Report: border run to Burma (Phu Nam Ron)

[beddhist]

Today's exercise had two goals: get a new 12-month entry stamp, just before my O-A visa expires, and obtain a single re-entry permit. I have done the former a few times in Mae Sot and it was a straight forward affair. Today was different.

 

First, we got directed to a car park at a "resort". Pay for parking amid piles of rubbish everywhere. Ok.

 

Walking towards the passport control we were intercepted by an official who explained that I needed a visa to enter Burma. That was news to me. But, no problem, he handed us over to an agent to take care of us. I had to hand over my passport and 950B. An agent in a cabin then presumably organised an e-visa, probably online and filled in a new arrival card for me. "Purpose of visit: Non Imm O-A". The card had a Batman symbol stamped on it, presumably to identify which agent was handling me. After waiting some time amongst the sweet smell of sewage he handed me back my passport and his colleague then sent me through departure. I was then directed into a cafe/waiting area to sit down. After watching mini busses arrive, take on board all passengers, except me, and leave, it dawned on me that I wasn't going to Burma at all.

 

Right: one of the first van drivers to return called out to me. I was handed back my passport with Burmese stamps and proceeded to Immigration. The officer mumbled something about O-A, checked with her colleague and then radioed for help. Boss arrived and explained it all to her. So far, so good, mission 1 accomplished.

 

Asking officials where to go for the re-entry permit caused a lot of confusion. I expected this, as I guess most people get the permit to do the border run, whereas I wanted it afterwards for my next trip. Another agent got involved, but my wife assured me that he told her that his help was free of charge. ???? Really??? Yeah, right!

There was much pointing to the new "permitted to stay" date. Apparently it was wrong, out by one day. This had to be corrected first.

 

Many photocopies and thumbprints later we were asked for 1000B and a photo. I told my wife "wait for it, the officer will ask us for more dosh for the extension". No, she insisted, we will get a receipt. Yeah, right...

 

Some more time later the officer returned and handed me my passport and a receipt for 1000B! Nobody held their hand out. Oh dear, pass me another piece of that delicious humble pie.

 

The date in question had not been changed; apparently, the computer said it was correct. Mission 2 accomplished. The whole affair took about 2 1/2h.

 

PS: apparently, most of the people crossing here are heading for the casino. My wife overheard some interesting conversations. One woman had already lost 50000B yesterday. "Can you lend me 30000B?" "Go away! You can't pay it back. Even if I did lend it to you it would be at 20% PER DAY."

 

 

[elviajero]

1 hour ago, beddhist said:

An agent in a cabin then presumably organised an e-visa, probably online

No they didn't. Your 950 baht goes towards buying the necessary Burmese entry and exit stamps. You don't receive a Burmese visa or any kind.

[acenase]

Completely lost me after you paid the normal 950 Baht to haul you across no mans land while everyone waits at a liquor/snack shop while their passports get stamped and then back to the Thai side to stamp back in. That is the normal procedure for everyone going into Burma there.

 

 

[BritTim]

The whole setup at Ban Phu Nam Ron is a mild con. Usually, the Myanmar border pass should be US$10, and transport to/from Myanmar immigration no more than 100 baht round trip tops. However, they know you are captives to whatever scams they want to pull. My guess is that the Myanmar side gets 500 baht, Thai immigration 300 baht, and the transport around 160 baht (though they have probably had to pay for the franchise).

 

Because they are not used to processing reentry permits there, you were charged only the correct fee for that. They have not arranged scams around reentry permits.

[CharlieH]

Always good to read others experiences, it's helpful for those that may have to tread the same path.

[beddhist]

5 hours ago, acenase said:

Completely lost me after you paid the normal 950 Baht to haul you across no mans land while everyone waits at a liquor/snack shop while their passports get stamped and then back to the Thai side to stamp back in. That is the normal procedure for everyone going into Burma there.

 

 

Sorry, which part of my ramblings do you not understand?

 

To clarify: everybody else, incl. one farang, got hauled to Burma while I waited on the Thai side. My passport went across, I never did. My guess is that 'Batman' Agency's bus was full, so it was cheaper for them to pay a little extra tea money to Burmese Immigration, rather than run the bus with me alone. It would also have meant even more waiting for me. But I'm guessing here...

[Andrew Dwyer]

Sorry, which part of my ramblings do you not understand?
 
To clarify: everybody else, incl. one farang, got hauled to Burma while I waited on the Thai side. My passport went across, I never did. My guess is that 'Batman' Agency's bus was full, so it was cheaper for them to pay a little extra tea money to Burmese Immigration, rather than run the bus with me alone. It would also have meant even more waiting for me. But I'm guessing here...

I did the run there almost 2 years ago.
I was taken over in a pick up, waited in said pick up for around 5 minutes and then driven back, I might have well as stayed on the Thai side as I played no part in the process, other than paying 950 baht of course !! [emoji51]

[Denim]

49 minutes ago, beddhist said:

Sorry, which part of my ramblings do you not understand?

 

To clarify: everybody else, incl. one farang, got hauled to Burma while I waited on the Thai side. My passport went across, I never did. My guess is that 'Batman' Agency's bus was full, so it was cheaper for them to pay a little extra tea money to Burmese Immigration, rather than run the bus with me alone. It would also have meant even more waiting for me. But I'm guessing here...

I can confirm this.

 

You do not always get taken across to Burma. Sometimes an agent just takes your passport over while you wait on the Thai side. Happened to me a couple of years back but only the once.

 

No Burmese visa is given. You pay the 950 for the agents fee which gets you the Burmese entry and exit stamps plus his fee.

 

Used to be a nice easy in out here but the increasing casino traffic and visa run agents are having a negative impact. I stopped going here in favor of Mae Sot which for me is the same distance.

[beddhist]

So, if one wants to avoid the agents and save about 450B you would need to bring a bicycle, get stamped out, cycle across, pay whatever and return. I can see officialdom making problems when their tea money is in danger.

[Caldera]

1 hour ago, beddhist said:

So, if one wants to avoid the agents and save about 450B you would need to bring a bicycle, get stamped out, cycle across, pay whatever and return. I can see officialdom making problems when their tea money is in danger.

I wouldn't bank on getting permission to cycle across noman's land.

[visarunner]

6 hours ago, Denim said:

I can confirm this.

 

You do not always get taken across to Burma. Sometimes an agent just takes your passport over while you wait on the Thai side. Happened to me a couple of years back but only the once.

 

No Burmese visa is given. You pay the 950 for the agents fee which gets you the Burmese entry and exit stamps plus his fee.

 

Used to be a nice easy in out here but the increasing casino traffic and visa run agents are having a negative impact. I stopped going here in favor of Mae Sot which for me is the same distance.

just go after 10:ooam than you not disturb anyone.

[visarunner]

6 hours ago, beddhist said:

So, if one wants to avoid the agents and save about 450B you would need to bring a bicycle, get stamped out, cycle across, pay whatever and return. I can see officialdom making problems when their tea money is in danger.

the batman will, most likely, tell you to get lost. 

 

[myjawe]

So funny that something so easy at the most friendly border can become complicated and a reason to moan for some...

[Denim]

3 hours ago, visarunner said:

just go after 10:ooam than you not disturb anyone.

 

Never been before 10 am in 12 crossings over the years.

[DekDaeng]

Is travel on into Burma permitted?

[BritTim]

19 minutes ago, DekDaeng said:

Is travel on into Burma permitted?

At Ban Phu Nam Ron, there is almost nothing of interest in the immediate vicinity of the border on the Burmese side. At the border, you only get a Burmese border pass which does not permit travel further into Myanmar. If you have a Burmese visa, issued in advance by the embassy, you are allowed to travel onward within Burma. I am not sure what the agent fee is to allow you across no-mans land when you are crossing with a visa.

Edited July 9, 2019 by BritTim

[AgMech Cowboy]

On 7/9/2019 at 12:01 AM, beddhist said:

There was much pointing to the new "permitted to stay" date. Apparently it was wrong, out by one day. This had to be corrected first.

 

The date in question had not been changed; apparently, the computer said it was correct. Mission 2 accomplished. The whole affair took about 2 1/2h.

You didn't mention them give a reason for the lost day. It may be because next year has an extra day, leap year.

Edited July 10, 2019 by AgMech Cowboy