Have ED-O visa (July 2014) - via Ranong for Visa Stamp?

[rdcny1]

Hi - I have an multiple-entry ED-O visa that I obtained in NYC in early July 2014. I entered Thailand on 18 July.

I want to go to Ranong (Myanmar) in the next week to get a reset of my 90 days - because from about 1 September through 5 November I will be very busy...and rather than arrive at some immigration office/port on or about 20 October, I thought a reset now would be easier for me - and I get to see a bit of Myanmar as well.

On 5 November I leave Thailand to go to Nepal for several weeks; I will return to Thailand on 24 December - but only to fly on to NYC...I won't be back here until next August. This has been my pattern of visiting Thailand for the last three years...and that is documented in my USA Passport...

My question is: what documentation should I bring to Ranong so that I can get out and back in without a hassle? I have a copy of my travel itinerary from my airline...is that sufficient? Should I bring some sort of receipt from my hotel in southern Thailand?

I have been reading this forum for comments about Ranong immigration - it seems they are not as easy to work with as in past years. (For the last two years I have simply driven to Ranong, crossed to Myanmar via Ferry and returned - with no problem and all necessary stamps to my Visa/Passport provided.)

Would I be better off going to Hua Hin to immigration to get these stamps to my Visa?

Thanks - any advice appreciated.

Edited August 24, 2014 by rdcny1

[PlastikbinLina]

If you have a Multiple Entry Ed visa the only thing you need to leave and re-enter is your passport. The visa you have states it is a 'M' or multiple entry facility. Safe Journey.

[TerryLH]

"I have an multiple-entry ED-O visa..."

Is this a new kind of visa?

[Maestro]

No, it isn't a new kind of visa. In fact, it is a complete mystery to me what kind of visa the OP might have. PlastikbinLina seculates that it might be a non-immigrant visa category ED, but I doubt it because the OP says nothing about being enrolled in Thailand for any type of study, just about touring around the country and being very busy later this year, not saying busy doing what.

[rdcny1]

Type of Visa: Non-Immigrant

Category: ED

No. of Entry: M (multiple)

Fee: $200

Issued at: New York

Date of Issue: 3 July 2014

Enter Before: 2 July 2015

No. of Accompanying Children: 0 (which is probably how I thought it was an "O" visa

Hope the additional info helps...

So, what additional documents should I bring with me to Ranong so that I can have as little hassle as possible leaving and then re-entering Thailand?

Thanks.

[wayned]

No additional requirements. You must enter Myanmar and exit and return. The cost of the Myanmar visa is 500 baht.

[ubonjoe]

I suggest you skip Ranong and go to another border crossing.

If you do try Ranong at least have something to prove you are attending a school. Have 20k baht with you and have a ticket out of the country to increase your chances of being allowed to leave the country there.

[rdcny1]

well I can bring two printed ticket (receipts/itineraries) that show I will be leaving the country on 5 November; and then returning 24 December...and heading out again that same evening - 24 December to NYC. These days you don't get a real ticket until you check in at the airport gate...I can show them the real receipt (actual ticket) of the first half (Bangkok - NYC) of my itinerary...

if they look in my passport they will see the same pattern - here for about 110 days (July-November) and then back to NYC...I am not trying to stay here permantly via an ED visa.

why should I have 20k baht? perhaps the wieset thing to do ask them before I leave Thailand if they will allow me back in and what need to show them...if the requirements are too high, then just not exit at Ranong...

Finally, I will have one of my Thai friends with me - she is a Doctor and is obviously fluent in Thai...hopefully she can help sort things out.

Should I ask to see the head of the operation (immigration) in Ranong when I arrive...and what would be my chances of getting to see him (her)?

[ubonjoe]

It is not a matter of returning. If you cannot meet their requirements to enter you will not be allowed to leave. They do not want the problem of not allowing you to enter the country because there is no where for you to go on the Myanmar side.

A ticket now means a e-ticket which can be a printout of the email you get from the airline to confirm your purchase.

The 20k baht is what has been asked by them to others with a visa in order to prove you are not working here illegally and have the funds to live on.

[rdcny1]

Thanks - good info..I can supply all of the above and one Thai doctor (on her day off) to speak on my behalf.

[Ayutthaya69]

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Thanks - good info..I can supply all of the above and one Thai doctor (on her day off) to speak on my behalf.

dosent matter if she is a Doctor :-) listen Ubon he know everything about visa rules good Luck :-)

[BobbyBoy]

You obviously have not been reading many recent posts (including a couple from me) warning of problems with going to Ranong for a Visa run.

If your smart , and listen to all the recent bad experiences at Ranong ,you will not consider it . In my opinion fly to Singapore or other destination in / out in 1 day or have a holiday for a few days, up to you !

[rdcny1]

Thanks for the kind words - I'll try Ranong and report back.

[rdcny1]

Hello - so I am reporting back as promised...apologies for the delay.

I arrived at Ranong on Sunday 31 August - about 8am after driving a couple of hours from Chumphon. With me was my doctor friend who had never been to Myanmar - she had offered to translate for me in case of any problems.

We went to the Andaman Club pier/Thai border check point (in/out) on the water...Such a nice building compared to the other one in Ranong that is a much smaller area - with many more people. I had previously done in/out to Mynamar from that other location (2012-13 in late August as well).

There was hardly anyone around - perhaps 8-10 other people including one farang...the others looked to be Thai folks making a day trip to Myanmar...all well-dressed, etc.

The woman at the counter in the Thai government uniform looked at me and my credentials...she smiled and asked a few questions...basically where was I from (USA), and where I was staying in Thailand (Chumphon area). She also wanted to know why I was crossing into Myanmar with about 60 days left of my initial 90 days granted to me at the airport in Bangkok. (I had arrived from NY on 21 July with a one year multi entry ED Visa.) I explained that in the coming weeks I would be very busy and getting away for a day to do a Visa run like this day, would be difficult. She seemed ok with answers so far, and then asked, "What are you studying in Thaland?" At this point my doctor friend jumped in and explained in Thai that I am doing scientific research here in Thailand - and according to the terms of the Visa that I had, that was covered. (Indeed it is - and this ED visa is the one I am always told to get by tyhe NYC consulate folks when I explain to them what I do in Thailand, and show them letters from a Thai university professor and the head of a research foundation in the USA with whom I work on this project here in Thailand. Those letters state exactly what I do and why it is important in Thailand. But note: I did not have these letters with me on this Visa run.)

I also brought with me my email receipt of my travel itinerary - I leave Thailand every year aboput 10 November and return in January...only to fly home to NYC by mid January. She (the Thai government official) could see that I have done this for the past three years...and had proof that this was my basic plan again. I even told her with a smile: "You see I am not trying to stay here forever..only until November just like each year for the past three years." She could see the dates of in/out in my passport...and she even smiled. Anyway - having a plane ticket receipt of travel helped very very much. They did NOT ask to see 20,000 baht or any proof of funds. They did want to know my hotel name/adress and the phone number there.

Once the nice lady behind the desk heard the explanation by my doctor friend in Thai, she smiled and said, "Ok no problem." I got the Vias out stamp (they charged 450 baht for aperwork on the Thai side including the in/out stamp), and I headed to the nice air-con boat with the 10 other people...went through customs in Myanmar - they charge 950 baht...for foreigners despite my protest that they charged my Thai friend about 100 baht for the same stamp. "But you are a foreigner" they told me. "Yes well so is my doctor friend - she is from Thailand - and we are in Burma right now." They laughed and said I was different...

Anyway, after re-boarding the boat 30 minutes later, on the way back the boat stopped off at the other Myanmar check point that I remember from 2012-13 - it is a much buser experience there. There is now a casino...but at least if you walk around that town or walk along the pier, ity is visually a lot more interesting than the high end checkpoint I came through (though my friend and I did manage to see a few Brahminy Kites and a pair of Pied Hornbills on the nicely kept grounds.)

In all the visa run took me two hours to drive from Chumphon and two hours back...about 30 minutes in Thailand at the Thai Visa office to get appropriate stamps - and they also had to xerox every document I had...and then about a 20 minute boat ride...and 15 minutes through customs in Myanmar and then waiting for the boat to head back that only leaves on the half hour...so all in all a painless experience - but remember this was the slow season (not many tourists in Thailand right now) and I arrived early. Cost was half a tank of gas to drive from Chumphon RT; 450 baht on the Thai side and 950 baht on the Myanmar side.

I hope this helps...so if you go through Ranong with an ED visa (one year multiple entry for me) do not worry if you have proof of onward travel (airplane ticket). It does help having someone who speaks Thai with you...

Edited September 4, 2014 by rdcny1

[4evermaat]

Thanks for the report. That's different. I'll check with Fame visa run later next month and see what's current. You shouldnt have needed onwards travel; you have multi non-immigrant already.

I suppose it is better to be reasonably over-prepared than no preparation at all. I have 'O' category, not ED.

Edited September 4, 2014 by 4evermaat

[rdcny1]

I used Fame in 2012-2013 - they go to that other border (well sea) crossing that is not as nice...more crowded...but overall (visually) a lot more interesting experience. Since I am a photographer...this is important to me.

[Maestro]

...

Once the nice lady behind the desk heard the explanation by my doctor friend in Thai, she smiled and said, "Ok no problem." I got the Vias out stamp (they charged 450 baht for aperwork on the Thai side including the in/out stamp), and I headed to the nice air-con boat with the 10 other people...

Thank your for your detailed report. The fee of 450 Baht on the Thai side is interesting; never heard of that one before.