Tourist Visa

[suej]

Thought I would let anyone interested know that I managed to get my tourist visa from the Thai Consulate in Hull very quick. Posted by reg mail on Mon evening and my passport arrived home on Wed. Now thats what I call efficient.

[JW]

I have dealt with Hull for every visa i have needed, same story as suej, fast and on the ball. I would recommend anyone to post to Hull, i was very tight for time on my visa last year, called them up and the guy offered to call me when my documenst arrived (which he did), he posted my visa back within 40 minutes of receiving it! Didnt even after to offer a bung!!

[johnrxx99]

I didn't think a UK citizen needed a visa. Or is it only two months?

[lomuamart]

I didn't think a UK citizen needed a visa. Or is it only two months?

A UK citizen - and indeed citizens of many other countries - don't need a visa if entering the country for less than 30 days. In this instance, you'll get an entry stamp - strictly speaking, not a visa. If you want to stay longer, as suej must do, you need to apply for a visa at a Thai Embassy or consulate first. The TV gives 60 days on entry and can be extended by 30 days for 1,900 Baht. A Non-Immigrant visa gives 90 days on arrival.

[Wanderlust]

In addition to what lomu has said, and perhaps more importantly, if you plan to come to Thailand on a one way flight (possibly planning to travel on overland), so without an onward or return flight, then you must have a visa of some description - the airlines will not allow you to board the plane where you depart otherwise (in the UK anyway), even though immigration in Thailand will not query it - I have arrived back in Bangkok from several Asian countries (Hong Kong and Indonesia to name two) on the return flight of my ticket, and thus without an onward ticket and been stamped in no problem, but the official line is that you should have either a visa or an onward/return ticket.

[Onlyme]

http://www.thaiconsul-uk.com/

Onlyme.

[DawnHRD]

Went back to UK (yes, Hull!) for my visa this year. Checking into Etihad at Heathrow I was asked for the first time ever if I had a visa to support the (only remaining part of my) return ticket to BKK. It may have been a longstanding requirement, but are they cracking down on it more, now? As Wanderlust said, there was no interest in it by BKK immigration.

[lomuamart]

When I came over to live, leaving Heathrow, I was doing so on a one-way ticket with Thai Int. I had a Tourist Visa. At check in, I was asked where my return was - don't have one. Why not? - because I'll be travelling extensively in SE Asia and I don't know where I'll be flying back from. Do you have proof of an onward journey, say to Malaysia? No. Why not? because I don't know when I'll be going there yet. Do you have enough money to support yourself whilst in Thailand? Yes, of course. (In fact I had 250 quid in travellers cheques and that was it. OK money in the bank in the UK, but I didn't realise that I could access it easily by ATM at that stage).
Anyway, I just took my passport from the lady and pointed out my visa and told her I'd called the Thai Embassy a month before asking whether it was OK to travel one way on a TV. They said OK. "So, is there a problem?" Obviously, I as allowed to board. Thought my big adventure wasn't going to get further than Heathrow!!
I've been back to Thailand on the return portion of the ticket 4 times since and never had a problem, like Dawn. Always had a visa though.
As has been said before, you should have proof of a return or onward journey if coming on a 30 day stamp. The Thai authorities don't require it if you've got a visa. It's always possible that checkin could get difficult and I have heard of people getting refused if they've got no visa. If you've got one - never. I'm not aware that the airlines are being any more strict than they were 8 years ago.

[PeteC]

As has been said before, you should have proof of a return or onward journey if coming on a 30 day stamp. The Thai authorities don't require it if you've got a visa. It's always possible that checkin could get difficult and I have heard of people getting refused if they've got no visa. If you've got one - never. I'm not aware that the airlines are being any more strict than they were 8 years ago.

It is true. It happened to me once out of Honolulu and I had to buy an open one way to Singapore on the spot before they would check me in. Just happened to a friend out of San Francisco a few months ago and he did the same. Both instances were with United. Pete

[johnrxx99]

Thanks for that guys and have now checked the Hull website.

I have been told the airlines don't like singles these days as they assume you are going to blow yourself up somewhere, or the plane, so if you are planning a suicide mission remember to get a return!