Mae Sai Crossing

[Humbugged]

Can you still cross here for the day to the market across the border without your passport ?....or without using your passport for anything than just ID ?

[SeaVisionBurma]

Might get more views in the Chiang Rai forum - I'll move it there and keep a link here.

My understanding was you surrender your PP for an entry permit at the border, and that they didn't issue day passes any more (14 day entry instead)

Others will have better information I'm sure...

[Humbugged]

So would you need a re entry visa ?

Last time I went I used my australian drivers licence.

[scorpio1945]

Need a VIP pass (available at the Thai gateway)(100 bt?) and surrender your passport. I think you need a copy or copies of your passport for them to stamp.

[sceadugenga]

You need a couple of photocopies of your front page, there's a shop to your left as you enter the border that does them for about 3B

Pay 100B on the Thai side and they will keep your passport and give you one of the stamped copies.

Show it at Myanmar immigration with 500B (required anyway) and then when you are ready to leave show it at departures, then when you renter Thailand walk straight through arrivals, go back to departures and knock on the back door, they will then return your passport unblemished.

I did this about 3 weeks ago.

[Humbugged]

You need a couple of photocopies of your front page, there's a shop to your left as you enter the border that does them for about 3B

Pay 100B on the Thai side and they will keep your passport and give you one of the stamped copies.

Show it at Myanmar immigration with 500B (required anyway) and then when you are ready to leave show it at departures, then when you renter Thailand walk straight through arrivals, go back to departures and knock on the back door, they will then return your passport unblemished.

I did this about 3 weeks ago.

Thanks

[CP3]

I did that sometime. but everytime pay 10thb at myanmar side, follow with Thai crowd

[Tomtomtom69]

If you need to activate a new entry on a Thai visa or you want a new visa free stay or anything up to 14 days in Myanmar, you'll have to use your passport properly by obtaining entry and exit stamps for both Thailand and Myanmar though.

[maidu]

I did that sometime. but everytime pay 10thb at myanmar side, follow with Thai crowd

r u saying you can get a day pass with 10 baht? Are you Thai? Alternatively, you may be able to do that if you look Thai, though you'd probably need at least a Thai drivers license (am just guessing).

When the crowds come back to Thailand, it's predicated 100% on physical appearances. The Thai and Asian-looking folks (who are not too white) go by one desk to get rubber stamped - and everyone else (yes, including those of us with hairy arms and pointy noses) get automatically directed to the farang processing place.

The punk officials working at the entry place on the Thai side make every farang come up to them, and then the farang has to backtrack to the sign-in tables. I haven't figured why they can't put the forms at the counter. Plus, the punk officials never take one or two steps to come out to offer a farang a form, and there's no sign indicating the forms are there. I call them punks because they have lazy-assed punky attitudes - like you just awoke them from a nap, and they're doing you a favor by giving you a form to fill out.

[sceadugenga]

I never have a problem with them, in fact when I use a re-entry card I already have one prepared and just take a new one to replace it, which they joke about.

Most trips I just use the VIP system which bypasses all that, including the temporary passport hold up on the Burma side.

Well worth the 100B

[maidu]

I never have a problem with them, in fact when I use a re-entry card I already have one prepared and just take a new one to replace it, which they joke about.

Most trips I just use the VIP system which bypasses all that, including the temporary passport hold up on the Burma side.

Well worth the 100B

Granted, people like you and I who have passed thru that crossing often, - we know the drill. However, the vast majority of farang who go to and fro over the border are first timers. All I'm saying is; the young dudes who work there could do a better job for no extra expense or effort. Instead, they lounge around with sour attitudes, and farang are inconvenienced because of that.

[Paul888]

I did that sometime. but everytime pay 10thb at myanmar side, follow with Thai crowd

r u saying you can get a day pass with 10 baht? Are you Thai? Alternatively, you may be able to do that if you look Thai, though you'd probably need at least a Thai drivers license (am just guessing).

When the crowds come back to Thailand, it's predicated 100% on physical appearances. The Thai and Asian-looking folks (who are not too white) go by one desk to get rubber stamped - and everyone else (yes, including those of us with hairy arms and pointy noses) get automatically directed to the farang processing place.

The punk officials working at the entry place on the Thai side make every farang come up to them, and then the farang has to backtrack to the sign-in tables. I haven't figured why they can't put the forms at the counter. Plus, the punk officials never take one or two steps to come out to offer a farang a form, and there's no sign indicating the forms are there. I call them punks because they have lazy-assed punky attitudes - like you just awoke them from a nap, and they're doing you a favor by giving you a form to fill out.

Sorry mate, but that is a complete nonsense post.

I honestly do not believe there is a friendlier border ANYWHERE in Thailand than this border, and I mean on both sides.

The distance you are talking about farang having to walk to get the form is what 10 metres or so? It is hardly a chore or a hardship, and every time I have approached the desk for a form it is in their hand to give to me as soon as I reach it.

You seem to find problems with something everywhere you go Maidu, do you ever wonder why that is?

[villagefarang]

I never have a problem with them, in fact when I use a re-entry card I already have one prepared and just take a new one to replace it, which they joke about.

Most trips I just use the VIP system which bypasses all that, including the temporary passport hold up on the Burma side.

Well worth the 100B

I like Scea’s approach and if I haven’t prepared all my documents in advance then that is my problem, not someone else’s.

I have long since gotten over the urge to predict, comment on and complain about what is, or, may or may not come to pass, here in Thailand. My energies are focused on maneuvering around the obstacles that present themselves as opposed to trying to block or deny their existence. I far as I can ascertain it is not someone else’s job to make my life easier, that falls to me.

It is much easier to modify ones approach to the system than to change the system itself to suit your own needs. Perhaps others aspire to tilting at windmills, following the example of Don Quixote. I prefer a less troubled and unsettled path through life.

[OneZero]

I did that sometime. but everytime pay 10thb at myanmar side, follow with Thai crowd

Perhaps I'm a little slow, because nobody else is asking the same question that I have.

Background: I have a retirement visa (single entry only - no multiple entry). Occasionally I would like to get a day pass to shop, using what is referred to here as a "VIP Pass". I have always paid 100 THB on the Thai side, & the Thai's hold my passport until I return to pick it back up. I then proceed to the"Farang" entry to Burma section on the Burmese side where I have to pay Burmese officials a fee. In the past there was discussion on this forum about the inconsistency in the Burmese demand (from Farangs) for either 10 USD or 500 THB (obviously 10 USD is cheaper), but I sensed that the Burmese were just about always demanding 500 THB now.

So here is my question to CP3's statement that I quoted above:

1. Is it really possible for Farangs to simply join the Thai nationals que upon entry at the Burmese side, and get away with only paying 10 THB?

2. If this indeed posssible, can someone enlighted us all on what is asked for, what to expect as you are "greeted" by the Burmese officials in the Thai nationals que.

[maidu]

I did that sometime. but everytime pay 10thb at myanmar side, follow with Thai crowd

r u saying you can get a day pass with 10 baht? Are you Thai? Alternatively, you may be able to do that if you look Thai, though you'd probably need at least a Thai drivers license (am just guessing).

When the crowds come back to Thailand, it's predicated 100% on physical appearances. The Thai and Asian-looking folks (who are not too white) go by one desk to get rubber stamped - and everyone else (yes, including those of us with hairy arms and pointy noses) get automatically directed to the farang processing place.

The punk officials working at the entry place on the Thai side make every farang come up to them, and then the farang has to backtrack to the sign-in tables. I haven't figured why they can't put the forms at the counter. Plus, the punk officials never take one or two steps to come out to offer a farang a form, and there's no sign indicating the forms are there. I call them punks because they have lazy-assed punky attitudes - like you just awoke them from a nap, and they're doing you a favor by giving you a form to fill out.

Sorry mate, but that is a complete nonsense post.

I honestly do not believe there is a friendlier border ANYWHERE in Thailand than this border, and I mean on both sides.

The distance you are talking about farang having to walk to get the form is what 10 metres or so? It is hardly a chore or a hardship, and every time I have approached the desk for a form it is in their hand to give to me as soon as I reach it.

You seem to find problems with something everywhere you go Maidu, do you ever wonder why that is?

Ok, it may be a little thing, just like slowing for a pedestrian, waving for them to cross, and then seeing the motorbike behind you speed up and almost knock the pedestrian down ....could be construed as 'nonsense.'

I made a mention of the scenario at the border - in regard to the majority of farang tourists who encounter that crossing for the first time (could be hundreds per day). Here's what most often happens: the person gets to the counter with the pens, he sees people filling out forms. He wonders where the forms came from. He may ask or he may wander around looking. Eventually, he realizes the forms are further in. He saunters in. Still no form. Then he sees someone (experienced with the crossing) step by, put out his arm, and request a form. Then the the original person realizes he needs to do the same. Form gotten, back to counter to fill it out. Repeat several hundred times per day. Solution? Set forms out by the counter. Simple.

[smokie36]

Even worse for Thais who have to get a form 1.5km along the road.

Annoying that was.

[villagefarang]

Even worse for Thais who have to get a form 1.5km along the road.

Annoying that was.

Well there you go, the Thais have it much worse than we do.

[OneZero]

I did that sometime. but everytime pay 10thb at myanmar side, follow with Thai crowd

Perhaps I'm a little slow, because nobody else is asking the same question that I have.

Background: I have a retirement visa (single entry only - no multiple entry). Occasionally I would like to get a day pass to shop, using what is referred to here as a "VIP Pass". I have always paid 100 THB on the Thai side, & the Thai's hold my passport until I return to pick it back up. I then proceed to the"Farang" entry to Burma section on the Burmese side where I have to pay Burmese officials a fee. In the past there was discussion on this forum about the inconsistency in the Burmese demand (from Farangs) for either 10 USD or 500 THB (obviously 10 USD is cheaper), but I sensed that the Burmese were just about always demanding 500 THB now.

So here is my question to CP3's statement that I quoted above:

1. Is it really possible for Farangs to simply join the Thai nationals que upon entry at the Burmese side, and get away with only paying 10 THB?

2. If this indeed posssible, can someone enlighted us all on what is asked for, what to expect as you are "greeted" by the Burmese officials in the Thai nationals que.

With respect to inconvenience of locating blank paperwork for farangs: I have never found that to be an inconvenience worth extended discussion. However, Doesn't anybody else have an opinion / comment on the credibility of CP3's statement above?

I would think that if CP3's statement is indeed true, there would be a lot of the rest of you doing the same, and therefore have some comment (unless it's being held secret to preserve a good (but illegal) thing from elimination . I am coming to the conclusion that CP3's statement is not something we can take advantage of. But I am still interested if other folks have comment/opinion. *

*Edit: Before I get thrown in a Burmese jail for trying it.

Edited January 7, 2013 by OneZero

[villagefarang]

With respect to inconvenience of locating blank paperwork for farangs: I have never found that to be an inconvenience worth extended discussion. However, Doesn't anybody else have an opinion / comment on the credibility of CP3's statement above?

I would think that if CP3's statement is indeed true, there would be a lot of the rest of you doing the same, and therefore have some comment (unless it's being held secret to preserve a good (but illegal) thing from elimination . I am coming to the conclusion that CP3's statement is not something we can take advantage of. But I am still interested if other folks have comment/opinion. *

*Edit: Before I get thrown in a Burmese jail for trying it.

I don’t take notice of comments like that as I find them a bit ridiculous. That said if you were Asian and looked Thai you might be able blend in, but what happens if someone asks for your ID and the day pass Thais need to cross over the boarder?

[OneZero]

Thanks. I should have known better.

[Tomtomtom69]

With respect to inconvenience of locating blank paperwork for farangs: I have never found that to be an inconvenience worth extended discussion. However, Doesn't anybody else have an opinion / comment on the credibility of CP3's statement above?

I would think that if CP3's statement is indeed true, there would be a lot of the rest of you doing the same, and therefore have some comment (unless it's being held secret to preserve a good (but illegal) thing from elimination . I am coming to the conclusion that CP3's statement is not something we can take advantage of. But I am still interested if other folks have comment/opinion. *

*Edit: Before I get thrown in a Burmese jail for trying it.

I don’t take notice of comments like that as I find them a bit ridiculous. That said if you were Asian and looked Thai you might be able blend in, but what happens if someone asks for your ID and the day pass Thais need to cross over the boarder?

As long as you can walk past the little office without getting noticed nobody will turn you back. I'd say that you could also skip paying the 10 Baht if you joined that line - you would just move out of the line and claim you paid for your visa inside the office already. Once I accidentally joined the 10 Baht queue although this was after I had already paid for my Myanmar visa on arrival in the little office and while I was not directed out of the queue, I thought to myself, what am I doing here? So I continued in the line without paying anything.

Having said that if you are a foreigner, Asian or not just do what you're supposed to. If it's possible to join the Thai line, do it but only if it's an accepted practice that every other foreigner could be entitled to not because you are trying to "act local". Respect the law otherwise go back to your country.