Hi,

I'm in Chiang Mai, and I'm looking for the most affordable way to get 30 more days in Thailand. I'm from the US, and my understanding is that I can get a 30 days visa extension if I cross by land.

Is it possible for me to check out of Thailand by crossing into Laos, then checking right back in? I'm hoping to avoid the $35 Laos visa fee.

I've been searching for this specific scenario, and I'm having trouble finding the answer. Please let me know of your experience. I won't be needing an actual visa from the embassy. I have a current visa to Burma that I need, so I cannot go to Burma as it is single entry.

no can do.

legally the answer is no! You must enter and leave Laos nefore returning to Thailand. There have been some reports in the past of peole gettiing away with it, but at the land crossings the immigration officers check for the entrance and exit stamps from neighboring countries. With out them they won't let you back in and will send you to Laos to get them. But I guess that sometimes this procedure falls through the cracks

Thanks for the thoughtful replies.

My situation is I need 10 days additional. I will be leaving Thailand on the 17th. I have heard that some immigration offices grant 10-day extensions.

Does anyone know of an immigration office that can give me 10-days? I have heard that the one in Chiang Mai only grants 7. Should I start a new thread?

Sorry, only 7 days and it's not actually and extension as the extension request is refused and they give you 7 days to leave. The 7 days would cost you 1900 baht, more than the $35 for a Lao visa. If you quickly marry a Thai, you can get 60 days!

If you go to Mai Sai and cross into Myanmar you only pay 500 baht or $10 (new and crisp) for the entry.

If you go to Mai Sai and cross into Myanmar you only pay 500 baht or $10 (new and crisp) for the entry.

They ask for 500 baht. Not sure why they would agree to accepting 10 USD, But then again I did not ask them.

Best go prepared with baht. Also you do not lose a whole page in your passport for a visa.

Thanks for the helpful replies. I won't be able to do the Burma crossing as I'm saving my Burma tourist visa for a trip there on the 17th.

I think I will end up doing a visa run by flight to Malaysia. Total cost is about $100 and puts me in Bangkok, which is near my next destination of Pattaya.

I'm thinking the visa run would cost me around $80 for transportation and the Laos visa if coming from Chiang Mai. Can someone confirm this or will it be cheaper? For the $20 difference, I might as well fly to Malaysia and get to Bangkok.

Thanks for the helpful replies. I won't be able to do the Burma crossing as I'm saving my Burma tourist visa for a trip there on the 17th.

I think I will end up doing a visa run by flight to Malaysia. Total cost is about $100 and puts me in Bangkok, which is near my next destination of Pattaya.

I'm thinking the visa run would cost me around $80 for transportation and the Laos visa if coming from Chiang Mai. Can someone confirm this or will it be cheaper? For the $20 difference, I might as well fly to Malaysia and get to Bangkok.

You could take a bus from Chiang Mai to Chiang Khong and cross to Houi Xai, Laos but you would have to spend a night in either Chiang Khong or Houi Xai before getting a bus back to Chiang Mai the next day. The bus is about 300 baht each way so the savings is about $45. But since it's a 6 hour trip each way, if I were you, I would fly to Malaysia as you suggest.