Questions on doing a border run

[Took]

Hello,

 

I'm moving from one school to another in the same province toward the end of this month,

by which time I'm going to do a border run to Laos, not to Malaysia, which I live closer to. 

I have some questions I'd like to ask you now.

 

1.  I'm going to get a termination letter from my current school to cancel my current

visa extension.Will I have to go to the immigration office where I did the extension to

cancel it with the letter before leaving Thailand or will they let me go at a land border

post by submitting the letter to the IO? I'll have to go back to the same immigration

office to make a new visa extension with my new school within the next few months.

 

2.  I've been living in Thailand on a Non-B for more than 1 year now, which means that I

haven't entered Thailand on a visa-exempt stamp for more than 1 year now. Can I return

to Thailand on a visa-exempt entry this time or should I have to get a 2-month tourist visa

just to stay on the same side?

 

3.  Will it be easier to do a border run to Laos than to Malaysia? Will I have to show the IO

20,000B when I come back to Thailand on a visa-exempt entry? Will I have to spend at least

1 night out of Thailand before re-entering the country?

 

Thank you in advance.

[BritTim]

I think the visa exempt entry will be OK. If asked to show money, 10,000 baht on a visa exempt is sufficient, but more could not hurt. You can come right back: no overnight stay necessary. Most nationalities need a visa to enter Laos. A visa on arrival is normal, and is cheapest if you pay in US dollars.

[Took]

8 hours ago, BritTim said:

I think the visa exempt entry will be OK. If asked to show money, 10,000 baht on a visa exempt is sufficient, but more could not hurt. You can come right back: no overnight stay necessary. Most nationalities need a visa to enter Laos. A visa on arrival is normal, and is cheapest if you pay in US dollars.

Morning, BritTim,

 

Thank you for your info.

 

To be honest I didn't even know you don't have to spend a single night in Laos before coming

back to Thailand by land on a visa-exempt entry. I heard, however, that you must spend at least

1 night in Malaysia before re-entering the Kingdom by land on a visa-exempt entry and will very

often be asked to show the IO 20,000 baht cash on the spot.

[BritTim]

1 hour ago, Took said:

Morning, BritTim,

 

Thank you for your info.

 

To be honest I didn't even know you don't have to spend a single night in Laos before coming

back to Thailand by land on a visa-exempt entry. I heard, however, that you must spend at least

1 night in Malaysia before re-entering the Kingdom by land on a visa-exempt entry and will very

often be asked to show the IO 20,000 baht cash on the spot.

 

I think your belief is based on using the Sadao checkpoint with Malaysia (correct me if you are wrong). The alternative to the made up rule about a night in Malaysia is 200 baht in the passport when you hand it over. Another alternative is to use a different checkpoint, or do the in/out by air.

[Took]

On 10/8/2016 at 10:01 AM, BritTim said:

 

I think your belief is based on using the Sadao checkpoint with Malaysia (correct me if you are wrong). The alternative to the made up rule about a night in Malaysia is 200 baht in the passport when you hand it over. Another alternative is to use a different checkpoint, or do the in/out by air.

Hello BritTim,

 

That's true. I mean, I know 1 Farang man who lives in my town.

He goes to Penang for a SETV every 3 months and he says he

hands over his passport to the IO with 200B in it when he comes

back to Thailand through Sadao.

 

I think I'll probably go to Vientiane for a border run because

I'll have to go to BKK to do an errand first.

[pattayalover]

I spend not even more than 30 seconds in Lao.
once you are stamped turn left and left and get stamped at exit boot.

you can do it in 7 seconds if you run.