Myanmar Border Crossing Mae Sai

[Rotweiler]

It has been suggested that this information get it's own topic, so...

 

The Mae Sai / Tachileik border crossing has reopened (confirmed).  According to officials both Thai and foreigners can obtain "temporary passes" to cross into Tachileik for tourism/shopping.  This is as yet unconfirmed by myself. 

 

If that is true, and the passes are similar to what Thai citizens have enjoyed before everything closed-up (but not available to foreigners then), it will be a huge step forward.

 

[Tarteso]

Advice;

Make sure the Mae Sai Thai border police stamp re-entry in your passport.  Once I found myself in Thailand illegally when I returned from Burma because the Mae Sai border police forgot to stamp my reentry, I did not personally check the process and they gave me the closed passport. 
A few weeks later, I faced a very serious problems with immigration Office until 3 days later, I could prove that it was someone else's mistake.

Is not usual but happened to me.

 

 

Edited February 20, 2023 by Tarteso

[OneZero]

Sorry I can't answer your question.    Perhaps someone who can answer your question can also answer my related questions. 

 

1. Can foreigners (I'm a US citizen with Thai Non-O visa) cross through Tachileik to spend a few days in the country side or nearby small cities?

 

2. If the answer is Yes, what is needed (Burmese visa, Thai re-entry permit, etc)?

[Rotweiler]

OneZero...

 

1.  Travel within the Tachileik economic zone (the Town and the areas surrounding it, including the resorts, golf courses, casinos, and night clubs to the East of the downtown) was previously permitted on a day pass (when those were available years ago) or a mini-Visa that was obtained from the Myanmar Immigration police at the border.  Overnight stays at hotels in the zone were permitted.  Travel outside the zone required a Myanmar Visa and hired transport (including a guide).

 

I don't know if this will be the case now as I haven't been there in 3 years since before the border closed, but I assume those requirements will not have changed.  The Myanmar consulate in CM should be able to provide that information.

[OneZero]

6 hours ago, Rotweiler said:

OneZero...

 

1.  Travel within the Tachileik economic zone (the Town and the areas surrounding it, including the resorts, golf courses, casinos, and night clubs to the East of the downtown) was previously permitted on a day pass (when those were available years ago) or a mini-Visa that was obtained from the Myanmar Immigration police at the border.  Overnight stays at hotels in the zone were permitted.  Travel outside the zone required a Myanmar Visa and hired transport (including a guide).

 

I don't know if this will be the case now as I haven't been there in 3 years since before the border closed, but I assume those requirements will not have changed.  The Myanmar consulate in CM should be able to provide that information.

Rotweiler,

Thank you for that information.  I apologize again for not being able to answer your specific question, and for then querying you for something else that you may know about the past use of that, quote, "mini-Visa that was obtained from the Myanmar Immigration police at the border".

Question:

Do you know how Thai Immigration treated /stamped the returnees passport, and

                                                                                 potentially /possibly record the return from a foreign country in Immigration computers?

 

I ask because I am wondering if past use of the then mini-visa, with an overnight stay at a hotel, and therefore return from a foreign country, was also able to serve to re-set the returnees 90 day window for Thai Immigrration address reporting.

[Rotweiler]

6 minutes ago, OneZero said:

Do you know how Thai Immigration treated /stamped the returnees passport, and potentially /possibly record the return from a foreign country in Immigration computers?

 

I ask because I am wondering if past use of the then mini-visa, with an overnight stay at a hotel, and therefore return from a foreign country, was also able to serve to re-set the returnees 90 day window for Thai Immigrration address reporting.

I can only speak about what occurred previously, not what may be happening now or soon - but in the past each trip to Myanmar using a min-visa was considered an exit to a foreign country and then a return (killing a single re-entry permit).

Edited February 21, 2023 by Rotweiler

[OneZero]

4 hours ago, Rotweiler said:

I can only speak about what occurred previously, not what may be happening now or soon - but in the past each trip to Myanmar using a min-visa was considered an exit to a foreign country and then a return (killing a single re-entry permit).

Rotweiler thank you. 

-Can you remember any other specific actions /passport entries by you, Thai Immigration, or Burmese Immigration? 

  For example, dates in passport to: cancel re-entry permit, date enter Burma, date re-enter Thailand (old TM6), etc? 

 

- Did you fill out any forms giving your address?  Were any hardcopy dated papers given to you?

- Was Thai Immigration officer recording anything into a computer (passport data, address, etc)

[Rotweiler]

Had to check my old passport (renewed lately) to confirm:

 

Full Visa

 

Application made to the Myanmar Embassy or Chiang Mai Consulate  (E-Visa started about 2015 but I was never able to get it to work for us).

Requires a usual international full application, valid for 3 or 4 weeks, and permits travel throughout Myanmar (sort-of, with huge restrictions).  Don't remember the prices but I think it took about a week.

 

Mini-Visa (using unlimited Thailand Immigration re-entry permit):

 

Leaving Mae Sai:      Departure stamp with date, Mae Sai Immigration

Entering Myanmar:  Arrival stamp with date, separate stamp "Visa valid until: [date]"  Myanmar Immigration

Leaving Myanmar:   Departure stamp with date, Tachileik Myanmar Immigration

Returning Thailand:  Arrival stamp with date, separate date showing "Admitted until [date of extension expiry]"

 

No prior [full] Visa required from Myanmar Embassy or Consulate  -  but mini-visa valid ONLY in the Tachileik area.  On entering Myanmar, received "Entry Document" that had to be returned to Myanmar Immigration on return to Thailand.  They would ask if just shopping or staying overnight (your choice, no difference in requirements or cost).  Myanmar visa the usual 500B or $US10. 

 

On return to Thailand, had to fill out usual 2-part arrival card(s) with all the info they require.  And yes, all the information was entered into computer and one part of the TM6 document stapled into Passport.

 

Day Pass (Stopped being issued by Thai Immigration about 7 years ago)

 

Passport was kept by Thailand Immigration and was issued 2 copies of a "Day Pass", each with a copy of my Passport front page attached.   Both copies were handed to Myanmar Immigration, one stapled to an entry card and return to you to be handed to Myanmar Immigration on your departure.   Prices:  Thailand 100B; Myanmar 500B or $US10.  No stamps in passport. 

 

On arrival back to Mae Sai, queued-up at Thailand Immigration and your passport was returned to you (no stamps or hard copy in passport)  As I said, this practice was cancelled by Thailand Immigration about 7 years ago.

[OneZero]

Rotweiler,

Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a thorough reply of your experience.

[OneZero]

Rotweiler,

Check on this thread in the Visa section of aseannow. 

Adv008 said that as of his visit to Mae Sai bordrer today (22Feb2023) the border was not open to foreign passport holders.  I have no idea if either he or I are misinterpreting something.

 

[Mahseer]

Border is open but today the computers on the Burmese side were down which is why nobody could cross. Once back up and running feel free to do a border hop and a bit of shopping as you so desire.

[FarangRimPing]

My wife went over yesterday and there was not much of a market. Few customers and not many vendors. She took a picture of a big pile of goods which were damaged by the floods last year, which have not been cleaned yet. The market in Mae Sai is much better at this time.

 

[Randell]

Any one with current knowledge of border visa run capability at Mae Sai or Chiang Saen?

[Randell]

This report from a neighbour yesterday the 15th

 

Went to the border jammed pack full of Burmese I asked why and lady says no food in Myanmar and safe. Stamped out of Thai and pushed through a crowd to get to passport office give passport and 500bht waked back to Thailand lol...all good.