Driving by way of the Chiang Khong/Huay Xai border crossing with 4 Thai Nationals w/Thai passports and wanted to have a visa in my American passport beforehand to avoid any possible lengthy delays or problems. Supposable a 30 day one can be issued on arrival to me there but as I know how things can change or that one hand might not know what the other is doing from previous experiences, I'd just as well get it now while I have the time if I can do so without going to Bangkok to the Laos Embassy. Anyone know anything that might be helpful to me. Thanks!

Edited August 25, 201312 yr by junglechef

Many of the tour shops in town offer visa services. I've known people to use them. They express you passport to BKK and use a POA to get you a visa. takes under a week.

Pretty sure this is the place, but nothing about visa's on the website.

Chiang mai has a good vibe in general, so perhaps safe to let a tour company take your passport...Can more certainly be a risky venture in some locations however. (Witness also the related current story of stolen labels being put in passports.) And OK with your passport owner (not you, your government) to let the document out of your hands?.....Also, closer then BKK, Khon Kaen may have Lao consulate.