One-way Ticket, Tourist Visa

[monteith]

I am moving in a couple weeks to Thailand, where a friend of mine is getting me a job teaching in her school. I will not get a work permit until I am officially hired, which will certainly be within the 30-day tourist visa limit (I am a US citizen), but I am confused about whether or not I will have a problem entering the country without a return ticket. Is this a requirement?

I leave in less than two weeks, and since everything I'd looked at said that US citizens automatically got a 30-day visa, I didn't look further into the matter, but now I'm worried. What is likely to happen?

[PREM-R]

If you get a 60 day (TR) tourist visa before you leave home... no problem, if you intend to get a 30 day 'entry without visa' upon arrival in Bangkok... problem. It is unlikely that the airline will allow you to board with a one way ticket without a visa (Tourist or otherwise).

[jdinasia]

US citizens are on the visa exemption program for 30 days. There is a very good chance your airline could refuse to board you without a proper visa.

[jdinasia]

you will save $$ time and effort <probably> getting a non-imm B multi entry visa before you come <Get your friend to send you a letter/email > see examples on the main Thaivisa.com website

[lopburi3]

As said, you should have a visa. The 30 day entry is not a visa. Even if it is a tourist visa which allows a 60 day stay; you should get it. If no Consulate near you it can be done by EMS/mail in a short time period or by a tourist service/visa service.

[tropo]

I am moving in a couple weeks to Thailand, where a friend of mine is getting me a job teaching in her school. I will not get a work permit until I am officially hired, which will certainly be within the 30-day tourist visa limit (I am a US citizen), but I am confused about whether or not I will have a problem entering the country without a return ticket. Is this a requirement?

I leave in less than two weeks, and since everything I'd looked at said that US citizens automatically got a 30-day visa, I didn't look further into the matter, but now I'm worried. What is likely to happen?

For what it's worth, I've never had anyone look at my tickets upon flying into Thailand (in 5 entries).

Maybe I was lucky, but the last time I arrived with a one-way ticket no problem.

Edited October 5, 2006 by tropo

[jbaldwin]

The problem is not whether immigration will check your return ticket. It is whether the airline will permit you to board an aircraft if you do not meet Thai immigration requirement. If you are not granted entry the airline will be fined.

[tropo]

The problem is not whether immigration will check your return ticket. It is whether the airline will permit you to board an aircraft if you do not meet Thai immigration requirement. If you are not granted entry the airline will be fined.

I think you need to re-read the original post on this thread. Monteith is thinking about moving to Thailand. There is no indication he's over the 90 day stamp limit and even if he was, it wouldn't matter until December/January at the very earliest.

The guy is talking about coming to Thailand on a 30-day visit and while he is here he will try to organize employment. Since when do the airlines, or the Thai Immigration stop Americans from entering on a 30 day stamp.

Did I miss something? Did a tourist visa (or any other visa) become a compulsory requirement in order to visit Thailand?

What he really wants to know is whether or not he can travel to Thailand on a one-way ticket. I've never been asked to show a return ticket, but it would be interesting to hear from others on this.

[ovenman]

What he really wants to know is whether or not he can travel to Thailand on a one-way ticket. I've never been asked to show a return ticket, but it would be interesting to hear from others on this.

It is a requirement for the airlines to check whether a passenger traveling without a return ticket has a Thai visa (or a ticket to somewhere else). I have been asked in the past to show my visa when checking in for my flight to Thailand on a one-way ticket, but honestly, this hasn't happened to me personally in years. I've read reports of people having a problem more recently with this when flying out of the UK.

Edited October 5, 2006 by ovenman

[lopburi3]

A requirement for 30 day exemption has been that you have confirmed, ticked travel out of Thailand. The airlines have often checked on this and if you are found with a one way ticket will not allow you to fly without either buying an onward ticket/signing a waver/show of lots of credit (at there discretion). So the safe thing when you do not have a return ticket is to have a visa of some type.

[jdinasia]

I am moving in a couple weeks to Thailand, where a friend of mine is getting me a job teaching in her school. I will not get a work permit until I am officially hired, which will certainly be within the 30-day tourist visa limit (I am a US citizen), but I am confused about whether or not I will have a problem entering the country without a return ticket. Is this a requirement?

I leave in less than two weeks, and since everything I'd looked at said that US citizens automatically got a 30-day visa, I didn't look further into the matter, but now I'm worried. What is likely to happen?

The problem is not whether immigration will check your return ticket. It is whether the airline will permit you to board an aircraft if you do not meet Thai immigration requirement. If you are not granted entry the airline will be fined.

I think you need to re-read the original post on this thread. Monteith is thinking about moving to Thailand. There is no indication he's over the 90 day stamp limit and even if he was, it wouldn't matter until December/January at the very earliest.

The guy is talking about coming to Thailand on a 30-day visit and while he is here he will try to organize employment. Since when do the airlines, or the Thai Immigration stop Americans from entering on a 30 day stamp.

Did I miss something? Did a tourist visa (or any other visa) become a compulsory requirement in order to visit Thailand?

What he really wants to know is whether or not he can travel to Thailand on a one-way ticket. I've never been asked to show a return ticket, but it would be interesting to hear from others on this.

Tropo --- I severely misread a post earlier ...<lop caught it> But note in his first post the OP talked about using a 30 day visa exemption ......

[tropo]

I am moving in a couple weeks to Thailand, where a friend of mine is getting me a job teaching in her school. I will not get a work permit until I am officially hired, which will certainly be within the 30-day tourist visa limit (I am a US citizen), but I am confused about whether or not I will have a problem entering the country without a return ticket. Is this a requirement?

I leave in less than two weeks, and since everything I'd looked at said that US citizens automatically got a 30-day visa, I didn't look further into the matter, but now I'm worried. What is likely to happen?

Ok Monteith, we have finally come up with a definitive answer for you.

Get a return ticket before you fly and enter on a 30-day stamp.

The 30-day stamp is not a visa as such. It's actually termed a "visa-waiver", and it's free. This technicality causes a lot of confusion.

Maybe it could save you a little money to just buy a cheap onward ticket to Malaysia or another bordering country....but usually return tickets are not much more expensive than one-way if you're getting discount tickets.

OR

Visit your local consulate and purchase a tourist visa. I'm pretty sure you'll need an onward/return ticket to get the visa.