My 1st Visa run, question about flights

[Sean stone]

Hello,

So im gonna go to Vientine to get a Toursit Visa..im in BKK now on a visa on arrival..been here 3 weeks. Anyhow, I see most people are going flying to Udon Thani and then taking the bus to Vientine and then from Vientine to Udon Thani and then a flight from there back to BKK. Is there any reason not to take a flight straight to Vientine and from Vientine back to BKK? It seems to be alot more convenient?

 

[ubonjoe]

I think you are on a 30 day visa exempt entry not a 15 day visa on arrival since you have been here for 3 weeks already.

You can extend a 30 day visa exempt entry for 30 days at immigration for a fee of 1900 baht.

In some cases it costs less to fly to Udon Thani than to Vientiane plus the flight schedule may not match being able to apply on a visa on the same day of arrival or departing after picking up their passport the next afternoon.

Others do it that way also because they are concerned about entering at at an airport and having problems with immigration.

[Sean stone]

Yeah im on a 30 day visa. I see, thank you for ur answer. But u have to talk with the Thai immigration even if u take a bus from Vientine to back to Udon Thani right? Yeah the flight times to Vientine are worse than to Udon. And one more question, u can go to Udon and then recieve a Laos visa at the border right? Someone said that needs to be done beforehand..U know anything about that?

[ubonjoe]

There is a big difference in immigration at the bridge in Nong Khai and at the airports in Bangkok. No reports of anybody having problems at the bridge but many at the airports of having problems on entry to the country. 

Unless you have several visa exempt entries or tourist visa entries you should not have a problem at a airport.

You can get the Lao Visa on arrival when entering Laos at the bridge unless you are from one of the few countries that do not qualify for a visa on arrival. Info for the Lao VOA is here. https://www.laos-guide-999.com/laos-visa-on-arrival.html

[Sean stone]

Hello, Yeah. Seems to be a better to fly to udon then bus and then bus to udon again and back too BKK. Yes i can get a Visa on arrival so no problems then. Thanks for you help!

[DrJack54]

OP...regarding udon vs Vientiane. Some people fly udon and stay udon that night. It can be a bit tight arriving early enough to make it to Thai consulate. So some chill at udon and go by minibus next day early. Stay Vientiane one night and pick up the pp with visa that arvo. The minibus udon leaves from central plaza to border, 50baht, and around corner from plaza is small bar area. Having said all that airasia now fly direct to Vientiane. Up to you

[Sean stone]

I see, and do u know if the mini wans wait for the passengers when we get out Laos Visa done? Or u mean they take us to the border and then we have to find a new bus after the Visa process at the Lao border? Thank you

[DrJack54]

10 minutes ago, Sean stone said:

I see, and do u know if the mini wans wait for the passengers when we get out Laos Visa done? Or u mean they take us to the border and then we have to find a new bus after the Visa process at the Lao border? Thank you

The minibus will drop you at non kai side of river. You will obtain your loas visa. Then there is cheap bus take you over bridge. Then there are tuk tuks etc. I don't use them because they stuff around to much. Shared taxi to Thai consulate. Get in the line, with number. All done am. So leave udon about 7am. Then find accom come back next day pm pick up pp. Then back to udon or direct to udon aitport via minibuses on Thai side river. 

Edited January 24, 2019 by DrJack54
Error

[elviajero]

1 hour ago, Sean stone said:

Hello, Yeah. Seems to be a better to fly to udon then bus and then bus to udon again and back too BKK. Yes i can get a Visa on arrival so no problems then. Thanks for you help!

Unless you have a long recent history of tourism flying direct to Vientiane and back to BKK shouldn’t be a problem. And even if you have, as long as you have a tourist visa, you are highly unlikely to be denied entry.

 

I used to fly in day 1, go to the consulate on the morning of day 2, and pick up the visa day 3. I would often stay a few days, but you should be able to get a flight back to BKK on day 3.

[Nanaplaza666]

Also dont forget the latest post about the vientiane facebook page, regarding to having to make an appointment nowadays ,no more walk-ins .

[JackThompson]

23 hours ago, Sean stone said:

Is there any reason not to take a flight straight to Vientine and from Vientine back to BKK? It seems to be alot more convenient?

Yes or No - depending.  If you have more than a few weeks in Thailand in the last year - or months of total-stay in a previous year, it is much safer to enter by crossing over the bridge, and then fly domestic.  The immigration staff at the bridge will not cause a problem for those entering with a Tourist Visa, as previous "time in country" is not a legal reason to deny-entry. 

 

But, if immigration at the Bangkok airports think you might be "sticking around," they have been known to deny-entry without a genuine reason - usually stamping a denial-stamp claiming you cannot afford your stay, even if you have more than enough money to do so.  Bank books, statements on your phone, etc will not be accepted.

 

In any case, be sure to have 20K Baht worth of cash or travelers checks to show (not plastic), if asked, any time you enter the country. 

 

You should not need a flight-out within 60-days to show with a Visa, but immigration at the Bangkok airport checkpoints have been known to ask to see that, also.  In one recent case of abuse, they forced someone to buy a flight out in 30-days, even though his visa allowed a 60-day stay.

Edited January 25, 2019 by JackThompson