Mae sai visit

[fabianfred]

I am on the one year permission to stay for marriage purpose.

If I want to go across to the market in Tachilek do I have to get a reentry permit for 1900 baht or is there a day pass without any stamps in my passport?

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[glegolo]

Leaving Thailand will cost you a re entry permit costs 1.000 baht for a single one....For multiple 3.800 baht

Glegolo

[techno]

Take 2 copies of your passport picture page and you can get a 1 day VIP pass for 100 baht. You just leave your passport with Thailand Immigration and collect it when you return. No stamp in passport

[lopburi3]

You do not get re-entry permits at border in any event - you obtain from extension issuing office and the price is as above. But believe the Burma crossings do allow temporary crossing without passport for a fee but have never done so can not provide details. Not especially safe as those borders have been closed without warnings on a number of occasions in the past.

[grumpyoldman]

Leaving Thailand will cost you a re entry permit costs 1.000 baht for a single one....For multiple 3.800 baht

Glegolo

Multiple meaning you can leave and come back as many times as you want yes?

Does this depend on the type of Visa (?), becomes seems to me with my year-long non-immigrant O they only give me dual for that price (two times).

[ubonjoe]

If you have a multiple entry visa you do not need a re-entry permit.

If a a single entry visa or a tourist visa it would not be practical to get a a multiple re-entry permit because it is only valid for your current permit to stay.

For an extension of stay from immigration (it is not a visa) you need a re-entry permit to keep your permit to stay. A multiple re-entry permit allows you to leave and re-enter as many times as you want for the length of your extension of stay.

[banned1000]

what is it that only you can do in burma?

[villagefarang]

The VIP Pass process in Mae Sai is detailed in the Chiang Rai forum. 100 baht on the Thai side and 500 baht on the Burmese side. Very easy and no stamp in the passport, so it does not invalidate your present visa status.

Edited July 27, 2013 by villagefarang

[johnlandy]

Take 2 copies of your passport picture page and you can get a 1 day VIP pass for 100 baht. You just leave your passport with Thailand Immigration and collect it when you return. No stamp in passport

Obviously changed then!! It was the Burmese Immigration booth where your passport was left and picked up on leaving Burmese soil.

Perhaps a case of "the more things change the more they stay the same"

[Chicken George]

Never changed always been the VIP 100baht leave the passport with Thai immergration.. still pay the 500baht to the Burma side but no stamp in passport. 2 copies are needed of passport and away you go..

[lopburi3]

Take 2 copies of your passport picture page and you can get a 1 day VIP pass for 100 baht. You just leave your passport with Thailand Immigration and collect it when you return. No stamp in passport

Obviously changed then!! It was the Burmese Immigration booth where your passport was left and picked up on leaving Burmese soil.

Perhaps a case of "the more things change the more they stay the same"

You are talking about a normal exit of Thailand - we are talking about leaving passport at Thai office and departing/entering Burma with a temporary pass for shopping (similar to casino visits at other locations).

[johnlandy]

Take 2 copies of your passport picture page and you can get a 1 day VIP pass for 100 baht. You just leave your passport with Thailand Immigration and collect it when you return. No stamp in passport

Obviously changed then!! It was the Burmese Immigration booth where your passport was left and picked up on leaving Burmese soil.

Perhaps a case of "the more things change the more they stay the same"

You are talking about a normal exit of Thailand - we are talking about leaving passport at Thai office and departing/entering Burma with a temporary pass for shopping (similar to casino visits at other locations).

Whatever I am talking about does not alter the facts AND, I have crossed into Burma (from Mae Sai) many times (and for whatever reason, leaving Thailand is leaving Thailand) but I accept that I could be wrong (it has been known to happen) but then again I have only made the crossing around 30-40 times.

Edited July 28, 2013 by johnlandy

[Deeperdiver]

I'm planning a quick border crossing at Mai Sai in a few days, but a friend just sent a message saying:

'check that the Mai Sai bridge border crossing is open to foreigners. The last time I was up there, they only let the locals cross for work and trade.'

I can't find any news about this being the case presently. Anybody know anything ? I have a multi entry Non-B and just need to exit and come back....

Cheers.

[harrry]

Take 2 copies of your passport picture page and you can get a 1 day VIP pass for 100 baht. You just leave your passport with Thailand Immigration and collect it when you return. No stamp in passport

Obviously changed then!! It was the Burmese Immigration booth where your passport was left and picked up on leaving Burmese soil.

Perhaps a case of "the more things change the more they stay the same"

You are talking about a normal exit of Thailand - we are talking about leaving passport at Thai office and departing/entering Burma with a temporary pass for shopping (similar to casino visits at other locations).

Whatever I am talking about does not alter the facts AND, I have crossed into Burma (from Mae Sai) many times (and for whatever reason, leaving Thailand is leaving Thailand) but I accept that I could be wrong (it has been known to happen) but then again I have only made the crossing around 30-40 times.

If you have only done it in one manner it does not make you an expert about other options.

[lopburi3]

Mai Sai is a full service check point for immigration and crossing is open to all.

[curtklay]

WOW...ask a simple question and look what happens.

The fact is as Villagefarang said. Make 2 copies of the front pages of your passport. On the Thai side of the crossing, tell them you want a VIP DAY PASS. They will take your passport, 1 copy, and 100 baht. You cross over to the Burma side where they take the other copy, and 500 baht. You go shop til you drop, come back to the Thai side, and collect your unstamped passport. I have done this several times, and they even let you skip the long lines coming back on the Burma side.

Using a re-entry permit to go to Mai Sai for the day is totally unnecessary.

[Golden Brown]

I did a crossing into Myanmar from Mae Sai on Thursday (25/07) and everything was fine. No restrictions.

[hellodolly]

double post

Seems to be doing that a lot lately with only one touch of the button.

Edited July 28, 2013 by hellodolly

[hellodolly]

You do not get re-entry permits at border in any event - you obtain from extension issuing office and the price is as above. But believe the Burma crossings do allow temporary crossing without passport for a fee but have never done so can not provide details. Not especially safe as those borders have been closed without warnings on a number of occasions in the past.

In the 7 years I have been here I can recall a period of time about 4 or 5 years ago where this was happening.

When was the last time it happened?

Seems to me they are getting more open.

Not exactly sure but did they not just improve the crossing in Mai Sot in some way?

Edited July 28, 2013 by hellodolly

[hellodolly]

Take 2 copies of your passport picture page and you can get a 1 day VIP pass for 100 baht. You just leave your passport with Thailand Immigration and collect it when you return. No stamp in passport

Thailand immigration has a separate office south of town.

Is that where you leave your passport. Not being all that familiar with Mai Sai is it easy to find a place where you can get copies or would it be advisable to take them with you?

[villagefarang]

Take 2 copies of your passport picture page and you can get a 1 day VIP pass for 100 baht. You just leave your passport with Thailand Immigration and collect it when you return. No stamp in passport

Thailand immigration has a separate office south of town.

Is that where you leave your passport. Not being all that familiar with Mai Sai is it easy to find a place where you can get copies or would it be advisable to take them with you?

It is always easier if you take two copies with you. The VIP Pass is taken care of right at the boarder. No need to go to the separate immigration office in town.

[hellodolly]

what is it that only you can do in burma?

Buy a genuine carton of Lucky Strike cigarets for $3

[lopburi3]

You do not get re-entry permits at border in any event - you obtain from extension issuing office and the price is as above. But believe the Burma crossings do allow temporary crossing without passport for a fee but have never done so can not provide details. Not especially safe as those borders have been closed without warnings on a number of occasions in the past.

In the 7 years I have been here I can recall a period of time about 4 or 5 years ago where this was happening.

When was the last time it happened?

Seems to me they are getting more open.

Not exactly sure but did they not just improve the crossing in Mai Sot in some way?

Mai Sot has only been open about 18 months since being closed for a year - agree it is not often and should not happen if ceasefires hold but not having passport in such a situation would not give me a good feeling.

[harrry]

It is worth noting that for thai nationals they get their day pass at an office a couple of kilometers before the border and not at the border. Thai nationals need the day pass as even if they have a passport they cannot use it unless they have a full Myanmar visa.

[curtklay]

what is it that only you can do in burma?

Buy a genuine carton of Lucky Strike cigarets for $3

What can you get in Burma?

Bootleg DVDs for 30 baht, (some of them actually play) counterfeit Viagra, and a whole cornucopia of pure crap.

And I seriously doubt those cigarettes are "genuine".