ThLT

Apparently, Myanmar is now open, since April 17. However, a PCR test is required to enter, and also a second PCR test on arrival (with a hotel booking while awaiting results). Obviously, no reports. And no one can say if it's a good option to do a visa run. https://www.exotravel.com/blog/en/myanmar-reopening/

Isn't the "7 days to leave country" a glaring red stamp in your passport? Which doesn't look good when applying for a visa at an embassy... or when entering Thailand, and the IO wants to find a reason to deny you entry?

What do you think is the best visa run option at the moment?

Country borders have been opening up. Those who entered on a Non-Immigrant visa apparently can't get COVID extensions anymore. Some people need to get a Non-Immigrant B visa for work (and can't change inside the country). So, what are the current options available to do a visa run? What are the entry requirements (PCR test, visa for that country)? How friendly is the embassy of that country? Reports? CAMBODIA Has been possible for some time. No PCR test needed. Visa on arrival. Although, embassy in Cambodia has in the past not been the best. Report. SINGAPORE? PCR test/professionally-administered ATK test (less than 48 hours before flight) needed? Also, apparently embassy is a bit difficult for Thai visa? MALAYSIA? PCR test (less than 48 hours before flight) needed? VIETNAM? PCR test not needed (rapid test fine)? No vaccination proof needed. Evisa for most countries (or visa exemption for 13 countries). Apparently, embassy appointments required. INDONESIA? PCR test (less than 48 hours before flight) needed? VOA? LAOS? Possible in travel group only. Maybe solo travel possible in May. PCR test less than 72 hours will still be needed. A lot of the information from the above is from here, although I don't know how correct it is. Most of the requirements are presented with a question mark, as to encourage more infirmation/a confirmation. Any other country? Have any experience with any of these visa runs? Reports? Information to be corrected or added?

It'd be better off if he were talking about this in a pub, and the guy next to him just walked off. According to the forum platform, 1,600 people read the man's drivel, to then realize it was drivel.

Country is basically fully open, yet some still continue to complain, posting an article about a single Thai YouTuber complaining about Test&Go. All this with a clickbaity thread title falsely implying it's the whole population of Thailand that is complaining about Test&Go. PCR test was cancelled, Test&Go is a nuisance, but it's not the draconian "insane measure" you make it out to be. And it'll be eventually cancelled as well. Complaining about it on an expat forum doesn't do anything either.

Yeah, but he had to get into Laos in the first place, before coming back into Thailand. It's the getting into Laos without being part of a tour group that I'm interested in. If you're in Laos, the Lao government can't force you to stay in the country, I'd imagine.

From what I understand, you need to be part of a travel group. OP, was that the case, or you entered yourself from the Nong Khai Friendship Bridge?

Entering Thailand via a Laos land border is currently possible?

So you only had Thai bank statements. Got it. No, having Thai bank statements is not a requirement for a tourist visa. Having bank statements is a requirement.

So, when applying for a tourist visa, did you present banks statements from you home country? Then, you are saying the IO asked you to give bank statements from you Thai bank account as well (that he didn't know you had)?

Multiple times. When I was a genuine tourist. Nice try, though.

For a tourist visa, if you present bank statements from your home country... there is no reason whatsoever why the IO would also ask for statements from a Thai bank. Makes zero sense. Unless you have a bunch of B visas in your passport.... But even then, if you already presented bank statements, makes zero sense of IO asking for Thai banks statements as well. My guess is that you didn't have bank statements from you home country.

In formal logic, this is called denying the antecedent. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denying_the_antecedent

Thai bank statements are better than no bank statements, sure. But definitely not "equally acceptable" when applying for a tourist visa. If you want to think it's the same, feel free to do so.

Again, if you have a Thai bank account, you're probably not a tourist. And when applying for a tourist visa, it's best to show bank statements from your home country. Showing them your rent agreement, and your monthly phone bill, is also a bad idea, but @Daithi85 and @Mac Mickmanus will probably say it's a good idea, when requesting a tourist visa. ????

I'll call BS on that.

Yes, you can use Thai bank account statements for a tourist visa. It is a bad idea, and it is 100% bad advice.

Wow, 600 people applying for a visa, and you know for a fact that "many of those 600 were illegal English teachers applying for tourist visas." You talked with all of them individually? You had a chat with the IO who processed all those 600 visas, in Laotian or broken English, about those 600 illegal teachers requesting tourist visas? I'm arguing with 2 supernatural psychics here. ????

It's better to have a Thai bank account than carrying wads of cash? Sure, and? 99.9% of actual tourists just take out money from ATMs. If you have a Thai bank account, you're probably not a real tourist. LOL. So now you can speak Laotian and can read the minds of IOs. ????

You can get lucky, present Thai bank account statements, and still get your tourist visa. It doesn't mean it's a good idea, especially for a tourist visa. However, in your original post, you said it was a required to have have statements from a Thai bank account. Which again, is false. It is required to have bank statements.

LOL. ???? Then I imagine they refuse every single tourist who doesn't have a Thai bank account... since according to you it's a requirement. ???? Completely contradictory and illogical.

You said, for a tourist visa, it is required to show proof of funds from a Thai bank account: You 100% made that up. And is 100% false. Here is the the Savanakhet requirements for a tourist visa: https://savannakhet.thaiembassy.org/th/publicservice/104412-tourist-visa?page=5d84a44c15e39c26b400453e&menu=5d84a44c15e39c26b400453f Tourists usually don't have a Thai bank account.

Here are the Vientiane consulate visa requirements, of all visa categories, with not a single mention of needing to have bank statements from a Thai bank account for a tourist, or even a work visa for that matter:

You got lucky. And this is bad advice. A tourist having a Thai bank account is illogical. Perfect reason for an IO to refuse your visa.