Caldera

They're real charmers, aren't they? I just flew there again about a week ago. On the bright side, they've never asked me a single question. Ever.

Getting a bank statement and updating your passbook are two different things though. I think it's not possible (at any bank) to get a bank statement that includes transactions from today. Passbook updates, on the other hand, may well include the latest transactions even from the same day.

It can be difficult to get a definitive answer before you go there. You could try calling the Chong Mek border crossing. If they answer the phone and understand your question, you might get to avoid an unnecessary trip. At a land border or in-country immigration office, it's not unheard of that they ask you for a "service fee" of 500-1000 baht. It's free at the airport. They have a special desk for that and you'll get sent there by the line IO you queued up to. It's a very quick and painless process at the airport.

Contact some Bangkok-based border run agencies, I'm sure they will be happy to accommodate you. I know some people have used a private taxi to the border and just used the agencies for the border procedures, so self-drive should be an option as well.

It's not a very busy border crossing, so you should really try to check if they can do the passport transfer before you go. I don't think they'd reject it altogether, but what could happen is that they send you to an immigration office within Ubon Ratchathani province for the transfer, if nobody at the border can do it.

You will need to check if it's even possible at the land border crossing you plan to leave from. Where you will re-enter doesn't matter, as your current entry stamp will need to be transferred when you leave Thailand. I'd consider flying out, as switching passports at the airport is guaranteed to be hassle-free. Did you get a 30-day extension or plan to get one? If you did get one already (in your old passport), the immigration office you used might be willing to transfer your stamps. If you plan to get one before leaving, the immigration office will have to transfer your entry stamp before processing the extension in your new passport.

I have to agree, that would be insane. Not the first time I've heard that an agent asks for this, but it's mind-boggling to think that some people would go along with that.

Moves to Southeast Asia. Complains about noise. Could have known all about noise after holidaying there for a couple of weeks before deciding to move there. End of.

I read your first post and found it that confusing that I wondered when (not if) you were on drugs, at the time that guesthouse incident allegedly happened or at the time you posted that. Paranoia or trolling, I really cannot tell.

Other than having been a racist demagogue most of his life, he really hasn't done a lot.

Two asses facing off, always fun to watch as long as you have enough popcorn...

As of October when I renewed there, you could walk in to make an appointment in person, but the appointment was 1-2 weeks later - so it required two visits. The main benefit was that online appointments weren't available until much later at another DLT that I had checked (Bang Chak area).

Do you currently need a valid Thai driving license? If not, you can renew your license within one year after expiration without having to undergo additional testing. That would give you more time to sort out your visa situation, but you wouldn't be allowed to drive using your expired license in the meantime. As a tourist, you can only get a temporary 2-year license, even if you're renewing a 5-year license.

That's usually one of three things: Either a missing/outdated TM30 notification or someone who tried to apply for an extension a 2nd time for the same entry or someone coming from a country that aren't given 30-day extensions. There's a surprising number of people who show up poorly prepared without knowing the rules and requirements. But I've been following this closely here and elsewhere, and I've never seen a credible report of an arbitrary rejection (an IO using their "discretion" to reject a 30-day extension application).

In practice, we never really see any reports of a rejection of a 30-day extension for a visa exempt (or tourist visa) stay. Not even from individual and potentially "rogue" immigration offices. That has been consistently the case ever since they became available for those entering visa exempt. Considering how inconsistently different immigration offices apply the rules in other matters, that in itself is a remarkable fact. The question whether an applicant is formally "entitled" to such an extension borders on the irrelevant for that very reason; they are routinely given without fuss as long as a proper application is submitted.

That used to be the case, but not any longer, as they're now using the eVisa system as well.

That surprises me, they changed the system a while ago so that you have to clear immigration where you first land in Thailand. In your case, at special international to domestic transfer immigration counters at DMK. Has that changed again?

That really depends on the local immigration office,so it would be nice if you could tell us which one you're using. In Bangkok (Chaeng Watthana immigration office), from my experience, having just the online certificate you print yourself is perfectly fine for all immigration matters. Presumably they look it up in their system anyway, so unless there's a mismatch, you just file the printout because they love paper.

That was my point. If you use a safe entry service for guaranteed hassle-free entry, why get a tourist visa on top of that? It doesn't offer any additional benefit.

If you are going to use a safe entry service, you can just as well save yourself the time and money to apply for a tourist visa.

Nice to hear that it ended well for you just before the end of่ the year. Thanks for keeping us posted. Not knowing beforehand is the biggest issue, along with the hassle and less than friendly treatment. A little break in Vientiane for a couple of nights isn't that bad in itself.

With a power-tripping IO, you're not doing yourself any favor mentioning any of that. Firstly, the IO could reply that any foreigner who is staying with his family long-term instead of merely visiting their family on holiday is supposed to apply for extensions in-country instead of doing border bounces. Secondly, a power-tripping IO in particular might actually enjoy his power trip even more when he can sense real desperation to get back. Ultimately, that is EXACTLY what gives him power over you. Know your opponent!

Unless that's a very recent development (which wouldn't completely surprise me, considering what has been reported from border crossings with Laos lately), same-day border runs to Cambodia should be possible when using a border run service, so it might be worth checking with a few other agencies. What's your passport country and where in Thailand would you like to start the border bounce from?

As things stand, you'll need to pay at the consulate (no online payment option). They also want to see a picture of your Lao entry stamp as proof that you're in Laos at the time of application. Their rules state that you need to stay in the country where you apply for the entire duration of the visa application process. They might or might not ask for further proof of your compliance with this. Long story short, it doesn't look like a good option.

That's worth a shot, if the OP is willing to hop on a bus to Paksan tomorrow morning, chances are he'd be able to get in at Bueng Kan without further delay.