Nong Khai Border Bounce. Avoid !!!

[VintageTQ]

As has been mentioned in another thread this border point is definitely one to avoid if you want a quick out-in.

 

I hadn't seen the other thread mentioning the problems before going today and was expecting an easy hassle free border hop and it was completely the opposite.

 

My history. 13 years or so in Thailand on mostly non o visas or marriage extensions.

 

Last 6 months before coming to Thailand this year I was in UK and came here in october on visa exempt which I extended for 30 days.

 

Yes I know I should have had a visa but with reports of an easy hop nong khai seemed a good option rather than the hassle of getting a visa and I plan to go back to UK again at the end of this 3 month stint.

 

Anyway the IO (one of the worst I have faced and I've had some bad ones) asked why I was coming back in after just leaving. I explained it was just to stay an extra 2 month to stay with my wife and son. ' cannot' was the answer.

 

Told to wait in a separate area where the same guy came and asked loads of questions saying i had to back to Laos, he said he would let me back in after 2-3 days.

 

Anyway after much pleading and begging he relentled and said if I could show a ticket back to UK he would let me in. So after booking onwardtravel tricket he accepted it and I got in.

 

Horrible experience but suppose I was still one of the lucky ones.

 

As a side note, while I was in the queue they were giving anothrt guy a bit of hassle and I kept hearing him saying ' I have a visa '.

 

 

[DrJack54]

  On 12/27/2024 at 11:41 AM, VintageTQ said:

As has been mentioned in another thread this border point is definitely one to avoid if you want a quick out-in.

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Thanks for report.

@Tod Daniels updated forum re change of policy at this previously friendly same day bounce now requiring overnight stay.

 

 

 

[thai006]

Dammm I need to go there tomorrow and I didn't know I need to spend one night there 

[DrJack54]

  On 12/27/2024 at 1:05 PM, thai006 said:

Dammm I need to go there tomorrow and I didn't know I need to spend one night there 

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It's a new squeeze.

Perhaps take some extra baht to grease the wheels. 

[DrJack54]

Nonsense post removed

[Phillip9]

Since this was historically one easiest most hassle free border bounces, I'm guessing this one night policy will be implemented at every crossing, eventually.  The border bounce may be ending.  Or at least the free border bounce may be ending.

[DrJack54]

  On 12/27/2024 at 8:44 PM, Phillip9 said:

Or at least the free border bounce may be ending.

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Guessing we might see that the border bounce folk  will be using agent organized minivan runs.

Price includes "safe passage" and hopefully same day turn around..

[Expat68]

If has you say 13 years, then you should know that not all immigration are the same

[DrJack54]

  On 12/28/2024 at 5:04 AM, Expat68 said:

If has you say 13 years, then you should know that not all immigration are the same

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Don't follow.

The OP was blind sided.

Previously he would not have had that type of issue at that border crossing.

Welcome to the "new age" of border runs. 

[Donald Bright]

My wife would like to go to Lao and Vientien for a bit of a holiday. are there any problems going into Lao for a few days and coming back with a re entry visa.

[sandyf]

  On 12/28/2024 at 2:49 PM, Donald Bright said:

My wife would like to go to Lao and Vientien for a bit of a holiday. are there any problems going into Lao for a few days and coming back with a re entry visa.

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None whatsoever, I did it last year, flew into Luang Prabang then took the HSR to Vientiane, crossed the bridge and flew back from Udon Thani, excellent trip.

Many moons ago there used to be a warning on the UK embassy/consulate paperwork about leaving Thailand across local borders, that 48 hours before re-entry would be required.

It would appear that some seem to think they have the right of immediate re-entry.

[SenorTashi]

  On 12/27/2024 at 11:41 AM, VintageTQ said:

Anyway the IO (one of the worst I have faced and I've had some bad ones)

 

 

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Don't know if it's the same guy but one of their IOs was arguing with me that my passport wasn't mine. 

I kept saying 'it's the only one I've got' That went on for quite a while.

I'd just done a border run too, which didn't seem to bother them.

[thai006]

At the laos side wish me good luck for thai immigration 

[thai006]

Don't go to nong khai they send me back to laos they say I can't go and back same day 

[DrJack54]

  On 12/29/2024 at 7:53 AM, thai006 said:

Don't go to nong khai they send me back to laos they say I can't go and back same day 

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So this just happened to you now.

Damn...would not have been such an issue if you had know.

So seems these reports are solid now.

One night stay required Nong Khai crossing.

Did you try and offer some baht to obtain some flexibility? 

[Donald Bright]

  On 12/28/2024 at 3:32 PM, sandyf said:

None whatsoever, I did it last year, flew into Luang Prabang then took the HSR to Vientiane, crossed the bridge and flew back from Udon Thani, excellent trip.

Many moons ago there used to be a warning on the UK embassy/consulate paperwork about leaving Thailand across local borders, that 48 hours before re-entry would be required.

It would appear that some seem to think they have the right of immediate re-entry.

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Thank you.

[thai006]

  On 12/29/2024 at 8:00 AM, DrJack54 said:

So this just happened to you now.

Damn...would not have been such an issue if you had know.

So seems these reports are solid now.

One night stay required Nong Khai crossing.

Did you try and offer some baht to obtain some flexibility? 

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They took me to the supervisor, I got a flight back to home country and he didn't want to know anything he say you need to stay 2 3 days in laos only that 

[terryq]

Visa Exempt entry has to satisfy money and ticket out conditions. What is not usually considered is that VE is also for 'strictly tourism purposes only'.  Personally I have never seen any official statement by Immigration defining what that means.

 

Immigration could argue that returning immediately indicates living here and not tourism.

 

In this case the OP states his reason was 'to visit wife and family' which, to me would not satisfy tourism purposes.

 

 

[DrJack54]

  On 12/29/2024 at 8:19 AM, thai006 said:

They took me to the supervisor, I got a flight back to home country and he didn't want to know anything he say you need to stay 2 3 days in laos only that 

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That is just a rogue request.

First up it would only need to be flight out of Thailand (onward flight) and even that should not be required.

Let the games begin. 

[Briggsy]

  On 12/29/2024 at 8:35 AM, DrJack54 said:

That is just a rogue request.

First up it would only need to be flight out of Thailand (onward flight) and even that should not be required.

Let the games begin. 

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I suspect @thai006 meant he had a ticket out of Thailand but it made no difference as the IO was not interested in it.

[Nick Carter icp]

  On 12/29/2024 at 8:35 AM, DrJack54 said:

That is just a rogue request.

First up it would only need to be flight out of Thailand (onward flight) and even that should not be required.

Let the games begin. 

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  They require a flight back to your home Country at the Chiang Kong border .

   Paper Thai immigration handed out on departure 

  

[DrJack54]

  On 12/29/2024 at 8:40 AM, Nick Carter icp said:

They require a flight back to your home Country at the Chiang Kong border .

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Consider that a "lost in translation" thing.

There has never been specific requirement to return to home country flight. 

It's a "get out of dodge" flight.

 

[thai006]

My wife just call himigration  they say I need to fly  to Thailand and I can't going back by friendship bridge   what a story really 

[impulse]

Are there any reports from people using an agent to attempt the same border bounce?

 

[DrJack54]

  On 12/29/2024 at 9:06 AM, impulse said:

Are there any reports from people using an agent to attempt the same border bounce?

 

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Not aware of any for Nong Khai as previously no issue there.

The border bounce agents from Bangkok and Pattaya to Cambodia provide same day return.

[DrJack54]

  On 12/29/2024 at 9:04 AM, thai006 said:

My wife just call himigration  they say I need to fly  to Thailand and I can't going back by friendship bridge   what a story really 

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What? You can't enter Thailand at that crossing even if you stay overnight? 

Surely not. 

[Briggsy]

@thai006 

 

Don't fly in. Just relax and cross over at Nong Khai in 2 days.

 

[it is what it is]

  On 12/29/2024 at 8:26 AM, terryq said:

Visa Exempt entry has to satisfy money and ticket out conditions. What is not usually considered is that VE is also for 'strictly tourism purposes only'.  Personally I have never seen any official statement by Immigration defining what that means.

 

Immigration could argue that returning immediately indicates living here and not tourism.

 

In this case the OP states his reason was 'to visit wife and family' which, to me would not satisfy tourism purposes.

 

 

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i have to agree, sometimes you have to play the game. i was in japan and went to extend my japanese visa, i was staying and visiting with friends. the IO said that was not tourism so i couldn;t extend, he said if i was staying for tourism i could extend. slight pause, knowing look from IO and i said, i'd like to extend my tourist visit and go to interesting tourist places in japan. he replied, ok, for this reason you can extend your visa. 😁

[Nick Carter icp]

  On 12/29/2024 at 8:55 AM, DrJack54 said:

Consider that a "lost in translation" thing.

There has never been specific requirement to return to home country flight. 

It's a "get out of dodge" flight.

 

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   I was at the C.K border a few weeks  ago and they did want to see a flight back to my home Country within 60 days .

   They wouldn't stamp me in unless I showed them a flight back to my own Country ,

   They wanted to see a flight ticket and proof of money paid for the ticket , not one of those $16 fake flight tickets 

[DrJack54]

  On 12/29/2024 at 9:27 AM, Nick Carter icp said:

They wouldn't stamp me in unless I showed them a flight back to my own Country ,

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Thanks for update.

What a ridiculous requirement.

$16..seems you used "onwardticket.com". Some would not be aware of that option 

 

Thinking @Tod Daniels might be interested in this thread