Repeat Tourist Visa

[newvisarunner]

Hello,

I worked at an international school til Feb and am starting a new one in August. For Feb and March, I left the country (Philippines & Malaysia) for mini vacations and visa runs each time getting a 30 day tourist visa. This time, I want to just do a visa run to Laos. A friend has done this before and knows how to take a coach to laos and get it done. The friend is getting a non immigrant B. I need another 30 day tourist visa ore better yet something longer til I start my new job in August. Can I take the coach with him to Laos and what do I do once I'm there? Do I need a visa to get into Laos?

I really would appreciate any helpful information you can provide.

Thank you!

[tombkk]

You do need a visa to Laos. If you fly in, you can get it on arrival. I am not sure whether you can also get a visa on arrival if you arrive by bus.

For the Thai tourist visa, you might have gotten a 30-day visa exemption at the airport, or did you really apply for a visa? What nationality is your passport? You can probably get a Thai tourist visa at the Thai embassy in Vientiane, it should be good for 60 days. They might ask for a ticket out. If you come by bus from Laos to Thailand, the visa exemption will give you only 15 days, rather than the 30 days by air arrival.

[beechguy]

Also, the Op probably could obtain a double entry Tourist Visa there, good for 60 days each entry, and 30 day extensions within Thailand are possible.

[thaiphoon]

Suspect you are probably here on 30 day visa exempt entry stamp obtained on arrival at the airport (is not a visa). You appear to have a 3-4 month gap, depending on timings.

Single entry tourist visa would give 60 day permission to stay on entry, and can extend for a further 30 days at Thai immigration (fee 1,900 baht). Double entry tourist visa would give 2 x 60 day entries and can extend each entry for further 30 days, giving nearly 4/6 months stay. You will need to obtain Non-B visa anyway before working, so gap maybe slightly shorter and single entry tourist visa with extension may suffice. There is no requirement to produce ticket for consulate at Vientiane. Note tourist visas are not currently free; fee is 1,000 baht for single entry, 2,000 baht for double entry. You will need visa for Laos and are available at the border. Fee is around 1,500 baht (US$30-35) depending upon nationality. You will need to take with you 3 recent passport sized photos (1 for Laos visa and two for the visa application at the consulate).

[newvisarunner]

You do need a visa to Laos. If you fly in, you can get it on arrival. I am not sure whether you can also get a visa on arrival if you arrive by bus.

For the Thai tourist visa, you might have gotten a 30-day visa exemption at the airport, or did you really apply for a visa? What nationality is your passport? You can probably get a Thai tourist visa at the Thai embassy in Vientiane, it should be good for 60 days. They might ask for a ticket out. If you come by bus from Laos to Thailand, the visa exemption will give you only 15 days, rather than the 30 days by air arrival.

I've always gotten it at the airport coming back in. I'm an American. So, I should get a visa to Laos, fly there (or take a bus there?), go to the embassy and get one for 60 days and have a ticket to fly back into the country?

Thanks for the help!

[tombkk]

You do need a visa to Laos. If you fly in, you can get it on arrival. I am not sure whether you can also get a visa on arrival if you arrive by bus.

For the Thai tourist visa, you might have gotten a 30-day visa exemption at the airport, or did you really apply for a visa? What nationality is your passport? You can probably get a Thai tourist visa at the Thai embassy in Vientiane, it should be good for 60 days. They might ask for a ticket out. If you come by bus from Laos to Thailand, the visa exemption will give you only 15 days, rather than the 30 days by air arrival.

I've always gotten it at the airport coming back in. I'm an American. So, I should get a visa to Laos, fly there (or take a bus there?), go to the embassy and get one for 60 days and have a ticket to fly back into the country?

Thanks for the help!

For Laos, if you fly in, you can get the visa on arrival. If you go by bus, I don't know whether you get it on arrival or have to get it at the Lao Embassy in BKK first.

For Thailand, I suggest to follow taiphoon's detailed advice.

[lopburi3]

You can obtain visa on arrival at any legal entry into Laos and you will not need a ticket to obtain a tourist visa at the Royal Thai Consulate. Hundreds of people use this method every day.

[tominthat]

Yes if you get the bus to Laos you get your visa on arrival. You don't have to show bus/plane ticket that you are going to exit Laos.