I've read lots of posts about "visa runs" by bus from Pattaya... but I hope this isn't a dumb question, but is it simply possible to go to a border, and simply walk across a border, then reenter? I'm interested in doing this from Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai, where the border is close. Do I have to pay to go on a "visa run", or can I simply get to a border on my own?

From BKK or Pattaya the distance is too far for most of the people hence they use a service who takes care of everything(transport,formalities).

From Chiang Rai you can cross in Mae Sai to Burma, pay USD 5.- n come back.

No problem.

No problem ...........you can make your own way to the border and then walk across. All the visa run buses do is take you up to the border and wait for you to walk over the border and come back.........at least thats the case with Thailand / Cambodian border.

Sure it's possible! When I was doing Visa runs I would just take a regular bus to the border and do the paperwor myself. It isn't that difficult.

Absolutely. Any border which is an official exit/entry point you can just walk out and walk back in for another 30 day stamp.

When I used to live in the south (Krabi) it was just a 3-4 hour journey to Hat Yai and then the border at Pedang Basar into Malaysia. Wlak in, walk out takes about 20mins.

Same all over the country at checkpoints into Cambodia, Burma, Laos, Malaysia.

If you fancy a nice few days trip, I recommend the boat into Laos from Nakhon Phanom or Mukdahan, both in Issan. Laos peeps are great, like Thailand 15 years ago!

hel_l ... hop on a plane ... spend a night out in Singapore ... :-)

Erm is it not the case that the visa run companies 'smooth' the way for an easy and quick transaction both sides?

Edited April 5, 200620 yr by dariusregan

You can ride a bike to Mae Sai, park it under the bridge on the Thai edge of the river for 10 baht, and walk over and back. I made the return trip once in about 8 hours from Chiang Mai, on a fast 150! And on a 'visa run minibus tour service' package I used to use, I once walked across with a Maori family from New Zealand. Never a dull moment.

Erm is it not the case that the visa run companies 'smooth' the way for an easy and quick transaction both sides?

Not any more..................and even before you could do it on your own.

No need for a visa run company.

Just go on your own is fine.

Either way you have to walk across the border.

Remember you must be stamped into and out of the other country,

before you return to Thailand

No need for a visa run company.

Just go on your own is fine.

Either way you have to walk across the border.

Remember you must be stamped into and out of the other country,

before you return to Thailand

I will be in Nakhon SiThammarat for awhile. What is the best visa run route from there?

.......I once walked across with a Maori family from New Zealand. Never a dull moment.

Hey, I would have paid money for to have been able to have a picture of that: PeaceBlondie, Maori, crossing into Burma.......is this a cool planet or what!!!

did someone suggest that visa run busses were only way to make a visa run? doesn't common sense suggest that any border crossing where exit and entry passport stamps are given will suffice. Is this rocket science?

I have a work visa so don't need to do this but my impression was always that you went with the big bus guys because you just handed over your passport and they did the rest. No queueing no demands for tea money no hassle. They sort it all out for you. That is you pay for a service. Is this not the case? Have things changed recently? If there is no service now other than the bus I can not see how all these visa run companies exist.

Confused...

The OP was about Chiang Mai/Chiang Rai/Mae Sai, so we answered about that border crossing. No need, there, because everybody walks across even Maoris or Tojolobal Mayas! The first Tojolobal I met was a female, named Ghandi!

Erm is it not the case that the visa run companies 'smooth' the way for an easy and quick transaction both sides?

They absolutely can ... usually at one border or the other and sometimes both...

I used JackGolf once ... you pass through Thai Immigration both ways ... but never see any immigration people in Cambodia (at Bang Laem). Just walk tothe casino and have the lunch that is included in the tour. 30-40 minutes later you get your passport back with entry/exit stamps from Cambodia and back into Thailand

i have a marriage visa..but, i will not have the 400,000 balt to renew my visa what do i do????

i have a marriage visa..but, i will not have the 400,000 balt to renew my visa what do i do????

1. What do you now have? A visa or an extension of stay from immigration? You do not use 400k to obtain a visa so it is confusing.

2. What is your status? Do you work here? Have a work perimit/income? Support your wife/how?

3. If you have no income/bank money it is expected you would take your wife to somewhere outside of Thailand where you can support her.

4. If that is not in your plans the best you can do without some kind of funds is obtain non immigrant visa stay of 90 days. Your home country may issue such a visa in multi entry version but they are not as common presently as they used to be.

If you own a car in your own name you can drive across some of the borders,

Cambodia and Malaysia certainly, not sure about Laos and Mayanmar.

i have a 1 year marriage visa...and had the 400,000 in the bank at the time. but been here for 8 months now. so what do i do?

i have a 1 year marriage visa...and had the 400,000 in the bank at the time. but been here for 8 months now. so what do i do?

Earn some money? I take it you do not work or have any other income? If you do not have the money or job to obtain an extension of stay from immigration you will have to exit the country to obtain visa or visa exempt entry on a frequent basis.

If you own a car in your own name you can drive across some of the borders,

Cambodia and Malaysia certainly, not sure about Laos and Mayanmar.

Not a problem Astral. I spent a very pleasant week touring Lao using Vientienne as a base. Entered at Nong Khai, but be prepared for a bit of a paperwork battle. Myamar was relatively easy, but I only had a day pass, so I was a little limited in travel.