hello 

i am going back to thailand from the uk 

on a single ticket

i am married to a thai national

what visa do i need to get into the country

as my wife is taking me to get marriage  visa when i am back in thailand

I would strongly suggest you get an appropriate Visa whilst in the UK.

 

There is no such thing as a "marriage visa". It is an extension of stay based upon being married to a Thai National.

thank you 

charlieh

If you are planning on getting an extension of stay based on marriage you will need to enter the country with a non 'O' visa. It would be best for you to get a single entry non immigrant 'O' visa based on marriage from an Embassy/Consulate in your home country.

 

If you travel/arrive with a tourist visa or use visa exempt entry you can get a non 'O' visa from Embassies/Consulates in countries local to Thailand. Or you can apply to convert your tourist entry to an non immigrant visa/entry when you are in Thailand. However, a conversion will, almost certainly, only be available in Bangkok and would require two visits. 

50 minutes ago, elviajero said:

If you are planning on getting an extension of stay based on marriage you will need to enter the country with a non 'O' visa. It would be best for you to get a single entry non immigrant 'O' visa based on marriage from an Embassy/Consulate in your home country.

 

If you travel/arrive with a tourist visa or use visa exempt entry you can get a non 'O' visa from Embassies/Consulates in countries local to Thailand. Or you can apply to convert your tourist entry to an non immigrant visa/entry when you are in Thailand. However, a conversion will, almost certainly, only be available in Bangkok and would require two visits. 

Is "touriste entry "equal Visa on Arrival for 30 days or TR Visa ??? Please specify. I just heared somebody telling such thing doing here in Chiangmai few weeks ago.

9 minutes ago, aquario33 said:

Is "touriste entry "equal Visa on Arrival for 30 days or TR Visa ??? Please specify. I just heared somebody telling such thing doing here in Chiangmai few weeks ago.

By 'tourist entry' I meant entering the country using a Tourist Visa (TR) or the Tourist Visa Exempt Scheme. Not Visa on Arrival (VOA).

 

It's possible to do a conversion based on retirement in Chiang Mai, but, unless things have changed, not based on marriage. 

Edited August 11, 20169 yr by elviajero

Hi, I was asked to show a valid Visa in Chicago while checking in for a one way flight on Korean air to Phuket just a month ago. No idea if it matters what kind of visa but in my case was a Non-B extension and I explained I worked in Thailand.

Edited August 11, 20169 yr by xvend

OP - if you were planning to rely on a 30-day visa exempt entry initially please bear in mind that with a one-way ticket you would risk being denied boarding your flight to Thailand from the UK unless you can show evidence of a confirmed flight booking out of Thailand within the 30 days at check-in. Another good reason for you to obtain some sort of visa (non-O or tourist) while in the UK, I think..

A number of years ago, you could easily (in my case) enter Thailand on a one-way ticket OR a ticket with return trip 4 months away and no visa.....

 

have things changed so much that you really need a flight out within 30 days???

 

if so, which flight is the cheapest to purchase just to show???

 

last time i got an ED visa but not after i got to Thailand and made sure this is what i wanted.  

this time i think i will end up going to Laos within 30-days and just not sure if i must prove it.

 

thanks

 

flying out of LAX

i see BKK to singapore is like $50 USD....and it might make sense to buy it for peace of mind....but i'm thinking i will just be heading to Laos for a proper visa....i leave in 20 days.

 

make sense?  thanks

17 minutes ago, puukao said:

A number of years ago, you could easily (in my case) enter Thailand on a one-way ticket OR a ticket with return trip 4 months away and no visa.....

 

have things changed so much that you really need a flight out within 30 days???

 

if so, which flight is the cheapest to purchase just to show???

 

last time i got an ED visa but not after i got to Thailand and made sure this is what i wanted.  

this time i think i will end up going to Laos within 30-days and just not sure if i must prove it.

 

thanks

 

flying out of LAX

• Thai immigration are highly unlikely to want to see an onward flight.
• It is entirely up to each individual airline whether or not they insist that you have an onward flight.
• If a flight is required you could buy the cheapest you can find from Thailand to a neighbouring country.

34 minutes ago, puukao said:

A number of years ago, you could easily (in my case) enter Thailand on a one-way ticket OR a ticket with return trip 4 months away and no visa.....

 

have things changed so much that you really need a flight out within 30 days???

 

if so, which flight is the cheapest to purchase just to show???

 

last time i got an ED visa but not after i got to Thailand and made sure this is what i wanted.  

this time i think i will end up going to Laos within 30-days and just not sure if i must prove it.

 

thanks

 

flying out of LAX

 

 Let me explain a bit further on my situation I posted above. I had a round trip ticket from Phuket to Chicago, hence my return on that round trip would be classified as one-way to trip to Thailand.

 

They specifically asked I show a proper visa, probably to comply with some Thai regulation/requirement and eliminate any risk to the airline for not complying with Thailand's rules.

 

Now, and this is purely speculation and should be taken as such, If you don't have a return ticket to the USA there's a good possibility to be denied ever leaving LAX.

 

An onward ticket to another country really proves nothing on the Thai end, unless that onward ticket includes a return flight to the USA.

2 minutes ago, xvend said:

 

 Let me explain a bit further on my situation I posted above. I had a round trip ticket from Phuket to Chicago, hence my return on that round trip would be classified as one-way to trip to Thailand.

 

They specifically asked I show a proper visa, probably to comply with some Thai regulation/requirement and eliminate any risk to the airline for not complying with Thailand's rules.

 

Now, and this is purely speculation and should be taken as such, If you don't have a return ticket to the USA there's a good possibility to be denied ever leaving LAX.

 

An onward ticket to another country really proves nothing on the Thai end, unless that onward ticket includes a return flight to the USA.

If you travel without a visa the requirement is to have an onward flight. It doesn't have to be a return ticket to the USA. 

Just another tid-bit in regards to the airline's liability in these situations and why they might deny you boarding at LAX.

 

Several years ago I had a slightly damaged passport, a 1cm corner was chewed by my crazy dog, it was incredibly minimal.

 

I was allowed boarding a flight for a 2 week holiday in Costa Rica with my GF with return flight at ORD. Arrived in Costa Rica, we were denied entry because of a "damaged passport and deported.

 

Delta Airlines did not return us to Chicago, they sent us to ATL despite having paid for a return to ORD.

 

So what I'm basically saying is, Costa Rica held the airline responsible and the airline chose the cheapest way to get me back in the USA. 

 

I did not break any laws etc, just did not meet to criteria for entry into a foreign country which was entirely at the discretion of who was working in Immigration at the time.

Edited August 11, 20169 yr by xvend

14 minutes ago, elviajero said:

If you travel without a visa the requirement is to have an onward flight. It doesn't have to be a return ticket to the USA. 

 

got a link? And what if Thai Immigration smells BS? Or, the person at the check-in counter in the US?

Edited August 11, 20169 yr by xvend

29 minutes ago, xvend said:

 

got a link? And what if Thai Immigration smells BS? Or, the person at the check-in counter in the US?

The reason airlines sometimes insist on an onward flight is due to the Thai immigration act. Basically if you are declined entry it is the responsibility of the airline that brought you to take you back. If you are declined entry immigration would normally give you the option to fly anywhere.

40 minutes ago, elviajero said:

The reason airlines sometimes insist on an onward flight is due to the Thai immigration act. Basically if you are declined entry it is the responsibility of the airline that brought you to take you back. If you are declined entry immigration would normally give you the option to fly anywhere.

 

Fly anywhere, but not come back without another ticket to anywhere  which does little to help the OP trying to prove that with an onward ticket he never intends to use as he stated:

 

Quote

if so, which flight is the cheapest to purchase just to show???

 

I agree with what you're saying for the most part, but Thai Immigration are more on their toes these days, same in the US in regards to compliance with other countries rules.

 

Why not get a proper visa in the USA? (Thai embassy via DELETED in the USA Hint Hint).

 

From the sounds of it would appear the OP is trying to bluff the system. Nothing wrong with that, until someone calls you out on it.

Edited August 11, 20169 yr by xvend

2 or 3 times a week I am in and out of airports in Bangkok and I continually see people lined up at Immigration for having no visas and no onward flights. The one they really like to pull people on are those with no visa and an onward flight outside of 30 days. They want to know why you arrive in Thailand and expect to stay over 30 days but have no visa.Whether or not they are denied entry, I have no idea but 100% they are being pulled. After what has occurred in Hua Hin over night, expect it to get even worse. Land border crossings will, I expect be tightened up even more.

OK, OK.... I am sure all of our situations are slightly "complex."  Like my last trip I wasn't sure if i wanted to stay long enough and get ED visa....and/or stay to teach English or simply go to Laos or Cambodia or Vietnam...

 

I will look into getting a visa soon, or simply get an onward flight for $50 and avoid the potential headache....

 

Let's say I honestly think I will head to Laos in 30-days, do I have to buy an airline ticket or can you show a bus ticket (i've done those crazy overnight bus rides, they are insane).  I'm sure the answer is no on the bus, but I might as well ask to consider all options...

This topic has certainly gone off the rails with the same old discussion about whether a ticket out is needed or not if you don't have a visa for entry. Time to get back on topic.

OP if you are in the UK now you easily get a single entry non-o visa based upon marriage from the embassy in London or from one of the consulates.

The visa would allow a 90 day entry that you could extend for a year based upon at a immigration office.

20 hours ago, Ronuk said:

2 or 3 times a week I am in and out of airports in Bangkok and I continually see people lined up at Immigration for having no visas and no onward flights. The one they really like to pull people on are those with no visa and an onward flight outside of 30 days. They want to know why you arrive in Thailand and expect to stay over 30 days but have no visa.Whether or not they are denied entry, I have no idea but 100% they are being pulled. After what has occurred in Hua Hin over night, expect it to get even worse. Land border crossings will, I expect be tightened up even more.

 

Totally agree as I'm a frequent flyer.

 

As of this year (I'm 9 years on a non-b extensions) re-entry into Thailand has been a pleasure, before sometimes a pain. Their computers may have caught up, and I'm all for that advance.

 

It's very interesting the OP states he intends to obtain a Thai marriage visa in Thailand. Why not just get one in the US before coming?

 

http://www.thaiconsulatela.org/service_detail.aspx?link_id=34

 

Does not seem difficult?

Edited August 12, 20169 yr by xvend

On 8/11/2016 at 10:17 PM, CharlieH said:

I would strongly suggest you get an appropriate Visa whilst in the UK.

 

There is no such thing as a "marriage visa". It is an extension of stay based upon being married to a Thai National.

You being a Global Moderator on Thai Visa you should know your facts more clearly and also know that it is not called 'an extension of stay based on being married to a Thai national', but is actually called a non immigrant 'O' visa based on marriage, you apply for the extensions prior to the initial visa expiring.

1 hour ago, ldiablo72 said:

You being a Global Moderator on Thai Visa you should know your facts more clearly and also know that it is not called 'an extension of stay based on being married to a Thai national', but is actually called a non immigrant 'O' visa based on marriage, you apply for the extensions prior to the initial visa expiring.

 

Had you taken the trouble to learn, mark and inwardly digest the original post you would hopefully have seen that the poster was, in fact, making 2 separate "visa" statements, namely:-

(1) "what visa do i need to get into the country"

(2) "as my wife is taking me to get marriage  visa when i am back in thailand"

 

CharlieH's statement that there is no such thing as a "marriage visa" was clearly made in the context of (2) and is therefore perfectly correct in my view.

 

 

 

On 8/12/2016 at 7:45 AM, ubonjoe said:

This topic has certainly gone off the rails with the same old discussion about whether a ticket out is needed or not if you don't have a visa for entry. Time to get back on topic.

OP if you are in the UK now you easily get a single entry non-o visa based upon marriage from the embassy in London or from one of the consulates.

The visa would allow a 90 day entry that you could extend for a year based upon at a immigration office.

from the op's original post i deduct he is in the uk and his wife in thailand. correct? would he not require documentation issued in thailand, i.e. marriage certificate etc., stuff he might not have, to apply for a non - o based upon marriage? just like what one has to present in savannakhet?

2 minutes ago, manfredtillmann said:

from the op's original post i deduct he is in the uk and his wife in thailand. correct? would he not require documentation issued in thailand, i.e. marriage certificate etc., stuff he might not have, to apply for a non - o based upon marriage? just like what one has to present in savannakhet?

Yes he would. But that can be taken care of by sending them EMS or possibley scans sent by email if he does not have them with him.

My advice is always to get a visa of some kind before traveling to here if planning on a long stay here.