Double Entry Visa success in Vientiane Laos. Jan 2014 update.

[ukinbangkok]

Hey!

So I just got back from a Visa run to Laos from Bangers in Thailand. I just wanted to update everyone on the situation with the double entry visa in case any of you guys were thinking about going over and doing the same.

So as the title says I was successful in my mission, however, I was surprised that I managed it and I'll tell u why in a sec. Here is an over view of my trip-

MY TRIP

Background info

British UK

Male

28 years old

Nearly 6 months in Thailand so far

Weds 15^th Jan

_{5.15pm- Fly to Udon Thani ( Air Asia 1200bht)}

_{6.20pm- Arrive Udon Thani airport}

_{6.45pm- Mini bus from airport to Nong Khai Border (200bht)}

_{8.15pm- Arrive at the border (late because we hit a motor bike carrying 3 people! they looked ok considering we hit them at 70mph… I think they were ok but still HORRIBLE!)}

_{9.30- Mini bus to Vientiane}

_{10.00- arrive at Vientiane}

Thurs 16^th Jan

^{7.45am- Arrive at the Thai Consulate ( I was number 12 in queue)}

^{8.30am – Consulate opens}

^{9.10- Leave consulate after handing in passport}

^{Fri 17th Jan}

^{11.30am -Arrive at Consulate (but sit in the restaurant opposite and buy food/read until people start to queue)}

^{12.20pm-Join queue (the queue starts up quickly! I joined and I was 10th in line)}

^{1.00pm- Consulate doors open and you are allowed to take a queue ticket}

^{1.30pm- Consulate opens}

^{1.35pm-Pickup passport with visa}

^{1.40pm-Head to bus station}

^{1.50pm -Buy ticket for Vientiane to Nong Khai}

^{2.30pm-Bus leaves for border}

^{3.10pm-Arrive at Laos’s side of border and stamp out}

^{3.30pm -Arrive Thai side of border stamp in}

^{4.30pm- Arrive Nong Khai bus station and buy ticket for mini bus to airport}

^{4.45pm- Mini bus leaves for airport}

^{5.45pm-Arrive airport}

^{8.35pm -Fly from Udon Thani Airport to Bangkok ( Bangkok Airways 1400bht with meal on the plane and complimentary cakes and tea/coffee as you wait for your flight! whooo!)}

^{9.40pm-Arrive Bangkok airport}

^{10.10pm-Airport link to city}

So the reason I said I was surprised is because I had read that the officials at the consulate where clamping down and were refusing people that already had a previous double entry visa nestled in their passport. This was my case as well as a non immigrant B- so i was a little worried... My passport situation was-

1 Double entry visa (obtained in the UK) that I had used one entry on and extended it a further 30days before changing it into a...

Non-immigrant B visa as i was offered employment (that i turned now in the end) here in Thailand which I had nearly used the full 3 months on.

Now I’m not sure If the reason I was successful was the fact that I had only used one entry on my original visa before changing it over but I had no probs. I will not be doing the same trip again as I am pretty sure I won’t be granted another one but at least now I have a further 6 months in sunny thigh land!

So anyways If you’re in the same situation and are worried about the getting the double entry visa, don't be, you should be fine!

My trip costs

Could have been a lot cheaper if you got the bus/ train but i just wanted to get there and back asap so chose to fly. The flights i got though were pretty damn cheap!

• Airport shuttle bus from Mochit

-50bht

• Flights -

Bangkok Air -1400bht

Air Asia-1200bht

• Loas visa

-1600bht

• Double entry visa

-2000bht

• Accommodation Vientiane

-250bht per night (dorm)

• Bus to Nong Khai (from Udon thani airport)

-200bht

• Border fees

bus over the bridge -20bht

customs fee? - 50bht

• Bus from Nong Khai to Vientiene

-100bht

• Bus to Nong khai from Vientiane

-60bht (approx)

• Mini van from Nong Khai bus station to Airport

-200baht

• Airport link to bangkok from airport

-45baht

TOTAL: 7425 bht

VISA DOCUMENTATION

passport

photocopy of info/photo page

photocopy of Laos visa

Filled in application form

2 photos

print out of the amount page of your bank statement (maybe not essential see below)

CONSULATE OPENING TIMES

8.30- 11.30 Passport drop

1.30- 15.30 Passport collection (bear in mind though that the consulate will open its doors at 1 pm for people to take a queue number)

EXTRA ADVICE

1) Doesn't matter so much if there is a few of you but If you’re travelling alone try not to arrive at the border on the way to Laos at the same time as I did. I found it an absolute ball ache trying to get to the city at this time. The border is open but it will be dark, all the shops will be closed and there will only be a few touts offering to take you to the city for a ridiculous 300baht. I refused to pay this as I thought there would be some sort of local bus or other means of transport around only to discover that, at that time, there isn't. You may find yourself pretty stranded like I did. What happened in my case was, after about 40mins of looking lost/desperate, one of the touts offered to take me for 100bht but on the condition that I had to wait (ages) for other people- even though nobody else ended up coming.

As a side note, I will add that, the guy that offered to take me was weird (think ‘The Texas chainsaw massacre’ weird) and the edginess of the situation was not helped by some guy suddenly appearing out of the bushes and getting into the front passenger seat, just as I had been shut into the back of the (blacked out windowed) van! It turned out fine in the end, however, it felt very dodgy and I’d defo not recommend doing the same if you are on your own- even more so if you are a girl travelling alone. Get there earlier!

2) Get to the embassy early to hand your passport in. It can take a long time for the officials to check everyone’s documents are in order and so you could end up waiting a while if your not up in at least the first 30 in.

3) You may have to print a copy of your bank statement and give it to the official when handing your passport in so have this ready (just the amount not the transactions page). I wasn't asked for it personally but read on the web that sometimes they do ask if applying for double entry. (im not sure how much you need to show you have either, i read somewhere 40,000bht but i cant confirm this)

4) Bring a book because Vientiane is hellaaa BORING!

5) Make sure the hostel you book isn't absolutely rubbish and doesn't have a problem with running water like mine did. No shower, no washing hands/face and... the toilets… poo fest 2014! Not what you need after travelling all that way…

6) Be careful of tuk tuk drivers in Vientiane as they seem to charge extortionate price for even small distances. Haggling only gets you so far too. Also I don’t no if it’s the norm in Laos but tuk tuk drivers aren't scared to agree a price then argue with you that you should pay more when you arrive at your destination.. not cool! Rent a bicycle or walk is my tip for saving the pennies.

7) Try not to use a visa agency, a couple have been known to take your money for the visa and then, after waiting over night, come back and tell you that the visa has been denied. The visa money is non refundable.. you lose. Its really easy to do it yourself so do it!

8) The A1 bus runs from outside Mochit BTS (on the left next to the park) to Don Meuang airport in Bangkok for about 50bht i think it was.

9) If you can get your Laos visa Before you go from the consulate in Bangkok. It will save a lot of time at the border.

10) OH and if you don't want a red forehead put sun cream on before you go to pick up your visa as you queue outside in the sun.

That's all. Any questions ill try my best to answer!

Ta!

PS- BE CAREFUL ON MOTOR BIKES KIDS!

[Thighlander]

I (fortunately) haven't been since 2008, but I had great luck paying an "agent" 50 thb to fill out my paperwork. Sounds silly, but worked like a charm. OTOH, I heard of people practically getting detained for using an agent to get a laos visa at the bridge. Tuk-Tuk from Embassy to bridge was 5 bucks, or 4 bucks if it is an old one. Also, it pays to use USD for Laos visa. The OPs account seems very accurate to me, nice of you to share.

[riclag]

Did you happen to notice any motorbike rentals after you got off at the bus station in Vientiane ?

Great post OP

[ukinbangkok]

I didn't personally but i'm pretty sure you could find a motorbike rental shop somewhere in the city.

Edited January 20, 2014 by ukinbangkok

[Scarpolo]

Thank you for the incredible update. I am going tomorrow and, had you not mentioned the sun, I may have left the hat and sunblock home!

I too, am seeking the 90 day, double entry and will report on progress, next week.

I am USA resident, and havde been to Ventianne twice.

Not sure why people dont like it, I found it to be pretty friendly, enough to encourage me to bring my thai g/f this time

[riclag]

Thanks for the response OP

[daeronb]

Good to hear, thanks. Im curious. Were you asked to show a confirmed airticket out of thailand? Or how did you fix this?

Sent from my ME173X using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[ubonjoe]

A ticket out of the country is not required in Vientiane.

[ukinbangkok]

yeh proof of onward travel is not required

Edited January 26, 2014 by ukinbangkok

[mataleo]

i thought visas from other locations especialy issued in UK dont counts

i got triple visa with extensions from uk, which is about to run out

i stayed in thai about 9 months on it

I am going to apply for double entry in Vietnaine

Im hoping there be no probs...

People reporting they got already visas from there and coming back 1 or 2 times and still getting it...

[mataleo]

Thank you for the incredible update. I am going tomorrow and, had you not mentioned the sun, I may have left the hat and sunblock home!

I too, am seeking the 90 day, double entry and will report on progress, next week.

I am USA resident, and havde been to Ventianne twice.

Not sure why people dont like it, I found it to be pretty friendly, enough to encourage me to bring my thai g/f this time

how it went mate?

did u get it ?

[ubonjoe]

You will not have any problem getting your visa. They don't count visas from other consulates especially those from your home country.

Posting on non active topics will result in no quick answer.

[mataleo]

i think op would get it even if he go one more time, his previous visas dont count if im right

[ubonjoe]

They don't count.

[ChrisB87]

So forgive my silly question....but double entry 90 day visa....does that mean you get 180 days in total with a border run in between?

I am probably gonna have to do the same while looking for a job in Ubon.

Does it have to be Vientiane? or can the same (or similar) visa be got at Savannakhet or Chong Mek?

Thanks

[mataleo]

So forgive my silly question....but double entry 90 day visa....does that mean you get 180 days in total with a border run in between?

I am probably gonna have to do the same while looking for a job in Ubon.

Does it have to be Vientiane? or can the same (or similar) visa be got at Savannakhet or Chong Mek?

Thanks

yes 6 months with border run and extensions

u can get double in Savannakhet

[ChrisB87]

So forgive my silly question....but double entry 90 day visa....does that mean you get 180 days in total with a border run in between?

I am probably gonna have to do the same while looking for a job in Ubon.

Does it have to be Vientiane? or can the same (or similar) visa be got at Savannakhet or Chong Mek?

Thanks

yes 6 months with border run and extensions

u can get double in Savannakhet

Thanks.

So the border run is before 90 days, but when is the extensions? (i don't understand that part )

Thanks again

[ubonjoe]

So forgive my silly question....but double entry 90 day visa....does that mean you get 180 days in total with a border run in between?

I am probably gonna have to do the same while looking for a job in Ubon.

Does it have to be Vientiane? or can the same (or similar) visa be got at Savannakhet or Chong Mek?

Thanks

You don't get a 90 day visa you get a 2 entry tourist visa valid for 90 days that gives you two 60 day entries that can be extended for 30 days. You can get almost 6 months out of it but you must make 2nd entry before the enter before date on your visa.

Savannakhet does 2 entry visas.

Chong Mek is only a border crossing there is no consulate there. You can cross the border there to use your 2nd entry.

[ChrisB87]

So forgive my silly question....but double entry 90 day visa....does that mean you get 180 days in total with a border run in between?

I am probably gonna have to do the same while looking for a job in Ubon.

Does it have to be Vientiane? or can the same (or similar) visa be got at Savannakhet or Chong Mek?

Thanks

You don't get a 90 day visa you get a 2 entry tourist visa valid for 90 days that gives you two 60 day entries that can be extended for 30 days. You can get almost 6 months out of it but you must make 2nd entry before the enter before date on your visa.

Savannakhet does 2 entry visas.

Chong Mek is only a border crossing there is no consulate there. You can cross the border there to use your 2nd entry.

Perfect, thanks!

[mataleo]

So forgive my silly question....but double entry 90 day visa....does that mean you get 180 days in total with a border run in between?

I am probably gonna have to do the same while looking for a job in Ubon.

Does it have to be Vientiane? or can the same (or similar) visa be got at Savannakhet or Chong Mek?

Thanks

yes 6 months with border run and extensions

u can get double in Savannakhet

Thanks.

So the border run is before 90 days, but when is the extensions? (i don't understand that part )

Thanks again

Extensions u get in thailand immigration office for example i stay 60 days then go to immigrarion in pattaya jomtien pay 1900 and get 30 extra days

So now im on triple visa from uk i extended every entry for 30 days i got almost 9 months of it..

60 days extension in pattaya go cambodia activate second 60 days entry then extend it again for 30 days repeat process

mataleo

[Thighlander]

So forgive my silly question....but double entry 90 day visa....does that mean you get 180 days in total with a border run in between?

I am probably gonna have to do the same while looking for a job in Ubon.

Does it have to be Vientiane? or can the same (or similar) visa be got at Savannakhet or Chong Mek?

Thanks

yes 6 months with border run and extensions

u can get double in Savannakhet

Thanks.

So the border run is before 90 days, but when is the extensions? (i don't understand that part:huh: )

Thanks again

Extensions u get in thailand immigration office for example i stay 60 days then go to immigrarion in pattaya jomtien pay 1900 and get 30 extra days

So now im on triple visa from uk i extended every entry for 30 days i got almost 9 months of it..

60 days extension in pattaya go cambodia activate second 60 days entry then extend it again for 30 days repeat process

mataleo

Out of curiosity, what was the expiration date, when you picked up the triple?

[mataleo]

6 months

mataleo

[Thighlander]

Good for you. They won't give them in DC, and they want a return ticket for a double. LA was an easy double. It's good to be 50.....paid my dues, that bus ride from ChiangMai to Nong Khai is quite a marathon, and they have their bad hair days at Vientianne, too. Glad you're legal!

Edited January 30, 2014 by Thighlander

[mataleo]

In uk i do it by post send my passport and few days later they send u back easy process no question asked

mataleo

[fifthcolumn]

Congrats.

The sucess lies in lack of visas in the passport. No magic here, six months.

As soon as the pp takes on appearance of bring a runner, your days are numbered.

Your days are numbered.

Nice detail.

[steve187]

a well written trip report and extremely useful thank you

[mataleo]

Congrats.

The sucess lies in lack of visas in the passport. No magic here, six months.

As soon as the pp takes on appearance of bring a runner, your days are numbered.

Your days are numbered.

Nice detail.

My passport is almost full of turist visas. But alk from uk and all 3 weeks stay and back uk for 6 months..

Now my current tripple visa is used to the max.

After i get new one from laos i plan exchange passport as running out of pages

That would.mean if i go for new visas my passport pretty clear right..

mataleo

[chub2005]

Went to Vientiane from Nong Khai for my usual 15 day land cross tourist Visa and the officlal gave me 30 days and not 15 have things changed or is this a mistake?

[ubonjoe]

Went to Vientiane from Nong Khai for my usual 15 day land cross tourist Visa and the officlal gave me 30 days and not 15 have things changed or is this a mistake?

It is a visa exempt entry not a tourist visa.

If you are from one of the G7 countries since November 1st of last year you get 30 day visa exempt entries at a border crossing now.

[mataleo]

Went to Vientiane from Nong Khai for my usual 15 day land cross tourist Visa and the officlal gave me 30 days and not 15 have things changed or is this a mistake?

It is a visa exempt entry not a tourist visa.

If you are from one of the G7 countries since November 1st of last year you get 30 day visa exempt entries at a border crossing now.

Can u extend that for another 30 days in immigration for 1900b?

mataleo