Vientiene Thai Immigration

[Singoth]

Hello,

I am new to the forum but not new to Thailand. I know the Visa Rules for Thailand have changed recently, and was wondering if anyone going on a visa run to Vientiene has been asked for proof of a "Ticket out of Thailand Paid in Full" as it says on the Ministry of Foriegn Affairs, Kingdom of Thailand website. I am planning to go on 29 Dec, 2008 and get, hopefully a 60 X2 tourist visa, and was thinking I need to buy another ticket proving that I am leaving Thailand on a certain date. I am between jobs at the moment and just need to hang about for a about 3 months. Thanks in advance for any advice on this issue.

Singtoh

[ubonjoe]

As of last report there is no requriement to show a ticket.

If you are going to apply on the 29th you had better be there very early that day or you might not get your application in. The consulate will be closed from the 31st to the 4th so it will be very busy on the 29th. If you apply on the 30th it will be the 5th before you get your passport back.

Also you may have trouble getting a train or bus ticket next week since it is such a big holiday.

It might be better to try and do it this week. Wed. would be the best day to apply. Thursday will be very busy.

[Singoth]

As of last report there is no requriement to show a ticket.

If you are going to apply on the 29th you had better be there very early that day or you might not get your application in. The consulate will be closed from the 31st to the 4th so it will be very busy on the 29th. If you apply on the 30th it will be the 5th before you get your passport back.

It might be better to try and do it this week. Wed. would be the best day to apply. Thursday will be very busy.

Wow!, Thanks ubonjoe. That really clears things up for me, thanks a bunch. My flight arrives Vientiene at 11:10 on 29 Dec, which leaves no time to get to the Embassy. They stop accepting apps. at 12:00, and I was thinking I would do it on the morning of the 30th. That is definatley out. Don't want to stay 5 days or longer in Laos! Time to change my ticket (if I can) and good to hear I dont need to show a ticket out! Thanks again, I appreciate the great help and quick reply to my post. I better move quickly on this!

Singtoh

[ubonjoe]

Glad to help.

I had a feeling you were not aware of the holiday schedule. They would of been open the 2nd but the goverment just recently made it a holiday.

[Singoth]

Glad to help.

I had a feeling you were not aware of the holiday schedule. They would of been open the 2nd but the goverment just recently made it a holiday.

It seems that I am stuffed, I just looked here:http://thailand.visahq.com/embassy/holidays/ and according to this site the Thai Embassy is closed now until after New Year. Could this be so?? i was going to go down and ghange my ticket for tomorrow, but if they are closed, can't do that either. If they will change my ticket is another question?? May be out 8,800 bhat, don't know yet. I have until the 30th to get out, due to the Airport closure. I went to the Thai Consulate to clear this up and they gave me a 3 week extension for the 1900 bhat, which I thought was quite good of them. if all else fails, do you think I could do the Ban laem run, return for 15 days, then if ticket can be changed, fly to Vientiene when that 15 days is up or near enough to it, after the New Year?? Thanks for your help and advice, a slight panic is starting in my brain.

Singtoh

[ubonjoe]

That link is for the embassy in the US and is wrong because it does not list the Thai holidays.

The Vientiane embassy website only lists the 31st and the 1st. as holidays. Even if they were open on the 2nd it would be no help.

Link to source: http://www.thaiembassy.org/vientiane/about_officetime.html

[Singoth]

Hello, anyone have any advice on this?? I am in Vientieane now and have applied for the 60 day X2, paid the 2000, and will fly back to bangkok on Monday. Can I stamp in on a 30 day courtesy visa on arrival, then when that is used, due the Ban Laem run from Bangkok to the Cambodian Border, crossover then stamp back in with the first of my 60 day X2 entries, then when that is used, do it again to utilize the 2nd part of the double entry?? Thanks for the help.

Singtoh

[Mario2008]

Normaly they will allow this. Just don't fill in the number of your visa on your arrival card when first entering Thailand. Note that it the 30 day stamp is not a visa on arrival but a visa exempt entry.

You can extend your tourist visa entry with 30 days for 1,900 baht at immigration. Do keep in mind of the expiry date of your visa, you have to make use of both entries (enter Thailand) before that date.

[ubonjoe]

Hello, anyone have any advice on this?? I am in Vientieane now and have applied for the 60 day X2, paid the 2000, and will fly back to bangkok on Monday. Can I stamp in on a 30 day courtesy visa on arrival, then when that is used, due the Ban Laem run from Bangkok to the Cambodian Border, crossover then stamp back in with the first of my 60 day X2 entries, then when that is used, do it again to utilize the 2nd part of the double entry?? Thanks for the help.

Singtoh

The only thing you gain by doing that is not having to do an extension (1900 baht). You also would have to make an extra border run. Better to use your first entry and get the extension at immigration.

As mario2008 said you have to use the 2nd entry before the use before date.

[Singoth]

Ok Thanks a bunch for the advice. I will do as you said and use the first entry on arrival in Bangkok, just thought i would ask, but I thought that all of the extinsions for all types of Visa's has been reduced to just 7 days for 1900 baht?? Now you have made it clear for me. You guys and this forum have been a great help. Thanks again.

Best Regards, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,

Singtoh

[Mario2008]

The extension of a tourist "visa" is always 30 days, extension of all other visas are only 7 days (besides the one year extensions).

[Singoth]

Ok, Thanks for clearing that up for me mario2008. Again a great help from all. Perfect for me!

Best Regards,

Singtoh