Border Run With No Stamp in Laos in Passport

[Chao Lao Beach]

In the thread I will link to below, the Chiang San immigration office apparently stamps you out of Thailand, you cross the river, but the Loas don't stamp you.

Any one know if this will make a problem with the Thais on the return after lunch in the casino ?

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/785592-cr-border-crossings-quick-visa-run/?p=8855982

Does even issue a visa I wonder ?

How much is it for a visa these days for a border run to Laos and Myanmar at Mae Sot ?

Edited December 26, 2014 by Chao Lao Beach

[wayned]

The Lao visa price varies depending on nationality. If you're a Brit or a Yank it's $35, I think The Myanmar visa at Mai Sot is 500 baht!

[ubonjoe]

There is no Lao visa on arrival available at that crossing. You cannot use it to get a new entry.

I don't think they will even allow a foreigner to leave the country at the crossing since they would not be able to enter Laos unless they already have a Lao visa.

Info on crossings to Laos here: http://www.laos-guide-999.com/Laos-border.html

[ToddinChonburi]

You can get your Laos visa at Laos immigration at border. $35 US

[ubonjoe]

You can get your Laos visa at Laos immigration at border. $35 US

Can you confirm you have used the Chiang San crossing and got a Lao VOA.

[Chao Lao Beach]

Will report in a few days, it seems that the Thai Gov built a new border crossing only to facilitate the casino !!!!!

According to locals, Farlang can use no probs, to go gamble with the Thais, but it is not sutible to be counted as leaving Thailand, some have had stamps but no computer records done !!!! Told it is up to who ever is working how they do it !

I am not sure when that website was last updated, these comments to me are relevant within the last 5 months only.

Edited December 29, 2014 by Chao Lao Beach

[torpedo1970]

Lets get back to the OP original question.

If one get stamped out of Thailand.... walk across the bridge/border, but don't get stamped in/out of another country and go back to the Thai crossing...

will there be any issues.??

Theoretically one have left the Kingdom of Thailand to do some gambling for example....

i know one specific border crossing was mentioned, but same could go for instance with Nong Khai too...

There is shops and casinos between the two Passport controls there too...

could be interesting to know...

[paz]

If one get stamped out of Thailand.... walk across the bridge/border, but don't get stamped in/out of another country and go back to the Thai crossing...

will there be any issues.??

The only "issue" is that one would not let back in Thailand until can prove that has entered another country.

[joepattaya1961]

A similar discussion was hold a few weeks ago about leaving by air; do not officially enter the destination country and return to Thailand without Immigration stamps of the country you visited: NO problem to re-enter Thailand.

Seems to be different with land-crossings; there you need to be able to show entry and exit stamps of the country visited; in this case Laos.

So if that's really the case and you leave Thailand to gamble for a few hours and re-enter Thsiland.......will your stay be renewed with the applicable period eg 15, 30, 60, 90 or even more days?

[paz]

A similar discussion was hold a few weeks ago about leaving by air; do not officially enter the destination country and return to Thailand without Immigration stamps of the country you visited: NO problem to re-enter Thailand.

NO problem IF the officer is careless. One that is thoughtful could notice and send for interview. Unless you come from a country that doesn't stamp on exit then YES you would have a problem.

Otherwise border hops would be done with a refundable ticket and merry go around at the duty free.

Edited December 29, 2014 by paz

[ubonjoe]

At a border crossing immigration will not stamp you back into the country unless you have stamps for the other country.

If you try to cross at a border crossing to Laos that does not have a visa on arrival facility immigration will not stamp you out of the country unless you have a Lao visa in your passport.

There may still be a few crossings that allows you into no mans land without being stamped out of the country.

[Chao Lao Beach]

Just to update, what UbonJoe is sayng seems to be correct as a general comment, there does appear to be exceptions which seem to be lax immigration staff.

It appears at this Thai exit point that most of the people go to the Laos side, directly opposite, which I believe to be a "Laos Economic Zone" which seems to run about 10km along the river on the Laos side. The major facility in here is the casino.

In this region is also some sizible ports on the Thai side thats handles imports from close countries, this is about 5km (ish) East of this check point, I don't know what imm stuff is there though.

Pepole do go by boat to go to Mynmar, China (about 40km away) and Laos to various other ports.

When the Thai immigration officier was asked at Chiang Saen he was clearly happy to let forieners go across and return, when asked if we can go to the casino for lunch. He even said how to get the free boat and would call it for us !

He looked in the relivant passport of the person with the Non Imm "0" and said no problem you cann go to the Casino, but have to go to Mai Sai after this to get the 90 day renewealed there and go to Mynamar.

I have no idea if he wold have stamped our passports when leaving the country, I seem to doubt it.

It looks like they are treating this economic zone as no mans land, a bit liek the casinos on the Cambodian border. Remember one has to cross into Camboda there as well if you want to exptend, (by memory). But if you wen to the casino there, you would be stamped out of Thailand.

This opens a pandoras box for some one on a couple of tourist visas ect.

So, there you go.