Mae Sot border run

[Baht Simpson]

I recently posted about the expiry of my retirement permit on 30th May this year. I had missed the 3 month deadline and had originally intended to travel back to the U.K. to go through the process again. As I had plans to travel back anyway it was no problem and it would have given me something like another 15 months here.

However, due to family problems I won't now be going back for 2 or 3 months so I need to do a border run for 30/60 day re-entry after which I can return home and apply for a Non-o again and complete the process.

Clearly I could go to Vientiane and apply for a multi-entry permit which would cover me, but I live near the Myanmar border post in Mae Sot so would rather cross into Myanmar and return with a valid tourist visa.

If I go on 29th and cross into Myanmar would I:

a) Need a Myanmar visa or could I just go for the day to Myawaddy and re-enter with a tourist visa?

Get a 60 days entry?

c) Be allowed to re-enter at the same crossing.

I've seen posts where people have hopped across the border for their multi entries but not coming off a retirement permit. I don't particularly want to be refused re-entry.

Many thanks.

[ubonjoe]

Unless you already have a tourist visa you would only get a 30 day visa exempt entry.

From recent reports immigration at Mai Sot will not let you leave unless you have a valid visa for re-entry.

You don't need a visa for Myanmar for do a border hop. You can pay 500 baht for a border pass.

What is the basis for the non-o visa you planed on getting in the UK. You can get a multiple entry non-o visa based upon marriage to a Thai in Savannakhet Laos.

You can also get a single entry non-o in Vientiane for being 50 or over if you have the financial proof needed for an extension of stay.

[Baht Simpson]

I'm not married to a Thai ubonjoe. The family problems are in the U.K. which affect when I can renew not how.

As I'm coming to the end of a 1 year retirement extension I don't have a visa just the retirement extension permit to stay in the country to 30th May.

I understand for a 30 day visa exempt entry you need proof of a flight out which clearly I won't have so is this a non-starter or, in your opinion, would I get the 30 day tourist exempt entry and be allowed back in?

If needs be I shall go to Vientiane but for 30 days I really would like to avoid the travel which would be difficult from Mae Sot.

Thanks for your help.

[ubonjoe]

There is no requirement to have a flight out of the country to do a border crossing for a 30 day visa exempt entry. The problem you may have is that Mae Sot will not let you leave the country to get a visa exempt entry according to a recent report. If you are close to the crossing you could try.

Their are other crossing where you could go to besides Vientiane. The nearest might be Ban Phu Nam Ron in Kanchanaburi.

Do you have 800k baht in the bank now? You could go to the embassy in Vientiane and get a single entry non-o visa there. Then apply for the your extension.

[Baht Simpson]

I presume the crossing is open tomorrow (Saturday),although I know immigration is closed.. I'll pop along there on my bike. If not, Monday.

Thanks ubonjoe, that's been a great help.If I'm any wiser I'll post again.

[ubonjoe]

Border crossings do not close on weekends or holidays.

[NoshowJones]

Unless you already have a tourist visa you would only get a 30 day visa exempt entry.

From recent reports immigration at Mai Sot will not let you leave unless you have a valid visa for re-entry.

You don't need a visa for Myanmar for do a border hop. You can pay 500 baht for a border pass.

What is the basis for the non-o visa you planed on getting in the UK. You can get a multiple entry non-o visa based upon marriage to a Thai in Savannakhet Laos.

You can also get a single entry non-o in Vientiane for being 50 or over if you have the financial proof needed for an extension of stay.

Excuse me for doing a bit of hijacking Joe. I know Maesot Immigration open at 5 am.

Do you know what time they close at night?

[ubonjoe]

I don't know the closing time for Mae Sot.

[gregk0543]

I think they will only give you 15 days on your return because it is a land entry. Not 30. Thats what I get when I cross from Myanmar to Thailand there.

[ubonjoe]

I think they will only give you 15 days on your return because it is a land entry. Not 30. Thats what I get when I cross from Myanmar to Thailand there.

The OP will get a 30 day entry because he is from the UK which is a G7 country. This has been a rule since November 2013,

[Baht Simpson]

The problem you may have is that Mae Sot will not let you leave the country to get a visa exempt entry according to a recent report. If you are close to the crossing you could try.

Just returned from the border crossing at Mae Sot and this is correct. I showed the official my extension of stay entry to 30th May and asked if I could go across for one day and get a 30 day visa exempt stamp on my return. He was unequivocal that I could not and repeated that I needed a visa or I couldn't leave. It all seems a bit strange but there you go. No alternative now but to go to Vientiane. Haven't got much time now as there are no buses or trains to Nong Khai from here so it's a flight to Bangkok then another flight to Vientiane. Will start genning up on the process now.

[ubonjoe]

You can fly to Udon Thani and from there it is a short van ride to the bridge in Nong Khai. Nok Air has a fly/ride service to Vientiane via Udon.

I assume you going to get a single entry non-o in Vientiane.

[Baht Simpson]

You can fly to Udon Thani and from there it is a short van ride to the bridge in Nong Khai. Nok Air has a fly/ride service to Vientiane via Udon.

I assume you going to get a single entry non-o in Vientiane.

That's interesting. Nok Air fly from Mae Sot to Bangkok so I may be able to book everything together. Looking at that now.

www.nokair.com/contents/promotion/vientiane/en-US/

So when you cross into Laos are you just given a tourist stamp if you have a U.K passport? There's no visa required is there?

Yes, probably go for the single entry unless something else happens.

[ubonjoe]

You apply for a visa on arrival for Laos that will cost $35 or 1500 baht. You will need a photo for the application.

Be sure you take you bank book showing 800k with you if you want the non-o. You should update it before leaving home.

[Baht Simpson]

Just looking at the visa application form for Vientiane. All seems straightforward apart from the last bit where they ask for a guarantor in Laos and another in Thailand.

What do you put in there?

[ubonjoe]

The Lao one is only for Laotians.

You can put self in the Thai one.

[Baht Simpson]

The Lao one is only for Laotians.

You can put self in the Thai one.

Ah, I see. I thought it might be for business applications or something.

Great. Thanks again ubonjoe.

[gregk0543]

I think they will only give you 15 days on your return because it is a land entry. Not 30. Thats what I get when I cross from Myanmar to Thailand there.

The OP will get a 30 day entry because he is from the UK which is a G7 country. This has been a rule since November 2013,

Thats interesting so it would have been a good option for the OP if they let him cross and come back. I have Aust passport.

This is an interesting page for future reference.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Thailand#30.2F15_days_visa-free_.2850_nations.29

[hullupullo]

The problem you may have is that Mae Sot will not let you leave the country to get a visa exempt entry according to a recent report. If you are close to the crossing you could try.

Just returned from the border crossing at Mae Sot and this is correct. I showed the official my extension of stay entry to 30th May and asked if I could go across for one day and get a 30 day visa exempt stamp on my return. He was unequivocal that I could not and repeated that I needed a visa or I couldn't leave. It all seems a bit strange but there you go. No alternative now but to go to Vientiane. Haven't got much time now as there are no buses or trains to Nong Khai from here so it's a flight to Bangkok then another flight to Vientiane. Will start genning up on the process now.

I was in Mae Sot last month and same happened to me too. No visa -> no in-out borderrun. Went to Nong Khai and had no problem to get 15 day stamp

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/812385-15-days-border-run-will-there-be-any-problem/?p=9292163

[Sooo Upto Me]

Unless you already have a tourist visa you would only get a 30 day visa exempt entry.

From recent reports immigration at Mai Sot will not let you leave unless you have a valid visa for re-entry.

You don't need a visa for Myanmar for do a border hop. You can pay 500 baht for a border pass.

What is the basis for the non-o visa you planed on getting in the UK. You can get a multiple entry non-o visa based upon marriage to a Thai in Savannakhet Laos.

You can also get a single entry non-o in Vientiane for being 50 or over if you have the financial proof needed for an extension of stay.

Excuse me for doing a bit of hijacking Joe. I know Maesot Immigration open at 5 am.

Do you know what time they close at night?

Maesot border times are. 05.30 - 20.30

I know coz I have family up there an when i visit I like to escape over to Myawaddy casino for a little flutter on

the roulette table.