I was thinking of taking the elders across the new bridge at Nakorn Phanom but don't want to go if immigration will be a ball ache for me, I know they only need their i.d. cards but I need the passport. Anyone been across yet? How was it?

Nakhon Phanom bridge has the same rules as other border crossings. If you have a year's visa then you must pay 1,000 thb for a (Thai) re-entry visa otherwise your visa will be cancelled. It is cheaper to pay the Laos visa as $35 rather than 1,500 Thai Baht. I hear the local immigration office ( currently in town on the river Thanon Suntornwichit) will soon move to the bridge complex. A friend went last week & there were only 6 people on the bus going and 4 coming back -- he was the only foreigner both times. Dunno what's on the the other side yet regarding duty free etc so you may have to come the 15 km back to Thakek. They have already levelled a huge piece of land to build a casino the same as SavanVegas; maybe ready within 2 years.

Yes, what about duty free there, good choice as in NONG KHAI ?

Thanks for info.

Any photos of the bridge anywhere?

Any photos of the bridge anywhere?

This is the "translated" link to www. sawasdeenakhonphanom.com which has the best pictures -- plenty out there if you google it. There are also some Facebook links (available by pm) showing progress throughout the bridge construction

http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dwww.nakhonphanom.com%26hl%3Den%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en%26prmd%3Divns&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=th&u=http://www.sawasdeenakhonphanom.com/3277/%25E0%25B8%25AD%25E0%25B8%25B1%25E0%25B8%25A5%25E0%25B8%259A%25E0%25B8%25B1%25E0%25B9%2589%25E0%25B8%25A1%25E0%25B8%25A0%25E0%25B8%25B2%25E0%25B8%259E%25E0%25B8%2599%25E0%25B8%2584%25E0%25B8%25A3%25E0%25B8%259E%25E0%25B8%2599%25E0%25B8%25A1/%25E0%25B8%25AA%25E0%25B8%2596%25E0%25B8%25B2%25E0%25B8%2599%25E0%25B8%2597%25E0%25B8%25B5%25E0%25B9%2588%25E0%25B8%2597%25E0%25B9%2588%25E0%25B8%25AD%25E0%25B8%2587%25E0%25B9%2580%25E0%25B8%2597%25E0%25B8%25B5%25E0%25B9%2588%25E0%25B8%25A2%25E0%25B8%25A7/%25E0%25B8%25AA%25E0%25B8%25B0%25E0%25B8%259E%25E0%25B8%25B2%25E0%25B8%2599%25E0%25B8%25A1%25E0%25B8%25B4%25E0%25B8%2595%25E0%25B8%25A3%25E0%25B8%25A0%25E0%25B8%25B2%25E0%25B8%259E-3-%25E0%25B9%2584%25E0%25B8%2597%25E0%25B8%25A2-%25E0%25B8%25A5%25E0%25B8%25B2%25E0%25B8%25A7-%25E0%25B8%25AD%25E0%25B8%25B1%25E0%25B8%259E%25E0%25B9%2580%25E0%25B8%2594%25E0%25B8%2597%25E0%25B8%25A0%25E0%25B8%25B2%25E0%25B8%259E%25E0%25B8%25A5%25E0%25B9%2588%25E0%25B8%25B2%25E0%25B8%25AA%25E0%25B8%25B8%25E0%25B8%2594%25E0%25B9%2582%25E0%25B8%2594%25E0%25B8%25A2%25E0%25B8%2584%25E0%25B8%25B8%25E0%25B8%2593%25E0%25B8%25A1%25E0%25B8%2587%25E0%25B8%2584%25E0%25B8%25A5-%25E0%25B8%2595%25E0%25B8%25B1%25E0%25B8%2599%25E0%25B8%25AA%25E0%25B8%25B8%25E0%25B8%25A7%25E0%25B8%25A3%25E0%25B8%25A3%25E0%25B8%2593.html&usg=ALkJrhiNlShn2YAv0nMx5Y2h6bzsyHtV0Q

i went over 5 days after it opened great service they even filled all the paper work for me and full of smiles......

Any photos of the bridge anywhere?

This is the "translated" link to www. sawasdeenakhonphanom.com which has the best pictures -- plenty out there if you google it. There are also some Facebook links (available by pm) showing progress throughout the bridge construction

http://translate.goo...x5Y2h6bzsyHtV0Q

Thanks for the link. Nice pics.

Latest news is you cannot cycle across the bridge; even if you wanted to. Secondly, make sure of the bus return times if you to downriver to Thakek. Missing the last one will mean an overnight stay which you may not have planned for.

Thanks for keeping the info coming folks

Does anyone know how long they will give you on a visa when you cross the bridge back into Thailand? I usually have a non O multiple entry as I like to stay longer than 6 weeks, if I was to come in on a standard tourist visa and crossed the bridge at Nakorn Phanom would I get an extra 28 days or just 2 weeks?

A 15 day entry is all you will get at any border crossing.

But the good news for you is that they are now issuing multiple entry visas based upon marriage to a Thai in Savanakhet with no proof of income needed. Just marriage cert.,wife's house book, ID, and a copy of your passport. Arrive early morning at consulate and get passport back the next afternoon.

A 15 day entry is all you will get at any border crossing.

But the good news for you is that they are now issuing multiple entry visas based upon marriage to a Thai in Savanakhet with no proof of income needed. Just marriage cert.,wife's house book, ID, and a copy of your passport. Arrive early morning at consulate and get passport back the next afternoon.

You don't need to prove income for a Non-Imm O visa based on marriage - you only need to prove income for a marriage (or retirement) extension.

That's interesting guys thanks, I appreciate the info.