Mae Sot Border

[Ted54321]

does anyone know what time the border/immigration offices open? and how long does it normally take to get through/ get back?

Thanks

[apetley]

Not sure what time it opens in the morning as I go there in the afternoon as it's quieter then.

Back and forth across the bridge with the accompanying paperwork has never taken me more than 30 minutes.

Give them a call to check what time they open, I think a list of all immigration offices are listed somewhere on this site.

[tomallison]

I believe it is open 0600 to 1800 daily.

[apetley]

I did a 90 day border hop at Mae Sot this week.

Smooth as usual but one difference.

When you exit Thailand you use the office on the left hand side of the bridge.

You used to use the same office(waiting outside the window) on return from Burma.

There is now a new office on the right, as you look across to Burma from Thailand, for those wanting to enter Thailand.

It is the first office you come to walking off the bridge and you can enter through the double door and complete your entry card inside. Nice because it has a/c.

One other difference. This was about my 6th or 7th crossing at Mae Sot and the first time that I have been met by the touts on the Thai side of the border. Usually they are waiting on the Burmese side trying to hook those going on a wander around Myawaddy. No big deal as they seemed pleasant enough and didn't hassle.

On the Burmese side they were taking peoples temperature with a laser gun as a precaution against swine flu/H1N1 virus.

One other thing, one of the touts, confirmed by an immigration official, said that from some time next year, the border crossing at Three Pagoda Pass will be upgraded to an International Crossing and be available for border runs. Nice for those living in Kanchanaburi if true.