Tourist Visa Ongoing Flight Requirement - Chicago Consulate

[Pattszero]

This seems to be a murky area with conflicting advice handed out on this forum. I'm a proponent of ensuring you have an ongoing flight to hand when you arrive with a tourist visa - others say you don't need it.

I have a friend in the US who has just applied for a tourist visa, they have applied and received one before from this consulate. They noted the requirement for an ongoing flight was no there the last time they applied in January 2012. Here's the link -

http://www.thaiconsulatechicago.org/pages-tourist-visa-requirements.html

It could be yet another case of a consulate making up their own rules as they go along, but its worthy of note.

[lopburi3]

That is a requirement for visa issue and actually not often enforced if you present a US passport to Consulate. But it can be asked. It has nothing to do with travel to Thailand. You do not need onward ticket with any type of visa or re-entry permit in your passport for Thailand. Airlines are not going to allow travel that could result in there being libel for fines/onward transport/loss of carriage and you can confirm at there IATA web site listing requirements such as this.

http://www.staralliance.com/en/services/visa-and-health/

[Pattszero]

That is a requirement for visa issue and actually not often enforced if you present a US passport to Consulate. But it can be asked. It has nothing to do with travel to Thailand. You do not need onward ticket with any type of visa or re-entry permit in your passport for Thailand. Airlines are not going to allow travel that could result in there being libel for fines/onward transport/loss of carriage and you can confirm at there IATA web site listing requirements such as this.

http://www.staralliance.com/en/services/visa-and-health/

The net result of the information on that link is that the applicant went ahead and booked an outward flight and return flight. It's a pity that the information is so confusing.

[Jingthing]

I don't see the problem. Contact the embassy or consulate before making the application and follow their specific requirements. If they answer, you need a ticket out for the visa APPLICATION, then you need it. You do not need it to board a flight though. Visa application and boarding are not the same thing.

[paz]

One can buy a fully refundable ticket, show it, and have it refunded the same day.

[stevenl]

That is a requirement for visa issue and actually not often enforced if you present a US passport to Consulate. But it can be asked. It has nothing to do with travel to Thailand. You do not need onward ticket with any type of visa or re-entry permit in your passport for Thailand. Airlines are not going to allow travel that could result in there being libel for fines/onward transport/loss of carriage and you can confirm at there IATA web site listing requirements such as this.

http://www.staralliance.com/en/services/visa-and-health/

The net result of the information on that link is that the applicant went ahead and booked an outward flight and return flight. It's a pity that the information is so confusing.

It is only confusing if people make it confusing.

The embassy/consulate simply wants to make sure people applying for a visa are using it as intended. Easiest is flight ticket out, if people don't have that an itinerary showing exits over land etc. will do fine as well.

Next is immigration, where this ticket is not required for people entering with visa. In case of doubt about the person trying to enter with the visa (is he a real tourist) of course a ticket out can be helpful.

[Pattszero]

That is a requirement for visa issue and actually not often enforced if you present a US passport to Consulate. But it can be asked. It has nothing to do with travel to Thailand. You do not need onward ticket with any type of visa or re-entry permit in your passport for Thailand. Airlines are not going to allow travel that could result in there being libel for fines/onward transport/loss of carriage and you can confirm at there IATA web site listing requirements such as this.

http://www.staralliance.com/en/services/visa-and-health/

The net result of the information on that link is that the applicant went ahead and booked an outward flight and return flight. It's a pity that the information is so confusing.

It is only confusing if people make it confusing.

The embassy/consulate simply wants to make sure people applying for a visa are using it as intended. Easiest is flight ticket out, if people don't have that an itinerary showing exits over land etc. will do fine as well.

Next is immigration, where this ticket is not required for people entering with visa. In case of doubt about the person trying to enter with the visa (is he a real tourist) of course a ticket out can be helpful.

It doesn't matter how you spin it - the consulate wants to see an exit flight and that's it.

The fact that immigration doesn't want to see the ticket then becomes a moot point - the damage has been done.

[stevenl]

That is a requirement for visa issue and actually not often enforced if you present a US passport to Consulate. But it can be asked. It has nothing to do with travel to Thailand. You do not need onward ticket with any type of visa or re-entry permit in your passport for Thailand. Airlines are not going to allow travel that could result in there being libel for fines/onward transport/loss of carriage and you can confirm at there IATA web site listing requirements such as this.

http://www.staralliance.com/en/services/visa-and-health/

The net result of the information on that link is that the applicant went ahead and booked an outward flight and return flight. It's a pity that the information is so confusing.

It is only confusing if people make it confusing.

The embassy/consulate simply wants to make sure people applying for a visa are using it as intended. Easiest is flight ticket out, if people don't have that an itinerary showing exits over land etc. will do fine as well.

Next is immigration, where this ticket is not required for people entering with visa. In case of doubt about the person trying to enter with the visa (is he a real tourist) of course a ticket out can be helpful.

It doesn't matter how you spin it - the consulate wants to see an exit flight and that's it.

The fact that immigration doesn't want to see the ticket then becomes a moot point - the damage has been done.

No, that's not it, see my post.

[Pattszero]

^^ Where on the link did it mention overland?

Nowhere -

So at the first point of contact people are being told to provide flights into and out of Thailand.

It's there in black and white. So lets assume that the vast majority of applicants are not members of Thaivisa - so don't know about providing refundable tickets or the non-requirement to show the ongoing flight at immigration - its safe to say they would just go right ahead and comply, and would provide exit details.

Then, as I said, the damage is done.

[Jingthing]

If the embassy/consulate tells you they require air tickets out, they require air tickets out. Sometimes a cigar is a cigar. If you have an alternative proposal such as a land itinerary, they can be contacted before the application is made to ask them if that is OK. Of course air tickets out don't need to mean a RT ticket. Can be a ticket to Malaysia. Thaivisa would not be the gold standard of specific and current enforcement policies at specific embassies/consulates, which DO vary.

[stevenl]

^^ Where on the link did it mention overland?

Nowhere -

So at the first point of contact people are being told to provide flights into and out of Thailand.

It's there in black and white. So lets assume that the vast majority of applicants are not members of Thaivisa - so don't know about providing refundable tickets or the non-requirement to show the ongoing flight at immigration - its safe to say they would just go right ahead and comply, and would provide exit details.

Then, as I said, the damage is done.

You're confusing things that seem connected but are not, you're twisting words, you're not reading what others have written, all to be able to stick to your own mantra, which has been proven wrong already many times here.

I'm ignoring you from now on.

[NanLaew]

Whether the Embassy or Consulate is requiring proof of onward travel before issuing a visa is irrelevant inasmuch you can quite easily book a ticket and resubmit a visa application.

Whether the airline requires roof of onward travel is much more significant since the options of buying a ticket within a few hours of your intended departure may be either expensive or impossible.

The most serious aspect is being denied entry at Thai immigration because one doesn't have a return ticket. With the airline responsible for your repatriation, they have to take steps to prevent loss of revenue. That's why satisfying THE AIRLINES requirement is a pretty good rule of thumb.

I am not saying that there's going to be a sudden increase in requests for all arriving passengers to show proof of return travel, particularly for those with TR visas acquired from their home or countries distant from Thailand. However, those with evidence of spending a lot of time in Thailand on locally issued visas or visa-less entries will be much more likely to be asked for such proof of onward travel from August 12th onwards.

[MrWorldwide]

FWIW, the Brisbane Consulate routinely demand proof of a return ticket to Australia for Aussies applying for a tourist visa - not simply an 'outbound flight' to a neighbouring country, but a return ticket. They are also the only Consulate to send me back to my bank at 10am on the day of my application to get a current statement of my account - ATM receipts seem to be unacceptable for their purposes. Needless to say, I made a point of getting my visas in Penang from that point forward but even that Consulate could be a problem from August 12. Interesting times.

'

[ChristianPFC]

Thai embassy in Berlin ask for proof of onward travel (airplaine, bus or train ticket) before issuing a tourist visa. Caused me some inconvenience, had to return the following day. See post I made for details.

In my case (triple entry tourist visa), it was not clear if the onward travel has to be after the first entry, the last entry, or for all entries. I had a ticket for leaving after the first entry. Hazy memory: the officer at the embassy asked if I still want a triple entry tourist visa, from that I conclude that a ticket for leaving after the last entry seems to be the norm.

This proof on onward travel is very annoying for me, I will try to avoid embassies that require it. I prefer to travel spontaneous and decide a week before where and when to leave Thailand.