You are correct, you would get a visa at the airport.

She would only need to check that you meet the entry requirements for Thailand. Once you board your flight to Laos would the airline check the entry requirements for Laos as you could apply for a visa in Bangkok.

Sorry to highjack the topic here - but

In Phoenix, AZ now. I wanted to reserve flights to go back to Thailand and

decided this time to not bother with the O-A visa and then decided not to deal with the consulate in Salt Lake City for a Tourist visa. I would have to mail in the application a nd then wait two weeks and then make an appt... drive a few hundred miles and time is getting close to the date I want to leave

I figured I could arrive in Chiang Mai without a visa, with an onward RT ticket to Laos within 30 days, get a 30-day permit from Thai Immigration.....

Fly to Vientiane and get the 2-entry Tourist Visa there. In Chiang Mai, I can aply for another visa after my 6 months of time is up - or I could get the one-year extension, as I have in the past.

I only want to go back to Thailand to marry the g/f I left behind, since I have learned that a Tourist visa to the U.S.A. is not the way to go and I must get a fiance or spouse visa in Thailand. Could take a year to do.

So what is my question?

Today the travel agent at the AAA office told me I need a visa to go to Laos - ?!

Said so on her computer.

I believed that farangs made the border run to Vientiane all the time to get the a visa for Thailand.

Has this been changed???

Is this

Not entirely sure what your question is, are you asking whether foreigners are required to purchase a visa for entry into Laos? If so, the answer is 'yes' . The visa can be purchased ay the border for a cost of 35 USD (last time I checked), you can also use baht but they offer a terrible exchange rate, and noting that you're a US national I would recommend using money brought from home - if youre bringing your Thai partner they can enter for 5 days without a passport (Thai ID only) for a cost of about 150 baht; however, this is arranged in Nongkhai city not at the border.

You get a visa on arrival on entry to Laos. Your travel agent was not looking close enough at her computer screen.

Info from the IATA database you can get here by entering the required info. http://www.staralliance.com/en/services/visa-and-health/

"Visa Issuance:

Visa required, except for Nationals of USA can obtain a visa
on arrival, for a max. stay of 30 days (one extension
possible)"

Disregard. Just realised you're flying.

Another option worth considering would be a Non-Immigrant B visa (conducting business)(multiple entry). This can be arranged through most visa companies with little effort and minimal justification. A friend of mine often uses Siam Legal. You're required to leave every three months, which can be done at minimal expense. If youre in BKK you can catch the train- 6 hours- to Aranyaprathet for 46 baht. $20 for Cambodian visa. And return the next day. Similar cost, but less hassle with extrnsions and dealing with consulates/embassies. My 2 cents.

Imokg2g, How recently was your friend doing this Non-B via Siam Legal? I contacted Siam Legal earlier in the year asking about a 1 year visa (which they explained was a non- for an Australian ciizen and it seemed as though this avenue had been restricted since the Coup. I understood that Siam-Legal would provide the invitation letter that was required by the embassy/consulate however apparently hey were not accepting these letters any more. I don't know all the details but would be interested to hear about how your friend did this and/or when.