Looking for some advice on booking a return ticket to Thailand on an ED Visa. My son is in the process of applying for a 1 yr ED Visa from the Embassy in Melbourne Australia. He has sent off the paperwork to the school in pattaya and is just waiting for the Ministers approval to come back. So he should be arriving in Thailand early Nov with his ED Visa stamp to start school about a week later. Thai Airlines will only issue a return ticket up to 1 year from his departure date. He knows his visa is only for 12 mth. So is concerned the cause may not be finished before his return flight. Any advice please.

Unless the Embassy in Melbourne insist on a return ticket you don't need to book it now. You can enter Thailand with a Non-Immigrant visa without a return ticket.

Thanks for your reply, 6 yrs ago I came here on a retirement visa so only purchased a one way ticket and had to purchase a return ticket at the booking in counter in Melbourne airport as Thailand would not let me in without a return flight (he showed me the requirements from Thailand on the check in computer)

If a person has any valid visa a return or onward ticket it not required.

Enter the required info here to get info from a IATA database. http://www.staralliance.com/en/services/visa-and-health/

Some check-in staff do not know how to interpret the information on the computer screen correctly. When this happens, ask to speak to a superior. (It happened to me once at Heathrow airport in the UK)

Thankyou for your replys. he still has 7 weeks before he needs to look at booking a flight. I have to do my 90 day report in 2 weeks so will see if I can get a definat answer at Jomtien. Thanks Meastro may have saved me paying for a return ticket I never used.