Applying for a double entry tourist visa in Laos after recently cancelling extension of stay

[Tomtomtom69]

Hi,

Based on another member's comments about a friend who was denied a tourist visa in Vientiane because he had a recently expired non-B, an expired work permit, hadn't paid tax etc. I was wondering if obtaining a tourist visa in Vientiane would be OK in my situation having recently finished work, however my work permit has been handed in and my extension of stay has been canceled and tax has been paid (I still need to get a tax refund for the excess tax paid but that's another story). Also I am in talks with a couple of companies who are willing to hire me but it may take a while for any of those offers to go through hence the need for a tourist visa in the meantime.

I was thus wondering if the consular officers will overlook this and approve the visa without any regard to the recent extension for work cancellation or whether I should switch my passport (I am a dual citizen) but this would require flying and I was actually looking forward to driving to Laos this time, which would also be a lot cheaper than flying to Vientiane - plus I have some business interests there so wanted to spend a few extra days without being tied to an inflexible flight schedule.

Any thoughts?

[Maestro]

I see no obstacle to your getting a tourist visa.

The other case you mention seems be be a hear-say story and probably not very accurate. The refusal of visa by a Thai consulate because the applicant allegedly paid no taxes during his previous stay in Thailand on a non-B visa is unlikely in the extreme. A consulate has no way of knowing who paid tax in Thailand and did not pay any.

[Tomtomtom69]

I see no obstacle to your getting a tourist visa.

The other case you mention seems be be a hear-say story and probably not very accurate. The refusal of visa by a Thai consulate because the applicant allegedly paid no taxes during his previous stay in Thailand on a non-B visa is unlikely in the extreme. A consulate has no way of knowing who paid tax in Thailand and did not pay any.

You're right - I too thought that story was a bit of hogwash but I was focusing my attention more on the part of him possessing a non-B, possibly for a long time and then suddenly requiring a tourist visa, which was apparently rejected.

[Briggsy]

I have done this with no problems.

I cancelled my extension of stay at Nong Khai (Nongers) by exiting without a re-entry permit and got a double-entry tourist visa at Vientiane.

[ubonjoe]

I suspect that the OP's friends story was off a little bit. He may of been stopped at the border with a extension of stay that had not been canceled. There have been reports of that happening.

It is even possible a embassy or consulate could refuse a visa issue with a valid extension and re-entry permit (wrong but possible). There was report of this happening recently when a a person was applying for a B visa in Saigon with a valid ED extension of stay.

[josemanuel]

you can fly from vientiane to bangkok with http://flylaocentral.com/ for 71 USD, that is about 2100 bahts, not so expensive for a 30 days tourist visa