My girlfriend and I are supposed to leave for Thailand tomorrow from the US. She is a valid US passport holder, but we didn't notice that Thailand has the rule about the passport needing to be valid for 6 months after entering the country. She was already able to check into the flight, and they may be checking during boarding again. But my main question is what are the odds we can get through Thai immigration? We can provide our itineraries, hotel confirmations, etc. if that will help, but will it? Thanks for any speedy advice.

My guess is you will be denied boarding at the airport when they check your passport.

If the airline misses your GF's invalid passport and lets you board, they will be responsible for returning you to the States if/when the Thai Authorities refuse to grant entry.

That's what I'm worried about. And of course today is a holiday here...

Tough spot to be in...I don't envy you.

I wish you the best of luck...but I honestly would not be expecting to go to Thailand tomorrow unfortunately.

The airline should stop your GF dead in her tracks when you drop off your luggage and present your 'invalid' travel documents.

Well, no luggage, and she is checked in, so....

Every international flight I have ever taken requires a 'Document Check'. It is often stamped or printed on your Boarding Pass. It will be very hard to get on the plane without the airline verifying valid documents.

I think it's a bad idea, but you may get lucky. I did the exact same thing in november, was just inside 5 mos going to malaysia but was unaware. my UA ticket was only to singapore, then separate PNR to KUL on SQ.

1. UA let me check in online but when i got to the kiosk it wouldn't print a pass without an agent approving my passport. i found it odd, but again had no idea. showed my passport, she approved, gave me my BP. in hindsight, they probably flag all passports under 6 mos and UA checks them against the list of countries with that restriction. total speculation, but in 8 trips last year, i only had that check on the last one

2. so now i'm in singapore, SQ wouldn't let me board because of the malaysian restrictions but i put up a bit of a fight. they finally relented but first made me sign a release form that they warned me about my document issues and any return fare if rejected by customs would be my responsibility.

3. so now i'm in malaysia, and have been there enough to know basic conversation/information, and am prepared to state i'm there for business in malay, hoping the immigration officer would see my effort and let it slide. he didn't even care. scanned my passport and stamped it without a word.

so, there's your success story, but not in thailand, and i was already off UA's charts by then. you may call reservations or 1k desk and ask (anonymously) if such a form exists, then it's a matter of pressing your luck with thai immigration or paying the fee to change the ticket and try to find a close processing center. i doubt it's worth the 20 hrs on a plane to find out she has to spend another 20 going home and burning full value of the ticket for nothing, but hey, if you're desperate

Airline? Departure City? Routing? Length of Stay in Thailand?

Some responders mention the carrier is UA, so they definitely check for a valid visa for the length of stay. This is a non-issue if the length of stay is 30 days or less (U.S. passport holders get 30 days visa exemption). Further they must check the validity date of your passport to make sure it is not expired. But I do not know for sure how closely they look at the remaining validity vs. the requirements of the country to be visited. If its automated then you're out of luck. Checking in on-line really means nothing in this case, as you will be directed to an agent. At the other end (Thailand: entry and exit) you will be subject to the uniqueness of the Thai Immigration service. They love paperwork, and will document the date (auto-scanned) of the passport which may pop an automatic flag, and enforcing rules haphazardly.

Would love to know how this story ends

Thailand Immigration will refuse entry into the country.
Passport has to be 6 months valid, simple as that.
If you are able to arrive at bangkok airport it is your problem how to get back to the US not Thai's immigration problem, don't forget this as you can have a lot of problems when you stranded at the airport.

I don't believe that is how it works.

If an airline allows a person to travel to a country where there is a passport rule (such as at least 6 months validity at entry) and the person is refused entry by immigration, there is a fine to the airline (approx. 2,000 British Pounds for not picking up the discrepancy) and the airline is also directed to return the person on the next flight back, at the airline's expense, as noted by yycworldtraveler.

This is detailed on many of the aviation forums.

I wonder how this turned out for the OP, as sometimes, if you get a sympathetic immigration officer....things can be worked out.

If you're not flying nonstop USA to Thailand, then take a couple of days at your intermediate stopping point, go to the American Embassy and explain your situation. They can issue a new passport and pretty quickly, too.

You are correct - the airline is responsible for bringing a deportee back: this does not mean they do it free. In this case, they would use your GF's return
ticket.

I am glad things worked out for you, but you are lucky UA let you board. Singapore also requires 6 months.

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