Hello All,

Yesterday my Filipino friend and I arrived back from Singapore at Chiang Mai. He has been staying in Thailand for already for four months, going out and returning and extending his visa exempt entries, all legitimately done.

This time he was stopped. The immigration officers were polite, understanding, and helpful, and they gave him another 30 day entry, but they said that this was the last time he could do this, and he would have to leave by March 7.

I asked the officer when he could come back to Thailand and was told anytime, but further visa exempt entries were blocked on the immigration's computers and that he should go home to the Philippines and get a tourist visa from the Thai Consulate in Manila, and then he could come back in.

My question is this: Can my friend instead just go to Vientiane in the interim and get an ordinary single entry tourist visa there instead of having to go back to the Philippines?

Many thanks for your help. Cheers!

Yes he can....but be aware that Filipino nationals often have difficulties getting a visa from the Thai consulate there.

It is my understanding that the reason for this is not the Thai consulate but with the Filipino government......and usually applies mostly to Filipina women wanting to come to Thailand....and involves getting a passport initially.

Since your friend already has one this may not apply to him.

But just be aware there could be a possible problem.

Just fro some history....in the past Filipina women traveling to work in The Middle East as maids, and also male Filipino workers going to the Gulf countries have had problems with their employers.

That is why the Filipino government is so touchy about passports.

Edited February 8, 201610 yr by IMA_FARANG

I have seen Philippine nationals get visas in Vientiane in the past, and am aware of no changes that would prevent it now. You could ask one of the visa run companies.

Note that an out/in by air for another visa exempt entry might well work. The computer alert is not an instruction to deny entry, but to scrutinize whether the traveler is a genuine tourist. At land borders they refuse entry more readily than at airports. When entering by air, she will likely be OK if she can satisfy the IO that she has the money to support herself without working.

Yes he can....but be aware that Filipino nationals often have difficulties getting a visa from the Thai consulate there.

It is my understanding that the reason for this is not the Thai consulate but with the Filipino government......and usually applies mostly to Filipina women wanting to come to Thailand....and involves getting a passport initially.

Since your friend already has one this may not apply to him.

But just be aware there could be a possible problem.

Just fro some history....in the past Filipina women traveling to work in The Middle East as maids, and also male Filipino workers going to the Gulf countries have had problems with their employers.

That is why the Filipino government is so touchy about passports.

How would a person applying for a visa in Vientiane be effected by the the Philippine government'a immigration rules.

no problem, there are, from Bangkok, at least two agencies that bring Filipinos to Vientiane/Laos to apply fro Single Entry Tourist Visa.

thaivisaservice and meesuk.

As long as they are out of the Philippines they have no problem with the Filipino immigration or getting visa in Laos.

But if going back to the Philippines he might be stopped from leaving the Philippines! I have a friend who worked hear for 4 years and then went home for holiday, he was denied EXIT when he was about to travel back to Thailand even thou he had a valid Non-B visa and Work Permit from Thailand. His employer at had to send him a letter and a copy of his contract to give to the Filipino immigration before he was aloud to leave!

Thanks very much to those who replied to my question. Your information is much appreciated.

I do have a follow up question. Evidently there is a chance that my Filipino friend's application for a Tourist Visa in Vientiane might be denied. What happens then? He has been told by Chiang Mai Immigration officials that he can't enter Thailand again without a visa. Will he have to fly home to the Philippines somehow from Laos? Will Thai Immigration let him in for 7 days so he can get a ticket out?

Thanks very much to those who replied to my question. Your information is much appreciated.

I do have a follow up question. Evidently there is a chance that my Filipino friend's application for a Tourist Visa in Vientiane might be denied. What happens then? He has been told by Chiang Mai Immigration officials that he can't enter Thailand again without a visa. Will he have to fly home to the Philippines somehow from Laos? Will Thai Immigration let him in for 7 days so he can get a ticket out?

The chance of him being denied a tourist visa is small.

He would be enter the country and get a 15 day entry if he did not get the tourist visa. Don't take what Chiang Mai immigration said seriously it is not backed up by any written rules.

Thanks, Ubonjoe. I think we'll give it a go.