Plane Ticket And Non-immigrant B

[Andrew Mac]

Hello again, ThaiVisa experts! :-)

Sorry for another ignorant question, but I'd like to ask for your advice. I will be starting a job in Chiang Mai in January. The initial contract is for one year, but may be extended. I'm pretty comfortable with all the information I've been able to gather from this forum about visas, work permits, extensions, visa runs and the like.

But ...

What I'm not really sure about is the ticket I'll be able to come in on. I've heard some people say that there is a possibility of the airline refusing passage if you don't have a return ticket or proof of onward travel from the country, but does this still apply when arriving with a Non-Immigrant B visa?

Irrespective of whether I agree with airline policy or not, I can understand the concern with regard to tourists coming in on a "thirty days on arrival" visas -- but if I'm here to work for at least a year (and as I said, perhaps longer), and have all the relevant documentation and visas, then surely I won't need anything more than just a one-way ticket, will I?

Or will I?

I asked a travel agent today, but they couldn't give me an answer. I haven't yet decided what airline I'll use, or the exact date I'll be flying out, so I'd like to get your opinions before going any further with this. I don't know if it makes any difference, but I'll be coming from Australia, from either Sydney or Darwin.

Thanks in advance for any advice you kind people may be able to give! :-)

[lopburi3]

The onward travel is a requirement for 30 day entry without visa (to obtain the 30 day stamp) so you do not have to have onward travel with a visa in your passport. Very strange that your travel agency could not answer that question for you; but perhaps they want your money first?

[Andrew Mac]

The onward travel is a requirement for 30 day entry without visa (to obtain the 30 day stamp) so you do not have to have onward travel with a visa in your passport.  Very strange that your travel agency could not answer that question for you; but perhaps they want your money first?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for the fast advice! I'm glad the situation is as I thought it should be :-)

As for the travel agent ... well, let's just say I wish I'd got one of the other consultants! The one I ended up with didn't seem in a really good mood, and didn't give me the impression that they were at all interested in helping me. I started by asking prices, but as I mentioned above, I wasn't really sure of the date or where I'd be leaving from ... it was only at the end I asked about the visa stuff, and I think by then they might have decided I wasn't worth the effort

That's when I thought to myself: why not just ask on ThaiVisa, where everyone is the complete opposite, full of valuable information and happy to help! ;-)

Thanks again

[Andrew Mac]

By the way, it looks like I got one of the most experienced TV people too! I see that you're number 3 on the list of all-time posters, and actually a clear number 1 if you ignore administrators and moderators. Well done!

Keep an eye on that BambinA though: she's catching up fast!

Edited November 15, 2005 by Andrew Mac