Visas and border crossings forum

Posted from within Vietnam.

We travelled overland through 7 land border crossings and were never once asked for proof of exit. The only place we were asked was flying from Sabah to Singapore as Singapore like to know you're leaving! But we managed to get away with it.

totally no problems, they understand that a lot of people are backpackers and they won't ask you anything. Had a one way ticket to Thailand and it was just fine. crossed over to Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, back to Laos, China, Hong Kong, Macau, back to China and a flight back to Thailand and do it all again. no problems at all.

I got my visa through the Thai embassy London. You just take all your doc's along with your passport and submit them - collecting a week later. Easy as pie! And it was free!!! Good luck!

http://www.thaiembassyuk.org.uk/newversion/visa/visa_main.html

Only "proof" you're likely to need is if/when flying from "home" (1st world) country into the SE Asia region. For example, one-way flight to Thailand from US/UK/EU/AU/NZ/etc. usually requires proof of onward air travel within 30 days OR a Thai visa already in your passport. It's an airline bureaucratic things I've encountered frequently, in which case you show ticket or visa or talk your way through it. Mocking-up a fake ticket is not recommended, as most modern check-in facilities can quickly verify it and getting "caught" might have dire consequences (i.e. you stay home and maybe get fined).

But on arrival and once you're in the region no one's going to be asking for proof of onward travel as you cross the borders. It's the long-haul airlines that tend to be sticklers, as they are legally liable to fly you back out if you're denied entry on arrival (even though that is very unlikely they gotta cover their arses).

Are you Indian? Since Indians usually enter Thailand with Visa-On-Arrival, which requires proof of onward air travel, the airline staff are well-attuned to screening for this. Ironically though, it tends to mean they just wave people on western passports through. Reverse racism on their own countrymen???

Momof4 - Probably best to get proper tourist visas for your group. They are technically "free" until at least March 2011, but of course some bureacracy invloved. You'd have three months within which to use them from date of issue, so where will you be then, India or prior to that? Equipped with visas they will let you board the flight without proof of onward flights.

The information relevant to the Thai embassy in Delhi is here:
http://www.thaiemb.org.in/en/services/visa.php
Basically a bunch of mumbo jumbo but scroll to the bottom to cut to the chase.
Shouldn't be a problem getting your visas there (or check with the consulates in Mumbai, Kolkata, or Chennai as per your travel route).

Seems the best strategy as it would really be bad to get hit with a "gotcha" at the airport without visas. Conversely you might get the visas and then not even get asked to show them, but better to be safe than sorry, especially with kids in tow. And with visas you'll get a 60-day entry.