Mae Sai Immigration Office

[noshoes]

Can anybody tell me if the Mae Sai immigration office is open on a Sunday please!

[Mario2008]

No. They are only open during workdays. Border crossings are open every day.

[noshoes]

No. They are only open during workdays. Border crossings are open every day.

Thanx for the Information!

[uptheos]

No. They are only open during workdays. Border crossings are open every day.

I never go to Mai Sai - no need to, but I'm curious regarding "Border crossings are open every day".

Who are they open to just Thai's?

As I understand it, if you are not officially stamped 'out' by Thai immigration, handed in your T7 card - and then have a Burmese entry / exit visa, I presume you've broken immigration rules and will have problems when trying to re-enter Thailand.

Am I right? - I'm only asking just because I'd like to know.

[SM7WGP]

If you have a Multiple entry visa you will get a new entry card on arrival back on the bridge.

But if you have a extended visa for stay in Thailand, you first have to get a re entry permit, before leaving the Country

[barlinnie]

Yes, it is open on Sundays. We renewed our visas last month and I have checked my passport - the visa is stamp-dated 21 Feb, which was a Sunday.

[Mario2008]

It is an international border crossing, meaning they are open to all nationalities, Thai and foreigners. A border crossing is the point where you enter the country and get stamped in. The immigration office is where you go for an extension of stay, 90 day reports, etc.

No. They are only open during workdays. Border crossings are open every day.

I never go to Mai Sai - no need to, but I'm curious regarding "Border crossings are open every day".

Who are they open to just Thai's?

As I understand it, if you are not officially stamped 'out' by Thai immigration, handed in your T7 card - and then have a Burmese entry / exit visa, I presume you've broken immigration rules and will have problems when trying to re-enter Thailand.

Am I right? - I'm only asking just because I'd like to know.

[noshoes]

Yes, it is open on Sundays. We renewed our visas last month and I have checked my passport - the visa is stamp-dated 21 Feb, which was a Sunday.

Was that the immigration at the border office or the main immigration office.

[iancnx]

It is an international border crossing, meaning they are open to all nationalities, Thai and foreigners. A border crossing is the point where you enter the country and get stamped in. The immigration office is where you go for an extension of stay, 90 day reports, etc.

No. They are only open during workdays. Border crossings are open every day.

I never go to Mai Sai - no need to, but I'm curious regarding "Border crossings are open every day".

Who are they open to just Thai's?

As I understand it, if you are not officially stamped 'out' by Thai immigration, handed in your T7 card - and then have a Burmese entry / exit visa, I presume you've broken immigration rules and will have problems when trying to re-enter Thailand.

Am I right? - I'm only asking just because I'd like to know.

I went to Mae Sai for 90 day stamp on my Non Immigrant O on Saturday. Completely stress free. Be sure to take USD10 or you will be charged Baht500 instead. Once paid they will retain your passport and give you a temp ID card for the day. Passport is returned as you go back across the bridge. Please note Thai partners now need to go to the Thai government office (2.5km from bridge) to get their daily pass for Baht 30 on production of ID card - this is NO LONGER issued at the Bridge - reason given was sheer volume ot Thais queuing up.. I stayed in the Moon and Sun in Chang Rai for Saturday night. Good 2* with tv, fridge, wireless, ac. Clean and staff very helpful. 600 baht with Breakfast (room booked over the phone in Thai language).

[Mario2008]

You went across the border and used the border checkpoint, OP is interested in the immigration office, which is closed during weekends.

[millwall_fan]

Could be a little clearer OP? Do you mean the border office that stamps you in and out at the frontier, or do you mean the immigration office located 2.5km before the frontier. Not sure why you'd want to go to the immigration office, unless to get your wife an exit stamp as stated above. The former is open on Sundays, the latter not - though the bit that stamps Thias out IS open!

[IanForbes]

As an added reminder... Although the border is open 7 days a week... IT CLOSES AFTER 5 PM! At least it did a couple years ago when I got to the border at 5:15PM. Lucky for me a nice Thai border guard processed my passport after closing hours and I did the out and back in thing quickly.

As others have stated, the actual immigration office is closed on weekends, but I never have need of using them because I do all that before I leave Chiang Mai.

[whiterussian]

yup, still closes at 5pm.

[elektrified]

It is an international border crossing, meaning they are open to all nationalities, Thai and foreigners. A border crossing is the point where you enter the country and get stamped in. The immigration office is where you go for an extension of stay, 90 day reports, etc.

No. They are only open during workdays. Border crossings are open every day.

I never go to Mai Sai - no need to, but I'm curious regarding "Border crossings are open every day".

Who are they open to just Thai's?

As I understand it, if you are not officially stamped 'out' by Thai immigration, handed in your T7 card - and then have a Burmese entry / exit visa, I presume you've broken immigration rules and will have problems when trying to re-enter Thailand.

Am I right? - I'm only asking just because I'd like to know.

I went to Mae Sai for 90 day stamp on my Non Immigrant O on Saturday. Completely stress free. Be sure to take USD10 or you will be charged Baht500 instead. Once paid they will retain your passport and give you a temp ID card for the day. Passport is returned as you go back across the bridge.

That's interesting. Last time I was there a few months ago they had discontinued the option of charging USD or THB and demanded that everyone pay 500 THB.

[whiterussian]

I went about 3 weeks ago.. 10 usd.

[greasemonkey]

I stayed in the Moon and Sun in Chang Rai

Totally agree. Nicest guesthouse/hotel I have found in chiang rai. There are some new rooms there, must have been built some time in the last three years. The older rooms are nicer imo. More characterful, and nicer views.

[krakatoa]

A question!

How many times can you leave Mae Sai and walk into Tachilek in say one week. Can you walk across on consecutive days for example.

I have a multiple entry visa and don't need to do 90 day visa runs.

[rodcourt49]

No. They are only open during workdays. Border crossings are open every day.

I never go to Mai Sai - no need to, but I'm curious regarding "Border crossings are open every day".

Who are they open to just Thai's?

As I understand it, if you are not officially stamped 'out' by Thai immigration, handed in your T7 card - and then have a Burmese entry / exit visa, I presume you've broken immigration rules and will have problems when trying to re-enter Thailand.

Am I right? - I'm only asking just because I'd like to know.

There are hundreds of day workers/traders who cross from either side throughout the day on Day Passes.

[sarahsbloke]

That's interesting. Last time I was there a few months ago they had discontinued the option of charging USD or THB and demanded that everyone pay 500 THB.

They always want 500bht, but what you do is empty your wallet of baht before you go to any border office and only have dollars in it.

Then you play dumb and offer a $10 note, only speak English, wave the $10 around. Eventually they take it (while muttering insults in Thai)

Mae Sot border office is even worse with their demands for 500bht.

They are obliged to accept dollars .... they just don't want them.

[Donnyboy]

A question!

How many times can you leave Mae Sai and walk into Tachilek in say one week. Can you walk across on consecutive days for example.

I have a multiple entry visa and don't need to do 90 day visa runs.

as many times as you want i guess, but why would you want to?

it would look suspicious to a immg officer imo

[Donnyboy]

That's interesting. Last time I was there a few months ago they had discontinued the option of charging USD or THB and demanded that everyone pay 500 THB.

They always want 500bht, but what you do is empty your wallet of baht before you go to any border office and only have dollars in it.

Then you play dumb and offer a $10 note, only speak English, wave the $10 around. Eventually they take it (while muttering insults in Thai)

Mae Sot border office is even worse with their demands for 500bht.

They are obliged to accept dollars .... they just don't want them.

they wouldnt mutter in thai, theyre Burmese

[LJW]

immigration= yes, is open everyday

office= is closed on Sunday

[WinnieTheKhwai]

That's interesting. Last time I was there a few months ago they had discontinued the option of charging USD or THB and demanded that everyone pay 500 THB.

They always want 500bht, but what you do is empty your wallet of baht before you go to any border office and only have dollars in it.

Then you play dumb and offer a $10 note, only speak English, wave the $10 around. Eventually they take it (while muttering insults in Thai)

Classy experience. But hey, if it saves 150 baht and you get Burmese immigration guys muttering Thai language then it may well be worth it.

A question!

How many times can you leave Mae Sai and walk into Tachilek in say one week. Can you walk across on consecutive days for example.

I have a multiple entry visa and don't need to do 90 day visa runs.

No limit. You could go multiple times per day until you run out of pages in your passport for all the stamps. This is assuming you have a multiple re-entry permit or true multiple entry visa (not limited to x entries).

[paulchiangmai]

I went about 3 weeks ago.. 10 usd.

I went just last week, ten dollars, they didn't ask for Baht just accepted the dollars offered.

[IanForbes]

I went about 3 weeks ago.. 10 usd.

I went just last week, ten dollars, they didn't ask for Baht just accepted the dollars offered.

Last time I was there at Mai Sai the Burmese border guard did NOT accept a $10 American bill. BUT, I was told by someone later that they Might accept a brand new American $10 bill. I don't haggle over 150 baht in any case.

[elektrified]

That's interesting. Last time I was there a few months ago they had discontinued the option of charging USD or THB and demanded that everyone pay 500 THB.

They always want 500bht, but what you do is empty your wallet of baht before you go to any border office and only have dollars in it.

Then you play dumb and offer a $10 note, only speak English, wave the $10 around. Eventually they take it (while muttering insults in Thai)

Mae Sot border office is even worse with their demands for 500bht.

They are obliged to accept dollars .... they just don't want them.

I've been there about 12 times so I know how it works. Last time I was there they specifically stated that the option to pay in USD was no longer available. I'd have to check my passport but I believe that was in September.

[Donnyboy]

i went up sept 28 2009 with a friend he paid US $10, i forgot all about paying with $10 till he mentioned it on the bridge on the way over, it was too late then

[millwall_fan]

A question!

How many times can you leave Mae Sai and walk into Tachilek in say one week. Can you walk across on consecutive days for example.

I have a multiple entry visa and don't need to do 90 day visa runs.

as many times as you want i guess, but why would you want to?

it would look suspicious to a immg officer imo

You can go as many times as you want. In order not to arouse suspicion if you want to go regularly,get two copies of the photo page of your passport, tell the Thai immigration on the bridge that you want a VIP pass. They will fold one photocopy into an ID sized card, stamp VIP and a Thai exit stamp, charge you 100 baht and keep your passport. You cross the bridge, pay your $10 or ฿500 to the Burmese and you're in. On the way out, get the guy who stamps Thais out, to stamp your 'ID' Card, cross the bridge show your 'ID' card to the guy who collects the Thais day passes, walk back round to the place where you handed in your passport and get it back in return for your temporary ID.

I did this last week and it works!

Why would you want to go? Well mainly to visit a casino. Possibly to play golf, maybe to do a bit more shopping.

As far as the $10 or ฿500 goes, its just as Sarah's bloke says above. Empty your wallet of baht, take a pristine $10 bill (or 20. they've got change!) and smile a lot.

Incidentally it's perfectly possible that they muttered in Thai or rather Tai - or what could be easily mistaken for Thai, because whilst the head honcho is doubtless a Burman from Rangoon, the lower orders are quite conceivably local lads and lasses who speak Shan, a language akin to Thai. It's the same language you hear them speaking in the Tachilek market.

[orang37]

Sawasdee Khrup, TV CM Friends,

Been to Mae Sai three times this year. Paid US $ currency to the Burmese each time: first time they had no problem taking a US $20 and handing me a $10 back. Never once been asked for 500 baht.

Perhaps our smile, and friendly greeting of "Mangelaba" to each Burmese person we directly encounter in the office, helps ?

Last Sunday (21st.) noticed the main officer was sniffing an interesting looking jar of something, and asked him in Thai if it was "samoonprai" (herbal remedy). He offered me a sniff of it, and it was a very nice concoction that reminded me of cloves, mint, menthol.

We expressed that we liked it, and thanked him for letting us try it. He then, to our surprise, pulled out another little jar of it, and gave it to us.

We regard with interest the "psychic powers" of those who can interpret "mutters" sound unheard

best, ~o37;