Visa Runs From Bkk Or Chiang Mai

[marc69]

Hi all,

I have a non-F visa with two entries. My first entry was in last June and I am allowed to stay in Thailand until September 17. However, I need to be here in Bangkok until end of September so I guess my only option is to leave the country at some point and get another three months based on my second entry (is that right?).

As part of my job I will be in Chiang Mai some time in August. So I have two questions:

1. What would be the fastest way of leaving the country and activating the second entry from Chiang Mai?

2. What are the options from Bangkok? I don't want to do any visa run by bus from Bangkok but I am interested in information about destinations and flight details for fastest way of flying out of country and coming back to Bangkok as soon as possible.

Any information is greatly appreciated.

[Lite Beer]

From Chiang Mai there is Silk Air to Singapore. laos Airlines to Laos.

From Bangkok there are many including Air Asia

[lopburi3]

The normal method in Chiang Mai would be the border run to Burma. Not sure if there are any flight currently.

[marc69]

The normal method in Chiang Mai would be the border run to Burma. Not sure if there are any flight currently.

Thanks to Lite Beer and lopburi3 for the information.

Could you please let me know which companies do the border run from Chiang Mai to Burma and how long it takes?

[lopburi3]

You do it yourself as far as I know - although there may be some place that offers service - if by bus expect it will take all day - they used to have flights to city on border but not sure if they still do (often unable to fly due to fog).

[benton]

You do it yourself as far as I know - although there may be some place that offers service - if by bus expect it will take all day - they used to have flights to city on border but not sure if they still do (often unable to fly due to fog).

Private car with driver and insurance, standard rate is 3,500 baht, includes car, driver and gasoline, 7 hour turn around.

[marc69]

You do it yourself as far as I know - although there may be some place that offers service - if by bus expect it will take all day - they used to have flights to city on border but not sure if they still do (often unable to fly due to fog).

Private car with driver and insurance, standard rate is 3,500 baht, includes car, driver and gasoline, 7 hour turn around.

Thanks, do you possibly have contact info to those who provide this service?

[Lite Beer]

I would have though a Taxi Driver would be happy to take you to the border and back.

Where I live any Thai with a spare day and a car would be happy to drive to the border and back for a few thousand Baht.

[eek]

Info on the VIP bus if you are interested (very comfortable trip): http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Mae-Sai-Visa...amp;pid=2581786

Flight-wise i find the direct airasia Chiang Mai to Kuala Lumpur the best value (particularly if booking ahead). Plus, imo, KL is a nice place to visit. http://www.airasia.com/

[semeru]

Hi,

There's also a VIP bus that leaves from the main Arcade Bus Station in Chiang Mai, every day, specifically for visa runs up to Mae Sai (the border with Myanmar). I've heard it's perfectly comfortable...the bus waits for everyone to cross and renew their visas, then you hop back on to the same bus. The journey time in total might be....8 hours...3 hours each way, 2 hours at the border. It doesn't cost much, not sure exactly but around 400 baht....it's called the VIP bus (you can get to Myanmar easily too by going on a bus to Chiang Rai (3 hours), (either fan (v.cheap) or air-con). Buses to Chiang Rai from Chiang Mai go very frequently. Then from Chiang Rai, fan (i think) buses go every half hour or hour to Mae Sai).

I'm not totally sure when the VIP leaves....I think around 8am from Chiang Mai. I know someone who always gets this bus. He likes to book it a day or 2 before just in case it's full in the morning.

If you need a map for Chiang Mai showing the Arcade Bus station, you could use this one:

www.thailand-travel-help.com/chiang-mai-map.html

and for info on buses, flights etc:

www.thailand-travel-help.com/chiang-mai-travel.html

Good Luck and safe travels.

[semeru]

Hi,

Semeru again....secong thoughts on the price of the VIP bus...I think it's more in the region of 600 or 700 baht.

Hi,

There's also a VIP bus that leaves from the main Arcade Bus Station in Chiang Mai, every day, specifically for visa runs up to Mae Sai (the border with Myanmar). I've heard it's perfectly comfortable...the bus waits for everyone to cross and renew their visas, then you hop back on to the same bus. The journey time in total might be....8 hours...3 hours each way, 2 hours at the border. It doesn't cost much, not sure exactly but around 400 baht....it's called the VIP bus (you can get to Myanmar easily too by going on a bus to Chiang Rai (3 hours), (either fan (v.cheap) or air-con). Buses to Chiang Rai from Chiang Mai go very frequently. Then from Chiang Rai, fan (i think) buses go every half hour or hour to Mae Sai).

I'm not totally sure when the VIP leaves....I think around 8am from Chiang Mai. I know someone who always gets this bus. He likes to book it a day or 2 before just in case it's full in the morning.

If you need a map for Chiang Mai showing the Arcade Bus station, you could use this one:

www.thailand-travel-help.com/chiang-mai-map.html

and for info on buses, flights etc:

www.thailand-travel-help.com/chiang-mai-travel.html

Good Luck and safe travels.

[marc69]

Many thanks to all for very useful information. I appreciate your help.

[marc69]

Hi all,

I have a non-F visa with two entries. My first entry was in last June and I am allowed to stay in Thailand until September 17. However, I need to be here in Bangkok until end of September so I guess my only option is to leave the country at some point and get another three months based on my second entry (is that right?).

As part of my job I will be in Chiang Mai some time in August. So I have two questions:

1. What would be the fastest way of leaving the country and activating the second entry from Chiang Mai?

2. What are the options from Bangkok? I don't want to do any visa run by bus from Bangkok but I am interested in information about destinations and flight details for fastest way of flying out of country and coming back to Bangkok as soon as possible.

Any information is greatly appreciated.

I am currently in Chiang Mai and have booked a private car to take me to Mae Sai tomorrow. As I mentioned above in my OP I have a double entry non-F visa and I am allowed to stay until September 17 based on my first entry.

I am bringing up this topic again because I have heard several rumors today that in Mae Sai they will give me only 15 days and they do not care if I have a visa or not. This would be really bad for me for obvious reasons. So I wonder if anyone can tell me if there is any truth to these rumors.

I also wonder how much fee I need to pay in Mae Sai. Is it USD 10 or 500 baht? Any relevant information from people with recent trips to Mae Sai would be greatly appreciated.

[Lite Beer]

If you have a Non Imm Visa (which you do)you will get 90 days.

[marc69]

If you have a Non Imm Visa (which you do)you will get 90 days.

Just got back from Mae Sai and I can confirm that you were correct.

[oc631]

I just crossed the border at Mae Sai after 60 days in Thailand and expected another 30 day stamp on my non-imm single-entry tourist visa which was issued in K.L. They only gave me 15 days. My girlfriend, who is Russian, got a 30 day stamp on her visa that was issued at the same time and place as mine. Their answer as to why was because I was American. They handled my visa just as if I was coming in with a visa exemption stamp (15 days). Anyone else have this problem? Any way to dispute it at the CM immigration office (yea right) if they made an error?

[lopburi3]

If you had a single entry tourist visa from KL what did you use to enter Thailand from there? A single entry can only be used once.

[thaiphoon]

Sounds like you had no valid visa (previous single entry visa expired) and just got 15 day visa exempt stamp on re-entry into Thailand.