Visa Run From Bangkok?

[Enjibenji]

Hi there,

Wondering if anyone can help. I'm needing to make a visa run from Bangkok to the Cambodian border in 2 days. Now, I have done it before (about 1.5 years ago) but unfortunately I can't remember how I done it (infact, we can't remember. Me and my girlfriend went to Cambodia to the casinos for a few days for a visa trip and this was organised by her friend).

We are pretty sure it only cost 400-500 baht per person and it was a bus from Bangkok to the Cambodian border. I think I was the only western guy on it and it was full of Thai people travelling to the casinos (was a double decker bus). Departed outside a Big C. Does anyone know what we might have used?

I'm not looking to go to the casinos again, just to make a visa run this time. I don't want to pay 2000 baht for a visa service (still a student etc etc!) especially when my girlfriend can take her car to the border. The only reason we are looking for the way I did previously is because 3 hours driving from Bangkok + paying petrol money would mean it would be better going the same way as I done first time in my travels here before.

Or if anyone knows a bus service like this that would also be brilliant.

thanks

[inthepink]

The 2000 baht services include the 1000 baht for the Cambodian visa so they are not as expensive as you might think.

Re. Aranyaprathet / Poipet border:

If you want to do it on the cheap then you could get a regular bus from Mo Chit. The last time I did this was a few years ago and it was around about 330 baht I believe, but that has undoubtedly gone up by now. You used to have to get a tuk tuk from the bus station to the border but the last time I was in Aranyaprathet I saw one of the buses right at the border (the blue and white ones) so maybe they go all the way there now. I can't be bothered to do it that way anymore because you only end up saving about 500 baht (assuming you have to get a taxi to Mo Chit)...

If your gf drove to the border it's going to end up costing you more in petrol + visa fee than using a 2k visa service anyway. Even with LPG I doubt it would be cheaper.

Edited July 20, 2010 by inthepink

[Enjibenji]

The 2000 baht services include the 1000 baht for the Cambodian visa so they are not as expensive as you might think.

Re. Aranyaprathet / Poipet border:

If you want to do it on the cheap then you could get a regular bus from Mo Chit. The last time I did this was a few years ago and it was around about 330 baht I believe, but that has undoubtedly gone up by now. You used to have to get a tuk tuk from the bus station to the border but the last time I was in Aranyaprathet I saw one of the buses right at the border (the blue and white ones) so maybe they go all the way there now. I can't be bothered to do it that way anymore because you only end up saving about 500 baht (assuming you have to get a taxi to Mo Chit)...

If your gf drove to the border it's going to end up costing you more in petrol + visa fee than using a 2k visa service anyway. Even with LPG I doubt it would be cheaper.

first of all, thanks for the reply, I appreciate it.

If using a visa service, would I still have to pay the 2k for my girlfriend? Or would it be just 1k since she is Thai?

of course, I want to pay for her as well since this visa is for me and I want her to come along with me.

by the way - just a side question. My visa says admitted until 23 july. Does that mean I can go on the 23rd or do I have to go the day before on the 22nd? I'm confident that means I can do it on the 23rd but I would rather double check.

[lopburi3]

You can exit before the end of the 23rd. Believe most will provide reduced rate if visa is not required.

[inthepink]

Yes, your gf would not have to pay 2k because she doesn't need a visa.

By the way, sorry - I didn't take into account the fact that your gf would be going with you when I said it would cost you more to drive there. I guess it depends how economical her car is.....

I think it would cost me about 2500 baht in petrol to drive there and back from BKK so I've never bothered to do it.

The visa bus service I used before would charge your gf 800 baht if she waited on the Thai side (about 2 - 2 1/2 hours) or 1000 baht if she comes across with you. If you get an ordinary bus and do it yourself you can be across the border and back a lot quicker than that, at the right time of day.

Edited July 20, 2010 by inthepink

[HampiK]

If you want safe money, why you not let your gf at home.

Secondly, when you do a border run, i think you will become only 15 days, not the 30 days as when you arrive with an airplane.

Please correct me if i am incorrect.

[Enjibenji]

If you want safe money, why you not let your gf at home.

Secondly, when you do a border run, i think you will become only 15 days, not the 30 days as when you arrive with an airplane.

Please correct me if i am incorrect.

i have a double tourist visa and will be coming up to my first 60 days here in thailand.

Edited July 20, 2010 by Enjibenji

[Enjibenji]

Yes, your gf would not have to pay 2k because she doesn't need a visa.

By the way, sorry - I didn't take into account the fact that your gf would be going with you when I said it would cost you more to drive there. I guess it depends how economical her car is.....

I think it would cost me about 2500 baht in petrol to drive there and back from BKK so I've never bothered to do it.

The visa bus service I used before would charge your gf 800 baht if she waited on the Thai side (about 2 - 2 1/2 hours) or 1000 baht if she comes across with you. If you get an ordinary bus and do it yourself you can be across the border and back a lot quicker than that, at the right time of day.

thanks very much for the reply once again.

my girlfriend said it will cost about 1000 baht in petrol to go to cambodia and come back. No idea about cars + petrol myself though. Honda jazz if that makes it any easier?

[steve187]

Your girlfriend can go through thai immigration with you, my wife came with me via poipet the other month as far as cambodia immigration, she does not need anything other than her passport. we drove in a honda jazz from sattahip, a complete tank of fuel should just about do it, just keep the speed down.

[welo]

With my old Mazda (rather high usage, benzin 95, not gasohol, not LPG) takes about 1500 THB for this distance (270km), tollway not included. 1000 THB for the Jazz sounds reasonable if gasohol, on LPG maybe even cheaper.

You can park for free on the market area close to the border (look for Kasikorn and SCB). Paid parking also available for 100 THB/day (no hourly rate).

I recommend to read a view posts here on Thaivisa about the Poipet border to make your border experience more smooth and avoid the touts. Even more if you are student and the budget is tight Search for 'Poipet' (search box on the right top)

The new visa-on-arrival office has opened, check out this topic. eVisa is a good option as well (25 USD, credit card, http://www.mfaic.gov.kh/evisa/), last week I received my visa within minutes, before it used to take 4-5 hrs.

There are casino buses leaving Bangkok in the early morning for 300 THB roundtrip I think (search casino bus), one leaving from front of Lumphini Park. That is probably the cheapest means of transport, but less flexible compared to your own car. They go straight to the border. Public buses only go to Aranya Prathet (add 60-80 THB x 2 for the Tuktuk).

Good luck!

welo

[Jimi007]

If you want safe money, why you not let your gf at home.

Secondly, when you do a border run, i think you will become only 15 days, not the 30 days as when you arrive with an airplane.

Please correct me if i am incorrect.

i have a double tourist visa and will be coming up to my first 60 days here in thailand.

Just wondering how long are you planning on staying? You can get a 30 day extension at immigration for 1,900 baht and you wouldn't have to go anywhere... If you plan on staying just 120 days then I guess the border run would be cheaper, but if you want to stay longer than that you can get 180 days out of your double entry with an extension on each 60 days.

[Enjibenji]

thanks for the replies guys - that's great.

first of all, yeah, it is gasohol in the honda jazz so my girlfriend's assertion of around 1000 baht was correct. As I've said before, I've done this border run before 1.5 years ago but it's great to get some advice on this and what to do.

to welo.. yeah, the market. That will be the market my girlfriend went to a few weeks ago and came back with about 10 bags

to Jimi007 - in total i'll be staying just over 110 days. So this visa run is needed. Thanks for the suggestion though!

to steve187 - thanks for the info re the car my girlfriend also came through with me the 1st time I done it when we went to the casinos and there were no problems at all.

[Enjibenji]

Hi again,

That's me off to make the visa run tomorrow. Decided we will take the car, so thanks for all the suggestions and reassurance about how much petrol would be.

Just a few questions before I go would be very much appreciated.

Is it 1 passport or 2 passport sized photos I need to take?

Can I download the visa form here and fill it out (will save a lot of hassle especially if a visa guy tries to 'help').

Is it normally busy? I remember last time I went I was the only white guy there

thanks for any help

[Enjibenji]

just back from said visa run.

went well - no hassles at all. Infact, the new visa building gave me 200 baht back when I gave them the 1000 baht for the cambodian visa. I actually handed over my passport + 1000 baht and walked away to sit down when he called me to give me back 200 baht

done it all in about 30 minutes.

if anyone is doing the poipet run, it's extremely easy.

go to thai border, go to thai immigration building, get exit stamp, walk outside to the new visa building on the right, buy cambodian visa, walk forward past the casino and you'll see an "ARRIVALS" sign with a sunroof thing.

Walk through, get arrival and exit stamp at the same moment, then walk back the way you came (on your now left hand side), through thai immigration and get the arraival stamp. Easy.

It was actually quicker doing it without any 'extra' help from anyone. Even for those thinking 'it's only 500 baht' or so, don't do it. It's literally pissing money away.

don't do the health check thing - it's not needed and you won't be expected to do it.

thanks all for any help previously. 1000 baht did it .

[inthepink]

Yes, your gf would not have to pay 2k because she doesn't need a visa.

By the way, sorry - I didn't take into account the fact that your gf would be going with you when I said it would cost you more to drive there. I guess it depends how economical her car is.....

I think it would cost me about 2500 baht in petrol to drive there and back from BKK so I've never bothered to do it.

The visa bus service I used before would charge your gf 800 baht if she waited on the Thai side (about 2 - 2 1/2 hours) or 1000 baht if she comes across with you. If you get an ordinary bus and do it yourself you can be across the border and back a lot quicker than that, at the right time of day.

thanks very much for the reply once again.

my girlfriend said it will cost about 1000 baht in petrol to go to cambodia and come back. No idea about cars + petrol myself though. Honda jazz if that makes it any easier?

Yeah, that's a small car.

Glad to hear that your trip went well and thanks for the report. It sounds like they are cleaning their act up a bit.

Edited July 23, 2010 by inthepink

[inthepink]

With my old Mazda (rather high usage, benzin 95, not gasohol, not LPG) takes about 1500 THB for this distance (270km), tollway not included. 1000 THB for the Jazz sounds reasonable if gasohol, on LPG maybe even cheaper.

You can park for free on the market area close to the border (look for Kasikorn and SCB). Paid parking also available for 100 THB/day (no hourly rate).

I recommend to read a view posts here on Thaivisa about the Poipet border to make your border experience more smooth and avoid the touts. Even more if you are student and the budget is tight Search for 'Poipet' (search box on the right top)

The new visa-on-arrival office has opened, check out this topic. eVisa is a good option as well (25 USD, credit card, http://www.mfaic.gov.kh/evisa/), last week I received my visa within minutes, before it used to take 4-5 hrs.

There are casino buses leaving Bangkok in the early morning for 300 THB roundtrip I think (search casino bus), one leaving from front of Lumphini Park. That is probably the cheapest means of transport, but less flexible compared to your own car. They go straight to the border. Public buses only go to Aranya Prathet (add 60-80 THB x 2 for the Tuktuk).

Good luck!

welo

Welo, I've seen the public blue and white buses right at the border this year.

[samjaidee]

Yes, your gf would not have to pay 2k because she doesn't need a visa.

By the way, sorry - I didn't take into account the fact that your gf would be going with you when I said it would cost you more to drive there. I guess it depends how economical her car is.....

I think it would cost me about 2500 baht in petrol to drive there and back from BKK so I've never bothered to do it.

The visa bus service I used before would charge your gf 800 baht if she waited on the Thai side (about 2 - 2 1/2 hours) or 1000 baht if she comes across with you. If you get an ordinary bus and do it yourself you can be across the border and back a lot quicker than that, at the right time of day.

thanks very much for the reply once again.

my girlfriend said it will cost about 1000 baht in petrol to go to cambodia and come back. No idea about cars + petrol myself though. Honda jazz if that makes it any easier?

I'm surprised no one has mentioned this yet so here goes.

The visa for Cambodia is not 1,000 Baht. That is 50% more than the real visa cost which is in fact US$20. By not using one of the visa run companies you're already saving yourself US$10. Food for thought.

[chrisz]

Just wondering how long are you planning on staying? You can get a 30 day extension at immigration for 1,900 baht and you wouldn't have to go anywhere...

This isn't possible when i come to Thailand with Airpland and only have an Visa-on-arrival for 30 days. This one can not be extended (only if you have serious reason not be able to get out of Thailand -> heart disease) ..right?

So my Visa expires on 10 of August, but i want to stay until 1. of September, my only option is the same Visa run right?

thx for info!

[lopburi3]

The poster clearly stated he had a two entry tourist visa so each entry could be extended 30 days if desired. In your case you arrived on a 30 day visa exempt entry so the only non emergency of family visit extension would be for 7 days which is not long enough. So you would require two border crossings or obtain tourist visa one time or travel out/in by air to obtain 30 days.

[chrisz]

The poster clearly stated he had a two entry tourist visa so each entry could be extended 30 days if desired. In your case you arrived on a 30 day visa exempt entry so the only non emergency of family visit extension would be for 7 days which is not long enough. So you would require two border crossings or obtain tourist visa one time or travel out/in by air to obtain 30 days.

I know that the poster didn't have the same visa. Just some friends told me its possible to extend the visa this way, but i think they dont know the rules about the visa on arrival.

So a border crossing to any neighbor country would only extend my visa for 15 days right.

So i have to other options:

Can i obtain a tourist visa to extend my stay when i'm already in Thailand with a 30 day visa exempt entry (which expires on 10th of August)? So i have to go to the Thai/Austrian Embassy?

Leave the land by air for x hours/days? to any country?

[Jimi007]

The poster clearly stated he had a two entry tourist visa so each entry could be extended 30 days if desired. In your case you arrived on a 30 day visa exempt entry so the only non emergency of family visit extension would be for 7 days which is not long enough. So you would require two border crossings or obtain tourist visa one time or travel out/in by air to obtain 30 days.

I know that the poster didn't have the same visa. Just some friends told me its possible to extend the visa this way, but i think they dont know the rules about the visa on arrival.

So a border crossing to any neighbor country would only extend my visa for 15 days right.

So i have to other options:

Can i obtain a tourist visa to extend my stay when i'm already in Thailand with a 30 day visa exempt entry (which expires on 10th of August)? So i have to go to the Thai/Austrian Embassy?

Leave the land by air for x hours/days? to any country?

Lopburi already answered your question.

So you would require two border crossings or obtain tourist visa one time or travel out/in by air to obtain 30 days.

No you cannot obtain a visa inside Thailand. To obtain a tourist visa you would have to go outside of Thailand to a Thai Embassy and apply for one there. If you do not go to a Thai Embassy and apply there, you get 15 days on arrival from going out and coming back by land on the same day or 30 days by air. There a thread about this on Thai visa.

[chrisz]

No you cannot obtain a visa inside Thailand. To obtain a tourist visa you would have to go outside of Thailand to a Thai Embassy and apply for one there. If you do not go to a Thai Embassy and apply there, you get 15 days on arrival from going out and coming back by land on the same day or 30 days by air. There a thread about this on Thai visa.

Thx, yes i have read the Information on Thai Visa, but as not every answer is clearly given there, just wanted to ask for some clarification.

Last Question:

If i leave Thailand by plane(for ex. to Singapur, on 10 of August when my first visa on Arrival expires) stay there 1 night, and come back the other day by plane, i will get a new 30 day visa-on-arrival at the Airport right? (how many times you could renew your visa-on-arrival this way? 3 times?)

Edited July 25, 2010 by chrisz

[Jimi007]

No you cannot obtain a visa inside Thailand. To obtain a tourist visa you would have to go outside of Thailand to a Thai Embassy and apply for one there. If you do not go to a Thai Embassy and apply there, you get 15 days on arrival from going out and coming back by land on the same day or 30 days by air. There a thread about this on Thai visa.

Thx, yes i have read the Information on Thai Visa, but as not every answer is clearly given there, just wanted to ask for some clarification.

Last Question:

If i leave Thailand by plane(for ex. to Singapur, on 10 of August when my first visa on Arrival expires) stay there 1 night, and come back the other day by plane, i will get a new 30 day visa-on-arrival at the Airport right? (how many times you could renew your visa-on-arrival this way? 3 times?)

You can fly somewhere get off the plane and get back on another and fly back. How long are you planning on staying? If more than 30 days, get a tourist visa. Why would you want to fly out every 30 days? And I think the maximum number of 30 days on arrival is 3. A single entry tourist visa is free right now and it is for 60 days at an immigration office you can get an extension for another 30 days for 1,900 Baht, if you want to stay 90 days. If you want to stay longer get a double entry. You get 60 days per entry (land or air) and you could extend each one for a total of 120 days. See Laos Embassy for times and conditions. Link: http://vientiane.tha...consular_check/

Or here is a list of Thai Embassies: http://www.thaiembassy.org/

Edited July 25, 2010 by Jimi007

[chrisz]

You can fly somewhere get off the plane and get back on another and fly back. How long are you planning on staying? If more than 30 days, get a tourist visa. Why would you want to fly out every 30 days? And I think the maximum number of 30 days on arrival is 3. A single entry tourist visa is free right now and it is for 60 days at an immigration office you can get an extension for another 30 days for 1,900 Baht, if you want to stay 90 days. If you want to stay longer get a double entry. You get 60 days per entry (land or air) and you could extend each one for a total of 120 days. See Laos Embassy for times and conditions. Link: http://vientiane.tha...consular_check/

Or here is a list of Thai Embassies: http://www.thaiembassy.org/

thx again.. i just want to stay until 1.September, but doing two visa runs over land bordes isn't quite nice i think, as the costs would not be a lot lower then to go by plane.

get off the plane ..get back on another.. well obviously i have to entry the other country first.. right..

I think i will go to Kuala Lumpur..visit the Twin Towers eat smth, and go back in the evening.

[lopburi3]

That would be fine. And there is no set limit to the amount of times you may do this.

[chrisz]

That would be fine. And there is no set limit to the amount of times you may do this.

really? now that sounds crazy..so for a tourist who wants to stay longer then 4-5 months would that be a good way to go, or is it easier to obtain a 1-year visa?

[lopburi3]

Tourist visas are the easy way to stay as a tourist - you would only have to leave every 90 days.

[chrisz]

Tourist visas are the easy way to stay as a tourist - you would only have to leave every 90 days.

so said you leave every 90 days to another country and apply there for another tourist visa and for example come back to thailand the next day... (without a set limit doing this?)

[ignis]

You can fly somewhere get off the plane and get back on another and fly back. How long are you planning on staying? If more than 30 days, get a tourist visa. Why would you want to fly out every 30 days? And I think the maximum number of 30 days on arrival is 3. A single entry tourist visa is free right now and it is for 60 days at an immigration office you can get an extension for another 30 days for 1,900 Baht, if you want to stay 90 days. If you want to stay longer get a double entry. You get 60 days per entry (land or air) and you could extend each one for a total of 120 days. See Laos Embassy for times and conditions. Link: http://vientiane.tha...consular_check/

Or here is a list of Thai Embassies: http://www.thaiembassy.org/

thx again.. i just want to stay until 1.September, but doing two visa runs over land bordes isn't quite nice i think, as the costs would not be a lot lower then to go by plane.

get off the plane ..get back on another.. well obviously i have to entry the other country first.. right..

I think i will go to Kuala Lumpur..visit the Twin Towers eat smth, and go back in the evening.

Was looking Friday Air Asia 3,155 baht return with all tax, if your English you do not need a Visa, so yes simple to go for the day

[Enjibenji]

That would be fine. And there is no set limit to the amount of times you may do this.

really? now that sounds crazy..so for a tourist who wants to stay longer then 4-5 months would that be a good way to go, or is it easier to obtain a 1-year visa?

a triple entry visa would give you 90 days x 3 if you extended each time.

(sorry if this wasn't really answering your question - just thought i'd add).

Edited July 25, 2010 by Enjibenji