Mae Sai "No Border Runs" sign at Immigration.

[MeePeeMai]

Just thought I'd pass on a report I got today from my brother who is in Chang Mai.

 

History - He just hit the one year mark for his Ed visa (Thai Language course) in Chang Mai.  He wanted to do a quick border run to Mai Sae and return with a visa exempt 30 day stamp (US citizen) but was advised against it by Immigration at Chang Mai who told him that he would have to fly out and fly back in to get a 30 day stamp (no border runs at Mai Sae is what they said).  He did some research online and decided to give it a go anyway.

 

His report - Said he got on the bus to Mae Sai and once he got to the border he handed his passport to the nice Immigration Officer there to leave Thailand.  He said there was a LARGE RED BANNER posted there that said "NO BORDER RUNS".  He said he had to hand his passport over the banner to give it to the Immigration Officer.  No questions were asked by the friendly immigration officer. (he wrote "shopping" as his reason for the trip on his card).  Upon entry, he then paid his 500 baht for a visa which allows him to stay in the town of Tachileik during the daytime only (overnight is a different visa which costs a bit more and the baht is widely accepted there).

 

Back in Thailand - He had a beer, went back over to Thai Immigration and was checked back in with a 30 day exempt on arrival with no questions asked and said that they were very nice to him and no mention of anything.  He said his bus was stopped several times on the way back to Chang Mai at police checkpoints but the BIB were only interested in checking on the Burmese/Laos/Cambodians not the farangs.  He did not have to show his passport to the kind Police Officers at the checkpoints (other nationalities did however).

 

Overall he said it was an easy stress-free trip and he really liked the Burmese beer.  Kudos to the Thai Immigration at Mae Sai and the BIB (on the road on the way back) is what he said.  I hope this helps others who might be considering a similar trip soon.  

 

CHEERS!

 

 

 

 

[watcharacters]

You need to say nice and kind a bit more.????

 

Thanks 4 D info.

 

[ubonjoe]

The sign has been reported as being up for many years.

No problem to do a border hop for a visa exempt entry there since the 2 per calendar year at land border crossings went into effect.

[jackdd]

Here another recent report from me (but i had a METV):

11 minutes ago, MeePeeMai said:

but the BIB were only interested in checking on the Burmese/Laos/Cambodians not the farangs

They are looking for Burmese citizens who enter Thailand illegally, so they check ID / passport of anybody who could possibly be Burmese, including Thais.

Edited July 20, 2019 by jackdd

[MeePeeMai]

Just now, watcharacters said:

You need to say nice and kind a bit more.????

 

Thanks 4 D info.

 

Praise is always given where praise is due (or earned) in my book.

[MeePeeMai]

Just now, ubonjoe said:

The sign has been reported as being up for many years.

No problem to doa  border hop for a visa exempt entry there since the 2 per calendar year at land border crossings went into effect.

I understand but he was specifically told by an IO in Chang Mai that a border run to Mae Sai was not possible for him and that he could not get a 30 day stamp there.

[jackdd]

1 minute ago, MeePeeMai said:

I understand but he was specifically told by an IO in Chang Mai that a border run to Mae Sai was not possible for him and that he could not get a 30 day stamp there. 

Mae Sai is Chiang Rai, and an IO in Chiang Mai doesn't really know what's happening in another province. That's similar to when people get advice from an embassy, it might be just wrong.

[ubonjoe]

3 minutes ago, MeePeeMai said:

I understand but he was specifically told by an IO in Chang Mai that a border run to Mae Sai was not possible for him and that he could not get a 30 day stamp there.

Probably because they did have a clue about what is allowed there.

[jackdd]

49 minutes ago, MeePeeMai said:

He said his bus was stopped several times on the way back to Chang Mai at police checkpoints but the BIB were only interested in checking on the Burmese/Laos/Cambodians not the farangs.

Here an example of a checkpoint. Two Thai people are checked, asked for ID cards and even have to show the under seat storage of their motorbike. Farang can just pass through:

 

[MeePeeMai]

25 minutes ago, jackdd said:

Here an example of a checkpoint. Two Thai people are checked, asked for ID cards and even have to show the under seat storage of their motorbike. Farang can just pass through:

Maybe they are just looking for drug mules?

[StayinThailand2much]

2 hours ago, MeePeeMai said:

I understand but he was specifically told by an IO in Chang Mai that a border run to Mae Sai was not possible for him and that he could not get a 30 day stamp there.

It has been known that one should take what individual IOs say with a pinch of salt. Still, the sign is there, so maybe the IO in Chiang Mai just wanted to 'warn' as a favour, while being unclear about the actual situation.

[stament]

Useful to know as I did a crossing in April this year and will need to do another one there in December.

 

I wasn't aware of this walking across the border 2 limit rule in a calendar year. Does it apply to all visas and exemptions?

[jackdd]

3 minutes ago, stament said:

Useful to know as I did a crossing in April this year and will need to do another one there in December.

 

I wasn't aware of this walking across the border 2 limit rule in a calendar year. Does it apply to all visas and exemptions?

Two visa exempts per calender year at land borders. If you have a visa you can enter at land borders as often as you want.

Edited July 20, 2019 by jackdd

[ubonjoe]

2 minutes ago, stament said:

Does it apply to all visas and exemptions?

It is only for 30 day visa exempt entries. There is no limit if you have a valid visa for entry.

[KKr]

18 hours ago, jackdd said:

Here an example of a checkpoint. Two Thai people are checked, asked for ID cards and even have to show the under seat storage of their motorbike. Farang can just pass through:



 

That seems not to be the main road but the road running along the border for several kilometers, isn't it ?
Usually cars get checked going in, go on record, and are verified for passengers and bags against record when leaving that stretch of road. No shit !
And I do understand the rationale completely and have no problem with that.

[KKr]

16 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

It is only for 30 day visa exempt entries. There is no limit if you have a valid visa for entry.

My wife thinks it is a great opportunity to go for some shopping instead of making a 90-day report ???? 

[jackdd]

8 minutes ago, KKr said:

That seems not to be the main road but the road running along the border for several kilometers, isn't it ?
Usually cars get checked going in, go on record, and are verified for passengers and bags against record when leaving that stretch of road. No shit !
And I do understand the rationale completely and have no problem with that.

Yes, that's the small road along the border, i just happened to have the camera running because the scenery was nice so had the checkpoint on camera.

I've passed quite many of such checkpoints in many areas of Thailand, on small as well as big roads, they are usually not interested in motorbikes at all, and if they should check motorbikes (like in the video), as soon as they see i'm farang they wave me through and are also not interested in my girlfriend on the back.

[Benmart]

22 hours ago, MeePeeMai said:

Praise is always given where praise is due (or earned) in my book.

So right and a concept lost to the critics of civility and courtesy.

[BritTim]

22 hours ago, MeePeeMai said:

I understand but he was specifically told by an IO in Chang Mai that a border run to Mae Sai was not possible for him and that he could not get a 30 day stamp there.

Here is a rule I follow that has stood me in good stead over the years. When dealing with Thai officials, whether at embassies/consulates, immigration offices, tax offices, amphoe offices or anywhere else, quietly ignore anything they tell you about anything other than the services they provide themselves. It is tempting to assume that they ought to be well informed, but they tend to be totally ignorant of anything that does not directly touch on their own jobs.

[crazyk]

Anybody remember the hand written poster at padang besar,must of been there (or moved to the new station)since the early 70's,telling that you need to have so many dollars for individuals & families,then it went on to dress code,no flipflops & hippy looks (ie.scruffy) there was more but cannot remember,it was taken down about 6 years ago,i did have a photo of it,if anyone has a pic of it,post it to me,it was funny as fk & blatantly discriminating

[jackdd]

5 hours ago, crazyk said:

Anybody remember the hand written poster at padang besar,must of been there (or moved to the new station)since the early 70's,telling that you need to have so many dollars for individuals & families,then it went on to dress code,no flipflops & hippy looks (ie.scruffy) there was more but cannot remember,it was taken down about 6 years ago,i did have a photo of it,if anyone has a pic of it,post it to me,it was funny as fk & blatantly discriminating

 

I wonder if such a ministerial order was really issued.

 

Edit:

Yes, it's real, here the original ministerial order from 39 years ago: http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2523/D/103/7.PDF

Was it ever rescinded? 555

Edited July 21, 2019 by jackdd

[ericthai]

On 7/20/2019 at 5:02 AM, MeePeeMai said:

I understand but he was specifically told by an IO in Chang Mai that a border run to Mae Sai was not possible for him and that he could not get a 30 day stamp there.

Weclome to Thailand! if the answer is unknown it's always no, can not, dont have, etc. or something is made up. It's never I dont know.

[cnx355]

The 500 THB fee  you pay at Tachilek Immigration give you a border pass valid for 14 days in this province only .

I have been doing it   a few  time and slept overnight. 

 

It is possible that because  your brother just ><went shopping> they gave him a small receipt to get his passport back on exit so they do not have to take the  photo and print the border pass.

 

But if you tell them you are just "in and out" they cross the street with you and give your passport to the officer that put the exit stamp in your passport.  I saw that happening with people before me  in the queue.

 

But in every case it is always 500 B to be stamped in.

 

 

[StevieAus]

2 hours ago, cnx355 said:

The 500 THB fee  you pay at Tachilek Immigration give you a border pass valid for 14 days in this province only .

I have been doing it   a few  time and slept overnight. 

 

It is possible that because  your brother just ><went shopping> they gave him a small receipt to get his passport back on exit so they do not have to take the  photo and print the border pass.

 

But if you tell them you are just "in and out" they cross the street with you and give your passport to the officer that put the exit stamp in your passport.  I saw that happening with people before me  in the queue.

 

But in every case it is always 500 B to be stamped in.

 

 

A few times when we have gone over for shopping they haven’t bothered about filling out the form or taking the photo and have just stamped the passport presumably if nothing is recorded neither is the 500 baht !

[sibille]

3 hours ago, cnx355 said:

The 500 THB fee  you pay at Tachilek Immigration give you a border pass valid for 14 days in this province only .

I have been doing it   a few  time and slept overnight. 

yes correct - but you can pay also in us-dollars! - "the law" in myanmar is US dollars and not thaibaht - so if you convert 10 us dollars in baht - it's only 299,6 baht at the moment - so will save more then 200 baht - you can better spend the difference for shopping or myanmarbeers...! 

the border-pass is valid 14 days and valid for the town tachileik or if you wish to go even to kengtung - here is a public-bus for 400 baht one way - 160 km.

 

but also tachileik is worth to visit - not even the local border-market.

 

for golfers - visit the 18-holes golfcourse - very challenging!

for gamblers - hotel regina golf&casino - the casino is open 24 hours

for travel - visit the airport - daily flights with many airlines within myanmar

 

to travel on in myanmar from tachileik longer then 15 days in tachileik or shane-state (kengtung) you apply online for an e-visa

 

and do not forget to buy some nice booze - but not more then 1 litre p.p. allowed in thailand!

 

enjoy tachileik - another world just over the bridge - be aware - it is right-side traffic - and the time is 30 minutes behind thailand!

 

Edited July 22, 2019 by sibille

[BritTim]

On 7/22/2019 at 12:11 PM, sibille said:

the border-pass is valid 14 days and valid for the town tachileik or if you wish to go even to kengtung - here is a public-bus for 400 baht one way - 160 km.

I am really surprised the border pass now allows you to travel as far as Kengtung. There was a time when this was an atmospheric and interesting town, but it was only possible to visit with a proper Myanmar visa and guide. The border pass used only to be valid for Tachilek Township.

[sibille]

have been several times already more then 20 years ago with borderpass - by private car - motorbike etc. - also to monglar border to china! also playing golf in kengtung!


Gesendet von iPad mit Thaivisa Connect

[Cristiancjb]

I managed to already do my second land-border run which means that next time I'll have to get outside the country and enter by airplane....any suggestions on the cheapest and easiest way to do my next border run from Chiang Mai?

[Krupps]

Wait , I can get a border pass good for 14 days at the border for a total of 10 USD ? I have always thought the ten dollars are good for a day! 

[BritTim]

1 hour ago, Cristiancjb said:

I managed to already do my second land-border run which means that next time I'll have to get outside the country and enter by airplane....any suggestions on the cheapest and easiest way to do my next border run from Chiang Mai?

Do you mean a border bounce with a visa, or do you mean returning by air to get a visa exempt entry? If you have a visa, there is no limit on land entries. If you are planning to return by air for a visa exempt entry, reconsider. You might be denied entry, and should attempt to get a tourist visa from a Thai consulate (perhaps in Hanoi) instead. Direct flights from Chiang Mai to Hanoi are not very expensive.