VIentiane - Double Entry Tourist Visa - Business as usual

[Lightemup]

I just picked up my double entry tourist visa from the Thai Consular section in Vientiane.

Putting in application happens in the mornings between 0830-1130.

Picking up passport with visa next day 1330-1530.

I arrived yesterday morning at 0815 at the Consular Section gate and saw a line more than 100 meters long, loads of minibuses with people. Cheeky as I am, I cheated in near the front of the line and when the gate opened at 0830, I managed to get a number in the 80's. I suspect some of the guides working for the minibuses had grabbed the first 60-70 numbers before the gate opened and distributed them to their customers. Today, when I picked up my passport, I spoke to another countryman of mine, who yesterday had number 600-something. What a nightmare having to wait for that.

Today, I arrived at 1230 and again got into near the front of the line, getting a quite low number. But different to yesterday, there weren't more than maybe 150-200 at the opening of the gate. I wonder if the sheer volume of people yesterday were too much to handle in one day and they got postponed or maybe they just decided to arrive later on than at opening.

With regards to tightening of the rules and having to show more documents, this did not happen to me.

I got a double entry tourist visa with just an application, copy of passport, visas, 2 photos and 2000 baht in fee. (1000 baht per entry)

This is my first experience with the Vientiane visa processing and it must have been hell for people not as cheeky as I. But my experience was very good, in and out in less than an hour both days.

I certainly don't envy the Consular Section staff their job and think they do a very good job.

It's the people applying who are idiots. Like the Canadian woman, who got "her" passport back, left the building, came back 10 minutes later saying, you gave me the wrong passport. It was an American passport belonging to a dark skinned male. Obviously she blamed it on the staff, but had failed to read the sign saying, to check your passport, your name on the visa and dates when you receive your passport back. You can lead a horse to water, but can't force it to drink...

[Suradit69]

It's the people applying who are idiots.

Everyone of them, eh?

You can lead a horse to water, but can't force it to drink...

A stitch in time saves nine.

An empty barrel makes the most noise.

Any others? Anyone?

[alocacoc]

I just came back from Vientiane last night. At Monday, i got Number above 270. I had to wait about 1 1/2 hours. Not sooo bad. There was some gaps in the row. Thy called up number 61-70, 71-80, 101-110 and so on.

A lot of South Koreans and Russian peoples. Yesterday on Tuesday, our visarun operator collected the passports. So, we didn't had to collect the passport in person.

At the border, after pass the immigration, a soldier did a face-check (compared the face with the photo on the passport) from everyone. They also rebuild the border. The counters are now in-door.

On the way to Pattaya, our Passports got checked twice by Soldiers and Police.

Immigration officers, Soldiers and Police officers were very polite. At the Embassy, Border and on the street.

[Lightemup]

Everyone of them, eh?

No, just the ones who can't follow simple instructions, when they are clearly visible in front of their eyes and in their own language..

[MrWorldwide]

Thanks for the report - based on that, VT is about as much fun for a visa run as it was in 2008 - I'll stick with Penang if I need another TV.