franck1972

I had 7 back to back there, no problem, even at border.
Dress up ok, be polite, that's all.

I usually take the bus from Mor Chit, Sahaphan company.
Good VIP bus, around 1100 B roundtrip, departs between 7 30 and 8 30 PM. 
You can also start from their hub at Vibhavadi Rangsit Soi 19.
Long trip but quite comfortable, arrives around 5-6 AM in Mukdahan.
Then take international bus to Savannakhet, 50 THB.
If after Lao immigration the bus is already gone, organise a Tuk Tuk with somebody else, around 100-150 THB each.
I usually stay at Avalon Hotel, new, and clean, very friendly staff. Price around 7-800 B depending where you book.
It's located about 10-15 mn walk from the embassy, has plenty nice little restaurant around.

Coming back to  Thailand :

Take tuktuk from consulate to border, then after Lao immigration buy bus ticket to Mukdahan station.
In Mukdahan, bus leaves between 7 30 and 8 30 to BKK, arrives 5-6 AM.

21 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

You would only be able to get a single entry non-o visa. They will not issue a multiple entry non-o visa based upon being the parent of a Thai.

You will need their birth certificate plus a compy and a copy of their house book registry.

They also ask a copy of the mother's ID card.
Also, better let her sign all documents you'll hand over.

In case it can help you, my situation might be the same as yours.
I am father of a thai child, my name is on the birth certificate, but I don't have the legal rights as a father, no court order has ever been done to give me legal rights.

I got several Non O's single entry back to back, no problem, in Savannakhet.

Morever, after my 90 days, I just go to Chaengwattana with my gf, and my son, and I get 60 days more for 1900, there again, never had any problem, even though my son and my gf are not on the same tabien baan.

I always have the 20 000 B when crossing there, but if you didn't have it, don't worry.
Have crossed there at least 15 times, never ever seen people being asked to show money.

Got same type of visa last week at Savannakhet, hassle free, no problem, rules still the same as before.

Been there 2 weeks ago, was quite good indeed, faster than Cambodia.
But seems this border is not always open ?
One day the van company I booked had to change the Myanmar trip to a Cambodia trip in last minute.

Been at least 12 times through Mukdahan, never been asked, never seen anybody being asked.

49 minutes ago, JaiLai said:

Nice report from OP, what day of the week did you go, was it busy?

 

Thanks.

Was there on a thursday last month, was quiet, wednesday even better.
Avoid applying monday for sure.

Next time pay your Lao Visa in USD
They request 1500 THB or 30 USD, not quite the same. Saves you 4-500 THB by paying in USD, depending on your nationality.

Getting a new one should be ok, especially in Vientiane.
But expect some problems when crossing the border.
If i'd be you, i'd have 20 000 THB in cash in my pocket, and also a story to tell explaining how you finance your stay.
They are after people working illegally in Thailand, so, as long as you can show money and have a credible story to tell, you should be ok.

Wearing decent clothes, and looking clean could help a bit too.
 

Let us know how it went

On 10/18/2017 at 11:04 PM, BritTim said:

I am pretty sure those on checkpoints can figure out the nationality of the passport, and can read Thai entry stamps should they elect to do so.

In my experience, at most checkpoints, they are looking for migrant workers on overstay, and usually not at all interested in Westerners.

Indeed, the only two that were checked on the bus last time were Laotians.
You would really need to look like to look like a dirty bagpacker to be checked on these checkpoints.

The surprise can be more at the bus station at Mukdahan.
The immigration was checking any passenger getting off the bus, and were looking for overstayers.

Also interesting, the checks occur only on buses from BKK to Mukdahan.
Never seen a bus being checked on the way back to BKK.

Been on the bus last night to Mukdahan.
First police check, he just checked my passport first page quickly, and gave it back immediately without even bothering at the last stamp.
Second police check, didn't even want to see my passport.

I don't think the dual citizenship will cause any problem.
I once requested a visa at french embassy in Lyon, I sent them my german passport, no problem.
I also do passport switches from time to time. When one passport is too full, I fly out and come back with my second nationality.

Arrived in Kuala Lumpur, flew back same day to BKK, no problem.

I did this last year, flew mornings to KL, came back late afternoon, no problem.

At Mukdahan, take the bus to Savannakhet, 50 THB. 
Make sure you don't leave later than 8 30 from Mukdahan, because leaving with the 9 30 bus doesn't guarantee arriving on time at the consulate (opens at 9 AM, closes at 11 AM for applications)
Forget about walking from the bridge to the consulate, it's quite a walk, with luggage and heat, you'd arrive drenched.
Tuk Tuk or Van, 100 THB if you are alone, maybe 50 THB if you share with others.

If you are fast enough at the Lao immigration, you might also have a chance to catch the bus that goes on to Savannakhet.
From Bus station, it's do-able by walk, approx 1 Km.
You get your visa the next day at 2 PM. 
After, take a tuktuk to the bridge, pass lao immigration, and take a bus ticket to Mukdahan.

1h30 that's quite fair indeed.
Sometimes you get lucky if you don't go with the flow.
My fastest 30 days extension was on a wednesday, got it within 26 mn, yes, 26 mn between queue ticket and getting passport back.

17 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

Not for a non-o based upon marriage at Savannakhet.

For being 50 or over to get a single entry non-o  you need to show 800k in the bank with proof of retirement (a income letter works for that) or proof of 65k baht income or a combination of the 2 totaling 800k baht.

Actually i'm not married yet, just father of a thai child. Does that change anything about funds or onward ticket ?

Do you know if there is any new specific requirement for a Non 0 Single Entry ?
Any proof of funds or onward ticket requested ?

I used to have a room same size as yours, 24 hours a day, set at 28 degrees, used to cost me 3000 THB a month during hot months.
Average was rather 2000-2500.
I had big windows and sun was shining all afternoon on my side of the building, so 3000-3500 is really the worse you could expect.

Another advice would be to locate your power counter when you move in.
In some condos it's accessible, could be inside the room, could be in the corridor just next to your door.
Always a good thing to make a picture of your counter when moving in, saves you from unfair tenants.
If you can locate it, then just check it after a week, multiply the amount of units used by 8 THB, then it'll give you a good idea of what to expect at the end of the month.

I run a 18 000 btu unit in a 22 sqm room, and I estimate the cost at 1500 THB, set at 30 degrees, 24 hours a day, with a unit price of 4 thb

During the hot months, expect a power bill of 2000 THB, max 2500 THB if you set it at 25 degrees
When it gets cooler in july, maybe 1800, max 2000 THB.
This estimation includes the aircon, fridge and kettle.

My advice to save a lot on aircon : don't set it to 25 degrees, way too cold compared to outside temperature, especially in march-april, you'd only end up with a cold.
Set it to 28+, you will see it's more than enough.
Second advice : buy a fan, it provides a very good cool feeling.
Running a fan with aircon at 29-30, is like setting aircon at 27 without fan.
A good fan (40 cms diameter) will cost 80-100 THB monthly if you run it 10 hours a day...and you might end up saving you 500 + THB on aircon power.

So, with a fan, aircon at 29-30, you could keep your bill below 1500 THB a month.

Consider yourself lucky if you're checked only one time in the bus between BKK and Mukdahan.
Can happen up to 3 times.
At the point you mentioned, then there's another one 5-10 kms further.
And if it's not your day, sometimes immigration checks you when you get off at the bus station.
Once i've been checked at the station...and there was an immigration pick up with a cage, already filled up with 20+ people squeezed together, waiting to be sent to the border.
Imagine yourself in the middle of this...

I had one case of emergency 5 years ago.
My Gf had already her visa but myself hadn't yet and it wasn't sure if we could take him with us to France.
So I emailed the embassy, and explained my case.
Fortunately someone very nice gave me an appointment 2 days later and said to come back the next day.
I got the visa as promised.
So, can work sometimes, but you have to contact them first.
I fear showing up without appointment nor warning will trigger more anger than help.
Good luck