New immigration laws 2017 for people who live next to Thai border

[ubonjoe]

6 minutes ago, jrafraf73998 said:

Hey Guys, 

 

I'm just wondering if anyone has attempted to reenter Thailand without any issues? As I heard there was a new visa rule that was enforced recently (Two Border Runs Per Each Calendar Year)

 

I am a Filipino citizen residing in Malaysia. I have numerous Thai stamps on my passport so I am planning to use Sadao/Dannok border post while staying there for a night before heading back to Malaysia. I have been using this  border post since last year and relying on it up to now.

 

If that's the case, are there any alternatives that you guys are doing? What I have in mind is to fly to Had Yai (or Bangkok) then travel back to Malaysia overland.

 

Thanks guys, BTW I'm new to the forum

You can only do 2 visa exempt entries per calendar year at land border crossings per calendar year.

If you have not done any this year you would be able to do 2 of them before you would need to fly in.

If you were to fly in there is no written limit on how many you can do. Returning overland would not be a problem.

[JIMHILL]

On 12/26/2016 at 5:44 PM, reggaebkk said:

I understand if they are trying to protect themselves from people who would come to Thailand and work illegally or make dodgy business. They do a better job than most European nations to protect their people. Also they may have decided to remove the cheap long stay tourists who live on 5000 baht per month and who, in their mind, bring the image of the country down for the upscale tourism they want. It is their choice, their country after all. But in my situation, far from everything except Chanthaburi, I really feel trapped in the cross fire and it's very frustrating. If they have Asean, then they have to recognise the legality of work permit holders in other Asean countries and not handicap us. My competitors are also buying products in Thailand and this ends up being unfair practice... "no, the Farang has the right to work here but can't get supplies like his counterparts". 

 

Why are you living/working in Cambodia if you cannot get the infrastructure services you want ?

[JIMHILL]

On 2/24/2017 at 6:10 PM, bamukloy said:

My first thought when reading this.

Why dont he get a Thai do those things and cross the border?

Or even get a Cambodian to do it for that matter?

 

Most would jump at the chance to earn a few baht and probably less expensive than the farang going himself.

 

I think many ways to solve the problem as he describe it, which make me think there is some other reason he wants to cross the border he doesnt tell us

 

 

 

 

On 2/17/2017 at 3:58 PM, Mook23 said:

Im sure ANY immigration guy is willing to go to Makro for u for a "fee". That case is solved. 

Im also sure the immigration guy can get your mail. For a fee. And bring to border. Solved too ?

The bank is also possible but trickier...

 

 

Is it possible for Cambodian working foreigner to get a Cambodian bank account ?

Edited March 7, 2017 by JIMHILL
Non familiar with format . Two partial post merged !!!

[yellowboat]

On 26/12/2016 at 7:12 PM, stevenl said:

Sorry, but you can hardly blame the Thais for your supply issues.

For bad business practices, without a doubt.  Stopping customers from buying your goods due to poorly thought out laws, well, ah yeah.

[JackThompson]

12 hours ago, JIMHILL said:

Why are you living/working in Cambodia if you cannot get the infrastructure services you want ?

Maybe he isn't 50?  Cambodia is much more welcoming, in that case.  Or maybe family there.  Or likes teaching English but doesn't have a "degree in English" (being a native-speaker, and all).  I can think of many reasons.

[hgma]

Do i miss something here?

Isn't this ALL about expats living AND working in neighboring countries.

Thailand shoots itself and possible patients in the foot when prohibiting to make use of the massive promoted medical THAI hub, since really the medical standards in surrounding countries with exception of Malasia can't be compared.

And what about border town economy?

Massive investments are made in Isan by home pro Tesco and what have we to get grip on the neighboring countries costumer volume...weekly pick up trucks loaded with food etc bought in Thailand//////////// GONE!

Laos doesn't allow pensioners to get a work permit, so in fact your sucked there if your over 60 (no METV THAI)

So what and where are the border runners in this story......?

Laos?

How?

[free123]

On 26.12.2016 at 3:49 PM, reggaebkk said:

The multiple entry tourist visa could be a temporary solution but there is a limit of how many you can get per year right? And it's also a bother we don't need... only to go shopping a couple of days per month... And the Embassy is 600km away, it's a week lost and unnecessary expenses. 

I wish I could find the right person to explain the case withing the Thai authorities because this is a life changing measure for no reason at all from our point of view here. They would just need to allow holders of an Asean work permit to enter Thailand as many times as they want as long as we stay under X number of days per year, like it was until now without having to show anything. They never bothered us as long as we stayed in Thailand less than 90 days per year... which was even too long... I think I stay 20 to 30 days in Thailand every year... and only to go shopping... what the heck!! 

maybe a one year non immigrant a-o visa with multiply entry could do the trick for u.....

[JackThompson]

1 hour ago, free123 said:

maybe a one year non immigrant a-o visa with multiply entry could do the trick for u.....

If he is 50, maybe just get a regular Non-O 90-Day visa based on retirement (not the OA variety, which is only available in one's passport-country) in Laos, enter Thailand, add a re-entry permit before returning to Laos, then on the next trip within the last 30 days of that visa, get a 1 year extension with multi re-entry permit at Thai immigration, then continue living in Laos, and use that visa to come and go from Thailand as desired?  This would only require 1 trip to the Thai consulate for the original Non-O, then visits to Thai Immigration for 1-year extensions every year.

[DekDaeng]

On 12/26/2016 at 5:29 PM, reggaebkk said:

I don't think they'd give it to a small potato like me anyway. 

Doubt it, too. Some countries spec 5 mill in biz / yr -

Edited March 27, 2017 by DekDaeng

[Huayrat]

On Monday, December 26, 2016 at 5:44 PM, reggaebkk said:

I understand if they are trying to protect themselves from people who would come to Thailand and work illegally or make dodgy business. They do a better job than most European nations to protect their people. Also they may have decided to remove the cheap long stay tourists who live on 5000 baht per month and who, in their mind, bring the image of the country down for the upscale tourism they want. It is their choice, their country after all. But in my situation, far from everything except Chanthaburi, I really feel trapped in the cross fire and it's very frustrating. If they have Asean, then they have to recognise the legality of work permit holders in other Asean countries and not handicap us. My competitors are also buying products in Thailand and this ends up being unfair practice... "no, the Farang has the right to work here but can't get supplies like his counterparts". 

Bullshit.. I'm now affected by this 2 crossings rule and I've been spending 100k per month for over 7 years.. Don't Tar all with the same brush 

[DekDaeng]

It appears there is some discretion. Ask to speak to the Officer in Charge at the crossing next time you go through, explain.

 

Shirt with collar, shoes, socks even, perhaps a wai? (groan)

[papapayayae]

Just like to report I and my family, Lao expats, successfully crossed Nong Khai border visa exempt 3rd time of this year. We consist of me, my wife, 2 kids, my mother and my Lao babysitter crossed without problem in our own car. The immigration staff only asked me how long we stay, I said only one night at Udon Centara and want to take kids to Playport Udon Thani and go shopping at Central.  That's it no further question.

 

I don't know if driving in makes it easier or not, or our car makes it easier a Range Rover or the rule been relaxed for high spending expats like us. I don't know about the people trying to cross by foot.

 

I heard from some expat friends in Vientiane that Udon Nong Khai business association had some meeting about this matter, because according to Vientiane business news we foreign expats in Laos make up 5-10 percent of many Udon and Nong Khai business like Tops, Villa market, Robinson, Global, Home Pro, and many hotels, restaurants, and many entertainment venues for kids like Playport, Usotel, hospitals and clinics as well, the list goes on and on. I hope these business can make some suggestion to the Nong Khai immigration about this matter. Maybe they have already did.

 

Anyway, just report this, we will cross again in a few weeks for a weekend take the kids PC Cowboy Town in Udon and go get some import stuff at Villa and Tops. Will report again if we face difficulty.

.

 

 

[Swedie]

On 12/26/2016 at 0:36 PM, Lamkyong said:

long stay tourists who live on 5000 baht per month     ???i have a small band of people that fall into the friend category   also long stay  i am sure non of them come into your   5k a month  statement   where do you meet these people ??  

I have never seen  one

 

[anotheruser]

On 4/1/2017 at 8:42 AM, papapayayae said:

Just like to report I and my family, Lao expats, successfully crossed Nong Khai border visa exempt 3rd time of this year. We consist of me, my wife, 2 kids, my mother and my Lao babysitter crossed without problem in our own car. The immigration staff only asked me how long we stay, I said only one night at Udon Centara and want to take kids to Playport Udon Thani and go shopping at Central.  That's it no further question.

 

I don't know if driving in makes it easier or not, or our car makes it easier a Range Rover or the rule been relaxed for high spending expats like us. I don't know about the people trying to cross by foot.

 

I heard from some expat friends in Vientiane that Udon Nong Khai business association had some meeting about this matter, because according to Vientiane business news we foreign expats in Laos make up 5-10 percent of many Udon and Nong Khai business like Tops, Villa market, Robinson, Global, Home Pro, and many hotels, restaurants, and many entertainment venues for kids like Playport, Usotel, hospitals and clinics as well, the list goes on and on. I hope these business can make some suggestion to the Nong Khai immigration about this matter. Maybe they have already did.

 

Anyway, just report this, we will cross again in a few weeks for a weekend take the kids PC Cowboy Town in Udon and go get some import stuff at Villa and Tops. Will report again if we face difficulty.

.

 

 

 

I have a friend who was refused at the Ubon border a few days ago. At Chong Mek they seem to be following the rule pretty strictly. Interesting that they may be doing things differently at the Nong Kai border.

 

Awhile back the Cambodian border with Laos closed. Talk about feeling trapped like a rat if you live in the 4,000 islands area. You can't go to Thailand so where to visa hop? Cambodia... oh wait a minute. 

 

This law is proving to be a terrible burden for Laos ex pats but I wouldn't expect much sympathy here from the TV crowd. People in Laos with no work permits or visa are in a pinch at the moment and I would be rethinking what I am doing in Laos if I am them right now. 

Edited April 23, 2017 by anotheruser

[jimster]

On ‎3‎/‎14‎/‎2017 at 9:01 AM, hgma said:

Do i miss something here?

Isn't this ALL about expats living AND working in neighboring countries.

Thailand shoots itself and possible patients in the foot when prohibiting to make use of the massive promoted medical THAI hub, since really the medical standards in surrounding countries with exception of Malasia can't be compared.

And what about border town economy?

Massive investments are made in Isan by home pro Tesco and what have we to get grip on the neighboring countries costumer volume...weekly pick up trucks loaded with food etc bought in Thailand//////////// GONE!

Laos doesn't allow pensioners to get a work permit, so in fact your sucked there if your over 60 (no METV THAI)

So what and where are the border runners in this story......?

Laos?

How?

Thailand doesn't allow foreigners on retirement visas to work either. Laos is a little bit more likely to turn a blind eye to working foreigners in general, though eventually they will start cracking down too. Already they are targeting unregistered Chinese and Vietnamese nationals performing menial work, the next step will probably be checking what farangs are doing. I give it a couple more years at most.

 

Tesco, Home Pro, Mega Home etc. stores in Nong Khai and Udon Thani are primarily intended for local Thais and Lao citizens crossing the border, nobody is going to open a hardware store on the Thai side for the 1 or 2 daily falang customers who claim to live in Vientiane. Geez, what's with the sense of western entitlement in this part of the world these days?

Some simple solutions: get a METV (maybe you can still apply for one despite what you claim), or a single entry Thai TV (with re-entry permits if you intend to re-enter within 2 months), fly in to Bangkok or Chiang Mai, travel to Vietnam, China or Cambodia instead, fly to another country. Get a Lao citizen to do your shopping for you. There are many solutions for Lao based westerners.

[jimster]

21 hours ago, anotheruser said:

 

I have a friend who was refused at the Ubon border a few days ago. At Chong Mek they seem to be following the rule pretty strictly. Interesting that they may be doing things differently at the Nong Kai border.

 

Awhile back the Cambodian border with Laos closed. Talk about feeling trapped like a rat if you live in the 4,000 islands area. You can't go to Thailand so where to visa hop? Cambodia... oh wait a minute. 

 

This law is proving to be a terrible burden for Laos ex pats but I wouldn't expect much sympathy here from the TV crowd. People in Laos with no work permits or visa are in a pinch at the moment and I would be rethinking what I am doing in Laos if I am them right now. 

Re: 4000 islands. Go to Vietnam - daily minibuses from Pakse leave for various points inside Vietnam, including Danang I believe. There's a Vietnamese consulate located in Pakse, visas issued in 10 mins if you pay a little extra, 3-month multiple entry visas are also available. Visas not required for Brits, Americans, Scandinavians and a few others for trips of less than 15 days.

 

What I don't get is why are these people living in Laos always border hopping between Laos and Thailand, just because Thailand is right "there"? Get a proper visa or re-think what you are doing in Laos. I don't see why Thailand has an obligation to care about some extended tourists living in a neighboring country. It's not their problem, westerners are supposed to be rich anyway. Get a Thai visa or fly to Bangkok. How hard can that be?

 

As for the report from the user you quoted, keep in mind that the law is still relatively new. They are enforcing it at all borders, so if he got in without a visa for the 3rd time this year, he was lucky because maybe a couple of immigration officials didn't do their job properly by carefully checking his passport and their immigration computers. He might not be so lucky next time. On the other hand, maybe, it's possible that expats living on proper Lao visas, such as business visas are allowed to enter Thailand by land at the Nong Khai crossing with conditions that are not applicable to others. I have not seen anything official to verify this so until I do, take the risk if you want, but be prepared to be turned back just in case.

Edited April 24, 2017 by jimster

[brewsterbudgen]

Just like to report I and my family, Lao expats, successfully crossed Nong Khai border visa exempt 3rd time of this year. We consist of me, my wife, 2 kids, my mother and my Lao babysitter crossed without problem in our own car. The immigration staff only asked me how long we stay, I said only one night at Udon Centara and want to take kids to Playport Udon Thani and go shopping at Central.  That's it no further question.
 
I don't know if driving in makes it easier or not, or our car makes it easier a Range Rover or the rule been relaxed for high spending expats like us. I don't know about the people trying to cross by foot.
 
I heard from some expat friends in Vientiane that Udon Nong Khai business association had some meeting about this matter, because according to Vientiane business news we foreign expats in Laos make up 5-10 percent of many Udon and Nong Khai business like Tops, Villa market, Robinson, Global, Home Pro, and many hotels, restaurants, and many entertainment venues for kids like Playport, Usotel, hospitals and clinics as well, the list goes on and on. I hope these business can make some suggestion to the Nong Khai immigration about this matter. Maybe they have already did.
 
Anyway, just report this, we will cross again in a few weeks for a weekend take the kids PC Cowboy Town in Udon and go get some import stuff at Villa and Tops. Will report again if we face difficulty.
.
 
 

This is good news. Hopefully common sense will prevail.

[anotheruser]

15 minutes ago, jimster said:

Thailand doesn't allow foreigners on retirement visas to work either. Laos is a little bit more likely to turn a blind eye to working foreigners in general, though eventually they will start cracking down too. Already they are targeting unregistered Chinese and Vietnamese nationals performing menial work, the next step will probably be checking what farangs are doing. I give it a couple more years at most.

 

Tesco, Home Pro, Mega Home etc. stores in Nong Khai and Udon Thani are primarily intended for local Thais and Lao citizens crossing the border, nobody is going to open a hardware store on the Thai side for the 1 or 2 daily falang customers who claim to live in Vientiane. Geez, what's with the sense of western entitlement in this part of the world these days?

Some simple solutions: get a METV (maybe you can still apply for one despite what you claim), or a single entry Thai TV (with re-entry permits if you intend to re-enter within 2 months), fly in to Bangkok or Chiang Mai, travel to Vietnam, China or Cambodia instead, fly to another country. Get a Lao citizen to do your shopping for you. There are many solutions for Lao based westerners.

 

Your comments only show that you have no real world experience of what it is like to live in Laos next to a land border. 1 or 2 farang that live in Vientiane? Look at the list of restaurants on Tripadvisor. That remark alone discredits everything you say. Go to China instead? lol

 

You are a real piece of work.

Edited April 24, 2017 by anotheruser

[anotheruser]

9 minutes ago, jimster said:

Re: 4000 islands. Go to Vietnam - daily minibuses from Pakse leave for various points inside Vietnam, including Danang I believe. There's a Vietnamese consulate located in Pakse, visas issued in 10 mins if you pay a little extra, 3-month multiple entry visas are also available. Visas not required for Brits, Americans, Scandinavians and a few others for trips of less than 15 days.

 

What I don't get is why are these people living in Laos always border hopping between Laos and Thailand, just because Thailand is right "there"? Get a proper visa or re-think what you are doing in Laos. I don't see why Thailand has an obligation to care about some extended tourists living in a neighboring country. It's not their problem, westerners are supposed to be rich anyway. Get a Thai visa or fly to Bangkok. How hard can that be?

 

As for the report from the user you quoted, keep in mind that the law is still relatively new. They are enforcing it at all borders, so if he got in without a visa for the 3rd time this year, he was lucky because maybe a couple of immigration officials didn't do their job properly by carefully checking his passport and their immigration computers. He might not be so lucky next time. On the other hand, maybe, it's possible that expats living on proper Lao visas, such as business visas are allowed to enter Thailand by land at the Nong Khai crossing with conditions that are not applicable to others. I have not seen anything official to verify this so until I do, take the risk if you want, but be prepared to be turned back just in case.

Fly to Bangkok? That is really asking quite a lot of you live in southern Laos. It is also very expensive. You aren't offering an realistic suggestions. Why don't you just suggest people simply keel over and die? That would be an effective solution wouldn't it?

 

Nobody goes to VN to get supplies for many reasons. Again your comments only expose how ignorant you are of where things come from and how things are done. 

Edited April 24, 2017 by anotheruser

[jimster]

1 minute ago, anotheruser said:

Fly to Bangkok? That is really asking quite a lot of you live in southern Laos. It is also very expensive. You aren't offering an realistic suggestions. Why don't you just suggest people simply keel over and die? That would be an effective solution wouldn't it?

What's with your sense of entitlement? Did you read my comments at all? I suggested Vietnam, a mere 300km away from pakse. There are also flights from Pakse to Bangkok. There's a Thai consulate in Savannakhet. Or how about getting a proper Lao visa so you don't have to do any border runs?

 

Seriously, no one cares about the plight of some rich white people in Laos on tourist visas.

[anotheruser]

Just now, jimster said:

What's with your sense of entitlement? Did you read my comments at all? I suggested Vietnam, a mere 300km away from pakse. There are also flights from Pakse to Bangkok. There's a Thai consulate in Savannakhet. Or how about getting a proper Lao visa so you don't have to do any border runs?

 

Seriously, no one cares about the plight of some rich white people in Laos on tourist visas.

A mere 300km away? What town at the border is there to buy supplies from?

 

lol I have a proper Lao visa and I also have a TE visa so I have no problems of any kind. It is some people that have settled and aren't exactly rich doing honest business that are suffering. Rich people aren't the ones being starved out of basic commodities by these restrictions. 

 

 

[jimster]

6 minutes ago, anotheruser said:

 

Your comments only show that you have no real world experience of what it is like to live in Laos next to a land border. 1 or 2 farang that live in Vientiane? Look at the list of restaurants on Tripadvisor. That remark alone discredits everything you say. Go to China instead? lol

 

You are a real piece of work.

I was meant to say 1 or 2 farang customers that live in Vientiane that cross the border daily to visit Mega Home and the like in Nong Khai.

 

You really are a self-entitled arrogant person. Oh no, Thailand is cracking down, how dare they! Boo hoo, no one cares. If you can't secure a proper Lao visa, maybe it's time to think about heading back home?

[jimster]

3 minutes ago, anotheruser said:

A mere 300km away? What town at the border is there to buy supplies from?

 

lol I have a proper Lao visa and I also have a TE visa so I have no problems of any kind. It is some people that have settled and aren't exactly rich doing honest business that are suffering. Rich people aren't the ones being starved out of basic commodities by these restrictions. 

 

 

If they have settled they should have proper visas and shouldn't be affected because just like in Thailand it's illegal to work on a tourist visa. Lao immigration is still fairly lenient, but it's nevertheless against the law. If you're unaffected by these rules, why are you making such a big fuss about what happens to other people?

Edited April 24, 2017 by jimster

[anotheruser]

Just now, jimster said:

I was meant to say 1 or 2 farang customers that live in Vientiane that cross the border daily to visit Mega Home and the like in Nong Khai.

 

You really are a self-entitled arrogant person. Oh no, Thailand is cracking down, how dare they! Boo hoo, no one cares. If you can't secure a proper Lao visa, maybe it's time to think about heading back home?

I have a visa for both countries. I am not talking about my own circumstances. Many of the businesses in Laos depend on supplies to make them work. The problem with some of your suggestions is after the added expense they will not be able to make a margin on things brought back. 

 

If you think a three day trip to Viet Nam or a fight from Pakse via SVN that costs more than $100 and staying over night in Bangkok is an alternative to a day trip to Ubon or Udon you are batshit crazy.

 

The people living in Laos have done nothing to trigger this situation and haven't abused Thai immigration laws.

[anotheruser]

1 minute ago, jimster said:

If they haven't settled, by which you mean they are living on tourist visas they can't be doing any honest business because to work in Laos you need a business visa and work permit, just like in Thailand. Lao immigration is still fairly lenient, but it's nevertheless against the law. If you're unaffected by these rules, why are you making such a big fuss about what happens to other people?

Because these other people happen to friends of mine and all of them with businesses have legitimate business visas. There is no exemption for those living in Laos with work permits and businesses.

 

I mentioned one couple with no visa and said if I were them I would rethink what I was doing in Laos.

Edited April 24, 2017 by anotheruser

[jimster]

3 minutes ago, anotheruser said:

I have a visa for both countries. I am not talking about my own circumstances. Many of the businesses in Laos depend on supplies to make them work. The problem with some of your suggestions is after the added expense they will not be able to make a margin on things brought back. 

 

If you think a three day trip to Viet Nam or a fight from Pakse via SVN that costs more than $100 and staying over night in Bangkok is an alternative to a day trip to Ubon or Udon you are batshit crazy.

 

The people living in Laos have done nothing to trigger this situation and haven't abused Thai immigration laws.

Again, boo hoo sob sob. Thailand's crackdown has nothing to do with me. I didn't write the rules nor do I enforce them.  I still don't get what the problem is.

 

A legitimate business owner in Laos will have a business visa and work permit. That entitles them to apply for a Thai METV and travel in and out for 6 months at a cost of 5000 Baht. A slightly added extra amount of inconvenience but there you go, problem solved.

Edited April 24, 2017 by jimster

[anotheruser]

3 minutes ago, jimster said:

Again, boo hoo sob sob. Thailand's crackdown has nothing to do with me. I didn't write the rules nor do I enforce them.  I still don't get what the problem is.

 

A legitimate business owner in Laos will have a business visa and work permit. That entitles them to apply for a Thai METV and travel in and out for 6 months at a cost of 5000 Baht. A slightly added extra amount of inconvenience but there you go, problem solved.

I was doing nothing more than voicing some concerns the ex pat community in Laos have because of the rules. You seem to take delight in other people's predicaments. I have made a few very reasonable examples of the impact the new rules have had and you suggest the most ludicrous alternatives.

 

For this reason I am not going to bother continue this discussion with you. You are incapable of rational thought and can't grasp basic logistics.

 

Good day sir.

[jimster]

1 minute ago, anotheruser said:

I was doing nothing more than voicing some concerns the ex pat community in Laos have because of the rules. You seem to take delight in other people's predicaments. I have made a few very reasonable examples of the impact the new rules have had and you suggest the most ludicrous alternatives.

 

For this reason I am not going to bother continue this discussion with you. You are incapable of rational thought and can't grasp basic logistics.

 

Good day sir.

It seems that you have an urge to always be right even when you are losing the debate or don't know all the facts. You never addressed my mention of the METV, which I know for a fact is available for Lao based expats. I've offered you a solution but you ignore it. You dismiss every rational suggestion I've made.

 

It seems you are all about projecting your self-entitled attitude of what happens to me, me, me? I'm done here.

 

But I'll leave you with one final thought. There's nothing you can do about these laws. Thai immigration just doesn't care. Adjust somehow, otherwise deal with it. That's life.

[anotheruser]

Just now, jimster said:

It seems that you have an urge to always be right even when you are losing the debate or don't know all the facts. You never addressed my mention of the METV, which I know for a fact is available for Lao based expats. I've offered you a solution but you ignore it. You dismiss every rational suggestion I've made.

 

It seems you are all about projecting your self-entitled attitude of what happens to me, me, me? I'm done here.

 

But I'll leave you with one final thought. There's nothing you can do about these laws. Thai immigration just doesn't care. Adjust somehow, otherwise deal with it. That's life.

As said I have a Lao work permit and an Elite visa for Thailand don't worry about me I will be just fine.

[trigpoint]

5 hours ago, jimster said:

Thailand doesn't allow foreigners on retirement visas to work either. Laos is a little bit more likely to turn a blind eye to working foreigners in general, though eventually they will start cracking down too. Already they are targeting unregistered Chinese and Vietnamese nationals performing menial work, the next step will probably be checking what farangs are doing. I give it a couple more years at most.

 

Tesco, Home Pro, Mega Home etc. stores in Nong Khai and Udon Thani are primarily intended for local Thais and Lao citizens crossing the border, nobody is going to open a hardware store on the Thai side for the 1 or 2 daily falang customers who claim to live in Vientiane. Geez, what's with the sense of western entitlement in this part of the world these days?

Some simple solutions: get a METV (maybe you can still apply for one despite what you claim), or a single entry Thai TV (with re-entry permits if you intend to re-enter within 2 months), fly in to Bangkok or Chiang Mai, travel to Vietnam, China or Cambodia instead, fly to another country. Get a Lao citizen to do your shopping for you. There are many solutions for Lao based westerners.

Think you've lost the plot on Westerner's who live near the border of Thailand, whether it be Laos or Cambodia, see other posts about sending Laos or Cambodian people for their monthly shops to Tesco, massive inconvenience for expats, what they supposed to do, fly in from Vientiane or Phnom Penh and leg it across the border with their shopping? Get real, jimster.