vientiane nightmare

[rickthailand]

i was at the thai embassy in vientiane yesterday and i arrived 1 hour before the embassy opened and there

was already a long line of people, many visa run busses etc. i got number 271 it was packed with russians and philipinos, after 4.5 hour i was done. at 11 oclock they were still handing out numbers in the 800s.

they said the quiet days for applying are wednesday and fridays but i predict that will change soon too.

rick

[ubonjoe]

Don't go on Mondays or Thursdays.

Tuesday and Wednesday should be less busy. Friday would be the least busy but you would have to wait until Monday to pickup your passport.

[LuckyLew]

Unless you plan a long weekend in vientiane, I do not recommend you go on Friday either

If you hand in paperwork for visa on Friday you will not get your passport back until "Monday afternoon

[Deli]

Too late ( just booked my flight for the 1st time Laos instead of Malaysia. Monday to Wednesday in August.

Any suggestions for avoiding the cue without camping outside the Embassy ?

[tingtongteesood]

Take a good book....

[ronthai]

  On 7/1/2014 at 9:01 AM, Deli said:

Too late ( just booked my flight for the 1st time Laos instead of Malaysia. Monday to Wednesday in August.

Any suggestions for avoiding the cue without camping outside the Embassy ?

Be there at 5-6 AM infront of the line

[john_bkk919]

Anyone with agent recommendations? Can we post these things here, UbonJoe? If not, PMs welcome

Looking for an agent who will pick up the passport/documents at the hotel (or their office) the day before.

[MikeN]

There are plenty of visa agents in vientianne who will do the waiting for you. Look out for the signs around the backpacker area, and there is usually a guy with an "office" right outside the Thai visa centre (not the embassy !)

[alocacoc]

Amazing. I got also number 271 on a Monday. But the hole procedures tooks only about 1 1/2 hours.

[MrWorldwide]

Still looking forward to Savannaket.

[pete66]

  On 7/1/2014 at 9:15 AM, john_bkk919 said:

Anyone with agent recommendations? Can we post these things here, UbonJoe? If not, PMs welcome

Looking for an agent who will pick up the passport/documents at the hotel (or their office) the day before.

Last time I went there was a guy sitting opposite the Embassy. I approached him because I arrived just before midday and had flight booked back for the next day.

He somehow managed to get the visa sorted for me to pick up the following morning, no problems whatsoever.

[Manbing]

Went to Myanmar 3 mths ago.

Visas are more expensive. They was US dollars to buy the $80 I think.

I was asked to supply copies of flight bookings,

I hadn't to confirm I wanted a double entry visa,

I also stated I hadn't booked flights out of Thailand and intended to leave by bus.

Eventually double entry granted.

[anto]

  On 7/1/2014 at 9:32 AM, MrWorldwide said:

Still looking forward to Savannaket.

Really ?its far worse than Vientiane ,but for different reasons .

[john_bkk919]

  On 7/1/2014 at 9:17 AM, MikeN said:

There are plenty of visa agents in vientianne who will do the waiting for you. Look out for the signs around the backpacker area, and there is usually a guy with an "office" right outside the Thai visa centre (not the embassy !)

Thanks for that. However, I won't be staying in the backpacker area and don't really want to go looking for it when I get in. What I'd like is to book ahead with someone semi-reputable and make a beeline to their office or have them pick it up at my hotel.

(thus saving a trip to the consulate as well as not having to hand my docs off to some random)

[john_bkk919]

  On 7/1/2014 at 9:46 AM, pete66 said:

Last time I went there was a guy sitting opposite the Embassy. I approached him because I arrived just before midday and had flight booked back for the next day.

He somehow managed to get the visa sorted for me to pick up the following morning, no problems whatsoever.

Thanks, I'll keep it in mind. What's the standard charge for their service?

Did he have a little table set up or was he just chillin' in the back of a tuk-tuk?

[Essex Exile]

  On 7/1/2014 at 7:34 AM, LuckyLew said:

Unless you plan a long weekend in vientiane, I do not recommend you go on Friday either

If you hand in paperwork for visa on Friday you will not get your passport back until "Monday afternoon

Erh, yes. I'd confidently predict that people can work that one out for themselves.

Thanks for the heads up anyway.

[wabothai]

I will never do Vientiane again. Friday through monday afternoon and no restaurants open for dinner. Had to walk 15 minutes to get something to eat. This in the neighbourhood of the embassy. Got the worst room (like prison cell) in an empty hotel. 750 baht.

Also got in to a fight with a tuktuk driver, 300 baht for 500m.

Staff at embassy not very friendly.

Never again !!!!

[MrWorldwide]

  On 7/1/2014 at 10:31 AM, anto said:

  On 7/1/2014 at 9:32 AM, MrWorldwide said:

Still looking forward to Savannaket.

Really ?its far worse than Vientiane ,but for different reasons .

It will be the first time I've tried a new destination for the purpose of getting a visa in a long time - have become an habitual Penang visitor. Yours is the first negative comment I've read about Savannaket - please enlighten us.

[ubonjoe]

  On 7/1/2014 at 11:24 AM, MrWorldwide said:

  On 7/1/2014 at 10:31 AM, anto said:

  On 7/1/2014 at 9:32 AM, MrWorldwide said:

Still looking forward to Savannaket.

Really ?its far worse than Vientiane ,but for different reasons .

It will be the first time I've tried a new destination for the purpose of getting a visa in a long time - have become an habitual Penang visitor. Yours is the first negative comment I've read about Savannaket - please enlighten us.

I think he does not like it because it is not a lively town for night life and etc. I have read a comment calling it a backwater place and etc.

It has been over 6 years since I was there but my wife and I enjoyed our stays there.

[tubby johnson]

Last time I was there on a Tuesday. Had all my paperwork prepared the day before and it took just 20 minutes and I was out again. The place was virtually deserted; maybe 10 other foreigners.

[tubby johnson]

  On 7/1/2014 at 11:49 AM, ubonjoe said:

  On 7/1/2014 at 11:24 AM, MrWorldwide said:

  On 7/1/2014 at 10:31 AM, anto said:

  On 7/1/2014 at 9:32 AM, MrWorldwide said:

Still looking forward to Savannaket.

Really ?its far worse than Vientiane ,but for different reasons .

It will be the first time I've tried a new destination for the purpose of getting a visa in a long time - have become an habitual Penang visitor. Yours is the first negative comment I've read about Savannaket - please enlighten us.

I think he does not like it because it is not a lively town for night life and etc. I have read a comment calling it a backwater place and etc.

It has been over 6 years since I was there but my wife and I enjoyed our stays there.

I agree. It's a pleasant town on the Mekong, not noisy or crowded (except for the annual dragonboat racing festival).

You can stroll around the Lao temples. The restaurants are great and the people are quite friendly. Beer Lao is fantastic!

Just don't stay in a hotel/guesthouse near the Thai consulate as there is nothing to do in the vicinity.

[Briggsy]

I have got 2 visas from Vientiane, one was in 1997, one was in 2008. Both involved queueing up for long periods in the sun or roasting under tarpaulin. 1997 was the wackiest, they hadn't figured out queues then.

In 2008, I vowed to myself I would avoid Vientiane visa obtaining and if entirely necessary I would use an agent. Not worth the aggravation. This is what I have done.

Just my opinion.

[Pralaad]

I think the company is called land and air or something like that, may be someone knows the full name.

The agent hands over all the paperwork and also collects it for you while you wait.

Not the cheapest, but pretty painless

[techboy]

  On 7/1/2014 at 11:24 AM, MrWorldwide said:

  On 7/1/2014 at 10:31 AM, anto said:

  On 7/1/2014 at 9:32 AM, MrWorldwide said:

Still looking forward to Savannaket.

Really ?its far worse than Vientiane ,but for different reasons .

It will be the first time I've tried a new destination for the purpose of getting a visa in a long time - have become an habitual Penang visitor. Yours is the first negative comment I've read about Savannaket - please enlighten us.

The only thing that I can imagine the objection to Savannaket would be is that it is more rural than Ventiane and can get very muddy streets. I love the place. There is a big local market at the edge of town about 15-20 minutes walk from the river crossing. People are friendly, delicious local food, really neat place in general.

[Gonsalviz]

  On 7/1/2014 at 11:49 AM, ubonjoe said:

  On 7/1/2014 at 11:24 AM, MrWorldwide said:

  On 7/1/2014 at 10:31 AM, anto said:

  On 7/1/2014 at 9:32 AM, MrWorldwide said:

Still looking forward to Savannaket.

Really ?its far worse than Vientiane ,but for different reasons .

It will be the first time I've tried a new destination for the purpose of getting a visa in a long time - have become an habitual Penang visitor. Yours is the first negative comment I've read about Savannaket - please enlighten us.

I think he does not like it because it is not a lively town for night life and etc. I have read a comment calling it a backwater place and etc.

It has been over 6 years since I was there but my wife and I enjoyed our stays there.

If anyone can suggest a hotel that does not cost a fortune or vermin infested please inform us.

[bluesofa]

  On 7/1/2014 at 9:14 AM, ronthai said:

  On 7/1/2014 at 9:01 AM, Deli said:

Too late ( just booked my flight for the 1st time Laos instead of Malaysia. Monday to Wednesday in August.

Any suggestions for avoiding the cue without camping outside the Embassy ?

Be there at 5-6 AM infront of the line

This is purely academic now, but I used to go regularly about four years ago to renew a Non B visa every three months.(Later I went down the route of renewing it at immigration within Thailand, annually.)

I made sure I arrived outside the embassy by 6am, then I was always in the first half dozen in the queue. Also it made it more difficult for queue jumpers when you were that near the gate.

[14dns]

put mine in last wednesday, windows were already open when i arrived and i got #84 it took around 1 hour to process and pay, i arrived 1.30pm thursday to pick up and by the time i received my passport it was around 3pm, as i walked out #848 was called in for payment with still at least another 100 or so waiting outside to put theirs in.

[tropo]

All these complaints about Vientiane being overcrowded will soon be a thing of the past. With the new crackdown on back-to-back tourist visas and education visas about to commence they won't be very busy at all. Certainly you won't be seeing bus loads of Filipinos going there. I know for a fact that many Filipinos have already left Thailand.

Holding a visa does not guarantee entry into Thailand, so even if the consulate issues a visa, if the border immigration officers think the individual is using the wrong visa (eg tourist visa, Ed visa) to live in Thailand, they could refuse entry.

I suspect they're a bit busier right now than usual as they have changed the border run days to only 7 (from 15), so more people are trying to procure tourist visas.

[paz]

Wow, three inaccuracies / assumptions in one one single (bilious) posting!

All these complaints about Vientiane being overcrowded will soon be a thing of the past. With the new crackdown on back-to-back tourist visas and education visas about to commence they won't be very busy at all. Certainly you won't be seeing bus loads of Filipinos going there. I know for a fact that many Filipinos have already left Thailand.
A TR visa crackdown is just an ill wishing of your idle mind. Actually I think Thailand will be more happy to sell more visa. Same goes for ED visa.

Holding a visa does not guarantee entry into Thailand, so even if the consulate issues a visa, if the border immigration officers think the individual is using the wrong visa (eg tourist visa, Ed visa) to live in Thailand, they could refuse entry.

Often repeated mantra that doesn't match facts: they could, but they don't.

I suspect they're a bit busier right now than usual as they have changed the border run days to only 7 (from 15), so more people are trying to procure tourist visas.

It has never been 7 days. It is 30 days for G7 and few other countries, 15 for most others. And, it has not be changed by the crackdown.

Don't be depressed we will welcome you next "contribution" about the World Cup, best fish for the tanks, etc.

[oldthaihand99]

  On 7/1/2014 at 11:23 AM, wabothai said:

I will never do Vientiane again. Friday through monday afternoon and no restaurants open for dinner. Had to walk 15 minutes to get something to eat. This in the neighbourhood of the embassy. Got the worst room (like prison cell) in an empty hotel. 750 baht.

Also got in to a fight with a tuktuk driver, 300 baht for 500m.

Staff at embassy not very friendly.

Never again !!!!

In Hanoi i've never found any lineup at all. Much nicer city, too. Way better hotel value than in Vientiane. And offers triple entries.