Savannakhet new visa

[rutteketuut]

Hello,

My permission of stay ends on 30 july, I suppose the Thai consulate will close 4 days so will go on 28 and back to Thailand on 29 july. Am I right?

I'm planning to drive my pick up to Mukdahan and park it there somewhere. What is the best option, park it at the bus terminal and take the international bus or park it near the bridge and take transportation there?

I also read about the took took rip off in Laos. Is there a guesthouse in walking distance from the consulate?

My Thai wife is going with me.

Thanks

[metisdead]

Moved to the Visas forum.

[ubonjoe]

I can confirm the consulate will be closed the 30th and 31st.

If you apply the morning of the 28th by 11 am you will get your passport back the afternoon of the 29th at 2 pm.

Not sure about parking at the bus station in Mukdahan. At the bridge there is secure parking available on the the left just before the gates for the bridge. You will be taking the same bus at the bridge that you would get in Mukdahan.

[rutteketuut]

Thanks ubonjoe for this usefull information.

[Amusements]

If you have a passport for your truck, (Purple book - 50 bhat from transport office) why not drive it across? So long as you don't mind driving on the wrong side of the road, its not too bad over there. Its only a few extra hundred baht and 5 minutes paperwork. Tuck tucks are difficult to get in some areas and are relatively expensive. Also if you stay at somewhere like the Savan Vegas, you might struggle getting any transport to the consulate, unless they still do the visa runs for guests?.

Last time I went I was on red plates, so I had to pay a few hundred baht to park at the border, and then I jumped on the free bus to the casino. However I ended up walking a long way in the heat to grab a tuck tuck to the consulate, as there were no taxis at the casino to take me anywhere. There was the odd mini bus, but with me being on my own it was not a viable option.

[Eddy B]

I can confirm the consulate will be closed the 30th and 31st.

If you apply the morning of the 28th by 11 am you will get your passport back the afternoon of the 29th at 2 pm.

Not sure about parking at the bus station in Mukdahan. At the bridge there is secure parking available on the the left just before the gates for the bridge. You will be taking the same bus at the bridge that you would get in Mukdahan.

100% what ubonjoe has said. Park up at the bridge and go through the Thai immigration side. Catch the bus to take you over the bridge. The tuk-tuk's can be real gold diggers but if you are in a rush to get your passport into the consulate in time 200 baht is do able. If you are not in a rush then you can haggle. The consulate is only about 8-10 minutes away from the Laos side of the bridge so not too far. I would go direct to the consulate to get your visa process started as this does not take too long. I was in and out in about 35 minutes. When I was there I stayed at the Avalon guesthouse, it is nice and clean. When you go to pick up be ready for the horde of Lao people trying to push in the queue at 2pm. Also trying to get on the return bus over the bridge after pick up of passport can be fun.