Savannakhet Tourist Visa Run via Ubon (June 2019)

[craftyone]

Tourist Visa Border run details to Savannakhet, Laos via Ubon Ratachani.

 

Passport details:

USA

Expires 2025

6 - TV’s used since 2016 (incl one expired but validated May 2019)

1 - TV unused/expired

6 - 30 day transit stamps

5 - 30 day extensions - all from BKK

 

Visa app packet details:

Application filled out properly :)

Copy passport pic page

2 recent photos white background

Recent Bank statement showing at least 20k baht

Outbound ticket receipt

 

Trip took 2.5hr via car from inner city Ubon Ratachani on a Wed leaving approx 1730hrs.

 

Arrived Mukdahan around 2000.

 

Stayed at Hopp Inn

Highly recommended.

450 baht per day

5th floor room had good pressure/hot water

Very Clean

Strong WiFi

Small frig, TV worked, enough channels to choose from.

Quiet inside and outside.

Mattress above par comfortable for hotel at this price.

Will be looking for this brand hotel in other cities during future travels.

 

Went to small night market near Makro. It’s within walking distance of Hopp Inn.

Open til midnightish.

Many food stations to choose from.

Other bigger market nearby closes at 10pm so this one starts getting really busy by 930-10.

Have other restaurants + 7/11 in this area next to Makro.

 

Mukdahan bus terminal is within walking distance (15 min) from hotel as well.

Had a couple guys walking there when we left the hotel about 0730 headed for bridge. Can find taxi out by main road.

 

GF’s bro took us straight to bridge...took less than 10 minutes.

 

Bought bus ticket for 50 baht per from stall on left as you walk up to the immigration booths. IO wanted to see bus ticket or was making sure we had one. Driver never asked to see it so maybe many that cross don’t even bother buying one.

 

Through Thai immigration by 0750

Purposely clipped everything together in PP at visa page just to see if they would go thru my passport and notice the mistake the Suvarnabhumi IO made by validating an expired TV in my PP. She didn’t. Scanned picture page, went back to visa page, took my TM6, gave back the clip, stamped and done. FYI, I did the run 27 days prior to entering Thailand instead of taking a chance on a expired TV that was incorrectly validated. I should have just received a 30 day stamp at Suvarnabhumi.

 

A good deal of construction is going on there so you have to find your way around it to the general waiting area for the bus. Had an aircon waiting area close by but wanted to be as close to the curb to minimize chance of waiting on the next bus since the crowd was getting thick.

 

On bus around 0810. And BTW, if your confused why some are letting you board ahead of them in line it’s because they want to get off the bus quicker.

 

Only 4 of us went to Laos Immigration for a visa on arrival once we arrived in Savannakhet.

 

Went to window, was given blank app and arrival/dep paperwork. Kept the app, filled out the arrival card.

 

They took the scaled down visa app copy I had already printed/filled out from online with no fuss.

Had everything prepared purposely since my last border run (Vientiane) was in a windy downpour.

 

They were picky about a $5 billl with some small writing on it. Did the usual inspection of every bill. Found them another $5 with no scribblings.

 

Finished with all 4 of us in 15-20 min.

 

FYI, once they give you your passport back with visa/departure card you don’t have to go thru a passport control cue. Two of the 4 in our group were going straight there and waiting in line with everyone that had just got off the arriving bus. Just keep the passport in your hand as you walk around the lines toward the exit in case they ask for it near the bus waiting area before the hoard of drivers rush you.

 

Thru Lao immigration by 0830.

 

Walked past the taxi/tuktuk guys to find an aircon van near the public restrooms at the end of the sidewalk. 200 bht for the two of us (GF + me) to consulate. Made sure the guy wasn’t waiting for more riders before we boarded. Could have possibly taken the bus into town instead and then a tuktuk to the consulate, but wanted to minimize any chance of getting there after 0900.

 

Got to Savannakhet Thai consulate by 0850. About 20 applicants ahead of me, half with either Thai gf/wife, visa runner reps/Thai boss. So if the line looks long don’t worry, 1/2 are there just with applicants, but most walk to waiting/sitting area until their client gets to window.

 

At least they have a little shade in front and around the gate entrance unlike Vientiane where u have to stand in the street...maybe this has changed, don’t know. Didn’t rain but I had umbrella. And do yourself a favor and pay the 15-30 baht to put your paperwork in a plastic sleeve. Had one for both Laos/Thai applications.

 

0900 they opened gate.

 

Started off excruciatingly slow with the visa runner outfits back and forth with their clients doing the usual consultations with consulate staff before the line actually started moving.

 

Nobody was there to check paperwork/PP prior to window submission like I’ve been used to at Vientiane and this compounded wait time eventually with a few turned away.

 

Once the visa runner mafia (sorry, don’t have another term for them) were done getting their clients through, the line went fairly quick with only a few guys being turned away due to problems with school/financial paperwork from what I could hear.

(rant) Don’t you love it when these guys are turned away by the IO, proceed to call the “teacher”, then bust back into the front of the line and give their phone to the officer only to be told the same $&@&ing thing!!

 

From the time I gave my packet to the IO it took about 2 minutes and I was done which was refreshingly awesome because some half baked Aussie would not <deleted> about having to pay 3000 bht more than everyone else on his run from Pattaya (To Be Contiued).

 

Anyway, got my cue card (#21) and walked across the street to eat something quick and to mostly wade thru the tuktuk hawkers outside the consulate.

 

Done at consulate by 1015.

 

They have a copy shop there with photo service, etc....next to the food shop BTW. The lady that owned the food shop flagged a tuktuk passing through to take us to our hotel.

 

Took tuktuk to Avalon residence for 100 baht total (both of us). Prob paid the same as I would’ve from across the street, but felt good not having to deal with hawkers and possibly waiting for more riders to pile on.

 

Checked into hotel (Avalon Residence) about 1045.

 

$19 US.....had to pass them a couple $20 bills before they were satisfied with their “condition”.

Sat in lobby for 30 min to cool off - AC was running strong. WiFi in lobby was fairly fast.

 

By 1130 they only had 1 room left.

Some coming straight from consulate came/left so I’m assuming it’s a local fav for regular runners.

 

GF booked thru Agoda but they didn’t accept her card at a checkin so we paid cash....same for next 2 that checked in behind us.

I don’t really know if they take credit cards at all but the booking is secure thru Agoda.

Went next door to Aura Cafe to hangout until checkin at 1pm.

 

Aura Cafe was clean, cool, good food /coffee and free WiFi there but Avalon free WiFi was still strong from next door. Their restroom even had lil rolled face towels in a basket!! LOL!

Cafe was full by 1230 with everyone waiting to get a room assignment from either Avalon or the hotel (Aura) adjoining it.

 

Would rate Avalon Residence hotel 5/10 mainly due to location and adjoining cafe.

Around 1700 WiFi was nearly nonexistent with intermittent periods of weak signals. Could’ve been our proximity to router and/or the amount of users online.

Fairly noisy outside (construction I guess) until dark and could smell the sweet fragrance of garbage burning close by.

The circa 1995 mattress should have been burned years ago as well.

Aircon was working well enough and

Would possibly try Aura (next door) if I make this run again.

 

Got to consulate at 1345. Was about 10th in line. Was initially under the impression that I would have to wait for my # (21) to be called same as I remembered in Vientiane, but not the case here.

Gate didn’t open until 1440 due to a long line of applicants left over from the morning drop offs. I was under the impression that they stopped taking apps around 12 but I guess not.

 

Line moved fairly quickly (show cue card/get PP).

About 5 minutes into the line getting situated at the window, in walks everyone’s favorite Aussie from yesterday. Dude walks out of the line from the far back and around to the front and somehow gets behind #2. I don’t even remember him outside waiting for the gate to open.

By the time he got in/got out with his PP, most didn’t even notice. But one French dude did, and then it was on!! LOL!!

The IO at the window had to shut everything down and come outside to see what the commotion was about. French dude explained, Aussie was cornered before exiting, and he looked pretty nervous because EVERYONE was giving him hell.....I just walked by him, siting there waiting, laughed and gave him the same Taylor Swift single-handclap “bye bye” he gave my GF the day before while we were across the street eating. He was the only one in the entire group that didn’t make it to Mukdahan immigration so who knows/cares what happened.

 

In tuktuk from consulate at 1520 for 100 baht per person.

 

Upon arrival bought bus ticket (50 baht per I think.....this one I couldn’t remember). Made it through Laos Immigration by 1545 and waited 30 min to board bus. Thai GF had to pay 50 baht at Immigration. I’m guessing because we only stayed in Laos one night....not sure...she didn’t ask.

 

Got to Mukdahan Immigration stop, grabbed TM6, filled out same in 5 minutes and stamped through by 1640. Probably the fastest I’ve ever seen a line move at any entry point I’ve ever gone through.

 

Walked to the bus waiting area. Again, the place was under construction so we just followed the crowd waiting. The bus hadn’t maker it through yet and many were just jumping on tuktuks heading to the Mukdahan bus terminal.

If you can, just wait about 20 min and you can take the aircon big bus to the terminal and save some $$. Everyone was showing their ticket on this ride so keep the ticket from Laos ticket booth.

But if you did book a bus ticket from Mukdahan terminal to wherever and are in a hurry, the tuktuks are usually either already there or waiting at the u-turn near the bridge entrance or someone on a bicycle is sitting there waiting for tuktuk customers and will call the next one in line to the curb.

 

Got on the bus, made it to the terminal by 1720 and jumped on a minibus to Ubon for 125 baht per.

When you get to through the terminal make a hard right and the only buses heading to Ubon are right there. The bigger bus companies had more scheduled runs but we got on the next to last minibus heading to Ubon. If there was more than one bus line going there we didn’t find it.

 

Out of Mukdahan by 1730. 2.5 hours later (5 drops/4 pickups along the way) and we were back in Ubon. Took about 30 min for the motion sickness to subside due to a busted front strut and a driver that obviously thought playing with the accelerator = saving fuel.

 

And I made sure my TM30 was in the system within 24 hours!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[craftyone]

Oh yeah.....it’s still 1000 baht for TV and $30 USD for Laos VOA.

I bet you thought it was free!!!

[lovesthespicy]

Thanks man im heading there today actually. Good to hear your American and have a similar visa history in passport as i was slightly worried id get hassled. 

[Matzzon]

4 hours ago, craftyone said:

Oh yeah.....it’s still 1000 baht for TV and $30 USD for Laos VOA.

I bet you thought it was free!!!

Why would anybody that keeps up with the changes think that?

[ubonjoe]

4 hours ago, craftyone said:

and $30 USD for Laos VOA.

That depends upon a person's nationality. It is from $20 to $42.

Source: https://www.laos-guide-999.com/laos-visa-on-arrival.html

[cowbee]

6 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

That depends upon a person's nationality. It is from $20 to $42.

Source: https://www.laos-guide-999.com/laos-visa-on-arrival.html

 

I thought it was free for ASEAN countries


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ubonjoe]

2 minutes ago, cowbee said:

I thought it was free for ASEAN countries

Those from ASEAN countries get a visa exempt entry. None of them appear on that list.

They are shown here. https://www.laos-guide-999.com/visa-exemption.html

[craftyone]

6 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

That depends upon a person's nationality. It is from $20 to $42.

Source: https://www.laos-guide-999.com/laos-visa-on-arrival.html

 

Dang, it WAS $35 for American!!
I did actually clip $35 (1-$20 + 3-$5’s) to the application and after 3 minutes of swapping bills back/forth I could’ve sworn he gave me back $5 more than I gave him.
I remember watching him go back to my stack fumbling with the $ again even after he took everybody’s paperwork/$$ and closed the window.
Did I just ‘till tap’ this guy?! No way!! LOL
 

 

[sanook 1]

No questions asked or red mark about your visa history at savanakhet? 

Edited June 23, 2019 by sanook 1

[craftyone]

No questions asked or red mark about your visa history at savanakhet? 

No questions/prolonged PP inspection at departure, consulate or re-entry.

No red marks thus far.

I do, however, have 2- Brazilian Vitem V work visas (f/ 2016 & 2018) and 2 Colombian VOA entry/exits.

Perhaps that is an indication that I do not have any previous violation(s) of work restrictions in another country.

I doubt it but this possibility did cross my mind.

[lovesthespicy]

You didnt need a copy of the laos visa at all? I thought i read somewhere u need it but other places dont show it.

[craftyone]

You didnt need a copy of the laos visa at all? I thought i read somewhere u need it but other places dont show it.

They didn’t ask for one at Savannakhet. Maybe they verified I had it when turning in my application/PP.

[Happy Grumpy]

20 hours ago, craftyone said:

Tourist Visa Border run details to Savannakhet, Laos

 

Passport details:

USA

Expires 2025

6 - TV’s used since 2016 (incl one expired but validated May 2019)

1 - TV unused/expired

6 - 30 day transit stamps

5 - 30 day extensions - all from BKK

 

3 years of "Tourism" in one small country?

 

 

????

[craftyone]

 
3 years of "Tourism" in one small country?
 
 
[emoji23]

Actually 5.
First trip here was the week before the coup.
Admittedly, I’ve never fallen under any valid category other than “tourist” until most recently.
Not too worried about red stamps or lengthy discussions with immigration in the near future.

[lamyai3]

8 hours ago, Happy Grumpy said:

3 years of "Tourism" in one small country?

Why not? This was completely acceptable to immigration until very recently. 

[Damaz6052]

Monday mornings que.

[kralledr]

On 6/23/2019 at 3:57 AM, craftyone said:

Oh yeah.....it’s still 1000 baht for TV and $30 USD for Laos VOA.

I bet you thought it was free!!!

well for some countrys not need to pay the 30$.

[thatmanagain]

1 hour ago, Damaz6052 said:

Monday mornings que.

I got there around 6.45am today, expecting the worst. Doors opened at 9am, all done by 9.30. So arriving early is definitely worthwhile, but as more catch on, maybe "early" will come to mean earlier and earlier...

 

This is certainly the busiest I've ever seen it, and locals are saying the same. There's very little shade, and it's an incredibly uncomfortable setup in the heat - even once you get into the Consulate, you're still standing outside!

 

Very glad I didn't press that snooze button. But I think I will try my luck at HCMC next year if things remain the same.

[pizzachang]

On 6/23/2019 at 7:59 AM, Matzzon said:

and $30 USD for Laos VOA.

So I must have US dollars to do the Savannakhet visa run? How about for hotels & eats?

[Matzzon]

1 minute ago, pizzachang said:

So I must have US dollars to do the Savannakhet visa run? How about for hotels & eats?

Please quote from the original poster next time. This was not a text from my post. However, you do not need US dollars, and can pay with Thai baht. If you choose to use Thai baht they will charge you 1500 baht, so it´s more favorable for you to use US dollars

[craftyone]

I got there around 6.45am today, expecting the worst. Doors opened at 9am, all done by 9.30. So arriving early is definitely worthwhile, but as more catch on, maybe "early" will come to mean earlier and earlier...
 
This is certainly the busiest I've ever seen it, and locals are saying the same. There's very little shade, and it's an incredibly uncomfortable setup in the heat - even once you get into the Consulate, you're still standing outside!
 
Very glad I didn't press that snooze button. But I think I will try my luck at HCMC next year if things remain the same.

Wow!!

I was there on a Wed and our line barely made it to the sidewalk near the road before the gate opened at 9.

And I don’t see many Thai GF/wifeys in the pic either!!

I had an umbrella but wussed out using it. lol!
If I was in this line It would be a no brainer!!

[Caldera]

6 hours ago, pizzachang said:

So I must have US dollars to do the Savannakhet visa run? How about for hotels & eats?

You can pay for the Lao VOA in Thai baht, but it will be more expensive than paying in US dollars. As for hotels and eats, prices are usually quoted in Lao kip. You can pay in Thai baht or US dollars, with varying mark-ups.

[lovesthespicy]

9 hours ago, thatmanagain said:

I got there around 6.45am today, expecting the worst. Doors opened at 9am, all done by 9.30. So arriving early is definitely worthwhile, but as more catch on, maybe "early" will come to mean earlier and earlier...

 

This is certainly the busiest I've ever seen it, and locals are saying the same. There's very little shade, and it's an incredibly uncomfortable setup in the heat - even once you get into the Consulate, you're still standing outside!

 

Very glad I didn't press that snooze button. But I think I will try my luck at HCMC next year if things remain the same.

You must of seen me i was one of the first 10 people there or so. I wonder if you were the half Irish/Brit(i think British) guy i was talking to in line. Hopefully we beat the visa run companys tomorrow on the pick up and getting to border! 

 

Though i didnt find it THAT bad. Its still a PIA sitting in the heat for 3 hours and then another few hours tomorrow. Much better to go on a Tuesday or Wed if u must go here.

Edited June 24, 2019 by lovesthespicy

[thatmanagain]

On 6/24/2019 at 7:28 PM, lovesthespicy said:

You must of seen me i was one of the first 10 people there or so. I wonder if you were the half Irish/Brit(i think British) guy i was talking to in line. Hopefully we beat the visa run companys tomorrow on the pick up and getting to border! 

 

Though i didnt find it THAT bad. Its still a PIA sitting in the heat for 3 hours and then another few hours tomorrow. Much better to go on a Tuesday or Wed if u must go here.

My driver was telling me Mondays and Wednesdays are the busy days for applications. Others are saying Mondays and Thursdays.

 

Showed up around 2pm Tuesday to collect my passport, only to find the same kind of line again.

 

So just sat in the car with the air con running until after 3pm when the line had gone down. Glad I wasn't stood around outside for an hour.

 

So if you're not in a rush and you've applied on a busy day, it's probably worth aiming to pick up the passport later in the day rather than right at 2pm. I believe collections are 2-4pm.

[ubonjoe]

9 hours ago, thatmanagain said:

Others are saying Mondays and Thursdays.

Those are certainly the busy days. That is the days that visa run vans are arriving.

That is due to all the people that applied on Monday were picking theirs up.

Go on Tuesday to apply and the pickup time on Wednesday will not be busy.

Apply Wednesday and there may be crowd left over from the morning on Thursday afternoon that disrupts the pickup side of things.

[craftyone]

 
So if you're not in a rush and you've applied on a busy day, it's probably worth aiming to pick up the passport later in the day rather than right at 2pm. I believe collections are 2-4pm.

This ^

And considering the Thurs morning overflow into the afternoon and the fact that you’re not waiting for your number to be called, I’d now plan to just show up around/after 3pm on Thursday for pickup.
Even if I didn’t make it to Mukdahan bus terminal until 6pm, chances are there are still seats available considering these more populated runs on Monday/Thursday are leaving out on Tuesday/Friday afternoons.

[RoyDee]

14 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

Those are certainly the busy days. That is the days that visa run vans are arriving.

That is due to all the people that applied on Monday were picking theirs up.

Go on Tuesday to apply and the pickup time on Wednesday will not be busy.

Apply Wednesday and there may be crowd left over from the morning on Thursday afternoon that disrupts the pickup side of things.

Am back in Thailand from Savannakhet today (Fri. June 28). Submitted my paperwork (non-O multi, [Thai wife]) Wednesday morning at 09:00. Got to Consulate about 08:00 and was no. 7 in queue. There were only 30 people in total so Wednesday seemed OK. But, as ubonjoe says, the Thursday mob (mostly teachers it seemed) were still inside submitting their paperwork up to 14:30 !  We 30-odd weren't allowed in to collect our passports until about 14:45. That made it tight timing for some who were catching buses from Mukdahan bus station that afternoon. So it would seem that submit on Tuesday and collect on Wednesday is best - but I was told that Tuesdays are also getting busier now ! 

Have a feeling they'll also adopt the online reservation system eventually (as per Vientiane) - the limited Consulate staff are finding it hard to cope.