Nong Khai -Vientiane New Fast Track System

[jjablonsky]

New Fast Track System…

OK I don’t make the border crossing often thankfully, but because of a little snafu I had to go recently.

Here is my latest experience.

OK Nov. 3 head to Nong Khai to go to Vientiane. Arrive at border, fill out papers, pay 1500.00 baht, get visa and go to the Royal Thai Embassy.

Arrive at the embassy to find that on Nov. 2 they made a change in the way they do things (nothing unusual about that, never been there when things were the same 2 times in a row anyway)

They have implemented a “Fast Track” system for Tourist and Transit Visas, this did not apply to me but it seems to have greatly decreased my wait time. On that day I submitted my paperwork and was in and out in about 15 minutes. Man this is GREAT I thought.

Then came the pick up. Came back next day to retrieve my visa we were all ushered in to sit down and wait. No more going inside the embassy and you now pay for the visa on the day of pick up. So we are all sitting outside waiting and apparently the idea of “Fast Track” only applies for the dropping off of your paperwork, because there was absolutely no semblance of fast track for picking up visas. We’re all sitting there and waiting and they are only using one window calling you by your assigned number 1 by 1. I was in the 200’s and did not get out until 3:45

Now to me personally I would have rather waited and took longer the first day when I already had to stay overnight rather than I the day I want go home.

Anyway it was nice they thought about improving the system, next time they just have to put some actual thought into improving the system.

And oh yeah, now not only did I have to pay the customary screw the farong charge of 1500 baht to get into Vientiane but I now had to pay 35 baht to get a little card to get out of the country. Nothing says Welcome like an “Open your wallet” sign.

Just saying...

[jollyhangmon]

... no fast TV tracking or any box-dropping on the 4th neither, but yes it's announced as you said my man jablonsky.

Just lining up in the morning (starts around 8 to 8.30) to give your 'documents' to a clerk as always, she checks and if everything ok keeps it & hands you out some sort of infosheet plus consecutive numbers tacked to it to pick up your hopefully processed passport the following day.

Not only do you need 2 pics plus a passport-copy but also 1 copy of your current Thai exitstamp as well as Lao entrystamp now which is announced there too but nowhere to be seen on the back of the applicationform (website?) where all the rest is printed as well (meaning 1 passport-copy and 2 pics - WHITE background this time, just not to get bored probably ...?!).

Take care you got that copy out front for about 5 THB as that worthless p.o.s.- scammer working the photocopier inside (lefthand, on the steps of the actual building) tries to rip off up to some 80 THB (yes, eighty !!) from people who found out about that pretty new 'requirement' while they where already in line to submit their bs.

No payment on first day.

Next (working)day - and it has to be the next day, otherwise your granted visa will be voided (which is amongst other places stamped on said infosheet you get with your number) & you could apply once again !! - pickup of processed passport officially starting from 1pm. If you got a low pickup-number the day before make sure you're there in time as it goes by that numbers as described by the OP above. Payment happens on pickup, 1 grand THB per entry for the time beeing.

JJ, the added screw-extension of THB 35.- on leaving the friendly country of Laos to get your 'exitcard' you paid because you left after 4pm, i got screwed vice-versa for additional 1 USD on entering said country before 8am. Never boring with all them superimportant officials, ain't it?!

Now this is how it happened November 04/05, 2015 anno domini, could be all different today already ...

Some more advice about transport:

<> Small bus just to cross friendship-bridge borderpost to borderpost should be THB 20.-

<> For transport border => Consular section Thai embassy Vientiane (a good 20km) do not accept more than 200.- THB per person, that was for a nice aircon minibus with just 3 of us blokes inside around 7 am. If you think you've got more time there are public buses doing the same for a fraction of that sum.

<> Same goes for the other direction but as there's usually more time on hand i would advice to take an 'international Thai/Lao bus' out of Vientiane which is also airconed and nicely waits for everyone to finish their borderbusinesses on both sides of the bridge and then drops you off at either NongKhai busterminal or Udonthani or Khon Kaen, maybe other destinations too, there's even one directly to BKK at 8pm.

Price for NongKhai was just 20k KIP or around 80.- THB.

Busterminal is called KHUA DIN, see map below, one can walk there from consular section/embassy - a tuktuk will rip you off minimum 80.-THB, for same dough you get from there to inner NongKhai (some good 30km) already!

[ozyjon]

It's not fun any more

all getting too hard

[JackThompson]

Consular section Thai embassy Vientiane (a good 20km) do not accept more than 200.- THB per person, that was for a nice aircon minibus with just 3 of us blokes inside around 7 am.

My last trip 2 mo ago - same procedure at the consulate then. A tuk-tuk ride for that hop from border to consulate was 100Baht per-person.

[questionsreplies]

You really pay on the day you collect your visa now ?