Lippy

thanks too josh

Thanks eek and Cali for your quick responses.

I'm not too worried about the time it'll take,it just takes the pressure off me knowing i can do it that way.

I'm in the South and plan to book both trains in advance and arrive in bkk on a weekend and thought id have to hang around till the embassy opened but now i should have alot more leeway.

The info is much appreciated.

Cheers

Lippy

hi all

Very helpfull thread in these turbulent times at Penang.

I usualy do go to Penang but,after reading all the posts about it and speaking to a malaysian agent on the phone,i am definatly heading to Laos

I've only ever been to Laos one time and that was years ago.At that time i had to apply for a Lao entrance visa through an agent in Bkk,but i understand now you can just go to the Nong Kai border and just pay for a Lao visa on entering the country is that correct? If so what would be the cost in BHT?

I think i did see that you could do this but the post was a little vague so could someone please take the weight off my mind and confirm that for me please

Also can anyone recommend a few cheap places to stay as i am on quite a tight budget.

thanks.

Lippy

I went to Hau Hin last month to extend my Tourist visa for 30days.I asked the officer if i could extend it a further 7 days,as i had done 6 months ago, and was told yes no problem it's 1,900baht.

hi ya

Your alternative to going north would be to head south to Ranong.I live in the south so i use it regulaly and i have'nt been asked for any details(last run was 10th may) ie:onward ticket or proof of funds.

I did use that border when i lived in bkk and i found the nicest way to get there is on the sprinter train that leaves Hua-lumpong(bkk) around 7.45am arrives Chumphon 2.15pm.

This train can get quite busy as its usualy only 3 coaches so it would be wise to book 2-3 days in advance.

You can take a minibus from Chumphon (hour n a half maybe less) to Ranong.

You would probably arrive to late for the border that day but could go 1st thing next morning and be in time to take the minibus back to chumphon.

Tanatwan palace has reasonably prices rooms and the minibus drivers know it well.The minibus office is based next door to Tanatwan.

If they no longer do a visa run service,there's a motorbike taxi rank next door that will get you to immigration.The boat ride to burma is about 30min each way.

Alternatively i'm sure there must be buses going from bkk to ranong but ive never used that route so can't advise.

good luck

Lippy

Hi all

Just an update to let those interested know that i did the 2nd 30day stamp of my new 6month block at Ranong yesterday.

Apart from the rain it was the same as my last one.

No signs about that i could see,no questions about cash or onward tickets were asked and staff were nice and friendly.

As i left i asked to make sure and was told i could get one more 30day stamp there.

good luck all.

Lippy

Check out Sopcast and Tvants.Both p2ptv programs.

Also this site http://www.myp2p.eu/Matches/Match10.htm for links to download that software and clickable links to different sports games.

Very nice forum there too with last min feed links

I wonder how they would have looked at someone who came in Oct 11th on a tourist visa.. Then did 3 x 30 day runs (and some additional day padding with an extension).. Technically his 'block' would also have finished.. Would they give him a 4th 30 day stamp in a row as the block is now cleared ??

My interpretation of the counting at ranong at least was that he looked to the date of my 1st 1 month stamp since the changes and counted forward 6months.So i summise that with the above senario,they would look to the starting date of the 1st 30stamp made after the tourist visa and consequent extentions and count 180days/6months from that point.

As far as extentions of a tourist visa extention,i seem to remember getting a 30day ext then being allowed a 15 day followed by a 7day but this was some yrs ago.I phoned singkorn office and ranong office and was told that 15day wasnt an option but both offices would issue a 7day ext.Infact it appeared that ranong had even set up a little side office to cater for 7day extentions.I chose to go to Hau Hin mainly because they seem to have alot of dealings with expats living there and of course, as it's a big tourist town they probably do a fair few extentions of that kind.For anyone not knowing where the immigration office in Hau Hin is,its inside the main police station there.

Hi all

I've looked at your gr8 forum for awhile now but never really had anything worthwile to contribute so until now i have'nt registered.

I went to Ranong today to start a new batch of 3x1 month stamps.

I saw NO signs what so ever stating an onward ticket was needed was booked out without any warnings of a problem on my return.

I arrived back after the burma run and had no problem at all starting my new block of 3x1m and the immigration guy clearly said to me "you start new 6 month block ok".I confirmed that he meant i could go there 2 more times and he said yes 2 more then need visa.I was'nt asked for any onward ticket and no mention of any proof of money,just a quick and friendly enough service

Just to give a bit more detail on the dates of my last 6 months of stamp/visa/ext...

My 1st stamp after the Oct 1st changes was made on the 11th oct and the ext to my tourist visa took me till the 5th of April.I worked out i had 178 days and after reading here i went to hau hin and got a 7day ext on Tourist visa ext taking me to the 12th.

As far as ranong is corcerned they count forwards from the start date of the 1st 30 stamp.

I hope this eases a few troubled brows for the near if not long term future