I Have Some Basic Questions About The Visa

[stevenjenowski]

I just bought a one way to bangkok and have no clue what to do next as far as visas and such (i know I kind of did that backwards) My passport should be arriving any day, what's my next step? Do you do the visa paperwork online and apply somewhere or can you arrive and do it in the airport area?

Im sure these questions have been answered 500x on this board but I couldnt locate the correct threads. Any info you can give me I would appreciate

[Dancealot]

You don't need a visa if you are staying less then 28 days. You are granted a 'visa on arrival' and the type of visa is dependant on your nationality.

[Jingthing]

Depending on the country you are traveling from there is a probable chance with a one way ticket and no visa that the airline going to Thailand won't even board you! So my general advice is get at least a tourist visa or alternatively an AIR ticket leaving Thailand to anywhere within 30 days of your arrival date.

Also since you are arriving on a one way ticket, the natural question is what are your plans once getting here? Do you plan on staying in Thailand?

[Carib]

Without a visa (tourist visa or other ) the airline will not allow you to board if you can only show a one way ticket.

Proof of onward travel within the 30 day visas exempt you will be granted upon entering Thailand should be supplied.

Check with your local Thai consulate about the rules, and possibilities. It depends on what you intend to do, and or how long you want to stay amongst others.

Edit, See Jingthing`s answer above

[Maestro]

stevenjenowski, for the situation you have described the IATA rules require a visa, which you must get from a Thai consulate or embassy.

[Maestro]

You don't need a visa if you are staying less then 28 days. You are granted a 'visa on arrival' and the type of visa is dependant on your nationality.

Travelling with a one way ticket you have no acceptable proof to show to the airline that you will stay in Thailand less than 30 days.

[Dancealot]

You don't need a visa if you are staying less then 28 days. You are granted a 'visa on arrival' and the type of visa is dependant on your nationality.

Travelling with a one way ticket you have no acceptable proof to show to the airline that you will stay in Thailand less than 30 days.

A fixed return ticket is the solution. If booked with China Airlines for example it's easy and free to change his return flight...

[stevenjenowski]

thanks for the speedy replies, I should have been much clearer about my intentions...

I'm coming from US. I'm more or less moving there, I don't know if I will be getting a job or anything for a while though so I was hoping to get the 60 day visa and extend it for the 30... by that point I will either have a job and get a work visa of some sort or I will hitch hike somewhere else. I know to get a work visa you have to have a job lined up, what is my best bet for just showing up and getting the lay of the land for a few months?

I'll be flying into bangkok and hitch hiking to chiang mai I think, but those plans could easily change

[Jingthing]

I propose taking the bus.

It would be better to have an O visa coming in but based on your story I reckon that won't happen. Perhaps try for multiple entry tourist visas and then settle for a single entry tourist visa if you can't get that. Some U.S. consulates will need to see your air tickets including exit from Thailand. I think showing a one way ticket might be a red flag to them.

So are you qualified for any kind of job that might likely to be open to foreigners in Thailand? English teaching comes to mind.

If you don't NEED to work, you can stay in Thailand for YEARS studying something (usually Thai) for only four hours per week on the ED visa.

[stevenjenowski]

I'm hoping to get a job cooking somewhere although I realize that is a very slim chance as I speak no thai. If worst comes to worst I'll teach some english to get by.

so what do I actually do to get any kind of visa at this point? I keep trying different ways of googling how to get a thai visa and it keeps giving me bogus sites trying to charge you 300$ to do it for you. You have me concerned with all the talk about them not letting me board the plain. A few people have said something about a thai embassy, are you saying I have to physically travel to the thai embassy in the US and fill out forms and what not? I'd like to handle it all online if possible and ASAP.

thanks again for all this info, I'm glad I found this site. I'll buy heaps of beers if any of you are going to be in chiang mai come april

[Jingthing]

Well if you have special skills and experience in cooking, I suppose that's theoretically possible. Obviously cooking Thai food or basic fry cook doesn't require American (higher priced) labor.

Of course if you had the funds you could open a restaurant.

To teach English legally with a work permit, in general you need a bachelors degree in anything and better ALSO some kind of TEFL certificate. See the teaching forum for details.

You need to contact either the Thai embassy in D.C. or one of the many consulates. If you are close to a consulate you can go in person. If not, you can mail them your passport. Contact them first for requirements and details. They can vary a lot from place to place. Some consulates have a reputation of being friendlier, such as Portland. You can inquire about their requirements first and then decide whether you can meet them before mailing your passport.

I am not one to give moralistic lectures, but in this case, you may expect some people might suggest your plans sound very half baked. I will also say you will probably find once you start dealing with Thai immigration officials that you might not be as WELCOME here as you might think you are.

[stevenjenowski]

I'm sure my lack of planning makes me sound a little careless and half baked lol, but I believe over planning takes the excitement out of things. I do have experience as a head chef in several high end american restaurants, but I'll worry about all that later, for now I just need to get there.

I have done a little research and understand what you mean about the thai immigration officers not exactly seeking people to come stay there. I'm about to email the thai embassy all of my questions and see what the next step is, apart from not sounding like a careless moron, could you give me any advice on what I should say to obtain the visa? Should I just say I want to be a tourist for a few months or should I mention that I may teach english or seek other employment down the road?

[Jingthing]

Your employment prospects are sounding much better than I had imagined. You might want to post in the job related forum here for feedback about work opportunities for skilled chefs.

I'm going to punt on your other questions. Not my specialized expertise. I'm sure you'll get some more info later. I do think your one way ticket is a red flag unless you have a backup story if you're claiming to really be a tourist.

My basic advice is to just contact some consulates and ask them if they offer multiple entry tourist visas and what are their requirements lists for that, and if not, what is the requirements list for a single entry. In other words, don't give up too much info before you have more info.

You should probably state now where you are roughly located in the U.S. You might have a consulate in your city.

[stevenjenowski]

thanks for all the help. I believe I'm going to say that I'm backpacking through SE Asia and intend to stay in thailand for a few months and then leave on foot, that ought to get me past the one way ticket problem and is also not all that far from the truth

[Jingthing]

thanks for all the help. I believe I'm going to say that I'm backpacking through SE Asia and intend to stay in thailand for a few months and then leave on foot, that ought to get me past the one way ticket problem and is also not all that far from the truth

It gets you past the problem if they don't require an AIR ticket out. Some consulates will. In which case you might need to buy a cheap air ticket to a nearby country.

[NanLaew]

There's a list of all the Thai Embassies and Consulates in the US at the following link.

http://www.visetkaew...wp/directories/

The OP should pick the nearest one and then call them and ask about their requirements. Some Consulates serve only residents of defined jurisdictions which is something to watch out for if you are applying while traveling.

Note that Consulates tend to be 'easier' and faster than Embassies. I am a Brit and while I was domiciled in the US, I easily obtained visas from Houston Consulate. A friend of mine gets his from Denver while he waited (urgent call to work) but this was all enabled by calling and checking with the Consulate first.

I would not mention in any chat or application about intention to seek work; after all, you are just looking at this time and your can do that on a TR (Tourist) visa.

Get an open return or cheap onward ticket (like an AirAsia booking to KL) and apply for a double-entry TR visa which will give you greater flexibility if finding work takes longer which I think it will.

Good luck!

[wayned]

You should get at least a single entry tourist visa. It will give you 60 days upon entry and can be extended for another 30 days at immigration for 1900 baht. You can get the visa by courrier service. The Honoray Consulte in Portland is very friendly. Here's the info:

Visa application porcedures, Portland Oregon.doc

Take the bus from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, hitch hiking here is not like the US.

[stevenjenowski]

maybe I just frequent some bad forums but you guys are shockingly helpful lol

[chris1dna]

Like others have stated. Go the the nearest consulate's website. Download the forms. Given a call if you can with any questions. Tell them little about your actual plans. Act as if tourist. Mail in passport with self paid return overnight envelope. With cashiers check for fees. May need two checks for different fees as I recall. Take about a week. This was for my last 60 day multi from Los Angeles ca consulate. Have fun. Also if end up doing VOA you WILL need a confirmed ticket out with in thirty days of arrival. Airasia sells really cheap tix to KL out of BKK. no great loss if you mis flight. If you do. It's only a day round trip. Good luck.

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

[BrianCR]

Just a quick note - Don't under any circumstances tell any consulate that you wish to apply for a tourist visa or "non O" visa and then that you might seek employment - they will NOT issue the visa as the immigration law states that you are not allowed to work OR SEEK WORK with either of those visa's - your backpacking idea is your best bet

[TerryLH]

"...that you are not allowed to work OR SEEK WORK with either of those visa's..."

Where does it say that?

Terry

[BrianCR]

"...that you are not allowed to work OR SEEK WORK with either of those visa's..."

Where does it say that?

Terry

Read up on the regulations or ask in any consulate - I am quite aware that people do SEEK work on these visas and then, when they obtain it travel to a consulate and change the visa, for a "Non O" but, technically it is against the rules, so don't tell the consulates or they will answer with a definite NO!

[ubonjoe]

There is nothing wrong with doing a job search while on a tourist visa.

I suggest that the OP get a 3 entry tourist visa at one of the honorary consulates mentioned previously.

The embassy and the consulates in Chicago, NY and LA give very slow service and might even want to a see a ticket out of the country.

[IBoldnewguy]

I'm sure my lack of planning makes me sound a little careless and half baked lol, but I believe over planning takes the excitement out of things. I do have experience as a head chef in several high end american restaurants, but I'll worry about all that later, for now I just need to get there.

I have done a little research and understand what you mean about the thai immigration officers not exactly seeking people to come stay there. I'm about to email the thai embassy all of my questions and see what the next step is, apart from not sounding like a careless moron, could you give me any advice on what I should say to obtain the visa? Should I just say I want to be a tourist for a few months or should I mention that I may teach english or seek other employment down the road?

Just why do you need to get here so desperately? And you seem to believe you can do so without proper preparation? When you walk through immigation no one will ask what you hope to achieve - they only care that you have your documents in order - if you happen to get caught up in a legal situation - do you have the cash to buy your way out? The Thai Embassy wants properly filled out forms so that they can issue or refuse you a Visa (Link below - browse and you'll find the printable forms required). You don't sound a little careless you sound absolutely uninformed. One can have a good time in Thailand - but not for free. If you're not smart enough to know you must have at least some basic prep - you know, like in an upscale kitchen - where you do a lot of prep before you cook - what makes you think you're smart enough to survive in Thailand without adequate resources?

http://www.thaiconsulatela.org/index.aspx

[Jingthing]

If the OP has access to adequate cash to get by and deal with surprises (which are guaranteed) until he lands some kind of work or just goes home, it doesn't sound all that crazy an idea/adventure. It's not clear how much the OP knows about Thailand, such as that it's seriously not as cheap as it used to be, even more so recently with the baht-dollar rate. I agree with the idea of trying for a triple entry tourist visa. Of course that means the OP has to do border runs occasionally.

[Hedghog]

OP.

You say you are going to hitch hike around Thailand.

Good luck with that,especially when you don't speak any Thai.

I suggest you do a lot more research before you board your flight.

Buy a good guide book and head for khao San road,for a couple of days.

There you should be able to meet some like minded folk.

All the best.

[stevenjenowski]

I appreciate all of the info and the concern for my lack of preparation... Im going in half-assed intentionally though, and that has gotta account for something.

[NoshowJones]

thanks for the speedy replies, I should have been much clearer about my intentions...

I'm coming from US. I'm more or less moving there, I don't know if I will be getting a job or anything for a while though so I was hoping to get the 60 day visa and extend it for the 30... by that point I will either have a job and get a work visa of some sort or I will hitch hike somewhere else. I know to get a work visa you have to have a job lined up, what is my best bet for just showing up and getting the lay of the land for a few months?

I'll be flying into bangkok and hitch hiking to chiang mai I think, but those plans could easily change

I would forget about hitch hiking, I have been here 7 years and never seen a hitch hiker, I would think there is good reason for this. Besides, public transport is very cheap here, and if you can't afford to travel that way, I would not bother coming.

[NoshowJones]

I'm hoping to get a job cooking somewhere although I realize that is a very slim chance as I speak no thai. If worst comes to worst I'll teach some english to get by.

so what do I actually do to get any kind of visa at this point? I keep trying different ways of googling how to get a thai visa and it keeps giving me bogus sites trying to charge you 300$ to do it for you. You have me concerned with all the talk about them not letting me board the plain. A few people have said something about a thai embassy, are you saying I have to physically travel to the thai embassy in the US and fill out forms and what not? I'd like to handle it all online if possible and ASAP.

thanks again for all this info, I'm glad I found this site. I'll buy heaps of beers if any of you are going to be in chiang mai come april

I promise I am not trying to be rude and I wish you every success over here, but the days are past when you can just walk into a job teaching English, unless you will work up country you will need a Batchelors degree and you don't have that as you have spelling and grammar mistakes and miss out on upper case letters. But good luck to you anyway.

[NoshowJones]

There's a list of all the Thai Embassies and Consulates in the US at the following link.

http://www.visetkaew...wp/directories/

The OP should pick the nearest one and then call them and ask about their requirements. Some Consulates serve only residents of defined jurisdictions which is something to watch out for if you are applying while traveling.

Note that Consulates tend to be 'easier' and faster than Embassies. I am a Brit and while I was domiciled in the US, I easily obtained visas from Houston Consulate. A friend of mine gets his from Denver while he waited (urgent call to work) but this was all enabled by calling and checking with the Consulate first.

I would not mention in any chat or application about intention to seek work; after all, you are just looking at this time and your can do that on a TR (Tourist) visa.

Get an open return or cheap onward ticket (like an AirAsia booking to KL) and apply for a double-entry TR visa which will give you greater flexibility if finding work takes longer which I think it will.

Good luck!

After reading a few of your'e posts, I am beginning to wonder if you are at the wind up. I apologise if your'e not.