Summary Of Chiang Khong Visa Run

[heybruce]

I just finished a visa run from Chiang Mai to Chiang Khong. I had to get it done on September 24 to avoid an overstay. Since I just read the Mae Sai border crossing has re-opened this info may not be of interest to as many people, but it may help a few. The following is a step by step summary of what I considered the key points of the run:

I left from the Chiang Mai Arcade bus station at 8:30 a.m. in an air-con bus to Chiang Khong for 290 baht. We arrived at a little after 2:30 in Chiang Khong.

A group of us used the tuk-tuks at the bus station to travel to immigration for 20 baht each. On the way there all the tuk-tuks stopped at a travel agency and said this was where we should get our Laos visa. After we asked a few questions we determined this was a scam and we got back in the tuk-tuks and insisted on being taken to the border crossing.

We arrived a few minutes later at immigration where the officers there told us we had to provide copies of the photo and and information pages of our passports, all pages with Thai entry stamps, and our departure card. We all went to a shop nearby that was doing a lot of copying business.

After providing the copies we then had to pay 200 baht for a departure stamp. This is the first time any of us could recall having to pay for a departure stamp, and I still don't know if this was legitimate, but we all paid.

We paid 20 baht for a boat ride across the river, and were met on the other side by Laos officials who helped us fill out our visa on arrival paperwork and our entry/departure cards. The forms asked for the standard information, and we were told to leave blank the areas for point of contact and address in Laos. With the paperwork, one passport photo, and $31 U.S. or 1550 Thai baht (it is $30 U.S. or 1500 Thai baht on Monday to Friday) we went first to the Visa on Arrival window for the visa processing then to the Immigration window immediately adjacent for the passport stamps. The entire process took about 15 minutes and the Laos officials were surprisingly helpful and polite.

Since I wanted to try and return to Chiang Mai the same day, I immediately got a departure stamp on my passport and with a few others returned to the Thai side of the river via another 20 baht boat ride. There we did the routine entry/departure cards and got ours passport stamps showing we could stay in Thailand until 23 October.

We passed on the opportunity to take a "minibus" to Chiang Mai for 250 baht; the minibus was actually an extended cab pickup with a sawngthaew set-up in the back. It looked like a miserable way to spend six hours. We took a 20 baht each sawngthaew back to the bus station, arriving at about 4:15. Total time from when we first arrived in Chiang Khong until we had finished our visa run and were ready to go was about one hour and fourty minutes. There were no buses to Chiang Mai so waited for a 5:00 p.m. regular bus to Chiang Rai. This bus cost 72 baht, paid on the bus.

We arrived in Chiang Rai at a little after 7:30 p.m. and were told the last bus to Chiang Mai had left at 5:30. We all had different budgets and comfort expectations, so our little group, four at this point, split up. I got a 500 baht room at the Saenphu Hotel about 200m west of the clock tower.

At 10:30 the next morning I got the VIP bus to Chiang Mai for 250 baht, arriving back at the Arcade Bus Station a little after 1:00 p.m.

Three points/tips I would like to pass on:

1. Be prepared for an overnight stay if you are making the run from Chiang Mai. There may be late buses from Chaing Khong or Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai on other than Sunday, but I wouldn't count on it. Don't overdo it though, you don't want to be hauling unnecessary luggage on and off buses, tuk-tuks, sawngthaews and boats just for a visa run.

2. Pay in U.S. dollars and have the exact amount if possible. At current exchange rates $31 U.S. is less than 1200 baht, so you are wasting money paying 1550 baht. Also the Laos officials may not be able to provide change, especially if it involves one dollar bills. If you can't find one dollar bills either I think they will accept $30 U.S. and 50 baht.

3. The paperwork and process are routine, you don't need a visa service if you are from the long list of countries that qualify for a visa waiver in Thailand and a Visa on Arrival in Laos. Don't let tut-tuk drivers and travel agents con you into thinking otherwise.

I hope this information is of use to some of you. Good luck.

[whimsy]

Thanks for taking the time to let us know the procedure. A very clear and informative post.

[Maestro]

We arrived a few minutes later at immigration where the officers there told us we had to provide copies of the photo and and information pages of our passports, all pages with Thai entry stamps, and our departure card. We all went to a shop nearby that was doing a lot of copying business.

After providing the copies we then had to pay 200 baht for a departure stamp. This is the first time any of us could recall having to pay for a departure stamp, and I still don't know if this was legitimate, but we all paid.

1. Is the request for photocopies a scam, I wonder?

2. Did you get a receipt for the 200 Baht paid for the departure stamp or was this “fee” noted in the passport? I suspect another scam here.

---------------

Maestro

[heybruce]

We arrived a few minutes later at immigration where the officers there told us we had to provide copies of the photo and and information pages of our passports, all pages with Thai entry stamps, and our departure card. We all went to a shop nearby that was doing a lot of copying business.

After providing the copies we then had to pay 200 baht for a departure stamp. This is the first time any of us could recall having to pay for a departure stamp, and I still don't know if this was legitimate, but we all paid.

1. Is the request for photocopies a scam, I wonder?

2. Did you get a receipt for the 200 Baht paid for the departure stamp or was this “fee” noted in the passport? I suspect another scam here.

---------------

Maestro

A very good question, and in answer; I got no receipt for the fee, though I didn't think to ask for one. If anyone else is told they must pay 200 baht for their exit stamp, please ask for a receipt and let us know what the response is.

The photocopying is also suspicious, though it only cost about ten baht. I can't imagine that office keeping copies of multiple pages from every passport they process. It is possible the official was collecting some rent money and throwing some business to the lady up the road at the same time.