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What should I do if my Thai tourist visa application was rejected before my flight?

60-day tourist visavisa rejectionvisa on arrivalproof of onward travelThailand immigration issuesvisa extension60-day extensionvisa exempt entryThailand visa rules
Oct 5, 2022
2 years ago
Stuart ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I screwed up my 60 day tourist visa application and was rejected.

My flight is booked for Oct 19th and return on Jan 18th.

If I applied for another 60 day visa today I most likely won't get it before I land in Thailand.

Should I still apply then fly out and back in? Or apply for a visa on arrival then extend to get the 90 days? Not sure what my options are.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The original poster (O/P) is facing issues with their Thai visa application, which was rejected before their scheduled flight to Thailand. They are unsure whether to apply for a new tourist visa or enter Thailand on a visa exempt entry, which can be extended. Community comments suggest various options, including applying for a new visa while potentially using an onward ticket to ensure airline check-in compliance, as well as concerns about the duration of stay matching the return flight. Suggestions also include confirming any recent changes in visa exemptions and addressing the airline requirements for proof of onward travel.
Tod *********
and we're done. (y)

The O/P has their choices, pick one do it.
2 years ago
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Glyn **********
The template for the visa application has flaws in it I discovered second time around. I messed up mine once and did it a second time. Still waiting now over a week. If you enter two documents into an upload it over writes the first one. It's seems feels a scam.
2 years ago
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Stuart ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Glyn *********
 Yes I found that out the first time. All docs must be in one file. You can select multiple files and hit print to PDF doc to save them on your hard drive without actually printing them.

The other problem is the question of where else you will stay and what area. I have no idea. I like to book a Hotel for 1-2 days then look for another place once there. As most people do I'm sure.
2 years ago
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Stuart ********
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Jamie ***********
I recommend just keeping your original flights as booked and using the onward ticket website to make another booking for the immigration and airline check in purposes. Around 15 dollars to create a real ticket for a limited time
2 years ago
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Keven ****
@Jamie **********
 You're recommending this, but have you ever used one of these? And how recently?

Just buy a $50 Air Asia ticket to a neighbouring country. Paying $50 instead of $15 for a sketchy service, and not risk losing your expensive flight and trip.
2 years ago
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Stuart ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jamie **********
 Thanks. I had no idea that even existed.
2 years ago
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Stuart ********
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VaiAna **********
Are you applying for your visa online from the US ? In June 2022 , hubby applied for our visa online , got rejected and we were a week out from flying out to Thailand . Hubby get stressed out easily over paperwork . I took over , looked at it & emailed them , I got mine right away all via email . I just email them all my paperwork & helped him . If you have their email address it helps a lot . We flew in without a return ticket via Japan Airlines . They ask we just told them we are moving forward after Thailand , just don’t know where yet ……
2 years ago
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Stuart ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@VaiAna *********
 I am flying out of Canada. The visa office in Vancouver won't accept info through email or even reply promptly. I tried all day phoning with no answer.
2 years ago
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Stuart ********
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Ellie *******
your return ticket is 92 days after arrival date. Even if you get SETV, you have to overstay or do border run anyway..
2 years ago
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Stuart ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ellie ******
 It is 2 days overstay, but in reality it is only 1.5 hours the first day and 8.5 hours the last day. I'll pay the fine or change my return flight.
2 years ago
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Keven ****
@Stuart *******
 It's probably one of the reasons why your visa was rejected. Embassies don't approve of people PLANNING on overstaying.
2 years ago
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Stuart ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Keven ***
 They told me why it was rejected, it wasn't that. I entered the wrong date for my passport and made some mysterious error on the declaration.
2 years ago
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Keven ****
@Stuart *******
 Had you entered everything correctly, you would have probably been rejected for the overstay. An embassy will not approve a visa for someone planning on overstaying.
2 years ago
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Keven ****
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Ellie *******
@Stuart *******
, it's not about hours, it's about days. even if just a minute, one day is one day.
2 years ago
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Ellie *******
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Ellie *******
You didn't provide all the necessary documents as required is all that we can say.
2 years ago
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Ellie *******
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Tod *********
It's the 5th so if you re-apply AND actually don't make another mistake you should get an approval in less than a week. Even if it didn't get approved before you came here you could enter visa exempt print the PDF email of the visa they send you then exit/re-enter the country (by land or air) to activate the 60 day entry on the tourist visa

BUT

with that being said you can also fly in on a 45 day visa exempt entry <-(it is NOT a visa on arrival, it is not a visa at all, just a free entry stamp that used to be for 30 days and now is for 45 days) and you could extend that entry one time for 30 more days at the immigration office where you stay for 1900baht giving you a total of 75 days in country
2 years ago
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Ashley *********
@Tod ********
 Is it confirmed that people really are being given 45 days visa exempt, as of now (Oct 1st)?
2 years ago
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Stuart ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 Thanks. Just worried about being rejected when I arrive as my return flight is in 90 days from arrival.

I am going to apply again online now and hope I get it before I land.

Can I be rejected because my return flight is Jan 18th?

If so, should I change my return flight now to return in 75 days?

This is so stressful!
2 years ago
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Stuart ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Sounds like I will have to change my return flight 2 times at $350+ a pop. This is way harder than it should be.

The first rejected visa took 16 days. I really want to stay 90 days to see the whole country, but the airlines may only let me stay 45 as I don't have proof of a 30 day extension. What a mess.
2 years ago
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Keven ****
@Stuart *******
 Don't change your expensive ticket. Just buy a cheap Air Asia ticket for $50 to a neighbouring country, and show that. Use it or don't use it. I wouldn't risk losing your flight by using one of those onward ticket sites.
2 years ago
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Stuart ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Keven ***
 But Air Canada may not let me on the flight as my return flight is 91 days away from arrival.

I can only prove a 45 day stay. Or 60 days IF I get the tourist visa in time before I land in Bangkok.
2 years ago
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Keven ****
@Stuart *******
 That's why you get a cheap $50 Air Asia online, within the 54 days even (since the airline might not know about the 45-day change, or even about extensions), and you show them that ticket, and not your other return ticket. You can use that cheap ticket, or not use it at all.
2 years ago
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Stuart ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Keven ***
 Thanks. Might do that. Cheaper than changing the return flight I have now.
2 years ago
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Jaime *******
@Stuart *******
 there are "onward ticket" sites online that work well for situations like this. Just Google it.
2 years ago
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Stuart ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jaime ******
 Thanks Jaime!
2 years ago
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Stuart ********
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Brandon ************
@Stuart *******
 tourist visa wouldn't protect you for a flight at 90 days anyways. If they want proof of onward travel, it needs to be within the number of days you'll be stamped in on, you don't count any extensions. So you'd need to show proof of onward travel within 60 days on a tourist visa, or 45 days on visa exempt.
2 years ago
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Tod *********
@Stuart *******
 IF you manage to check IN with your airline having onward travel out further than your visa exempt entry would get (45 days) you won't have any issue at passport control stamping in.

Keep in mind most people have issue with their air carrier checking in without a visa to thailand and onward travel out past the number of days they'll stamp in for.

Contact your airline and see what their policy is on proof of onward travel coming to thailand without a valid visa in your passport. AND remember almost no airlines know that the visa exempt entry increased from 30 to 45 days
2 years ago
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Moses *********
@Tod ********
Interesting that you mention that 'remember almost no airlines know that the visa exempt entry increased from 30 to 45 days'.

I'll be facing that issue in a few days when I fly out from LAX on EVA Air and have a return in 75 days. I have tried to contact the airline via phone and unable to reach anyone. And have emailed and Facebook messengered without a helpful reply.

So I will approach the check in counter calmly, smiling, and get there early enough so if I have to buy an 'onward ticket' I will be prepared.

I do have questionable confidence in airlines knowing the latest rules. Less than a year ago Japan Airlines was not aware that Ko Samui had the one-night quarantine scheme in effect and would not let me board my flight and delayed me till next day when I was able to get the 'proper' scheme to board.
2 years ago
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Moses *********
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