What are my options for proof of onward travel when applying for a visa to stay in Chiang Mai, Thailand?

Aug 11, 2018
6 years ago
Jessica ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hello all!

I work as an online English teacher and am planning to move to Thailand in October. I am hoping to stay for at least 6 months in Chiang Mai.

I think the 60 day tourist visa would work best, but the requirements say I have to provide proof of a round trip flight. I’ve already bought my one way to Chiang Mai.

I guess I’m mostly curious about the “visa run”. Would it work to buy a round trip flight to Laos as proof of my ongoing travel out of Thailand and also as my method of renewing once the visa is up?

Thanks in advance for any tips! I thought I had this figured out, but it’s very confusing 😩
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user plans to move to Chiang Mai, Thailand as an online English teacher for at least six months and inquires about using a round trip flight to Laos as proof of onward travel for a tourist visa. The conversation explores various opinions on proof of onward travel requirements, experiences with visa runs, and the possibility of obtaining a Multi-Entry Tourist Visa (METV) for longer stays. Several commenters share personal experiences, caution against using fake flight tickets, and suggest practical alternatives like booking cheap flights for visa runs or using services that provide legal proof of travel.
Tod *********
and I think
@Jes****
, has more than enough information now to make an educated decision on her own.
Maxim ***********
Jessica Hasson I recommend went u are here that u do the same as most foreigner who work illegally while in Thailand... don't talk about it publicly. U won't get into trouble if u keep quiet about ur online work because they have no way to know (a lot of foreigner are working online while on tourist visa without issue).

A working visa for online work is a pain in they ass. It's too much hassle for the little risk of bending the law with a very small chance of ever getting caught. Police are not looking for u, they have a bias toward other issue and race.
Wayland *****
I came into Chiang Mai with a one way ticket and no visa, upon arrival I said I was going to stay in thailand less than 30 days and no problems
Tod *********
While it's anecdotally interesting you were not questioned by your airline when checking in it doesn't mean that no one will be questioned.
Tobias *********
*****************************
Tobias *********
Its a real ticket. Its a legit flight that will be canceled after you land. I was questioned last time and they accepted the ticket.
Robert ********
Embassies are not stupid, why risk it?
Diane **********
I wouldn't worry too much about onward trNsport, it would only be the airline you are travelling with that ask and worse saw scenario you book a super cheap flight out to one of the neighboring countries. This can be as little as £20 and I know the onward travel companies charge that much for their tickets so you are more likely to save doing it last minute than preparing for something that rarely happens
Diane **********
The tickets I believe aren't fake, you buy the ticket from

The company but they then cancel it.

So for a certain period of time it is a legitimate purchase
Robert ********
Using a fake airline ticket to secure a visa is considered fraud and can get you blacklisted in some embassies....
Jessica ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Have you used this before?
Jessica ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thank you so much everyone! This has been very helpful 😄
Diane **********
In terms of onward travel it is a requirement but it's hit and miss if anyone asks you for it.

I have travelled by air to 6 countries now in Asia and I haven't once been asked for proof of onward travel, even from departing the U.K.

However I know some people who have been asked by the airlines once at the airport.

Personally I arrive early at check in so if I am asked for onward transport I have enough time to book onward transport,

As of yet it has not been necessary
Dario **********
Never once had onward or return travel booked. Ever.
Avery *****
Also an online teacher looking to move to CM in October! 🙂
Avery *****
Jessica ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
No way! We should meet up:) I’ll be there on the 20th or 21st, and in Bangkok the 18th -20th 🙂
Sultan *******
Just a side note I would recommend getting a 6 month metv if you can get one. Your flight to Laos should be enough for getting the visa even when you include the extra 30 day extension to your tourist visa. That's what I usually do. Some travel agencies can also reserve you a flight and you can print that and use that too.
Kok ********
If you have a ongoing flight to Laos, you still have to buy an onward ticket from Laos to another country. Thus it is better for you to buy the round trip ticket to your own country.
David *********
@Tod ********
FYI I was once asked to show proof of onward travel at the airport before boarding a one-way flight despite having a valid SETV in passport. Happened when flying Cathay Pacific out of New York in 2011. I had a flight to Vietnam already booked which satisfied them. But mentioning it b/c I often see people say that airlines only ask for onward travel proof if the traveler has no visa (as you just advised). That was not my experience the only time I've flown that route one way before I got a Non-Imm visa.
Tod *********
I agree wtih
@Da***
,
@Kok *******
, there is no reason for them to buy a round trip ticket from their country. With a valid visa in their passport they will NOT be asked by their airline OR by passport control when stamping into the country for onward travel

That means they're only going to need it to satisfy the requirement at the consulate to get the tourist visa so they might as well use a that reason to book trip to another country to get another tourist visa too
David *********
^This is wrong. A flight from Thailand to Laos would satisfy both the airline from her home country and Thai immigration if they were to ask for proof of onward travel when she applies for the first tourist visa. They would only need to see that she plans to leave the country, and going to Laos would of course be leaving the country. Jessica, don't tell Thai immigration or the airline that you only intend to go to Laos just to get a new visa and then come back to Thailand. If they ask, tell them you intend to travel around the region long term.
Bob **********
Don’t think the airline will let you board without an onward ticket just look at cheap flights out to Vientiane 90 days out then a new setv in Laos
Dario **********
Also, I was able to extend to 90 days twice
Dario **********
I have never, in the past 5 years flown into BKK withba return ticket. I always buy one-way. This was done first with a Non-O and then with an METV 60-Day, purchased for USD $200 in either NY or LA. Neither immigration nor ANA or Thai ever flinched.
Tod *********
You are confusing what is required at the thai consualte for you to BUY a tourist visa and what is required when you stamp into the country.

You will not be asked for proof of onward travel when you check in with your airline or when you stamp into the country IF you have a single entry tourist visa in your passport.

You MAY have to provide proof of onward travel to get a single entry tourist visa from a thai consulate in your country BEFORE you wing your way here.

Your best option for a 6 month stay would be to get the 6 month METV <- multi-entry tourist visa from a thai consulate in your country. That would give you almost 9 months here (in 60 day increments).
Fight *******
I just did my METV using a service. I only had a one way ticket and they provided the proof of onward travel for me. The requirements through Washington seemed very strict I had to send 7 months of bank statements and ended up sending multiple Visa apps because they said it looked like I photo copied them. I did not. Lol. Good luck
Tod *********
The ONLY consulates in the US that issue 6 month METV's are Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Washington DC.
Mark *******
Chicago looks like a very good option!
Jessica ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mark ******
ok great thank you! This has been very helpful 🙂
Mark *******
Actually, scratch that... NY embassy requires the same $7000. But they do seem to be more lax on the flight requirements.

If you can't meet the requirements, you'll have to go with other visa options (SETV for 60 days, extend at local immigration +30 days for 1900 baht, then go to a neighbouring country (i.e. Laos) and apply for a new SETV).
Jessica ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mark ******
I live in New Mexico so I have to mail it either way. That was just the first one that came up when I searched the METV
Mark *******
Yup, they want $7000 proof of funds in your bank account and a flight itinerary with multiple entries. Some of the toughest requirements I've seen for a METV. But, fact is, you have to supply their requirements in order to get the visa.

You may want to consider using the NY consulate (just do it by mail) if you don't meet the requirements of the LA consulate.
Jessica ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mark ******
******************************************************************
Mark *******
Where are you getting that? Can you provide a link?

You should have 20,000 baht (or equivalent currency) on you when you enter Thailand as it can be requested by immigration officials. But I've never heard of a $6000 requirement, even on the application of the METV. Note that every embassy/consulate has different requirements so if you're seeing that requirement, provide a link.
Jessica ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mark ******
do you need proof of $6,000?
Mark *******
Get the METV. Your life will be much easier for the following 6 months. Confirm you need proof of onward travel (consulate I went to only wanted proof of flight to Thailand). If you need onward travel, use
*****************
to find a cheap flight to somewhere like Kuala Lumpur 59 days after your arrival date.

With the METV you won't have to apply for a new visa in KL, just fly there and come back to start another 60 day entry.
Tod *********
@Jes****
yep you could use a flight to lao for both the proof of onward travel AND to get to Lao so you could go to the thai consulate in Vientiane and get another tourist visa.

The thing is flights to lao are crazy expensive compared to the way most people actually do a visa run to Vientiane (which is to fly to Udon Thani and take a mini-van from the airport to the Nong Khai border).
Jessica ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
What I meant was that to apply for the visa in the first place I need proof of on going travel. I’m wondering if a flight to Laos would work for that as well as for the visa run.
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