Just wondering how people deal with the whole 'proof of onward travel' problem while travelling in far away lands?
Just wondering how people deal with the whole 'proof of onward travel' problem while travelling in far away lands?
I had no problem in Central America, I never got asked actually, but imagine it to be a different story in China, Nepal, India, Loas, Malaysia, Indonesia ect?
How do you deal with this problem when travelling overland for extended periods, with no proof of onward travel?
Cheers
Im am thinking of how to deal with this too, as i tend to fly to beijing (single ticket) then fly home from Delhi. So if u find out let me know thanks
I travelled round SE Asia for 3 months and never once got asked for proof of onward travel. For some countries you would need it though, for instance New Zealand - if you are on a tourist visa you will definitely need proof of a ticket out of the country.
Most countries that you require a visa for prior to entry request proof of onward travle i.e. China, Russia, etc but often the ones where you get a visa on arrival just ask a few questions and let you through.
The way to get around it is if you have a few flights on your trip for example I landed in Kiev/Ukraine and departed from Helsinki/Finland about a month later. I wanted to go to Russia but didn't really have a planned itinerary after Russia and planned to do a bit more than just go through Russia direct to Finland. I made a rough itinerary for Russia (allowing a few days extra at each end incase I loved it because the visa for Russia has very strict conditions). Despite the fact the visa to Russia is one of the tougher/strictest ones to get, I managed to prove to them that I planned to leave Russia when I said (even though I planned to enter after I said and planned to leave earlier than I said on my application) simply by the fact I had a flight from a neighbouring country. Having that flight later on proved beyond a doubt to the person granting my visa that I planned to be a tourist rather than someone overstaying.
With China I am planning a brief trip in Southern China in a few weeks. I have a flight in to Hong Kong and a flight out of Macau. Neither of those places are areas where I require a visa to visit and I really have no proof of a plan to even enter the area of China I require a visa for. Seeing they can see I have travel plans before and after I tell them I want to enter China they have no problems in granting me the visa. Had I applied when the olympics were on that would have been a whole different story because they were rediculously strict then.
I travelled round SE Asia for 3 months and never once got asked for proof of onward travel. For some countries you would need it though, for instance New Zealand - if you are on a tourist visa you will definitely need proof of a ticket out of the country.
For Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Hong Kong I was never asked to show any proof of onward travel to enter those countries. Don't think so for Nepal and Myanmar also but that was a while ago.
One time when I was staying in the Philippines I went to Thailand for a short visit. When I was at the airport going back to Manila I was asked to provide some proof of transportation out of the Philippines. I did have a ticket for a flight from Manila to some other place but I had to dig that info out of my bag. That was the only time in 12 years. Even when I entered the Philippines from the US they didn't ask for any return ticket out, only one time from BKK to MNL. That was my first time using Philippine Airlines too!
If you look like a bum and the immigration desk suspects that you will be a burden on their social services or police force they may ask for more documentation. I remember flying into Singapore and seeing the immigration people sort of segregate some "hippie looking" back packers for further inspection. Most of the time I think if you can show that you have money to support yourself you will probably be okay.
Good luck.
I have never had a problem with China ever proving onward travel. Although i haven't been there in and year and half. A few friends of mine just printed a fake itinerary from Expedia that was in english and entrance people couldn't figure out heads or tails of it and just let them in.
In 45 years of travel worldwide, I've never been asked about proof of onward travel by Immigration officials, BUT that does not mean you don't need it. I do believe that like visa restrictions, airline agents commonly check your itinerary for onward reservations. I read recently on Flyertalk of someone going to the Philippines on a one-way ticket, and their problems boarding that flight because airline agents did not see proof of onward/return travel.
(When airlines allow illegal boarding they are responsible for returning passengers to the point of origin)
agreeing with karazyal, a lot of success depends on looking clean and not too "slackerish."
i was on the road in SEA and Oceania for a year last year, and as others here have noted, of your list had no issues in nepal, laos, malaysia, indo, vietnam, cambodia or sing. thailand if the one country in SEA that is notorious for sometimes requesting proof of onward travel, but if you are entering thailand overland (say, at hat yai on the malay border) the chance is way less likely that they will ask for proof. my husband and i both flew in and trained into thailand and didn't have problems. that said, you can get an airasia ticket out of bangkok on the spot to wherever is cheapest (for as cheap as $20 sometimes) if border officials do insist on it.
oz and nz do require proof on tourists visas. you're okay if you're on a working holiday visa.
hope that helps!
megan
Immigration are usually fine in dealing with on arrival visas. Never had an issue.
The problem comes from airlines not letting you board with out onward proof. An example is Cebu Pacific (Philippines). They will not let you board without an exit flight from the country.
The answer is to spend $10 on an air Asia flight before hand out of the country.
Again immigration no problems. If they ask tell them you will leave overland to a neighboring country. Airlines for whatever reason are the problem as standing in line 2 hours before a flight you don't want to be told you're not getting on board.
I carry an air Asia ticket with me just in case. Got it through a "travel agent". It's booked well in advance. I never intend to use it, but it covers me to leave a country (region) and claim overland travel to said country. Which I'm doing anyway. But it keeps the airline happy, and takes a small weight off my shoulders should I ever need to show onward proof. Hong Kong is a good flight into in that case. (depending on your nationality)
[ 11-Jul-2009, at 00:25 by TLWH ]
In Bangkok in November I was asked for proof out of Hong Kong. Why the Thai would care what happened to me in HK is beyond me, but it did happen.
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