Nong Khai - Vientiane - Nong Khai

[PREM-R]

I travelled to Vientiane at the weekend with a friend who has a two year history in Thailand consisting of TR and visa exempt entries. The visit to Laos was to activate the second entry of his third TR visa. Nong Khai crossing was busy on Sunday afternoon but mostly with Thai and Laos citizens, not so many farang. The outdoor immigration booths have gone and all paperwork now takes place inside an air-conditioned hall.

On reaching the Visa on Arrival window on the Laos side of the bridge there was a new sign suggesting that the application and collection of visas would be suspended from 12.00 mid day until 12.15 for lunch and from 7.00pm until 7.15pm for dinner, so if you are in a hurry it may be best to avoid these times as there is likely to be a ‘tail back’ of applications immediately after these breaks.

My friend had already purchased a Laos visa from the consulate in Khon Kaen and so he did not have to wait. In the last 12 years I must have been to Laos on at least 50 occasions and I have never taken so long to get my visa on arrival, also they checked the 36 American dollars that I was paying with very carefully and handed back the $20 bill and said “Change, New”. It was lucky that I had another 20 on me and that was accepted. After handing in the paperwork I went around to window 3 to wait for my passport, normally this would take around 10 minutes but on this occasion I waited 20 minutes and when the window opened a number of people who were already waiting when I got there received their passports with visa, I did not receive mine and waited a further 20 minutes until it arrived.

On the return journey on Monday afternoon the border crossing was VERY quiet, the buses that take you over the bridge back to Thailand and are normally packed to bursting were leaving with just 10-15 passengers on them. On arrival on the Thai side we filled out our entry cards and found we were the only ones in the new, air-con, arrival area, only one booth was manned. My friend went first and I followed right behind him, I know he was concerned as to what might happen after I had told him of the Thai visa reports, well there was no problem, the officer did not speak, did not check through his passport, did not do anything but stamp him in for another two months. I followed and we were on our way in minutes.

So it seems that if there is a problem, it is not manifesting itself at Nong Khai, at least not at the moment.

[Tomtomtom69]

You say that the outdoor immigration halls have disappeared. How about if you drive a car across (or are a passenger travelling by car)? I assume you will still be processed outdoors separate to passengers traveling by bus, although those outdoor booths are located in the median area where cars drive through rather than on the sides.

[nev]

You say that the outdoor immigration halls have disappeared. How about if you drive a car across (or are a passenger travelling by car)? I assume you will still be processed outdoors separate to passengers traveling by bus, although those outdoor booths are located in the median area where cars drive through rather than on the sides.

Car area just the same, just the entry by foot has been glassed in, and it is really nice now and air con.

I did a 90 extension on my non O visa based on marriage and went with a breeze, nice to go over in the evening it is not hot or busy,but you pay $1 overtime fee on the visa.

[hobz]

thanks for the report!!!

[Tomtomtom69]

You say that the outdoor immigration halls have disappeared. How about if you drive a car across (or are a passenger travelling by car)? I assume you will still be processed outdoors separate to passengers traveling by bus, although those outdoor booths are located in the median area where cars drive through rather than on the sides.

Car area just the same, just the entry by foot has been glassed in, and it is really nice now and air con.

I did a 90 extension on my non O visa based on marriage and went with a breeze, nice to go over in the evening it is not hot or busy,but you pay $1 overtime fee on the visa.

On the Thai side?! Thai immigration isn't supposed to accept or try to ask for any overtime fees at all. Also, $1? Thailand only accepts Baht. Do you mean the Lao side? The Lao side often asks for a $1 overtime fee, payable in $, Baht or Kip. If paid in Baht, they might ask for 40 Baht though, in Kip 8000 or perhaps even 10000 (which is about $1.25).