ask
Search
Ask
Answered7 months ago

Will I face issues with Thailand immigration without a return ticket and while applying for a marriage visa?

THIM and TDAC notice
Need a clearer THIM and TDAC explanation? Read the THIM guide on thim.in.th.
Glenn ******
asked Apr 5, 2026
6.6k
views
49
replies
6
likes
Will I have any issues with Thailand immigration if I don't have a return airline ticket to USA booked? I have my TDAC document already. I'm entering the country to meet my Thai wife's family, but my wife is already in Thailand so she's not traveling with me. I plan to stay in Thailand and apply for a marriage visa while there, but I didn't state that on my TDAC document Do I need to show our marriage certificate from USA or something else to avoid issues with immigration? Thank you.
Answer summary
The user is concerned about potential issues with Thai immigration upon entering the country without a return flight ticket as they plan to apply for a marriage visa (NON-O), where they already possess a TDAC document. The community provides insights suggesting that immigration authorities typically do not check return tickets; however, airlines may require proof of onward travel. Additionally, several comments emphasize the necessity of getting a marriage certificate registered and the specific financial requirements needed for applying for the marriage visa within Thailand.
49 repliesnewest first
25

Click comment and we will ask for your email, then OTP, then name.

Sylvester *******
Sylvester *******
They will ask if you have had a extention before.
Charlie *********
Charlie *********
The airline will likely ask to see onward travel, you can always book a cheap flight, you can usually find ones to KL for quite affordable prices. Then again, they might not ask you. If they do ask and you don’t have it you could be denied boarding
Graeme *******
Graeme *******
You USA marriage doc is about as good as a ashtray on a motorcycle. If you are hoping to apply for a visa though marriage do it in your home country. There are a lot of items you need to get sorted while in Thailand if looking for extension on the Non O though marriage. It takes time and a bit of work, I would speak to immigration once you arrive and with wife.
Emerald********
Emerald********
Asking your Thai wife to look into this should be easy for her
James **********
James **********
TDAC means you are coming. Has nothing to do with imagration. Your airline is the one that you should worry about. They might not let you on the plane
Wayne ********
Wayne ********
Hopefully, I can save you some time the US Embassy has form online to create an affidavit. Create the affidavit, including all of the pertinent information about your marriage time place date preacher’s name how you met and when you got married anything that would be pertinent. Take that affidavit to the US Embassy and get it notarized then go the district office where your home is located with a translated copy of your marriage certificate from the United States and your affidavit and then they will fill out the proper paperwork for you  to register your marriage . I know this doesn’t answer your question directly, but it it will help you to register your marriage which you will have to do before you go to Immigration.
Robert **********
Robert **********
Your TDAC is an electronic arrival card it has nothing to do either with any visa or length of stay
Wodrow ********
Wodrow ********
If you appear to be a good citizen they dont ask for return ticket or how much money you have. The money shouldnt be a problem anyway, since its only 20,000 Baht($600) The problem now is tourists that overstayed. They are tired of people playing games with their immigration laws. People that overstayed or have done alot of Visa runs are now being denied entry. If youre coming in on the 30 day Tourist stamp, leave it at that. Dont tell them your life story or about getting any more Visas to stay longer. It will only complicate the situation. Its easy now, just the TDAC form, passport, and youre in. Dont talk too much.
James ********
James ********
There will be a full body cavity search upon arrival..
Kenneth ************
Kenneth ************
$ 100 one way ticket to Ho Chi Mi City
Ralph *******
Ralph *******
You never know! Chances are they won’t even check it but the airline is far more likely to.

As you are looking at a marriage visa, why not apply for the non O visa from the Thai embassy in the USA? Then you have no issues as an onward ticket isn’t needed.
Atrustwor*********
Atrustwor*********
Ralph Tyson he will not get the non o as they are flying within 72 hours as already has the TDAC
Pat *******
Pat *******
Airlines are not immigration officers, they don't care about what visa or stamp you have in your passport or what you plan to do when you arrive in Thailand. That just don't want to be left with the expense of flying you back if you are refused entry. They have an obligation to do so.
Charlie *********
Charlie *********
Pat Trick the airlines care quite a bit as they face fines if passengers are denied at immigration. They’re the most likely to ask about onward travel, more than the immigration officer
Ralph *******
Ralph *******
Pat Trick Yes they do. Because if the traveller is refused entry they can be asked to cover the cost of a return ticket.

I have been asked many times by airlines to show my onward travel.
Mike *******
Mike *******
Ralph Tyson 🤣🤣🤣 that's exactly what Pat just said, did you read all of his comment before replying, thanks for the laugh 😃
Susan *******
Susan *******
No
JoyfulPome***********
JoyfulPome***********
I’ve been to bangkok last year and I have 60days stamp, under visa exception.

But i still have the same question, is it okay if we book our onward ticket later while in Thailand?
Pat *******
Pat *******
It's not immigration that will give you the problem. It's the airline that will give you a problem before you even get off the ground. Good luck.
JoyfulPome***********
JoyfulPome***********
Pat Trick thank you. I’m coming back in May can I book my onward ticket like around June before 60days end?
Paul *******
Paul *******
Just go online and book the cheapest bus ticket to Laos or a cheap flight to Vietnam or another Asian country
Glenn ******
Glenn ******
OP
Paul Green Thank you.
Paul *******
Paul *******
Glenn Luke . I did the same thing. I managed to book a flight from phuket to Kuala Lumpur for £11
John **********
John **********
I've answered the ticket issue in your other post. The marriage visa is a 90 day Non-O visa and in order to apply for it you must have 400k baht in a Thai bank account in your name. If you don't already have a Thai bank account apply for the 90 day Non-O visa before you travel to Thailand. Once here open a bank account and deposit 400k baht which must be in the account for 2 months before you can apply for a 12 month extension of stay.

It also appears that you got married in the US and not Thailand so there are some additional hoops you need to jump through to obtain a kor ror 22 certificate which you need for the extension of stay (or the Non-O if you already have a Thai bank account)

To obtain a Kor Ror 22 (Registration of Family Status) in Thailand, which records a foreign marriage, you must legalize your foreign marriage certificate in your home country, translate it into Thai, have it verified by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), and finally register it at a local district office (Amphur).
Atrustwor*********
Atrustwor*********
@John *********
He travels tomorrow so will not have time to get any visa
John **********
John **********
AtrustworthyJaguar if he travels tomorrow he's not going to be able to get a marriage visa in Thailand
Glenn ******
Glenn ******
OP
@John *********
Thank you.
Steven ********
Steven ********
Glenn Luke or show a monthly income of at least 40,000 baht for the last 3 months, rather than putting 400k in a Thai bank.
John **********
John **********
@Steven *******
that would work for getting the Non-O before he travels but not for the visa or extension of stay in Thailand
Greg ***********
Greg ***********
Glenn Luke another way around is, have your U.S. marriage documents translated into Thai (by a translation service which is acknowledged by the Thai Embassy in the USA) then get everything legalized by the Thai embassy in the USA- In Thailand, it needs to be co-legalized by the MfA. With these documents you can get your marriage registered on a local Amphur office. You should have contacted the Royal Thai Embassy in Washington DC, and DON'T fly tomorrow. Postpone your flight and get your ducks in a row: Marriage legalized, 90-days Non-Imm-O visa applied and issued, enter Thailand and get a bank account opened, transfer 400K and apply for the 1-year EOS
Graeme ******
Graeme ******
I doubt the thai authorities will ask you for your flight out but your airline might especially since you dont have a visa, more often than not its the airline that checks since they are accountable for your return if you fail entry. You dont need to fill in the departure date or flight in your tdac it is not a mandate field marked with * asterisk. I assume you must be flying very soon?! Have you entered thailand many time previously on visa exempt?
Mark ********
Mark ********
Apply for your Non-O visa in your home country first. It is easy. All online. Just check with your airline if you need a return ticket, visa does not require it.
Andreas *********
Andreas *********
Graeme Mort In January I had problems after saying I came to marry. Everything was checked, return ticket, cash..... Visiting your girlfriend/wife is not a tourist stay, you need the right visa if you talk about it. And without a return ticket it can be difficult.
Glenn ******
Glenn ******
OP
Andreas Trummer Thank you. I edited my TDAC to just holiday and booked a flight from Bangkok to Vietnam.
Graeme ******
Graeme ******
Andreas Trummer yes I agree hardly a tourist if you are coming to marry a thai national, best not to say that stick with a holiday reason unless you have a long term visa
Glenn ******
Glenn ******
OP
Graeme Mort I'm leaving tomorrow. I've never been to Thailand.
Emerald********
Emerald********
Glenn Luke then it’s too late to ask you had lots of time
Graeme ******
Graeme ******
Glenn Luke arh ok I would suggest giving your airline a call and explain you will be staying in thailand and that you haven't got a return ticket or onward travel ticket will that be ok?
Lynnette *******
Lynnette *******
Maybe you could get the non O before travelling. It's the airline might ask for proof of leaving if you intent to go with no visa.
Glenn ******
Glenn ******
OP
Lynnette Munoz Thank you.
Greg ***********
Greg ***********
Glenn Luke getting you marriage registered in Thailand would be the first step, which can be accomplished during the 60+30 = 90 days you can squeeze out of a visa-exempt entry. Only after you succeeded, the road to the marriage 1-year extension can be opened by applying for the 90-days Non-Imm-O Family Visa OUTSIDE of Thailand. Entering on the 90-days Non-IMM-O visa will enable you to get the bank account opened and be able to deposit a minimum of 400,000 THB into it, because the money must have seasoned in your Thai account for two months, in order to apply for the 1-year extension. . . . . You could have started the process much easier if you applied for the 90-days Non-Imm-O marriage visa inside the States, using money in your home bank account and original marriage documents. By flying out tomorrow you have missed your chances
Greg ***********
Greg ***********
Lynnette Munoz FB shows everyreply if you click the related button at the top (relevant, newest, all)
Lynnette *******
Lynnette *******
Greg Alexander I've been busy and with time difference I've only just catching up. FB doesn't always show every reply.
Greg ***********
Greg ***********
Lynnette Munoz yes of course, I did not dive any deeper into details because John Stanners already explained 2 hours ago what needs to be done to get a U.S./Thai Marriage registered inside Thailand. A few bureaucratic steps are involved. Aren't you following the complete thread ?
Lynnette *******
Lynnette *******
Greg Alexander doesn't his non Thai marriage have to go through a lot of processes, verified, translated etc? There's a lot to do.
Greg ***********
Greg ***********
Glenn Luke if you have never been to Thailand before like you mentioned, then I rightly assume you do not have a Thai bank account. However in order to apply for the 90-days marriage visa and the 1-year extension inside Thailand, you need a Thai bank account with 400,000 THB already sitting in it. On a visa-exempt entry, you cannot get a bank account opened. And added to all the malheur is the fact that your marriage is not acknowledged and registered in Thailand. You are trying to do step number 3 before you haven't completed step 1 and 2. You need to get your ducks in a row before anything.
Lynnette *******
Lynnette *******
Glenn Luke the Non O is valid for 90 days to use for your entry. Then you get stamped in for a 90 day stay.
Lynnette *******
Lynnette *******
Graeme Mort oh, missed that. . 🤦
Graeme ******
Graeme ******
Lynnette Munoz he flys tomorrow so no chance of getting that in the USA beforehand

Activity

25 joined
Glenn ******
Glenn ******
Glenn ******
Glenn ******
Glenn ******
Glenn ******
25
people
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
...members60% approval
Member 1
Member 2
Member 3
Member 4
Member 5
Member 6
Member 7
Member 8

Related

25
Will having different addresses impact my DTV application in Thailand?
13021mo
Will a bus ticket to Malaysia be accepted as proof of onward travel when arriving in Thailand?
2.9k23352mo
Will changing my Muay Thai camp start date after getting my DTV visa cause issues with Thai immigration?
853773mo
Will I face any issues with my travel plans in Thailand and Vietnam?
622464mo
Should I get a visa before traveling to Thailand or rely on a 30-day visa exemption and extend later?
11.3k222955mo
What visa options are available for expats in Thailand with a Thai spouse after multiple tourist entries?
15.3k204355mo
What are the new rules for same-day border runs between Thailand and Laos?
1.4k375mo
Can I obtain a marriage visa for Thailand without visiting Bangkok, and can it be done in Khon Kaen?
4.1k28571y
Will I be fined for late TM.30 submission if I visit immigration on Monday after arriving in Thailand?
2.5k18241y
What is the current procedure for applying for a Non-O visa based on marriage in Thailand?
615261y
What should I do if I want to visit Thailand again after three previous entries this year?
4k32381y
Where do I put my departure location on the TDAC when transiting through Singapore to Thailand?
5k25101y
What visa should I enter Thailand on for marrying my girlfriend, and can I do it with a one-way ticket?
4.9k39442y
Do I need a return ticket to enter Thailand if I'm unsure of my stay duration?
19.9k33492y
Do you need to have onward travel booked before arriving in Thailand on a DTV visa?
52212y
Can I apply for a DTV visa if I have an overstay history of 63 days on my EDU visa?
2.6k19212y
What are the current visa options for a married UK couple moving to Thailand considering the recent changes?
1.2k913y
What should my return air ticket show if I have a two-month visa for Thailand and am married to a Thai citizen?
1.3k9114y
Can I travel to Thailand from Spain without a visa and use a bus ticket as proof of onward travel?
3.6k35155y
What are the key differences between the Thai retirement visa types: NON-O, NON-OA, and NON-OX?
1.9k15155y
Can my husband apply for a NON-O visa based on our marriage without leaving Thailand after his employment ends?
1.5k10125y
What type of visa can an American in Afghanistan apply for to join his Thai wife without a bank account?
3.5k35176y
How early can I go to the immigration office to extend my NON-O visa?
982657y
Is it necessary to book a return ticket when moving to Thailand, or is a one-way ticket sufficient?
4.2k42187y
Do I need to report anything to immigration if I travel from Isan to Phuket?
2.6k25128y

Resources

Need help with your Thailand arrival paperwork?