VISA requirements Proof onward travel.

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danjofo
danjofo

Hi all.

Im about to make my first RTW trip, its something i have saved for, for years and im now ready.

I have in mind an open itinerary, although i know roughly what countries i wish to visit and for how long.

Because i am going to be on the road for at least a year (18 month max) and wish to travel where the wind blows me, i cannot appy for any entry VISA's before leaving as this could become a waste of money if i end up off the path set by my VISA's.

Second to this a good few countries start the VISA window at the moment of issue and i would not be able to visit before it expires if that trip is at the end of my 18 month journey.

So i have no choice but to organise my VISA's on the road and i plan to visit embassies and consulates of the country i wish to visit within the country that i am currently in before hand.

However..

Reading up on VISA advice sites i notice that a number of nations require 'Proof of onward travel' to allow you into the country on arrival if VOA applies, and many airlines will not allow you to board unless you can prove this.

My issue is that this means i need to show a ticket 'bought and paid for' for leaving the country im about to enter, but i would like to use my time within that country to plan my next move.

Now for most countries i can just buy my leaving ticket to my next probable destination when i buy my ticket into the country im visiting next and if i change my mind i could cancel the ticket, but that means i loose money.

I want to visit China and im told the best way to arrage your VISA on the road for china is within HongKong. but HongKong has the same requirement to show proof of onward travel. but without having my China VISA confirmed which im planning to do while in HongKong how am i supposed to enter without this proof.

As a backpacker this creates a chicken and egg situation which im just not able to find any great advice on.
Im aware of the tactic of creating a fake itinerary and/or plain ticket booking online and hoping that works as proof, but if you read any airlines small print they reserve the right to charge you for any fines they incure if they are forced to carry you back to your point of origin if your VOA is denied.

I would be constantly buying plane tickets and cancelling them either because of direction changes or VISA's not working out.

my question is.. (sorry for the long read)

How do i get round this?

Can i get a special letter at an Embassy?
Is proof of finances enough to show that i can afford to look after my self and im not looking for work?
If my passort shows that ive visited a dozen countries before the one im trying to get into does this now show that i am backpacking?
What if im leaving the country via land and not airline?

Has anyone been there and done that where this is concerned and has some suggestions.

Thanks very much in advance.

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Pirate_At_50
Pirate_At_50

How do i get round this?

Rules. They make them. You abide by them. Get used to it.

Every form of addiction is bad, no matter if it is alcohol, morphine or idealism - Carl Jung
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go_2
go_2

People (like you, OP) are always asking visa questions without stating their nationality/what passport they're travelling on.
If you tell us, maybe people can help with their own experiences. Without knowing this, it's pretty pointless really.

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lincoln
lincoln

Pirate you are getting cranky in your old age!

Theres a few ways around this, the first you have mentioned but can be tweaked to make it cheaper,theres a ton of budget airlines out there now in almost every county so one way to make it cheaper is to but a one way air ticket out of the country you want to see even if you have no intention of using it you can pick up rearly dirt cheap tickets on air Asia for example.

Another way around this is to "Create" an intinerary for exiting by land using train tickets or overland bus companies....this is particulaly good for Central America,theres bus companies going through all 7 countries and you can buy a ticket online or just print off the itinary and be creative on your computer.

It's the arlines that will enforce the onward ticket rule and they are are unlikely to check bus timetables etc if you produce documents saying you are exiting overland.

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lucapal
lucapal

Yes..as above.
For Hong Kong I'd just buy the cheapest ticket out that you can,and then either use it or just throw it away....

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Pirate_At_50
Pirate_At_50

Pirate you are getting cranky in your old age!

I resemble that remark. But what did you tell him that wasn`t playing by the rules?

I dislike rules as much as the next guy, and have 4 1/2 years out of my own country playing by them.

Every form of addiction is bad, no matter if it is alcohol, morphine or idealism - Carl Jung
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danjofo
danjofo

Im British.

If you click on my name in the Avatar section the popup states United Kingdom.

I figured this was enough if people required that information.

As a Brit i have some leeway with a few countries HongKong included.

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danjofo
danjofo

Pirate -

'If I'd observed all the rules, I'd never have got anywhere'.

-Marilyn Monroe

;)

Im not asking to break the rules, just bend them or exploit them.
Im interested in peoples experiances and suggetions if they have them.

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Pirate_At_50
Pirate_At_50

LOL And look how far it got her... Good-looking corpse notwithstanding.

Lincoln gave you all the answers. I could have, but my keyboard is nearly out of ink.

Every form of addiction is bad, no matter if it is alcohol, morphine or idealism - Carl Jung
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anonymous
anonymous

If you click on my name in the Avatar section the popup states United Kingdom.

It states: "Country: United Kingdom" what doesn't necessarily mean you are Brit. You could be, for example, an expat in the UK...

Regarding your question, I think it could be a good idea to ask about it in the branches of the relevant countries you plan to visit once on the road. Rules and their enforcement can change at any moment...

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