I am now going for a tourist visa to enter the country for approx 3 months - with 1 border trip in between as required. I'm British male 30's. I'm not sure exactly which day I will leave so would prefer to get a one way ticket. This would save me money plus have choice of any airline to come home.

Could I get a tourist visa with one entry if I just show them a one way ticket at the embassey in my Country?

(My friend appears to have done it with a non-immigrant type O visa. Strangely the airline should have asked for his visa before giving him the ticket - which they didn't. But he can't get the visa without the ticket. Which could lead to - can't get visa without ticket and can't get ticket without visa?!)

I have never heard of one way tickets being cheaper than discounted round trip for international travel so you might want to check that closer.

If your country also happens to be the UK I suspect most Thai Consulates there will issue a visa without a ticket being required but have no experience.

Why would the airline ask for a visa to sell you a ticket? You do not even need a visa to visit Thailand if it is for less than 30 days. Or are you talking about a one way ticket (which they may not want to sell you at any rate).

You are aware that a tourist visa will allow you to stay 60 days and can be extended at any immigration office for another 30 days upon filling out a TM.7 form with photos and paying 1,900 baht? So there would not be any requirement to leave Thailand; so a border trip would not be required if you do not want to leave.

Lop is correct. You don't need a ticket to get a visa, however you will probably need a visa to get a one way ticket (they asked for mine). Apply by post to Hull or Cardiff, avoid the Embassy itself (they don't accept postal applictions anyway).

Look carefully at discounted return tickets for the best value. Our one way tickets were only about 30 quid cheaper than a cheap return, since we have no intention of returning to the UK any time soon we chose to save the money.

Many thanks for that very useful information.

Its £300 one way or £560 return plus £50 to change the date (which is likely) each time. Also on the way back I may want to change Airline. I am going out with EVA air on the overnight (Using www.opodo.co.uk who are usually the cheapest). But it leaves midday from Bangkok. I also heard I could pay less than £300 in Thailand for a one way - or what I may do is get a return - come back to UK for 6 months say, save and go back again!

Thanks for the fact I don't need to send the ticket with the visa application form! Looking at their websites it was confusing if I did or didn't. Will now send off just my passport, form & fee - saves me alot of time and hassle as due to little time was going to visit the nearest one in person. I will be asking for a tourist visa 1 entry - which allows me to stay up to 4 months with just one border run. I'm likely to stay 3 months hopefully.

If you are in Pattaya doing Jan & Feb I would be very happy to buy the drinks for your help just PM me - should get to the Flipper House on the 18th :-) Plus I plan to take some pictures / do a trip report for the others!

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Thanks for the fact I don't need to send the ticket with the visa application form! Looking at their websites it was confusing if I did or didn't. Will now send off just my passport, form & fee - saves me alot of time and hassle as due to little time was going to visit the nearest one in person. I will be asking for a tourist visa 1 entry - which allows me to stay up to 4 months with just one border run. I'm likely to stay 3 months hopefully.

Careful again, as said, a tourist visa gives you 60 days. Then a border run, on return you get 30 days visa exempted, totally 90 days, not 4 months.

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Thanks for the fact I don't need to send the ticket with the visa application form! Looking at their websites it was confusing if I did or didn't. Will now send off just my passport, form & fee - saves me alot of time and hassle as due to little time was going to visit the nearest one in person. I will be asking for a tourist visa 1 entry - which allows me to stay up to 4 months with just one border run. I'm likely to stay 3 months hopefully.

Careful again, as said, a tourist visa gives you 60 days. Then a border run, on return you get 30 days visa exempted, totally 90 days, not 4 months.

At the end of the 60 days the visa can be extended for 30 days at an Immigration Office in Thailand. One border crossing after that would give the OP a total of 120 days.