Border run to Mai Sai CLOSED

[sirwilly]

The border run via Mae Sai  and Tachileik Is CLOSED to Forigners   I was there Yesterday at 12.45 July 5th and was informed it was closed by the Tachileik Immigration at 15. 45  on 4th July and  MAY open again in about two weeks time no reason given  they diected me to

Loa border crossing .  So please check with the Mae Sai Immigration before a long trip ..

[chalawaan]

9 minutes ago, sirwilly said:

The border run via Mae Sai  and Tachileik Is CLOSED to Forigners   I was there Yesterday at 12.45 July 5th and was informed it was closed by the Tachileik Immigration at 15. 45  on 4th July and  MAY open again in about two weeks time no reason given  they diected me to

Loa border crossing .  So please check with the Mae Sai Immigration before a long trip ..

Most western governments travel advisory emails are advising against all but essential travel to Myanmar. 

 

People think a pack of thugs in a truck can't snatch them for ransom, and possibly execution after years as a hostage?

 

Look up what has gone on in the Southern Philippines.

 

 

Or if you think that's just Islamic terrorism, consider the poor devils out pleasure sailing,  captured by the Cambodian Navy in the pol pot era. 

 

They ended up tortured to death on a bedframe in Teol Sleng.

[nikmar]

27 minutes ago, chalawaan said:

Or if you think that's just Islamic terrorism, consider the poor devils out pleasure sailing,  captured by the Cambodian Navy in the pol pot era. 

 

They ended up tortured to death on a bedframe in Teol Sleng.

ive just googled this, as i ve visited the Killing Fields and s-21 but had never heard this. Absolute nighmare. Possible burnt alive!

[bamboozled]

Oh this is unfortunate news for me. Was due up there in 10 days time. So no reason given...something must have prompted it. Then again, perhaps General So & So woke up on the wrong side of the bed and just said, " %uck it, close the damn gate." Thanks much for the heads up.

[novacova]

17 minutes ago, bamboozled said:

no reason given

war, anarchy or whatever you want to call it 

[bamboozled]

16 minutes ago, novacova said:

16 minutes ago, novacova said:

war, anarchy or whatever you want to call it 

Yeah, but what's different on July 4 from July 3? Don't they want my 10 bucks?

[chalawaan]

30 minutes ago, novacova said:

war, anarchy or whatever you want to call it 

Yeah, there's a full blown civil war going on, anarchy and lawlessness, fighter bomber strikes on border towns,  Chinese Casino Gangsters with their own electricity grid, and slave-scammer boiler rooms operating, and likely lads are giving it:

 

"The border's closed, I wonder why?"

 

????

[bamboozled]

I'm waiting patiently for any good news saying it's open again. Before the 17th, please.

[bamboozled]

6 minutes ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

there was a thread here about an alternate border close by mae sai if u can find it

 

something about a boat across a small river in that region

There is the Friendship bridge from Chang Kong to Huay Xai in Laos. That will work, too, it's just a bit more hassle than Mae Sai as you need an official visa. Available on arrival but it's more nerve wracking like all visas are, to me, at least. Mae Sai is super easy. And much cheaper but anyway... It's really the ease of it. The Laos crossing, you might not have the correct paper work, photo, face, etc...

[novacova]

37 minutes ago, bamboozled said:

Laos crossing, you might not have the correct paper work, photo, face, etc...

All is needed is a passport to cross into Huay Xai from what I’ve recently heard, unless something changed. A few extra ฿ will get you in and out in about 45 minutes and on the next bus to Chiangkhong

[sabaiguy]

Did my border bounce there about a month ago (June 8) and I was worried until the last moment that they would close it.  But it was business as usual and very smooth.

[orang37]

On 7/6/2023 at 4:45 PM, chalawaan said:

People think a pack of thugs in a truck can't snatch them for ransom, and possibly execution after years as a hostage?

Until you post proof this happened in Tachilek recently, i can easily not think that.

[bamboozled]

23 hours ago, novacova said:

All is needed is a passport to cross into Huay Xai from what I’ve recently heard, unless something changed. A few extra ฿ will get you in and out in about 45 minutes and on the next bus to Chiangkhong

Huh? You didn't get a visa?

[bamboozled]

Hmm, how would one find out the official news if open or closed? Googling it doesn't show anything current, not that I found. Is there an official webpage by Myanmar gov. perhaps? Is that expecting, um, a bit too much?

 

I wonder if it was closed by Thailand or by Myanmar.

Edited July 8, 2023 by bamboozled

[khunJam]

23 hours ago, novacova said:

All is needed is a passport to cross into Huay Xai from what I’ve recently heard, unless something changed. A few extra ฿ will get you in and out in about 45 minutes and on the next bus to Chiangkhong

I did this last November, it was pretty easy and quick. The io took me to cross the border past the line and desk so I didn’t have to wait in line and he told me to wait a half an hour then cross back in to the bus terminal and over the bridge. I think I paid an extra 2000 for the expedited service.

Edited July 8, 2023 by khunJam

[khunJam]

2 minutes ago, bamboozled said:

Hmm, how would one find out the official news if open or closed? Googling it doesn't show anything current, not that I found. Is there an official webpage by Myanmar gov. perhaps? Is that expecting, um, a bit too much?

Good luck finding any information on the internet. Never been able to find info other than on a visa run company fb page 

[bamboozled]

3 minutes ago, khunJam said:

Good luck finding any information on the internet. Never been able to find info other than on a visa run company fb page 

I was thinking if it was Thailand to close it perhaps they would have noted that somewhere on a gov. website. Hopefully, some boots on the ground will check in.

[bamboozled]

I just found this. They say perhaps reopening in a week (from July 3). Hope so!

[novacova]

41 minutes ago, bamboozled said:

Huh? You didn't get a visa?

Duh..huh…not for you but for everyone else yes of course. Why would anyone ask such a silly question. And no I didn’t get a visa because I didn’t go, an acquaintance did as easily it is to decipher in my previous post ????????

Edited July 8, 2023 by novacova

[BKK24]

According to the thai news:

There's some serious fighting going on the other side. Serious enough that there is about 5100+ refugees just crossed illegally to Mae Hongson area, and we're expecting more in up coming days according to the thai army.

Edited July 11, 2023 by BKK24

[heybruce]

9 hours ago, BKK24 said:

According to the thai news:

There's some serious fighting going on the other side. Serious enough that there is about 5100+ refugees just crossed illegally to Mae Hongson area, and we're expecting more in up coming days according to the thai army.

There is often serious fighting, or massacres by the Tatmadaw, in Myanmar.  I thought things were reasonably quiet in the MaeSai area now.

[BKK24]

10 hours ago, heybruce said:

There is often serious fighting, or massacres by the Tatmadaw, in Myanmar.  I thought things were reasonably quiet in the MaeSai area now.

It's happening in Khun Yuam district of Mae Hong Son. This's where those 5100+ refugees are crossing over.
The Thai might have closed the Mae Sai crossing as pre-caution, just in case more refugees want to cross here too.

Edited July 12, 2023 by BKK24

[bamboozled]

Anyone have any new news on this? That border run company still says closed. Or rather they haven't posted anything about it being re-opened so I'm assuming still closed but who knows if could re-open as quickly as it closed.

[elektrified]

On 7/7/2023 at 4:16 PM, novacova said:

All is needed is a passport to cross into Huay Xai from what I’ve recently heard, unless something changed. A few extra ฿ will get you in and out in about 45 minutes and on the next bus to Chiangkhong

That is wrong. You need a visa. New fee is 2,000 THB. They won't accept USD at the moment.

[novacova]

3 minutes ago, elektrified said:

That is wrong. You need a visa. New fee is 2,000 THB. They won't accept USD at the moment.

That is wrong. All you need is a passport and get the visa at the border. If not lazy then take a moment and read the post that was responded to. 

[bamboozled]

I just did a successful visa run today. Drove my car to Chiang Khong Friendship Bridge, parked on the left about 200 meters from immi, walked over to Thai passport control, no problem, smiles, stamped out...super quiet. Bought my 25 baht ticket for the bus across the bridge and waited only 5 minutes.

 

Crossed the bridge, got off the bus, and at the Laos immi go to the right side it says Visa on Arrival on a small office window. I told the officer I was just getting a stamp and going back and he said 1800 baht. I said $40 USD ok? He said, no, not if you're just going back straight to Thailand and not entering the country (Laos).

 

I didn't have to fill out anything nor give a photo nor walk through passport control. I paid the 1800 baht, he stamped me both in and out (two stamps) and I got back on the bus to Thailand.

 

Word of caution, on re-entry to Thailand I was given only 30 days instead of 90 for Non-O visa. Luckily, I checked after receiving my stamp and pointed it out and the immi officer was very apologetic. I guess she didn't see the visa number on the TM6. She corrected it and hopefully all the scribbles and crossed out dates don't rear their ugly heads in 90 days.

 

Again, very quiet on the Thai side, too.

 

I will say, the Thai immi there is very friendly. Was the same experience 6 months ago when I was there.

 

Good luck humans!

[GammaGlobulin]

On 7/7/2023 at 2:27 PM, Sticky Rice Balls said:

Hmmmm.I was just there last week on the 29th......took the green bus from Cm and spend the night on the 28th and did the jump on the 29th.....I walked 2 miles from my hostel on the 28th as google maps said it was open until 9pm.....nope  630am-630pm....per the night guard and signs

 

Was prob one of the quickest and easiest runs in memory....tons of cars trying to get in -out so no kids begging on the bridge....burmese side was happy to see me and take my $10 usd and stamped me before i could sit down and chat with them.....back across to LOS and the usual TM6 form (entry card)...Immig on thai side was even friendly!!! ....scanned my backpack and done!

 

walked to the bus as i had time to kill...nice folks up there in mae sai....odd to hear they shut it down albeit hopefully a temp move as I will need to go back for #2 in 2 months.......

 

Sidenote the green bus has really gone to h*ll..water dripping on my from AC and the lady was trying to tape it up for me...lol.....dirty windows with sticker glue all over so could barely see out window for 5 hr haul....I even got the VIP big seats....total cost up n back VIP AC...800 R/T.....

Very interesting account of your travels back and forth across the bridge.

However, I am left very curious about the specifics of what type of visa you are getting stamped. Also, how often you do this (annually), and how long you can stay in Thailand before you must do this again, and whether or not you can do this indefinitely.

Personally, I must renew my visa once each year.

However, I cannot say in all certainty that my situation will not change.

Hence, my curiosity about your visa, and stampings on the Burmese side.

Any info might be helpful to others, as well.

 

 

[Kammie]

Guess you guys are the main source for the hottest and latest news flashes. Should have checked here first instead of waiting till the last day of my visa. Did it so many times that I guess I got complaisant. Tachileik is indeed still closed for anyone other than Thai people. No word on when it will reopen, the immigration officer just said their boss says it's closed. So now I'm racing to Chiang khong hoping to get there in time from Chiang Rai.

[novacova]

15 minutes ago, Kammie said:

Guess you guys are the main source for the hottest and latest news flashes. Should have checked here first instead of waiting till the last day of my visa. Did it so many times that I guess I got complaisant. Tachileik is indeed still closed for anyone other than Thai people. No word on when it will reopen, the immigration officer just said their boss says it's closed. So now I'm racing to Chiang khong hoping to get there in time from Chiang Rai.

Are you sure the border control on the lao side is open today? If not then hop on plane in chiangrai and go somewhere else. Or possibly boat across the river in chiangsean, but haven’t heard anything about that border crossing for quite some time.

Edited July 15, 2023 by novacova

[GammaGlobulin]

4 minutes ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

been coming to LOS since 2008  always ONE way tix and NO visa......I get my free 30 day STAMP not a visa, at BKK...fly to CNX and extend that at immig for an other 30=60 days

 

allowed 2 LAND border runs a year....take bus from CNX to mae sai -Burma...stamp out and walk across small bridge into Burma...pay 10usd or 500 bt ...get STAMP from Burma..walk back into Thailand and again get first of the 2 allowed 30 day stamps.....go back to CNX and extend again--repeat for 2nd burma run and extend totaling 6 months..after that go home-back to work...

 

few times went to Laos but is a haul and i hate buying a laos visa just so can get a thai visa and come back.....long a$$ bus ride too...and have to stay over a night and fight crowds at consulate 300+ in crazy heat.....easier and quicker to do trip to Burma and the 2x is enough for me....

 

*suppose ill wait to get scolded for never having a visa and always buying a one way tix*

 

been doing it this way for 15 years and come her yearly   6 months here--6 months home/work

 

people were much nicer up there and got alot of stares....maybe cos of my hansum-ness   ????

 

burma immig was nice as was THAI--the ladies actually laughed with me..shocker!   555

 

did notice 1st time seeing a burmese army guy under the bridge with an assault rifle..yikes

 

side note im part of G7 which allows me this visa exempt*

A very detailed and complete answer.

Good information to have.