I always drive to Ban Laem on the Cambodian border for a visa run. I need to do another run this weekend and I am concerned that the dispute with Cambodia may kick-off and cause the border to be closed. I need a back-up.

Some advice on where to go for a visa from Bangkok would be useful. There is plenty of advice online about Ranong but is there anywhere closer to Bangkok?

Thanks

Mae Sot

Drive to Tak then over to Mae Sot. The border officials have always been nice and poiite and there has never been a wait when I went. The town of Mae Sot is a nice place to hang out for a night as well!

Mae Sot

Drive to Tak then over to Mae Sot. The border officials have always been nice and poiite and there has never been a wait when I went. The town of Mae Sot is a nice place to hang out for a night as well!

Thanks. That would save me 100 km each way compared to Ranong (500 compared to 600 km each way).

But is there no border point closer to Bangkok?

Not that I am aware of ....

Yesterday I drove to Aranya Prathet, it's about three hours from where I live in Rangsit. Went through passport control on the Thai side, found a Cambodian official, paid him 100 Baht, he jumped on his motorcycle with my passport, and was back within 15 minutes, all I had to do was walk back through the Thai passport control again. Easy.

I don't think you have anything to worry about, I don't think they'll close this border post.

Yesterday I drove to Aranya Prathet, it's about three hours from where I live in Rangsit. Went through passport control on the Thai side, found a Cambodian official, paid him 100 Baht, he jumped on his motorcycle with my passport, and was back within 15 minutes, all I had to do was walk back through the Thai passport control again. Easy.

I don't think you have anything to worry about, I don't think they'll close this border post.

Was that before or after 2:30 pm?

Was that before or after 2:30 pm?

I arrived at the border around 1:30 pm.

Yesterday I drove to Aranya Prathet, it's about three hours from where I live in Rangsit. Went through passport control on the Thai side, found a Cambodian official, paid him 100 Baht, he jumped on his motorcycle with my passport, and was back within 15 minutes, all I had to do was walk back through the Thai passport control again. Easy.

I don't think you have anything to worry about, I don't think they'll close this border post.

Thanks for the information but I don't like the idea of losing sight of my passport that way.

Thanks for the information but I don't like the idea of losing sight of my passport that way.

This was a Cambodian Immigration official, not one of the local riff-raff who follow you around trying to make a dollar.

If you are not happy about losing sight of your passport, just walk across yourself, the only difference is that you may have to queue for a couple of hours.

A note about the Mae Sot visa run. They lonely planet book was wrong. They wouldn't take $10 US dollars when I went there a couple weeks ago. Had to pay the 500 Baht. Only got a 30 day stamp after a 90 day type O (someone told me I could get a 90 day stamp). Also there was a strange burmese guy following us on the bridge asking way too many questions with English that was far too good. The border officials were friendly... maybe a bit too friendly.

A note about the Mae Sot visa run. They lonely planet book was wrong. They wouldn't take $10 US dollars when I went there a couple weeks ago. Had to pay the 500 Baht. Only got a 30 day stamp after a 90 day type O (someone told me I could get a 90 day stamp).

Do you have a current multiple entry non immigrant visa?

Do you have a current multiple entry non immigrant visa?

No, single entry 90 day type O. Makes sense the multiple entry would get permission for 90 days. Was hoping I would get another 90 day stay on the basis that I had a type O and not a tourist visa but it seems this isn't the way it works for single entry.