irisgodd3ss

He's scaring me, I'm off to Vientiane next week! Can anyone else substantiate this? Thanks!

Me and the boyfriend are trying to synchronize our visas, and since I'm a couple of weeks ahead, I had to go to Cambodia yesterday, then on to Vientiane in a couple of weeks. I used the visa service that meets in the Tesco in On Nut.

Anyhow, when Claudio, the German operator inspected my passport (I'm Filipino, by the way), he was surprised to see that I had a double entry visa from Laos, which I got last January. He then told me that he also does runs to Vientiane, and none of his Filipino clientele were ever given double entry tourist visas. He thinks that I 'just got lucky' - quite disconcerting since I'm headed there in a couple of weeks.

I'm guessing his clients got denied the double entry cz they went as a group, while I usually do my visa runs alone; though why this would matter is beyond me. So my question is, does anyone know if this is true? Have you seen or heard of any Filipinos who were denied a double entry tourist visa from Vientiane? Thanks!

Quick question. My boyfriend is British, how much will his visa to Laos cost? Thanks!

Quick question - I hear there's a minibus or whatever service operating out of Ekkamai for Ban Laem (not Jack Golf). Does anyone have more information about this like phone numbers, email/website, schedules, location, etc.?

Also, does the Poipet border still ask for air tickets and/or bank statement? Many thanks in advance.

I might have missed it somewhere in the thread, but does anyone know which Thai Consulate in Laos this happened?

Hi, all! Just a quick question. Next month, I'll be going on my 4th tourist visa. My previous 3 were a single from Penang, a single from Hongkong, and a double from Vientiane. In July I'm planning to go back to Vientiane for another double entry tourist visa. My question is: just in case I do get denied (which I certainly hope NOT!), can I enter back through the Nong Khai border on a 30-day exempt entry without an onward plane ticket somewhere? That's what worries me - that I'll be stuck in Vientiane with nowhere to go.

Hello, I just have a really quick question. My boyfriend has a double entry tourist visa from Vientiane. My question is if he exits/enters at Poipet, will he need to present an onward plane ticket or anything else when he still has a second entry on his visa? Many thanks!

If he's a British national, he's allowed 21 days without visa. He doesn't have to pay any fees upon entry. He will only pay if he wants to extend his stay for more than the allowed 21 days. Are you flying straight to Cebu? Take a look at this website, it may help you with other info : Philippines Visa FAQ

Great to know! Yes, we're flying direct to Cebu from Bangkok via Cebu Pacific. They do direct flights 3x a week now, which is fab cz I loathe Manila. Lol! Anyhow, thanks for the reply!

Hi! I was born and raised in Cebu, but sad to say, I don't know much about visa stuff. Me and my British boyfriend will be visiting my city for a week in April. I know he's entitled to 21 days without a visa. My question is does he have to pay for that entry when we get to the Cebu airport? If so, how much? Thanks heaps for the help!

Hello, all! I hope somebody could help me out.

In mid-January I went to Vientiane to get a double entry tourist visa. I got it just fine, no sweat. When I crossed the border in Nong Khai, however, the immigration guy stamped it with USED. I didn't think much of it. I just assumed that it meant that one entry has been used.

Just last week, my boyfriend went to Vientiane to get his double entry. When he crossed Nong Khai, however, his visa wasn't stamped with USED, rather it was just marked with a "1" plus a stamp of the date.

My question is is this going to be a problem for me when I get my second entry? Is there a way I can get this changed? Please help! Thaks heaps!

Hi all! I'm a Filipina living in Bangkok and recently me and my British bf have decided to move back to Cebu (where I come from) within the next 5 months or so because of the rather unstable visa situation here. Now the man has a whole apartment full of stuff (e.g. 50" TV, complete theater system, refrigerator, the works) and you all know how guys are with their stuff. We're now looking for cargo forwarders to ship all the appliances safely. Can anyone recommend a company? How much would it cost, ballpark? Thanks!

I think this is the Vientiane visa run guide that everyone's been looking for. Great job!

Anyhow, does anyone know what street the Thai consulate in Vientiane is on and what streets are close by? I want to find the nearest possible GH to stay in when I get there.

I got my second tourist visa last October '07 in HK. It was painless. I dropped it off before lunch on a Thursday and picked it up before lunch the next Monday (Friday was a HK public holiday). I didn't even know that people had problems getting TVs there because it went smoothly. I agree with the copier issue, though. The consulate had their own copier, but they weren't too keen on letting other people use it, so I had to go to the building next door (Lippo Centre) for a copier. It was a pleasant enough walk on a covered pathway, and I ended up having some fabulous cheesecake.

Anyhow, good luck and let us know how it turns out. It's always nice to be updated on what the consulates are up to.

I'm pretty much on the same boat. I'm a Filipina living in BKK with my boyfriend who's a teacher. I work online so I can't (and don't want to) get a job locally, so a non-b and work permit is out of the question.

I suppose she can always get an ed visa if she's going to attend school here, considering she's going back to school to get a degree. She can also get a one-year ed visa by studying the language. I believe there's a school advertising on this site. Otherwise, she can go the tourist visa route like me. hel_l of a lot of anxiety, though. After all, one never really knows when one will be denied a TV. I'm going on my third TV in a few days, so you can imagine my nervousness.

Anyhow, good luck! If you find of better ways to get your girl to stay here, do share.

On the return trip we set off at about 6pm and arrived back in Bangers around 6 in the morning. I believe the cost for the return trip was only 800bt or so. If I find the details I'll post again.

Hi all! Thanks for the uber fab replies. Looks like Im all set for my Vientiane trip and I cant wait.

Just one last question: if I do decide to go the organized bus route, can I book it in Vientiane? Thanks!

Okay, I probably might be asking the same questions already asked by others, so I totally apologize. I just want to do this right.

My plan is to take the bus from Morchit to Nong Khai in about 12 days time. It arrives at Nong Khai at around 7AM and I want to get to the Thai consulate in Vientiane before noon.

How do I get from the bus station to the Friendship bridge and how much will it cost (ballpark)? What do I take (tuk tuk, mini bus, etc.) across the bridge to Laos and (again) how much will it cost? Once in Lao soil, how to I get to the Thai consulate in Vientiane and (yet again) how much will it cost? Is it pretty much the same exercise in reverse going back?

Just want to make sure I don't get tricked fare-wise. I'm not a very good haggler. Thanks so much!

On a more serious note, does anyone know or heard of a Filipino denied a TV anywhere? I'm on my third and I'm a little apprehensive.

For what it's worth, I don't think you have a better or worse chance of getting a TV than any citizens of western nations.

Good Luck! I'll be interested in hearing your story as my Filipino GF and I will be heading there soon.

I sure will. Looks like I'm off to Vientiane in 12 days or so.

Zeus, how did you get back to BKK? Did you still take the bus? Great account on your trip, BTW.

FYI i'm going to Vientiane by bus from bangers tomorrow; i'll post how it goes. i'll probably spend a week or so in Laos so if i don't post right away it doesn't (necessarily) mean i've been kidnapped.

bus ticket is 900 baht one way straight to Vientiane. last time i went to Vientiane i took the train and tuk-tuk'd to the border crossing.

Is this out of Morchit with the ticket purchased there. Do know the departures time(s) and stops?

i got mine through a travel agent because i was lazy and 900 baht seemed quite reasonable to me (one way, i'll prob book my bus back to bangers through my guest house) they are private charters and leave from somewhere near KSR in the early evening, around 7 or 8 pm.

a lot of waiting around at the Nong khai border as you have to change buses on the Lao side (and wait for a raggedy little Lao bus) but expect to pay about 200 baht for a tuk tuk to Vientiane if you have no patience to wait for the bus. the bus dropped us approximately between the black stupa and the river in vientiane, a good area to look for guest houses.

tomorrow consulate should be open, i expect i'll give it a go. will advise.

Hi! Is the raggedy little Lao bus that you waited for part of the 900 baht price? Can you recommend the agent in KSR that you got your seat from?

I'm a Filipina about to go on my third TV. Just to add my 2 cents' worth on the discussion about us getting TVs for free. I got my first one in Penang in July '07 and that was for free. My second TV was from HK and I had to pay HK$230 for that, so I suppose it depends on the consulate whether they want to give it gratis to a Filipino or not. Here's hoping I'll get it free in Vientiane. LOL.

On a more serious note, does anyone know or heard of a Filipino denied a TV anywhere? I'm on my third and I'm a little apprehensive.

Can anybody tell me about getting to Udon Thani by land (e.g. bus/train fares, timetables, etc.)? Also, I'm looking into tour groups for Vientiane visa runs but apparently Jack Golf don't do them anymore. Does anyone know of other companies? Thanks!

I had my last visa run in HK (October '07). I had absolutely no problem at all. I was in and out of there in 10 minutes tops. They didn't require a return ticket, either. HK has their own budget airline, the name of which escapes me, which just opened a direct flight to BKK. I flew to Macau through AirAsia, though, and crossed to HK on the Turbo Jet. Good fun, beautiful view of Victoria Harbor.

Is it advisable to apply for the tourist visas in different consulates? I'm a freelance writer and I travel a lot. I spend most of my time in Thailand, though, cz the boyfriend is here. In a month's time, I'll have to get my third tourist visa. I got my first one in Penang and the second in HongKong and so far I don't have those scary "don't apply" stamps.

Hi all! Is there a limit on the number of tourist visas one person can get successively? Thanks!