Stuck in Thailand?

[StevieDee]

Perhaps you should have got a new passport before it only had 6 months left on it when you knew you had a visa trip to do like most responsible adults do.

[oncearugge]

Perhaps you should have got a new passport before it only had 6 months left on it when you knew you had a visa trip to do like most responsible adults do.

If you read these threads you will discover that many "suddenly" discover their passport has no blank pages or is no longer valid for travel!

Personal responsibility seems to be an outdated concept for some !

[stevenl]

5555,exactly the same thing happened to me in Singapore,trying for an Indo visa.Knocked me back on 5 and a half months on my passport for a 1 month visa.Got an emergency passport from Oz consulate for 6 months,same day got my visa.Luckily Malayasia,Thailand,Nepal and Thailand again were not so pedantic,as my 6 month passport was finally a 1 month passport.Never questioned either,luck of the draw.This was 1986.

The World has moved on since 1986 and for various reasons, Countries, Airlines and Immigration officials are very "Security Aware"

What's less than 6 months on a valid passport got to do with security?Nothing but over officious.

All I can say is you have an "odd" attitude" toward security.

Best make sure, if you wish to travel, that you meet the "over officious " requirements..

I'm curious, what is the connection between less than 6 months passport validity and security?

[oncearugge]

stevenl

You may not have noticed that since 1986 many Countries have enhanced their visa and passport requirements.

"Security" is multi-faceted and not limited to screening luggage at the airport.

[stevenl]

stevenl

You may not have noticed that since 1986 many Countries have enhanced their visa and passport requirements.

"Security" is multi-faceted and not limited to screening luggage at the airport.

Sorry, that does not answer the question.

[oncearugge]

stevenl

You may not have noticed that since 1986 many Countries have enhanced their visa and passport requirements.

"Security" is multi-faceted and not limited to screening luggage at the airport.

Sorry, that does not answer the question.

What is the "answer" ?

According to you of course.

[stevenl]

stevenl

You may not have noticed that since 1986 many Countries have enhanced their visa and passport requirements.

"Security" is multi-faceted and not limited to screening luggage at the airport.

Sorry, that does not answer the question.

What is the "answer" ?

According to you of course.

I ask the question because you claim there is a connection between 6 months passport validity requirement in many countries and security. All you can do is come with 'security is more than luggage screening'. It's ok if you don't know the answer yourself, but better not make the claim then, a claim you only made to be a smartass towards another poster.

[ericthai]

Several years ago I took a bus from Laos to Vietnam where I met an American

guy who had been turned back at a VN land crossing the day before simply

because he didn't have a VN visa on him. Moreover, a Chinese couple on the

bus did get turned back at the land crossing only because they didn't have a VN

visa with them, either. They were claiming that they should let them in like a

barking dog but the VN IOs just ignored them. We had to wait there for as long

as 2hrs till they gave up and the driver unloaded their luggage. I still remember

this like yesterday.

You talk about a visa like it is nothing. Countries have visas for a reason and if they require

one and you don't have it, your not getting in. Most of the tourists that come to Thailand are lucky

and don't require a visa, then they think everyplace is like that and don't check things. Just stupid.

Those people were stupid for not knowing what is required prior to trying to enter into a country.

That's like a Thai trying to go to the USA without a visa. I dont understand how someone plans

to go on a trip and dont check what is required before they go.

[speedtripler]

Perhaps you should have got a new passport before it only had 6 months left on it when you knew you had a visa trip to do like most responsible adults do.

If you read these threads you will discover that many "suddenly" discover their passport has no blank pages or is no longer valid for travel!

Personal responsibility seems to be an outdated concept for some !

Passport Security is "supposedly" taken pretty strict thesedays at airports and borders

(not counting loaded guns carried onboard, fake passports or bribed border officials etc because these things happen .. )

Remember reading recently someone was refused onto a flight because passport was wet ...

Pages with Dates and visas are definitely being examined more carefully than before at suavuanboom and Don Meung last week though....

[digibum]

You dont need 6 months validity in Thailand or Malaysia because no visa is needed to enter those countries so just go to malaysia for a while and then come back to thailand that will give you some breathing space by the ezy I got my us pasdport in 7 days in Chiangmai

I assume you're trying to be helpful but it always amazes me when people offer advice on things they obviously have zero knowledge about.

From the US State Department Website:

Entry Requirements for Thailand:

If you are a U.S. citizen tourist staying in Thailand for fewer than 30 days, you do not require a visa to enter the country, but your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your entry into Thailand.

From the US State Department Website:

Entry Requirements for Malaysia:

To enter Malaysia, your passport must be valid for at least six months.

[KonaRain]

'Security' in quotes might mean the use of computers, no?

Good morning, Thailand.. Aloha

[digibum]

stevenl

You may not have noticed that since 1986 many Countries have enhanced their visa and passport requirements.

"Security" is multi-faceted and not limited to screening luggage at the airport.

It has nothing to do with security. Absolutely nothing about a six month validity impacts security.

It's there because they don't want the hassle of dealing with you should your passport expire while in their country. Also, keep in mind that this six month rule tended to become the standard when obtaining a new passport in a foreign country could take weeks or months. In fact, the reason many countries maintain a six month requirement may be, in part, based on the fact that they're compensating for the lowest common denominator. If you're from Whateverstan and it takes six months for citizens to get a new passport because the government moves so slowly, they want to make sure you don't get stuck in their country waiting for a new passport.

There are also other reasons why your travel may be delayed like illness which would cause your passport to expire while transiting through their country so rather than deal with all of the problems that might arise from tourists having expired travel docs while in their country, they simply require that you have at least six months on your passport.

Keep in mind, that when your passport expires, you sort of go into limbo status. Technically, you're in the country illegally at that point. It's just a lot easier to put the six month restriction in place than to deal with all of the people who would end up staying in the country illegally due to an expired passport.

But, ultimately, the real issue here is that this is such a prevalent requirement in other countries that one should just assume it to be the case and plan their travel and passport renewals accordingly.

[BritTim]

stevenl

You may not have noticed that since 1986 many Countries have enhanced their visa and passport requirements.

"Security" is multi-faceted and not limited to screening luggage at the airport.

There is a lot of security theatre, most of which does absolutely nothing to make us safer, but I digress.

Whether a passport has 7 months or 5 months of validity remaining says nothing about how likely I am to try to plant a bomb in the middle of Bangkok. Countries have every right to enforce any conditions they want on visitors. I can conceive of reasons why they would require a minimum six month validity. One reason would be that deporting someone with an expired passport could become complicated, especially if it required transit through third countries. "Security" is not the concern.

[speedtripler]

stevenl

You may not have noticed that since 1986 many Countries have enhanced their visa and passport requirements.

"Security" is multi-faceted and not limited to screening luggage at the airport.

There is a lot of security theatre, most of which does absolutely nothing to make us safer, but I digress.

Whether a passport has 7 months or 5 months of validity remaining says nothing about how likely I am to try to plant a bomb in the middle of Bangkok. Countries have every right to enforce any conditions they want on visitors. I can conceive of reasons why they would require a minimum six month validity. One reason would be that deporting someone with an expired passport could become complicated, especially if it required transit through third countries. "Security" is not the concern.

9.5 years validity per passport is enough for most people probably

It would be convenient if they didn't expire but then nobody would look like their picture which would cause even more havoc....

[stevenl]

You dont need 6 months validity in Thailand or Malaysia because no visa is needed to enter those countries so just go to malaysia for a while and then come back to thailand that will give you some breathing space by the ezy I got my us pasdport in 7 days in Chiangmai

I assume you're trying to be helpful but it always amazes me when people offer advice on things they obviously have zero knowledge about.

From the US State Department Website:

Entry Requirements for Thailand:

If you are a U.S. citizen tourist staying in Thailand for fewer than 30 days, you do not require a visa to enter the country, but your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your entry into Thailand.

From the US State Department Website:

Entry Requirements for Malaysia:

To enter Malaysia, your passport must be valid for at least six months.

For Thailand this information is incorrect.

[ubonjoe]

Passport validity requirements have been around since long before security concerns became an issue.

Some countries use the 6 months validity requirement for all nationalities. Others vary it based upon nationality.

For Thailand it varies by nationality. It is 6 months or valid for the length of stay based upon nationality.

[digibum]

For Thailand this information is incorrect.

Literally cut and pasted from the US State Department website.

Here's a thread about the six month requirement:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/859309-less-than-6-months-remaining-on-passport-ok-to-enter-thailand/

While some insist that there is no six month rule, others have been denied aircraft boarding for having less than six months on their passport. Someone else says he was told by immigration it is the discretion of the IO.

Really, at the end of the day, is being right in Thailand a good defense? Regardless of whether or not the rule applies in Thailand it's confusing enough that both foreign governments and at least some airlines seem to think the rule applies. Why even risk it and put up with the hassle when it's so easy to just get the passport sorted out before exiting the country?

[monkey4u]

You could get to your embassy on Monday and get a temporary passport.

Don't try this at the Australian Embassy

No such thing exists

[stevenl]

For Thailand this information is incorrect.

Literally cut and pasted from the US State Department website.

Here's a thread about the six month requirement:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/859309-less-than-6-months-remaining-on-passport-ok-to-enter-thailand/

While some insist that there is no six month rule, others have been denied aircraft boarding for having less than six months on their passport. Someone else says he was told by immigration it is the discretion of the IO.

Really, at the end of the day, is being right in Thailand a good defense? Regardless of whether or not the rule applies in Thailand it's confusing enough that both foreign governments and at least some airlines seem to think the rule applies. Why even risk it and put up with the hassle when it's so easy to just get the passport sorted out before exiting the country?

You can cut and paste what you like, does not make it correct.

Just check the IATA database, as mentioned earlier in this thread. If you stopped giving incorrect information it would not be confusing. Don't forget though that the IATA database gives the immigration requirements, airlines can have their own rules, see their T&C's. And part of those can be a blanket statement: 6 months passport validity required.

Edited October 11, 2015 by stevenl

[Too]

Several years ago I took a bus from Laos to Vietnam where I met an American

guy who had been turned back at a VN land crossing the day before simply

because he didn't have a VN visa on him. Moreover, a Chinese couple on the

bus did get turned back at the land crossing only because they didn't have a VN

visa with them, either. They were claiming that they should let them in like a

barking dog but the VN IOs just ignored them. We had to wait there for as long

as 2hrs till they gave up and the driver unloaded their luggage. I still remember

this like yesterday.

You talk about a visa like it is nothing. Countries have visas for a reason and if they require

one and you don't have it, your not getting in. Most of the tourists that come to Thailand are lucky

and don't require a visa, then they think everyplace is like that and don't check things. Just stupid.

Those people were stupid for not knowing what is required prior to trying to enter into a country.

That's like a Thai trying to go to the USA without a visa. I dont understand how someone plans

to go on a trip and dont check what is required before they go.

I just wonder if you're right in saying this.

I know there've been so many OPs who will always ask exactly the same

questions without even checking the previous posts where they have been

answered already, and I would have definitely applied for a new passport

6 months before my old one expired, for example.

However, these OPs must be in need of help and I'd love to help them with the

info they'd need. This is what TV is all about, I'd say. I wouldn't even call them

STUPID.

[labuda]

Wow, looks like a whole discussion evolved around what the reason for the 6 month requirement is and as to how valid it is. While it screwed me over personally somewhat, I do think it is understandable enough that countries want to protect themselves from contingencies that might arise with foreigners having their documents expire while in a different country. 6 months seems kinda long, but probably every time requirement could be questioned so 6 months might be as good as any.

As to personal responsibility and stupidity:

Personally, I did feel kinda stupid when I found out at the airport that Vietnam and actually most countries on this planet require 6 months of passport validity upon entry.

My ignorance might arise from the fact that I'm still somewhat young-ish: I'm still on my first passport ever issued, so this is the first one ever expiring. When I entered Thailand in June on this visa I still had 9 months left on my passport so I naively thought things would be fine if I get a new passport in December back at home.

Maybe more interesting: How did things turn out for me on the weekend?

I had planned a nice, relaxed trip to Hanoi to get out of BKK, so Hong Kong was not exactly what i was looking for. The Philippines were interesting enough, but getting a flight the very weekend would have been crazy expensive. At first, I looked into getting an extension of stay and a new passport to then do a trip in a couple of weeks. But the more I thought about it, the more the border run started to be attractive. One big reason being: I didn't particularly feel like paying a couple hundred dollars extra for on an express passport outside home when I am back so soon anyway.

So on Sunday morning it was time to visit some classy Cambodian border town casino "resorts". I was a bit anxious about what Cambodia would do about me; after all, at that time I had already left Thailand so not getting into Cambodia would have been a big deal. But sure enough: After some okay brunch I got my passport back with a fresh used Cambodian visa. That would mean I get another 60 days upon re-entering Thailand and that while it's not the same as a Vietnam trip at least my visa and stay issues would be solved.

The only downside: Seems like half Cambodia decided to visit Thailand that Sunday or sth like that. It took full 3,5 hours (!!!!) to queue up and pass immigration with people fainting because of the heat. Still all in all, after I had been really worried about on Friday, I guess I can be happy with how things turned out.

Edited October 12, 2015 by labuda

[oncearugge]

Wow, looks like a whole discussion evolved around what the reason for the 6 month requirement is and as to how valid it is. While it screwed me over personally somewhat, I do think it is understandable enough that countries want to protect themselves from contingencies that might arise with foreigners having their documents expire while in a different country. 6 months seems kinda long, but probably every time requirement could be questioned so 6 months might be as good as any.

As to personal responsibility and stupidity:

Personally, I did feel kinda stupid when I found out at the airport that Vietnam and actually most countries on this planet require 6 months of passport validity upon entry.

My ignorance might arise from the fact that I'm still somewhat young-ish: I'm still on my first passport ever issued, so this is the first one ever expiring. When I entered Thailand in June on this visa I still had 9 months left on my passport so I naively thought things would be fine if I get a new passport in December back at home.

Maybe more interesting: How did things turn out for me on the weekend?

I had planned a nice, relaxed trip to Hanoi to get out of BKK, so Hong Kong was not exactly what i was looking for. The Philippines were interesting enough, but getting a flight the very weekend would have been crazy expensive. At first, I looked into getting an extension of stay and a new passport to then do a trip in a couple of weeks. But the more I thought about it, the more the border run started to be attractive. One big reason being: I didn't particularly feel like paying a couple hundred dollars extra for on an express passport outside home when I am back so soon anyway.

So on Sunday morning it was time to visit some classy Cambodian border town casino "resorts". I was a bit anxious about what Cambodia would do about me; after all, at that time I had already left Thailand so not getting into Cambodia would have been a big deal. But sure enough: After some okay brunch I got my passport back with a fresh used Cambodian visa. That would mean I get another 60 days upon re-entering Thailand and that while it's not the same as a Vietnam trip at least my visa and stay issues would be solved.

The only downside: Seems like half Cambodia decided to visit Thailand that Sunday or sth like that. It took full 3,5 hours (!!!!) to queue up and pass immigration with people fainting because of the heat. Still all in all, after I had been really worried about on Friday, I guess I can be happy with how things turned out.

I am pleased it worked out for you.

What was the cost of the Cambodian Visa and entry exit stamps ?