Visa Run Latest

[Hachi]

Just an inquiry to see if anyone has done the visa run CM to Mae Sai recently?

My 3mths are about up ("O" visa) & checking what the protocol is on arrival to MS.

Any info appreciated,

Thank you.

[SwaziBird]

Just an inquiry to see if anyone has done the visa run CM to Mae Sai recently?

My 3mths are about up ("O" visa) & checking what the protocol is on arrival to MS.

Any info appreciated,

Thank you.

Have just returned from my run this evening. 3 months permsssion to stay on my "O" non-imig. visa.

I am presuming that this will be your 1st run.

Take yr passport to the bank in CM to purchase US$10 currency for 337 baht - or alternatively take 500 baht. You will need this currency for your entry into Myanmar.

Your bus will stop you at the bus-station from where you will get a 10 baht songtaew ride up to the border immigration-post. Enter the bldg on the left hand side taking the right stream where your passport will be stamped out of Thailand

Continue through and out of the building and pass through the right hand side of the next building without any further formality.

You will proceed across the bridge to the actual Myanmar immigration point on the right hand side of the road where you will surrender your passport and your currency. You will then be asked to sit before a camera and after a bit of computer notes your passport will be surrendered to that office ( all in one small room). You are given a counterfoil voucher that you will have to exchange for the return of your passport if it is your intention to proceed into Tachilk and go down into the market, or whatever.

You will return to the Thailand point on the left hand side where you will obtain ,from somewhere close to the head of the queue, the usual "arrival / departure" form which you will fill in and then present your passport and that form at the window - and you're home and hosed !

Have a good trip.

Cheers

P.S. There is a sign up at the window which states that you are expected to show 20,000 baht cash on entry into Thailand.

My wife and I certainly weren't asked to do so and I don't know anyone else who has had to do so.

Perhaps someone else may care to opine on that issue.

Edited January 18, 2008 by SwaziBird

[Hachi]

That's exactly the info I was looking for.

Thank you both.

[Ulysses G.]

Just an inquiry to see if anyone has done the visa run CM to Mae Sai recently?

My 3mths are about up ("O" visa) & checking what the protocol is on arrival to MS.

Any info appreciated,

Thank you.

Have just returned from my run this evening. 3 months permsssion to stay on my "O" non-imig. visa.

I am presuming that this will be your 1st run.

Take yr passport to the bank in CM to purchase US$10 currency for 337 baht - or alternatively take 500 baht. You will need this currency for your entry into Myanmar.

Your bus will stop you at the bus-station from where you will get a 10 baht songtaew ride up to the border immigration-post. Enter the bldg on the left hand side taking the right stream where your passport will be stamped out of Thailand

Continue through and out of the building and pass through the right hand side of the next building without any further formality.

You will proceed across the bridge to the actual Myanmar immigration point on the right hand side of the road where you will surrender your passport and your currency. You will then be asked to sit before a camera and after a bit of computer notes your passport will be surrendered to that office ( all in one small room). You are given a counterfoil voucher that you will have to exchange for the return of your passport if it is your intention to proceed into Tachilk and go down into the market, or whatever.

You will return to the Thailand point on the left hand side where you will obtain ,from somewhere close to the head of the queue, the usual "arrival / departure" form which you will fill in and then present your passport and that form at the window - and you're home and hosed !

Have a good trip.

Cheers

P.S. There is a sign up at the window which states that you are expected to show 20,000 baht cash on entry into Thailand.

My wife and I certainly weren't asked to do so and I don't know anyone else who has had to do so.

Perhaps someone else may care to opine on that issue.

I'm wondering, will this post be reprinted as the hot, new, exclusive article in next week's Chiang Mai Mail - only 25 baht?

[FolkGuitar]

Just an inquiry to see if anyone has done the visa run CM to Mae Sai recently?

My 3mths are about up ("O" visa) & checking what the protocol is on arrival to MS.

Any info appreciated,

Thank you.

Have just returned from my run this evening. 3 months permsssion to stay on my "O" non-imig. visa.

I am presuming that this will be your 1st run.

Take yr passport to the bank in CM to purchase US$10 currency for 337 baht - or alternatively take 500 baht. You will need this currency for your entry into Myanmar.

Your bus will stop you at the bus-station from where you will get a 10 baht songtaew ride up to the border immigration-post. Enter the bldg on the left hand side taking the right stream where your passport will be stamped out of Thailand

Continue through and out of the building and pass through the right hand side of the next building without any further formality.

You will proceed across the bridge to the actual Myanmar immigration point on the right hand side of the road where you will surrender your passport and your currency. You will then be asked to sit before a camera and after a bit of computer notes your passport will be surrendered to that office ( all in one small room). You are given a counterfoil voucher that you will have to exchange for the return of your passport if it is your intention to proceed into Tachilk and go down into the market, or whatever.

You will return to the Thailand point on the left hand side where you will obtain ,from somewhere close to the head of the queue, the usual "arrival / departure" form which you will fill in and then present your passport and that form at the window - and you're home and hosed !

Have a good trip.

Cheers

P.S. There is a sign up at the window which states that you are expected to show 20,000 baht cash on entry into Thailand.

My wife and I certainly weren't asked to do so and I don't know anyone else who has had to do so.

Perhaps someone else may care to opine on that issue.

I've made this trip every three months for the past seven years, and only twice in all those years have been asked to show money. However, I do know personally someone who was refused entry because they didn't have the cash on them, and had to quickly find an ATM, get the cash, and get back to the bus station.

The VIP bus is a great idea, and if you book early enough (I always book 2-3 weeks in advance) you can get seat A1. This seat has an extra footwell that permits you to recline in your seat and stretch out fully (unless you are 6'3") and sleep the whole way back should you grow tired of the view.

[StefanH]

Just an inquiry to see if anyone has done the visa run CM to Mae Sai recently?

My 3mths are about up ("O" visa) & checking what the protocol is on arrival to MS.

Any info appreciated,

Thank you.

Have just returned from my run this evening. 3 months permsssion to stay on my "O" non-imig. visa.

I am presuming that this will be your 1st run.

Take yr passport to the bank in CM to purchase US$10 currency for 337 baht - or alternatively take 500 baht. You will need this currency for your entry into Myanmar.

Your bus will stop you at the bus-station from where you will get a 10 baht songtaew ride up to the border immigration-post. Enter the bldg on the left hand side taking the right stream where your passport will be stamped out of Thailand

Continue through and out of the building and pass through the right hand side of the next building without any further formality.

You will proceed across the bridge to the actual Myanmar immigration point on the right hand side of the road where you will surrender your passport and your currency. You will then be asked to sit before a camera and after a bit of computer notes your passport will be surrendered to that office ( all in one small room). You are given a counterfoil voucher that you will have to exchange for the return of your passport if it is your intention to proceed into Tachilk and go down into the market, or whatever.

You will return to the Thailand point on the left hand side where you will obtain ,from somewhere close to the head of the queue, the usual "arrival / departure" form which you will fill in and then present your passport and that form at the window - and you're home and hosed !

Have a good trip.

Cheers

P.S. There is a sign up at the window which states that you are expected to show 20,000 baht cash on entry into Thailand.

My wife and I certainly weren't asked to do so and I don't know anyone else who has had to do so.

Perhaps someone else may care to opine on that issue.

I've made this trip every three months for the past seven years, and only twice in all those years have been asked to show money. However, I do know personally someone who was refused entry because they didn't have the cash on them, and had to quickly find an ATM, get the cash, and get back to the bus station.

The VIP bus is a great idea, and if you book early enough (I always book 2-3 weeks in advance) you can get seat A1. This seat has an extra footwell that permits you to recline in your seat and stretch out fully (unless you are 6'3") and sleep the whole way back should you grow tired of the view.

We did the run 2 days ago... booked the minibus through a travel agency, it took us from our Condo,brought us right to the border, then back to our home. We left 7:30 am, arrived home 5 pm...., for 700 Baht each

[FolkGuitar]

I've made this trip every three months for the past seven years, and only twice in all those years have been asked to show money. However, I do know personally someone who was refused entry because they didn't have the cash on them, and had to quickly find an ATM, get the cash, and get back to the bus station.

The VIP bus is a great idea, and if you book early enough (I always book 2-3 weeks in advance) you can get seat A1. This seat has an extra footwell that permits you to recline in your seat and stretch out fully (unless you are 6'3") and sleep the whole way back should you grow tired of the view.

We did the run 2 days ago... booked the minibus through a travel agency, it took us from our Condo,brought us right to the border, then back to our home. We left 7:30 am, arrived home 5 pm...., for 700 Baht each

That sound like a very good deal! Great price and fast, convenient service! With the VIP bus, you leave at 8am and are back in Chiang Mai around 7-7:30. The min-van seems to be a good way for most to make this run. For me, I've grown tired of the sight-seeing along the way and prefer to sleep comfortably going and coming. I get on the bus in Chiang Mai and go to sleep. I wake in Mai Sai. Coming back, I get on the bus in Mai Sai and go to sleep and wake in Chiang Mai. I can't sleep as comfortably in a mini-van. I like to stretch out. The only part of the trip I really don't want to miss is the shopping under the bridge on the Burmese side. I love it!

I just wish my visa would allow me to just sign the book at CM Immigration.....

[StefanH]

I've made this trip every three months for the past seven years, and only twice in all those years have been asked to show money. However, I do know personally someone who was refused entry because they didn't have the cash on them, and had to quickly find an ATM, get the cash, and get back to the bus station.

The VIP bus is a great idea, and if you book early enough (I always book 2-3 weeks in advance) you can get seat A1. This seat has an extra footwell that permits you to recline in your seat and stretch out fully (unless you are 6'3") and sleep the whole way back should you grow tired of the view.

We did the run 2 days ago... booked the minibus through a travel agency, it took us from our Condo,brought us right to the border, then back to our home. We left 7:30 am, arrived home 5 pm...., for 700 Baht each

That sound like a very good deal! Great price and fast, convenient service! With the VIP bus, you leave at 8am and are back in Chiang Mai around 7-7:30. The min-van seems to be a good way for most to make this run. For me, I've grown tired of the sight-seeing along the way and prefer to sleep comfortably going and coming. I get on the bus in Chiang Mai and go to sleep. I wake in Mai Sai. Coming back, I get on the bus in Mai Sai and go to sleep and wake in Chiang Mai. I can't sleep as comfortably in a mini-van. I like to stretch out. The only part of the trip I really don't want to miss is the shopping under the bridge on the Burmese side. I love it!

I just wish my visa would allow me to just sign the book at CM Immigration.....

That makes 10 hours of sleep daysover....... you seem to be a busy guy at nighttime LOL

Edited January 21, 2008 by StefanH

[FolkGuitar]

I've made this trip every three months for the past seven years, and only twice in all those years have been asked to show money. However, I do know personally someone who was refused entry because they didn't have the cash on them, and had to quickly find an ATM, get the cash, and get back to the bus station.

The VIP bus is a great idea, and if you book early enough (I always book 2-3 weeks in advance) you can get seat A1. This seat has an extra footwell that permits you to recline in your seat and stretch out fully (unless you are 6'3") and sleep the whole way back should you grow tired of the view.

We did the run 2 days ago... booked the minibus through a travel agency, it took us from our Condo,brought us right to the border, then back to our home. We left 7:30 am, arrived home 5 pm...., for 700 Baht each

That sound like a very good deal! Great price and fast, convenient service! With the VIP bus, you leave at 8am and are back in Chiang Mai around 7-7:30. The min-van seems to be a good way for most to make this run. For me, I've grown tired of the sight-seeing along the way and prefer to sleep comfortably going and coming. I get on the bus in Chiang Mai and go to sleep. I wake in Mai Sai. Coming back, I get on the bus in Mai Sai and go to sleep and wake in Chiang Mai. I can't sleep as comfortably in a mini-van. I like to stretch out. The only part of the trip I really don't want to miss is the shopping under the bridge on the Burmese side. I love it!

I just wish my visa would allow me to just sign the book at CM Immigration.....

That makes 10 hours of sleep daysover....... you seem to be a busy guy at nighttime LOL

Nah.... just VERY well rested.

Besides, in this day and age, aren't we supposed to save energy? I'm only trying to do my share.

Edited January 21, 2008 by FolkGuitar

[JoshMyPickle]

Be forewarned, the VIP bus can be /very cold/ so consider sporting a sweater (or jumper, for all y'all europeons) for the ride.

[Donnyboy]

Im due up there in Feb, and I havent done that border crossing since Aug '07.

are the dvd shops reopened now?

Another tip if paying in US currency. Ensure your $10 is in good condition as the Myanmar Img. rejected a few of my notes as they looked tatty and well used.

Also, I always keep a spare Thailand departure/entry card so I fill it in before-hand, then you can walk straight up to the counter or end of the que, instead of grabbing a card, going back to the table with all your stuff, filling it in and going back.