Successful Non-Imm O Savannakhet Visa Run

[petgunya]

Hi all,

I have just come back from a successful visa trip to the Thai Consulate in Savannakhet  Laos which I wanted to share as a way of contributing to the excellent feedback and support that this forum always provides.

I chose Savannket consulate as I have heard on this forum that it is one of the most friendly consulates around. Also We have family in Ubon Ratchatani and so it made sense to head down there as its only about 2.5 hours drive from there to Mudkahan Friednship bridge into Savannakhet Laos.

I have a Thai wife and we have children born here. Previously I have had Non-Imm 'O' 12 month multiple-entry visas which have worked well. I am over 55 but cannot currently show 800kTHB or 400kTHB for either the retirement or marriage visa so I just go with the 12 month multiple entry and make the trip up to Masae once every 90 days. Its not a bad trip and I could now do it blindfolded if necessary.

 

So, our journey starts in Chiangmai where we live. We took a direct Air Asia flight from Chiangmai to Ubon which left last Tuesday at 12.05 and arrived at 1.30pm. Great flight and got us there very quickly. Return airfare per person was around $63USD which was only about $12 more than the bus fare so that part was a no-brainer.

Got picked up at the airport by my brother in law and straight to our accommodation in town by about 2pm to settle in nicely.

My brother in law lent us his car (great guy) so we could drive to Mudkahan next morning. He looked after our kids and took them to his  house to stay with the grandparents and family in our absense (they love it there and were well cared for).

 

Next morning (Wednesday) we left Ubon around 6.15am after filling up with petrol. We took highway 212 straight up to Mudkahan. The road was great, very smooth and no dramas. The turnoff for the friendship bridge is about 8klm north of Mudkahan off the 212 highway and well signed as "Savannakhet" so it cant be missed! We took that turn and about 300 meters ahead is the Mudkahan border control where we left our car (on the left just before the exit gates to the bridge and immediately adjacent to the immigration office where my wife got her permit to leave Thailand and enter Laos). Cost nothing to park the car there. Arrival time around 9am after taking a wrong turn and having to loop back. Total driving time from Ubon was around 2,5 hours.
Next we booked 2 tickets on the 9.30am bus which actually left early at 9.15am. Went through Thai immigration control no probs. The official told me that I could only re-enter Thailand via airport as I already had 2 walk ins over the previous couple of months. I explained that I was going to get a new visa in Savannakhet but she seemed too robotized for any kind of response and gave me a blank stare as she stamped my exit and handed back my passport (Australian). 
The bus across the bridge was pleasant. Quite full,.. and I noticed at least a half dozen expats on there.
Getting off the bus at Savannakhet side was fine and we could see the Laos entry gate booths ahead. A Laos uniformed official gave us both an entry/exit form to fill in. I filled this in and proceeded to the exit booth that my wife had already passed through, and handed the form and my passport to the officer who took a look at it and then handed it back and directed me to a window of an office behind and off to the left that had a sign over it "Visa On Arrival". So I rocked up there (window tinted dark and closed) and knocked on it. An officer opened it and asked what I wanted. "I want a visa to enter Laos please". He asked "Why are you coming to Laos?". So I just told him I was coming as a tourist and to visit the Thai consulate in Savannakeht to apply for a new Thai visa. He smiled and gave me an A4 sized plain paper form which I filled in. There was one section on there asking how I arrived at Laos (non of which included "Bus") so I just ticked "Car" and that seemed to work. Also had to name where I would be staying in Savannakhet, so I wrote "Avalon Residence" which we had pre-booked for $20USD for the night. There was another guy there from Spain who was having issues getting permission to enter as he had no re-entry visa or walkin credits left. That wasted 15 minutes of my time having to deal with the officer with this other guy at my shoulder arguing with the officer. 
Eventually I handed back the form and he asked me "Where will you stay in Savannakhet?" so I replied "Avalon Residence". He asked for a passport photo which I gave to him and then he said "OK.. you pay the money". I said "sure", expecting him to say $35USD for which I had the cash on hand, but he just smiled and said "Thirty US Dollars". Of course I didn't argue and just took the very welcome and unexpected discount.

Now I proceeded to the exit booth where my concerned wife was waiting as it was now 10.05am and the Consulate closing at 11am for visa applications. We got through the booth after a couple of minutes of the guy pouring over my passport and checking some kind of list on the wall (Naughty Person's List?). Eventually stamped me in and we walked through to the bus taxi area and were the only 2 people there apart from about 6 or 7 taxi operators all smiling and offering to take us to the consulate for 100baht each. My wife objected to the high price but the main guy (nice fella in a grey safari suit) told her that it wasn't expensive if we wanted to get to the Consulate on time and that we'd better get moving. We agreed and off we went in his airconditioned minivan. Rolled up outside the Consulate about 10.15am to be greeted by several smiling tuk tuk driver touts offering to get us application forms and photocopy of passport. We thanked them but already had all that prepared so we just walked in through the Consulate gates and up to the reception window. There were some other expats there. One English guy there at the office window  was freaking out and calling back to his Thai wife who was waiting,.."They want to see bank statements!" he said. At first I was a bit alarmed as I had bank statements but only to show sufficient funds and not showing anywhere near the 400kTHB for a Marriage Visa. He went off to one side having a tizzy-fit while his wife tried to calm him down. Meanwhile I got to the window and handed my application  form for a Multiple Entry visa based on marriage/family. I had attached 2 passport photos. My wife then interjected and asked the officer whether the visa I would be getting was a Marriage Visa or a Non-Imm 'O' Visa. He said "Non-Imm 'O' "same as was previously issued at Sydney Consulate" the year before. She asked him whether I would still need to cross the border every 90 days for a re-entry stamp or whether it could be done via 90 day reporting. He pointed out that in order to get a "Marriage Visa" we would need to show 400,000 baht via bank statements. He also pointed out that once we had this Non-Imm 'O' visa that we could apply to convert it into a Marriage Visa at our local Chiangmai Immigration office if we showed them the bank statement evidence. He was very friendly, polite and helpful. A real pleasure to deal with.

 

So we presented the following for the visa application:

1) Visa application form with 2 passport photos attached
2) My passport
3) Photocopy of front ID page of my passport,- signed by me
4) Wife's ID card photocopy (not notarised)
5) Wife's Tabien Ban book photocopy (not notarised)

6) Photocopy of Marriage Certificate (not notarised)
7) Photocopies (not notarised) of our kid's birth records.

No requirement to show any cash funds or bank account funds whatsoever.

I had taken bank statements and a copy of our residential lease but neither were required. I also didnt take a letter from my wife confirming that the marriage was still active as she was with me to vouch personally and could have written one out on the spot if required. Had she not been with me I would have needed such a letter just as was required by Sydney consulate when I went there alone last year.

 

The whole process took no more than 3 or 4 minutes. I handed over 5,000 baht for the visa and he handed me a ticket to collect my passport with new visa after 2pm the following day.

We exited the consulate and the same smiling tuk tuk driver was there to take us to the Avalon residence which was only about 1klm away. He wanted 50 baht each (100bht) but he agreed to 60baht when we politely objected to it being a but high. Rolled up at the hotel a few minutes later (now about 10.30am) and checked in. The reception was lovely. Nice lounge and cool too. The desk staff spoke very good English and confirmed our booking was $20USD or 680bht. We paid and got a receipt. Had to wait for our room so we went to the Avalon Cafe next door (run by the hotel). Had chicken salad rolls which were awesome, and the chilled latte was one of the best we had ever tasted. They took Thai baht but we got stung on their version of the exchange rate of 220kip to 1baht, which should have been 250/1 but never mind,.. the lunch was great and service very cordial.

Went back to the hotel and escorted to our room on the 2nd floor which was huge, clean, and had a king size bed ready. It was airconditioned and had a modern clean bathroom with great shower.

That night we walked down to the main road (where bus station) is, for a look around the market and got something to eat. All paid for using Thai baht (change given in Laos Kip).

Next morning we checked out around noon and left our luggage at reception while we went next door to the Aura hotel cafe for some breakfast which was great and not expensive. We then returned to the hotel and waited in the lounge. The smiling tuk tuk driver from the previous day was there to offer his special of the day which was a ride to the consulate and then onto the border, all for the bargain price of 100bht per person. So at 1.40pm he returned to pick us up and we arrived at the consulate around 1.45pm. Gates were shut and about a half dozen people waiting to get in. Then at 2pm the gates opened and we went in and queued up in an orderly line. Took about 5 minutes to get to the front. Handed in my ticket and got my passport back right away with a brand spanking new Non-Imm 'O' 12-month Muliple Entry Visa inside. 
Back out to the Tuk Tuk and off to the border gates. Went through without issue and bought bus tickets (50bht each) back across the bridge to Mukdahan. Bus came about 15 minutes later and took us across. Then filled in a new Thai entry form and entered Thailand no probs with a 90 day stamp. Had to put our bags though the Xray but collected on other side no probs and then walked across to the car park where our car was parked. Hopped in and headed back to Ubon via a casual stop for some shopping and some food. Arrived back in Ubon around 7pm.

 

All in all it was a very pleasant trip and  a lovely little mini-vacation for me and my wife, but I would point out here that anyone with a Thai wife expecting to go to Savannakhet to get a "Marriage Visa" will not get one without showing proof of funds. You will however get a Non-Imm 'O' 12-month visa without any show of funds (something that Sydney Consulate have never asked for either!).

Thanks to all who have at some stage contributed to these such posts that have been very supportive in my planning this successful visa trip. Special thanks to moderator Ubon Joe who is always very responsive and supportive with his vast knowledge on such matters. 

I have no doubt that we will be returning to Savannakhet next year once my current visa expires. It was far simpler and much more pleasant than our visa trip to Vientienne in 2007.

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Nice report. Thanks for sharing

[dotpoom]

If it's ok I'll wait for the paperback edition. Sorry, just being funny but a bit long for me.

[NanLaew]

The only thing I picked up on was,

 

3 hours ago, petgunya said:

The official told me that I could only re-enter Thailand via airport as I already had 2 walk ins over the previous couple of months.

I have heard of the "exit by land but return by air" rule being applied to frequent border-runners or back-to-back visa exempt entry types at southern Thailand border posts. I didn't know that Mukdahan were possibly doing this as well.

 

Edited August 17, 2017 by NanLaew

[ubonjoe]

1 minute ago, NanLaew said:

I have heard of the "exit by land but return by air" rule being applied to frequent border-runners at southern Thailand border posts but didn't know that Mukdahan are possibly doing this as well. Where were your 2 previous walk-ins done BTW?

 

I think the officer was commenting about the 2 visa exempt entries per calendar year at land border crossings rule.

[jeab1980]

 "Then filled in a new Thai entry form"  this the new TM 6 ? Or just saying you filled in a TM6 to enter.

[NanLaew]

59 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

I think the officer was commenting about the 2 visa exempt entries per calendar year at land border crossings rule.

OK, thanks for that clarification. Looks like it is 'universally' applied then.

[petgunya]

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

I think the officer was commenting about the 2 visa exempt entries per calendar year at land border crossings rule.

Yes that's right Joe. My visa expired in March and a got my last 90 day stamp the day before it expired, That took me to June when I then did my first 30 day walk-out/walk-in at Masae which was valid till July 12th upon which I did another walk-out/walk-in at Masea (my 2nd and final walk in allowed for the next calendar year) valid till August 10th. Chiangmai Immigration told me that I could have got a 60 extension based on marriage for 1,900bht if showing 40,000bht monthly income, but I decided to go and get a new 12-month visa instead at Savannakhet instead of putting off the inevitable for another 2 months. 

[petgunya]

1 hour ago, jeab1980 said:

 "Then filled in a new Thai entry form"  this the new TM 6 ? Or just saying you filled in a TM6 to enter.

Yes, just the standard TM6 form that all foreigners have to fill out. Nothing seemed to have changed with it.

[petgunya]

1 hour ago, dotpoom said:

If it's ok I'll wait for the paperback edition. Sorry, just being funny but a bit long for me.

Some people don't like reading a lot of text. That's fine and I appreciate that. Next time I might make a video which I'm sure would be a lot more entertaining. The main thing I wanted to convey was as much detail as possible as I found that similar informative posts really helped me in preparing for this trip. Cheers 

[jeab1980]

Plus dont forget if you want to you can get a 60 day extension on every 90 day entry based on visiting wife from immigration. Which if you do an in out just before visa expires next year will give you 17 months before heading back to Savanakhet for another.

Edited August 17, 2017 by jeab1980

[Boycie]

6 hours ago, petgunya said:

 

All in all it was a very pleasant trip and  a lovely little mini-vacation for me and my wife, but I would point out here that anyone with a Thai wife expecting to go to Savannakhet to get a "Marriage Visa" will not get one without showing proof of funds.

Could you please explain more. I thought the reason people went to Savannakhet is because they do not have to show proof of funds?

[jeab1980]

8 minutes ago, Boycie said:

Could you please explain more. I thought the reason people went to Savannakhet is because they do not have to show proof of funds?

Hes getting confused i belive. Savanakhet you can get non o based on marriage showing no proof as we know.

For some reason he thought or thinks you can get an extension based on marriage there to. As we all know Extensions based on marriage (not a marriage visa)( an extension of your non o) is only available in country at immigration offices.

I thought he was a wee bit confused when i was reading about what his wife asked at consulate

 

Edited August 17, 2017 by jeab1980

[petgunya]

34 minutes ago, jeab1980 said:

Hes getting confused i belive. Savanakhet you can get non o based on marriage showing no proof as we know.

For some reason he thought or thinks you can get an extension based on marriage there to. As we all know Extensions based on marriage (not a marriage visa)( an extension of your non o) is only available in country at immigration offices.

I thought he was a wee bit confused when i was reading about what his wife asked at consulate

 

I wasn't at all confused. I was simply under the impression (as I believe many people who read these threads on Savannakhet visa trips are also), that it was possible to get a marriage visa (not a Non-Imm 'O') from Savannakhet without showing any proof of funds and which permitted one to stay in Thailand for 12 months without the need to do 90-day border crosses. That summation was arrived at after reading countless posts on this forum over many years.

Clearly I wasn't paying close enough attention, and clearly that was the wrong impression as I soon found out at Savannakhet. I knew that I could get a 12 month Non-Imm 'O' anyway so I wasn't really too bothered either way. The English guy ahead of me at the consulate window also seemed to be under the impression that he would be getting a "Marriage Visa" and was visibly freaked out when the consulate staff insisted upon bank statements (maybe there was some other reason for them asking for bank statements. I don't know and I didn't talk to the guy as he seemed to be quite stressed out over the issue).

With regards to your comment "As we all know Extensions based on marriage (not a marriage visa)( an extension of your non o) is only available in country at immigration offices." You'll have to pardon my ignorance there because I wasn't aware of that, and I suspect that there could be one or two others that didn't/don't know that either.

Now its all clear and I'm grateful for having the updated knowledge and experience that I'm sure will be of some considerable assistance and comfort in the future.

 

 

[jeab1980]

2 minutes ago, petgunya said:

I wasn't at all confused. I was simply under the impression (as I believe many people who read these threads on Savannakhet visa trips are also), that it was possible to get a marriage visa (not a Non-Imm 'O') from Savannakhet without showing any proof of funds and which permitted one to stay in Thailand for 12 months without the need to do 90-day border crosses. That summation was arrived at after reading countless posts on this forum over many years.

Clearly I wasn't paying close enough attention, and clearly that was the wrong impression as I soon found out at Savannakhet. I knew that I could get a 12 month Non-Imm 'O' anyway so I wasn't really too bothered either way. The English guy ahead of me at the consulate window also seemed to be under the impression that he would be getting a "Marriage Visa" and was visibly freaked out when the consulate staff insisted upon bank statements (maybe there was some other reason for them asking for bank statements. I don't know and I didn't talk to the guy as he seemed to be quite stressed out over the issue).

With regards to your comment "As we all know Extensions based on marriage (not a marriage visa)( an extension of your non o) is only available in country at immigration offices." You'll have to pardon my ignorance there because I wasn't aware of that, and I suspect that there could be one or two others that didn't/don't know that either.

Now its all clear and I'm grateful for having the updated knowledge and experience that I'm sure will be of some considerable assistance and comfort in the future.

 

 

Wasnt in any way trying to annoy you or undermine your extremely good post. I suspect the guy having a hissy fit was after a TV there i belive now you have to show funds for this in Savannakhet now. I seem to recal some threads on it on here

[petgunya]

59 minutes ago, Boycie said:

Could you please explain more. I thought the reason people went to Savannakhet is because they do not have to show proof of funds?

Yes,.. Savannakhet consulate staff did not ask me to provide any proof or show of funds at all. They gave me a 12 month multiple entry visa based on marriage but I still need to do 90-day exit/entry runs as the visa allows for a maximum of 90 days per visit.

As another poster has pointed out, I can get an extension based on marriage at any immigration office within Thailand provided I show adequate funds (which I think is either 400,000baht in a bank account for the past 3 months,.. or a monthly income of at least 40,000 baht per month. Don't quote me on that as I am not 100% certain and will be checking the actual requirement myself prior to applying).

[jeab1980]

Just now, petgunya said:

Yes,.. Savannakhet consulate staff did not ask me to provide any proof or show of funds at all. They gave me a 12 month multiple entry visa based on marriage but I still need to do 90-day exit/entry runs as the visa allows for a maximum of 90 days per visit.

As another poster has pointed out, I can get an extension based on marriage at any immigration office within Thailand provided I show adequate funds (which I think is either 400,000baht in a bank account for the past 3 months,.. or a monthly income of at least 40,000 baht per month. Don't quote me on that as I am not 100% certain and will be checking the actual requirement myself prior to applying).

You are correct but the first time you get the extension based on marriage money only needs to be in bank for two months. (Bank account in your name only) Not any immigration office the one in your province were your living. This can be done within the last 30 days of any 90 day stamps.

[steve187]

2 hours ago, petgunya said:

Yes that's right Joe. My visa expired in March and a got my last 90 day stamp the day before it expired, That took me to June when I then did my first 30 day walk-out/walk-in at Masae which was valid till July 12th upon which I did another walk-out/walk-in at Masea (my 2nd and final walk in allowed for the next calendar year) valid till August 10th. Chiangmai Immigration told me that I could have got a 60 extension based on marriage for 1,900bht if showing 40,000bht monthly income, but I decided to go and get a new 12-month visa instead at Savannakhet instead of putting off the inevitable for another 2 months. 

no proof of funds/income is required for a 60 day visit Thai wife extension

[petgunya]

3 minutes ago, jeab1980 said:

Wasnt in any way trying to annoy you or undermine your extremely good post. I suspect the guy having a hissy fit was after a TV there i belive now you have to show funds for this in Savannakhet now. I seem to recal some threads on it on here

No offense taken at all. Yes it seemed strange that the guy was freaking out and clearly was telling his wife that they wanted to see bank statements. He repeated that several times and seemed to be in shock over it. 

After seeing him coming away from the window visibly distressed and carrying on about them wanting to see bank statements, my immediate thought was "oh,.. well it seems the golden days at Savanakhet have ended and now they're asking to show bank statements". I wasn't really concerned as I had Kasikorn bank statements with me just in case, even though they didn't show a 400k balance, they did show over 40,000/mthly income so that should have been fine.

But if I wasn't asked for any bank statements for my Non-Imm 'O', then why was the English guy asked,.. and what kind of visa might he have been applying for?

[petgunya]

3 minutes ago, steve187 said:

no proof of funds/income is required for a 60 day visit Thai wife extension

That's nice to know Steve. Thanks!

[kurtmartens]

9 hours ago, steve187 said:

no proof of funds/income is required for a 60 day visit Thai wife extension

Sorry to keep being "that guy", but Chiangmai immigration has refused twice to give me 60 day extensions.  Both times only 30 days.  Even with my wife with me.  

[jeab1980]

3 minutes ago, kurtmartens said:

Sorry to keep being "that guy", but Chiangmai immigration has refused twice to give me 60 day extensions.  Both times only 30 days.  Even with my wife with me.  

Do you put 60 day to visit wife on TM7. Someone else has mentioned Chiang Mai and this problem before. Ask to speak to the boss man/woman at Immigration  politely of course to clarrify matters.

Edited August 18, 2017 by jeab1980

[Mattd]

12 hours ago, petgunya said:

wasn't at all confused. I was simply under the impression (as I believe many people who read these threads on Savannakhet visa trips are also), that it was possible to get a marriage visa (not a Non-Imm 'O') from Savannakhet without showing any proof of funds and which permitted one to stay in Thailand for 12 months without the need to do 90-day border crosses.

There is no such visa as a 'marriage' visa, the embassy will issue a non-o SE or ME visa based on Marriage, which is what you applied for and received, what you describe regarding no need to to 90 day border crossings, is an extension of stay based on marriage, which can only be obtained from an immigration office in Thailand with the financial proof etc. requirements.

All types of non immigrant visas need to have a basis for issue, i.e. marriage, dependant children, work and so on and most can be extended based on the same reason for the original visa application.

Almost certainly the guy that was making the fuss was applying for a tourist visa and didn't have the proof of finances as per the consulate's requirements.