Just got refused exit re-entry at Mae sai fyi

[mongoose11]

Hi - flew in from UK September, extended 30 days at imm office, went to Mae sai today. Told cannot extend 30 days, must go to Laos, hence on the way.

Saw other foreigners there but unaware of their existing visa type.

[steve187]

you have already had a 30 day extension, were you trying to get a visa exempt entry, as your title heading suggests this, but you op suggests otherwise

[ubonjoe]

There have been many recent reports that Mae Sai is not allowing out/in's for visa exempt entries (they are not extensions).

Best to go to Chiang Khong.

[leighd7]

Did you not show them that you had a onward ticket ?

[tigergrl]

Ubonjoe, would you please clarify? Is Chiang Khong allowing visa exempt out/in? does that mean paying a visa fee for laos? a friend of a friend is flying
in and out doing visa runs by air. she undergoing some alternative medical treatments for cancer. i don't know exact circumstances but flying
is costly.. thanks

[ubonjoe]

Ubonjoe, would you please clarify? Is Chiang Khong allowing visa exempt out/in? does that mean paying a visa fee for laos? a friend of a friend is flying

in and out doing visa runs by air. she undergoing some alternative medical treatments for cancer. i don't know exact circumstances but flying

is costly.. thanks

Yes they will allow an out/in visa exempt crossing. If they have had several already they may question them about what she is doing.

They would need to get a Lao visa on arrival. Cost is $30 to $42 dependent on nationality.

Unless they are from a G7 country.it will only be a 15 day entry.

I assume they have been getting 30 day extensions of their entries at immigration

[tigergrl]

Ubonjoe, would you please clarify? Is Chiang Khong allowing visa exempt out/in? does that mean paying a visa fee for laos? a friend of a friend is flying

in and out doing visa runs by air. she undergoing some alternative medical treatments for cancer. i don't know exact circumstances but flying

is costly.. thanks

Yes they will allow an out/in visa exempt crossing. If they have had several already they may question them about what she is doing.

They would need to get a Lao visa on arrival. Cost is $30 to $42 dependent on nationality.

Unless they are from a G7 country.it will only be a 15 day entry.

I assume they have been getting 30 day extensions of their entries at immigration

yes, believe she's been extending at immigration, but maybe it would help her save a little to do one or two visa exempt. will pass on the info. thank you.

[mongoose11]

Hi...just literally got back from Vientiane. I fly out in a couple of weeks so thought I'd try Mai sae. Presented rtn details on phone but told u cannot get extension here. He was very pleasant but adamant. I did do this exact same thing last yr. Hadn't planned to stay over 2 mths but again flight was few days after so they were OK. My bad for not getting 3 mth TV. Now appears to be different.

[ubonjoe]

Hi...just literally got back from Vientiane. I fly out in a couple of weeks so thought I'd try Mai sae. Presented rtn details on phone but told u cannot get extension here. He was very pleasant but adamant. I did do this exact same thing last yr. Hadn't planned to stay over 2 mths but again flight was few days after so they were OK. My bad for not getting 3 mth TV. Now appears to be different.

If you had posted a little earlier you could of avoided a trip to Vientiane because you would of learned you could of gone to Chiang Khong for a new entry.

A tourist visa does not give a 90 day entry. It only allows a 60 day entry that can be extended for 30 days at an immigration office.

No changes to a single entry tourist visa. Just no more 2 or 3 entry visa since the METV became available.

[mongoose11]

Yes, I understand it only gives me 60 days of which 1.9k baht will extend it a further 30 days. Taking your option would have meant I would have got only 15 days correct? Not from G7 countries, plus I would have still had to pay for Laos visa?

I thought about heading west to Mai sot..hows it looking there? Thanks. I was checking regularly on WiFi but had no 3g to see instant updates

[ubonjoe]

Yes 15 days but you can extend it for 30 days.

Mae Sot is a firm no for out/in visa exempts entries. You must have a valid visa for re-entry.

[mongoose11]

Oh OK thanks ubon. Had no idea I could extend a 15 day at imm off in cnx. So theoretically after the 3 months is up can I extend that a further 30 days?

[BritTim]

Oh OK thanks ubon. Had no idea I could extend a 15 day at imm off in cnx. So theoretically after the 3 months is up can I extend that a further 30 days?

Each tourist entry (whether 60 days, 30 days or 15 days) can be extended once only for a further period of 30 days.

[ubonjoe]

Oh OK thanks ubon. Had no idea I could extend a 15 day at imm off in cnx. So theoretically after the 3 months is up can I extend that a further 30 days?

After the 90 days you could do the border hop for a 15 day entry and then get a 30 day extension of it.

Extensions of visa exempt entries have been allowed for over a year now.

[BritTim]

Note that, if you want to do a border run from Chiang Mai, you have the option of a same day return flight to Kuala Lumphur. If booked well in advance, you can do this for around 3,000 baht. After taking into account Lao visa and overland transport, the Lao border run is not that much cheaper. Reentering by air gets you a 30-day visa exempt rather than 15 days.

[RubbaJohnny]

Ubonjoe, would you please clarify? Is Chiang Khong allowing visa exempt out/in? does that mean paying a visa fee for laos? a friend of a friend is flying

in and out doing visa runs by air. she undergoing some alternative medical treatments for cancer. i don't know exact circumstances but flying

is costly.. thanks

Yes they will allow an out/in visa exempt crossing. If they have had several already they may question them about what she is doing.

They would need to get a Lao visa on arrival. Cost is $30 to $42 dependent on nationality.

Unless they are from a G7 country.it will only be a 15 day entry.

I assume they have been getting 30 day extensions of their entries at immigration

Lao visa is from zero to crisp clean US $45 allowing for after hours and weekend supplement.Exact figure depends on your passport , normal fee for UK is $35 plus 1-2 if considered "overtime"

Also please note the boat crossing at Chiang Khong is only for locals now.

International tourists must use the Friendship Bridge 6km south of town,if driving from South big signs and tuktuks at te junction.

From The North i.e M Sai,C Saen etc Golden Traingle and new freeway pass C Khong on dual carriageway towards Thoeng and C Rai .

The turn to the border/bridge is clearly shown in English and Thai.

Local Guests house can arrange lifts, tuktuks are around 100+ depending on luggage and negotiating skills.

No cyclists nor pedestrians are allowed to cross, must take 20 baht bus, which can take peddle cycles.

Last time I checked motorcycles were having to make special arrangements and you should check , do not expect to be allowed to take a thai rental car/bike out without special permission nor a car with a finance agreement.My wifes thai car all paid needs to buy extra Car passport and Lao insurance so arrive early to sort this out

The local airport is another 3 miles after the Casino and c100 baht ride, into the town of Ban Huay Zai 200-300 for the quays and boats to Luang Prabang,ban Pak Beng etc

[thaiman]

Can you cross at mai sai if you have a tourist visa with a re-entry? Purpose would be to travel around Burma for less than two weeks.

[ubonjoe]

Can you cross at mai sai if you have a tourist visa with a re-entry? Purpose would be to travel around Burma for less than two weeks.

If you have a valid visa for re-entry you can cross. Check the enter before date on your visa to be sure it will still be valid when you wish to re-enter.

If you are only getting a Myanmar border pass you can only stay in the local area with it.