Help Needed Asap!

[tramsubick]

I have a plane ticket from Toronto to Bangkok on July 21, returning Aug 21. I had no idea about the need for a visa when i was booking my flights, and subsequently i do not have time to get a visa before i leave. Since Canadians are eligible for the 30 day free visa upon arrival, and i will only be going over this by 1 day, what protocol should i follow? Will i even be allowed on the plane?

ah i am freaking. any help would be much appreciated!

[Jiu-Jitsu]

Are you landing on the 21st or the 22nd? As to the day or two discrepancy, it's unlikely the airline will pay too much attention. Even a 30 day visa exemption is extendable by up to a week in country, so there is flexibility.

If you are landing on the 22nd, you will be departing on Day 31, for this the will be no overstay stamp or extra charges. If you are landing on the 21st, you will be charge 500 baht per day for every day that you overstay upon departure.

[NotNew2You]

Don't worry, you have no problems. If you are a canadian citizen, you will get a 30-day entry stamp at immigration when you enter the country. You DO NOT require any visa (ignore the visa on arrival desks at the airport...those are for people from countries where visas are required for entry).

You will have maybe a 1 day overstay when you depart. The fine will be either B 200-B 500 (forget and the rules always changing), which you can pay at the airport when you leave. It is not a problem...just smile and say you have good time in Thailand and they will be very happy to accept your payment

[Lite Beer]

The problem is not with Thai Immigration.

The airline has the right to refuse him onto the flight if he does not have the correct Visa for his stay.

It is up to them. As he is borderline he will probably be OK

Why not give them a ring.

[retiredusn]

With the time diff. you will not arrive until the 22/23 anyway.

[TBWG]

The problem is not with Thai Immigration.

The airline has the right to refuse him onto the flight if he does not have the correct Visa for his stay.

It is up to them. As he is borderline he will probably be OK

Why not give them a ring.

Hi

Bearing in mind the visa is issued on arrival I don't see any reason why the airline should be in the least bit interested, after all they are not to know what action the passenger is going to take in LOS re extending visa once he is here.

No Problem sleep easy.

TBWG

[eek]

If the airline really does cause a fuss over it (although i doubt it), you could always purchase a cheap one way ticket (airasia, 1-2-go, nok air) to a destination outside of Thailand (which you dont have to use). That would cover their criteria for allowing you to fly.

[Crossy]

Bearing in mind the visa is issued on arrival I don't see any reason why the airline should be in the least bit interested, after all they are not to know what action the passenger is going to take in LOS re extending visa once he is here.

Because, as is noted on this site at least once a week, one of the requirements for a visa-exemption entry (30 day stamp) is onward travel within that period. If the airline flies you and you are subsequently refused admission they are heavily fined and required to fly you out on the next available flight.

Airlines can, and do, refuse to carry passengers who do not meet the requirements for entry into their destination country.

With any form of 'proper' visa there would be no issue

[tramsubick]

thanks for all the info. i will call air canada now.

i wish i had time to get a proper visa but my flight is tomorrow, the 21st of July. I will be arriving in Bangkok the 22nd of July, leaving Aug 21st. But this is still 31 days....i hope i can get around this without spending a boat load of money.

[IMA_FARANG]

The problem is not with Thai Immigration.

The airline has the right to refuse him onto the flight if he does not have the correct Visa for his stay.

It is up to them. As he is borderline he will probably be OK

Why not give them a ring.

Hi

Bearing in mind the visa is issued on arrival I don't see any reason why the airline should be in the least bit interested, after all they are not to know what action the passenger is going to take in LOS re extending visa once he is here.

No Problem sleep easy.

TBWG

As another poster said...the following information is usually getting put on this forum nearly weekly. But anyhow, here it is again.

There is a 3 volume series of books used by all airlines to schedule flights. In the rear of the third volume there is a few pages that stipulate the visa and immigration regulations for certain countries that apply to the airlines. In the Thailand section it specifically says that passengers arriving in Thailand without a visa require an onward ticket out of Thailand. The airline bringing the passenger to Thailand is responsible to insure that any passenger arriving in Thailand without a visa meets the requirement for an onward ticket. If a passenger without a visa arrives in Thailand and for some reason is not allowed to enter Thailand, then the airline that brought the passenger is responsible for returning the passenger either to their point of embarkation, or to another point chosen by the passenger. This is why the airlines ask for an onward ticket. Also if a passenger is brought to Thailand, the airline may also be fined, if the Thai immigration decides the airline is at fault (or deliberately violated the rule).

For practical purposes, the Thai immigration often does not ask for the onward ticket, and certain countries are allowed to get a stamp on arrival for a 30 day stay without a visa. However, there is always a chance that Thai immigration will ask to see an onward ticket. It's just the luck of the draw.

I had this clearly explained to me by one of the senior airline staff of SAS (Scandinavian Ailines) in Copenhagen when I tried to argue I didn't need to have a visa (about 20 years ago now). I was shown the regulations in black and white that the airline was required to follow.

[JUDAS]

thanks for all the info. i will call air canada now.

i wish i had time to get a proper visa but my flight is tomorrow, the 21st of July. I will be arriving in Bangkok the 22nd of July, leaving Aug 21st. But this is still 31 days....i hope i can get around this without spending a boat load of money.

22nd July to 21st August is 30 days.

[tramsubick]

Im not sure how you are counting the days, but i keep getting 31 days. does the arrival date not count. aarg.

thanks for all the info. i will call air canada now.

i wish i had time to get a proper visa but my flight is tomorrow, the 21st of July. I will be arriving in Bangkok the 22nd of July, leaving Aug 21st. But this is still 31 days....i hope i can get around this without spending a boat load of money.

22nd July to 21st August is 30 days.

[Lite Beer]

It is 31 Days.

[Jiu-Jitsu]

thanks for all the info. i will call air canada now.

i wish i had time to get a proper visa but my flight is tomorrow, the 21st of July. I will be arriving in Bangkok the 22nd of July, leaving Aug 21st. But this is still 31 days....i hope i can get around this without spending a boat load of money.

Did you actually bother to read my post?

[NotNew2You]

With any form of 'proper' visa there would be no issue

Having a visa does not guarantee one will be admitted to the intended destination country. Visas are sorta like a conditional entry permet, contingent on final inspection and approval of an immigration officer of the destination country. Many people with property obtained (but many wrong type or not meeting some other requirment) are denied entry to their destinations.

I like watching the "Border Security" show on ABC TV and the Sydney immigrations officers regularly cancel visas for various reasons and deny entry/deport people with visas.