Visit to the Laos Consulate in Khon Kaen

[Sadana]

I have to extend my non "O" visa soon and decided to get the visa for Laos from their renewed consulate in Khon Kaen. It is easy for me as I live in the same province.

At arrival at the consulate which is just opposite the Rajah City Estate/village on Mitratrab road just about 3 km down the road from the KK Immigration office I went inside the compound.

At the compound is a large villa-like building and went to the main entrance. Directly on the left there was a table with forms and some chairs to sit at.

I filled in the form, and together with one photo and my passport as well the fee at 1600 Thai Baht to the desk clerk and than sat down.

Within 10 minutes I was called to the clerk and was given my passport with a 3 month visa for Laos. All piece of a cake.

It will save me a lot of hassle at the border where at I now just can take the international bus (in my case to Savannakhet) and just to get out to show my passport and get right back in the bus.

All with all a good experience and recommendable to those traveling to Laos.

[Jay Sata]

Yes they have an excellent service but be warned they close for one hour at lunchtime.

The building remains open but you will have to wait.

Vietnamese consulate in KK is also very good.

[durhamboy]

Yes it is a useful service and saves a lot of hassle at the border. Only one criticism - the visa fee of 1600 Baht is about US$50 which is US$15 more than the if you paid the fee at the border. I used this service a couple of weeks ago and I wanted to pay in US$ and they said they could only take baht.

[Jay Sata]

I would suggest the slight difference in fees is worth the reduced hassle at the border especially if you are taking the bus direct from KK bus station on the ring road to downtown Vientiane.

[Sadana]

Yes it is a useful service and saves a lot of hassle at the border. Only one criticism - the visa fee of 1600 Baht is about US$50 which is US$15 more than the if you paid the fee at the border. I used this service a couple of weeks ago and I wanted to pay in US$ and they said they could only take baht.

If you pay in Thai Baht the difference is just 100 Baht (2.5EUR/3.5USD) Really worth to flow tru the border. I would also recommend to fill in the arrival/departure slip before you go as then you would have no hold-up to go through customs.

[Tomtomtom69]

Yes it is a useful service and saves a lot of hassle at the border. Only one criticism - the visa fee of 1600 Baht is about US$50 which is US$15 more than the if you paid the fee at the border. I used this service a couple of weeks ago and I wanted to pay in US$ and they said they could only take baht.

If you pay in Thai Baht the difference is just 100 Baht (2.5EUR/3.5USD) Really worth to flow tru the border. I would also recommend to fill in the arrival/departure slip before you go as then you would have no hold-up to go through customs.

It's 1400 Baht for some nationalities.

Apparently some border checkpoints don't do visas on arrival very early or very late in the day and so for those folks needing a visa and also some flexibility, getting a visa in advance is the way to go.

Even at Vientiane the Thai border guards have warned about the office closing at 8pm. In reality they [the Lao side] DO still process visas until 10pm, but there is the possibility that could change so clearly the Thai side has been told something.

As has already been mentioned getting on the cross-border bus will be easier with a visa in advance too, as well as crossing over at borders that are said to require a visa in advance (such as Beung Kan to Paksan).

[Briggsy]

3 month visa or 30 day visa with 3 month validity?

[Sadana]

Visa for 3 months as it does not specify the days as it would on the visa supplied at the border.

[durhamboy]

Yes it is a useful service and saves a lot of hassle at the border. Only one criticism - the visa fee of 1600 Baht is about US$50 which is US$15 more than the if you paid the fee at the border. I used this service a couple of weeks ago and I wanted to pay in US$ and they said they could only take baht.

If you pay in Thai Baht the difference is just 100 Baht (2.5EUR/3.5USD) Really worth to flow tru the border. I would also recommend to fill in the arrival/departure slip before you go as then you would have no hold-up to go through customs.

Yes that maybe true but the visa costs at the border are stipulated in USD so when you say the difference is only 100 Baht it is not comparing apples with apples. The Lao border price at 1500 baht must be after a conversion from USD i.e. a ripoff exchange rate of +40 baht to the USD!

The consulate only accepts Thai Baht so the difference between paying USD at the border and Thai Baht at the consulate is about 15 USD.

Yes it's still worth it to save the hassles but also a reminder that Laos is yet another country playing the visa exchange rate game.

Couple more points :-

1. If you cross the border at weekends you will probably be charged an extra dollar for your visa being described as official overtime!

2. The Swiss pay nothing for their visas at the border - I wonder if they get it for free at Khon Kaen?