The Cheapest Way To Do Visa Run ?

[duiter]

Hi,

What is the cheapest way to do visa run from Bangkok ?

From Bangkok to where ?

By train or by plane ?

How much ?

Is there any visa fee to that country ( where I do cross border and then do u-turn and come back to Thailand ) ?

[notmyself]

Walk to Malaysia as there is no visa fee.

[lopburi3]

There is daily van service to the Cambodia border for this purpose and all inclusive price runs about 2,000 baht (which includes visa/meal/transport/help. Leave in morning and return later afternoon. Google visa runs or check newspapers. If you must do it on the really cheap you can take train or casino bus and pay visa yourself.

[BuckBee]

Cheapest to minimal travel distance is Poipet by train @ 50Baht.

You get off at Aranyapraphet & if avoid tuk-tuks & turn left out of station can walk to border in 10 minutes.

Only other fee is Cambodian visa. I do this online for $25 & save hassle at border & save a page in your passport.

Avoid any toats at the Poipet border & do not fall for any bull from scammers at the police hut opposite thai entry point on right & carry on past casinos to the white imigration building. Returning by train is cheapest but requires a long wait, I normally get a mini van back for 200baht maybe 250baht on a bad day.

I do this for around 1,300baht door to door & round trip takes about 9hrs maybe longer if hang around in Cambo for food & a beer or bit slow going through customs.

Malaysia can be cheaper but a long way to travel & would need do without hotel to stay cheaper than poipet but border near Hat Yai is very easy & friendly, I went by train & jumped off at border to get stamped out of thailand & into Malaysia then walked across bridge over railway track & back through outbound Malaysia & inbound Thai immigration far smoother than Poipet. You then need a bus back to Hat Yai which is easy as bus stop is oposite immigration exit on main road, then go to train station & organise a return ticket to bangkok & kill some spare time looking around hat yai !

Problem with Poipet is most boiler room boys & ilegal workers on O's & tourists & hooky visas go through Poipet & on a bad day you can get hassle or slow processing as these idoits queue up with work colleages in toe wearing nice copy shades & ironed shirt & a tourist visa!

Using visa services such as Jack Golf for Poipet run is not advisable unless like <deleted> service & paying a lot of money for what you could do easier yourself.

[notmyself]

Immigration have missed a trick here I think. Judging by tourism figures released by the TaT I would say that everytime someone goes for a swim they are deemed to have left the country so when they return to read their book it is counted as a new tourist. Imagine how much money could be made if people have to buy a 50 entry tourist visa.

[heatwaving]

That's great detailed advice on cheap border runs. Thanks.

But if a person chooses to use a service like JackGolf for a run, what are the more dependable companies? Any other opinions on JackGolf or other runners?

[henrythe8th]

Hi, I worked in BKK as a teacher for 2 years. It depends where in BKK you are but in my experience its not worth the hassle You save about 1000BH and you are more likely to have a problem at both ends. Better off sticking with Jacks Golf or The one that leaves From Ekkamai on a sunday Morning.

Kind Regards.

[henrythe8th]

Can't really add anything much other than to say book it in advance occasionally they ask for the money up front and that means going into central BKK what a hassle I lived in Petkasem and had to do that once. I always go on the day the visa runs out to get the most days out of it, thats up to you though. But always take into account the Thai Holidays if your not working here its not obvious what days they are.

[maprao]

Excellent post Buckbee but why would you demean other border runners if you are doing the same.

[notmyself]

That's great detailed advice on cheap border runs. Thanks.

But if a person chooses to use a service like JackGolf for a run, what are the more dependable companies? Any other opinions on JackGolf or other runners?

I think we all presume you have a multi entry Thai visa from another country, is this the case?

[heatwaving]

No, I don't have a multiple entry visa. I just need a less-than-15-day extension after my current visa until I fly out of bkk to another country.

So does the 2100 baht charged by Jackgolf include the price of the cambodia visa?

[notmyself]

No, I don't have a multiple entry visa. I just need a less-than-15-day extension after my current visa until I fly out of bkk to another country.

So does the 2100 baht charged by Jackgolf include the price of the cambodia visa?

Lopburi says it does (2000 Baht) which sounds pretty good. You know you can get 7 days at the local immigration office?

[BuckBee]

Excellent post Buckbee but why would you demean other border runners if you are doing the same.

Because I & many others mangage to do it without being gobby half drunk <deleted> with forged docs thus creating long queues & extra checking hassle for everyone else.

Jack Golf was one of the companies that has caused so much hassle on & off at that border as majority of people with less than legit paperwork or working practice used them as thought it would be so much easier & hassle free.

You get a lot less hassle on your own as most of these companies have a lot of off days due to clamp downs caused by previous less than legit visas catching up with them & the people they pay off.

If people don't have the gumption to catch a train & get your visa stamped then its a bad job really.

Edited October 23, 2012 by BuckBee

[notmyself]

Because I & many others mangage to do it without being gobby half drunk <deleted> with forged docs thus creating long queues & extra checking hassle for everyone else.

I have spare TM7s and Thai Malaysian landing cards which I fill in before I go. I presume you have the same?

OP is pretty green and looking for help.

[seasia]

No, I don't have a multiple entry visa. I just need a less-than-15-day extension after my current visa until I fly out of bkk to another country.

So does the 2100 baht charged by Jackgolf include the price of the cambodia visa?

Hi

I don`t know about Jackgolf in particluar but every visa run company that I know of and have used include the cost of the Cambodia visa, at around the all in price mentioned, which was 2000 baht.

[ignis]

Not knowing what Passport you hold ? Malaysia could be Free, No Visa Fee......... 2nd class bus 12 + hours each way cost from 660 baht.. understand Mini Bus service from Hat Yai is 200 baht return = 1,520 baht...

When I have needed a boarder run always used Sawadee, leaves at 6:45 from Tesco On Nut every day, 1,900 baht all in, back by 5 pm..

You could also take the Bangkok bus to Mae Sot, from 446 baht each way, fee to Burma is 10$ or 500 baht if you cannot get 10$, again a night bus and 7 hours on Bus.each way.

[heatwaving]

Thanks all. Yes I know there is a 7-day extension possible at immigration here in BKK, but it sounds like it's not a for sure thing. I'd go that route if I knew I'd definitely get it.

[Mario2008]

Nowadays it is pretty sure, if you have a ticket out within those 7 days take it with you and you will not have any problems.

[notmyself]

Thanks all. Yes I know there is a 7-day extension possible at immigration here in BKK, but it sounds like it's not a for sure thing. I'd go that route if I knew I'd definitely get it.

Nothing is for certain. I've never heard of anyone being refused the additional 7 days, perhaps other members have.

As I understand it, it is not actually an extension. You go to immigration and ask if you can stay in LoS, they say no and give you 7 days to leave the Kingdom.

[duiter]

Thanks all. Yes I know there is a 7-day extension possible at immigration here in BKK, but it sounds like it's not a for sure thing. I'd go that route if I knew I'd definitely get it.

Nothing is for certain. I've never heard of anyone being refused the additional 7 days, perhaps other members have.

As I understand it, it is not actually an extension. You go to immigration and ask if you can stay in LoS, they say no and give you 7 days to leave the Kingdom.

Is there any fee for this "7-day extension" ?

Where can I ask for this "extension" ?

[lopburi3]

You must visit a normal immigration office and present the official extension TM.7 and pay 1,900 baht. As said stamp is a refussed extension but you are provided 7 extra days to depart.

[notmyself]

You must visit a normal immigration office and present the official extension TM.7 and pay 1,900 baht. As said stamp is a refussed extension but you are provided 7 extra days to depart.

And one or two photos unless it has changed.

[lopburi3]

Photos are part of the TM.7 so 4x6cm photos and copies of passport/stamps/arrival card will all be required in that process.

[notmyself]

Samui is pretty easy for a 30 day extension which uses the same TM.7 form as far as I know. I used to hand over all manner of copies but they started to hand them back stating not needed. Now I just hand over passport, completed TM. 7 and one photo. Charge is 1920 Baht and takes about an hour which is enough time for a spot of breakfast and a read. Always keep a couple of spare TM. 7s at home so you can fill it in the previous evening to speed things up. I try to get to the office around 8:45-8:50 by which time there is usually quite a few people already there but as soon as the doors open they file in, grab a TM. 7 and go outside to fill it in so you end up very close to the front of the line.

[heatwaving]

Thanks all. So I do have a plane ticket out of the country, which should help ensure the 7-day extension. I know they may just add 7 days onto the end of my current visa expiration date, but some have said they will give 7 days from the date on which I apply for the extension. If they do the latter, does anyone know whether day one of the 7-day extension is the day I apply, or the day after I apply?

[notmyself]

I know they may just add 7 days onto the end of my current visa expiration date, but some have said they will give 7 days from the date on which I apply for the extension. If they do the latter, does anyone know whether day one of the 7-day extension is the day I apply, or the day after I apply?

On a 30 day the date is the same and I can apply perhaps a week before, but that is having used a TM. 7 extension form where the extension request will be granted rather than refused. I don't think there is a set rule with the 30 day which is why members get dissimilar experiences at immigration offices around the Kingdom.

You sound like you are working on exact days so if you are close enough the office then go on the date stamped when your visa exemption expires. Give your location and I'm sure a member will tell you which one you should go to and even which bus to take. If it's a Saturday or Sunday then go the Friday (check it's not a holiday) and you will not lose a day, I say lose a day when really you will get 7 days from the moment it is stamped rounded down to the beginning of the day.

Don't forget to tall everyone how it all went too.

[Edit] to remove profanity.

Edited October 24, 2012 by notmyself

[heatwaving]

Thanks. I actually only need 2 days after my current "90-day" tourist visa runs out, before i fly out. But I have family visiting the 6 days before I fly out of the country, and I won't be able to do a border run or spend a day at immigration when they are here. So I'm cutting it close. That's why I'm curious on the exact dates of the extension.

[notmyself]

Thanks. I actually only need 2 days after my current "90-day" tourist visa runs out, before i fly out. But I have family visiting the 6 days before I fly out of the country, and I won't be able to do a border run or spend a day at immigration when they are here. So I'm cutting it close. That's why I'm curious on the exact dates of the extension.

Keep it tight and dates are not an issue then. Make sure you have everything when you go to immigration just in case they want a copy of something. If you leave Thailand and then try to enter there is a tiny chance that they could say no for some reason but if you are already here then (as much as anyone can be sure) you will either be asked to leave within 7 days (you have a ticket if they are unsure) or you will be arrested, sent to the IDC until your flight, then deported. If this happens then I believe (not 100% sure) that you do not have to pay the overstay fine which would be 3000-3500 Baht depending on your flight time.

[notmyself]

I actually only need 2 days after my current "90-day" tourist visa runs out, before i fly out.

Whoa. You got a 90 day tourist visa?

Did you happen get a 60 day which you extended for 30? If so then I believe that an additional 7 days on top is off the cards.

[Mario2008]

If it starts from applying, the day you apply will be day 1. But I suspect it will be from when your permission to stay ends and not from when you apply.