Travel To Laos For Ed Visa

[heartinhands]

Alrighty, me again =)

Here is the shortest story I can give:

I came to thailand may 14 on an education visa for 3 months, I left and traveled to cambodia in july and went to siem reap. coming back to thailand i got stamped with a "pass" for 30 days, letting me stay in thailand until the 29th of August.

I can not get this "pass" renewed or changed to an Education or Tourist Visa, so I basically have to leave the country, go to an embassy, and re-apply for an education visa.

I have limited funds until my scholarship comes in, which could take weeks, and Im also still waiting on money from the government which could take a bit to come in. I have some money for food and my apartment in Thailand, but those funds are still limited. My family is broke, been out of work since October, and just recently lost our house to a foreclosure, so I am on my own. I had plenty of money from graphic/web work, but I gave it to my mother so she could pay outstanding bills before the foreclosure.

I need to know: Do I need a visa to get into Laos, or can I get a visa on arrival by train. (ill be going third class all the way, baby)

Can the visa take only a few hours, or will I have to wait a few days to get this, again, money issues both for expediting it, and for staying a few days if I must.

Does anyone have any information about visa runs in Laos>? Can they be sped up/expedited in any way? Do you need a visa to enter Laos?

I will have all of the documents from my University in Thailand ready when I get to Laos, and then Ill travel to the Thai Embassy, which I still need to find the address for.

Again, thanks for your help everyone!

enjoy

shane

[lopburi3]

1. Visa is required for entry into Laos. Cost varies by nationality but believe American is about $30. It can be obtained at border crossing. Have photos.

2. Don't know address of Consulate but it is not the same building as Royal Thai Embassy from my reading. Should not be hard to find and most foreigners are going there.

3. Applications are accepted in morning and visas are available next workday afternoon - so one night in Laos will be required (if no holidays).

[heartinhands]

Thanks Lopburi, you are fantastic. At least now I can plan ahead for the overnight in Laos. No way to expedite the process into a one day ordeal? I guess im just overprivelaged having the Thai Consulate in Boston so easily accessible and so quick: walk in, give forms, pay money, chat with the nice woman, and then leave 30 minutes later. . .

I think I have to go to the Royal Thai Embassy, I may have accidentally typed "consulate" out of habit from the states.

Ill check online, but there aren't the best resources, if you have the address, or know roughly where it is i'd love to hear it!

hope you are well!

and thanks for your help!

[eek]

This thread (http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Vientiane-Laos-Thai-Visa-t158561.html)covers all you should need to know, and more. (But recommend you work your way backwards instead of reading from the start).

If you think you will be staying more than 3 months in Thailand, take advantage and go for the double entry TV, as Vientiane is one of the few places this is available easily. Will save you costs and hassle in 3 months time.