Laos 60 Day Visa Extension Trip

[6678hhg]

Ive been here almost 6 weeks, and apparently need to get to the immigration office in Laos. Does anyone have any information on this, where to go, how much it costs, etc? Im pretty stressed about this and want to get it handled immediately, if I have any run in with the cops Im going to jail.

[Jdietz]

Fly to Vientiane, on your way out pay your current overstay B500 a day, max 20K Baht. In Vientiane travel to the Thai Embassy, apply for a tourist visa (or 2) @ 1,000Baht each, pick it up the next day, and fly back to get a 60 day entry stamp, which can be extended for another 30 days.

Also possible by bus or train.

[6678hhg]

Fly to Vientiane, on your way out pay your current overstay B500 a day, max 20K Baht. In Vientiane travel to the Thai Embassy, apply for a tourist visa (or 2) @ 1,000Baht each, pick it up the next day, and fly back to get a 60 day entry stamp, which can be extended for another 30 days.

Also possible by bus or train.

Thanks for the reply. Do you know how much the bus and train trip costs, and where it leaves from by chance? Tomorrow will be 13 days that I have overstayed, I don't want to get into trouble, get put in a Thai jail, and then deported. I want to get this handled asap.

[Jdietz]

Trains from Hualampong station, to Nongkai, third class seat up to first class aircon sleeper, 300-odd baht to 1500+. Connection to a 20 Baht train over the border into Laos. Pay fine when boarding that one.

Buses from Mo Chit busstation, around 600 Baht or in that ballpark.

Flights either direct to Vientiane (expensive) or cheap regional flights to Udon Thani, then minibus to border, 40 minutes or so. Book in arrival hall.

There is a very long thread (Vientiane visa run) with trip reports etc.

[6678hhg]

If I take the bus, how do I pay my current overstayment penalty?

[thaiphoon]

You will pay your overstay fine at the Thai/Laos border when getting stamped out of Thailand. As said, overstay fine is 500 baht a day, max 20k. You will get a small overstay stamp placed in your passport, but it will not prevent obtaining another visa or re-entering the country. Remember you will need a recent passport sized photo for your visa for Laos which can be obtained at the border. Fee is around 1,500 THB, but varies on nationality. Can also pay in clean US$ bills - around $30-$35. You will also need 2 further recent passport sized photos for your Thai tourist visa application. Apply morning day 1, collect afternoon Day 2.

[6678hhg]

You will pay your overstay fine at the Thai/Laos border when getting stamped out of Thailand. As said, overstay fine is 500 baht a day, max 20k. You will get a small overstay stamp placed in your passport, but it will not prevent obtaining another visa or re-entering the country. Remember you will need a recent passport sized photo for your visa for Laos which can be obtained at the border. Fee is around 1,500 THB, but varies on nationality. Can also pay in clean US$ bills - around $30-$35. You will also need 2 further recent passport sized photos for your Thai tourist visa application. Apply morning day 1, collect afternoon Day 2.

Not sure what you mean by "two further recent" photos for the Thailand Visa... Can I just get triples of the photo that I would use for the Laos Visa? If so what would that cost? And once to get to the border town in Laos, is the process of applying for your Thailand visa and getting a hotel etc, assisted by the bus you take? Could you give me a rough estimate of what this entire trip will cost by bus?

Thanks for answering my questions, I really appreciate it.

[thaiphoon]

Yes, you will need 3 photos. If you choose to use the services of a visa run company they will take care of everything for you. But the process is not difficult if you choose to do my yourself. Work backwards in this thread for more information.

Below are company names that regularly come up on the forum and provide a visa run service from Bangkok to Vientiane:

Visa Run 02 713 2498, 089 024 5255

http://www.thaivisarun.com/

Sawasdee (Claudio) 081-8154803

http://thaivisaservice.com/

[lopburi3]

If you are here on a 60 day tourist visa you can obtain a 30 day extension of stay from any immigration office inside Thailand for 1,900 baht and a photo. There is no immigration office in Laos. If you go to Laos it would be for a new tourist visa and you would go to the Consulate.

[thaiphoon]

Suspect he probably got 30 day visa exempt entry on arrival and now on 2 weeks on overstay = his 6 weeks time here.

[lopburi3]

He said 60 day visa extension in the thread title but his fear of a run in with cops (after only six weeks) indicates he may have got that wrong too. You are probably right.

[jcbangkok]

Yes, you will need 3 photos. If you choose to use the services of a visa run company they will take care of everything for you. But the process is not difficult if you choose to do my yourself. Work backwards in this thread for more information.

Below are company names that regularly come up on the forum and provide a visa run service from Bangkok to Vientiane:

Visa Run 02 713 2498, 089 024 5255

http://www.thaivisarun.com/

Sawasdee (Claudio) 081-8154803

http://thaivisaservice.com/

Yes, I would recommend using one of the above services. They will handle everything for about 4200 Bhat (TOTAL), no waiting in lines or dealing with immigration people. Includes hotel, transportation and dinner & breakfest. I forget which one I used but they have nice mini buses that run a few times a week and if you call they will explain all the details and what you need. You'll also get to meet and hangout with numerous others like yourself. The only extra money you will need is for the over stay which they will also take care of for you.

Edit: the more I think about it, I am almost positive I used Claudio. I think he is from Belgium.

[thaiphoon]

They will handle everything for about 4200 Bhat (TOTAL)

Will also have to pay any visa application fee levied by the Thai consulate. Tourist visas are currently not free (cost 1,000 baht per entry).

[6678hhg]

Thanks for the help guys. Just got back last night, paid my 7k overstayment penalty and paid 6100 to the company to have them handle everything. Got a double entry visa, which basically means I am good for 6 months, I just have to leave and come back before July 18th.

Nice to have the piece of mind of knowing I am safe. No prospect of jail.

[thaiphoon]

I just have to leave and come back before July 18th.

No. You will have got 60 day permission to stay on re-entry into the Kingdom. Just before that expires you will need to go to Thai immigration and obtain 30 day extension (fee 1,900 baht). Then just before your visa expires (usually around day 88) you will need to do border run and obtain new 60 day stamp on re-entry. Then obtain another 30 day extension from Thai immigration. That will give you nearly 6 months stay.