SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

[GeneT 0]

oh yeah, i forgot. Thanks to all of you that gave advice, talked with my wife and just helped out in general. i really appreciated it.

How much and what kind of relationship evidence did you submit?

I gave about 40 pictures, about 10 months of my phone bills showing that we called each other every day, hotel reciepts( some with just my name and some with just her name, none had both our names on them), txt messages(about one hundred from both of us back and forth), about 50 e-mails from the time we started e-mailing five years ago, letters from my bank showing money transfers from jan 08 until march09, my last years tax return, our marriage certificate, chat logs and PC to PC calls(i didn't have to many, maybey about 20 of each) My boarding passes from the last two times that i visited thailand along with ticket reciepts and ticket confirmation e-mails from when i bought them online. oh and a copy of my passport with thai immigration stamps and thats about it

Now i have to get busy cleaning my place or i'm going to get my #### kicked when she gets here.

CONGRATS!!!!

[rsn 135]

rsn I have been told if you do not have a visa allowing you to enter Thailand than one-way flights are not permitted. I'm not talking about the visa on arrival for 30 days you will receive when you get here. I have been living in Thailand for a year and a have been studying Thai while here. I came here on a one-way ticket. At the airport in San Francisco they did ask why I had a one-way ticket I had to show them my ED visa to be allowed to board. I am not saying it's impossible to board with a one-way ticket but you may want to get a 60 day tourist visa from the Thai Consulate just to be safe. If you have questions about this thaivisa.com is probably the best place to ask.

Also for the board. I saw the posts about needing to follow up with booster shots for immunization vaccines. If my Fiance does so, does she need to bring the entire medical package with her or can they just give her a letter that she can attach to the package?

Hmm. I hope not! I doubt there is time to get a 60 day visa from the embassy over here. I did that once before and it took a while. Anyone else have experience w/ a one-way w/out a visa?

I saw this on thaivisa before:

Is it a problem if I arrive on a one-way ticket ?

In theory, if you arrive and get issued with a visa on arrival then you must also have a valid ticket out of the country. In reality, as long as you look reasonably smart then this is hardly ever checked.

A bigger problem than Thai immigration is likely to be the airline. If they fly you in and you subsequently get rejected at immigration, it is down to the airline to take you back to where you came from. This responsibility means some airlines won't let you on board without a return ticket (Indonesian airline Garuda, for example, often does this), but most are more lax about checking. If the airline will take you without a return ticket you have a very good chance of getting in, as problems at Immigration in Thailand are highly unlikely.

'Open jaw' tickets (e.g. flying into Bangkok, but flying out of Singapore) should be okay, but it's worth checking with the airline first.

Entering Thailand overland from one of it's neighboring countries without a ticket out is almost certain to be okay. You're only likely to be checked if you give Immigration a reason to want to reject you e.g. dressing untidily, looking like you have no money etc...

Getting a tourist visa in advance provides exemption from the need for a return ticket, but the airlines may still require one even so.

Anyone agree or disagree from experience?

[daboyz 36]

rsn I have been told if you do not have a visa allowing you to enter Thailand than one-way flights are not permitted. I'm not talking about the visa on arrival for 30 days you will receive when you get here. I have been living in Thailand for a year and a have been studying Thai while here. I came here on a one-way ticket. At the airport in San Francisco they did ask why I had a one-way ticket I had to show them my ED visa to be allowed to board. I am not saying it's impossible to board with a one-way ticket but you may want to get a 60 day tourist visa from the Thai Consulate just to be safe. If you have questions about this thaivisa.com is probably the best place to ask.

Also for the board. I saw the posts about needing to follow up with booster shots for immunization vaccines. If my Fiance does so, does she need to bring the entire medical package with her or can they just give her a letter that she can attach to the package?

Hmm. I hope not! I doubt there is time to get a 60 day visa from the embassy over here. I did that once before and it took a while. Anyone else have experience w/ a one-way w/out a visa?

Back in 04/05, I traveled weekly to Thailand with no onward ticket. I lived there, so I never had a ticket, and was never asked for one. I was living there on the 30 day stamp the give you when you arrive. Not sure if it has changed since then. When I went in March of this year they didn't ask me for onward/return ticket. I think technically you are supposed to have it, but I've never been asked. I've went through Thai immigration 100+ times at both airports.

[ThaitoUSA 15]

Looks like our ladies shall be going in together Ron.

Am I Ron, or is there some other person named Ron who also has an interview at this date/time?

Yes, you are Ron Ray. Typo and by the time I picked up on it, couldn't go back to change it.

[rsn 135]

Looks like our ladies shall be going in together Ron.

Am I Ron, or is there some other person named Ron who also has an interview at this date/time?

Yes, you are Ron Ray. Typo and by the time I picked up on it, couldn't go back to change it.

Haha ok. Do you plan on being there on the day of your fiancee's interview?

[wasabi 4]

rsn I have been told if you do not have a visa allowing you to enter Thailand than one-way flights are not permitted. I'm not talking about the visa on arrival for 30 days you will receive when you get here. I have been living in Thailand for a year and a have been studying Thai while here. I came here on a one-way ticket. At the airport in San Francisco they did ask why I had a one-way ticket I had to show them my ED visa to be allowed to board. I am not saying it's impossible to board with a one-way ticket but you may want to get a 60 day tourist visa from the Thai Consulate just to be safe. If you have questions about this thaivisa.com is probably the best place to ask.

Also for the board. I saw the posts about needing to follow up with booster shots for immunization vaccines. If my Fiance does so, does she need to bring the entire medical package with her or can they just give her a letter that she can attach to the package?

Hmm. I hope not! I doubt there is time to get a 60 day visa from the embassy over here. I did that once before and it took a while. Anyone else have experience w/ a one-way w/out a visa?

By the way it's the airline not Thai immigration that is likely to give you a hard time. Also this does not apply if you are coming from one of the ASEAN members into Thailand, it's if you are coming from some country like USA or somewhere in Europe to Thailand. If you can get on the plane you are probably in the clear. Here are a couple threads about it.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Ticket-t198371.html

http://www.thaivisa.com/350.0.html

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Entering-Tha...et-t260979.html

Edited June 3, 2009 by wasabi

[rsn 135]

rsn I have been told if you do not have a visa allowing you to enter Thailand than one-way flights are not permitted. I'm not talking about the visa on arrival for 30 days you will receive when you get here. I have been living in Thailand for a year and a have been studying Thai while here. I came here on a one-way ticket. At the airport in San Francisco they did ask why I had a one-way ticket I had to show them my ED visa to be allowed to board. I am not saying it's impossible to board with a one-way ticket but you may want to get a 60 day tourist visa from the Thai Consulate just to be safe. If you have questions about this thaivisa.com is probably the best place to ask.

Also for the board. I saw the posts about needing to follow up with booster shots for immunization vaccines. If my Fiance does so, does she need to bring the entire medical package with her or can they just give her a letter that she can attach to the package?

Hmm. I hope not! I doubt there is time to get a 60 day visa from the embassy over here. I did that once before and it took a while. Anyone else have experience w/ a one-way w/out a visa?

By the way it's the airline not Thai immigration that is likely to give you a hard time. Also this does not apply if you are coming from one of the ASEAN members into Thailand, it's if you are coming from some country like USA or somewhere in Europe to Thailand. If you can get on the plane you are probably in the clear. Here are a couple threads about it.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Ticket-t198371.html

http://www.thaivisa.com/350.0.html

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Entering-Tha...et-t260979.html

I checked out those threads. It sounds like it's likely even the airlines won't care, but it is also possible they might. Hmm, what to do....

[daboyz 36]

Not related to Thailand, but somewhat related to this conversation.

I flew to Canada once on one-way ticket. I was detained, thrown in immigration jail for the night, and deported the next day. Since American allowed me to buy a one way ticket to Canada, the Canadian authorities forced American Airlines to fly me back to the U.S. for free.

The one way ticket was not the reason I was detained.

Edited June 3, 2009 by daboyz

[rsn 135]

Not related to Thailand, but somewhat related to this conversation.

I flew to Canada once on one-way ticket. I was detained, thrown in immigration jail for the night, and deported the next day. Since American allowed me to buy a one way ticket to Canada, the Canadian authorities forced American Airlines to fly me back to the U.S. for free.

The one way ticket was not the reason I was detained.

It sounds like you have a very interesting life indeed, based on this and a few other posts I remember.

I called NWA (the airline I bought a one-way with) and they read back to me the Thai immigration rules about no one-ways w/out a visa issued before the flight. I told them I already knew this and my question was "Will NWA prevent me from getting on the flight without proof of a return ticket?". I asked twice and they told me "no" both times. They issued me a confirmation number as well, so I am hoping 1) this operator was correct about their policy, and 2) the fact that they confirmed I am on the flight and sold me a ticket is enough to be reassured for another reason that they won't prevent me from boarding.

Edited June 3, 2009 by rsn

[girarm 0]

Not related to Thailand, but somewhat related to this conversation.

I flew to Canada once on one-way ticket. I was detained, thrown in immigration jail for the night, and deported the next day. Since American allowed me to buy a one way ticket to Canada, the Canadian authorities forced American Airlines to fly me back to the U.S. for free.

The one way ticket was not the reason I was detained.

It sounds like you have a very interesting life indeed, based on this and a few other posts I remember.

I called NWA (the airline I bought a one-way with) and they read back to me the Thai immigration rules about no one-ways w/out a visa issued before the flight. I told them I already knew this and my question was "Will NWA prevent me from getting on the flight without proof of a return ticket?". I asked twice and they told me "no" both times. They issued me a confirmation number as well, so I am hoping 1) this operator was correct about their policy, and 2) the fact that they confirmed I am on the flight and sold me a ticket is enough to be reassured for another reason that they won't prevent me from boarding.

I was going to Thailand for 30 days last October and only had a one way in which EVA Air told me was fine. I was flying SFO to BKK and I am a Diamond card holder which means I never can get bumped and get any flight I want... So I was not worried about the return ticket, well to make a long story short, they would not let me board at midnight in SFO I had to buy a ticket at the counter or I was not flying. It seemed to me it was the airline enforcing Thai law. So I said yes to the ticket it was open ended and all was well. But I was also told on the phone no problem but the problem came at the counter during check in. Just thought I would throw in my .02 cents....

[wasabi 4]

I just want to say again. I was stopped by the airline like girarm. I did know about the potential for this to be enforced so I knew to show them my visa which was enough to allow me to board. Many people are saying they have never been asked. That is most likely because you had either a return ticket, two one way tickets or had bought an ongoing ticket with the same airline. They can see all this in their computer and this will prevent you from being flagged. I'm not trying to scare anyone, but it might just be the worst feeling in the world to think you are about to go meet your lovely Fiance in Thailand and have to make some split second decisions at 1 am at the airline counter.

[Danno2 0]

Also for the board. I saw the posts about needing to follow up with booster shots for immunization vaccines depending on time frames. If my Fiancé does so, does she need to bring the entire medical package with her to the hospital or can they just give her a letter that she can attach to the package?

Chada just did this 4 hours ago (interview in 13 hours). I'm almost 100% sure she did not take the sealed envelope to the Bumrungrad. She took the extra white printed document which I believe they updated and also gave her 1 or 2 more things to prove she had the vaccination. Remind me tomorrow and I will let you know if this even came up.

She has pulled 3 all nighters while working 10 hour shifts to get everything ready. I can safely say she is exhausted. She didn't do great on our practice interview session (10 minutes ago ) but its easy to understand why. Hopefully we will get 1 more practice run tonight right before her interview.

This whole thing has been pretty surreal. Its one thing to read it and quite another to experience it first hand. I cant really imagine how intimidating it is for the girls...

[rsn 135]

Not related to Thailand, but somewhat related to this conversation.

I flew to Canada once on one-way ticket. I was detained, thrown in immigration jail for the night, and deported the next day. Since American allowed me to buy a one way ticket to Canada, the Canadian authorities forced American Airlines to fly me back to the U.S. for free.

The one way ticket was not the reason I was detained.

It sounds like you have a very interesting life indeed, based on this and a few other posts I remember.

I called NWA (the airline I bought a one-way with) and they read back to me the Thai immigration rules about no one-ways w/out a visa issued before the flight. I told them I already knew this and my question was "Will NWA prevent me from getting on the flight without proof of a return ticket?". I asked twice and they told me "no" both times. They issued me a confirmation number as well, so I am hoping 1) this operator was correct about their policy, and 2) the fact that they confirmed I am on the flight and sold me a ticket is enough to be reassured for another reason that they won't prevent me from boarding.

I was going to Thailand for 30 days last October and only had a one way in which EVA Air told me was fine. I was flying SFO to BKK and I am a Diamond card holder which means I never can get bumped and get any flight I want... So I was not worried about the return ticket, well to make a long story short, they would not let me board at midnight in SFO I had to buy a ticket at the counter or I was not flying. It seemed to me it was the airline enforcing Thai law. So I said yes to the ticket it was open ended and all was well. But I was also told on the phone no problem but the problem came at the counter during check in. Just thought I would throw in my .02 cents....

#######. How much did they charge you for an open-ended ticket?

[ThaitoUSA 15]

I pray she has the kind white lady instead of baldy.

Edit: While living there I was able to get one year opened ended round trip fare for $850 on EVA. I miss those days.

Edited June 3, 2009 by ThaitoUSA

[AaronLV 12]

. It seemed to me it was the airline enforcing Thai law. So I said yes to the ticket it was open ended and all was well. But I was also told on the phone no problem but the problem came at the counter during check in. Just thought I would throw in my .02 cents....

The airlines don't want to be responsible for having to fly you back when you get denied to enter the country.

#######. How much did they charge you for an open-ended ticket?

I would plan on getting a return ticket. Maybe Thai immigration does not normally enforce the rule, however if you get the one guy that is very thorough you are screwed. Also with the recent crackdowns in thailand regarding visas, your best to be safe.

This whole thing has been pretty surreal. Its one thing to read it and quite another to experience it first hand. I cant really imagine how intimidating it is for the girls..

Good luck! I am sure it will go fine for you.