I'm posting this again ,I don't know if this is the place to post this but sorry if it isn't. I from the states I just finished a triple entry Thai visa plus a 30 day visa exempt boarder run . So all in all i did 3 visits to Lao Dec-14,Feb,15 and May 15 . I experienced a problem on the Lao boarder Nakon Phanom/Thakaek friendship bridge. . Upon exiting the Lao side the Lao people told me if I tried to enter again they would refuse me and said I must get a proper visa ??? I told them I won't be coming back and that I was finished with my boarder runs.I must mention that there was a language barrier problem but it was quite clear that they wanted me to get a visa. I always do a turn around.I have been doing this for the last three years .The next time I go to Thakaek /Nakon Phanom will be on my next triple entry Thai Visa, which will have a 6 month window. I never expected a problem on the Lao side if anything it would of been a hassle on the Thai side. Have their been a recent developments lately,at land boarder crossings?Has anybody been through this?

Strange, because you get and pay for a proper visa on each entry to Laos ?

I don't recall ever seeing a post where a person had a problem on the Lao side of a border crossing.

I would guess is it is a one off occurrence.

If concerned perhaps go down to Mukdahan and do your next border hop.

Strange, because you get and pay for a proper visa on each entry to Laos ?

You would think if I had a problem it would of began at the Lao Visa on Arrival window while applying and paying and not at the departure side???Come to think of it,their was a unusual hold up it seems.The VA officer fiddled around and looked confused while looking through my passport ,Then he called over another officer that took my passport to the other side of the office for a couple of minutes and then returned and had the other guy stamp it..I asked if there was a problem he said no

Edited May 24, 201511 yr by riclag

I did tourist visas for 3 years, had to change border crossings and sometimes go into Cambodia for a few days. I was told something similar once but from Thailand not Laos, the guy was probably confused. But if you continually use the same country / border problems can arise. Mix it up and you'll be fine.

Note that the Friendship bridge 3 at Nakhon Phanom normally untill last year hadn;t experienced border runs since 2015 a limited quota of Foreign Nationals can now enter Thailand on a 15 day stamp.....but why a Lao official would make a remark like that beats me!

Note that the Friendship bridge 3 at Nakhon Phanom normally untill last year hadn;t experienced border runs since 2015 a limited quota of Foreign Nationals can now enter Thailand on a 15 day stamp.....but why a Lao official would make a remark like that beats me!

There is no such quota at any border crossing. I assume you mean a 15 day visa exempt entry which can be 30 days if a person is from a G7 country.

Strange, because you get and pay for a proper visa on each entry to Laos ?

You would think if I had a problem it would of began at the Lao Visa on Arrival window while applying and paying and not at the departure side???Come to think of it,their was a unusual hold up it seems.The VA officer fiddled around and looked confused while looking through my passport ,Then he called over another officer that took my passport to the other side of the office for a couple of minutes and then returned and had the other guy stamp it..I asked if there was a problem he said no

-riclag- you write = "I must mention that there was a language barrier problem but it was quite clear that they wanted me to get a visa."

-riclag-

I believe, when the Lao officials questioned you, you had been on your 30 day border run

and they meant, you have to get a proper VISA for Thailand next time, as Thailand, possibly will not let you in with back to back visa exempt entries.

In my opinion, they talked about a Thai Visa you have to make, not a Lao visa what you anyway always make.

Edited May 25, 201511 yr by ALFREDO

I just read through the posts and I am confused.

You do realize that to enter Laos from Thailand you must have a Lao visa don't you?

And that to exit Laos and enter Thailand by a land border, the Thai immigration wants to see a proper Lao exit stamp when you enter Thailand before they will process your Thai entry?

Maybe I missed that in my quick run-trough...... I just woke up and I still haven't had my "wake-up coffee".

Edited May 25, 201511 yr by IMA_FARANG

In reference to poster # 9

I went to the boarder and did a turn around .I went to the arrival window and paid for my 30 day ,full passport page stamp.I was questioned by the exit Lao window about the visa.

At this point I'm siding with poster #8. It did occur to me that the Lao side was trying to advise me about the Thailand proper visa,since I was doing a 30 day exempt. I tried to explain to the Lao guy that I finished my triple entry visa and was just doing a 30 day exempt and leaving to my country well before the 30 days expires.. But he kept trying to talk about it round and round with poor English pigeon talk ( no disrespect intended) .

Strange, because you get and pay for a proper visa on each entry to Laos ?

You would think if I had a problem it would of began at the Lao Visa on Arrival window while applying and paying and not at the departure side???Come to think of it,their was a unusual hold up it seems.The VA officer fiddled around and looked confused while looking through my passport ,Then he called over another officer that took my passport to the other side of the office for a couple of minutes and then returned and had the other guy stamp it..I asked if there was a problem he said no

-riclag- you write = "I must mention that there was a language barrier problem but it was quite clear that they wanted me to get a visa."

-riclag-

I believe, when the Lao officials questioned you, you had been on your 30 day border run

and they meant, you have to get a proper VISA for Thailand next time, as Thailand, possibly will not let you in with back to back visa exempt entries.

In my opinion, they talked about a Thai Visa you have to make, not a Lao visa what you anyway always make.

At this point I'm siding with your opinion #8 . It did occur to me that the Lao side was trying to advise me about the Thailand proper visa,since I was doing a 30 day exempt. I tried to explain to the Lao guy that I finished my triple entry visa and was just doing a 30 day exempt and leaving to my country well before the 30 days expires.. But he kept trying to talk about it round and round with poor English pigeon talk ( no disrespect intended)

Edited May 26, 201511 yr by ubonjoe
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