Thai visa for an American heading to Thailand to live - and one way airline ticket that I (stupidly?) purchased yesterday

[southsidebruce]

I recently retired from a US federal gov't civil service job.  I am heading to Thailand to live on March 30, 2014.  Yesterday I purchased a one way airline ticket to BKK, and today a bud of mine who works in Thailand told me that the one-way ticket is problematic with the airlines and/or Thai immigration on arrival.  

 

Unfortunately the one way ticket is non-refundable.  Might be able to work with Delta to change it to a roundtrip ticket, but then I lose that extra amount of money for the return ticket that I am not planning to use.  

 

I was planning to get to Thailand, get an educational visa/take Thai language lessons and then later probably get a retirement visa once in Thailand.

 

What are my options?  When I look online for the Thai embassy in DC (I live relatively close to DC), they won't give you a 60 day Visa without a round trip airline ticket.

 

I just now looked on Air Asia and I can get a one way ticket from BKK to Phnom Phen, Cambodia for real cheap - $60 or so.  Would that be enough to show immigration in BKK (or the Thai embassy) to get a visa (either a 30 day on arrival, or at the embassy a 60 day)?  Doesn't seem to look that way on the Washington DC Thai Embassy Web site - they want to see a round trip ticket to get the 60 day visa from them.

 

What are my options now that I have already purchased the 1-way airline ticket?  1-way return ticket from Delta is pretty hefty and I wouldn't need it, so it would be a total waste of big bucks.

 

Thanks and VERY MUCH appreciate any assistance you can provide, and I feel stupid to have bought the 1 way airline ticket without fully researching this aspect of heading to Thailand.

[Lok Jit]

You just need to show an exit out of the Kingdom..No need to return your home country..Just a continuation Ticket to Cambodia or Malaysia will work...

  Also if your retired, over 50, have 65000 Baht per month just apply for the Retired Visa and save your Money..No need for an Education Visa at a much higher cost..

[southsidebruce]

KiniYow - thanks for that info!!  For now I am partially freaked out, thinking that I really screwed the pooch this time with buying the one-way ticket from Delta!  So, I can puchase an Air Asia ticket from BKK to Cambodia (for real cheap - checked just now) and that will be all I need to show Thai immigration on arrival to get the free 30 day Visa stamp?  And after that if I don't want to go the education Visa route (which as you said costs quite a lot of $$), I can apply for the retirement Visa once in Thailand?  I am retired, 58 years old, and my income will be over 65,000 a month.  

 

For now I just want to make sure that I will be able to get into Thailand on March 30 with no problems.

[Luv2Phuket]

For what it's worth, I almost always fly to Thailand on a one way ticket -- I typically book a one way award ticket using Star Alliance (United miles) or Oneworld (AA miles), then use the other one coming back, especially if the flight times/availability are better.  I have never had an issue or been questioned in any way; HOWEVER, on the immigration form I have marked my departure date, etc., so they can see that I am not going to be staying for months on end.

 

It might be expensive, but could you book a refundable one way ticket back?  That way, you would have a ticket/reservation in case questioned, but you could simply go online and cancel it for a refund (or change the date/time to one that you may use in the future) after you are settled.  If it's a fully refundable ticket, you are only out the "use" of the money spent between when you buy it and when you cancel it.

[southsidebruce]

FootyPJMan - thanks for that option... more expensive but it would at least solve the problem of being able to show a return flight... Do you get the 30 day Visa on arrival?  And do you have to show the 1 way ticket back to get the stamp?

[jerry]

In 5 years time never been asked for a ticket out of the country (been at least 25/30 times in and out) .

You get a stamp in your passports that says when you have to leave the country , up to you in what way .

 

Just come over here on the 30 day visa waiver . Make sure you got the right paperwork with you to get a

retirement visa and head over to Jomtien immigration .

[southsidebruce]

In 5 years time never been asked for a ticket out of the country (been at least 25/30 times in and out) .

You get a stamp in your passports that says when you have to leave the country , up to you in what way .

 

Just come over here on the 30 day visa waiver . Make sure you got the right paperwork with you to get a

retirement visa and head over to Jomtien immigration .

Jerry - so I get there on my 1-way Delta airlines ticket (Fort Meyers, Florida to BKK), Thai immigration won't give me a hard time about not having proof I am leaving within 30 days... and once I am in Pattaya, I take care of my retirement visa - and as you said, I will need the proof of my retirement income. (I think that I will have to go the US Embassy in BKK to get paperwork verified/stamped by them - retirement paperwork, bank statement showing EFT of the retirement check, birth certificate showing I am freakN getting older than dirt... And that will do it?  So, I don't have to sit here in freezing cold Maryland, and freak out about being stupid about buying a 1 way flight to BKK and risking the possibility they will turn me away at immigration and leave me in a situation not unlike Tom Hanks in The Terminal movie?  HUGE SIGH OF RELIEF!!

[el_jefe]

I've never been asked for a return ticket or onward travel ticket by immigration but did once at SFO and once in manila by the airline. One time I had a visa and one time a ticket so no problem. <br /><br />You may need a visa to convert to a retirement visa rather than a 30 day visa exemption at the airport?? If so see if u can get a tourist visa from one of the consulates. <br /><br />Welcome to the good life and Good luck! <br /><br />Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2<br /><br />

[southsidebruce]

I've never been asked for a return ticket or onward travel ticket by immigration but did once at SFO and once in manila by the airline. One time I had a visa and one time a ticket so no problem. <br /><br />You may need a visa to convert to a retirement visa rather than a 30 day visa exemption at the airport?? If so see if u can get a tourist visa from one of the consulates. <br /><br />Welcome to the good life and Good luck! <br /><br />Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2<br /><br />

I think that I might buy an Air Asia ticket to Phnom Phen (from Bangkok) on-line and have that with me, in case I need to show that I am not overstaying my 30 day limit in Thailand (and I am guessing that they won't give a shit about a Cambodia visa, as that country seems to be REAL easy to get visas/etc - just pay when you get there - short term or long term - way easier than Thailand, from what I have read)... I then can use that PP ticket for a visa run if I want to, and combine it with a couple nights in Phnom Phen, a place I have wanted to get to anyways...

[southsidebruce]

I can book a one way trip from DMK (in Bangkok) to PP for $74 on Asia Air... I can book a roundtrip for about $154... Next question - if I am buying this as insurance that my 1-way flight from USA to BKK will be OK with the airlines and with Thai immigration - proving I am not going to overstay my 30 day free Visa - will having a round trip ticket to PP raise eyebrows as I will be heading back to Thailand?... Or all they care about is whether or not I am leaving within 30 days, and returning is not a problem/it is a new/different problem?  Better to just get the 1 way ticket to PP, and later if I want to use it for a Visa run I can always buy another cheap 1 way ticket back...

 

I am thinking that I will probably do either the 1 way or round trip to PP, to allay my fears of being rejected either at the US airport or Thai immigration at BKK... and then use it for a Visa run and a side trip to PP which I wanted to do anyways... will wait on more info from BMs regarding this... and I realize that my experience might be totally different than other BMs... 

[southsidebruce]

called up Delta (Airlines) it is freakN so very VERY expensive to get an Economy fully refundable ticket - talking about $6,451 round trip and $3,720 one way (that's US dollars!!)... and for my Delta one way cheap/not refundable ticket, I paid $953... so I am thinking the way to go to give me peace of mind (and a possible side trip to PP) is to book a ticket (one way or round trip - need to figure out if the round trip would raise eyebrows) to get me out of Thailand within 30 days... In the meantime I get either my retirement or education Visa within the 30 day period... one Delta rep told me that they would look at the Thai Embassy RULES, and see the lack of round trip ticket and might not let me board the plane in the States... another Delta rep told me that the Delta folks at the airport will not check, but when you get to Thai immigration that is where you can have the problem... the Delta reps have never been to Thailand, no doubt and they are just trying to let me know based on what they know (limited knowledge)... 

 

damn!  and I thought this part of my retirement journey would be REAL easy... I guess it is chalked up as a learning experience, right?  live and learn...

 

but I think that I will go with the Air Asia PP ticket plan and have that handy if I am asked - to prove I do not intend to overstay my 30 day visa...

[udontony]

I know that UK and USA might be different RULES but have come to Thailand for 30 years and in all that time, approx fifty trips, I have never been asked for a return ticket or any question as to when I would be leaving.  The 30 day visa waver was always stamped into my passport without any question.  When I moved here, i flew with a one way ticket but I did have a one year multiple entry visa.  My only worry then was that maybe the airline carrying me would question my one way ticket but again no questions asked.

 

From what I have heard from friends, it will be much cheaper and easier to get a retirement visa for yourself rather than an education visa. If you fulfil all the requirements, income and age, then it should be easy to do in Jomtien, just don`t leave anything to the last minute!  Good luck with your plans, you too could soon be living your dream.

[dave01]

Immigration won't ask, but an airline MAY do ....

I don't understand the problem about a return ticket....  I have come over on a single ticket before and had no problems.. maybe just good luck?  who knows?

You can leave Thailand via  land route, so an airline ticket  is irrelevant in my view. As others have said, find the cheapest international fare to ANYWHERE from Thailand.... make it a one way as well, because you probably won't be using it.  That will give peace of mind at the very least.. And if some self important airline chick/bloke, wants to make an issue of a return ticket, you will have proof of forward travel X Thailand.  That is more than enough.

[southsidebruce]

Immigration won't ask, but an airline MAY do ....

 

I don't understand the problem about a return ticket....  I have come over on a single ticket before and had no problems.. maybe just good luck?  who knows?

 

You can leave Thailand via  land route, so an airline ticket  is irrelevant in my view. As others have said, find the cheapest international fare to ANYWHERE from Thailand.... make it a one way as well, because you probably won't be using it.  That will give peace of mind at the very least.. And if some self important airline chick/bloke, wants to make an issue of a return ticket, you will have proof of forward travel X Thailand.  That is more than enough.

Dave01 - that is what I plan to do and glad to hear that folks like you have come out on 1 way tickets and it worked out... this started with info from a former coworker who said that my one way ticket might be problematic with either the airlines or with Thai immigration... he is living/working in Thailand currently... I will give it a shot on my relatively inexpensive 1 way ticket and will purchase a ticket to PP that I might end up using for a visa run... not too expensive and certainly way less than full fare round trip tickets...

[jerry]

You worry to much matey ... it's not the US over here 555 .

 

At the moment i'm dividing my time between 1 month Pattaya and 1month Phnom Penh , ect .

Sometimes i fly with a return ticket , sometimes with a one way . Never a question in either

of these countries .

As someone already mentioned you can leave the country by land so an airticket is irrelevant .

 

The only one who can make a problem is Delta as they're responsable the moment you're not

allowed into Thailand and have to fly you back to where you came from (that would suck) .

 

To put your mind on ease book a (return) ticket to Cambodia on Air Asia and go have some fun

days in Phnom Penh . You may like it even better than Pattaya ...

[southsidebruce]

You worry to much matey ... it's not the US over here 555 .

 

At the moment i'm dividing my time between 1 month Pattaya and 1month Phnom Penh , ect .

Sometimes i fly with a return ticket , sometimes with a one way . Never a question in either

of these countries .

As someone already mentioned you can leave the country by land so an airticket is irrelevant .

 

The only one who can make a problem is Delta as they're responsable the moment you're not

allowed into Thailand and have to fly you back to where you came from (that would suck) .

 

To put your mind on ease book a (return) ticket to Cambodia on Air Asia and go have some fun

days in Phnom Penh . You may like it even better then Pattaya ...

Jerry - I do worry too much... and I have buds that give me ideas that add to the worry... I was fine until my former coworker said - ya know that 1 way ticket can be problematic... I DEFINITELY will book that return ticket to PP - very inexpensive on Air Asia... and I might like it A LOT!!!  based on what I have read about it on the forum, it sounds like it has a LOT of goodness going for it... very much like Thailand was years ago... more unspoiled but on its way to getting spoiled (the girls, that is)...

[southsidebruce]

Jerry - I do worry too much... and I have buds that give me ideas that add to the worry... I was fine until my former coworker said - ya know that 1 way ticket can be problematic... I DEFINITELY will book that return ticket to PP - very inexpensive on Air Asia... and I might like it A LOT!!!  based on what I have read about it on the forum, it sounds like it has a LOT of goodness going for it... very much like Thailand was years ago... more unspoiled but on its way to getting spoiled (the girls, that is)...

and might read up on the Cambodia threads and ask for advice on hotels and areas to stay in, bars to go to, etc... I have been to Siem Reap before but didn't do any partying... was married with wife at that time... no partying going on...

[jerry]

and might read up on the Cambodia threads and ask for advice on hotels and areas to stay in, bars to go to, etc... I have been to Siem Reap before but didn't do any partying... was married with wife at that time... no partying going on...

 

All the info is already there in the Cambodian section of the forum , enjoy .

Siem Reap is mainly Angkor wat , P4P is for 95% concentrated in PP .

 

http://www.pattaya-addicts.com/forum/forum/267-cambodia-advanced-area-trip-reports-pictures-etc/

 

http://www.pattaya-addicts.com/forum/forum/120-cambodia-kampuchea-vietnam/

[Skalliwag]

and might read up on the Cambodia threads and ask for advice on hotels and areas to stay in, bars to go to, etc... I have been to Siem Reap before but didn't do any partying... was married with wife at that time... no partying going on...

Listen to Jerry.

I often come in on one way ticket and have never had any problems.They won't even ask you.

Enjoy your time,don't worry about it.

Calm down,you're fucking stressing me out.

[southsidebruce]

Listen to Jerry.

I often come in on one way ticket and have never had any problems.They won't even ask you.

Enjoy your time,don't worry about it.

Calm down,you're fucking stressing me out.

OK... calming down... thanks... appreciate the advice... now I can start researching a short ?4? day stay in PP... read in a thread that Flamingos is an OK hotel to stay at there... and for Cambodia Visa - just pick up at the airport - no muss, no fuss, relatively speaking? 

[Skalliwag]

OK... calming down... thanks... appreciate the advice... now I can start researching a short ?4? day stay in PP... read in a thread that Flamingos is an OK hotel to stay at there... and for Cambodia Visa - just pick up at the airport - no muss, no fuss, relatively speaking?

 

For PP,ask Edge,Jerry and SSSS.they are probably the most normal guys that will give you the best advice.

[jerry]

OK... calming down... thanks... appreciate the advice... now I can start researching a short ?4? day stay in PP... read in a thread that Flamingos is an OK hotel to stay at there... and for Cambodia Visa - just pick up at the airport - no muss, no fuss, relatively speaking? 

 

You're not gonna stress about the Cambo visa now are you ... 555 .

 

Make sure you have a pen , a passport photo and 20U$ . Fill out the forms they give you in the plane .

Make your way to immigration and hand in the forms . Wait for 10/15 minutes till they call your name .

Pick up your pasport and hand over the 20 U$ (they often try to make it 25U$ when you not hand the

exact amount) and move on to passport control , pick up your luggage and out of the airport .  

 

Walk out of the airport area and pick a tuk tuk to your hotel on the main road , 6U$ is the normal price .

[LAgamer]

No issue regarding no return ticket but best to have the exit flight to Cambo.

You need to apply for a non immigrant O visa based on retirement (over 55 with US embassy verified monthly income of 65k B) and then for a one year extension of stay again based on retirement. A completely DIY project with a fee of 1900B plus whatever fee the embassy charges. Also advisable to get a multi entry permit for another 1900 B - allows multiple entry during your one year. Can also be purchased later. You will have to report to your local immigration every 90 days.

[zenzen11]

I came in from USA last June on a one way ticket.

 

I just made up the info on the departure card they hand you on the plane.

 

No problems at all. Maybe better to do a little research about actual flights so you can have real/valid info for the departure card.

 

Anyway ... No problems yet .. And I have gotten 2 visas in the meantime (including an educational visa that will extend my stay for years to come)

 

... I just make the info up. It is too time consuming for the immigration officials to check.

 

No worries .

[southsidebruce]

I came in from USA last June on a one way ticket.

 

I just made up the info on the departure card they hand you on the plane.

 

No problems at all. Maybe better to do a little research about actual flights so you can have real/valid info for the departure card.

 

Anyway ... No problems yet .. And I have gotten 2 visas in the meantime (including an educational visa that will extend my stay for years to come)

 

... I just make the info up. It is too time consuming for the immigration officials to check.

 

No worries .

ZenZen11 - you made the shit up for the departure card?  Really?  That's AllBallz, so to speak... Well I went ahead and purchased a relatively cheap AirAsia flight to Phnom Phen, so I will have some real info to put on the card... But very glad to hear you were able to show up successfully on your 1 way ticket and you are American so figure that maybe you flew on a US carrier (with their not known for their beautiful nor top notch customer service flight attendants).  Thanks for your info!!  Nice to know that the 1 way ticket is not a show stopper... Now back to the normally scheduled programming - packing out, getting ready to get my ever widenN arse to the PromisedLand, Pattaya!!