Visa Run To Mae Sai

[hippoman]

Hello Does anyone know if there are any problems with leaving Thailand at the border with Myanmar at Mae Sai in order to re-enter on a currently valid multiple-entry non-Imm "O" visa, if you are a Bulgarian citizen with a Bulgarian/EU passport. I am concerned that there might be a problem with entering Myanmar on a Bulgarian/EU passport.In particular, is any kind of visa issued/required on entering Myanmar, by the Immigration officials there, as part of the "visa run" process? Only the standard stay of about 30 minutes in Myanmar is proposed.Thanks in anticipation for any advice.

[Mario2008]

With a valid non-O visa it is no problem to leave an re-enter Thailand.

Only regarding Visa On Arrival are there restriction on which bordercrossing you must use, not with a non-immigrant visa.

Edit:

Regarding Myanmar it should be no problem, as you only get a day pass to cross the border. But I'm not sure.

[thailandbluegrass]

If you don't mind, I'm curious why you want to cross the boarder if you already have a valid Non-O visa? You state that you just want the normal cross and then back over in 30 minutes so you don't even want to shop there?

Sorry to ask but just doesn't make sense to me already having your type of visa.

Most people do this boarder run to get another 15 days added to their Tourist visa and to take advantage of the Wondeful Market at the boarder.

Also I'm not trying to be negative here but in the case maybe you don't know we do not consider this a "Visa run" it is what expats just call a "boarder run".

[simba6829]

cant see any problem with that i done it for 18 months with a uk passport and non imigrant 'O'.

Has to go every 90 days thats the reason for trip.

[svenivan]

cant see any problem with that i done it for 18 months with a uk passport and non imigrant 'O'.

Has to go every 90 days thats the reason for trip.

You do not need to leave the country, you can make a 90-day report at the Immigration instead or send the 90-day report together with signed copies of your passport, your visa and the TM-card plus an envelope with your address and stamps on to the Immigration.

If you go over the border in Mae Sai to Tachilek you have to pay 500 baht when you enter Burma. You leave your passport there and pick it up when you leave.

[lopburi3]

We are talking about multi entry non immigrant O visa. The longest you can stay is 90 days. To obtain a new stay of 90 days you must exit the country and return.

The use of 90 day address reports to immigration is for those on extensions of stay - not for this type of visa entry.

[hippoman]

Thanks to all for your responses.

As Lopburi3 says, the Non-Imm "O" visa only permits a stay of up to 90 days, so it is necessary to leave and re-enter within that period to get a further 90 day permission to stay.

From the responses I understand that you get a day pass from the immigration officials when you enter Myanmar and, from simba6829's reply it appears that there is no problem doing exit and re-entry process with a UK passport. With a Bulgarian passport (or any other non-UK but EU passport) , the situation is not so clear, as none of the responders seems have had this experience. But I anticipate that the one-day pass is available to any valid passport holder.

Just to clarify the situation, I shall report here what happens after the "visa/border run", which I (on a UK passport) and my Bulgarian partner will do in the next week or so.

Thanks again for replying.