New Gf From Laos, Visa Info (For Her)

[SlyAnimal]

Have a new girlfriend who I met in Laos, but I live in Thailand (Well I'll be getting my Non Immigrant B "Teaching" Visa for next semester), and want her to come and stay with me (Ideally without having to goto the border every few weeks). She mentioned her sister has a Thai passport, because their mother is Thai. But her sister was born in Thailand, whereas she was born in Lao.

She said she applied for a Thai passport when she was 18, but didn't get one. Not sure if she was just ineligible or if she didn't do the right paperwork etc.

Would she potentially be eligible for a Thai passport now? (Or is there a way for her to get one?)

If she doesn't get a Thai passport, how long can she stay in Thailand on Visa Exempt using her Laos passport?

When I get my non immigrant B, is there a way for her to sorta "piggy back" on that to get into Thailand? (We're not married, if we were in a year or so, then could she piggy back on my visa to get in?)

Otherwise, are they as relaxed about regular tourist visa runs for Lao people in Vientiane as they are for farang?

And if I were to one day move to Laos, how farang friendly are the laws there? e.g. same as Thailand where we can't own anything etc? Or can we actually put stuff in our own names there?

Lots of questions there, even though I haven't known her for that long, so a lot of it will just be speculation and not needed, but I figure it's handy to know what I'm potentially getting myself into.

[lopburi3]

If her mother is full Thai citizen she should be able to obtain Thai passport but it would require birth certificate to Thai Embassy in Laos for first stamp and then application for passport. Proof of mother and her mothers citizenship would be required. The birth and parentage must be registered with the Thai Embassy in country of birth so that is step one.

Believe land crossing is only 15 days now. Don't believe that there is a visa problem for Lao if not suspected of illegal activities.

Don't believe Laos is very friendly at all for foreign nationals as still a strict Communist run state.

She would not have any status as your gf. As wife, as you on one year extensions of stay (not 90 day visa entry) she could obtain dependent visa/extension of stay to match yours.

[hgma]

sounds like refugee story...

Many laotians who got a thai passport are former lao refugees.

refused thai dont know if she can apply again.

stay in thailand

"asean" rule = free human traffic...is a month a time same as a visarun.

Laws of Lao much needed are................

family-law 1994

nationality act 2004!!!

www.vientianetimes.org.la katern "constitution"................all the internal Lao laws

strictly enforced IN laos.

recommend you to read

US state-department consular sheets (yearly updated!)

specialy the rules of engaging lao women IN laos!!!

hgma

married IN laos.

[hgma]

if she apply for thai passport she will loose her Lao passport

double nationality forbidden

nationality act 2004

If her mother is full Thai citizen she should be able to obtain Thai passport but it would require birth certificate to Thai Embassy in Laos for first stamp and then application for passport. Proof of mother and her mothers citizenship would be required. The birth and parentage must be registered with the Thai Embassy in country of birth so that is step one.

Believe land crossing is only 15 days now. Don't believe that there is a visa problem for Lao if not suspected of illegal activities.

Don't believe Laos is very friendly at all for foreign nationals as still a strict Communist run state.

She would not have any status as your gf. As wife, as you on one year extensions of stay (not 90 day visa entry) she could obtain dependent visa/extension of stay to match yours.

[lopburi3]

It she attempted this before I suspect she would prefer the Thai citizenship if available.

[ljerams]

A friendly warning.

Unmarried couples living together in Laos PDR is not permitted .

My colleague got caught and my Company had to pay somebody off to get the charge dropped.

[hgma]

scores of people think that because Laos has a border with Thailand one can do what one does in Thailand.

Big mistake !

For the rest? I happen to almost love Laos.

Pure....simpel....unspoiled......no-nonsense.

What you see is what you get......its the opposite in Thailand.

A friendly warning.

Unmarried couples living together in Laos PDR is not permitted .

My colleague got caught and my Company had to pay somebody off to get the charge dropped.

[ljerams]

Yes, I've been there many times on Company business. We also had a Branch Office in Vientane.

Unfortunately the place has fallen on hard times since the French departed and the Russians got there and neglected it.

I've even met elderly Laos people who can only speak French

But some lovely people mostly scraping a living.

[kiwijor]

For a Thai minor to get a passport, she must be 20 years of age or over, and have her Thai ID Card and House paper/book. Kiwijor

[lopburi3]

A minor gets a passport with there parents signing. You do not have to be 20 years old to get a passport. There is no ID card or home register requirement when applying outside of Thailand for those born overseas of Thai parents.