Mae Sae strictness on tourist visas?

[Hal65]

I am considering getting a tourist visa from Yangon flying to Tachiliek, and re-entering Thailand at Mae Sae. Are they known to scrutinize tourist visas heavily if the passport has previous entries/exits (My current one has 1 tourist and 1 ED visa, both from Vientiane Laos). 

 

If they are a stricter border due to all the border runs there, my other option is Mae Sot through getting there requires a 9 hour bus ride.

[Matzzon]

According to the trend, it will probably come there too. Everywhere is going to be stricter regarding thourist and ED visas. When that will be is hard to say, though. Not heard something negative about Mae Sai yet, but somebody closer to that border will come along and give you a definite.

[Lacessit]

Wouldn't it be simpler to fly from Yangon to Chiang Mai?

[moe666]

I believe they do not give people 30 day stamps no border run there for years.

[ubonjoe]

11 minutes ago, moe666 said:

I believe they do not give people 30 day stamps no border run there for years.

No problem to get a 30 day visa exempt entry at the Mae Sai crossing for over 2 years now since the 2 entries at land border crossings  per calendar year rule went into effect.

[Brad103]

Just did the crossing 20 minutes ago with tourist visa from Yangon. No problem. The officer smiled and was nice. Been here 3 years so we probably have similar history. You won’t have a problem at Mae sai.

[Hal65]

2 hours ago, Lacessit said:

Wouldn't it be simpler to fly from Yangon to Chiang Mai?

 

That was my original plan, would have been quite nice because there is a flight from Chiang Mai straight to Utapao for around 700 thb too. 

 

My reservation is that no one seems to know how CNX (Chiang Mai Airport) immigration is. Only thing I have been able discern from this forum is that land border crossings are generally safe. Airport crossings at both Bangkok airports, DMK and BKK is high risk (I once saw this myself at BKK, fortunately still got through but it was a pure dice roll).

 

I weighed the possibility of denial at CNX against the inconvienience of 6 more hours of travel through through Mae Sai > bus to Chiang Rai > flight to BKK > airport bus home. I decided the safe option was smarter.

 

I am still not set on it though. If we get a string of positive reports on Chiang Mai airport immigration this year, I'll probably switch to that route. 

[Lacessit]

20 hours ago, Hal65 said:

 

That was my original plan, would have been quite nice because there is a flight from Chiang Mai straight to Utapao for around 700 thb too. 

 

My reservation is that no one seems to know how CNX (Chiang Mai Airport) immigration is. Only thing I have been able discern from this forum is that land border crossings are generally safe. Airport crossings at both Bangkok airports, DMK and BKK is high risk (I once saw this myself at BKK, fortunately still got through but it was a pure dice roll).

 

I weighed the possibility of denial at CNX against the inconvienience of 6 more hours of travel through through Mae Sai > bus to Chiang Rai > flight to BKK > airport bus home. I decided the safe option was smarter.

 

I am still not set on it though. If we get a string of positive reports on Chiang Mai airport immigration this year, I'll probably switch to that route. 

I don't know if Ubon Joe can confirm this; however, my impression is one is less likely to be denied entry from another country when flying in than when crossing a land border. I could be wrong.

[Hal65]

56 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

I don't know if Ubon Joe can confirm this; however, my impression is one is less likely to be denied entry from another country when flying in than when crossing a land border. I could be wrong.

Interesting, my impression has been the opposite, land borders have been easier. The one time I flew into BKK with an ED visa, the immigration officer questioned me in a foreign language. I was on a beginner visa and said it. He then repeated in a smug voice "beginner". It was my most tense entry by a longshot.

[BuckBee]

don't expect yangon be a breeze on visas, i saw 2 in front of me refused tourist . like everywhere they tightening up

vietnam currently best all round visa destination .

 

[Hal65]

1 hour ago, BuckBee said:

don't expect yangon be a breeze on visas, i saw 2 in front of me refused tourist . like everywhere they tightening up

vietnam currently best all round visa destination .

 

 

My school also told me 2 people from Chiang Mai were denied for 2nd year ED visas. The issue seems to be the 2nd year part.

 

Any idea why the tourist visa applicants were denied?

[BuckBee]

23 hours ago, Hal65 said:

 

My school also told me 2 people from Chiang Mai were denied for 2nd year ED visas. The issue seems to be the 2nd year part.

 

Any idea why the tourist visa applicants were denied?

I could only here one and that because had previous setv and done full stay on it .
Previous person was german lady and was surprised at her refusal as looked pretty genuine with a rucksack etc, not a poor hippy bum and was in late 40's at a guess, was setv but couldn't catch full details.

They getting fussy, don't make effort and expense come yangon and expect it be a breeze, information suggesting that well out of date .