Highlandman

We're talking about a country where police officers manually switch traffic lights, 1953 style. I don't doubt anything is possible, but I don't see immigration as enforcers of tax regulations. Only 6% of Thais even pay tax, so clearly the Thai government isn't very efficient with tax collection.

Laos doesn't permit religious proselytizing. Malaysia only allows it for Islam, not other religions. Thailand offers the greatest amount of religious freedom in mainland SE Asia.

Yeah I don't see them doing that either. The tax certificate nonsense from the early 90s might have worked back then when hardly anyone traveled in or out of Thailand by land (at the time, effectively only the Malaysian border was open anyway) and not that many expats were living in Thailand and not many foreigners came to Thailand in general. These days are different, I don't see them going back to that. Anything is possible, though I don't see it happening.

I don't think there were ever any cross border bus services between Thailand and Sihanoukville using that border.

It is a good idea to do that. I asked before I went for my latest visa and was told by someone who did it before me, that the original one was fine. Next time I might consider bringing an updated one, just in case. Only costs 10 Baht anyway.

Yeah true but it's much more common for financed Laotian vehicles to be taken out of the country than for financed Thai ones. Might explain why there is an imbalance, especially at the Vientiane-Nong Khai border, in favor of Lao vehicles coming in to Thailand in greater numbers than Thai vehicles heading to Laos, despite Thailand's greater wealth. 60% of crossings are by Lao registered vehicles and only 40% by Thai vehicles. The ratio is more equal, or possibly slightly more in favor of Thai vehicles at other crossings, but those ones have very few vehicles crossing in general.

Lol. Everyone seems to agree that Thailand has a good Healthcare system and can take care of most problems.

You don't need the updated kor ror 2. That's only required for in country extensions. The original one from when you got married years ago, is good enough for them.

I never heard about any advice to bring a letter written by your wife for Savannakhet, whether pre or post Covid. I've gotten 4 visas through there now, all non-O multiple entry. 3 pre Covid, one post Covid. The requirements are still the same now as they were in early 2020 and prior to that.

Exactly. Several years ago, working for a BOI company, I had a termination letter that gave me 9 days to leave but I left the cancelation until the second last day. I mistakenly assumed that I had to be out on that day and it was early afternoon by the time all processes were completed. I had already booked a hotel in Phnom Penh and was preparing to do the drive to the border followed by grabbing a taxi on the other side (Poipet). I managed to arrive in Phnom Penh around 1145pm that night, after departing the Chamchuri office around 130pm. This was during the anti government protests. I had all my belongings in the car ready to go so got straight in the car with my passport and canceled stamp for my 1 week trip to Cambodia, after which I would return back to Thailand visa exempt. I was pleasantly surprised to see a stamp stating I had until the next day to leave. So i could have easily avoided the stress by leaving early morning the next day instead. Only the ones who don't have a post dated termination letter OR come in on the last day and don't get a 7 day denied extension extension of stay, actually have to depart the very same day, which can be a problem if you haven't got a flight out that evening or you're hours away from a border crossing or the only one nearby closes for the day before you can manage to get there and it's already 4pm. If you're in Bangkok, there are 4 international border crossings (all with Cambodia) that close at 10pm and can be reached within a 5 hour drive (Aranyaprathet, Ban Laem and Ban Pakkard are 3-4 hours away, while Hat Lek is closer to 5 hours). Otherwise, there are evening flights to Vientiane, Phnom Penh, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, among others.

You don't submit child documents even if you have Thai children if the basis for your application is Thai spouse. I have Thai children with my wife but I never submit any documents related to them because I'm not applying on the basis of Thai child.

I was there 3 weeks ago and wife didn't need to be present nor is a letter needed. Nothing has changed from pre Covid.

I got non-O ME at Savannakhet recently..same requirements as before Covid. No letter from wife necessary. Although, for the first time, wife was present in Savannakhet (we did a little tour of Southern Laos) she stayed at the hotel while I applied for the visa. This was just a few weeks ago after you posted your comment.

They are. The immigration office is right next to the bridge too. That's where you do it.

That's the only one which cross border buses use.

Plenty of Cambodians spend their leisure time in Thailand, but few are likely to spend months and months in Thailand at a time, unless they're here for medical treatment (or accompanying someone for medical treatment) or accompanying a family member who's studying in the Kingdom, or they're married to a Thai citizen, something like that.

Not to mention the forced mask wearing and mandatory vaccinations they're given upon enlisting (not Covid, but a whole list of others).

I agree. I don't understand the reluctance to pay to get out of the obligation. I understand the present administration also plans to end conscription (not just MFP, who didn't get into power) but it will probably take a few years before this pans out. It could happen by the end of their administration, but it will take time. For now, there are several options available, the easiest being paying to get out of it.

I doubt she was spying for the authorities but sometimes, people are just curious or they ask for a work permit to activate internet banking that sort of thing.

Ditto. There are countries such as Malaysia, that rather than put a "last day to stay, get out before midnight on this date stamp" they just write "90 days from this date". To avoid ambiguity, I'd assume the date of arrival is day 1, as Thailand does, rather than day 0. I'd then spend 89 days maximum (even based on the date of arrival being day 1) just to have a buffer and no one being able to accuse me of trying to overstay. It's better to leave at least a day or two before the last day, in case of flight delays/cancelations and/or transportation difficulties or reaching a land border crossing too late (if you travel by land) that sort of thing.

Actually, that's not true at all. A 5 year passport costs 1000 Baht and a 10 year one costs 1500. You do it once every 5 or 10 years and even for a one day trip, it's easier and better than using a border pass. In 2009, i took a group of Thai friends to Laos. We only visited Vientiane and Ang Nam Ngeum. One of them had a passport with only 4 months validity left, thus had to do a border pass. This cost 120 Baht (not 30) and took nearly half an hour. A real hassle compared to using a passport. A border pass is useful (and even necessary) at locals only border crossings where passports aren't used. That's the main reason to use them. Your average Thai who uses the main border crossings will probably use a passport.

Lol. Thailand has a very good Healthcare system, certainly when it comes to private hospitals.

Sorry to jump in on this old thread, but I understand the law is still the same. I have made enquiries regarding foreign vehicle ownership in Laos. I was told its possible - as a foreign owned company with light blue on white plates, which identifies the owner as being foreign (blue lettering) on white. I've also seen blue on yellow, which indicates a foreign owned private vehicle. I see no prohibition on foreign ownership of vehicles. Unless someone with recent experience can enlighten me, it seems to be possible. However, unlike Thailand, Laos does permit financed vehicles to leave the country temporarily without special permission required from the finance company. You just need permission from the owner. This means a financed Lao registered car can enter Thailand or Cambodia despite still being owned by the bank.

Yes, I noticed this in Myanmar (Yangon) when I visited for the first time in mid 2004. Had an older man follow me briefly, asked him what the particular well guarded building that I had just passed was. He said he'll tell me later, then asked for my pen and the copy of the Bangkok Post I received on the plane earlier that morning. We went to a tea shop for a chat and I happily gave him those two items. Made his day! In 2013 and early 2015, I was fortunate to visit Muse, the Chinese border town. Security was intense and my colleague and I were required to check in at the Mile 105 checkpoint and again in town, at immigration next to the Chinese border despite also providing our passports to our hotel for registration. We had to check in twice; upon entry and again upon exit. Immigration in town was OK, but customs at the actual border (which we didn't cross and wouldn't have been able to cross without a permit anyway) was sensitive about photo taking and forced me to delete a picture of a truck I took. Yet my colleagues on the Chinese side, just meters away were freely able to take pictures taken of the Burmese side (obviously, the Burmese have no jurisdiction there). Myanmar (Burma) definitely has this police state/surveillance vibe and this is particularly so in sensitive border areas. I know that these things are still there in Laos to an extent too, but I thought they were fast becoming a relic of the past as Lao is modernizing.

Really? As a short term tourist or business traveler, mostly driving around the country in my own car, I've never noticed this. Now, things do change and I'm sure it was common 20 years ago, but now?? Different if you're living there I suppose.