How can a retired airline employee ensure they can leave Thailand on a marriage visa?

Oct 2, 2023
a year ago
Guy ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
I’m a retired airline employee I fly for free. How do I show I can leave when I want. What do other retired employees do that are trying to be on a marriage visa
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A retired airline employee looking to stay in Thailand on a marriage visa should consider applying for a retirement visa or ensuring they have necessary travel documentation. While some community members suggest that a ticket may not be required during immigration checks for long-term visas, it's advisable to have proof of onward travel or a return ticket to avoid complications. Several users recommend securing a refundable or flexible ticket to demonstrate plans to depart, as airline policies may also require proof of onward travel at the time of check-in. Engaging with the airline for possible discount tickets, using the non-revenue travel privileges, or obtaining a long-term visa with multiple entries are strategies discussed for navigating immigration requirements.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
  • Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
  • For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
  • Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
  • Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
Fra *****
Proof of History of your regular flights in and out within the time , that do not look like border jumps ,
Wade ********
Buy the cheapest ticket out of Thailand to anywhere.... usually Krabi to KL... PS... I have never been asked to show an onward ticket in Thailand it is the airway who checks since if you get refused admittance they are responsible to send you home.
NA'Ahulelua *********
Im sure you need a confirmed outbound ticket for international travel if you don’t have a visa even if you travel non-rev. however, you should be able to buy a confirmed ticket at a discount rate using your retiree status. Visitors cannot roam the country freely as long as they want without a visa.
Khine *****
If you have long term visa, you dont need to show outward ticket. Simple!
Bill *********
If you are here on a retirement visa you have to inform immigration when you leave otherwise it voids your visa. There is no "marriage visa", it's a marriage extension and you still have to inform immigration when you leave if you don't want to void your visa.
Frank **********
Pennsylvania huh? I hope you didn't vote for Uncle Fester (Fetterman) 5555
Guy ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Frank *********
oh my. You got that name right.
VaiAna **********
Once you attain the retirement visa which is good for one year it is wise to apply for a multiple entry visa so you can fly in and out and no return ticket needed . So get a retirement visa w multiple entry . If you're flying into Thailand get a round trip ticket so you can avoid the hassle if Immigration ask you ....... or the airline ....... Save yourself the headache and don't complicate things ...... Simplify and you will live a long time ......
Henrik ****
@VaiAna *********
, if Non-OA then multiple entries already.
Darren ******
If Ur retired from an airline , contact them for an open end ticket to be used as u need it.

And have 400k for Ur visa requirements.
Guy ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hmmmm
Cliff *********
You can use that line with the airline staff but it’s better to have a cheap ticket back out if Thailand.

I have been asked for onward travel by immigration several times this year.
Grant *******
You don't need a return ticket if you are on a long stay visa or extension
Stelios ********
Do what I do as I'm an airline retiree. Get a return ticket to show you have an exit flight and refund it after you go through immigration, if this is what you want to know.
NA'Ahulelua *********
@Stelios *******
Then when you try to leave you will get fined and may never be able to return to Thailand again. Everything is linked to your passport when you check in at your original flight and upon arrival at immigration no matter what country you travel. If youve been doing it and haven’t been caught you’re lucky eventually you will get caught. You can’t beat the system.
Incognia **********
@NA'Ahulelua ********
15 years for me never been problem always cancelled and refund
NA'Ahulelua *********
@Stelar ******
then you’re very lucky. Everything is documented in your record. Passport number cancelled tkt, etc. Hope your luck doesn’t run out. All they gotta do is look at your passport stamp when you entered.
Stelios ********
@NA'Ahulelua ********
obviously you don't know how the airline employee ticket work. Let me infirm you please. They're highly discounted tickets, usually employees and retirees pay a service charge if any and airport taxes. Are fully flexible, this means you can make changes with no fees or fare diferences as they're based on the fully economy or business class fare which is obviously fully flexible. You can also get a full refund on your ticket, or any unused part of your ticket. But, there is always a but these are stand by tickets. You fly onkr if there are seats available. The good thing is before we book a flight, we usually have a good knowledge of the loads of the flight as we can check then on a special website. Last August when I wanted to leave BKK, because the flights were very full I had 5 different OW tickets, one with Thai, one with EVA, KLM, Lufthansa and Finnair. Once back in London I refunded the unused ones.

I travel like this since 1998 2-3 times a year to Thailand only and of course many other places of this world, much more strict than Thailand and never had any problem. I travel with one way tickets usually I have a return ticket but not always use it. If for example I gave a round trip ticket with Thai and at the airport the check in desk advise me that the flight is very full I can quickly issue a OW ticket with EVA which departs 5 minutes earlier from London. The immigration never asked me to show a return ticket in all these 25.5 years, maybe because I never created any problem and always left within the 30 days. Only one time last November when I was flying from Da Nang to London via BKK an immigratoon officer asked me how long I was planning to stay stay in Thailand . When I answered only 5 hours as I had a flight to London, she stamped my passport giving me the usual 30 days, without asking to see my ticket to London.

They ask me more questions when I fly to the US and I used to travel at least 5 times a year as I was working for an American company and I have a visa.
NA'Ahulelua *********
@Stelios *******
if you have a visa that’s a different story cause you can’t just enter any country without having a specific time to leave. When you leave they can look at your passport stamp and see when you entered the country. I worked for the airlines before and I traveled nonrev and used buddy passes, ID90s, etc.
Brett **********
@NA'Ahulelua ********
you really don't know what you're talking about do you?
Taz **********
The only ppl who usually ask for a return ticket is the airline when you are boarding

If you fly for free I assume it’s with the airline you worked for & they would know the process or you could explain it to them

However if you apply for a visa in another country they may ask also

Then buy a ticket for travel out of Thailand and cancel it

Or if you can get one using your free travel then cancel it

Entering via a land boarder you may also be asked to show one

Easiest scenario is buy one that can be fully refunded & cancle it after entry
Taz **********
@NA'Ahulelua ********
if you have a valid visa to stay in Thailand there is no issue

I used to fly in sometimes on a 30 day visa exempt then boarder bounce for another 30 and then extend at immigration for another 30

I would just change my return date

I’ve also flown in on 30 day visa exempt

Got a 3 month visa

Didn’t catch my flight home

Just bought a new ticket when my visa was up

I have friends who still come for 3 months, doing the same 30 /30 / 30 days

It’s a pain in the ass having to show a return flight

Last year as I also have done many times I just came on a one way flight into Thailand on a 30 day visa exemption
NA'Ahulelua *********
@Taz *********
of course if you have a visa, however you can can only enter the country so many time depending on the type of visa.

Without a visa, you need a return flight. You can’t enter any country without a visa or outbound ticket. It’s like what’s happening at the US border, migrants are just trying to enter the country illegally.

Bottom line is don’t try and beat the system. Because one officer was lenient doesn’t mean the other will. They can easily ban you from entering their country if you don’t follow their laws.
Fra *****
@NA'Ahulelua ********
every country is different , and in Thailand even each border crossing is different , you keep persisting on the when if what , by the end it is with Buddha
Nick **********
It is normally the airline who might refuse you at check-in if you don't have an onward ticket.

But in your specific case with IPA , as far as I know you shouldn't have a problem boarding without an onward ticket.

My brother and his girlfriend fly IPA all the time and don't need an onward ticket to be allowed to board.
NA'Ahulelua *********
@Nick *********
domestic but not international.
Ursula *********
@NA'Ahulelua ********
🤔 I do not think that you need to show an onward ticket for local flights?
NA'Ahulelua *********
@Ursula ********
Domestic/local means you traveling within the country.
Ursula *********
Brett **********
NA'Ahulelua *********
John *******
Onwardticket.com has always worked for me. 10 bucks and a valid pnr for the return
Phil ******
@John ******
USD $16 NOW
Will ************
Still need a ticket
Stephenie **********
"Don't you know who I am" normally works
Jeffrey **********
You're retired Airline employee. You should know already if you were
Janne ***********
i've never been asked by immigration, but have ID with you as proof.
Garrett ***********
"excuse me officer, I used to have a job so immigration laws don't apply to me"...
Justin *********
Nigel *********
@Garrett **********
works every time. As does reminding them that " I pay your wages"
James ***********
Is it actually clear that you can leave when you want? Aren’t there restrictions on the use of the fly-for-free privilege?
Brandon ************
Get a retirement visa or a marriage visa. You won't be asked to show proof of leaving Thailand with a long term visa.
Martin ****************
@Brandon ***********
But with a multiple entry stamp inside the passport ;-)
Nigel *********
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