Filipina travelling to Bangkok. Return ticket question.

[RichardThailand]

I have a friend with a Filipina girlfriend who has just got a tourist visa for the both of them in Manila. He is not sure how long they will stay in Thailand and so there's a problem when it comes to deciding on a return ticket.

From what I understand the Thai immigration will probably not ask about a return ticket but from my experience the Philippine immigration and airlines seem to try there hardest to stop there fellow Filipinos from leaving. Without a return ticket I can guess there will be problems.

Are there any full price single tickets that can be purchased that are fully refundable? I'm thinking of some airline like Thai airlines or another airline that has flights from Bangkok to the Philippines. Failing that any suggests on a ticket out of Thailand to another country like Cambodia.

Thanks

[ubonjoe]

There is no requirement for a return or onward ticket if a person has a visa. That is Thailand's rules and the airlines can access a IATA database that states the same.

I have seen reports of immigration in the Philippines wanting to see a return ticket at times.

[Mcffee]

Hmm... I better follow this topic. In december I fly from Europe to the Philippines, I'll stay with my Filipina girlfriend for a week and then want to travel with her to Chiang Mai, to spend both our birthdays here and visiting my friends.

She has not been abroad before and has a brand new passport with no stamps. After our Thailand trip I will bring her back home, I will stay in the Philippines for another week before heading back to Europe alone.

Are there any issues I have to take into account to avoid problems caused by corrupt officials in the Phillipines? As Thailand and Philippines are both ASEAN countries there is no need to apply for a visa for her I guess, just enter Thailand as I do? Any advice on this?

Many thanks!!

[paz]

Hmm... I better follow this topic. In december I fly from Europe to the Philippines, I'll stay with my Filipina girlfriend for a week and then want to travel with her to Chiang Mai, to spend both our birthdays here and visiting my friends.

She has not been abroad before and has a brand new passport with no stamps. After our Thailand trip I will bring her back home, I will stay in the Philippines for another week before heading back to Europe alone.

Are there any issues I have to take into account to avoid problems caused by corrupt officials in the Phillipines? As Thailand and Philippines are both ASEAN countries there is no need to apply for a visa for her I guess, just enter Thailand as I do? Any advice on this?

There are topics with a lot more information, I think they would show up with just a search, click the cog sign right of the lupe.

[Mcffee]

Hmm... I better follow this topic. In december I fly from Europe to the Philippines, I'll stay with my Filipina girlfriend for a week and then want to travel with her to Chiang Mai, to spend both our birthdays here and visiting my friends.

She has not been abroad before and has a brand new passport with no stamps. After our Thailand trip I will bring her back home, I will stay in the Philippines for another week before heading back to Europe alone.

Are there any issues I have to take into account to avoid problems caused by corrupt officials in the Phillipines? As Thailand and Philippines are both ASEAN countries there is no need to apply for a visa for her I guess, just enter Thailand as I do? Any advice on this?

There are topics with a lot more information, I think they would show up with just a search, click the cog sign right of the lupe.

Thank you.

[Lieberdavid]

Hi Richard,

I urge you to follow your own suggestion to follow this topic closely. Philippine Immigration is preventing large numbers of young Filipinos and Filipinas from leaving the Philippines, even when they present valid passports, return tickets, travel money, written invitations, and so forth. Evidently the justification is to reduce "human trafficking" and for fear the young people will not return.

I have heard reports that this scenario is true even (especially?) when the young person is traveling with someone if that person is a foreigner.

It seems to me that when a person presents proper documentation, it is no business of Philippine Immigration where, when, or why people wish to travel, but that is the situation.

I wish you good luck.