What can I do if I am being held at the Thailand border for not having an outgoing flight?

May 24, 2023
a year ago
Sean ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Being held at the border for not having an outgoing flight. They are insistent on deporting me. Do I have any recourse?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
An expat reported being held at the Thailand border for failing to present an outbound flight, raising concerns about potential deportation. Comments from the community highlighted the requirement for proof of an exit ticket when entering Thailand, which applies under various visa categories, including tourist visa exemptions. Suggestions to resolve the issue included booking a cheap or refundable flight online, showing evidence of funds and accommodation, or appealing to a senior immigration officer. Most participants noted that such situations could stem from frequent border crossings and valid concerns regarding immigration regulations. Ultimately, the user was eventually allowed to enter after a few hours, indicating that securing an onward ticket is crucial for future entries.
Edgar ************
Dude. You book a $10 flight with onward flight, problem solved.
Sean ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ned *******
yeah, I know but it was too late at that point of when I sent the message.
Edgar ************
@Sean **********
Sorry to hear. Are you in immigration jail now?
Sean ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ned *******
no after a couple of hours of berating me, one guy eventually had pity on me let me go. Could have been their plan from the getgo. Who can say?
Sue *************
Buy a flight 🤷‍♀️
Brown ********
poipet?
Av **********
Buy a ticket
Dan ********
'Held' ?? You mean denied entry ??.

'Deporting' ?? You mean returning you to your country of departure ?

You make it sound like an armed hostage situation.

And yes, you need to have outbound travel plans, and ticket booked, within the date of visa expiry. 'proof of onward travel'. Has always been the case.
Michael *******
Jeff ********
They must have seen your facebook profile
Ben *****
Seems you've been in thailand for a good year or so on covid extensions, tourist visas and/or visa exemptions. You probably should look into a more long term visa option or go back to the states for a few months.
Ronald *****
Please me reminded, it is LEGALLY REQUIRED to provide a return ticket when entering Thailand, although most of the time they don't check...
Ken ********
@Ronald ****
doesn't have to be a return ticket just outbound
Ronald *****
@Ken *******
yes, just to have a confired proof of outbound, no matter it is air land or sea
Anna ********
buy a cheap ticket, or explain you plan leave by bus to Laos?
Anthony *********
I've seen in the comments that they let you enter but you're post lacked some critical detail..... Like why they were going to refuse you entry, I am assuming you have been going in and out for a good few times is that right or were they genuinely being over the top with you l?
A*
Buy a fully refundable ticket on Expedia.com somewhere out of thailand (from some airport) on Thai airways (within 30 days) and then retrieve (using PNR) and show the booking on Thai airways to them
Lye **********
Just buy a ticket and go home. Try entering Thailand again next time.

Although there are rules on how many border run or entry by air, I believe there is also a clause stating "It is at the discretion of immigration officer to approve or deny entry to the particular applicant if he or she believes ..... ".
Ben **********
@Lye *********
Dreadlocks, Tatts, flip-flops, elephant pants, tank-top...

Thai Immigration officer..."Nah, go home son"

Social engineering..learn it. Use it to your advantage.
Edgar ************
@Ben *********
Or you could just grow a brain and purchase a $10 flight from onwardflight.com

What you've just said has absolutely no bearing on anything. I wore at suit at the poi pet crossing and they required the return ticket. It's strictly enforced at land crossings. Even sometimes don muang. I've never been asked at SUVARNABHUMI and entered 20+ times.
Chris **********
I guess they only want real tourists on tourist visas. You have been posting for a year about extending etc already. Get a proper visa.
Duncanc **********
Airline shouldn’t have let you check in
Nigel *********
There's got to be someone soon to say they've been in and out of Thailand over the past 36 years and never been asked.
Roberto *********
@Nigel ********
Not me. I've been in and out if Thailand 8,432 times in the last 81 years. Never been asked.
Stuart *********
@Nigel ********
Sorry did you call me?
Thomas *********
No adiĂłs. Unless you have a Non O/A/B or Elite.
Sean ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Update: after a few hours, one of them took pity on me. Not sure if that was always the plan to make me sweat and appreciate the seriousness of immigration law, but it worked.
Marc *******
@Sean **********
For how much they eating now?
May ************************
@Sean **********
where have you been before ?
Peter ****************
@Sean **********
Sry, but what border/airport please ?
Sean ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Peter ***************
Bangkok main airport
Michael ********
@Sean **********
guessing you been on tourist visas for long time. Your passport will be flagged now. This will happen everytime
Frank-Steven ***********
Depending on your travel / entry history, they might give you a hard time even if it can show all the 3 proofs (flight, money, accommodation).

There is no technical limit of entries written in the underlying law: the Thai Immigration Act. So, occasional they make reasons for denial of entry up, then while writing down a paragraph of the immigration act (more precisely Section 12 of it) one supposedly breached / didn't fulfill to justify their denial of entry.

Common breach they construct is Section 12.2 lack of funds - irrespective of funds having been asked for or demonstrated or not. If they really pick on you, only three ways left: leave, pay or appeal. For the last point you need a special form (TM.11 - APPEAL AGAINST THE ORDER OF THE COMPETENT OFFICER TO LEAVE THE KINGDOM) and the process can be lengthy. Too big of a topic for me to fully get into right now.
Leo ******
Buy a bus ticket to cambodia online..
Pornrat ***********
Not much.

1) Limited prospects: you can ask to buy an outbound flight.

2a) If you have grounds, you can submit an "In-Country Appeal" to the Thai authorities pending your deportation.

2b) If you are outside of Thailand, you can submit an "Out-of-Country" Appeal.
Frank **********
Just get a ticket out, simple.
Sean ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Frank *********
naw, it worked out in the end as one eventually took pity on me, but they were insistent that it was too late for a ticket out and wouldn't believe that it was sincere
Julie ******
@Sean **********
they probably let you in but flagged you, next time they won't let you in. I had the same thing long time ago
May ************************
What is border ?
Bonnie *******
Tell them you are leaving by land and you can't buy the ticket in advance
Bob **********
@Bonnie ******
Buy a bus or train ticket you must have been doing this for awhile and this it what happens,when they ask you for a ticket out or 20k in funds and accommodations there looking to deny you entry
Bob **********
Two border bounces by land per calendar year but after a few exempt entries your going to be pulled aside and questioned
May ************************
@Bob *********
Have to fly ? Or by land is too risk ?
Bonnie *******
@Bob *********
we have always just told them we are leaving by land
Bob **********
@Bonnie ******
yes but when they insist there looking to deny entry there cracking down on people trying to stay here without the proper visa good luck
Henrik **************
Poipet Cambodia guaranteed... 🤦🏻‍♂️
John **********
Sounds like they are denying you entry at an airport. Sometimes they will give you the option to return from whence you came, other times they will insist you return to your home country. Your only recourse is to appeal to a more senior officer but that's about it. If that doesn't work they'll hold you until you have a flight out to your destination.
Henrik **************
Www.bookonwardticket.com
Henrik **************
What border?
Steve ********
Faketickets.com
Lisa ********************
Book an onward ticket
Graham ******
What airport, what passport do you have, how were you attempting to enter (visa exempt or ?) and do you have a history of staying in Thailand in the last 6 or 12 months?
Ruth *******
@Graham *****
look at his history of posts & you’ll get your answers.
Mitchell *******
They are cracking down on that apparently. are you on a tourist visa? Or living in Thailand on tourist visas, visa runs, visa exemptions, and border bounces?
Mitchell *******
I am not a visa expert. I just know that although you can technically get unlimited visa exemptions, they will start asking questions if it looks like you are trying to live here. (ie not exploring Thailand.)
Clint *********
@Mitchell ******
I understand the cracking down, my situation, arrived on 45 day, got 30 day extension, did a land border, got 45 days and just did my 30 day extension, I plan on going to Kuala Lumpur for three or four days and get a tourist visa, I am worried that I will have any issues, I am married to a tie but my Thai wife is in USA she's not coming back here till December so a few people have told me I can get two tourist visas. And then get the marriage visa
Alessandro **********
@Clint ********
do you have a marriage certificate, such as Kor Ror 2 or Kor Ror 22? Then, you don't need your wife to get a marriage visa. Have her send you a copy of her Thai ID card, blue ink signed, and a copy of her tabian baan, also blue ink signed; then fly to Vientiane or Ho Chi Minh, take a few thousands baht along if you go Vientiane, USD if you go to HCMC. You will get a 90 days marriage Visa in
*****
hours.
Clint *********
Fly to Kuala Lumpur and get tourist visa or Vientiane and get tourist visa.
May ************************
@Clint ********
My bf just came back from Vietnam and extended visa by here 1,900 baht and next time still didn’t know yet where should go ( Laos or Malaysia or by land ) do you have some recommendations ?
Richard *********
buy a ticket NOW>>>

seldom here of someone being refused entry< what passport you holding?

onwardflights.com
Rob *******
What border are you being held ?
Mitchell *******
Buy one online
Jack ****************
What border? I said I was leaving by land when asked.
Frank-Steven ***********
Buy a) cheap flight, b) “onward” flight, or c) refundable flight. Be prepared to also show proof of funds and accommodation.
Stuart *******
Onward flights book a flight now
Richard *******
Onwardticket.com
Lesley-ann ********
@Richard ******
is this a legit sight? I just tried it and the price I got was impossible 🤷🏻‍♀️ also you can’t see what airline, time of flight, stops, layovers etc. or am I missing something?
Conor **********
@Lesley-ann *******
You don't actually get the flight, they cancel it after you use it and get a refund.
Russell *******
Buy it on your phone.
Gordon ********
That’s a rare case, can you give more information, your nationality etc.

if it’s just about the flight then your recourse is to buy one while you wait and politely ask them to reconsider
Garrett ***********
Deporting you or refusing you entry? You're required to have proof of an exit ticket out of Thailand when arriving with a visa on arrival, visa exemption, or tourist visa.

They don't normally ask, but they can. Book something on your phone.
May ************************
@Garrett **********
They ask Denish guy also . When he comes back from Vietnam
Garrett ***********
@M**
Normally the airline will ask but immigration almost never asks. Suprised they asked him since he's over 50.
May ************************
@Garrett **********
They asked him what are you doing here . Does he works here ? He said no
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