2X Land Border Rule Rescinded?

[PREM-R]

On 12th January I received the following notification from the UK government.

 

Laos travel advice

12-01-2017 14:22 PM GMT

Latest update: Entry requirements section – as of 31 December 2016, you're only allowed to enter Thailand through a land border twice per calendar year using the 30-day visa exemption; for any additional land border crossings you’ll need to obtain a visa in advance of travelling; this doesn’t apply to entry by air into Thailand; contact your nearest Thai Embassy or Consulate for further information

 

Today, 28th January I have received this further notification from UK government

 

Laos travel advice

27-01-2017 12:01 PM GMT

Latest update: Entry requirements section - removal of information and advice regarding entry into Thailand via the land border

 

So it seems that, according to UK government, the 2X land entry rule has been removed.  I wonder if Thai immigration at the borders know anything about this?

[ubonjoe]

It would not be possible for that to be done so quick. To rescind the ministerial order would require it to posted in the Royal Gazette for 30 days.

Since the alert mentioned Laos perhaps they have done a waiver of the rule for those residing in Laos and perhaps those from other neighboring countries since the intent of the new rule was meant to limit those staying here from doing border hops for a new visa exempt entry.

[visarunner]

some of our customers got the mark No 2 on their visa exempt stamp today at Ban Laem.

[soisanuk]

Quote

 

So it seems that, according to UK government, the 2X land entry rule has been removed.  I wonder if Thai immigration at the borders know anything about this?

 

Does it?  It is possible the reference to removal of entry rules may apply to the Thailand entry rules before the 2X entry rule was put in place, i.e., reference is to removal of previously posted information, which could have been the "old" rules.

 

The comment is really not clear as to what was removed.

[FritsSikkink]

it should be in the Laos travel advice but in Thailand travel advice

[elviajero]

8 hours ago, PREM-R said:

So it seems that, according to UK government, the 2X land entry rule has been removed.

It doesn't seem or say that at all. They have simply removed the information.

[Sydebolle]

Get it from the horse's mouth; the UK government is relaying something they got from somewhere. Somchais with the stamp at those funny little desks execute regulations, bend them to their liking sometimes but tend to take instructions from the big masters in Bangkok only.

Needless to say that Thailand shot itself - once more again - in their own foot as far as Lao residents are concerned. Running a restaurant in Huay Xay, Vientiane, Thakhek, Savannakhet or Pakse means, that you shop in Thailand for supplies (absolutely true, unless you're in the local noodle soup business).

The sales of those supermarkets along the Thai-Lao border must have significantly dropped as a Lao and the German are the same "non-Thais".

The writing is on the wall - too many clowns with ideas and definitely not enough circuses! 

[visarunner]

The 2x rules does not apply for Laotian.

 

[BillyBob65]

I live in Ubon and just returned yesterday from the Chong Mek border crossing. I was told about this new rule specifically by the immigration officer. They have not rescinded this new rule. 2 times a year at land borders for those countries listed in the message above.

[Thanyaburi Mac]

However, things seem to be evolving.  Below an email I just received from an expat friend in Vientiane.

 

Mac

 

The Thai embassy here has solved the Nong Khai shopping problem for non-ASEAN foreigners living in Vientiane.

They will give us a 6-month multiple-entry visa for 1 or 2 thousand baht.

I know somebody who just got one.

[Lovethailandelite]

53 minutes ago, Thanyaburi Mac said:

However, things seem to be evolving.  Below an email I just received from an expat friend in Vientiane.

 

Mac

 

The Thai embassy here has solved the Nong Khai shopping problem for non-ASEAN foreigners living in Vientiane.

They will give us a 6-month multiple-entry visa for 1 or 2 thousand baht.

I know somebody who just got one.

Yer right! Do they have a Black Friday sale on? The Thai Embassy's have always had a reputation of helping the needy foreigner. I may well pop along to Jomtien immigration on Monday just to see what offers they have on this week. I think your mate may well have been misled.

[elviajero]

8 minutes ago, Lovethailandelite said:

Yer right! Do they have a Black Friday sale on? The Thai Embassy's have always had a reputation of helping the needy foreigner. I may well pop along to Jomtien immigration on Monday just to see what offers they have on this week. I think your mate may well have been misled.

Why not? As long as they are resident in Laos there's no reason they can't apply for an METV.

[Lite Beer]

1 hour ago, Thanyaburi Mac said:

However, things seem to be evolving.  Below an email I just received from an expat friend in Vientiane.

 

Mac

 

The Thai embassy here has solved the Nong Khai shopping problem for non-ASEAN foreigners living in Vientiane.

They will give us a 6-month multiple-entry visa for 1 or 2 thousand baht.

I know somebody who just got one.

Highly unlikely unless they are referring to the Multi Entry Tourist Visa which costs a lot more than 1 or 2 thousand baht.

[Lovethailandelite]

2 minutes ago, elviajero said:

Why not? As long as they are resident in Laos there's no reason they can't apply for an METV.

At a cut down price for expats of 1000bht or 2000bt. How does that work?

[phuketrichard]

16 hours ago, Sydebolle said:

Get it from the horse's mouth; the UK government is relaying something they got from somewhere. Somchais with the stamp at those funny little desks execute regulations, bend them to their liking sometimes but tend to take instructions from the big masters in Bangkok only.

Needless to say that Thailand shot itself - once more again - in their own foot as far as Lao residents are concerned. Running a restaurant in Huay Xay, Vientiane, Thakhek, Savannakhet or Pakse means, that you shop in Thailand for supplies (absolutely true, unless you're in the local noodle soup business).

The sales of those supermarkets along the Thai-Lao border must have significantly dropped as a Lao and the German are the same "non-Thais".

The writing is on the wall - too many clowns with ideas and definitely not enough circuses! 

2 entries do not apply to local passport holders..........

[Sydebolle]

10 hours ago, phuketrichard said:

2 entries do not apply to local passport holders..........

Correct, Malays are exempted but Vientiane is the capital of Laos and has a bustling restaurant and small hotel/guest house industry  - getting their supplies across the Mekong river. 
 

Wondering if it is to stem the flow of ASEAN citizens; those doing the Thai-Lao border trip regularly have certainly witnessed those long queues of able young men without luggage and green passports - Vietnamese working in Thailand. Same is with Pilipinas plying the trade or working as domestic staff as well as the Laotians - all without work permits. 

[phuketrichard]

funny, didn't know there were any Vietnamese working in Thailand

Burmese, Laotions, Khmers  plenty but they don't go back and forth.I know many many Burmese working here and they go home like once every 2-3 years

[ubonjoe]

3 minutes ago, phuketrichard said:

funny, didn't know there were any Vietnamese working in Thailand

Burmese, Laotions, Khmers  plenty but they don't go back and forth.I know many many Burmese working here and they go home like once every 2-3 years

There are many working here as far as I know. Enough that they are now included in the migrant worker scheme under a MOU.

[vesparally180]

Seen many Vietnamese making border runs into Laos from Thailand,even spoke to a few of them as they spoke English and Thai.

[4evermaat]

On 1/28/2017 at 8:43 PM, Thanyaburi Mac said:

However, things seem to be evolving.  Below an email I just received from an expat friend in Vientiane.

 

Mac

 

The Thai embassy here has solved the Nong Khai shopping problem for non-ASEAN foreigners living in Vientiane.

They will give us a 6-month multiple-entry visa for 1 or 2 thousand baht.

I know somebody who just got one.

 

Can you confirm it is a METV?  what docs was he required to have?  what country was his passport?

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Sorry, cannot confirm anything.  Reckon you will have to ask the Thai Embassy in Vientiane directly.  Their www site still says baht 5,000.

 

tel:   (+856 21) 214581-3

FAX:  (+856 21) 214580

[email protected]

http://vientiane.thaiembassy.org

 

http://vientiane.thaiembassy.org/en/consular/visa.php

 

NON-IMMIGRANT ( Multiple Entries )    5,000 Thai Baht (ONLY for Resident Applicants)

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

Anyone reading this living in Vientiane?

 

Mac

Pathum Thani

[PREM-R]

Further to my OP I have now received further updates from GOV.uk

 

Thailand travel advice

01-02-2017 10:01 AM GMT

Latest update: Entry requirements section – if you're using the 30 day visa exemption you can only enter Thailand through a land border twice per calendar year; otherwise you'll need to obtain a visa in advance

And

 

Laos travel advice

01-02-2017 17:00 PM GMT

Latest update: Entry requirements section – recent changes to visa requirements for Thailand may affect travellers wishing to make regular crossings at the land border between Laos and Thailand