Free Double Entry Tr Visa In Svanakhet Report

[swisstouristpattaya]

hello Farangs ,

short report about consulate in savanaket, LAO.

arrived at 11 am 15th july.

only 10 people, 3 farangs. i filled the application, then present my papers+ 2 fotos+ recommendation from a friend+ passport+ copies of passport.

I have been in Thailand for 12 months, under 3 tourist visa, I am 40,no tatooes, no beerbelly! .

I joined a letter (recommendation)in Thai from my Thai girlfriend stating I was a tourist, not working here and have my money from Switzerland and I was looking for a job in Europe.

She put her name , phone number in case there was a problem.( I was worry that after 1 year here, they ask me to go back home.)

the guy spent over 1 minute to read it carefully(X-checking name with my passport), and seem convinced as he did'nt ask me any question like last time(what you do here?why do you apply here, and not in Vientiane?). (it' s true, I am not working here)

He gave me a number(no number given this time), and asked me to come at 2PM the next day.

next day wait for 30 minutes in line, I was the last guy with number 115.

I got my double entry visa in my red passport.

bye bye Lao, hello Thailand!!!

want double entry?, no need to ask, just write "please, 2X entries" on the form near TR visa ..

some people told me they don't give double entry with free visa, then surprised when the next day I got my free double entry, and they got only 1 entry.

[Brewsta]

Greetings & Well Done.....

Hmmmm....Having lived in The Land of Smiles since 2000, I have not managed to acquire a FREE Tourist visa on either occasion that I have enjoyed a very pleasant trip to PR Laos.....despite repeatedly asking for one.

the new consulate in Vientianne even denied a free visa existed on my last visa visit in May this year ??

I work 6+ months a year in the Middle East and normally get 1 year non-immigrant '0'visas in my travels anyway,so no big deal.

Clear so far?

Hope so. A number of others that I know tell a similar story of the 'Phantom free visa'.

I do believe you and have seen lots of Thai Govt announcements recently about this mythical beast:o)

If you have any more info - please message me.

Kindly,

Brewsta in Saudi Arabia

[lopburi3]

I suspect your visit was when there were no free visas available anywhere. The program re-started this year and there was a period when they were not free.

[ruby1]

Hi,where did you cross the border to Laos?

[Maestro]

...short report about consulate in savanaket, LAO...I got my double entry visa in my red passport...

Thank your your report, swisstouristpattaya. I have added a link to it in the pinned topic "Latest Reports Of Getting A Visa In The Region". I have a feeling that the letter from your friend in Thailand helped convince the consul that there is no reason to suspect that you might be working illegally in Thailand.

--

Maestro

[swisstouristpattaya]

Hi,

I crossed the border at Mukdahan by bus, the bus from Mukdahan(45 bahts) bring you directly to the bus station of Savankhet and wait for you when you cross the border.

Then (if you want loose your beerbelly) :)you can walk from the bus station of Savanaket to the embassy(take 25 minutes)or take a tuk tuk (50 bahts).

As I had plenty of time, I decided to walk.

At the Lao custom, they asked me to pay 40 bahts, last year it was 20 bahts.

Swiss citizen don't have to pay for visa, they get 15 days FREE in LAO.

one thing to know, if you pay in US$, it's 30$ for a LAO visa of 1 month only, required for CEE citizen and US citizen.

But if you pay in thai bahts , it's 1500 bahts(=45$).

if you pay in euro, it's 30 euro (ouch!).

Better for you to come with 30 US$ for a LAO visa. you save around 500 bahts (it will pay you the night in savanakhet)

On my return, this time I picked up my passport( after he stamped "departure" at the Lao custom), and I went directly behind the box of the officer,He didnt' have time to ask me for 40 another bahts, which it is "corruption".(be careful, some guys don't seem correct, I took a risk, they may run after you). All Thai people prepared 40 bahts in their passport or put the money on their tablt without saying anything, don't do that, corrupt an officer can bring you to jail.( I forgot 20$ in my passport one day in the USA, they guy thought I was trying to corrupt him, I finished 45 minutes in an investigation room!!! at he end, they let me go with 3 months instead of the usual 6 months under a US tourist visa (B1/B2))

You may ask for a receipt before giving your money if they ask you money, maybe the officer will tell you to go away...

for you info, there are some cheap hotels along the Mekong, just 2 blocks(South) near the embassy. paid 400 bahts, and it' s clean with cable TV, fridge, water, and A/C.

another trick, if you don't need a visa, and need a visa run only, you can go to nakhon phanom. take the boat at the port (50 bahts port fee +around 150 baths 2 ways) and come back. take only 30-45 minutes.

be sure they stamp you passport correctly at the LAO border.(stamp, correct date, and signature).

to conclude, I got a very nice experience in Savanakhet, better than Ventiane(less people, better and cheaper hotels,...). And I have always felt more welcome in Thailand, than in the USA.

(guess where I am going to spend my money when retired?)

[ruby1]

Hi,

thanks for all the information on going to Savanakhet.

Question please....How did you get to the border plane,bus,train or car?

thanks.

[swisstouristpattaya]

Hi,

thanks for all the information on going to Savanakhet.

Question please....How did you get to the border plane,bus,train or car?

thanks.

I took the bus from pattaya to nakhon phanom( 13 hours), next day from N phanom to mukdaha then lao.

or you can take the bus to mukdahan as well.

from pattaya it 's 615 bahts, first class 750bahts one way.

[kleinhev]

Tourist visas are free until 21 Mar 2011

Greetings & Well Done.....

Hmmmm....Having lived in The Land of Smiles since 2000, I have not managed to acquire a FREE Tourist visa on either occasion that I have enjoyed a very pleasant trip to PR Laos.....despite repeatedly asking for one.

the new consulate in Vientianne even denied a free visa existed on my last visa visit in May this year ??

I work 6+ months a year in the Middle East and normally get 1 year non-immigrant '0'visas in my travels anyway,so no big deal.

Clear so far?

Hope so. A number of others that I know tell a similar story of the 'Phantom free visa'.

I do believe you and have seen lots of Thai Govt announcements recently about this mythical beast:o)

If you have any more info - please message me.

Kindly,

Brewsta in Saudi Arabia

[jpinx]

I agree - Savanakhet is a good place to use, you can get a VIP bus from Mo Chit direct to Mukdahan for 500 - 700 baht, depending on promotions.

One word of caution, the Consul there will endorse your visa after 3 renewals with "financial information required for next visa" or similar wording. This means you need to provide the same information as for a non-immigrant or retirement visa. Don't ignore it or try to show them your UK bank/credit card statements, they will not be impressed.

[Briggsy]

Provided all the documents are provided with the application, does anyone have any reason to believe that the Thai Consulate at Savannakhet will not issue a single-entry non-imm (ED)? This is for a friend of mine who is currently in Thailand on a multi-entry non-imm (O).

Alternatively can he change a multi-entry non-imm (O) into a single-entry non-imm (ED) within Thailand?

[Mario2008]

You can study on any kind of visa, including a visa exempt entry. So if his visa is valid, there is no need to get another visa. He should be able to get extensions of stay based on his education as well.

[Briggsy]

You can study on any kind of visa, including a visa exempt entry. So if his visa is valid, there is no need to get another visa. He should be able to get extensions of stay based on his education as well.

Apologies for my lack of clarity. This is a non-imm (ED) for the purposes of working as a teacher at a private university. Or is a non-imm ( required for this purpose? Will Savannakhet issue such as a visa, for the purposes of work?

[Mario2008]

For teaching a non-B is issued. But as your friend has a valid multiple non-O and he can get a work permit and extension of stay based on employment on that as well. Some employers don't know this.

It is only when one is on an extension of stay based on retirement that one can not get a work permit.

[Briggsy]

For teaching a non-B is issued. But as your friend has a valid multiple non-O and he can get a work permit and extension of stay based on employment on that as well. Some employers don't know this.

It is only when one is on an extension of stay based on retirement that one can not get a work permit.

Wow, I didn't know that. I've informed him and he'll inform the HR officer at the university. That'll save him a trip to Laos.

[jonny48]

Hi,

are you saying that by crossing at nakon phanom you dond pay 1500 for your lao visa

I crossed the border at Mukdahan by bus, the bus from Mukdahan(45 bahts) bring you directly to the bus station of Savankhet and wait for you when you cross the border.

Then (if you want loose your beerbelly) :)you can walk from the bus station of Savanaket to the embassy(take 25 minutes)or take a tuk tuk (50 bahts).

As I had plenty of time, I decided to walk.

At the Lao custom, they asked me to pay 40 bahts, last year it was 20 bahts.

Swiss citizen don't have to pay for visa, they get 15 days FREE in LAO.

one thing to know, if you pay in US$, it's 30$ for a LAO visa of 1 month only, required for CEE citizen and US citizen.

But if you pay in thai bahts , it's 1500 bahts(=45$).

if you pay in euro, it's 30 euro (ouch!).

Better for you to come with 30 US$ for a LAO visa. you save around 500 bahts (it will pay you the night in savanakhet)

On my return, this time I picked up my passport( after he stamped "departure" at the Lao custom), and I went directly behind the box of the officer,He didnt' have time to ask me for 40 another bahts, which it is "corruption".(be careful, some guys don't seem correct, I took a risk, they may run after you). All Thai people prepared 40 bahts in their passport or put the money on their tablt without saying anything, don't do that, corrupt an officer can bring you to jail.( I forgot 20$ in my passport one day in the USA, they guy thought I was trying to corrupt him, I finished 45 minutes in an investigation room!!! at he end, they let me go with 3 months instead of the usual 6 months under a US tourist visa (B1/B2))

You may ask for a receipt before giving your money if they ask you money, maybe the officer will tell you to go away...

for you info, there are some cheap hotels along the Mekong, just 2 blocks(South) near the embassy. paid 400 bahts, and it' s clean with cable TV, fridge, water, and A/C.

another trick, if you don't need a visa, and need a visa run only, you can go to nakhon phanom. take the boat at the port (50 bahts port fee +around 150 baths 2 ways) and come back. take only 30-45 minutes.

be sure they stamp you passport correctly at the LAO border.(stamp, correct date, and signature).

to conclude, I got a very nice experience in Savanakhet, better than Ventiane(less people, better and cheaper hotels,...). And I have always felt more welcome in Thailand, than in the USA.

(guess where I am going to spend my money when retired?)