Thailand - Laos 2 hour Border Run with Retirement Visa (no stay in Laos)

[BB24]

I have non-imm O-A retirement Visa. The 12 months was almost up, so I did a border run at the Nong Khai ‘friendly bridge’ border with Laos, while visiting friends near Udon Thani. I now have another 12 months permission to stay stamped in Passport and on Departure card. I found some good advice here and on other sites on how to do it - here is my experience and more details that may help some others.

Drove to Nong Khai in my own car, so those that get a bus from Udon Thani can skip step one. There is a parking site 100 meters on the left just before the border crossing station at the bridge and it was 50 baht for the time I parked it (2-3 hours). Apparently there are more secure/undercover parking places further away for those wanting to stay in Laos for a day or two at about 100 Baht per day, but I wanted to be close (and not need a tuk tuk to get to the border station).

When I arrived there was a huge number of trucks backed up and I started thinking I was too late – arrived at 11.30am. I had decided to avoid the early morning horde of Visa runners in buses. After noticing a few cars drive around the trucks (on other side of road) I followed suit and was able to then squeeze between two trucks (following another car) and get into the side road where the carpark was located. I noticed that all the trucks were lined up and went into the left side of the border crossing – whereas cars went through on the right lanes. The cars went through OK, but I reckon the trucks would take several hours just to get to the border station.

At the border station (literally a 3 min walk from carpark), there are facilities and ATMS and even photocopying and photo services. There are several touters offering ‘private’ transport to take you across the bridge, but I had already decided to follow the herd and get on the 20 baht regular bus. There are also touts hanging around that can provide details of taxi drivers on the Laos side if needed to visit Vientiane (lunch and back?) – not for me on that day.

At the checkpoint, there are a few tables where you can complete your departure card if you have not already done so – and friendly advisers if you need to ask questions or get a new one. After sorting that out, I went to the immigration stands and was quickly stamped out of Thailand by the immigration official. It only took a few minutes as there was not a big queue at the time. At busy periods there are apparently many other visa runners and tourists, so you might be forced to queue and wait a lot longer – not an issue for me and it was Monday.

Once your passport has been stamped, you go through another gate/post and security and then immediately on the left is a window where you can buy a ticket for the bus that runs between the Thai and Laos sides of bridge (you cannot walk across and it is several kilometres anyway). There appears to be several types of buses (old and newer) – I was lucky to get a new air-con one and a seat immediately. Once full the bus will leave - the trip to the other side and the Laos border station took about 10 mins including wait.

At the Laos immigration and customs post, a 30-day visa on arrival will be given automatically (unless from wrong country – check their web site). You get an application card/form from window 1 and complete at the provided tables. PS –pens provided, but take a pen with you anyway. You then go to window 2 and pay 1300baht and hand over passport and form/card. You then wait at windows 3 – about 10 mins and passport with Visa is handed out – dont go away from the area – they seem to just hold it out till someone takes it. This is where I met a guy from Germany doing the run – he had done it several times and didn’t have all the unnecessary khrapp/bags I had brought with me (everything he needed was in his shorts). That will be me next time – cool and unflustered – not the newbie carrying everything but a kitchen sink - totally not needed.

After you collect your passport, you continue on and walk past the immigration booths through the left side. The immigration booths to the right are for others, not you in this process. You then continue on through the security check and gates – they will open side and let you though – the ones that open/close with cards are for others. There is unlikely to be any checking carried out, but you never know, so always be prepared to be searched. or questioned There is one last desk where you show your passport again, and after that you have crossed into Laos.

To exit Laos, simply turn left immediately after passing the last desk. Join the queues waiting at the immigration booths just around the corner. Unlike on the Thai side it is not indoors and no fans were working –the 15 minute wait was not comfortable – take water with you. Show passport and your departure card (complete if not already done so) and get stamped out of the country. There is yet another a security checkpoint, and this is where you need to have got a card to use to pass though those automatic turnstyle type gates - gien bak with passport and card. Again – there are helpful friendly officials - just be careful to only talk to those in uniform or helping people complete their documents – touts are everywhere and on the Laos side are a lot more ‘aggressive’. PS - Dont get aggressive/annoyed – just smile and say no thank you and they will leave you alone.

Immediately after security, and on the left, is the window to buy tickets on the next bus to take you back across the bridge. There was a large queue of people waiting, and I later found out that this was because the bridge becomes jammed up with trucks and cars by early afternoon. I was fortunate enough not to be able to get on the first old hot bus that arrived as I was late. It had people jammed in and hanging on like a songthaew when it left. Not long after it left, a bigger more modern bus arrived (curtains and fans that worked but no air-con). I suggest you dont ever jam yourself into an old bus – wait for the next one. And the reason I was ‘late’ was because I walked across the road and bought some water – and there was my German mate sitting back having a beer (talk about having it all sorted out). The shuttle bus takes you back over the bridge to the Thai customs checkpoint. This trip took about 20 minutes because the bridge was blocked several times by cars trying to get passed the trucks.

Back at the Thai end of the bridge, pick up a new arrival/departure card, and complete that and then join the queues (inside) to the immigration booths – the ones on the right with signs in Thai only are for the Thais only. Took about 15 minutes to get through – tip: avoid the queue with young backpackers, they seemed to take the longest and this is probably because they have not completed their forms properly. The Thai immigration official will stamp your passport and departure card - good to be back in the land of smiles! Before you leave the booth, open the passport and take a look at the stamps on both passport and departure card. They had stamped my passport arrival date and the date of departure for Nov2016, but they had not stamped the departure date on my Departure card. When I asked, he said it was not needed, but I smiled and asked if he would please do so and he did – all good.

About 2hours (plus the drive there and back) and I now I have another 12 months in Thailand, and with the original 12 months (less one day), that means 2 years in Thailand on the one Visa. Next year I will go back home and get a new ‘retirement’ Visa and do the same process again to get 2 years from it too. There are benefits in being over 50!! For those thinking it, my 12 month retirement Visa has not been extended, what has been extended is my permission to stay in Thailand. If I leave before November next year, without getting a permission to leave and re-enter document beforehand (1900 baht), my Visa is automatically cancelled and I will need to get a new one (or accept the automatic 30 days Visa when I return). And I must still ‘report’ every 90 days too of course – no one escapes that little gem of ‘bureaucrazy’.

[elviajero]

For those thinking it, my 12 month retirement Visa has not been extended, what has been extended is my permission to stay in Thailand. If I leave before November next year, without getting a permission to leave and re-enter document beforehand (1900 baht), my Visa is automatically cancelled and I will need to get a new one (or accept the automatic 30 days Visa when I return).

Your permission to stay has not been extended. Nothing has been extended.

The visa allows multiple entries on or before the last day that the visa is valid ('enter before' date). Each entry is granted a 1 year stay. You were granted a new 1 year permission to stay on your recent entry.

Your visa is "cancelled" at the end of the original one year validity ('enter before') which is November 2015. Your 2nd year stay will be without a valid visa, so if you want to leave during that year you need to buy a re-entry permit in order to keep your permission to stay alive until November 2016. If you don't use re-entry permits in that 2nd year the permission to stay will be "cancelled".

Single entry re-entry permits are 1,000 baht not 1,900 baht.

[BB24]

For those thinking it, my 12 month retirement Visa has not been extended, what has been extended is my permission to stay in Thailand. If I leave before November next year, without getting a permission to leave and re-enter document beforehand (1900 baht), my Visa is automatically cancelled and I will need to get a new one (or accept the automatic 30 days Visa when I return).

Your permission to stay has not been extended. Nothing has been extended.

The visa allows multiple entries on or before the last day that the visa is valid ('enter before' date). Each entry is granted a 1 year stay. You were granted a new 1 year permission to stay on your recent entry.

Your visa is "cancelled" at the end of the original one year validity ('enter before') which is November 2015. Your 2nd year stay will be without a valid visa, so if you want to leave during that year you need to buy a re-entry permit in order to keep your permission to stay alive until November 2016. If you don't use re-entry permits in that 2nd year the permission to stay will be "cancelled".

Single entry re-entry permits are 1,000 baht not 1,900 baht.

We are in 'violent agreement' regarding your paragraph 1. Allow me to be more specific - my permission to stay has been extended from the date 12 months after I first arrived in Thailand on my Visa (from December 2015 to November 2016).

You are wrong about my Visa - it has 'expired' it has not been 'cancelled' and it is still VALID. A Visa is permission to ENTER a country - I have legally ENTERED Thailand on that Visa. When I leave Thailand next, because the Visa has expired, it will then be cancelled and then it is not 'valid' (exception - see below re re-entry permit). Iam no longer able to ENTER Thailand without a new Visa. But while I am here, up until November 2016, the Visa is valid - it is my valid permission to ENTER Thailand and stay for a certain period (12 months). A bit of semantics I know, and we basiclly agree, but there is a lot of misunderstanding out there about Visas to enter, and permission to stay, and that is why I made the point that my Visa has not been extended - only my permission to stay under that Visa has been extended. Many people do not realise that they may have extended their permission to stay, but they have not extended their Visa (which is official permission to ENTER). Some people have left for another trip and come back to find that they no longer have the full 12 months permission to stay - they thought they had extended their Visa on their previous out and in, but they had not.

You are right about the permit to re-enter, if I leave before November 2016 - it basically 'holds' my permission to stay date for me - even though my Visa has expired - and allows me to re-enter. I also hope you are right about the fee - if I need to use that option.

[elviajero]

For those thinking it, my 12 month retirement Visa has not been extended, what has been extended is my permission to stay in Thailand. If I leave before November next year, without getting a permission to leave and re-enter document beforehand (1900 baht), my Visa is automatically cancelled and I will need to get a new one (or accept the automatic 30 days Visa when I return).

Your permission to stay has not been extended. Nothing has been extended.

The visa allows multiple entries on or before the last day that the visa is valid ('enter before' date). Each entry is granted a 1 year stay. You were granted a new 1 year permission to stay on your recent entry.

Your visa is "cancelled" at the end of the original one year validity ('enter before') which is November 2015. Your 2nd year stay will be without a valid visa, so if you want to leave during that year you need to buy a re-entry permit in order to keep your permission to stay alive until November 2016. If you don't use re-entry permits in that 2nd year the permission to stay will be "cancelled".

Single entry re-entry permits are 1,000 baht not 1,900 baht.

We are in 'violent agreement' regarding your paragraph 1. Allow me to be more specific - my permission to stay has been extended from the date 12 months after I first arrived in Thailand on my Visa (from December 2015 to November 2016).

You are wrong about my Visa - it has 'expired' it has not been 'cancelled' and it is still VALID. A Visa is permission to ENTER a country - I have legally ENTERED Thailand on that Visa. When I leave Thailand next, because the Visa has expired, it will then be cancelled and then it is not 'valid' (exception - see below re re-entry permit). Iam no longer able to ENTER Thailand without a new Visa. But while I am here, up until November 2016, the Visa is valid - it is my valid permission to ENTER Thailand and stay for a certain period (12 months). A bit of semantics I know, and we basiclly agree, but there is a lot of misunderstanding out there about Visas to enter, and permission to stay, and that is why I made the point that my Visa has not been extended - only my permission to stay under that Visa has been extended. Many people do not realise that they may have extended their permission to stay, but they have not extended their Visa (which is official permission to ENTER). Some people have left for another trip and come back to find that they no longer have the full 12 months permission to stay - they thought they had extended their Visa on their previous out and in, but they had not.

You are right about the permit to re-enter, if I leave before November 2016 - it basically 'holds' my permission to stay date for me - even though my Visa has expired - and allows me to re-enter. I also hope you are right about the fee - if I need to use that option.

I'm not wrong. You used the word "cancelled". I was trying to help your understanding by using your terminology.

• Your visa would have been valid for 1 year from issue. It will have an 'enter before" date printed on it. Once that date is passed the visa has expired and is no longer valid as a means the enter the country.
• If you leave Thailand after the visa's 'enter before' date the only way to keep your stay alive is with a re-entry permit.
• I assure you that you haven't extended anything. You were granted a new 1 year stay.

[elviajero]

<removed> rule 7

• You don't/didnt have a retirement visa. You had a Non-immigrant 'O-A' (Long stay) visa.
• You went out/in on Nov 16th so that on re-entry you would be granted a new 1 year permit to stay.
• Your previous permission to stay until June 2016 ended when you exited Thailand on Nov 16th.
• You didn't extend your permission to stay date. You are now admitted until Nov 15th 2016 because you entered on Nov 16th 2015 with a valid visa that granted you a 1 year stay.
• Extensions of stay can only be obtained at an immigration office and not at borders.

I am not the one causing confusion, you are. I am not being pedantic but correcting your terminology and understanding because it's wrong.

Don't worry about the speed of your typing, try not to take things personally and try to learn something.

[CharlieH]

Post removed.

7) You will respect fellow members and post in a civil manner. No personal attacks, hateful or insulting towards other members, (flaming) Stalking of members on either the forum or via PM will not be allowed.

[BB24]

<removed> rule 7

• You don't/didnt have a retirement visa. You had a Non-immigrant 'O-A' (Long stay) visa.
• You went out/in on Nov 16th so that on re-entry you would be granted a new 1 year permit to stay.
• Your previous permission to stay until June 2016 ended when you exited Thailand on Nov 16th.
• You didn't extend your permission to stay date. You are now admitted until Nov 15th 2016 because you entered on Nov 16th 2015 with a valid visa that granted you a 1 year stay.
• Extensions of stay can only be obtained at an immigration office and not at borders.

I am not the one causing confusion, you are. I am not being pedantic but correcting your terminology and understanding because it's wrong.

Don't worry about the speed of your typing, try not to take things personally and try to learn something.

Lets just agree to disagree - and you need to listen and learn more than I do.

There is a very good lengthy document available on another website written by a Visa professional - you should try to find it.

[Eclipse]

<removed> rule 7

• You don't/didnt have a retirement visa. You had a Non-immigrant 'O-A' (Long stay) visa.
• You went out/in on Nov 16th so that on re-entry you would be granted a new 1 year permit to stay.
• Your previous permission to stay until June 2016 ended when you exited Thailand on Nov 16th.
• You didn't extend your permission to stay date. You are now admitted until Nov 15th 2016 because you entered on Nov 16th 2015 with a valid visa that granted you a 1 year stay.
• Extensions of stay can only be obtained at an immigration office and not at borders.

I am not the one causing confusion, you are. I am not being pedantic but correcting your terminology and understanding because it's wrong.

Don't worry about the speed of your typing, try not to take things personally and try to learn something.

Lets just agree to disagree - and you need to listen and learn more than I do.

There is a very good lengthy document available on another website written by a Visa professional - you should try to find it.

Howabout a link to this other website? Then maybe we can all learn

[steve187]

BB24

a very good helpful post, but in the case of the terminology you are wrong, a visa once used is not good anymore, unless it has another entry or is multi entry. and regardless of the amount of entries on the visa it is no longer of any use once the use by/enter before date has been reached.

what you did was get a fresh permission to stay stamp on the strengh of the visa, that permission to stay stamp superceeds/ replaces the visa.

the posters on here are not paid to give advice, as would a visa professional, they give the advice because they want to help, and have been in the thread posters shoes themself before.

most of the long term, high post score posters, are spot on with the advice they give, dont dig your heels in, we can all be slightly off the bullseye with our knowledge. and on this occasion you were.

Many many posters on here have gone wrong, because of the wrong terminology used. it may be pedantic at times but rules are precise, and need to be approached in that manner.

[bangmai]

I did the same trip, right before my visa expired. Especially with the situation at CM Immigration that is likely the best way to go. Should have used Dollars at the border, though.

[BB24]

BB24

a very good helpful post, but in the case of the terminology you are wrong, a visa once used is not good anymore, unless it has another entry or is multi entry. and regardless of the amount of entries on the visa it is no longer of any use once the use by/enter before date has been reached.

what you did was get a fresh permission to stay stamp on the strengh of the visa, that permission to stay stamp superceeds/ replaces the visa.

the posters on here are not paid to give advice, as would a visa professional, they give the advice because they want to help, and have been in the thread posters shoes themself before.

most of the long term, high post score posters, are spot on with the advice they give, dont dig your heels in, we can all be slightly off the bullseye with our knowledge. and on this occasion you were.

Many many posters on here have gone wrong, because of the wrong terminology used. it may be pedantic at times but rules are precise, and need to be approached in that manner.

Fair enough Steve - good point - that guy just got my back up. My original post was meant to be about how to actually do a one-day 'swing around' border run - the actual details and description of everything involved. Getting 'flamed' by someone over terminology after having spent quite a bit of time writing up the details, just got me going. Yes - I have a multi-entry Visa and I should have made that more clear - but the post was more about how I did on my last valid day in under 2 hours - that I got 2 years in Thailand from the one Visa was just a comment. My post was meant to be about what to do where to go and what window etc. so others could follow my guide. I had Thai GF with me and without her it would have been a lot harder, and I would proabably have stuffed it up, so I thought I would right it all out in detail for the benefit of those thinking of doing it by themselves.

To those asking for that document - unfortunately the rules of TV (besides not abusing those criticising you unfairly), is that you cannot link to other Expat sites/forums.

Maybe I can say it is a forum/site based in Pattaya and that will be allowed??

[elviajero]

You need to relax! I'm sure you're post is useful and welcomed by many. All I did was point out the wrong information you gave about your visa. I'm sure your "visa professional" would agree that, if someone is going to make a public posting, the information given should be accurate.

[JLCrab]

... or even easier especially if you have a car:

Stop in and get your PDR Lao visa at the Lao consulate in Khon Kaen now located right on the Mittraphap Highway #2 just north of town.

[BB24]

You need to relax! I'm sure you're post is useful and welcomed by many. All I did was point out the wrong information you gave about your visa. I'm sure your "visa professional" would agree that, if someone is going to make a public posting, the information given should be accurate.

You may be technically correct Elviajero - but you overstepped my mark and it was unecessary. Given you have again responded (even though I said lets 'agree to disagree'), I decided to check you out a bit and ascertained that you are not a Troll just rubbing me the wrong way. You have clearly provided a lot of very useful information to those seeking advice regarding Visa issues - in fact it seems that you specialise in that area and I congratulate you on helping so many people. However, if I may say so without getting more 'correction' back from you, perhaps you dont need to take something out of context and get in someone's face and correct their use of terminology so bluntly. Taken in context, what I said in my post is correct - you took it out of context and therefore saw that it was wrong and therefore decided to correct it/me. I used the term 'Violent Agreement' because that means two people arguing about the same thing, but coming from a different angle (context) and therefore thinking the other is wrong. I can see that looking at what I said in the post from a certain angle/context would make it seem incorrect, but from my context it is/was correct.