15

@dave
The rules are clear. The application of the rule by Thai Immigration official is dysfunctional (at best).

16

"But once a Thai is married to a European don't they get residence rights in the husband/ wife's country ?."

Nope, no chance in hell. This would have been possible 10-15 years ago, but not anymore. My home country is specifically strict and being married doesn't have any influence whatsoever. if you want Dutch residence permit, you need to comply with the same requirements as a "unmarried" Thai would have to comply with, including passing expensive exams that touch on knowledge and language. That particular visa cost 1350 euro nowadays.

"Thailand is not the easiest country for entry stamp - only 15 days if coming by land "

Go to any western country (like the US, Netherlands or the UK) and see if a Thai citizen gets 15 days no questions asked. I did not claim it was the easiest, I claimed it was one of the easiest, and it certainly is.

The hundred of thousands of words are still exceptions, the vast majority of visitors to Thailand come in on a return ticket for a trip not exceeding 4 weeks. Back in the west, people have to work, the same applies to visitors from Asia and other parts of the world. People that come in on extensive trips are the exception.

I Always do country hopping, but my initial flight is usually within 28-29 days, and that is considered a long vacation in my country. Therefore I never have the ticket out rule problem, and doing the country hopping and just receiving 15 days has never been a problem either, as I plan my return to Thailand in such a way that the 15 days are sufficient, if they aren't, the avenue of 7 days extension, or obtaining a TV in a neighboring country are also available,.

17

It seems Holland is a special situation , however in other countries - UK , Australia , USA etc they do get residence.

QUOTE - "Go to any western country (like the US, Netherlands or the UK) and see if a Thai citizen gets 15 days no questions asked. I did not claim it was the easiest"

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But thats because of the relative risks of them working illegally . Quite a while back Thais were allowed 90 days visa free entry to Sweden and vice versa , but this was stopped when too many didn't come back. On the hand the risk of people from America , Europe etc becoming illegal workers in Thailand is no that high - some do , but its not that big a problem , in any case onward tickets won't stop anyone from doing it. Having a tit for tat for the sake of it achieves nothing.

QUOTE - "visitors to Thailand come in on a return ticket for a trip not exceeding 4 weeks"

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Thats no help to the thousands of posters here who get tied up in knots about this issue or the other posters who spend time responding.

I think I quoted this to you before , Tony Wheeler wrote in a 1979 guidebook that QUOTE - "For some reason a number of Asian governments have this phobia that unless you come clutching your ticket you will never leave ! ' .

Onward ticket rules were silly back then and even more silly now . The law is an ass !.

18

@17 But Dave, many many Western Countries have the same rule !

There is no possible way someone can obtain a Schengen Visa without an onward ticket, and technically speaking it even has to be back to the country of origin !

Yet the Thais do it as well and all of a sudden it is a silly rule, surely even your home country would not allow a Thai, or a Cambodian, or a Laotian to enter a plane without an onward ticket AND a visa, which they don't give out without heaps of proof regarding income, allowed to leave work, and more silly stuff.

19

QUOTE - "There is no possible way someone can obtain a Schengen Visa without an onward ticket, and technically speaking it even has to be back to the country of origin !"

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Thats a decision by Schengen govts , people of those countries are not responsible for those rules , furthermore imposing an onward ticket rule on them does not change the Schengen authorities decision. Again you are ignoring relative risk of illegal workers - not may Schengen nationals are going to become illegal immigrants in Thailand. And even if the Schengen rule is unfair - two wrongs don't make a right. You haven't been able to explain how Thai authorities get any benefit from this rule , and you also ignore that the immigration staff are unable/unwilling to put it in practice.
As I understand it its not compulsory to have onward ticket if arriving in Australia providing adeqaute funds can be shown . Its when someone doesn't have a ticket or enough money that they are likely to be denied entry.