Non O Vientiane

Currently in Vientiane waiting to pick up my passport and hopefully Non O tomorrow.

Got to Thai Embassy / Consular Services at 07:45 this morning and there must have already been around 200 people there, mainly visa runners. A bit confusing to a first timer.

A long queue at one side, and a lot of people sitting undercover. I joined the queue which was quite short, and after asking someone, they told me I needed to join the crowd sitting under the covered area to obtain a number.

So at 08:30 the whole crowd sitting start to move seats, slowly moving forward, row by row towards two women at a desk. This is where you get your number. this crowd moves fairly quickly, as a lot of them are quickly given numbers by their visa run companies.

The other queue at the side that I originally joined (don't know what they were queuing for) was by now back to the gate.

After getting my number, I was told to join the queue at window no.2. for document check. This queue moves really slowly. Several people were sent away for wrong documents or whatever reasons.

I thought I had covered all bases, but no...I took:

Completed visa application form and two photos (white background).

Copy passport ID page.

Copy last Thai visa.

Copy Lao visa.

Letter from bank stamped and signed.

Copies of all bank book pages stamped by bank.

Original bank book. Didn't ask to see it.

Letter from myself as owner verifying that I lived at my address.

Proof of address certificate from Immigration (Originally for selling my motorbike).

THB2,000 fee.

Was Sent away to get copy of Lao entry stamp. 1,000kip for copy. Told to come back to front of queue once obtained.

Didn't even ask to see house paper which I also had with me.

Also told payment (THB2,000) is now next day when picking up visa. I think this might be different from before.

So arrived 07:45, out by 09:50.

Back tomorrow afternoon for passport...and fingers crossed, non O.