Hi guys. OK, I currently live in China and will return to Thailand end of the month. Fiance and I are getting married next month and I am thinking of getting a tourist visa so that I can change that to Non-O without having to leave the country. However South African don't need a visa for Thailand. So won't it look strange that I apply for a tourist visa? Also, the embassy here in Shanghai wants confirmed return tickets for tourist visas. What do I do about this?
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user, a South African expat currently in China, is preparing to return to Thailand for marriage and is considering applying for a tourist visa to switch to a Non-O visa without leaving the country. They question the necessity of the tourist visa since South Africans can enter Thailand visa-free for 30 days. Concerns arise regarding the requirement of confirmed return tickets by the Thai embassy in Shanghai for the tourist visa application. Comments suggest that applying for the tourist visa is reasonable, highlighting the extended duration it offers compared to the visa exemption, while also addressing the embassy's requirements.
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