Savannakhet Experience

[Scoobydoo1]

Hello,

 

So I just got back to Bangkok from Savannakhet, having a brand new Non-O visa in my passport.

Here's what happened...

 

Flew to Nakhon Panhom Airport from Don Meaung. Nok Air and Air Asia are the only airlines that go from Bangkok amd both leave from Don Meaung. Once at Nakhon Phanom I took a minivan right to the border checkpoint which cost 400 baht and is approximately 100km away. Before going through Immigration, I saw a counter selling bus tickets over the border for 50 baht each. This was 6pm and the dude selling the bus tickets told me that there won't be another one for another hour (7pm) so I paid him and then got my passport stamped.

 

A full HOUR AND A HALF later, still no bus. A minivan came over from the Lao side and offered to take me over for 200 baht which I accepted. Once on the Lao side, I had my Lao visa within 10 mins as there were no queues, being evening time.

 

Then a tuk tuk to a hotel, which was the Avalon 2 Hotel. Nice airconditioned room, 450 baht per night. I paid for 2 nights.

 

The next morning the same tuk tuk driver picked me up (as arranged) at 8am and drove me to the consulate where a queue was already forming. The documents I needed for a multiple entry Non-O was my marriage certificate (I took the original but gave them a colour copy.) Also the Ko Ro 2 (hope that's how you spell it in English, or thereabouts) version of the marriage certificate which I got from the Ampur Office prior to travelling, which cost 10 baht per copy. I also had to supply a copy of my wife's Thai ID card and her Tabianban (house book). Also, a xerox copy of my Lao visa and stamp in my passport. The fee for a one year, multiple entry is 5000 baht. They did not ask for evidence of funds.

 

Massive queue and I managed to pay my tuk tuk driver 500 baht who was able to help me to jump right to the front of it. Why not? The queue was VERY long and it was baking hot. 

 

Handed my application in (Oh, had to fill in the application form as well and provide 2 photos). There are a couple of places opposite the consulate where they will copy your documents and also take your photo and develop it in case you forgot the pics (which I did).

 

I was at the window in the consulate for no more than 60 seconds before my application and passport were accepted and then the rest of the day was free for me to look around the city, eat and drink a few lovely Beerlaos, before bed and then picked up the passport the following afternoon at 2pm.

 

Coming back was stress-free. The Lao Immigration Officer asked me for 100 baht to stamp my passport which I never experienced the previous times. I then bought a bus ticket over the Friendship Bridge II to Mukdahan Immigration, where I queued for about 45 minutes to get my passport stamped. Afterwards I caught a taxi to Mukdahan Bus Station and from there a minivan for 400 to Nakhon Phanom Airport where I boarded my flight back to Bangkok.

 

Nice trip all-in-all.

 

[DrJack54]

Thank you for very detailed report 

Will assist others 

Cheers. 

[Scoobydoo1]

I needed a copy of my photo page of my passport also.

[stratocaster]

What day did you apply that had massive queues. I assume Monday as that is the Visa runners day.

[smoo1954]

A very good report thank you as I am going in May to do same,

Is the Kor Ror 2 a necessity? I have never seen it mentioned as a must have before.

Does anybody know where I can park my car on the Thai side?

Edited March 28, 2023 by smoo1954

[jimn]

Good report but sorry way too much hastle for me. 

Tomorrow I will pop into Pattaya and employ my usual agent. A trip to the bank for an hour and after a quick escorted visit to immigration and lo behold a brand new extension of stay based on Retirement for 12,500 baht the next day.

I bet the OP paid only a little short of that with all the hassle. Of course if he is under 50 years it will be a different matter.

Edited March 28, 2023 by jimn

[Scoobydoo1]

3 hours ago, stratocaster said:

What day did you apply that had massive queues. I assume Monday as that is the Visa runners day.

Yes, Monday, but I won't do that again. I'm hazarding a guess that Friday might be a better day as nobody wants to spend the weekend there but I could of course be wrong about this.

Edited March 28, 2023 by Scoobydoo1
Spelling mistake

[Scoobydoo1]

2 hours ago, smoo1954 said:

A very good report thank you as I am going in May to do same,

Is the Kor Ror 2 a necessity? I have never seen it mentioned as a must have before.

Does anybody know where I can park my car on the Thai side?

I never needed it previously so must be a new rule. The documents that they don't need they always give you back but they accepted it so yes, it's part of the new requirements. Very easy to get though. Usually my missus goes to the Ampur office in Bangkok to get it but she was working so I had to go myself this time around. Had to queue for an hour there but at least it was airconditioned.

[Scoobydoo1]

1 hour ago, jimn said:

Good report but sorry way too much hastle for me. 

Tomorrow I will pop into Pattaya and employ my usual agent. A trip to the bank for an hour and after a quick escorted visit to immigration and lo behold a brand new extension of stay based on Retirement for 12,500 baht the next day.

I bet the OP paid only a little short of that with all the hassle. Of course if he is under 50 years it will be a different matter.

I'm 47 so have to wait another 3 years for the retirement visa.

[NanLaew]

Only ten people in this morning's (Tuesday) queue, including two couples. Back in the hotel before 9:30 (20 minute walk... it's that easy).

 

Yesterday, I grabbed a local driver with an airconditioned pickup after I parked up (250 baht/day covered and secure). He wanted 1500 baht all the way to the hotel (used to be 1000 baht several years ago). Did a deal and for another 1000, he'll pick me up tomorrow, wait while I collect the passport and get me back to the Mukdahan parking lot. I saw a bunch of people waiting for the bus as we whizzed through yesterday afternoon: less than 30 minutes between my parking, clearing Thailand and Lao immigration (eVisa) and customs and checking in at the hotel. It was good to witness the procedure for getting his Thai vehicle through Customs with the purple 'passport' and the QR code scan. Next year, I may try the whole drive myself.

[PJ71]

2 hours ago, smoo1954 said:

A very good report thank you as I am going in May to do same,

Is the Kor Ror 2 a necessity? I have never seen it mentioned as a must have before.

Does anybody know where I can park my car on the Thai side?

Not required.

[NanLaew]

2 hours ago, smoo1954 said:

Does anybody know where I can park my car on the Thai side?

Huge covered shed on the left hand side, about 420 meters from the turn-in and before the immigration and customs buildings. Drive slowly as there may be semi-trailers either side of the entrance and obscuring the parking sign (in Thai). They'll assign you a slot, charge you 250 baht/day and you keep the reciept as you'll need that to get out when you get back.

 

It's the yellow-circled building in the appended.

 

[transam]

41 minutes ago, Scoobydoo1 said:

Yes, Monday, but I won't do that again. I'm hazarding a guess that Friday might be a better day as nobody wants to spend the weekend there but I could of course be wrong about this.

Tuesday and Wednesday are the best days, Mrs.T had a chat with taxi drivers who make their living at the Consulate, but with the influx of Russian 'escapee's', who knows....

[brianburi]

1 hour ago, jimn said:

Good report but sorry way too much hastle for me. 

Tomorrow I will pop into Pattaya and employ my usual agent. A trip to the bank for an hour and after a quick escorted visit to immigration and lo behold a brand new extension of stay based on Retirement for 12,500 baht the next day.

I bet the OP paid only a little short of that with all the hassle. Of course if he is under 50 years it will be a different matter.

Did my extension last week using the well known agency in Soi13/2.  No requirement to go to Immigration. Just 20 mins at the Bank, they take a photo of you and keep your passport.  Must be a Bangkok Bank account, 1640B fee's if your account isn't that branch.

I couldn't hang about too long down there in Pattaya so the agent EMS'd my passport back to me.

In the passport you get a blue paper immigration receipt for the 1900B extension fee,  nice touch.

Big thx to the OP posting here as I am thinking of changing the way I do retirement extensions.

Next year I plan to go over to Savannakhet and get a single non o visa.   I will have over a full year of my two UK pensions paid into Bangkok Bank by then. Easily more than enough to meet the retirement monthly income for retirement.

[jimn]

2 hours ago, brianburi said:

Did my extension last week using the well known agency in Soi13/2.  No requirement to go to Immigration. Just 20 mins at the Bank, they take a photo of you and keep your passport.  Must be a Bangkok Bank account, 1640B fee's if your account isn't that branch.

I couldn't hang about too long down there in Pattaya so the agent EMS'd my passport back to me.

In the passport you get a blue paper immigration receipt for the 1900B extension fee,  nice touch.

Big thx to the OP posting here as I am thinking of changing the way I do retirement extensions.

Next year I plan to go over to Savannakhet and get a single non o visa.   I will have over a full year of my two UK pensions paid into Bangkok Bank by then. Easily more than enough to meet the retirement monthly income for retirement.

Yes thanks for correcting me. I checked with the the ther well known agent I use on Soi Baukau, the requirement to go to immigration after the bank for the photo is not now required. I dont know why you have to pay a 1,640 extra baht, last year I only paid the set 12,500 fee.

[Kalasin Jo]

12 hours ago, smoo1954 said:

A very good report thank you as I am going in May to do same,

Is the Kor Ror 2 a necessity? I have never seen it mentioned as a must have before.

Does anybody know where I can park my car on the Thai side?

There was a covered ground level car park just before the Thai border. I can't remember the charge but it was per 24 hrs paid in advance. This was in 2019.

No Kor Ror  2 needed then. This also was not required for an in Thailand application but now is: understandable as it is proof that the marriage still continues or it wouldn't be issued. 

An "invitation " letter, signed and dated by my wife saying in Thai that she is asking me to visit as soon as possible at - address of place of  stay ( our home here) - and requesting I be issued with a visa,  addressed to the Ambassador was required. Did the OP mention this? My wife hand wrote this. It was accepted.