Quick report - Savannakhet non-O multi

[matta330]

I have had many non-O multiple entry visas issued by the Portland OR consulate, but this was my first visit to Savannakhet.  I have read many reports so I was ready.  On Thursday Feb. 9, I cleared Thai exit formalities and was on the first bus over the bridge from Mukdahan.  As expected, the visa on arrival booth was not yet open and all the Thai and Laotian passengers had already cleared Laos immigration and reloaded on the bus (with the bus long gone) by the time the booth opened.

 

There were four of us waiting for the VOA immigration rep, and my Laos visa was the third of the four finished.  The fee was either THB1500 or USD $35. After getting the visa and stamped into Laos I got a tuk tuk to the consulate.  It was still early, not even 830AM when I arrived.  I had heard about the copy places across the road from the consulate and I went over and used their services.  They filled out my application for me, made some additional copies of my passport that were needed and put everything into order for just 80 baht (I already had photos with me, but they offer those as well at a slight extra cost).

 

By the time I was finished a line had already formed and I joined the line.  At exactly 900AM the gates opened and we went into a covered courtyard.  One note here - for some reason I expected to be inside a building, instead it was like getting tickets to a baseball game.  The line formed at an open window and the first people in all had problems of some sort and were sent away to sort out their issues.  I had everything in order, the only thing I was asked for was the B5000 fee, and my passport was taken and I was issued a receipt to bring back the next afternoon after 200PM.

 

I did a bit of sightseeing including a very interesting old Laotian Stupa (wat) named That Ing Hang.  Other than the casino and gibbons, there is not a whole lot else for visitors to see in Savannakhet. The next day I returned to the consulate at 155PM and there was a much longer line than the previous day.  But picking up the passports is very quick.  Again the gates opened at 200PM, and even though I started at the back of a long line, I had my passport back in hand with correct visa at 205PM.

 

I walked to the bus station which took about 10 minutes, and got the bus headed back to Mukdahan..  Going back through Lao exit immigration, I noticed Lao citizens had to pay between B100 and B200 to get stamped out.  They didn't ask me for any money as I got stamped out, but then I was directed to a customs booth where I was asked for B50.  Back on the bus with everyone else this time and taken across the bridge to the Thai side.  It was quick and painless being stamped back in with the appropriate 90 day stamp. 

 

For me this was a relatively smooth process all things considered.  But for those going for tourist visas, I highly recommend you have all of your paperwork in order.  For SETVs they were asking everybody for proof of travel out of Thailand and a printed bank statement.

[sabai5]

Thank you for the report.  I will be there on Wednesday for my first non-O visa and hope everything goes as smoothly as your trip. 

[matta330]

9 hours ago, sabai5 said:

Thank you for the report.  I will be there on Wednesday for my first non-O visa and hope everything goes as smoothly as your trip. 

Just have all of your documents and you should be fine.  The people that I saw getting tripped up all had something missing from their documents.

[Damaz6052]

Thanks for sharing I am trying the consulate in Saigon for my next non-o-multi. Will leave trip report after I return.

[Kenegg]

Hi matta330,

What documents did you present? Did you need proof of funds?

[IMA_FARANG]

Nice report.

I myself have used those people across the road for filling out my forms and photos.

Good service for a fair price.

Glad you mentioned them so others would be aware of them also.

 

[ubonjoe]

3 minutes ago, Kenegg said:

Hi matta330,

What documents did you present? Did you need proof of funds?

Savannakhet does not ask for financial proof to get a multiple entry non-o visa based upon marriage.

Marriage certificate plus a copy, signed copies of your wife's house book registry and ID card is all that is required.

[Kenegg]

1 minute ago, ubonjoe said:

Savannakhet does not ask for financial proof to get a multiple entry non-o visa based upon marriage.

Marriage certificate plus a copy, signed copies of your wife's house book registry and ID card is all that is required.

Thanks Urbonjoe.

 

[calbear09]

To the OP - do you have to do this every 90 days? Even if married to a Thai national, you have to do this every 90 days? (Just trying to get an idea of how everything works).

Edited February 14, 2017 by calbear09

[Shaunduhpostman]

Thanks for the report, will be doing a similar run as yourself in a few months time. Reassuring to read that as much as things have changed and continue to change, the non-O process and requirements remain the same at Savanakhet. With all the arbitrary case by case requirements, complications and corruption that seem to be rife at many internal immigration offices, doing the non-O  multi seems to be a more sensible way of doing your long term stays .

[Bardeh]

10 minutes ago, calbear09 said:

To the OP - do you have to do this every 90 days? Even if married to a Thai national, you have to do this every 90 days? (Just trying to get an idea of how everything works).

No, you do it once every 15 months. Once you have the visa, you will need to exit and re-enter Thailand every 90 days, though.

 

I have done the same trip twice now, and it's painless and easy as long as you have the right documents. Savannakhet is a very sleepy little town with not much to do, but for one night every year or so it's fine. 

Edited February 14, 2017 by Bardeh

[mosan]

What is mostly missing from these types of reports is the total cost.  For instance, do you live nearby or did you travel from another province—what was the cost involved with that.  Also you mentioned you had to remain overnight, so I'm guessing you had to pay for hotel, food and maybe even entertainment for one night plus breakfast and lunch the next day.  Then there is the return trip to wherever you actually reside in Thailand.  Not to mention the boarder hop cost every 90 days for the next 15 months.  All of this is relevant to making a decision as to whether to get a Multi-entry or to just go for a straight one year extension.  A person's age and financial position weighs heavily on this also, but providing some additional insight would be helpful.  Your assistance in this matter will be greatly appreciated.  

Edited February 14, 2017 by mosan

[Bardeh]

Hotels are cheap, but generally quite basic. You can get a clean room with aircon for around 600 baht a night. I went to the Avalon residence last time I was in Savannakhet, which had friendly staff, a little bar attached, and clean but bare rooms. It's only a 5 minute walk from the consulate. Food is similarly priced to Thailand if you want to eat local, although there are some decent coffee shops in town that serve more expensive dishes.

 

From Chiang Rai I fly to BKK and then to Nakhon Phanom where you get a 45 minute minibus to Mukdahan. You could save a few baht by taking a bus from Bangkok, but I would rather spend a bit more and not have to deal with that. These flights are around 1300-1500 each. The visa cost is 5000. I would say that, all-in, I generally spend around 15000 baht including visa fee. That's perfectly acceptable to me for a hassle-free visa experience.

Edited February 14, 2017 by Bardeh

[John F Gill]

4 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

Savannakhet does not ask for financial proof to get a multiple entry non-o visa based upon marriage.

Marriage certificate plus a copy, signed copies of your wife's house book registry and ID card is all that is required.

After my first year here I was seriously thinking about going to Savannakhet for a new non-o visa but I am SO GLAD that I got the extensions instead it's so much easier to live here on extensions.  

[Poppadom]

Guys how does stamping work here? After visa has been issued and you re-enter to Thailand you'll get a 90 day entry stamp. What happens if say after a week you need to hop abroad for a couple of days? Will you get another 90 day stamp upon arrival again? Thanks.

[Bardeh]

Yes, you can leave and re-enter as often as you like. Every time you re-enter you get a fresh 90 day stamp. This is how you squeeze 15 months out of the visa - exit and re-enter Thailand on the last valid day, and you'll get another 90 day stamp.

Edited February 14, 2017 by Bardeh

[Poppadom]

Nice one. Will drive up north early next week the latest. Thanks for info.

[RayD]

Mosan

If you want to cost it out to the last baht, don't forget you will need to buy a re-entry permit to leave Thailand on the annual extension should you wish to travel abroad.

 

 

[RoyDee]

  So where is your trip report? 

[matta330]

It looks like all the other commenters answered all of the questions.

 

For my situation, the visa works better than an extension.  I travel frequently. so I get a new 90 days whenever I come back.  Plus, I don't like that each immigration office seems to run by their own rules, so the hassle factor definitely comes into play here.