asialife

That cleared things up for me greatly, tnx

I hope this is the correct forum for this question.

 

I've posted a question yesterday about where to buy Studio Monitors. I'm now exploring the option of having them send over from Germany. These are my own set that are in storage. I can have them send over with DHL for 60 Euros. I bought the speakers for 120 Euros. How much tax do I have to pay on arrival in Thailand. Should I include a purchase invoice so customs knows the price?

 

tnx in advance

asialife

Everyone has to decide on it's own, but I personally don't go an hour ahead of opening time. I did it the first time, and there was already 30-40 people in line. 2 months ago I'll arrived a bit after 11am and was out very quickly, well in fact I sat a while around, because I didn't know the two guys checking all the paperwork, transfer it to the consulate for you. If you come after 11:30am you'll be denied, as I witnessed that two.

I stay usually at least 4-5 days in Vientianne, so even if I show up too late, I'll just go the next day.

Quite a few people go inside, pick their number and having breakfast / coffee in the restaurant accross the street, nowadays you get even coffee within the consulate compound.

Thanks to everyone responding.

So you are saying that many people go early mornings, but to avoid the crowed 11pm is best? In other words, most people are already done. What do you mean about the two guys and paperwork? I have a strict schedule because my ticket might not be easily changed and certainly not cheap.

Anyone else have this experience, coming later I mean?

OP, can you let me know how this goes for you? If you needed the bank statements, plane ticket out of TH, etc.? I'm fixing to do the same thing at the end of the month.

It was pretty easy and straight forward. I must say that I wasn't busy at all. I went on a Tuesday around 10am. No ticket or bank statement needed for a single entry tourist visa.

I must say that in my opinion, everything in Vientiane seemed more expensive than in Bangkok and some more than in Pattaya. I only stayed 2 nights and would have only stayed 1 if There was only a morning flight to get me to the embassy on time. I'm not a Vientiane fan.

Everyone has to decide on it's own, but I personally don't go an hour ahead of opening time. I did it the first time, and there was already 30-40 people in line. 2 months ago I'll arrived a bit after 11am and was out very quickly, well in fact I sat a while around, because I didn't know the two guys checking all the paperwork, transfer it to the consulate for you. If you come after 11:30am you'll be denied, as I witnessed that two.

I stay usually at least 4-5 days in Vientianne, so even if I show up too late, I'll just go the next day.

Quite a few people go inside, pick their number and having breakfast / coffee in the restaurant accross the street, nowadays you get even coffee within the consulate compound.

Thanks to everyone responding.

So you are saying that many people go early mornings, but to avoid the crowed 11pm is best? In other words, most people are already done. What do you mean about the two guys and paperwork? I have a strict schedule because my ticket might not be easily changed and certainly not cheap.

Anyone else have this experience, coming later I mean?

Hi

In another thread I've gotten some information about getting a tourist visa in Laos. So I'm flying directly from BKK with Thai Airways to Vientiane and ill be arriving around midday. Im arriving May 16, embassy 17, pick up passport 18 and late night flight back to Thaialnd.

• Can someone recommend a hotel? I guess it's better to stay where there is something to do, instead of staying near the embassy.
• Arriving at embassy one hour before opening, will that be on time? I have some problems with my legs and cannot stand around for hours.
• Do I need bank information and flight information out of Thailand?
• Visa on arrival for Laos paid in cash USD? Im dutch so I guess 35 USD

Any other information people like to share would be appreciated. It's nice to hear from people who recently done the trip themselves and have don't the legwork without a fixer/agent.

tnx

HI,

My g/f and I spend a few months in the Philippines and about 3 or 6 months in Thailand. She was always with me but had the normal 30 days on entry and then got an extension. We would then travel to Laos or Cambodia for a holiday returning to Thailand and she got again the 30 days and an extension. When we flew in early February from Manila she was told in BKK immigration she had over 5 trips, the officer said "you could be working" I said no we have a Condo here and visit often. Anyway she was told you cannot come in again unless you have a visa, so hence the trip to Vientiane.

The benefit of the Agent we used was he met us at the Hotel opposite at 7am them only needed her Passport and photo. We met him at 1pm and paid him, her number was 5? people we met waiting the next day numbered into over the 150's. The next day we met him at again 1pm and she went in to sign for her Passport and was out in 10 minutes. People were waiting for hours, so I think 1,500 plus the 1000 for the visa was well spent.

I do not wish to give names over this forum, but this guy had a good contact in the Embassy. There are many fixers outside some even cheaper. Good luck if you decide to use Vientiane.

Ok thanks for that information. I think our Philippines situation is different so we are good. From what i understand, the guy came early to your hotel and probably went early to the embassy. He might have some connections too, but 1 hour before opening should be early enough. I can always change my mind :-)

My G/friend and I are in Vientiane at the moment. She needed a visa as she was told with over 5 entries she had to get a visa! She is Filipina and we used a fixer who was recommended, and he charged 1,500 Baht. There were long Que and all she had to do was go in for about 10 minutes and sign. We pick up the passport and visa this afternoon. One point she did not have to pay for entry visa being Filipina but it was $36 for me!

Can you elaborate a little bit more. I'm interested in a few points you are making. Your GF has 5 entries. Are they with or without extensions? How did she know she needed a visa? For example, when she arrived from manila in bkk, the immigration officer told her?

1500B might be a lot or not depending on the time you waste in line or if you can prevent it by going early. I wouldn't mind coming an hour early if that means I'm the first in line. But, a fixer might get things done that i couldn't. Where did you find the fixer?

Also, what documents did you need? bank Statement, ticket out of Thailand etc?

Phew, many questions :-)

tnx

tnx Joe

1 more question

I'm a bit confused about the 2 business days service ...next day pick up.

will this itinerary work?

Depart Monday 16 May
Thai Airways – Flight 574 (economy) 19:35 20:45 Boeing 737-400 (Narrow-body Jet) | 1h 10m | 9+ seats remain Return Thursday 19 May
Thai Airways – Flight 575 (economy) 21:30 22:35 Boeing 737-400 (Narrow-body Jet) | 1h 05m | 9+ seats remain

This would mean, Going to the embassy Tuesday 17 May and picking up my document Thursday 19 May afternoon and fly back to BKK at night.

Anyway, to do it faster with fixer? I'd like to minimize my stay in Loas.

That's great news darren

tnx

Hi

I had 4 30 day extensions over the last months. I did go home in January for two weeks but couldn't find time to get a proper visa. After the extensions I did a same day flight to KL to get a new exempt stamp, but they keep telling me i need to get a visa next time. I'm not trying to push my luck and want to go for a visa this time.

I thought that Laos might be a good idea. Anyone have experience with a couple of extensions in their visa and still able to get a 90 days tourist visa in Laos? I have no visas in my passport.

tnx

Last month a made a miscalculation and had 1 day overstay when I went for my visa run to Malaysia. When i returned (the same day) the immigration officer took his sweet time giving me my 30 days visa exemption. Eventually he did though.

This time it's even worse, I'm flying to my home country for a few weeks but with three days overstay. The plane leaves just after midnight so I will hit airport immigration before 12 am so it will be 2 days overstay.

So my question is, should i go to airport immigration and pay for the two days overstay or get an extension. Getting an extension would involve me renting a hotel room for two nights because i live in a private condo. 2 days overstay might be cheaper. On the other hand, having those overstay stamps in your passport may get me into trouble when I come back.

I do plan on getting a tourist visa when i come next.

Another thing I've been wondering about. Doing a one day visa trip to Malaysia works. It's cheap and fast, and surely more comfortable then a border run by bus. But i wonder if it is necessary to leave the country at all. Wouldn't it be possible to just go through immigration and back immidiatly? I then thought about the entry stamp of Malaysia what would be missing in your passport. But, If you go to a country like Hong Kong, you don't get a stamp at all.

I'm very interested in the first question, the second would be a bonus if someone knows about this :-)

TNX

pretend they are sooo clever and you are soooo dumb and they are happy

hehehe, they might even be right :-)

If you're staying in a private property the IO might ask for a TM30 to be completed by the owner/house-master even if getting an extension of stay for a tourist visa.

This has been discussed already, and somewhere was this picture of the document they show you at the reception of Jomtien Immigration for a 30-days extension:

So, from #4 to #7, only the last, #7, was necessary in my case.

That makes the whole process pretty easy to get through.

In my friends case too. Only number 7 but this was in a hotel. Will they accept a receipt from Airbnb as well?