Visa Run over Nakhon Phanom to Laos

[franzs]

Hi Guys,

want to let you know about my trip to Laos recently for getting another 3 months visa stamp,

I have a Non-O multiple entry visa, needed to get out and in of Thailand,

 

Went with the 8:30 am flight with Air Asia to Nakhon Phanom (NP) for less than 1000 Baht, when enter the building at NP airport, you will see a desk “Taxi – Limousine Service", they offer a ride with a Van to the NP bus station for 100 Baht, Taxi’s will take 200 Baht,

 

at the bus station I bought a ticket to Thakhek for 70 Baht, the bus departed at 11:20, on that day I was the only foreigner on the bus,

at the Thai immigration to get the exit stamp was a matter of minutes, at the Lao immigration the bus just stopped opposite the counter “Visa on arrival”, they will give you the form to fill in, you need 1 photo and USD 35 to get the visa, in less than 10 minutes I had my entry stamp.

 

In Thakhek I waited about 45 minutes to get the bus (Ticket 70 Baht)  back to NP, at the border both, the Lao and Thai Immigration worked fast and efficient, I was back in NP at about 2:30 pm, couldn’t find a Van at the bus station, took a Taxi for 200 Baht to the airport.

 

This was my first visa run to Laos, everything went very smooth, in the evening I was back in Bangkok.

[BritTim]

Note that a flight to Maesot (also cheap) puts you very close to the border crossing with Myanmar. The Myanmar border pass is cheaper than a Laos visa on arrival, and takes up less space in your passport.

[SunsetT]

I have often crossed at NKP. They dont get many farangs so I think its a bit of a novelty for them and immigration are usually very friendly.

 

Dont know if u realised it, but you did not need to go all the way to Thakhek bus station. You could have gotten off the bus at the Laos side of the bridge and waited for the next bus back. Mind u, it might have been the same bus back. Though I have been lucky and caught an earlier bus back.

 

If anyone fancies a taste of Laos, a quiet overnight in Thakhek is very pleasant. I love supping a Beer Laos or 2 watching the sun set sitting on the promenade right by the Mekong, which is much better than Vientiane or Savannakhet. Then a strole along the riverfront and later going for a good meal in one of the 3 restaurants that do good Western food. There is also a nice little night market on the riverfront Plaza where u can sit, eat, drink, and people-watch. There is a bit of nightlife there too for those who want it. Make sure u stay near the river as the rest of Thakhet, from a block or 2 back, is a bit of a wasteland.

 

 

 

 

[TC206]

I don't understand having to travel over the border to get the 3mths visa stamp?. If you have a 12mths non- o visa and multiple entry visa already, don't you just have to go to immigration for a 90 day visit? Could you please let me know. 

[bushmill]

13 minutes ago, TC206 said:

I don't understand having to travel over the border to get the 3mths visa stamp?. If you have a 12mths non- o visa and multiple entry visa already, don't you just have to go to immigration for a 90 day visit? Could you please let me know. 

The Non - o - Multiple entry visa means , you have to cross a border every 3 month. The other, you mentioned, is a visa extension for 12 month, based on retirement or married to a Thai, Than you have to make your 90 day registration at your local immigration office.

 

[BritTim]

1 hour ago, TC206 said:

I don't understand

You are not alone. Not understanding the differences between

• visa;
• permission to stay;
• extension of permission to stay;
• re-entry permit;
• border hop for a new permission to stay; and
• report of being more than 90 consecutive days in Thailand

is common, and not infrequently leads to problems. Apart from the first, none of them are visas, and none of them extend visas.

[TC206]

Thank you for the heads up. I think I understand it now. My visa is 12mth Non o Retirement with multiple entry. Thus, my options are to go to immigration and report every 90 days OR  go out of Thailand before 90 days is up and upon return I have another 90 days to do the same as above. It appears other visas require departure from the country every 90 days. 

One wonders why Thailand make it difficult for farang to come and spend their money in the country!

[ubonjoe]

16 minutes ago, TC206 said:

Thank you for the heads up. I think I understand it now. My visa is 12mth Non o Retirement with multiple entry. Thus, my options are to go to immigration and report every 90 days OR  go out of Thailand before 90 days is up and upon return I have another 90 days to do the same as above. It appears other visas require departure from the country every 90 days. 

You are still confusing visas issued by an embassy or consulate with an extension of stay based upon retirement.

If you have multiple entry non-o visa issued by an embassy or consulate you have to leave the country every 90 days. There is not option to report to immigration if you have one.

If you have a one year extension of stay based upon retirement issued by immigration you can report to immigration every 90 days. If you want travel you need a re-entry permit to keep your extension valid. You can get a single or multiple re-entry permit.

[TC206]

Confusing indeed. Sorry to be a pain but could I ask you for more clarification. I have just been through the process of renewing my 1 year non o retirement visa (proof address, proof income from Australia, copy passport etc) at Immigration in Si Sa Ket. So, that allows me to stay for 12ths provided I report every 90 days or if I happen to leave the country the resulting stamp at re-entry is as good as reporting...so 90 days starts again. You comment about a multiple entry non - o visa which sounds the same as mine but issued by a embassy or consulate. If I am reading this right the latter issue the said retirement visa but it is slightly different in that you have to go out of the country every 90days? 

[BritTim]

2 hours ago, TC206 said:

Confusing indeed. Sorry to be a pain but could I ask you for more clarification. I have just been through the process of renewing my 1 year non o retirement visa (proof address, proof income from Australia, copy passport etc) at Immigration in Si Sa Ket. So, that allows me to stay for 12ths provided I report every 90 days or if I happen to leave the country the resulting stamp at re-entry is as good as reporting...so 90 days starts again. You comment about a multiple entry non - o visa which sounds the same as mine but issued by a embassy or consulate. If I am reading this right the latter issue the said retirement visa but it is slightly different in that you have to go out of the country every 90days? 

You received a one-year extension, based on retirement, of your existing permission to stay. As you say, you must make 90-day reports if in Thailand for 90+ consecutive days. If you leave the country, your permission to stay (including the extension) will be canceled, unless you have a re-entry permit to keep the permission to stay intact. A permission to stay is not a visa (even if it is extended). Make sure you understand the difference, and what a re-entry permit is.