Savanakhet border crossing

[barcaman100]

Just checking if it is still alright to do a U turn crossing with Non Imm O at Savanakhet from Thailand? Thank you.

[BritTim]

I have not heard of any problems. Are you planning to do this with a multiple entry visa, or looking for a visa exempt? If the latter, remember you can only get two of these per year when entering by land.

[marke985]

Sorry if this is off topic, but by u-turn do you mean avoiding paying for a Laos visa and just getting off the bus from the Thai side and walking left and getting back on the bus going back to Thailand?

I've always been curious if this can be done if I'm only interested in getting a 30 day exempt stamp.

[ubonjoe]

24 minutes ago, marke985 said:

Sorry if this is off topic, but by u-turn do you mean avoiding paying for a Laos visa and just getting off the bus from the Thai side and walking left and getting back on the bus going back to Thailand?

I've always been curious if this can be done if I'm only interested in getting a 30 day exempt stamp.

It cannot be done. Thai immigration will look for Lao entry and departure stamps. If no stamps they will send you back to the Laos side of the border.

[barcaman100]

No I just mean to cross into Laos and get Laos visa. I know you can not just go and U turn without actally crossinto Laos. I do have a multi entry visa Non Imm O.

 

[ubonjoe]

32 minutes ago, barcaman100 said:

I do have a multi entry visa Non Imm O.

No problem to depart Thailand, enter Laos and then turn around and come right back.

[marke985]

Thanks for the reply Joe.  To the original poster, I did a u turn, spent maybe an hour in Savannakhet last November and had no issues at all.  When asked where I was staying by immigration getting my Laos visa I told them I was heading back today and they had no issue whatsoever.

[utalkin2me]

IS there a current list of borders where it is not ok or questionable to do the u-turn with a non immigrant o multiple entry?

[anon789561]

10 hours ago, utalkin2me said:

IS there a current list of borders where it is not ok or questionable to do the u-turn with a non immigrant o multiple entry?

all borders should be fine as far as i know. if in bkk it may be worth noting that thai visa service are doing trips to kanchanaburi/myanmar for only 2k now as long as you don't mind risking the journey in a minibus

[JackThompson]

10 hours ago, utalkin2me said:

IS there a current list of borders where it is not ok or questionable to do the u-turn with a non immigrant o multiple entry?

The Thai side will have no issue - but if using Cambodia, there is a law you must stay overnight, which translates to paying a 300 Baht (or so) "fee" for not staying overnight.  If using a visa-run service, they handle this fee, plus any other "extra fee" for your VOA for Cambodia.

 

This case of having a Non-Imm Multiple-Entry visa should be differentiated from those returning visa-exempt, where some Thai border officials on the Malaysian border have been reported to require an overnight stay.

[ubonjoe]

11 hours ago, utalkin2me said:

IS there a current list of borders where it is not ok or questionable to do the u-turn with a non immigrant o multiple entry?

The crossing to Malaysia have been known to tell people they have to remain overnight to get a new entry. The also often ask to see 20k baht in cash on entry.

The Aran/Poipet crossing to Cambodia has been reported as giving people a hard time when getting a new entry. Best to avoid doing a border hop there.

No reports of any others making it difficult.

[gamesgplayemail]

But the cheapest crossing is to Myanmar, at Kanchanaburi.

 

 

[Get Real]

Yes you can

 

[rdhowell]

Not sure if applies. Just got back Tuesday from there. Went in with Tourist and came back with Non-O total 90 days, but I have a son here and mother in-law verifies my address where he lives with her in Yasothon.