Singkhorn - New Myanmar Border Crossing for Thai Nationals Only Opens May 8, 2013

[Chaam local]

^ Call the Dept. of Immigration.

I'm sure they'll be fully up to speed with such matters and give you a clear and concise knowledgeable answer....

Think it will be down to someone in the area taking a ride up there to talk to the officers at the border.

First part of your answer .. Just talked to prachuap office>>the only number ön immi site ,

They say its not open yet !! Clearly Not the place to get competent answer !!

That leaves us waiting for the second part ..

The answer was competent enough, unlike everything that was announced here, as the border checkpoint is not opened yet, even for Thai nationals. Source: a Thai friend of mine who was there today and got turned away.

[keestha]

Expect to pass by there at the end of next month, and will keep following this thread in the hope of reading a report written by a foreigner who was allowed to go across for the day, without officially exiting Thailand.

[meadish_sweetball]

Here's a question that I've always wondered about. If your in Thailand on a 1 year non-O visa, you go into Burma for a day or two, what happens to your non-O visa? I am probably guessing, you should get a re-entry visa before hand, right?

It depends on if you have a clear picture of what a visa is, and how it differs from a permission to stay extension of one year from an Immigration Office within Thailand. Many people are not clear on the difference, and it can be confusing.

Simply: If you have been granted a multiple entry one year visa in a Thai embassy or consulate abroad, upon entry into Thailand, the Immigration officer at the point of entry will stamp your passport with a permission to stay stamp for 90 days.

Within those 90 days, you can leave the country and come back, to get an entry stamp granting you 90 new days. You do not need to contact an Immigration office to get a re-entry permit to leave the country if you keep doing this. Just make sure you leave within the granted 90 days each time.

You are allowed to do this until the validity period of the visa is up (typically 1 year from the date the visa was issued [not from the first time you entered Thailand on the visa]). The validity period of the visa is separate from the permission to stay.

So, the above is scenario A. If so, no need for a re-entry permit before leaving.

The second scenario is if, after entering Thailand, you have contacted an Immigration office with the required paperwork to grant you a yearly extension of stay, requiring 90 day reports at an immigration office. Then, you DO need to go to your designated Immigration office and request a re-entry permit.

Scenario B then, means your stay in Thailand is not regulated by your visa anymore, but by an Immigration office within Thailand, who you need to contact every 90 days for a 90 day report. So as you can see, they are not the same thing.

Of course, you may have known this all along. In that case, I just got some typing practice.

[MacWalen]

This is probably not on the topic but if someone wanted to go to Myeik on the coast of Myanmar would that be possible? Is there a bus service from the new border crossing? Anybody has done it yet?

[rnw]

did any body travel across the border entering myanmar staying a few weeks(holding myanmar visa)and come back to thailand?can india and philippines indonesia singapore malaysia vietnam and sri lankan passport holders holding myanmar visa enter myanmar from here?

[rnw]

if riding bicycles, can we cross with myanmar visa?

[sabaijai]

I checked with a Thai friend in the dept of immigration, who confirmed that the Dan Singkhon crossing is open only to Thai nationals for day visits. Not sure what the fuss is, because when I visited Dan SIngkhon myself nearly a year ago, Thai merchants were able to cross the border for the day freely anyway. Perhaps it wasn't official then.

The huge crossing gate has been there a long time.

[MacWalen]

I checked with a Thai friend in the dept of immigration, who confirmed that the Dan Singkhon crossing is open only to Thai nationals for day visits. Not sure what the fuss is, because when I visited Dan SIngkhon myself nearly a year ago, Thai merchants were able to cross the border for the day freely anyway. Perhaps it wasn't official then.

The huge crossing gate has been there a long time.

Would that be ok for a PR holder to be treated as Thai in this regard?

[sabaijai]

I checked with a Thai friend in the dept of immigration, who confirmed that the Dan Singkhon crossing is open only to Thai nationals for day visits. Not sure what the fuss is, because when I visited Dan SIngkhon myself nearly a year ago, Thai merchants were able to cross the border for the day freely anyway. Perhaps it wasn't official then.

The huge crossing gate has been there a long time.

Would that be ok for a PR holder to be treated as Thai in this regard?

For what purpose? Just to walk around on the Burmese side? Officially it's Thais only -- Pr-holders are not citizens, obviously - but they might let you across. I could have crossed with a local last year but chose not to..

[MacWalen]

Why? Because I find it interesting. I thought it was closed last year and only opened recently. So you are saying that foreigners can cross if they are accompanied by a Thai person. I am not sure if I fully understand your post.

[Salapoo]

^ They probably could when it wasn't an 'official' crossing, if the guard(s) were okay.

Now that it is an 'official' crossing, they probably won't as things are more official.

Though I'm sure you're aware that things are never written in stone around here.

[Mario2008]

At many crossings you can get a border pass for a few hour visit, instead of stamping in and out of both countries with your passport

[asiaworld]

That only works for Thais thou .. Bet you can't name any crossing where foreigner can get border pass !! Three pagodas pass was the only one , but it ended ages ago ..

Also being resident won't help

[Mario2008]

That only works for Thais thou .. Bet you can't name any crossing where foreigner can get border pass !! Three pagodas pass was the only one , but it ended ages ago ..

Also being resident won't help

Mai Sai for instance will issue a border pass.

[lopburi3]

Mai Sai VIP pass is such a system - issued without passport stamps.

[Taher]

Guys! In the end - can you tell me can I use this border tomorrow for n=my visa stamp or not? Is anyone know it?

[Nana Cowboy]

The answer to the above question is a resounding no

you have to go to Ranong

[Kruzon]

I am still confused .. Is singkhorn .. open both sides to tourists ... for in and out border crossing? Is there a special Myanmar pre entry visa required?

[sabaijai]

I am still confused .. Is singkhorn .. open both sides to tourists ... for in and out border crossing? Is there a special Myanmar pre entry visa required?

It's open for day visits but you can't get your passport stamped there.

[phuketrichard]

I was at this pass 3 weeks ago. They are building the road in Burma,

was told ONCE the road is finished Farangs will be able to use it as well and DRIVE into Burma as long as they have visa in advance ( not availabe at border) and approval for the car.

Asked when road would be finished, she just looked at me and said ... later :-)

There is NOTHING on the burmese side

[Tomtomtom69]

I was at this pass 3 weeks ago. They are building the road in Burma,

was told ONCE the road is finished Farangs will be able to use it as well and DRIVE into Burma as long as they have visa in advance ( not availabe at border) and approval for the car.

Asked when road would be finished, she just looked at me and said ... later :-)

There is NOTHING on the burmese side

Probably in about a year or so. But right now the question everyone is asking is when the three crossings, that were supposed to open to overland travelers on Aug 6 will finally open? These crossings are Ranong/Kawthoung, Mae Sot/Myawaddy and Mae Sai/Tachilek. Given how many times they have delayed the opening of these crossings and now the floods have resulted in the latest delays, I wouldn't be fixated on when the Dan Singkorn crossing will open. The answer is it's still a while off, but now that Myanmar is opening up it will happen sooner rather than later.

[harrry]

I checked with a Thai friend in the dept of immigration, who confirmed that the Dan Singkhon crossing is open only to Thai nationals for day visits. Not sure what the fuss is, because when I visited Dan SIngkhon myself nearly a year ago, Thai merchants were able to cross the border for the day freely anyway. Perhaps it wasn't official then.

The huge crossing gate has been there a long time.

Would that be ok for a PR holder to be treated as Thai in this regard

Have you paid the 1000baht each year for a re-entry permit. If you have not your PR is cancelled.

[Mario2008]

A PR holder doesn't get a normal re-entry permit but an endorsement, the price is not 1,000 baht for that.

Suspect a PR holder, just like anyone else, can use a day pass if offered at that border.

[shiatsuman]

Unfortunately no one has claimed to do have successfully done the trip and returned with a new new Thai entry stamp. Am I right in thinking its not working as a visa run ?

[ubonjoe]

Not possible at this time.

[shakarock]

I didn't read all the comments so i'm not sure if this has been confirmed...

But I just got back from my Visa run in kanchanaburi

The taxi (we paid 1200 bath for the 2 of us...but you can probably get it cheaper) took about an hour to get to the border

There a thai official took our passport to the burma side and returned with 2 new fresh stamps

After filling in the usual arriving in thailand folder i got my 15(Different for every country) new days

It cost me 700 bath at the border, i think it should be 500 but arguing with the guy didn't help a lot so i just payed

So yes, a visa run at kanchanaburi is definitely possible. And it's easy as f...

[asiaworld]

Hmm , do u know exactly where did u go ?! It doesn't sound like you went to DaSingkhon crossing . Probably PhuNamRong in Kanchanaburi province . Could you please read and post what location is written on your Thai And Myanmar stamps ! Thanks

[shakarock]

Hmm , do u know exactly where did u go ?! It doesn't sound like you went to DaSingkhon crossing . Probably PhuNamRong in Kanchanaburi province . Could you please read and post what location is written on your Thai And Myanmar stamps ! Thanks

Aaaah excuse me i read to fast

yes i went to PhuNamRong in Kanchanaburi

[asiaworld]

Well thanks anyway . That sounds like great news indeed That's another crossing, that was supposed to open . Nearest to Bangkok as well !

[khwaibah]

Hmm , do u know exactly where did u go ?! It doesn't sound like you went to DaSingkhon crossing . Probably PhuNamRong in Kanchanaburi province . Could you please read and post what location is written on your Thai And Myanmar stamps ! Thanks

Aaaah excuse me i read to fast

yes i went to PhuNamRong in Kanchanaburi

Outstanding..52 km from Kanchanaburi and only 211 km from Bangkok. Its 250 km BK to Poipet.. Cambodia you had better wake up...