Job Discussion Forums

smanning · Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 1

I don't have a job yet but was wondering about plane flights. Does customs give you a hard time if you only buy a one way ticket into another country? I was considering visiting a few countries first as a tourist, and then just staying in one that I liked, if I found a job.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

All countries are different. Which ones are you considering?

jwbhomer · Joined: 14 Dec 2003 Posts: 876 Location: CANADA

You sound as if you might be a newbie traveller, as well as a newbie/would-be teacher. But that's OK. That's what this forum is for.

It's not "customs" you have to worry about. It's immigration! But you shouldn't have a problem as long as you're smart eough to keep your mouth shut when you enter a country, and not say something stupid like "If I like it here, I might just stay and take a teaching job for a while."

You want to be seen as a tourist, and all your answers to questions at the point of entry should be worded accordingly. Even so, some countries, such as China and India, require you to get a tourist visa before arrival. Other countries, like Thailand and Sri Lanka, will give you a visa on arrival.

To get a tourist visa, either before or on arrival, you will almost always be required to have either a return or an onward ticket. So if you want to leave open the possibility of staying somewhere, you should buy tickets that are refundable. They will cost you more, but at least if you don't use part of your ticket you will get some of your money back.

RebelGirl26 · Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Posts: 23 Location: Portland, OR

But if you get a job before you fly to the country - do they arrange all that for you? I don't know which country I'll be going to... just a general question.

jwbhomer · Joined: 14 Dec 2003 Posts: 876 Location: CANADA

Depends on the country and the company but I would say it's more usual that you have to arrange and pay for your own flights. Then -- if you're lucky and got it in your contract -- you might get reimbursed either on arrival or after you finished your contract.

I did have one company -- a call centre group based in India with HQ in the US -- arrange a ticket for me. They picked about the least convenient route and time they could think of because they used their own (American) travel agent. Better to do it yourself. (As it turned out, I didn't take the job in any case.)

Teejay · Joined: 25 Jul 2007 Posts: 59

how about in going to Vietnam? Do they need a return ticket?

Ahchoo · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 606 Location: Earth

Vietnam has land borders, so if they were to question it just tell them you're crossing by land into Lao, Cambodia or China.

Joeys ESL Room · Joined: 31 Jul 2007 Posts: 20

I'm not sure that you want to go from country to country to find work; better to do some investigating first. I would say that online resources might be better than walking into a school right off of the street, but a little of both would be best.

I know that you are not sure of where you want to go, but if you are planning on going to Korea, or somewhere where they will pay for your airfare, my advice would be to get a one-way ticket. If you get a return ticket and you decide to stay longer or to travel after your contract, then the ticket will be useless to you and you will have to pay for your own way home.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

You'll find travelling and working are very different. Best to do some research first and then go and teach, unless you are totally loaded and then you can afford to travel the world.