro

[roego]

Re return tickets. The airlines will sell you a one way ticket,wont they?If you are travelling around what do you do ?I sometimes fly to Bangkok and come out by train. You cannot book online. You actually have to go to the station.So no return ticket.

[lopburi3]

In that case all you need to do is obtain a visa before travel. Or buy a refundable ticket. Or buy a throw away discount ticket. Or you take your chances.

[astral]

Back to the original question.

Yes the embassy can refuse you a visa.

IME the Thai's only charge if they issue the visa.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Back to the original question.

Yes the embassy can refuse you a visa.

IME the Thai's only charge if they issue the visa.

That is changing right now Astral. It is an 'Visa Application Fee' now, and is non refundable on the new MFA standardised forms.

[Onnutrd]

Visa forms (at least in NZ) state that the application form is for assessing one's eligibility for a Thai Visa. Not for a Visa to be issued upon order.

Fee is non-refundable, whether you get a Visa or not. First page Visa form, "I hereby declare that I will not request a refund of my visa fee even if my visa is declined." Reason is stated above.

Tourist Visa's or Visa Exemptions are supplied on the condition that one has an onward ticket. Without which, one should not expect to get through Immigration without it, despite it being 'common place'. One run's the risk of being sent back. Rules are rules.

Edited January 8, 2008 by Onnutrd

[Phil Conners]

Just buy a full-price business class ticket as proof - they're fully refundable

[ethnostudent]

Just buy a full-price business class ticket as proof - they're fully refundable

Could you help with where to buy a fully refundable ticket? It seems that there would be booking fees and/or cancellation fees and/or credit card fees. Next week I'm doing a Cambodian border run and I would rather be able to go to Poi Pet than try to figure out the system at Ban Laem but I don't have a plane ticket within 30 days.

[Phil Conners]

Contact the airlines directly. There are no cancellation fees on full price business class tickets, thats part of the reason why they are so expensive.

I had a colleague who used to use this trick, buying expensive business class tickets to get an invoice for reimbursements by companies, then cancel the ticket and get a cheap stand-by ticket instead and pocket the difference. Until he got caught

Edited January 8, 2008 by Phil Conners

[TDOT]

Contact the airlines directly. There are no cancellation fees on full price business class tickets, thats part of the reason why they are so expensive.

I had a colleague who used to use this trick, buying expensive business class tickets to get an invoice for reimbursements by companies, then cancel the ticket and get a cheap stand-by ticket instead and pocket the difference. Until he got caught

I know that Canadiangirl23 is probably back in Thailand by now based on the date of her original post.....but I think I may have misunderstood something. I was under the assumption that Canadians are allowed entry into Thailand for a period of 30 days without getting a visa. So, regardless of the onward ticket and regardless of whether the visa were to be issued in time for her flight from Hanoi, couldn't she simply arrive in BKK and do a 30 day stay without a visa and then do a visa run and apply for a tourist visa to extend her stay for an additional 60 days? Just curious. It seems to me that if she were that miserable in Hanoi then perhaps this would get her out of the jam. Have I completely misunderstood the visa requirements for a Canadian to enter Thailand?

[lopburi3]

To be eligable for 30 day visa exempt entry you must have both funds and proof of onward travel. Airlines will often refuse to let those without outbound tickets from Thailand board flights to Thailand if they do not have a visa in there passport.

[jstumbo]

Contact the airlines directly. There are no cancellation fees on full price business class tickets, thats part of the reason why they are so expensive.

I had a colleague who used to use this trick, buying expensive business class tickets to get an invoice for reimbursements by companies, then cancel the ticket and get a cheap stand-by ticket instead and pocket the difference. Until he got caught

I know that Canadiangirl23 is probably back in Thailand by now based on the date of her original post.....but I think I may have misunderstood something. I was under the assumption that Canadians are allowed entry into Thailand for a period of 30 days without getting a visa. So, regardless of the onward ticket and regardless of whether the visa were to be issued in time for her flight from Hanoi, couldn't she simply arrive in BKK and do a 30 day stay without a visa and then do a visa run and apply for a tourist visa to extend her stay for an additional 60 days? Just curious. It seems to me that if she were that miserable in Hanoi then perhaps this would get her out of the jam. Have I completely misunderstood the visa requirements for a Canadian to enter Thailand?

It is true that citizens of Canada and may other countries can enter for 30 days without a visa, but one of the requirements is to also have a ticket leaving the country within that time. They usually do not check for it at immigration, but sometimes they do. Airlines will usually require it before they let you board the plane for Thailand. Sometimes they don't, depends on the airline, and circumstances.

Last trip, I flew business class on China Southern Airlines from Guangzhou China. They did not ask me. All the other times I have flown them, economy class, they wanted to verify that I had a ticket out of Thailand.