Popular Post Leon1980 Posted October 24, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted October 24, 2022 (edited) I hope this might help others. I'm just after doing a visa run at Wang Prachan and it was easier than I imagined. I arrived in Hatyai last night and this morning at 8am had a taxi drive me and my Thai fiance to Wang Prachan border. The taxi was 1500 return and takes 1hr40 each way from Hatyai centre. We only had to queue for 5 minutes and then the immigration guy spoke to my fiance. He told her 2,000 for me to come back immediately or can stay overnight. She negotiated him down to 1,100 and I walked a few hundred metres to Malaysian side got my stamp and then moments later stamped out and back to Thailand. It was much easier than I ever thought. I arrived in Thailand on may 13 on visa exempt and then covid extension. I also had been in Thailand from Jan 20 to Feb 22 mostly on covid extensions. I got 45 days today and can do 2 more visa runs next year until I get marriage visa in June. I had 20,000 cash and a throw away flight ticket but they didn't ask to see. He just glanced over my passport for a couple of seconds. Hope this helps others Edited October 24, 2022 by Leon1980 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinnieK Posted October 24, 2022 Share Posted October 24, 2022 Wang Prachan? Never heard of it. Had to google it..Satun province. Why not Padang Besar?..or did the driver made the decision. I see the ...err....'fees' have increased considerably 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BritTim Posted October 24, 2022 Share Posted October 24, 2022 9 hours ago, Leon1980 said: The taxi was 1500 return and takes 1hr40 each way from Hatyai centre. That is a very reasonable price with current gas prices. It is a good reference price for others thinking of doing this. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leon1980 Posted October 25, 2022 Author Share Posted October 25, 2022 16 hours ago, VinnieK said: Wang Prachan? Never heard of it. Had to google it..Satun province. Why not Padang Besar?..or did the driver made the decision. I see the ...err....'fees' have increased considerably Padang Besar immigration are very strict about staying in Malaysia 1 to 3 nights. It's also very busy. Last time we had to queue for ages Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinnieK Posted October 25, 2022 Share Posted October 25, 2022 11 hours ago, BritTim said: That is a very reasonable price with current gas prices. It is a good reference price for others thinking of doing this. I was referring to other 'fees' not the taxi fare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedArmy Posted October 25, 2022 Share Posted October 25, 2022 Good place for a same day border bounce - Drove down there about 3 weeks ago. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bokningar Posted October 25, 2022 Share Posted October 25, 2022 5 hours ago, Leon1980 said: Padang Besar immigration are very strict about staying in Malaysia 1 to 3 nights. It's also very busy. Last time we had to queue for ages Have you had problems in PB? I have heard about 1 days stay needed but 3 days was news to me. Has it happened to you? This was posted in an other tread. On 9/20/2022 at 3:44 AM, sandyf said: I went to PB on 5th Feb 2020, arrived on the morning Hat Yai shuttle and left on the afternoon one, just wandered about the market for a couple of hours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leon1980 Posted October 25, 2022 Author Share Posted October 25, 2022 (edited) 2 hours ago, bokningar said: Have you had problems in PB? I have heard about 1 days stay needed but 3 days was news to me. Has it happened to you? This was posted in an other tread. When I was going to Penang in 2019 the immigration at PB were the strictest and rudest ever and that was just leaving, not arriving, no visa run. They made it clear that I could not come back that day. Malaysians and Thais have their own fast queue. Westerners are taking into an office and interviewed and finger printed. I would never go back there again. I have heard many bad stories from that border since. One guy I know had to queue 3.5 hours with no shade. The reviews pretty much say the same. https://g.co/kgs/SVJ4Ca Edited October 25, 2022 by Leon1980 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyf Posted October 25, 2022 Share Posted October 25, 2022 2 hours ago, bokningar said: Have you had problems in PB? I have heard about 1 days stay needed but 3 days was news to me. Has it happened to you? This was posted in an other tread. No, as I said I was only in malaysia for a few hours. Nobody queues for any length of time at the border in the railway station, immigration only opens about an hour before the train goes. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
recom273 Posted October 25, 2022 Share Posted October 25, 2022 (edited) 43 minutes ago, Leon1980 said: When I was going to Penang in 2019 the immigration at PB were the strictest and rudest ever and that was just leaving, not arriving, no visa run. They made it clear that I could not come back that day. Malaysians and Thais have their own fast queue. Westerners are taking into an office and interviewed and finger printed. I would never go back there again. I have heard many bad stories from that border since. One guy I know had to queue 3.5 hours with no shade. The reviews pretty much say the same. https://g.co/kgs/SVJ4Ca Agreed. I think the last time I went to PB, was about that time, I got pulled into the office and repeatedly asked why I had a ME visa. I also made that my last visit, and started using Wang Prachan, I'm glad I moved to extension, I wouldn't welcome paying a 1000B+ backhander. Policies change tho' I waited for 3 hours, was at Sadao going out to Penang on a bank holiday and the place was full of Malaysians, so it does happen. Edited October 25, 2022 by recom273 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BritTim Posted October 25, 2022 Share Posted October 25, 2022 4 hours ago, Leon1980 said: When I was going to Penang in 2019 the immigration at PB were the strictest and rudest ever and that was just leaving, not arriving, no visa run. They made it clear that I could not come back that day. Malaysians and Thais have their own fast queue. Westerners are taking into an office and interviewed and finger printed. I would never go back there again. I have heard many bad stories from that border since. One guy I know had to queue 3.5 hours with no shade. The reviews pretty much say the same. https://g.co/kgs/SVJ4Ca It is worth emphasising that Padang Besar is two separate immigration crossings (the rail crossing and the road crossing). The road crossing has long been unfriendly. The rail crossing is better, but only open very limited hours for the arrival and departure of the shuttle from the Thai side. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visabouncer Posted October 25, 2022 Share Posted October 25, 2022 2000k is the admin fee at the Thai immigration to get a 45 days visa exemption stamp after intermediate turnaround, right? And what about those with Non-O(or Non-B) ME visas? Are they also necessary to pay the admin fee? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bokningar Posted October 25, 2022 Share Posted October 25, 2022 16 minutes ago, visabouncer said: 2000k is the admin fee at the Thai immigration to get a 45 days visa exemption stamp after intermediate turnaround, right? And what about those with Non-O(or Non-B) ME visas? Are they also necessary to pay the admin fee? If it isn't just corruption money you will get a receipt right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visabouncer Posted October 25, 2022 Share Posted October 25, 2022 (edited) 22 minutes ago, bokningar said: If it isn't just corruption money you will get a receipt right? I don't need a receipt. But I hope it is like in the old good times when Phuket->Ranong border runs were very popular. I remember that everyone in the queue paid admin fee for a visa exemption stamp. But when they see my passport they just said - "Oh, you have visa!" and did not asked me to pay. Edited October 25, 2022 by visabouncer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BritTim Posted October 25, 2022 Share Posted October 25, 2022 1 hour ago, visabouncer said: 2000k is the admin fee at the Thai immigration to get a 45 days visa exemption stamp after intermediate turnaround, right? I am pretty sure I know what you mean, but 2,000,000 as a bribe in most currencies would be pretty excessive. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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