Mae Sai land crossing

[cmth]

I know this has been brought up many times before but I am trying to get the latest information. A post from a month ago may be irrelevant today. Quick question and hopefully easy answer. I have been in Thailand for the past year on an ED visa. I have completed my studies and wish to stay in Thailand for a little longer. I know that I can go to Laos and get a double entry tourist visa but I may decide to go back to school or there is a possible job offer in the very short future. If I can cross at Mae Sai it would give me sufficient time to see how things work out over the next 30 days. I am an American and have only the ED visa in my passport. I have never used a tourist visa or visa exempt. Can I do an out/in at Mae Sai? I have a bank account that shows I have enough money, and Thai Drivers License if either would help. Thanks for any advice.

[Dante99]

"A post from a month ago may be irrelevant today."

and accordingly post today may be irrelevent tomorrow so just go but remember the border is not open at night

[flare]

I can only post of my experiences 'yesterday';) but, while they let me cross there (and back the same day) in January, I was given a lot of grief about it and told I wouldn't be able to do it again. I had brought my marriage certificate and other paperwork with me and explained that I was going to apply for my new visa within a couple of weeks (which was true, and which I did), but I needed some extra time before starting the process. Eventually the official relented, but it was tense for a few minutes. Like you, I had previous long-term visas (the stamps were noted at the crossing and helped me look more legitimate) and no previous 'visa exempt' stamps in my passport.

While things may have changed since then ( which I doubt) I don't think I'd try the there-and-back-in-one-day route again- I'd likely choose another route or stay a night or two.

[bangmai]

Apparently, an ED visa is the new scarlet letter at Immigration. Don't ever mention that you will be looking for work....even if many look for teaching jobs with tourist visas. Might be better to say you are going back to your home country in the near future. They won't let you out, if they know you can't get back in.

[Bill97]

Apparently, an ED visa is the new scarlet letter at Immigration. Don't ever mention that you will be looking for work....even if many look for teaching jobs with tourist visas. Might be better to say you are going back to your home country in the near future. They won't let you out, if they know you can't get back in.

Really? You think they check that and provide guaranteed return rights?

[cmth]

Not that it matters much but I don't understand the big issue with an ED visa. If you obtained one the correct way, went to class as scheduled, and made an effort to learn, then you have followed the rules. A reputable school will not falsify documents including attendance and test scores to the MOE. Just because some abuse the system does not mean all do. As has been happening at immigration a quick conversation in Thai and writing some simple sentences can clear up any questions. As far as the work issue, I wouldn't mention work at immigration just to avoid any confusion. However, you have to be in the country to look for work. You cannot get a visa for work or a work permit without at job in the country. I have never heard anyone say or even hint that you are not supposed to look for work while in Thailand. There is no special visa to look for work. I'm sure many people that are offered a chance to work here come in on a tourist visa to check things out first. I just started this post in hope of a simple answer, which I guess there are never any. As it seems with many things in Thailand, I guess it just depends on who happens to be there when you go. What works for one may not work for another.

[kanook]

Apparently, an ED visa is the new scarlet letter at Immigration. Don't ever mention that you will be looking for work....even if many look for teaching jobs with tourist visas. Might be better to say you are going back to your home country in the near future. They won't let you out, if they know you can't get back in.

Apparently, an ED visa is the new scarlet letter at Immigration. Don't ever mention that you will be looking for work....even if many look for teaching jobs with tourist visas. Might be better to say you are going back to your home country in the near future. They won't let you out, if they know you can't get back in.

Really? You think they check that and provide guaranteed return rights?

Bangmai is correct, Thai immigration at the border crossing in Mae Sai will not let you exit if they are not willing to stamp you back in again. The exception is if you hold a valid Burmese visa.

[heybruce]

How much time is remaining on your Ed visa? Did you get a multiple entry visa?

[flare]

Pursuant to the comments of the officials not letting you cross if they aren't willing to let you back in, I should have noted in my previous post that I crossed on a public holiday when it was extremely busy with Thais making the trip over for the day- I wasn't sure of which line to take, and I followed the crowd, where I was 'stamped out'. Upon my return I was pulled aside by a very annoyed official who wanted to know who had allowed me out (I had to point out the line and desk I used)- I was told that as they knew it was gong to be very busy that day they had people without proper training manning some stations and I shouldn't have been let out via that particular line (it wasn't noted if I would have had an issue going the proper route)- it was almost funny as they tried to make it seem like it was somehow my fault, when the person manning the desk clearly made a mistake (how he failed to notice my US passport amid a sea of Thai documentation I couldn't tell you;)). I did notice later that the line I took was for Thais only, and that the desk for foreigners was temporarily unmanned.

I suppose they were obligated to let me back in- perhaps if they hadn't made the initial error, I wouldn't have been let out in the first place.

[cmth]

How much time is remaining on your Ed visa? Did you get a multiple entry visa?

ED visa is good for another week. It was for single entry, My understanding was that you could get a departure card and return to Thailand as long as your permission to stay based on the ED visa was still valid. Either way with the permission to stay and the visa expiring, I am just looking to get 30 more days to sort things out and see what I will do. My original plan was to go to Laos and get a double entry tourist visa. But the possible job opportunity just became available. I am just trying to save some time and money. If I spend the time and money to go to Laos for a tourist visa and then get a job, I will just have to repeat the same process to get the Non-O and work permit. I know a final decision on what I will do will be made within 30 days so I am just trying to get a little more time for things to unfold.

[bangmai]

There was a great guest article about ED visas in last Sunday's "Nonthaburi Dickman" site.....(it's real name is not allowed here).

[heybruce]

How much time is remaining on your Ed visa? Did you get a multiple entry visa?

ED visa is good for another week. It was for single entry, My understanding was that you could get a departure card and return to Thailand as long as your permission to stay based on the ED visa was still valid. Either way with the permission to stay and the visa expiring, I am just looking to get 30 more days to sort things out and see what I will do. My original plan was to go to Laos and get a double entry tourist visa. But the possible job opportunity just became available. I am just trying to save some time and money. If I spend the time and money to go to Laos for a tourist visa and then get a job, I will just have to repeat the same process to get the Non-O and work permit. I know a final decision on what I will do will be made within 30 days so I am just trying to get a little more time for things to unfold.

Ok, so the Ed visa is definitely done. I'm afraid I have no advice other than to do what you are doing--research the visa rules and try to find someone who has been in a similar situation. Good luck.