Just passing this on :" For anyone doing the border run from northern Thailand (closest land crossing to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai) you can no longer turn around and immediately get back on the bus back to Thailand after getting your Laos stamp/visa. They are now requiring a two day stay in Laos before returning. When you do come back you need to have proof of 10,000 bhat, T30 and proof of exit (flight info).

I did this run 3 months ago and it was not in effect back then. Not sure if this is just this crossing or all land crossings. I read some comments that say it’s shady and the head of the immigration here must be getting some kind of cut from the Laos side. No idea the truth of that but I do know there are signs everywhere and all the agents and peripheral businesses act like this is the new normal.

The guy that runs the daily van from Chiang Mai says he can still get you in and out the same day because he’s so connected in there and that’s his whole business but again, can’t say for sure. All I know is I’m spending an unexpected two days in Laos, which is fine, just wish I planned for it better so that’s why I’m telling you."

Does anyone know if this '2 days out' rule also applies to 12-month multiple-entry Non-O visa holders doing a border run to get another 90-day permission to stay?

13 hours ago, Schnitzelfritz said:

Does anyone know if this '2 days out' rule also applies to 12-month multiple-entry Non-O visa holders doing a border run to get another 90-day permission to stay?

There is no 2 days out rule.  It's 1 night required in Laos, only at the Chiang Saen and Chiang Khong border.  And reports indicate it is only for those using visa exempt.  

One person reported recently that they had a multiple entry visa and were told they could not return that day, but turned around in Laos and had no problem getting back in.

3 hours ago, BrandonJT said:

There is no 2 days out rule.  It's 1 night required in Laos, only at the Chiang Saen and Chiang Khong border.  And reports indicate it is only for those using visa exempt.  

One person reported recently that they had a multiple entry visa and were told they could not return that day, but turned around in Laos and had no problem getting back in.

 

  There is a two night out rule and Chiang kong . 

I was told about it yesterday at CK by immigration there 

The paper they gave me yesterday 

11 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

  There is a two night out rule and Chiang kong . 

I was told about it yesterday at CK by immigration there 

The paper they gave me yesterday 

Yeah, they printed up a bunch of these and didn't want to change them.  Chiang Saen was 1 night and and Chiang Khong switched from 2 to 1 night a while ago as well.  That's been confirmed by a few people recently.

Of course it might depend on who is working the shift you decide to return.

2 minutes ago, BrandonJT said:

Chiang Saen was 1 night and and Chiang Khong switched from 2 to 1 night a while ago as well.  That's been confirmed by a few people recently.

Bit unrelated.,...do you have recent info Nong Khai crossing.

Is it still turn around and reenter Thailand.

Thinking that's still the case. 

10 minutes ago, BrandonJT said:

Yeah, they printed up a bunch of these and didn't want to change them.  Chiang Saen was 1 night and and Chiang Khong switched from 2 to 1 night a while ago as well.  That's been confirmed by a few people recently.

Of course it might depend on who is working the shift you decide to return.

 

   I crossed the Chiang Kong border on Monday was was told by Thai immigration to stay 2 nights in Laos , tonight is my 2nd night here .

   You cant get more recent than that 

Edited November 19, 20241 yr by Nick Carter icp

5 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Bit unrelated.,...do you have recent info Nong Khai crossing.

Is it still turn around and reenter Thailand.

Thinking that's still the case. 

 

Haven't heard anything changed from Nong Khai.  It's still only Chiang Saen and Chiang Khong that have gone rogue (the last I heard).  I think Tod would be the most up to date but I haven't seen anything from him recently.

 

I'll message him to see if he has any updates.

1 minute ago, BrandonJT said:

I'll message him to see if he has any updates.

Last report from Tod was turn around bounce no issue at friendship bridge..

Tod said "Chiang Mai Visa Run" can do in and out same day at Chiang Khong.  He didn't know of any agents in Chiang Rai that can do the same thing, just the ones there act as a taxi to bring you to the border so you're still subject to the rules.

He also stated that how long you have to stay out is whatever they tell you when you arrive, regardless of what others have experienced before.

9 hours ago, BrandonJT said:

Tod said "Chiang Mai Visa Run" can do in and out same day at Chiang Khong.  He didn't know of any agents in Chiang Rai that can do the same thing, just the ones there act as a taxi to bring you to the border so you're still subject to the rules.

He also stated that how long you have to stay out is whatever they tell you when you arrive, regardless of what others have experienced before.

 

   That's if you pay 4000 Baht for the privilege then you can avoid the rules .

If you don't pay the extra then you need to stay in Laos for two days , have a flight back to your own Country and a Thai Condo contract .

   I was at the border today for 4 hours and people who hadn't spent two days in Laos were being sent back to Laos and those without  flight ticket back to their home Country were also refused permission to enter Thailand and told to go back to Laos .

    

    

Edited November 20, 20241 yr by Nick Carter icp

21 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Last report from Tod was turn around bounce no issue at friendship bridge..

 

   That's only of you pay the extra , if you haven't paid the extra then its two days in Laos , Flight home and Thai condo contract required, or you aint getting back in 

8 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   That's only of you pay the extra , if you haven't paid the extra then its two days in Laos , Flight home and Thai condo contract required, or you aint getting back in 

No. 

@Tod Daniels any recent reports of border bounce Nong Khai? 

 

Just now, DrJack54 said:

No. 

 

 

   I was there for four hours today at the border on the Thai side and saw the people being refused entry for not having spent two days in Laos and being refused enter for not having a flight back home  and seen them getting on the coach back to Laos .

   Those who paid extra for the visa came and went to Laos and straight back to Thailand within 30 minutes

10 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

No. 

@Tod Daniels any recent reports of border bounce Nong Khai? 

 

 

   Oh, you are talking about Nong Khai , we were talking about Chiang Kong, which also has a friendship bridge . 

7 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   I was there for four hours today at the border on the Thai side and saw the people being refused entry for not having spent two days in Laos and being refused enter for not having a flight back home  and seen them getting on the coach back to Laos .

   Those who paid extra for the visa came and went to Laos and straight back to Thailand within 30 minutes

Thanks for first hand report.

That's a game changer.

The flight out was reported some time back was not consistent.

Absolute rubbish from land border crossings

3 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

Oh, you are talking about Nong Khai

I posted ...."Last report from Tod was turn around bounce no issue at friendship bridge.." 

 

Thinking pretty clear Nong Khai that I was referring to. 

45 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

That's if you pay 4000 Baht for the privilege then you can avoid the rules .

Absolutely correct.

22 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Last report from Tod was turn around bounce no issue at friendship bridge..

When crossing the border into Huayxai, you need to inform the border agent you want to return “today”, then they will fetch the supervisor to run the process for you then he will walk you outside the gate and have you wait for about half hour then you go back to th. If he’s not there for whatever reason then it ain’t gonna happen unless you wait. A lot of folks, most aren’t aware of this. In any case, the most recent report is the most valid which happens to be nick’s not tod’s or anyone else’s.

Edited November 20, 20241 yr by novacova

3 minutes ago, novacova said:

When crossing the border into Laos, you need to inform the border agent you want to return “today”,

 

Which crossing are you referring to. My post was Nong Khai specific 

14 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

I posted ...."Last report from Tod was turn around bounce no issue at friendship bridge.." 

 

Thinking pretty clear Nong Khai that I was referring to. 

 

   This thread title does say Chiang saen and its about the Chiang Saen crossing  though , that's why I thought that you were referring to the Friendship bridge at Chiang Saen , rather than the other bridge at Nong Khai

Edited November 20, 20241 yr by Nick Carter icp

4 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

 

Which crossing are you referring to. My post was Nong Khai specific 

Okay got it. Huayxai, was referring to nick’s venture in the north.

11 minutes ago, novacova said:

Okay got it. Huayxai, was referring to nick’s venture in the north.

No problem.

Seems border crossing points are now making you use border run company or pay immigration directly. Disappointing

1 minute ago, DrJack54 said:

No problem.

Seems border crossing points are now making you use border run company or pay immigration directly. Disappointing

Huayxai has been doing this since after the covid hysteria, when it opened again they required a one night stay, they must have changed it to two nights recently to increase revenue. 

2 minutes ago, novacova said:

Huayxai has been doing this since after the covid hysteria, when it opened again they required a one night stay, they must have changed it to two nights recently to increase revenue. 

They may have done it after Covid for a short term, but for a long time it was not required.  I was there in July and there was no such requirement. 

37 minutes ago, novacova said:

When crossing the border into Huayxai, you need to inform the border agent you want to return “today”, then they will fetch the supervisor to run the process for you then he will walk you outside the gate and have you wait for about half hour then you go back to th.

 

7 minutes ago, BrandonJT said:

They may have done it after Covid for a short term, but for a long time it was not required.  I was there in July and there was no such requirement. 

So you crossed in and out the same day without paying the expedited fee and being processed by a supervisor? 

15 minutes ago, novacova said:

Okay got it. Huayxai, was referring to nick’s venture in the north.

 

   On departure at Chiang Kong,  immigration said that I need to have a return ticket back to my home country when I come back or I would be refused entry .

   But I didn't take a Credit card with me and I couldn't purchase a ticket online and just had cash .

   So I could nt buy a ticket and I faced the prospect of going back to Laos with just the cash in my pocket and no access to my bank account and unable to by a ticket home or anywhere else ..

   I was considering evading Thai immigration , going back to get my ATM card and then going back on the other side of immigration , buying  ticket and then getting stamped in 

3 minutes ago, novacova said:

 

So you crossed in and out the same day without paying the expedited fee and being processed by a supervisor? 

 

  It was possible a few months ago , to leave and come straight back .

Laos immigration even stamped you in and out at the same time , so you applied for a visa and paid and they gave you your PP back with an In and Out stamp in it .

   I suspected something dodgy was going on as they didnt want you to fill any forms out and that gave no receipt or change .

   I suspect they were keeping the money , maybe that's the reason why people have to stay some nights , so they have to officially enter and leave and its all on record

22 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

So I could nt buy a ticket and I faced the prospect of going back to Laos with just the cash in my pocket and no access to my bank account and unable to by a ticket home or anywhere else ..

So let's get this right.

You don't even have online banking app to purchase "rent a ticket" 

You travel out of Thailand without credit/debit card

 

 

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

So let's get this right.

You don't even have online banking app to purchase "rent a ticket" 

You travel out of Thailand without credit/debit card

 

 

 

   Yes, I don't do telephone banking .

I did have two ATM cards and one got lost , so the other one stays at home as I cannot risk losing that one as well 

Edited November 20, 20241 yr by Nick Carter icp

1 hour ago, Nick Carter icp said:

It was possible a few months ago , to leave and come straight back .

Without paying the ~4000฿ fee for expedited service? Where exactly is this report? And did the report specify that the same day in&out crossing was done “without paying for expedited service”? Was there an inflated priced border run service involved? The info here seems weedy and unclear. It’s easy for someone to report “yeah I crossed in and out the same day, no problem” leaving gaps in the information. 

Edited November 20, 20241 yr by novacova