Confused Backpacker! Any Advice Would Be Great!

[Bobster4321]

Hi,

I am from UK, currently on a world trip. I have a flight booked from Singapore to Bangkok on 10th June. I then intend to travel overland throughout Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Malaysia. The next flight on my schedule (after Singapore-Bangkok) is 4 1/2 months later, on 31st October, from KL to Singapore.

Am I going to have problems entering Thailand without another flight booked to leave Thailand within a month? The only proof of onward journey I have is the KL-Singapore ticket 4.5 months later! If I will have problems, could anyone suggest what I could do to sort them out?

Secondly, during my trip, I hope to re-enter Thailand overland,about three months later, after having visited Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. Would I be automatically issued with a 15 day visa, even if, again, I don't have proof of exiting Thailand?

Any help or advice would be much appreciated.

thanks

[ubonjoe]

You may have a problem with your flight. Airlines often deny bording if you do not have a ticket out within 30 days.

You can enter at a border and get 15 days without a problem.

You should consider getting a tourist visa. They are free until June 5th. A single entry would do for your first entry and a 2 entry would give you 60 days instead of 15 when you return.

If you are not in London to get your visa in person at the Embassy (no mailed applications) you should contact the consulate in Hull they give quick mail in service and are easier to deal with than London. Link: http://www.thaiconsul-uk.com/

[threedot]

I have flown to BKK from Singapore, HK & KL multiple times without an onward ticket and never had a problem either with the airline or immigration. I would think you would be extremely unlucky to have a problem, particularly if you fit the backpacker profile since this would seem to be a very common route. Worst case you could book a throwaway cheap onward flight at the time of checking in. I think you will be fine.

[whatchamacallit]

Get the tourist visa as suggested by Ubonjoe or.......

Buy the cheapest AirAsia ticket from BKK to (say) KL or Hanoi, etc with departure date within 30 days of the date of your arrival, that you will NOT use - just for the purpose of showing it to the immigration officer when you arrive.

[Bobster4321]

I have flown to BKK from Singapore, HK & KL multiple times without an onward ticket and never had a problem either with the airline or immigration. I would think you would be extremely unlucky to have a problem, particularly if you fit the backpacker profile since this would seem to be a very common route. Worst case you could book a throwaway cheap onward flight at the time of checking in. I think you will be fine.

thanks for your help. If they let me board the flight, might there be consequences in Bangkok if I don't have an onward ticket? I think I'll playit safe and get a cheap throwaway onward flight.

[Bobster4321]

You may have a problem with your flight. Airlines often deny bording if you do not have a ticket out within 30 days.

You can enter at a border and get 15 days without a problem.

You should consider getting a tourist visa. They are free until June 5th. A single entry would do for your first entry and a 2 entry would give you 60 days instead of 15 when you return.

If you are not in London to get your visa in person at the Embassy (no mailed applications) you should contact the consulate in Hull they give quick mail in service and are easier to deal with than London. Link:

thank you for your advice. The problem is that I am in Singapore (before heading to indonesia on Saturday), so can't apply for a visa in the UK (and it was too early todo it before I left UK!). I went to the Thai Embassy in Singapore this morning, and they would not issue a tourist visa unless I had proof of onward travel within 60 days of entry to Singapore.

I think the easiest thig to do is to buy a cheap throaway flight, but I am going to double check with the embassy again tomorrow.

[lopburi3]

That Embassy can be a PIA. I would not worry about it as airlines are not likely to be strict on that flight path and in the worst case you could buy ticket at airport. There will not be any problem at Thailand immigration.