anotherfarangishere

I don't see the reason to call them public minivans but anyway, public or private, I don't want to use minivans.

I don't want to use mini van (remember?) 😇 I just have a look on Internet: there are shuttle from UT airport to friendship bridge, the site was speaking of 150 bahts, so, it's the price for private mini van I guess, not public bus. I checked your link: maybe there was already a story about a 100 baht fee 10 years ago, but I'm not sure...

Thanks for you comment! Well, you already mentioned it few weeks ago! I flied to Udon Thani only one time - again, 10 years ago - and I didn't like it as the transport from airport to the city was difficult: the driver wanted his minivan was full before to leave and let us wait for 30 or 40 minutes. Furthermore, it was rude. Above all, I don't see the point in not using the night train: Nong Khai railway station is a 10/15 minutes walk to the border (or a 30/40 minutes one to the center or the bus station if you want to go to Udon instead of wait 6 hours the train to Bangkok in Nong Khai station, or you can take a tuk-tuk, of course). That said, now I'm decided to use Nong Khai, I'm still going to have a look about flights to Udon. But 2 consecutive nights in the train is not a problem for me (at least, it wasn't 10 years ago, but now, with 10 more years, who knows... 😁) I just edited my post: "P.S. Is there a way to get PDF of the Lao forms to fill them in Thailand?"

Hello everyone, I'm in Bangkok and planning to make a visa run in Nong Khai around August 30. I did it a lot of times 10 yeas ago, but not recently. From what I read, in 2024, for Lao visa with a French passport I need: - 40 dollars with new banknotes in very good condition (extra 1 dollar is charged if my visa is processed out of the official working time) - a photography So, if I remember correctly, except it was $30 by the past, things didn't change. For coming back the same day to Thailand, my immigration history is as follow: - 0 visa run since many years - after 6 months outside Thailand, I came back around March 25 with an e-visa that I extended for 30 days - stayed 10 days in HK and flied without visa to Chiang Mai on July 2 where I got 30 days exemption that I extended for 30 days So, it should be a no brainer to make a 60 days exemption visa run at Nong Khai, that said if someone has some warnings or very recent - after July 15 - bad experience, I'll love to hear from him. Thank you! P.S. Is there a way to get PDF of the Lao forms to fill them in Thailand?

? I said from the beginning that I've a TM30. So yes. But many people didn't. They were asked where they were stayed, I'm not sure what they show instead.

Well, last time, I arrived around 8:20, got number 2 and after paying 1900 bahts have to wait less than 10 minutes to get my passport. I know it seems incredible and I've no idea why there was nobody... This time - eventually I went today, not Friday - I arrived à 8:10 and there was already more than 50 people 😩 I got the number 66 and after I payed the 1900 bahts, I have to wait 45 minutes to get my passport (it was 10:35am). Maybe next time I'll try to make an appointment.

? Last time I was at IT square I went very early and stayed less than 20 minutes (forms already filled at home). I'll do the same thing this time.

Very smart comment. But I'm in Thailand since 2004.

So nothing new?... Ok. I want to stay to Thailand until October first week. But I'm reluctant to make a border bounce, I did too many by the past, it's the overdose. Or maybe Nong Khai : night train two times + Lao Visa. No problem at this border to re-entry Thailand the same day ? As I want to go to Korea in October, I should stay one month in Vietnam... or Hong Kong... or... Thank you anyway.

Hello, I'll go on IT square Friday for extension of a 30 days exemption. Something new I should know? For example, IT square is now closed, back to government complex... 😩 I've TM7 with photo, TM30, STM2 and Acknowledgement of Penalties, Photocopies passeport, 1900 bahts. Some good news maybe: as exemption visa is now 60 days since July 15, unlucky farangs with exemption 30 days get 60 days extension! 🤪 Thank you!

It complicates things and you've to spend more money. Also, not all cities have direct flights to CM. BTW, I hoped until the last moment that the new 60 days exemption will become effective, but on July 2 I got 30 days... (can't find a truly crying emoji)

Arrived today in Chiang Mai after 9 days in Hong Kong - so I stayed 9 days outside Thailand - without visa and no problem at all. Young lady at immigration was friendly: she answered when I said Sawadee Khap and gave me back my wai. I stayed 1 minute at the counter or maybe less.

Sure, thank you!

Ok, thank you very much for the explanation. Could you say a little bit more about "My border run company offered to facilitate my arrival by plane even if I did just a 1 day trip out of Thailand and came back." ? Some "border run" company can help you to clear immigration with money ? Also, did you enjoy your Elite Visa? Could you really clear immigration very fast? Did you get some free car from airport to your booking or some other advantages you're missing now?

I stopped to go Thailand until 2021. Then, I came back in december 2021 - with a new passport - when they opened Thailand again at the end of the pandemic, doing everything needed. Then, thanks to the covid-19 extensions I stayed 10 months I left in October 2022 and came back without visa the last days of February 2023. When they find I had stayed 10 months in 2022 - some people stayed 2 years with the covid extensions, just like me I stayed 22 months in KL - again, they make me problem, this time at Suvarnabhumi. They checked my file and found I've been denied entry in 2018. It seems they can't see why, as they asked to me why I was denied entry and asked to see my previous passport but I don't have it with me anymore. Eventually they let me in after they have checked I have bought a ticket to leave Thailand and I've booked something for my stay. I got a 30 days extension without any problem and came back on July 1, 2023, but at Chiang Mai. I didn't have any problem and the lady who checked my passport was friendly. Again, I got a 30 days extensions once in Bangkok. So, I stayed only 4 months in Thailand in 2023. And last, I came back at Suvarnabhumi at the end of March 2024 with an e-visa I got in Korea. I didn't have any problem, the man at immigration looked very cold, didn't answer to my "Sawadee Khap" but while he was checking my printed e-visa - I confirm it must be printed, you can't show your smartphone - give me a smile and nodded to show me everything was okay (and even gave me back my wai!).

??? I don't understand what you mean, could you explain? You've an Elive visa by the past (5 years? 10 years?), but it has now expired?

I was myself very surprised. I was coming back from Philippines, following some weeks in Kuala Lumpur. By the past, I made a lot of visa run or 2 or 3 days in Cambodia and I was sometimes nervous, but never had a problem. This time, I was very relax... And the irony, is 2018, since 2005, wat the year I've passed the less time in Thailand. BTW, after reading many reports that people have their e-visa denied - and lost 1000 bahts - in HK because the weren't residents, I didn't try to get one and bought a ticket to Chiang Mai for July 2.

No, as Lorry noted, I said DM (the "old" airport!).

I didn't sign it and still got a huge stamp on the last page of my passport.

In February 2019 I was refused entry at DM after being out for 6 weeks. I was dressed nicely and was very polite, I handed my passport to the officer - a man - holding it with both hands, saying hello in Thai, etc. And I was refused entry because I have spent too many time in Thailand... the previous year (2018).

Yes they ask for e-visa.

It's what I've done in Korea: the form asked for a proof, I scanned the stamp they put on my passport on arrival in Korea. So, I can prove I'm in Hong Kong - yes, I'm! - but the problem is that I'm not a resident. I've booked until July 2 in a guesthouse but the last comments I read on Google are bad: some people have their visa refused because they weren't residents. And as announced, even they refuse the visa, they keep the money. And while 1000 bahts is not a big deal, by principle, it's still hard to swallow. I'll decide tomorrow if I try or not the e-visa. On July 2, I'll be back to Thailand, with or without visa. Maybe I'l go to Chiang Mai where immigration is more "relax" but the cost for direct flights is at least 2 times more expensive: HK - Chiang Mai is more expensive thant HK - Bangkok + flight Chiang Mai - Bangok to pay (or you can save around 1000 bahts by sleeper train).

Euh... what do you mean? Saigon is not a border with Thailand! To get exemption visa you need to cross a border. So, 30 or 60 days, you won't get it at Saigon! Or you just love Saigon and you think it's a good place to go before to come back to Thailand?

Thanks for your answer but wait, it's a little bit unclear: 1.) What is "a French passport in HK"? Your French passport was issued in HK? (mine has a Thai address but was issued in Kuala Lumpur). 2.) Did you stay many months in HK? 3) When did you apply? Merci!

When and where did you do it? In HK? I also made one without problem in Korea but rules change with embassy, it's never clear.