Mae Sai/Tachilek Border Info

[sceadugenga]

Any problems with the visa exemptions these days?

I plodded along on the 30s for a while as I quite enjoyed the monthly trip to MaeSai but got told that I could only do three consecutively so actually changed to the visa system before they reduced the land border exemptions to 15 days.

[Limbo]

Mae Sai Immigration ladies and gentlemen were out in force at Central Plaza yesterday. They are trialing a 'remote' office set-up in Central on the ground floor on the first Saturday of each month. You can go along and do your 90 days renewals, your re-entry permits etc. I don't think -at this stage -you can do your actual annual Retirement visa -( someone tell me if I'm wrong, please!) but that may happen if the whole thing proves a success.

It was being well- supported yesterday - and they were giving out drinks and sandwiches and leaflets. If anyone has any more information, please post.

Thanks for the good information Harsu!

By sharing this information you contribute to a possible succes

of the trial, which would benefit us all.

I suppose you mean the 90 days notification of stay and not the

90 days re-activation of a multiple entry non-immigrant visum.

As you can go one week before untill one week after the required

date for the notification, in principle those among us who are due

between 26 November and 8 December (in case that...) could go to

the office at the Central Plaza Saturday December 3.

And for those among us that need a reason to go to Mae Sai

once in a while: Chestnuts

Limbo

[sceadugenga]

I like the pistachios as well.

[TwentyBaht]

harsu,

Thank you very much for this information.

Please, would you post this as a topic. More people would see it.

Cheers

[Mario2008]

Some immigration offices are doing extra outreach services in honour of His Majesty.

I believe these activities will be stopped after the King's Birthday, so make sure if this service is continued after December 5th.

[harsu]

Some immigration offices are doing extra outreach services in honour of His Majesty.

I believe these activities will be stopped after the King's Birthday, so make sure if this service is continued after December 5th.

I have no more information than what the Immigration officer told me at Central - which was that 'this was the first one' and they ' would be back each month'. I hope that means that it will continue..... fingers crossed.

[ryladie99]

<br>I agree that it isn't very often that they shut the border down, but it sure does suck when they <i>do</i> <img src="http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/huh.gif" class="bbc_emoticon" alt=""> .<br>

<br><br>Thanks so much for posting..you are right about the Burmese government who seldom shut down the Border. My last trip at the border was in the year 2008. Many tourists traveled to the Border and the business was blooming. Prior to that I was witnessing the border closed in the year 2000. There were so many homeless who were starving and wondering on the streets. I felt for them and was unable to do much until I came back to the state seven days later. I contacted the Red Cross and the Administrator promised to send helping hand to the Burmese borders. I donated money to the Red cross...then I went on with my life...however, I did hear last time the fight between the Burmese with 200 tribes are still going on... the border will shut down on and off... due to their fighting...my take and opinion. <br>

[Briggsy]

Somewhere in the midst of this huge and very useful thread, there will be a post stating what is required for a Thai to make a short border crossing. I haven't found it.

My girlfriend has both an ID card (of course) and a passport. Which is cheaper and faster in terms of crossing the border for an hour or so? Do the Thais also have to stump up 500 Baht and get a Burmese entry permit?

[sceadugenga]

No, last time I took a Thai over with me she just got a day pass. Never needed a passport.

Can't remember what she paid but it wasn't much.

They go to the office to the left of border immigration.

It was a while ago, she hasn't been back since... "too many Burmese people..."

Edited November 13, 2011 by sceadugenga

[harrry]

No, last time I took a Thai over with me she just got a day pass. Never needed a passport.

Can't remember what she paid but it wasn't much.

They go to the office to the left of border immigration.

It was a while ago, she hasn't been back since... "too many Burmese people..."

Locals have to get a pass at the ampure about 300metres before the border. One photo.

[villagefarang]

No, last time I took a Thai over with me she just got a day pass. Never needed a passport.

Can't remember what she paid but it wasn't much.

They go to the office to the left of border immigration.

It was a while ago, she hasn't been back since... "too many Burmese people..."

Locals have to get a pass at the ampure about 300metres before the border. One photo.

The wife paid 30 baht in Thailand for the pass based on Thai ID, then paid 10 baht on the Burmese side. Very painless process.

[scorpio1945]

They changed locations. Need to go to visa office just south of Immigration office with ID card. 15 bt last time.

[Limbo]

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Some more information on the activities of the Immigration Office

at their new location in the Central Plaza:

1. Background of the Program:

Due to the fact that His Majesty the King will attain the age of 84 on the 5th of December 2011,

the Immigration Bureau of Chiang Rai has organized a program to honor and bring merit to the King.

For this program off-site services the Chiang Rai Immigration Bureau has received assistance

from Central Plaza Mall, Chiang Rai which has provided a place for this service as well as providing

the materials needed for organizing this event without seeking any financial remuneration for offering

this off-site service the first Saturday of every month from 10:00 AM to 5:00PM on the 1st Floor in

front of the Super Sport Store of the Central Plaza Mall.

2. Services that are offered:

1. Receive applications for remaining in the kingdom, by means of foreigners making a

request to the immigration official directly. For example in cases of requesting to live

with a Thai wife, retirement, school or university student, etc.

2. Make an application to maintain the right to return to the Kingdom (Re-Entry Permit) with

regard to which, foreigners who have already received permission to be in Thailand at the

present, before they leave the country, they must apply for the right to maintain their old

visa first, otherwise, if they do not apply for a Re-Entry Permit their old visa will expire

immediately upon their departure and they will need to re-submit an application for a visa.

3. Notification of residing for 90 days in the country is for foreigners who are living in

Thailand. They must make notification of their address by filling in the TM 47 form and

submitting it to an official, or else they may make notification by submitting the form by

mail.

4. A variety of other services related to the Immigration Bureau. For example: transferring

official stamps from an old to new passport.

5. Providing advice and counsel regarding immigration regulations.

6. Providing notification of residence by the owners of establishments including hotels and

guesthouses, concerning which, if foreigners are staying at these locations an immigration

official must be notified within 24 hours.

7. Providing information about illegal foreign labour or human trafficking.

This service is designed to provide increased convenience for foreigners who are not able to

fulfill their responsibilities during regular government hours. Normally immigration officials are

available for service Monday through Friday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM and are located at the Chiang Rai

Immigration Bureau Office which is approximately 65 kilometers from Chiang Rai.

At your service!

Limbo

[sceadugenga]

Thanks Limbo

[Mario2008]

Make sure this program is indeed extended after His Majesties birthday. Many such programs are destined to stop after the 5th of December!

[TwentyBaht]

Limbo,

Thanks very much, for posting this.

[pomchop]

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Some more information on the activities of the Immigration Office

at their new location in the Central Plaza:

1. Background of the Program:

Due to the fact that His Majesty the King will attain the age of 84 on the 5th of December 2011,

the Immigration Bureau of Chiang Rai has organized a program to honor and bring merit to the King.

For this program off-site services the Chiang Rai Immigration Bureau has received assistance

from Central Plaza Mall, Chiang Rai which has provided a place for this service as well as providing

the materials needed for organizing this event without seeking any financial remuneration for offering

this off-site service the first Saturday of every month from 10:00 AM to 5:00PM on the 1st Floor in

front of the Super Sport Store of the Central Plaza Mall.

2. Services that are offered:

1. Receive applications for remaining in the kingdom, by means of foreigners making a

request to the immigration official directly. For example in cases of requesting to live

with a Thai wife, retirement, school or university student, etc.

2. Make an application to maintain the right to return to the Kingdom (Re-Entry Permit) with

regard to which, foreigners who have already received permission to be in Thailand at the

present, before they leave the country, they must apply for the right to maintain their old

visa first, otherwise, if they do not apply for a Re-Entry Permit their old visa will expire

immediately upon their departure and they will need to re-submit an application for a visa.

3. Notification of residing for 90 days in the country is for foreigners who are living in

Thailand. They must make notification of their address by filling in the TM 47 form and

submitting it to an official, or else they may make notification by submitting the form by

mail.

4. A variety of other services related to the Immigration Bureau. For example: transferring

official stamps from an old to new passport.

5. Providing advice and counsel regarding immigration regulations.

6. Providing notification of residence by the owners of establishments including hotels and

guesthouses, concerning which, if foreigners are staying at these locations an immigration

official must be notified within 24 hours.

7. Providing information about illegal foreign labour or human trafficking.

This service is designed to provide increased convenience for foreigners who are not able to

fulfill their responsibilities during regular government hours. Normally immigration officials are

available for service Monday through Friday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM and are located at the Chiang Rai

Immigration Bureau Office which is approximately 65 kilometers from Chiang Rai.

At your service!

Limbo

I went on saturday to central festival where the immigration folks were all set up inside in front of Robinsons. It was a very nice friendly and efficient service which saved me a trip to mae sai. Not sure if they will continue this service but they were handing out a survey asking what we falangs thought about it etc. They were very well staffed and from what i saw there were many falangs taking advantage of their services. Kudo's to whoever came up with this plan.

[harsu]

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.

W

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.

Some more information on the activities of the Immigration Office

at their new location in the Central Plaza:

1. Background of the Program:

Due to the fact that His Majesty the King will attain the age of 84 on the 5th of December 2011,

the Immigration Bureau of Chiang Rai has organized a program to honor and bring merit to the King.

For this program off-site services the Chiang Rai Immigration Bureau has received assistance

from Central Plaza Mall, Chiang Rai which has provided a place for this service as well as providing

the materials needed for organizing this event without seeking any financial remuneration for offering

this off-site service the first Saturday of every month from 10:00 AM to 5:00PM on the 1st Floor in

front of the Super Sport Store of the Central Plaza Mall.

2. Services that are offered:

1. Receive applications for remaining in the kingdom, by means of foreigners making a

request to the immigration official directly. For example in cases of requesting to live

with a Thai wife, retirement, school or university student, etc.

2. Make an application to maintain the right to return to the Kingdom (Re-Entry Permit) with

regard to which, foreigners who have already received permission to be in Thailand at the

present, before they leave the country, they must apply for the right to maintain their old

visa first, otherwise, if they do not apply for a Re-Entry Permit their old visa will expire

immediately upon their departure and they will need to re-submit an application for a visa.

3. Notification of residing for 90 days in the country is for foreigners who are living in

Thailand. They must make notification of their address by filling in the TM 47 form and

submitting it to an official, or else they may make notification by submitting the form by

mail.

4. A variety of other services related to the Immigration Bureau. For example: transferring

official stamps from an old to new passport.

5. Providing advice and counsel regarding immigration regulations.

6. Providing notification of residence by the owners of establishments including hotels and

guesthouses, concerning which, if foreigners are staying at these locations an immigration

official must be notified within 24 hours.

7. Providing information about illegal foreign labour or human trafficking.

This service is designed to provide increased convenience for foreigners who are not able to

fulfill their responsibilities during regular government hours. Normally immigration officials are

available for service Monday through Friday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM and are located at the Chiang Rai

Immigration Bureau Office which is approximately 65 kilometers from Chiang Rai.

At your service!

Limbo

I went on saturday to central festival where the immigration folks were all set up inside in front of Robinsons. It was a very nice friendly and efficient service which saved me a trip to mae sai. Not sure if they will continue this service but they were handing out a survey asking what we falangs thought about it etc. They were very well staffed and from what i saw there were many falangs taking advantage of their services. Kudo's to whoever came up with this plan.

We also used this service on Saturday - initially went just to do our 90 days reporting, then when the Immigration staff pointed out we were within 30 days of needing to renew our retirement visa snd that they could process it there and then- it was a quick trip to the bank for a covering letter and an even quicker trip home for the bank book, and had it done really quickly and pleasantly. The only downside was that we didn't have an excuse to pop into The Teak cafe on the way home from a Mae Sai trip. I too hope they keep going in this venue.

[ginooooo]

.

.

W

.

.

Some more information on the activities of the Immigration Office

at their new location in the Central Plaza:

1. Background of the Program:

Due to the fact that His Majesty the King will attain the age of 84 on the 5th of December 2011,

the Immigration Bureau of Chiang Rai has organized a program to honor and bring merit to the King.

For this program off-site services the Chiang Rai Immigration Bureau has received assistance

from Central Plaza Mall, Chiang Rai which has provided a place for this service as well as providing

the materials needed for organizing this event without seeking any financial remuneration for offering

this off-site service the first Saturday of every month from 10:00 AM to 5:00PM on the 1st Floor in

front of the Super Sport Store of the Central Plaza Mall.

2. Services that are offered:

1. Receive applications for remaining in the kingdom, by means of foreigners making a

request to the immigration official directly. For example in cases of requesting to live

with a Thai wife, retirement, school or university student, etc.

2. Make an application to maintain the right to return to the Kingdom (Re-Entry Permit) with

regard to which, foreigners who have already received permission to be in Thailand at the

present, before they leave the country, they must apply for the right to maintain their old

visa first, otherwise, if they do not apply for a Re-Entry Permit their old visa will expire

immediately upon their departure and they will need to re-submit an application for a visa.

3. Notification of residing for 90 days in the country is for foreigners who are living in

Thailand. They must make notification of their address by filling in the TM 47 form and

submitting it to an official, or else they may make notification by submitting the form by

mail.

4. A variety of other services related to the Immigration Bureau. For example: transferring

official stamps from an old to new passport.

5. Providing advice and counsel regarding immigration regulations.

6. Providing notification of residence by the owners of establishments including hotels and

guesthouses, concerning which, if foreigners are staying at these locations an immigration

official must be notified within 24 hours.

7. Providing information about illegal foreign labour or human trafficking.

This service is designed to provide increased convenience for foreigners who are not able to

fulfill their responsibilities during regular government hours. Normally immigration officials are

available for service Monday through Friday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM and are located at the Chiang Rai

Immigration Bureau Office which is approximately 65 kilometers from Chiang Rai.

At your service!

Limbo

I went on saturday to central festival where the immigration folks were all set up inside in front of Robinsons. It was a very nice friendly and efficient service which saved me a trip to mae sai. Not sure if they will continue this service but they were handing out a survey asking what we falangs thought about it etc. They were very well staffed and from what i saw there were many falangs taking advantage of their services. Kudo's to whoever came up with this plan.

We also used this service on Saturday - initially went just to do our 90 days reporting, then when the Immigration staff pointed out we were within 30 days of needing to renew our retirement visa snd that they could process it there and then- it was a quick trip to the bank for a covering letter and an even quicker trip home for the bank book, and had it done really quickly and pleasantly. The only downside was that we didn't have an excuse to pop into The Teak cafe on the way home from a Mae Sai trip. I too hope they keep going in this venue.

You on a retirement visa (type o)? And you still have to report every 90 days?

[Limbo]

You on a retirement visa (type o)? And you still have to report every 90 days?

"Foreigners who are applying for a visa extension can now make their application one month in

advance of the vsa expiration date. Those who are providing their 90 notification of address can

do so up to 15 days before or up to 7 days after to the appointed date".

(Info Immigration Office Mae Sai)

Yes Ginoo, indeed: every foreigner living in the Kingdom of Thailand

has to produce this notification of stay every three months.

If you don't do in time you will have to pay a fine.

This fine can get very high as it depends on the number of days that you are

too late. It might even get more expensive than a good quality mountainbike

or one of these super-de-luxe mobile phones.

The good thing is that you can do it by mail. This is of course especially

convenient for those foreigners that live further away. To facilitate this the

Royal Thai Immigration Police has been so kind to put the form that you need on

internet.

It's called "TM.47 Form for Alien to Notify of Staying Longer than 90 days",

a mouthfull of course but it covers the load exactly.

Together with a copy of your passport and a return envelope on which you wrote

your address and on which you put a stamp you send this form to the office of

the immigration and they will send you a confirmation back.

There are many form that you can download and fill out at home. You will find

them here: http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/en/base.php?page=download

Foreigners living in Chiang Rai town ("Muang' as it also is called) mostly

don't mind to make this trip a couple of times a year. It gives them the

opportunity to buy chestnuts for instance, or dreamboxes for that matter.

Some will turn it into a trip with their friends and will enjoy a beer and

a splendid conversation with some of the locals. Others take (or are taken by)

their Thai family who enjoys a trip to 'the other side' to buy some good wine

or beer or any other alcoholic refreshments, blue ray dvd's with the latest

movies or very lousy copies of iphones. You name it, they have it!

With other words: If the requirment to do this notification of stay every three

months wouldn't exist, somebody would have to invent it!

Limbo

[TwentyBaht]

"invent it". Yes, indeed. Well said, Limbo.

[ginooooo]

You on a retirement visa (type o)? And you still have to report every 90 days?

"Foreigners who are applying for a visa extension can now make their application one month in

advance of the vsa expiration date. Those who are providing their 90 notification of address can

do so up to 15 days before or up to 7 days after to the appointed date".

(Info Immigration Office Mae Sai)

Yes Ginoo, indeed: every foreigner living in the Kingdom of Thailand

has to produce this notification of stay every three months.

If you don't do in time you will have to pay a fine.

This fine can get very high as it depends on the number of days that you are

too late. It might even get more expensive than a good quality mountainbike

or one of these super-de-luxe mobile phones.

The good thing is that you can do it by mail. This is of course especially

convenient for those foreigners that live further away. To facilitate this the

Royal Thai Immigration Police has been so kind to put the form that you need on

internet.

It's called "TM.47 Form for Alien to Notify of Staying Longer than 90 days",

a mouthfull of course but it covers the load exactly.

Together with a copy of your passport and a return envelope on which you wrote

your address and on which you put a stamp you send this form to the office of

the immigration and they will send you a confirmation back.

There are many form that you can download and fill out at home. You will find

them here: http://www.immigrati...p?page=download

Foreigners living in Chiang Rai town ("Muang' as it also is called) mostly

don't mind to make this trip a couple of times a year. It gives them the

opportunity to buy chestnuts for instance, or dreamboxes for that matter.

Some will turn it into a trip with their friends and will enjoy a beer and

a splendid conversation with some of the locals. Others take (or are taken by)

their Thai family who enjoys a trip to 'the other side' to buy some good wine

or beer or any other alcoholic refreshments, blue ray dvd's with the latest

movies or very lousy copies of iphones. You name it, they have it!

With other words: If the requirment to do this notification of stay every three

months wouldn't exist, somebody would have to invent it!

Limbo

Wow, thanks for the info. I thought with proven money in the bank account and/or receiving a steady amount of income per month, once a year was all you had to prove again.

[bifftastic]

Gino, you don't have to show them the money every 90 days, only report that you're still at the same address

(by the way, hope you're well )

[akuhead]

Can someone tell me what is needed for Thai national to obtain a Thai passport and does this person need a Thai passport and visa to enter Cambodia as a tourist ?

Thanks

[changraider]

Can someone tell me what is needed for Thai national to obtain a Thai passport and does this person need a Thai passport and visa to enter Cambodia as a tourist ?

Thanks

As far as I know the passport office in Chiang Mai is the nearest, if the person is 20 or over they just take an id card, passport photos, and fill in the docs. If younger they need the assistance of parents or guardians. Don't know about Cambodia, but given the deteriorating relationship what might have been true a while ago could have changed anyway, so best to assume they do.

[brownrabbit]

Hi, can someone please tell me if the Mae Sai border is open this Friday, Saturday and Sunday? My tourist visa is up for renewal and I need to do a visarun there. Thanks

[ginooooo]

Gino, you don't have to show them the money every 90 days, only report that you're still at the same address

(by the way, hope you're well )

Que pasa, Biff. Can not wait to head back to Phayao in Feb and get to take my wife's granddaughter and her 2 year old to see the family. Granddaughter has not been home in about 4 years and 1st time for the great granddaughter. Still got things to take care of there before moving and hope to see the specialist in Chiangmai for my wife this time.

Had major wind problems here and still waiting for an insurance adjuster to show. Roof, siding, fence torn up.

How long before the 90 days is up are you supposed to show evidence of still living in the same location? Report about 2, 3, 4 weeks before expiration by mail?

[bifftastic]

It's all good Gino thanks bit cold here in London but I'm surviving

Sounds like a nice trip you've got planned with the family there

Reporting by mail, I believe, is 7 days prior to the 90 days being up, not sure if the letter has to arrive by them, or you can post it them, I would imagine it has to arrive 7 days before the date, so that they can send the slip back to you. If you do it in person you can turn up on the last day of the 90.

Apparently, all you need is a photo copy of the relevant passport pages and the 90 report form.

Have a mooch around the site and you'll see lots of threads on 90 day reporting, I'm sure you'll get all the info you need

Take care,

Biff

[dindong]

From the website

http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/en/base.php

Notification by registered mail

1. Copy of all passport pages (up to the latest arrival stamp in the Kingdom or latest visa stamp)
2. Copy of arrival/departure card TM.6 (front and back)
3. Previous notifications of staying over 90 days (if any)
4. Completely filled in and signed notification form TM.47
5. Envelope with 5 Baht stamp affixed and return address of foreigner for the officer in charge to send back the lower part of form TM. 47 after having received the notification. This part must be kept for reference and for future notifications of staying over 90 days.
6. The above mentioned documents must be sent by registered mail and the receipt of the registration kept by the foreigner.
   Send the mail before the renewal date 7 days to 90 DAYS REGISTRATION,
   IMMIGRATION DIVISION 1
   120 MOO 3, CHAENGWATTANA ROAD,SOI 7,
   LAKSI, BANGKOK. 10210

[svenivan]

From the website

http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/en/base.php

Notification by registered mail

1. Copy of all passport pages (up to the latest arrival stamp in the Kingdom or latest visa stamp)
2. Copy of arrival/departure card TM.6 (front and back)
3. Previous notifications of staying over 90 days (if any)
4. Completely filled in and signed notification form TM.47
5. Envelope with 5 Baht stamp affixed and return address of foreigner for the officer in charge to send back the lower part of form TM. 47 after having received the notification. This part must be kept for reference and for future notifications of staying over 90 days.
6. The above mentioned documents must be sent by registered mail and the receipt of the registration kept by the foreigner.
   Send the mail before the renewal date 7 days to 90 DAYS REGISTRATION,
   IMMIGRATION DIVISION 1
   120 MOO 3, CHAENGWATTANA ROAD,SOI 7,
   LAKSI, BANGKOK. 10210

I always send my 90-days report to Immigration in Mae Sai!