roykeanz

You can extend the current extension you have now without a problem. The only restriction is that you can only do one once per entry.

Thanks once again, Ubonjoe!

Your previous stay on an extension does not count towards the visa exempt rules. You can do the crossing to Cambodia or to Laos at Mukdahan.

You could also apply for a 60 day extension to visit your wife at immigration. The 1900 baht fee for it might be less costly than a border run.

Thanks again Ubonjoe!

The 'wife-visit' extension is a very useful option.

I assume that, since my existing extension is ending, I would firstly have to do an in/out border run before applying for the 'wife-visit' extension?

Thanks for the updates.

Oops ... yes, I meant "15 day visa exempt entry". I had somehow thought the two terms were syonymous.

Tx for the update re this (new?) restricition ...

For about 10 days it is now possible to a do a out/in visa exempt entry unless you total of 90 days on them this year at the Cambodia border.

I was wondering if any restriction/issue regarding prior length of stay in Thailand is likely to be applied when getting a "15 day visa exempt entry" stamp at the MUK border? Reason being, I've been in Thailand 20 months now since my last trip home and, for the past 15 months, have been using a Non-Imm "O" Extension based on Marriage. The Marriage-based Extension expires this week. However, I'm heading back home some time within the next fortnight [exact date not known yet so no ticket booking made] and staying there a few months, so just need a "15 day visa exempt entry" to cover said period.

Thanks!

I read on another site that it is currently not possible to get a 15-Day Visa on Arrival at the Cambodian border.

I was wondering if anyone could verify that it is still possible to exit & re-enter Thailand at Mukdahan's Friendship Bridge and get a 15-Day Visa on Arrival upon re-entering.

Many thanks.

Which part of Isaan are you talking about?. I have never heard of anything like this before.

Yes they know where we all are, most of the time.

Thanks Jessi!!

This is in Yasothon Province.

Hi there.

I've been staying in Isaan for a while at the wife's place. I've had no interaction at all with cops in the local 'District' until one called round, out of the blue, this morning "asking" me to complete an official "Foreigners Database" form - or so it's title says. ( I say "asking", when of course it's actually "telling"!)

And, even better, he added that the form needs to be completed - replete with a recent photo - and ready for collection later this very day!

As well as the curious urgency of this thing, I found it interesting how the cops already know where any and every Foreigner in their area is staying - even in the tiniest of villages!

The "Foreigners Database" form requires you to provide data you've already completed [multiple times] on an Arrivals Cards / Visa Applications .... but also expands that to require details of exactly where you're staying as well as information about your spouse, children and (oddly) parents and as well as details about stuff like Vehicles and things like Criminal Records and (oddly!) your "Talents" as well as details of (oddly!) any "Marks/Scars".

Anyway, since I'd never heard of this thing, I was wondering if anyone knows about this "Foreigners Database" and it's legal basis ... or otherwise.

As well as having to undergo the 90-day Address Verification process, are foreigners also mandated to officially notify local Police that they're staying in that region?

Thanks.

Thanks stoneyboy & Lite Beer!

Great to know I can defer a few headaches for a few months!

Thanks ubonjoe!

The process seemed so 'customer friendly' before, it was inevitable they would mess with it!

Nice report.

You say ... "They will give you a small printed numbered receipt for your collection next day at 2PM."

I did the same trip to Sav last August and was able to collect the visa at 2 PM on the same day as my application - meaning you could wrap the entire process up in a few hours and thus be able to forego the very dubious 'pleasure' of staying/wasting a night in Sav.

I was just wondering if - and when - the rules there have changed?

I got my first Non-Immigrant O Multiple-Entry Visa (based on Marriage) last year.

This visa expires 10 August 2015, while my latest 90 day extension expires this week.

I would appreciate if someone could confirm that, when I make a border run this week, Thai border police will, as a matter of course, grant me another 90 day extension when re-entering Thailand (i.e. allowing me to stay almost 3 months beyond the duration of the Non-Immigrant O Visa.)

Many Thanks.

So how did it go roykeanz? Supposing yo are in Savanakhet by now or have you returned safely to LOS?

Big thanks to the OP for his detailed post and also to the many other contributors to this thread.

I see that a number of folks were able to get the various steps wrapped up in the same day – which would be my hope.

To do so (i.e. hitting the Thai Consulate before 11 AM – or, to minimise the risk of not getting your docs processed before they close, as early as possible before then) seems to involve cutting things real tight.

In that context, and in order to help planning,it would be great if perhaps somebody could kindly have a few specific logistical details ….

1. The Thai Border Control is right there before the Friendship Bridge, right?

2. What time does the Thai Border Control office open and, generally, is getting through there a pretty quick process (assuming the amount of people queuing is not too big)?

3. Do you then just walk across the bridge?

4. What time does the Laos Border Control office open and, generally, is getting through there a pretty quick process (assuming the amount of people queuing is not too big)?

5. I assume all you need have with you for the Laos Border process is your passport and a photograph?

6. When you then pick up a tuk tuk outside Laos Border Control, approx. how long does it take to travel to the Thai Consulate?

7. Assuming you get your docs processed before 11 AM at the Thai Consulate and are, after returning and queuing in the afternoon, able pick them up at say 3.30 PM, how much time do you have to get back to the Laos Border Control and Thai Border Control? [what are their closing times?]

Many thanks!

Hey Roykeanz

I know others have replied but i thought the more info you get the better, right?

1. Yes, the Thai border is right before the Friendship Bridge - takes about two minutes to get to the Laos Border Control area by bus / car.

2. I am uncertain of the hours etc of the Thai border side of things, but it took me and about 30 others around fifteen minutes to get through. No issues.

3. Yes you could walk across the bridge, no worries.

4. Not too certain on the Laos border times either sorry. I got to the Laos border on a bus from the Mukdahan bus station (took around 15 minutes to get to the border). I got to the border around 5pm. They dropped us off at Thai immigration and then we jumped back on after. Easy.

I got off the bus along with everyone else at the Laos border, except I was the only Farang and needed a "Visa on Arrival" which was issued at the office on the far left of the control area (big sign). I waited for around 20 minutes as there was no one inside the office. I walked around to find other staff, but no one was anywhere to be found. I finally walked into the adjacent office and asked a women cleaner if there is any staff around. She walked away and found an immigration officer who then got on his cell phone and called someone. After around 10 more minutes a guy in a suit and tie walked up to me and said "Visa?". He unlocked the Visa on Arrival office and walked in, and filled in the documentation for me as I gave him my passport and one photograph. He handed me a Lao arrival and departure card and said "fill it in", which I did. This process all up took around 10 minutes. I then got my passport back with my visa and walked through the immigration booth area. I went to get on the bus - but my bag was left next to a taxi and no bus in sight. Awesome. They left without me.

5. Yes passport and photograph. You can fill out an application form on the spot.

6. There are about five or six home made taxis waiting outside the immigration. They told me 300-500 baht to get to the central city I told them it was not a good deal and attempted to walk down towards town. After around 100m walking, three taxis followed me and their price reduced significantly. I couldn't get better than 200 baht, so just go with it. They are very poor and it's only a few bucks to us. The drive to the centre of town was around 12 minutes from the border. The consulate is right in town anyway, so about roughly the same distance., maybe a minute or two more.

7. The told me to pick up my documents around 3:30pm the same day but as I said earlier i arrived around 2:15 and got my documents by 2:30pm-ish. I then got a tuk-tuk to the Suvannakhet bus station for 100 baht. I arrived at the bus station around 2:50 and got my ticket back to Mukdahan. The bus left at 3:30pm and leaves every hour after that. I think the last bus was around 5:30pm if i remember right. I didn't get back to Mukdahan til around 4:30pm - so the process to get back was a lot longer as customs took their time searching the bus etc. I then got the 4:40pm bus to Udon Thani which was an exhausting 5 hours.

Hope this helps bud,

Brilliant stuff, KiwiBro!

Many thanks indeed for all that detailed info!

Many thanks indeed, Mario2008 and 96tehtarp.

That’s a great option and one I had never been aware of.

I will give it a shot on Monday and hopefully be able to get same day visa service.

BTW, for readers who want to find out more about this option, there's a great post at

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/697299-worry-free-non-o-visa-savannakhet/

Just 2 final questions on this one, if I may, please …

1. When I depart Thai border Control at Mukdahan, I assume they won’t enforce some 24-hour absence from Thailand rule or something similar?
2. Can someone with a short overstay on their Thai visa travel on domestic flights (a trip to Ubon tomorrow, in my case) without risk of getting into trouble with the Immigration Police? The ticket counter, of course, always check your passport but do they also check visa status and report an overstay to the Police or/and refuse permission to fly?

Thanks

1. Not sure. If I were you I'd plan to spend a night in Savanakhet and relax! If you try to do it all in one day you are going to get stressed unnecessarily.

That overnight stay makes a lot of sense, now I know the bus situation from BKK to MUK!

Thanks.

Overnight VIP buses are comfortable. I recommend them. Your can book your seat online and pay at 7/11.

Never use a bus from a "tour company" Kao San Rd, etc.

Thanks again, man!

The missus booked something from Mor Chit, travelling overnight tonight. I've no idea how VIP - or otherwise - the thing is though!

Much appreciated!

Many thanks indeed, gzu88bv!

Airlines do not check your visa/permission to stay, only your ID.

Question 1 you can ask at the border.

That's what I guessed re airlines - but you never know in Thailand.

Thanks again.

Many thanks indeed, Mario2008 and 96tehtarp.

That’s a great option and one I had never been aware of.

I will give it a shot on Monday and hopefully be able to get same day visa service.

BTW, for readers who want to find out more about this option, there's a great post at

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/697299-worry-free-non-o-visa-savannakhet/

Just 2 final questions on this one, if I may, please …

1. When I depart Thai border Control at Mukdahan, I assume they won’t enforce some 24-hour absence from Thailand rule or something similar?
2. Can someone with a short overstay on their Thai visa travel on domestic flights (a trip to Ubon tomorrow, in my case) without risk of getting into trouble with the Immigration Police? The ticket counter, of course, always check your passport but do they also check visa status and report an overstay to the Police or/and refuse permission to fly?

Thanks

1. Not sure. If I were you I'd plan to spend a night in Savanakhet and relax! If you try to do it all in one day you are going to get stressed unnecessarily.

That overnight stay makes a lot of sense, now I know the bus situation from BKK to MUK!

Thanks.

Many thanks indeed, Mario2008 and 96tehtarp.

That’s a great option and one I had never been aware of.

I will give it a shot on Monday and hopefully be able to get same day visa service.

BTW, for readers who want to find out more about this option, there's a great post at

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/697299-worry-free-non-o-visa-savannakhet/

Just 2 final questions on this one, if I may, please …

1. When I depart Thai border Control at Mukdahan, I assume they won’t enforce some 24-hour absence from Thailand rule or something similar?
2. Can someone with a short overstay on their Thai visa travel on domestic flights (a trip to Ubon tomorrow, in my case) without risk of getting into trouble with the Immigration Police? The ticket counter, of course, always check your passport but do they also check visa status and report an overstay to the Police or/and refuse permission to fly?

Thanks

Big thanks to the OP for his detailed post and also to the many other contributors to this thread.

I see that a number of folks were able to get the various steps wrapped up in the same day – which would be my hope.

To do so (i.e. hitting the Thai Consulate before 11 AM – or, to minimise the risk of not getting your docs processed before they close, as early as possible before then) seems to involve cutting things real tight.

In that context, and in order to help planning,it would be great if perhaps somebody could kindly have a few specific logistical details ….

1. The Thai Border Control is right there before the Friendship Bridge, right?

2. What time does the Thai Border Control office open and, generally, is getting through there a pretty quick process (assuming the amount of people queuing is not too big)?

3. Do you then just walk across the bridge?

4. What time does the Laos Border Control office open and, generally, is getting through there a pretty quick process (assuming the amount of people queuing is not too big)?

5. I assume all you need have with you for the Laos Border process is your passport and a photograph?

6. When you then pick up a tuk tuk outside Laos Border Control, approx. how long does it take to travel to the Thai Consulate?

7. Assuming you get your docs processed before 11 AM at the Thai Consulate and are, after returning and queuing in the afternoon, able pick them up at say 3.30 PM, how much time do you have to get back to the Laos Border Control and Thai Border Control? [what are their closing times?]

Many thanks!

Hi folks,

I have a 60-Day "Wife Visit" visa which expired Aug 13th. Being ill, I missed the deadline date went to Poi Pet border yesterday (Aug 15th). This meant a 2-day Overstay.

I was expecting to pay a B1,000 fine for the 2-day overstay but not expecting further issues.

However, at the Overstay Counter, the Thai Immigration Officer said I could leave Thailand but could not come back for one day at least (his English wasn’t great so I did not know if this meant that one could not return to Thailand until after a strict 24-hour absence or that one could return anytime the next day (which could mean much less time outside Thailand).

I had a brief overstay on a visa once before - late last year - but there had been no issue whatsoever at Poi Pet Immigration so I was shocked at this turn of events. Further, I had not seen any notice of changes made to the rules.

I would greatly appreciate is someone could please advise as to the following;

1. Have the Overstay rules been changed recently to enforce this rule?

2. If so, does this enforce a strict 24-hour absence from Thailand [or could one return anytime the next day]?

3. Does this rule apply only to land borders?

4. Could I travel by air to a nearby country and return on the same day without issues?

5. If I travel by air to a nearby country and return the same day, what is the best (i.e. least hassle / cheapest visa/ etc.) nearby foreign airport to fly to?

6. The overstay will now increase to 5 days before I get travel arrangements sorted - does this new overstay duration pose any extra problems?

Thanks in advance.

Anyone know the traffic situation around Rama 4/ Silom junction area, after the return of the yellow sheeple to Lumphini?

Thanks.

“That’s Siam” is right!  The epitome thereof,  indeed!!

No re-entry permits at airports, except at Suv.

Any way, as requested: good luck!

Interesting.

Just wondering if it's easy to find the Immigration Office(?) that issues these things within sprawling Swampy?

I understand it's open from 6AM to midnight?

In the interest of time-planning, does the approval process normally take long in Swampy?

.... Thanks

Perhaps some kind soul could give some advice re the actual confirmation on a Marriage Visa Renewal application.

When you apply for the renewal and go through all the needless hoops and hassles, they still don't give you a decision - instead they (ridiculously) make you come back 4 weeks later for said decision. I've got to do this pain in the *ss chore on April 12th, which is going to be hell out there due to folks gettin in there before the closure for Songkran (in fact it would actually be no surprise if they shut up shop for the entire week next week!)

So I was wondering if you can go get the confirmation a few business days before the date they've specificied or does it absolutely need to be only the the date they've specified?

Thanks.