Border run from Phuket trying to avoid minivans.

[Tim K]

Hello guys, 

I'm interested in what options do I have to make a border run from Phuket preferably by air this July?
Russian passport, 39 years old, never did border runs before.
Came to Thailand in April (left september last year after 1 year ED), got 90 days exemption (can not change to other type, only leave the country).

a) I was thinking of Hat Yai (1h 38$ direct flight at 7:50AM) + van but couldn't find any info on border-run-agents in there.
Just go to the usual bus terminal where the vans depart every 30minutes to Padang Besar? 100b go through border and back?
Will train be better? seems like the travel time and price is same around 100b.
I want to do the same-day-return hop.
But I'm afraid of potential problems from IOs.

I know there are minivans from Phuket but the idea of getting up 4 am, sitting in a van going at 100km/h+ for 14 hours doesn't inspire me.

 

b) Fly to KL wait 1 hour at airport and fly back?

I'll get 60 days (promo until 31 July) which again could not be changed to ED or extended.
So after I would have to do a 2nd border run in September (getting 3rd visa exemption).
Same question applies.

I've read that I'm allowed 2 land crossings per year, so shouldn't have problems, but still worried a little bit cause I'm not in a group.

Edited May 17 by Tim K

[Hummin]

Why not stay one night or the weekend in KL? Great city

 

 

[oldcpu]

A quarter of a century ago (in the 1997 to 1999 timeframe) I used to constantly do border runs from Phuket.  i would either fly to

(a) Singapore - a great city so sometimes I would fly there from Phuket, stay over night, and fly back sometime in the next few days

 

(b) Kuala Lumper - where I would fly there from Phuket, clear immigration, and walk back through immigration to catch my flight back to Phuket.  The 2nd and 3rd times I did this, when leaving KL (at immigration) the KL immigration officer at KL departures suggested to me (both times), " Why not stay longer in KL?  We have a great city".

 

(c) Fly to HatYai.  A taxi would meet me at the HatYai airport, and drive me to the border. My Thai girlfriend in Phuket at the time, had HatYai contacts - and was able to book a HatYai taxi for me in advance.  With the taxi, after driving me to the border, I would walk across the border, turn around, and walk back and be stamped in. My taxi driver would be waiting and he would drive me back to the airport.  On another occasion when I did this, I stayed overnight in HatYai ... on the other two occasions, I was back in Phuket the same day (as the filght times worked).

 

But that was 25 years ago !  I left Thailand in 1999 and returned only in 2019.   Times change.  One can not as easily hop in and out of Thailand today as many times, as one could do then.  Immigration is 'more strict' today.

 

Someone will need to chime in and give you up to date approach (I have no longer need to worry about this with my current Thai visa(s) since 2019).

 

I am curious as to what the response may be.

Edited May 17 by oldcpu

[Tim K]

@Hummin 
If 1 night is enough, then maybe.
Having been in BKK just for 3 days I must say I didn't like being in a hot big city.

@oldcpu Yes that matches my idea closely.

[zzzzz]

local bus to Ranong ( 6 hours) or rent a car and do it in 4
long tail boat ride to Kwathoung

reverse.  you could spend the night in Kwathoung or Ranong

Russians get 90 day visa exempt entries!!

or fly

KL direct
Singapore direct

Phnom Pehn ( via DMK)
Yangon ( via DMK)

Edited May 18 by zzzzz

[Caldera]

4 hours ago, zzzzz said:

Russians get 90 day visa exempt entries!!

 

Reduced to 60 days since this month.

[Tim K]

@zzzzz If I take long tail boat ride to Kwathoung  will I be allowed to go back the same day?
There is a minivan service for this too but the timetable still says
 

07:00 am – Depart from Phuket

10:30 am – Arrive Ranong and go to Immigration office  (3.5h ok)
11:00 am – Go to Myanmar by Ferry
11:30 am – Return to get stamp for coming into Thailand
12:30 pm – Lunch at Ranong
1:30 pm – Depart from Ranong
7:30 pm – Arrive Phuket & Return to you home ( 6h here )

 
Maybe they adjusted for traffic jam.

Also what about the rainy season with higher waves? Is it safe in July?

Edited May 19 by Tim K

[zzzzz]

thats FAST: I've never driven it, with stops for drinks/pissing in under 4 
the boat across is like 30 minutes each way, so thats min 1 hour r/t
ur not in open water...
the above makes no sense
going at 7 arrive 10:30  3 1/2 hours
BUT
coming back
leave at 1:30 an arrive 6 hours later at 7:30????  6 hours

yes, can do in one day 

[Hummin]

On 5/18/2024 at 4:37 AM, zzzzz said:

local bus to Ranong ( 6 hours) or rent a car and do it in 4
long tail boat ride to Kwathoung

reverse.  you could spend the night in Kwathoung or Ranong

Russians get 90 day visa exempt entries!!

or fly

KL direct
Singapore direct

Phnom Pehn ( via DMK)
Yangon ( via DMK)

Done Ranong once before, easy and also ok to stay overnight using the local bus roundtrip. 

 

One of the easiest border runs I had, same as Kachanaburi. 

 

Done minivan service twice in Thailand. Hate them, never again

Edited May 19 by Hummin

[Tim K]

Thanks to all your replies I think the most optimal choices are

- direct to KL | SIN, stay 1 night to avoid problems with IOs, and back.
- Ranong via car/bus/ maybe even my own bike, just get 10$ note ready, be polite and smile when coming back to Thai side.

[Tim K]

Got on google maps to check out the Ranong Port
Found some interesting reviews left by the "customers"
2-3 months old.

"
We wanted to visit Myanmar - not for the purpose of visa run, but just because of our interest. This turned out to be impossible on our own because they request so many documents like hotel bookings, airplane tickets, 500$+ in cash for each person, e.t.c. We tried to gather everything on our own but they just refused. Then local "visa agents" offered to help us and we agreed. They collected documents for us. The documents list is: 1 copy of passport, 1 immigration blank and, the most important, the envelope with 1000 baht bribe inside. No tickets, no bookings requested, no questions asked. This seems to be the only possible way to cross the border here for a tourist and this is awful. While I was stumbling around in the port I saw dozens of tourists coming on shuttle buses and doing visa runs and each of them paid a bribe to immigration officers(most of them just paid full package price to the tour agency and were not even aware of that).
"

"
Border runs to Myanmar are generally possible. Many touts offer their “services”. Without paying anybody, it was impossible for us to get any of the needed stamps although we could show all documents. There is always some number, money, permit, verification, … that is supposed to be missing. “Our country, our laws…”. We were not the only ones leaving the place after hours without stamps in the passport. Money to one of the touts might have helped. In the end one of the female officers gave us the advice to go to the Grand Andaman pier a few kilometres up north. “More safe, especially for the children” was what she said. This is what we did the next day. There, everything was much easier, people friendly. But also here, money rules the game: 2100 Baht for the return trip to Myanmar for adults, 1000/500 Baht for the children, depending on the age. Speedboat, no questions, everything done after 3 hours
"

"
I understood I should use toute services. I was greeted by one at the parking at the ptt gas station. The prices seem ok, 500 baht per person for boat both ways. 800 baht for boat plus stamp 30 days. 1300 baht for stamp 90 days and boat. Extra 500 baht per person at myanmar border. The scam was after I paid and got stamped out of Thailand, the man changed his promises and asked money for boat. I was outraged because I paid for several people. He decided he charges again for the boat. The guy didn’t care at all he acted like a drama queen like you don’t pay, no boat. I was really scared he is going to ask for payment again at Myanmar border and offered to pay once we back. I think the guy was clearly using something. He was highly dramatical and non-negotiating, demanding. I am describing it because it felt very unsafe. He made an act refusing taking us back to Thai border once at Myanmar. I think the place is better to be avoided at all costs. The immigration services were smooth once paid, no problem about that part. As I understand it, the immigration is available only with toute services. And they ask money again and again after the price is agreed and I handed money over. They ask for money for whatever they want. If you agree to pay 800 baht at first, you may end up paying much more. Beware. They don’t keep their word and change it later.
"

"
Visa Run: There are different rules now. It's 1700baht - pay it to the guys on the pier or 2100 through an agency near the pier. Your passport will be with the boat driver.
"

Yeah it's possible, but be ready to "over pay".
Prepare copy of passport and probably last entry stamp,
print ticket for your next trip out of Thailand and a hotel booking
and
10$ note, that will help to cut the losses, either to touts, or the agency near the pier/ptt gas station.

Edited May 20 by Tim K

[Tim K]

And review from Andaman Casino Pier

"
Current information, from 01/20/2024 This is a pier of a company that provides boat transportation to and from Myanmar, and also has a visaran service. Stamp90 - 2600 baht, Stamp30 - 2100 baht There is free parking, we parked the bike in the parking lot near the main building. There is a bangkok bank ATM right in the building from which you can withdraw cash. There is also a comfortable seating area. Important! Boat departs at 10:00, 12:00, 13:30, 15:00 The boat was a large speedboat, with a capacity of 20-30 people. You are taken by boat to Myanmar, where a company employee immediately takes everyone by the hand to the window to get a stamp about entry and exit from Myanmar, the procedure takes 10-20 minutes for the entire group from the boat. 10-15 minutes on a speedboat and you are back in Thailand, you head to the same building where you registered your trip, only at the Arrival (arrival) window to the customs officers, and they complete the stamp processing for you. I would like to note that if you arrived on your own (by car or bike), then it is better, when you arrive on the territory of Thailand by boat, try to be the first to pass the immigration check on Arrival to Thailand, so as not to wait for the others who arrived in groups in minivans. P.s We came on our own, with Fr. Phuket. by motorbike, (pcx) the journey took 5 hours. It’s better to leave at 4 am, then there are no traffic jams and no cars at all, the road is lit. Gasoline cost 700 baht (total).
"


"
...
I paid THB 2'100 upon arrival at the Harbour for the processing (Multiple Entry Tourist Visa, getting another 60 days) The fee included the ferry and the supposed Myanmar immigration fee of 10 USD. The first boat leaves at 10 am so I had to wait a bit, but the waiting area is nice. There is another place you can cross the border (Saphan Plaa Pier) but not having to hassle for everything with the locals was definitely worth paying a bit more than doing everything on my own. The ferry took 10 minutes a ride, the processing on Myanmar side took about 15 minutes and at 10:45 I was already back in Thailand with a valid 60 day stamp in my passport.
..."

Edited May 20 by Tim K

[Tim K]

Just did air-run to Kuala Lumpur, left 11 July, back 12 July.
Stayed just for 3 months this year (Apr-Jul), first border run this year or ever.
 

At HKT went to young female officer
She saw that I left Thailand yesterday, asked me how many days will I stay
I said 60 - (granted for Russians until July 31).
She said go to supervisor
Super asked for return tickets, I didn't have any because I'm waiting for DTV.

Super said go to boss

3 people looked at my passport, and on 2nd try they finally got that previous ED visa was LAST year and not this one)
Left country 28Sep 2023 and was not back until April 2024. (6.5 months)
 

Said you have to buy return ticket to Russia or we won't let you in.
Did that , they said wait, waited 1.5h
Officer told me - you need to apply for proper visa, If I had come with TR visa they would have let me in, "don't do it like that with stamps". I said I thought 6 months on stamps was ok in 1 year, they said - It's UP TO US to decide.
 

While I was waiting, there was 60 year old man from Australia who had 2 kids with (now ex-) thai wife.
And they grilled him like me. WTF is going on?
Like why he is going to Australia 2 months then come back here 2 months and on and on and on.
He has been coming here for 35 years already, but today ImmOff were in a bad mood.

There were also 4 young Russians who left in Feb, went Bali until May, went back Thai for 2 months, left to KUL yesterday same as me and came back.
They were made to buy tickets to Russia too, but it was not enough, they were offered a Whatsapp contact (agent) who demanded 200 USDT in Bitcoins per person to 'solve' the problem. Can you believe it??
As soon as they paid they were let through.
 

So please guys apply for TR or go with minivan.

[Phillip9]

7 minutes ago, Tim K said:

So please guys apply for TR or go with minivan.

 

Or just atleast have the minimum basic requirements of an onward flight and 20,000 baht in cash.  If you had those you probably wouldn't have had any problem at all.

[Tim K]

Had 1000$ in cash with me, nobody asked for them

Ticket to Phnom Penh was not enough, they wanted to see only home country.

Edited July 12 by Tim K

[GypsyT]

How about getting multi entry 90-day e-visa to Vietnam as back-up?

Check Nha Trang (CXR code), you may like it. AirAsia cheap from DMK.

If that matters; many educated young Russians there and cheaper than Thailand.

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=nha+trang

 

[Rob Browder]

16 hours ago, Tim K said:

Had 1000$ in cash with me, nobody asked for them

Ticket to Phnom Penh was not enough, they wanted to see only home country.

Get the whatsap contact, and use that for all future entries - or use a land-border agent service.  The agent-money is what they are after.

 

The hassle with "only to home country" flight (is not even a rule) and such is just to get you to arrange with an agent next time.  The same happens at both Bangkok airports - and for an even higher price at the Aranyaprathet/Poipet border.

 

16 hours ago, Tim K said:

While I was waiting, there was 60 year old man from Australia who had 2 kids with (now ex-) thai wife.
And they grilled him like me. WTF is going on?
Like why he is going to Australia 2 months then come back here 2 months and on and on and on.
He has been coming here for 35 years already, but today ImmOff were in a bad mood.

They want him to pay for a 1-year retirement extension (he is over 50) through an agent.  Why else would they care / bother with him?  This is just how it is here. 

 

They are told "hands off" on occasional and new tourist entry people, but anyone coming more frequently is bullied into an agent-service category, unless they have a longer-term visa/extension already.

 

How "tough" they are on a particular day is determined in their morning-meeting, based on how "agent business" has been recently, whether boss's mia-noi needs some gold, etc - and the same in many immigration offices.

[Tim K]

@Rob Browder
Thank you very much for your take on the situation, it actually put my mind at ease.

When I saw my new 60 day stamp ending on 09-09-2024 as it was supposed to be and not on 03-Sep-2024 which was the date of my return ticket that I've just bought. I felt this was all just for show. Something not real. They are not interested in keeping the farangs from taking jobs from Thais. They just want to skim some money from these filthy rich atms walking by every minute with their carefree smiles and fancy clothes.

Yep, and the fuzzy laws are just the pretense to scare their victims into giving money to IOs.

Ok, that i understand. 2 visa exempts in a row and some <deleted> about last year ED made them hungry but they soon realised I'm not their client (they actually called me Luk-Ka, client in Thai language), stupid IOs - I have ED visa and I did learn Thai - they think I don't understand what they are saying :)

Was worried that they put some remark into DB if they actually have any. But now it's all clear to me.
And in the end the lady told me "you can stay long-term, just apply for a proper visa" that felt like - sorry to make you go through all this, but please come again soon.

The ticket I bought was refundable of course, I'm not that stupid.
An hour later got full refund no questions asked.

People say taxi-mafia, I say IOs are airport mafia, have first dibs on potential clients.

[BaanOz]

Don't think anyone has mentioned Georgetown Penang.
Did it a couple of months ago, about 5000baht return on Firefly. Quick flight.
 

Nice spot for a couple of days but don't think you could do it with Firefly timing on the same day.

[thaibeachlovers]

To the OP, what's the rush? Chill a bit, sightsee somewhere different.

 

You could even see a bit of Thailand as well. Seems such a waste to rush down, rush back without using the opportunity.

 

Don't know what your problem with the visa run vans is. I used them a few times as well- never a problem with the ones from Pattaya. Perhaps the Phuket ones are different. Just another thing to hate about Phuket the a** ***e of Thailand.

Edited July 14 by thaibeachlovers

[thaibeachlovers]

9 hours ago, Tim K said:

I say IOs are airport mafia, have first dibs on potential clients.

Do you complain about the rain too?

They ain't going away.

 

Abide by the rules and they don't hassle travelers. It's always the oh so smart ones that think they can game the system that end up crying.

Just get the proper visa.

[frank83628]

rent a car and drive up to the Ranong border. it only takes an hour to get across, stamp in/out and back. it's a decent drive too, quiet roads.

[simon43]

I used to do Ranong visa runs many times.  I took the public bus or drove up to the Ranong pier.  Paid $10 for entry into Kawtaung, stamped out by the IO, walk down to the smaller boats and pay 100 baht each way, arrive in Kawtaung, walk 200 metres to the IO office, get stamped in and out, walk back to small boat, over the river mouth to Ranong, stamp in, go home....

 

A short video I took on the boat crossing to Kawtaung:

 

 

Edited July 14 by simon43

[frank83628]

On 5/17/2024 at 10:11 PM, Tim K said:

I've read that I'm allowed 2 land crossings per year, so shouldn't have problems, but still worried a little bit cause I'm not in a group.

the Ranong border is pretty relaxed, you will get more than 2 entries.

[Caldera]

26 minutes ago, frank83628 said:

the Ranong border is pretty relaxed, you will get more than 2 entries.

 

I don't think so. I've seen those reports popping up every now and then, but inevitably, it turns out that it's either someone whose visa exempt entries by land aren't restricted (for example, Russians) or who has a multi-entry visa.

 

I've never seen any credible evidence of individual IOs failing to enforce the "two visa exempt entries per calendar year by land" limit where it applies. 

[frank83628]

6 minutes ago, Caldera said:

 

I don't think so. I've seen those reports popping up every now and then, but inevitably, it turns out that it's either someone whose visa exempt entries by land aren't restricted (for example, Russians) or who has a multi-entry visa.

 

I've never seen any credible evidence of individual IOs failing to enforce the "two visa exempt entries per calendar year by land" limit where it applies. 

got plenty of friends that have more than 2. 

[DrJack54]

3 minutes ago, frank83628 said:

got plenty of friends that have more than 2. 

What nationality are these friends

[Rob Browder]

On 7/14/2024 at 9:17 AM, thaibeachlovers said:

Do you complain about the rain too?

They ain't going away.

 

Abide by the rules and they don't hassle travelers. It's always the oh so smart ones that think they can game the system that end up crying.

Just get the proper visa.

As to "rules" and "proper" - obviously, you don't see what the actual "game" is.  If they cared about those things, there would be no agents.

[jas007]

One Tim I did a quick flight to KL and back.  I never even left the airport in KL.  The cost wasn’t very high from Phuket.  

[bubblegum]

b. in n out