I am an English teacher in Mae Sai. My teaching contract and Non-B Visa both expire on April 30th. I went today for my final 90 day check in. Previously, I assumed that a day or so before my Non-B expires in April I would just walk down to the border, cross over into Burma, pay 500 baht, and roll back into Mae Sai with a fresh 30 day tourist visa (I am US Citizen). However, the immigration officers today at my check-in informed me that this was, for whatever reason, not possible. According to the managing officer, making a border run to effectively transition from a Non-B to a 30-day tourist visa is no-bueno. She told me I would have to pay 1,900 baht for a 7 day extension of my non-B at which time I would need to go back to America. What a crock! After the manager left, the nice woman who had assisted my check in advised me to go to Lao to attain my tourist visa. I am still confused, however: Why can I not just walk the 5 minutes down to the border and scoop up a tourist visa or 30 day tourist visa exemption on my way back in?

The extension of stay has to be cancelled at the same time as your wp once cancelled you get 24 hours to leave. Once cancelled it should not be a problem BUT if you are getting a new job then a couple of back to back tourist visas from Laos would be easier

Edited February 27, 201511 yr by casualbiker

The 30 days is called visa exemption, not tourist visa.

You can still try, but it seems that some Mae Sai boss has decided that they don't want people to gain 30 days free of charge.

For a visa exemption entry you can use another border post, land or air, otherwise as suggested you can get a single or double entry tourist visa in Laos.

Edited February 27, 201511 yr by paz

So, I can go back to Mae Sai immigration and simply cancel my extension of stay at which point I will have 24 hours to get out of dodge, correct? Additionally, my work permit needs to be canceled at the same time. What is the process for canceling a work permit? Can that also be handled at immigration? I assume that it is a separate issue with Kru-Sa-Pa. I am not looking to teach again. I just want a month or so to travel before going home. Thanks for your help.

So, I can go back to Mae Sai immigration and simply cancel my extension of stay at which point I will have 24 hours to get out of dodge, correct? Additionally, my work permit needs to be canceled at the same time. What is the process for canceling a work permit? Can that also be handled at immigration? I assume that it is a separate issue with Kru-Sa-Pa. I am not looking to teach again. I just want a month or so to travel before going home. Thanks for your help.

First, you cancel WP at the labor office. Then same day you cancel extension at immigration. Then either you leave country the same day or pay Bt 1,900 for a 7 days extension.

Another way is that you let the school cancel the WP if they want. You just leave by air and the extension is cancelled automatically - assuming you have not paid for a re-entry permit.

Edited February 27, 201511 yr by paz

There is no 24 hours to leave. On the date you cancel the extension you have to leave by midnight on that day or apply for a 7 day extension.

You will need a letter from your employer to cancel your extension. At most immigration offices you can go a couple of days before the date the letter states your job is ending and they will date the cancellation on that date giving you time to leave.