My visa expires in a few days and I was thinking of doing a border run to Mae Sai for a 15 day tourist entry stamp.

Just want to make sure this is possible to do from Mae Sai. I have found this statement on a few sites regarding exiting Tachileik and it has me worrying:

"Note that, since 2006, a permit is necessary to exit Myanmar at the Mae Sai border. The permit must be obtained in advance from the MTT offices in Yangon."

Also, will Thai immigration require proof of onward travel when letting me back in?

I am sure these questions have been asked before but since things change so often I want to make sure. Thanks in advance.

I used to do visa runs to Mae Sai before I obtained my retirement extension.

The process is very simple:

Proceed and exit through Thai immigration

Walk over the bridge to Myanmar immigration and they will ask you if you are going straight back to Thailand.

Pay them B500 and they process your passport.

and finally walk back over the bridge and re-enter Thailand and immigration will give you the required stamp - in your case 15 days.

Not once was I asked for a return ticket and I have done the Mae Sai visa run many times.

Furthermore, Mae Sai is great for just walking around and shopping.

Hope this helps.

Thanks Bobroper. I assume that you probably have to have a permit to exit Burma through Tachileik if you didn't enter Burma through Tachileik.

trippritter.

bob roper is right and you get your entry and exit permit in the myanmar office while your there

pic 1 .. is the entry and exit permit.

if your going shopping there they give you half of it and you get your passport back when you leave

if your going straight back to thailand they dont even give it to you

pic 2 .. exit thailand here

pic 3 .. enter and exit myanmar here

pic 4 .. come back down this allyway NOT there roadside

dave2

ps ... if you want to stay a few days in myanmar ( i stayed about four days ) you can get a pic 5 entry permit at the border in about an hour

pps .. i paid 500 baht about two weeks ago wth no problems : )