Airline Ticket Question - 2 Entry Tourist Visa

[LAnative]

Hi All,

I'm new to the board and new to trying to navigate the visa process for Thailand. I'll be coming to Thailand in April on a double-entry tourist visa. I hope to obtain the visa soon and I was told that I don't need to show airline tickets to the Thai consulate in Los Angeles in order to obtain a visa because I hold a US passport. However, I understand that I may be required to show the immigration officer a copy of my return ticket upon arrival in Thailand.

To that end, I have a question about the duration of my airline ticket. Will Thai immigration want to see a ticket that shows me leaving within the 6-month window or within the 3 month window of the first entry? I plan to try to extend each entry by 30 days, utilizing the full 3 months of each entry.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. A link to any previous threads would also be appreciated if this specific topic has already been covered.

Thank you!

[Mahout Angrit]

Generally holders of a visa will not be required to show a return or onward ticket on their arrival in Thailand. Only those entering expecting to get a visa free entry on arrival should be prepared with a return ticket. So no worries

[wasabi]

I will be coming to Thailand on a Non Imm ED visa. I plan to stay in Thailand at least a year but the entry visa I receive will be for just 3 months. The Thai language school has told me this visa will then be extended 10 months after I show up at school. Can I get in with a 1 way ticket?

[Maestro]

Yes.

--

Maestro

[gunnyd]

Hi All,

I'm new to the board and new to trying to navigate the visa process for Thailand. I'll be coming to Thailand in April on a double-entry tourist visa. I hope to obtain the visa soon and I was told that I don't need to show airline tickets to the Thai consulate in Los Angeles in order to obtain a visa because I hold a US passport. However, I understand that I may be required to show the immigration officer a copy of my return ticket upon arrival in Thailand.

To that end, I have a question about the duration of my airline ticket. Will Thai immigration want to see a ticket that shows me leaving within the 6-month window or within the 3 month window of the first entry? I plan to try to extend each entry by 30 days, utilizing the full 3 months of each entry.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. A link to any previous threads would also be appreciated if this specific topic has already been covered.

Thank you!

Who gave you this information?

Quote from Royal Thai Embassy Washington, USA

Tourist visa.................. US $30.00 per entry for pleasure purpose only. (require copy airline ticket or itinerary)

(Maximum stay 60 day, extension of stay may be applied in Thailand.)

You must present an airline ticket or itinerary to obtain a Tourist Visa.

I have the feeling the person you spoke to was referring to the 30 day exempt stamp given to US citizens upon entry into The Kingdom. That will limit you to a maximum stay of 90 days. Then you will have to leave and obtain a visa outside LOS (the Land of Smiles).

Hope this clarifies things for you,

GunnyD

[Lite Beer]

Hi All,

I'm new to the board and new to trying to navigate the visa process for Thailand. I'll be coming to Thailand in April on a double-entry tourist visa. I hope to obtain the visa soon and I was told that I don't need to show airline tickets to the Thai consulate in Los Angeles in order to obtain a visa because I hold a US passport. However, I understand that I may be required to show the immigration officer a copy of my return ticket upon arrival in Thailand.

To that end, I have a question about the duration of my airline ticket. Will Thai immigration want to see a ticket that shows me leaving within the 6-month window or within the 3 month window of the first entry? I plan to try to extend each entry by 30 days, utilizing the full 3 months of each entry.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. A link to any previous threads would also be appreciated if this specific topic has already been covered.

Thank you!

Airline ticket is not required to apply for a Tourist Visa. So don`t worry.

Look at the LA website.

http://www.thai-la.net/visa/visa-tourist-us.htm

[gunnyd]

Please contact the LA consular office regarding the need for a plane ticket. Their website is not enirely clear on the subject, but in their FAQ section contains the following:

If I am required to submit a copy of my airline tickets, can I submit the itinerary instead?

No. Itineraries will not be accepted in place of the copies of airline tickets. However, itineraries showing e-tickets will be accepted.

This was taken directly from the Royal Thai Consulate General, Los Angeles' website.

GunnyD

[Lite Beer]

Looks pretty clear to me.

Non US passport holders need a travel ticket.

US passport holders do not.

As said a quick phone call will give the OP the answer.

[wasabi]

I called the LA consulate today. I explained that I am going to Thailand on a Non Im ED visa and asked, do I need a round trip ticket? She asked, are you a US citizen? I said yes to which she replied we don't need to see your tickets. I said so I shouldn't have any problem with a one way ticket. She said shouldn't have any problem. She didn't really directly answer if Customs in Thailand will care or not. She made it pretty clear that to get the visa and hopefully on the plane I shouldn't have any problem with a one way ticket. I plan to stay in Asia indefinitely so I'd really rather not get a return ticket but I'm wondering if I should buy a refundable one with a $100 penalty to be safe. However I'd like to save that 100 dollars if possible!

[Lite Beer]

I called the LA consulate today. I explained that I am going to Thailand on a Non Im ED visa and asked, do I need a round trip ticket? She asked, are you a US citizen? I said yes to which she replied we don't need to see your tickets. I said so I shouldn't have any problem with a one way ticket. She said shouldn't have any problem. She didn't really directly answer if Customs in Thailand will care or not. She made it pretty clear that to get the visa and hopefully on the plane I shouldn't have any problem with a one way ticket. I plan to stay in Asia indefinitely so I'd really rather not get a return ticket but I'm wondering if I should buy a refundable one with a $100 penalty to be safe. However I'd like to save that 100 dollars if possible!

No problem if you have a Visa.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

I called the LA consulate today. I explained that I am going to Thailand on a Non Im ED visa and asked, do I need a round trip ticket? She asked, are you a US citizen? I said yes to which she replied we don't need to see your tickets. I said so I shouldn't have any problem with a one way ticket. She said shouldn't have any problem. She didn't really directly answer if Customs in Thailand will care or not. She made it pretty clear that to get the visa and hopefully on the plane I shouldn't have any problem with a one way ticket. I plan to stay in Asia indefinitely so I'd really rather not get a return ticket but I'm wondering if I should buy a refundable one with a $100 penalty to be safe. However I'd like to save that 100 dollars if possible!

No problem if you have a Visa.

Agreed.

[jstumbo]

Please contact the LA consular office regarding the need for a plane ticket. Their website is not enirely clear on the subject, but in their FAQ section contains the following:

If I am required to submit a copy of my airline tickets, can I submit the itinerary instead?

No. Itineraries will not be accepted in place of the copies of airline tickets. However, itineraries showing e-tickets will be accepted.

This was taken directly from the Royal Thai Consulate General, Los Angeles' website.

GunnyD

They do not list it as a required document, but they do say that they reserve the right to require more documents. That and the way this question is written makes me believe that if they decide to require a person to submit copies of the tickets, then they could only use an itinerary if it is an e-ticket. Probably so they can go to the airline website and confirm the e-ticket.

Different consulates require different things. Maybe the Washington DC embassy requires more. I have seen sometimes also where they list many things that are required on the website, but will give a visa with less documentation. Best to always check with the consulate.

Last year I got a Multi B, had all sorts of information from two factories in Thailand. It was very difficult to get. Things like lists of share holders, balance sheets and things like that. Now I checked with the Portland Consulate, and they say I just need a Notorized letter from my company in the US to get a multi B. I wish I would have checked with them last year. But it will be easy when it comes time to renew.

[wasabi]

I have read the replies which state if I have a visa 1 way ticket is no problem but can anyone who is a US citizen confirm they personally got into Thailand with a 1 way ticket with a Non Immigrant visa?

Thanks

[jstumbo]

Done it many times with a Non-B. From China though. Many others that are tickets that start in Thailand and return to Thailand with no outbound ticket after that, or if I did have an outbound ticket, it was on another airline and they knew nothing about it.

[LAnative]

Hi All,

Thanks so much for all the advice!! It has been really helpful.

Before my original post, I spoke with a lady at the LA consulate who confirmed that US Passport holders do not need to show air tickets to receive a visa. However, she mentioned that immigration in Thailand may request to see tickets. This is the part that makes me a bit nervous... I would love to just buy a one-way but would hate to be turned away at the gates.

I'd like to reiterate wasabi's question - has anyone with a tourist visa entered without having to show a return ticket?

Also, if I do purchase a return ticket, which dates should it fall between? can it be up to 6 months after my arrival date, or should I choose an earlier date, such as 2 or 3 months?

Thanks again to everyone!

[lopburi3]

You do not need a return ticket if you have a visa. You will not be asked for a return ticket at Thailand Immigration using a US passport for entry.