Savannakhet - tourist visa

[malc999uk]

Has anyone tried to obtain a tourist visa from Savannakhet recently? I am a little concerned following the latest update from thaivisaservice.com stating that the Savannakhet consulate is over-limit due to the number of Laotians applying. I am due to go there in 2 weeks to obtain a tourist visa.

[BuckBee]

other oprtions do exist such as bali or vietnam or phnom penh if laos consulates get messed up.

[visarunner]

If you have fairly new passport with only one or two previous Tourist Visas than Phnom Penh is a possibility to get Single Entry Thai Tourist Visa. If your passport is full, avoid Phnom Penh at any cost.

I just have one guy now at Thai Embassy, waiting 2days for a Interview, a joke.

3-4weeks weeks ago they approve the idea of Tourist Multiple Entry and a week later they close borders and all sort of things.

I know it's their right to decide.

[ubonjoe]

I would think that in 2 weeks the rush by Laotians to get visas at Savannakhet will of subsided.

[visarunner]

There at least 1000 Laotian in Bangkok alone that completed, until recently, OUT/IN at the 4 check points always mentioned.

It will take a long time to clear Savannakhet.

I think early October the 4 check points will find a common policy in order not to inconvenience too many people.

We have ask at Ban Pakard, Ban Laem and Poi Pet if we let people, even with valid visa sleep a night and provide people with a vaild ticket they will be readmited the stern answer was, " NO". No need to discuss at the moment. It is "NO".

If you are a individual traveler and travel alone, they will make decisions case by case, but for companies from Bangkok and Pattaya it is a NO, for the time being.

The borders with Laos and Malasia require you to sleep a night before coming back.

Time to issue a common policy, like the old rule 90days visa exempt in 180days, so everyone can figure out what is best.

[brewsterbudgen]

I'm a little confused by your reference to 1000 Laotian who recently completed out/in at the 4 checkpoints. Are they now allowed to do out/in border runs again?

[ubonjoe]

I'm a little confused by your reference to 1000 Laotian who recently completed out/in at the 4 checkpoints. Are they now allowed to do out/in border runs again?

I think that was in past tense. That is how many who were doing the crossings per day before the current fiasco.

[phuket Mike]

I just got back from Savannakhet (non-o multiple) yesterday they were issuing tourist visa's as usual but I'm not sure on how many entries. The place was mobbed by laotions with a queue right down the street. They also closed the doors on time stopping a lot of people applying. I got there about 8.15 and was number 21 in the queue, the pick up the next day was a bit of a free for all, the rain didn't help.

I would suspect it's going to get worse before it gets better, from what I saw at the bridge - the bus was a fight to get on I would stay at the casino. It is more expensive but they stuttle you around, across the bridge and I also believe will take you to the consulate.

[noosard]

What time does the border open for crossing in the morning

Mukdaharn to Savannakhet

[ubonjoe]

The bridge opens at 6 am but the Lao visa on arrival office does not open until 8 am.

[noosard]

Thanks for that

Have to go next week

Will post my experience on the trip

[noosard]

Drove 5 hours to Mukdahan and stayed near the bridge for 350bht

Room was clean aircon was cold

Next morning drove to the bridge 7:15am approached by taxi men declined asking 1.5-2k bht

Walked to the entrance and saw a few bus loads waiting to go so decided to take the taxi for 1.5k

I got stamped out

Wife's passport had expired so was told to go office at site and get temp leaving paper

Office not open so taxi man says can do in town

So we all went into town.

Road was busy

Got said paperwork in about 2 minutes 50bht

Back to the bridge by 8:00am

1 bus load had already gone and another was loading up

Taxi just drove up to officials gave paperwork and then straight thru

Savannakhet Immigration was very quick

Paid my 30 USD

Taxi took us to the Thai Consulate by 8:30

Had a coffee next door

About 5 farangs and 50 Lao's waiting for 9:00am opening

Lao's were all standing mainly on the garden come lawn

Official came out and looked to open other gate so they all went that way

He told them to line up on the concrete path

So as I had been standing on the path I jumped the cue from about 50th to 5th

Walked in at 9 window opened

3 farangs in front of me all got processed in no time correct paperwork

Japanesse lady in front of me had something wrong or missing short wait

My paperwork was all there including sighting original marriage cert

So was 4th

Taxi took us to the hotel 9:15 ( Avalon Residence)

Next day walked to the consulate

About 20th to receive my passport back

Tuktuk to the bridge 100 bht each 2:15pm

Went thru immigration had to wait about 20-30 mins for bus

Thai immigration

Foreign cue, I was about 7th, first guy was Chinesse , took at least 20 mins to process, his wife was next probably 10 mins

After that was only a couple of minutes per person

Drove out of the car park at 3:15pm

5 hours drive home

Thoughts

The Mukdahan and Savannakhet are a lot better than Nong Khai and Vientanne to obtain visas

The casino bus I think would be a good option