Genuine facts and experiences of Visas

[lomuamart]

True enough, chelsea
However, I'm entitled to a Non Imm O visa, so the proof of onward travel isn't necessary - yet.

[Bamboo Grove]

Like I said in another thread, Vientiane and Saigon have never asked me for outbound flight from Thailand. Last time Saigon did ask for the inbound ticket, though. But that's usually no problem as whenever I've been to Vietnam, I've always had one.

[margaretcarnes]

At the beginning of this topic Guess mentioned the dodgy visas from the Thai consul in Hull. As my home town I got my one year non O visa there initially with no problem at all. The visas issued are undoubtedly valid, and as a genuine traveller I had no problem with mine. What worries me is that the Hull consul seems to have been getting away with issuing visas by post for at least 9 years now to my knowledge, and never seems to get picked up on it.

[lomuamart]

Mags,
I've had 3 multi-entry Non Os from Hull and as you say they're totally legit.
If you're referring to posting your passport to Hull while you're in the UK, then again that's fine. It dosn't cross a border. However, if you post it from here, it's highly illegal.

[margaretcarnes]

Hi Lomu - I used to live a 10 minute walk from the Hull consul. Very handy! It was a lady at one time, working from an unrelated company premises, as they do. When she retired I believe it was her husband who took over as consul, and thats when it became a bit 'suss'. The company whose premises the consul occupied actually ceased trading, but was still maintained as the consuls' official address. That meant making an appointment to see him, or doing it by phone and post. I suspect thats when the postal thing developed more and he maybe realised there was cash to be had by sitting at home and posting abroad. I wonder if he appreciates the consequences!

[DawnHRD]

I've never heard of them posting abroad, only to UK addresses, as Lomu said.

It would still be easy to be caught by immigration in a case like that, though. Bit difficult to get to UK without being stamped out by Thai Immigration, or stamped back in again. I would think that Immigration would treat any visa without corresponding exit/entry stamps to Thailand as a wee bit suspect.

[Onlyme]

I know of a few people who've tried that one. Luckily for them, the stamp was cancelled by immigration. Just a waste of a lot of money.
It's a no-brainer really!
Onlyme.

[Takiap]

Speaking to a young lad teaching English the other day, he told me that the immigration in Cambodia were also asking for proof of onward travel but it was nothing more that a way for them to make a little extra cash. If you don't have any onward travel ticket, the sell you a 200 baht bus ticket and then stamp you in.

On a different note, I've recently seen quite a few letters being published in the Bangkok Post written by expats who feel that Thai immigration is a bit unfair as far as those married to Thais are concerned. I must admit, I agree 100% that having been married for eight years now and having two kids, it is not very pleasant having to do 90 day reporting, etc. I live in the UK for ten years before coming to Thailand and I was never expected to report to immigration and neither was my wife who spent two years there with me. I thought it was only criminals on probation that are expected to report. Ah well, its still great living here so we'll just have to accept being treated the way we are.

[lomuamart]

Takiab,
AFAIA, the Cambodian border at Arayna Prathet/Poi Pet only asks for proof of onward journey from those doing 30 day visa exempt stamps. I'm assuming this is where the young chap was. And so the visa run companies from BKK have been purchasing bogus bus tickets for visa runners for some time now.
That border crossing has never been the "friendliest" of places. Neither has Phnom Phen been the most user friendly Thai Embassy to get a visa. They tend to take the stance that they're there for Cambodian nationals, no-one else.

[margaretcarnes]

Flogging bogus bus tickets! You have to admit that where theres a will theres a way in LOS. I admire the entrepreneurial spirit.
Takiap is right though about foreign wives being hassle free in the UK, but they pay the price by often not being able to take full British nationality. E.G. my sister in law from Easter Island. Married, living here and working for 18 years. She will qualify for a UK state pension but not a passport. Whereas a cousin married to a Dane would have had to give up her UK passport if her Brit born son had joined the Danish army!
Theres some weird regulations wherever you are I guess