Hi All,

I will be in need of a 30 day extension soon and will be in the Nong Khai area. Do I go to the immigration department at the bridge or is there one in the town?

30 days after that I will doing a border run for my second entry on my visa. If I go over the bridge do I have to enter Laos and pay the $30 just to come straight back again, it seems a bit of a waist of money for 1 hour when other country entry's are free?

Thanks

Simon

As far as I know...

You don't need to go to the bridge rather the NK Immigration Office, which is on the approach to the bridge.

It is on the road which goes from the bridge direct to Mittraphap Road, by-passing Nong Khai . If arriving from Udon this road is well sign-posted, left turn at the traffic lights about 7km before NK. The office is about 5 km down this road, on the right hand side.

If you're in NK take the road towards the bridge via the railway station (don't turn in to the station), when you get to the end of the road take a left (right is to the bridge) and it's about 700 m on the left.

Regards paying $30 for the privilage of entering Laos for 2 minutes, it's a must...however prior to Hambali I knew of visa runners just crossing the road at the Laos end and jumping back on the bus to Thailand, without entering Laos. Sometimes the Thai Immigration officers couldn't be bothered to thumb through looking for the Laos exit stamp and they got away with it. Often not! Since the shit sarting hitting the fan these guys haven't pushed it and just paid the $30 instead.

Make sure you buy the dollars before going to the bridge, if you pay in baht they use a Hans Christian Andersen exchange rate!

A few guys I know spend the time in Laos to by a few goodies cheaply, some even used to jump the fence, not recommended now.

Thanks Guy's,

Yes I know the road to the bridge, been on a visa run to Vientienne before as girlfriends family live near NK so have come from NK and never been past the Imm office, have been elsewhere for previous extensions.

Oh well maybe I will be somewhere further south for the border run where they don't charge, can't say I was that impressed with Laos last time I was there and don't really want to go back again and waist $30.

Simon

Stock up on duty free booze and even up the expenses. Thai side is seemingly very liberal with allowances.

That's what I meant by goodies Doc you can even get the evil weed (tobacco) cheap I believe.