I work offshore 3 months on and then 1 month off. So a tourist visa or visa exempt entry sounds like the way to go. However, it is a little more complex than that.

Due to the nature of my work, dates and flights are not usually confirmed until a couple of days beforehand. So although I will be travelling onwards I don't have the flight documents or anything to show it.

The company that I work for do provide me with a travel document stating that I am travelling on "ships business" but I worry without the onward flights booked it may not be enough.

This presents a problem. For example this weekend I have booked a trip to cambodia and in the back of my mind have the worry that an airline or immigration will not accept my situation.

I would rather a visa that allows me to come and go during the year (every fourth month) without a problem.

Marriage, Business and elite visa I am already aware of but is there another option I am forgetting?

Unless you applied for it just before you arrived a single entry tourist visa would not work since it is only valid for 3 months from the date of issue. Gettomg a multiple entry tourist visa would be a waste of time and money since you might only get one entry out of it.

Visa exempt entries are about your only viable option. Immigration does not normally ask for onward tickets when you arrive. It is the airlines that can ask for a onward ticket out of the country within 30 days to board your flight.

Ok. I didn't realise you could leave the onward flight blank on the departure card. That was half my concern. Still has the potential to turn into a big issue. I have in the past been asked a number of times by airlines to see onward flights but that was when I was on a non imm visa with work permit.

Maybe I should just get married.

Elite visa would be cheaper than marriage.

Ok. I didn't realise you could leave the onward flight blank on the departure card. That was half my concern. Still has the potential to turn into a big issue. I have in the past been asked a number of times by airlines to see onward flights but that was when I was on a non imm visa with work permit.

Maybe I should just get married.

The departure flight and such do not need to be on the departure card. Plans can change or an extension can be obtained that would change your departure date. Mine has been been blank for several years and even has my old passport number on it.

If you are concerned about not a having a flight out within 30 days you could buy a one way low cost ticket to a neighboring country. If you purchased it in advance it would normally not cost much more than 1000 baht or perhaps less.

Even if you got married and obtained a multiple entry non-o visa the 5000 baht for it would almost not be worth the cost considering your work schedule.

Yeh I did purchase a dummy nok air flight from bkk to yangon with nok air on my previous visit. It was advertised as being only 1000 baht or so but after I received the confirmation email I realised it was about 1900 or so after taxes and everything was applied. I didn't get asked for proof of onward travel during that trip and it felt like a lot of money to pay for that peice of mind.

Also during my real flight back to my boat (which was bangkok-singapore-france-st martin) the thai guy at singapore airlines check in still asked to see a flight back to australia following st martin. I was able to produce a travel document which he accepted. However, that really seemed a bit of a over the top ask from him. It was 36 hours and 3 countries down the line and I would have thought not his resposibility at all.

Point being a dummy nok air flight wouldn't even help me if I got another guy like that.

Thanks for your help anyway

Edited June 18, 201610 yr by sikishrory