Issues With My Upcoming Trip, What Do I Do!

[DJfeats]

Hi everyone,

I've been busy traveling internationally for the past couple of months and on a whim decided to extend that adventure to southeast Asia. While in the Caribbean I found an internet cafe and purchased a ticket several months in advance to Bangkok. A few weeks ago I sent in my passport/documents to get a double-entry tourist visa, but as the trip approaches my papers still aren't in order! I'm scheduled to leave on Tuesday, Jan. 12. My return ticket is for April 28, three and a half months down the road... My main problem is that the consulate is still working on the visa papers but my flight is in two business days, and I live to far away for them to ship me the correct papers (granted they finish them) before my flight leaves on Tuesday. I can drive five hours to the consulate and see them Monday morning, hopefully the papers are ready to go, and at the worst I will be able to get my passort back to get on board the flight lacking a tourist visa.

My question is how immigration would handle a U.S. tourist landing in Bangkok with a departure from Bangkok 3 1/2 months later. I know I would only receive a "30 day permission to stay" stamp, and that's fine because I could move on to Malaysia for some time, Indonesia for some time, etc. etc. eventually making my way back to Thailand for the return flight home in April. I have documents to prove a flight home again in April, and that I have sufficient bank funds, but would they allow me to enter without a tourist visa in hand for that length of time between the arrival/departure from Bangkok?

In the event that the visa is not prepared for me in time, would it be possible to have it mailed to Thailand, where I could pick it up and go to an immigration office to activate it? I'm kind of uncertain what to do now because I didn't research it enough ahead of time, and now the trip is coming up in several days! If the situation looks grim I could at least cancel my plane reservations and recover most of that money from the ticket....

Thanks for any helpful advice! Hopefully everything works itself out..

[Guest]

If you have no visa and no return or onward ticket to show,then the airline can refuse to board you because you don't comply with THai visa / entry rules. If they do by any chance board you, then you may be refused entry on arrival.

What kind of visa did you apply for? A standard tourist visa is only valid 60 days.

As the visa is stamped into your passport, you can't have it posted onto you.

[monty]

If traveling without a visa, you require an outbound ticket within 30 days of your arrival. Immigration in Thailand rarely check, but it is very likely that the airline refuses you to board the plane, as they would be required to fly you back out when immigration refuses you entry!

You cannot get your visa "mailed" to you in Thailand, as it has to be affixed in your passport, and you wouldn't be able to enter Thailand (or fly here) without it in the first place!

As you are willing to travel Malaysia anyways, the easiest would be to buy a cheap ticket to Kuala Lumpur with a budget airline (e.g. Air Asia) with a departure date falling within the first 30 days of your stay in Thailand. Easily done on-line. With this you are allowed to fly and enter Thailand without any hassles.

Once in Malaysia you can get a tourist visa within maximum 3 business days.

[TerryLH]

"A few weeks ago I sent in my passport/documents to get a double-entry tourist visa, but as the trip approaches my papers still aren't in order!"

This is a bit puzzling.

Do you have your passport back? If yes, have you looked for a new stamp in it? That would be your tourist visa. If no stamp, what did the embassy/consulate tell you the problem is?

Most people mailing for a tourist visa report getting their stamped passport back within a fairly short time.

If no, have you called to find out what the problem is?

[DJfeats]

I do not have my passport back, I was told to contact the office Monday morning to see if the visa is processed yet. If it is not, it is too late because the flight leaves early Tuesday morning.

I could go retrieve my passport and go to the airport with no visa, but I already have a flight reservation from Jan. 12 - April 28! I have proof of onward travel because the return flight is already paid in full, but it is three months down the road from my arrival.. So I guess I'm still wondering, would they give me a 30 day permission to stay stamp in Thailand for arriving by air, then when that is near expiration I will stay in Indonesia, and when that is close to expiration, stay in Malaysia, etc. etc. until April comes around. Then re-enter Thailand just to get to Bangkok for the flight home.

[Brunus]

As you are willing to travel Malaysia anyways, the easiest would be to buy a cheap ticket to Kuala Lumpur with a budget airline (e.g. Air Asia) with a departure date falling within the first 30 days of your stay in Thailand. Easily done on-line. With this you are allowed to fly and enter Thailand without any hassles.

Once in Malaysia you can get a tourist visa within maximum 3 business days.

Agreed. There are cheap flights to Penang too

[lopburi3]

Your airline may block you from boarding aircraft and if so you will need to obtain an outbound ticket within 30 days of arrival - as you need to leave anyhow it was recommended that you obtain a cheap on-line ticket to Malaysia if you do not receive a visa Monday and have with you so you do not have to obtain a full fare ticket at the last moment if not allowed boarding.

You will not have a problem on arrival in Thailand unless your appearance is way out of line.

[DJfeats]

Instead of buying a ticket from Malaysia, could I travel south through Thailand and cross the border on land to Malaysia, spend some time there, then go to Indonesia and spend some time there, then FLY back into Thailand from there and receive another 30 day permission stay?

[Brunus]

You have to buy a flight to Malaysia (within 30 days from arrival in Thailand) in order to get your flight to Thailand.

[Brunus]

You have to buy a flight to Malaysia (within 30 days from arrival in Thailand) in order to get your flight to Thailand.

Maybe not clear. You have to buy a flight out of Thailand (departure date within 30 days from arrival) before you flight to Thailand.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Instead of buying a ticket from Malaysia, could I travel south through Thailand and cross the border on land to Malaysia, spend some time there, then go to Indonesia and spend some time there, then FLY back into Thailand from there and receive another 30 day permission stay?

Until you know something about Thai visa regulations , please refrain from commenting.

[jombom]

Instead of buying a ticket from Malaysia, could I travel south through Thailand and cross the border on land to Malaysia, spend some time there, then go to Indonesia and spend some time there, then FLY back into Thailand from there and receive another 30 day permission stay?

Basically, Yes, to your questions.

However, you are supposed to have an outward bound ticket (within 30 days for 30 day visa) on landing at Bangkok. If you propose to travel overland to Malaysia, this is not so easy to prove. Safer to purchase another air ticket (several posters have suggested airasia already) on the internet. Having said this, I have never been asked to show my exit ticket on arriving at Bangkok.

The last time I checked (18 mths ago), cheap tickets from Indonesia to Thailand direct were not available ---- connecting via KL or S'pore was cheaper.

In your position, and from your descriptions, I would get my passport back asap.

Best of luck.

[Brunus]

Instead of buying a ticket from Malaysia, could I travel south through Thailand and cross the border on land to Malaysia, spend some time there, then go to Indonesia and spend some time there, then FLY back into Thailand from there and receive another 30 day permission stay?

Until you know something about Thai visa regulations , please refrain from commenting.

This is the OP asking a question.

Again you have to buy a ticket out of the country. Then if you prefer, you don't use it and exit the country by land.

[Hobc]

Instead of buying a ticket from Malaysia, could I travel south through Thailand and cross the border on land to Malaysia, spend some time there, then go to Indonesia and spend some time there, then FLY back into Thailand from there and receive another 30 day permission stay?

Had many friends applying 1 month on arrival visa not one has ever been asked for a return ticket, however air asia does a 1 day return

to KL 4000 bt from Phuket to be on the safe side 30 days on return.

[Brunus]

Instead of buying a ticket from Malaysia, could I travel south through Thailand and cross the border on land to Malaysia, spend some time there, then go to Indonesia and spend some time there, then FLY back into Thailand from there and receive another 30 day permission stay?

Had many friends applying 1 month on arrival visa not one has ever been asked for a return ticket, however air asia does a 1 day return

to KL 4000 bt from Phuket to be on the safe side 30 days on return.

Sometimes it happens. But if they ask you for a ticket out of Thailand and you don't have one, they can refuse to allow you to fly to Thailand. Usually you can find tickets to Malaysia for much cheaper than that.

[phuketrichard]

Never been asked for a return ticket out of thailand in 35 years of flying here, no matter where i was travelling from nor was i ever asked when i boarded from any country.

Fly in get ur 30 days then travel down to Malayasia, singapore, fly to bali, or travel overland to Cambodia and fly back via air asia ( $69) fly back into thailand get another 30 days before ur departure date,

There are 100's of options.

I see No problem. People here tend to always look at the worst and i have no idea why

[thaiphoon]

The immigration entry requirements into Thailand are quite clear. Either you hold a valid visa or air ticket out of the country within 30 days of arrival (to obtain visa exempt entry). Thai immigration tends to rely on the airlines to police the rule, because if passenger entry is denied then the airline will be fined and will have to pick up the costs of repatriation. Understandably most long haul airlines won't take that risk. Some airlines within the region do not check, often the budget airlines, because they have many flights/spare seats so passenger return is not seen by them as a big issue.

So to the OP, and as already said, if you cannot get a visa before you fly, strongly recommend you are in possession of a cheap outbound ticket within 30 days of arrival (which you are going to need anyway to apply for tourist visa in neighbouring country over here) when you check-in or you may not be allowed to board.

[SM7WGP]

By a cheap ticket to Malaysia with refund and after you are in the country get back the money on your ticket. easy

[thaiphoon]

As the Op plans to stay here 3.5 months, he is going to have to travel abroad anyway within 30 days to obtain a visa at consulate in neighbouring country. So makes sense to me to use that ticket for that purpose (assuming of course he does not manage to get his visa before he travels, in which case he would not need an additional ticket).

[monty]

Never been asked for a return ticket out of thailand in 35 years of flying here, no matter where i was travelling from nor was i ever asked when i boarded from any country.

Fly in get ur 30 days then travel down to Malayasia, singapore, fly to bali, or travel overland to Cambodia and fly back via air asia ( $69) fly back into thailand get another 30 days before ur departure date,

There are 100's of options.

I see No problem. People here tend to always look at the worst and i have no idea why

Many reports on travelers being denied to board airplanes for not having outbound tickets. Being forced to buy very expensive ticket at the airport just to be allowed to board their flight. Most of them complaining on being treated harsh/wrongly, when the rules are clearly there.

It all depends on the airline and their staff, some don't bother at all, others give no leeway whatsoever.

Personally have been asked to show outbound ticket, so in short, for the small price an Air Asia ticket costs not worth taking the risks. Especially since he has travelling plans to there anyway.

to the OP, overland travel is not accepted, you need to hold a valid airfare out, within the 30 days you get on arrival.

[phetaroi]

Your airline may block you from boarding aircraft and if so you will need to obtain an outbound ticket within 30 days of arrival - as you need to leave anyhow it was recommended that you obtain a cheap on-line ticket to Malaysia if you do not receive a visa Monday and have with you so you do not have to obtain a full fare ticket at the last moment if not allowed boarding.

You will not have a problem on arrival in Thailand unless your appearance is way out of line.

I don't agree.

Over the years I traveled to Thailand probably 13-15 times, always dressed "business casual". While I don't recall the exact number of times, about 3-4 times I was asked for the onward ticket at the immigration queue at Don Muang. While that's only about 20% of the time, in my experience it was not that uncommon.

[phetaroi]

I see No problem. People here tend to always look at the worst and i have no idea why

A wise person plans for the worst-case scenario, even though he expects and hopes for the best-case scenario.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Never been asked for a return ticket out of thailand in 35 years of flying here, no matter where i was travelling from nor was i ever asked when i boarded from any country.

Fly in get ur 30 days then travel down to Malayasia, singapore, fly to bali, or travel overland to Cambodia and fly back via air asia ( $69) fly back into thailand get another 30 days before ur departure date,

There are 100's of options.

I see No problem. People here tend to always look at the worst and i have no idea why

Has it been awhile since you flew in ?

[Colabamumbai]

What country are you in? What office in what country did you apply for the Thai Visa? You say you applied weeks ago. It takes a minimum of 24 hours to get a visa. Why would it take you 3 weeks as you infer.

This Friday past Jan. 8,I went to the Thai consulate in Toronto, with papers from a Thai School saying I had enrolled for 6 months. The consulate told me to keep the letter from the school in case I needed it again in the future. He told me come in and get your visa Monday Jan.11... 2 Days because of the weekend.

[moe666]

Better to perpare for the worst than post to Thaivisa and complain that you have been treated badly by the airline and it is another nail in the coffin.

[bkkflyer]

I have travelled quite a lot of times into Thailand (mostly from Europe) probably 120-130 times (always by air) during the last 10-12 years. Recently (during the last couple of years) I have been asked for a ticket out of Thailand when checking in maybe in 2-3 trips out of 30-40. Last time this happened was when I boarded in London, flying Emirates Firstclass. I actually did not have a ticket within the next 30 days as I nested this EK-ticket with some other planned tickets (that I did not purchase yet ex BKK). My stays are usually quite short (0-14 days). It also happened when I checked in for a Lufthansa flight in Kuala Lumpur (when starting a cheap Businessclass ticket ex BKK).....

A good travel agent would usually be able to help you to book a flexible/refundable ticket if you need it........ If you plan on buying a ticket and cancel/refund it later, dont do it in Thailand as they are hopelessly slow on doing refunds here. Bought a ticket here, and I dont need it, takes about 3-4 months to get the money back.

If doing the same in Europe (and probably the US as well) the funds will be back in a few days.