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Trip to Savannakhet Single Entry non O Dependancy visa (48 yr old) MAY2017

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Hi,

I just came back from Savnnakhet where I went for my visa for the first time. Usually go to Vientiane but thought I'd have a change.

Go to VTE on my own, but took the Mrs with me to Savnnakhet, to give her a break from the rugrats.

 

Anyway.......

 

If you drive your car, but dont have a car passport, there is a carpark before you get to the border on the left side. Cost is 250thb per night. In Nong Khai same thing at a cost of 100thb per night, which is reasonable. I parked the car in the immigration carpark, for what turned out to be 2 nights. Picked the car up with no problem at all. If the carpark owners charged 100thb per night, as in Nong Khai, the lot would be full (as in Nong Khai).......another instance of Thai business sense....... 

 

Crossing the border is easy & I find the most stressing part to be the bandits at the Laos side in their TukTuks, quoting way too much by far every time (Both in VTE & SKT).

We were quoted 100thb per person to go to town, which isn't far at all. Apparently this is the 'standard' charge for the trip. I started walking to town with the Mrs.....2 mins later, the bloke came in his TukTuk & offered to take us both for 100thb....He drove round the corner & we jumped in his Starex van......

TOURISTS & EXPATS ALIKE SHOULD STICK TOGETHER & NOT PAY STUPID PRICES! YES, IT IS CHEAP COMPARED TO WHEREVER YOU'RE FROM, BUT PRICES ARE 200-300% ABOVE THE NORM. WHICH THESE GUYS EXPECT. Anyway, each to their own.

 

You can save a few baht if you pay your visa fee to get into Laos in $US. Standard fee 1500thb or $35USD. Bankok Bank exchange rate as of today is 34thb = $1USD (Big notes).

This will save you 310thb........which is almost the price of a room.

 

The absolute best way to do the crossing is to catch the Thai-Laos bus from Mukdahan to Savannakhet. This will cost you 50thb & after you get through, it drops you at the bus station in town. Best place to stay for the money in town is Avalon Residence. We stayed at the Soulinsouk Hotel (550thb) round the corner (very typical Laos hotel room. but does the job), cos Avalon was full. (Walk in price for Avalon was 680thb).. met a guy at the Embassy who booked thru bookingdotcom & he paid 450thb for a single. So I'd suggest to book a room.

 

Not a lot to do in town. We went to the big market & generally strolled around.... BeerLaos still great & cheap. 

 

Go to the Thai Embassy at around 9am, when it opens. The sign says 8:30am....... BUT opening time is 9am sharp. There were around 6 people in the queue when I got there @ 8:50am. Waited around 20 minutes in the queue, only due to a pair of numptys not having the correct paperwork in front. I find it very annoying when 'grown up' seasoned travellers struggle to put a few documents together!!

 

Ok....The documents I needed for a non O Dependancy visa (based on children) Always take a black biro type pen or two.

 

1) PASSPORT

2) 3 PASSPORT SIZED PHOTOS. The 3 photos are: 1 for when you cross into Laos.........2 for Thai Immigration. I always have a few spare.

3) THE FORM FROM THAI IMMIGRATION (get from the front window & fill in yourself) MAYBE PRINT ONE OUT BEFORE YOU GO & FILL IT IN TO COPY LATER? I TRIED USING ONE I TOOK WITH ME ONCE....THE PAPER THEY USE IS VERY THIN & THEY LIKE YOU TO USE THAT PAPER ONLY.

4) 2 x PHOTOCOPIES OF YOUR MAIN PASSPORT PAGE - SIGNED BY YOU

5) 2 x PHOTOCOPIES OF YOUR LAST STAMP PAGE INCLUDE YOUR ARRIVAL CARD FROM THAILAND - SIGNED BY YOU

6) ONE PHOTOCOPY OF THE GIRLFRIEND'S ID CARD & TABIAN BAN (WE TOOK 2 TABIAN BAN BECAUSE WE ARE REGISTERED AT 2 ADDRESSES) - ALL SIGNED BY YOUR GIRLFRIEND

7) PHOTOCOPIES OF CHILDREN'S BIRTH CERTIFICATES

8) ORIGINAL COPIES OF THE CHILDREN'S BIRTH CERTIFICATES - NOTE: I HAVE NEVER BEEN ASKED FOR THESE BEFORE IN VIENTIANE. PASS THEM OVER & THE PERSON BEHIND THE COUNTER WILL RETURN THEM IMMEDIATELY.

9) 2000 THAI BAHT. THIS IS PAID AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION, WHEREAS IN VIENTIANE YOU PAY WHEN YOU PICK UP NEXT DAY.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO SHOW ANY INCOME/FUNDS.

 

Go pick up your passport/visa the next day at 2pm. Small queue & takes hardly any time.

 

I would advise to get the bus from the bus station to Mukdahan....or you can jump off at Thai immigration & pick your car up from their carpark & be off home!

 

Turned out a bit long winded! Sorry chaps.

 

I do a run every 3 months like this. Any advice on extensions, without showing 400k in the bank? A guy over there mentioned the 5000thb multi-entry & doing a day border run every 3 months. I thought you had to show funds. Any advice welcomed.

 

Slotman.

 

Edited by Slotman
script addition

23 minutes ago, Slotman said:

I do a run every 3 months like this. Any advice on extensions, without showing 400k in the bank? A guy over there mentioned the 5000thb multi-entry & doing a day border run every 3 months. I thought you had to show funds. Any advice welcomed.

You do not have to show funds at the Savanahket Consulate for a 5000 Baht 1-year Multi-entry Non-O visa based on marriage or support of a Thai-child.   Other consulates have different rules.

So it sounds like they wont except a a form that I have already completed & stuck photos on (doing this was for a convenience ) not to find out that they dont like the paper that came out of the printer

37 minutes ago, Slotman said:

I do a run every 3 months like this. Any advice on extensions, without showing 400k in the bank? A guy over there mentioned the 5000thb multi-entry & doing a day border run every 3 months. I thought you had to show funds. Any advice welcomed.

You can get a 60 day extension to visit your child at immigration of your 90 day entry without financial  proof. They will need to be with you when you apply. You will need their birth certificate plus a copy and a copy of their house book registry.

Savannakhet does not do multiple entry non-o visas based upon being the parent of a Thai. Penang will do them but want to see 400k baht in the bank or proof of income.

16 minutes ago, JackThompson said:

You do not have to show funds at the Savanahket Consulate for a 5000 Baht 1-year Multi-entry Non-O visa based on marriage or support of a Thai-child.   Other consulates have different rules.

They will not do a multiple entry non-o visa based upon being the parent of a Thai.

16 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

They will not do a multiple entry non-o visa based upon being the parent of a Thai.

Bummer.  Thanks UJ - so until he get's married, stuck with singles.

32 minutes ago, JackThompson said:

Bummer.  Thanks UJ - so until he get's married, stuck with singles.

At Savannakhet yes. Until about a year ago they would do them if the family was together when the application was done to prove they were living together as a family (de facto marriage)

Possible in Penang with financial proof.

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Thanks for the information chaps.

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