Visa Run Agent Chiang Mai

[mrireland]

Ok after about 2 hours reading about what i need to do for a visa run from Chiang Mai im really confused as some of the info is outdated and im not sure what to follow.

Id much rather pay someone that will help me do all this

I had a single entry tourist visa and my girfriend a tripple entry, my single entry was just transferred to a new passport and we just recently got our 30 day extension at Chiang Mai immigration.

Ill need to visit the thai consulate and stay overnight while my application for a double entry is done from what i read. Obviously my girlfriend has a triple entry so she doesnt need to worry about that.

So ill need to stay overnight.

Question is does the thai consulate only open weekdays and can anyone recommend a reputible company to organize the travel arrangements in Chiang Mai, im guessing not many stay over so will i need to book 2 x 1 days trips.

Is Laos the best place to go. Finally i want to do either bus or train route, not a keen flyer so i would like to avoid if possible. How long does the bus/train journey usually take each way and how much time will i waste at the border?

[lopburi3]

There is no train service across country (they run north/south). There is a special bus service but no idea of time (other than overnight) and it may be to Udon rather than Nong Khai (border). Udon is also the airport and about 45 minutes from border. Everybody going from Chiang Mai for visa would have to stay overnight (at least one night). Consulate is open Mon-Fri and closed weekends and holidays of either country. You apply in morning and receive next afternoon. There may be same day service from some agents but would be late in day and much higher cost. It should be easy to do without any help as most travelers on that route will be doing the same thing and no shortage of hotels in Vientiane.

[bobl]

Very hard to visit a consulate and stay overnight, by bus or train. That's hard evough to do by flying. You will need to submit your application on the morning of one day, and pick it up on the afternoon of next. So the only way you could do it with a one night stay would be to travel overnight so that you could do your application in the morning, stay the night, and travel back again overnight having picked up your pp in the afternoon.

If you fly - and you book online at least a week to ten days in advance - you should be able to pick up a return ticket for less than $150. Even flying, getting the timing right so that you could stay over only one night would be tricky.

My suggestion would be to take your gf to KL for a 2 night stay, by air. (KL because Malaysia by Air Asia seems to consistently be the cheapest flight option to a neighbouring country from Chiang Mai).

[mrireland]

Thanks id like to avoid flying if possible at all, i take your point on staying 2 nights, ill probably do that so.

So has anyone any recommendations of an agency in Chiang Mai that organizes these border runs, i know everyone says its easy to do but id rather do it right the first time in case i mess up and the next time i can arrange my own travel, will any agency at all do or should i look for a reputable one, ill probably have to get 2 x 1 way packages if its going to be 2 days stay?

[NancyL]

I think the fact that the OP is having difficulty in getting anyone to recommend a "visa run agent" shows that most people consider it a do-it-yourself process. There are numerous companies that provide transportation, but don't do the "hand-holding" the OP is seeking. I'd suggest visiting the Chiang Mai forum and asking about transportation options to the chosen destination and learn all about the various forms of service -- vans, buses, VIP buses, etc.