the visa run

[ting_tong 63]

I just did my first visa run, not a fun day!

8 hours on a minibus, with rest stops, and 1 hour in cambodia.

I have all the stamps, and dates in my passport.

 

cost 1700bt as referred by soi7

the place is on soi buhkao, past best inn.

 

Now, do I have to go to soi 8 and report that I have my visa stamp updated?

[justtony 1]

you only have to report to soi 8 if your visa is valid for over 90 days (like a retirement visa) and you are only reporting to inform them that your address details have not changed. Once you leave the country and return with a new visa stamp you do not need to inform immigration (they know already as all the records are now computerised)

[ting_tong 63]

thanks

[torrenova 644]

I went with 5* visa to the border somewhere once. Breakfast at the Sportsman on Soi 13 at around 06:30 and leaving at 07:00. At the border for about 30-40 minutes all tolled.

 

Very easy, nice bus with max of 6 people. About 3 1/2 hours there and back including a 10 minute toilet stop on both legs. Surprisingly good quality meal (sandwich, fruit etc.) on the way back.

 

I think if you were doing it every month you would get bored if they didn't change the movies.

 

Bt2400 all in and easy. I did think about using one of those pick up services but I think that it might just add wasted time to an already long journey.

[Soi7 1]

Now, do I have to go to soi 8 and report that I have my visa stamp updated?

 

Ting,

 

When you were stamped back in to Thailand did the date not reflect another 90 days admitted ? Should have.

[ting_tong 63]

Ting,

 

When you were stamped back in to Thailand did the date not reflect another 90 days admitted ? Should have.

I got 90 days on my stamp. Another guy got a 30 by mistake, and I made sure I got 90.

 

Good idea to have dinner at a reputable place the night before, as I was having to worry that "running" the border was going to cause problems.........make sure you take a roll of toilet paper

Good thing I can ask the driver in thai to pull over if I needed to

[BigRobo 0]

Visa run is the most boring day I have ever spent. Will never do it again.

 

More fun to go for a side trip out of Thailand and make a small holiday out of it.

[irishman 0]

I kind of enjoy the visa run every 3 months. I like to go to PI and spend 10 days to two weeks. A refreshing change of piece!

 

Cheers

[Soi7 1]

Good idea to have dinner at a reputable place the night before, as I was having to worry that "running" the border was going to cause problems.........make sure you take a roll of toilet paper biggrin.gif

Good thing I can ask the driver in thai to pull over if I needed to

 

So your saying stay away from the White Knight on Soi VC the night before you do the Run huh ?

[ting_tong 63]

So your saying stay away from the White Knight on Soi VC the night before you do the Run huh ?

I never been there? I'll make it a point to stop by after I go to Jenny Star bar

[Raylene 1]

I just did my first visa run, not a fun day!

8 hours on a minibus, with rest stops, and 1 hour in cambodia.

I have all the stamps, and dates in my passport.

 

cost 1700bt as referred by soi7

the place is on soi buhkao, past best inn.

 

I just did my first Visa Run today.

Went smoothly.

Same place as Ting and Soi 7 used.

1700 baht all in

but I spent 80 baht on food at the rest stops (chicken pie, twix bar, and an ice coffee) and 3 baht to take a piss.

Not a bad day so far.

And, I slept on the bus each way, so it didn't seem that long.

I woke up to hear two Australian's in the back chatting away about everything.

 

Was about 1 hour total in Cambodia.

That was the boring part, as I just sat at the table there and stared blankly into space.

 

Left ay 7am exactly, and got back at 3pm exactly.

8 hours total.

Decent and affordable.

 

I'd hate to do this run every month. I'm glad I only have to do it every 3 months.

Nonetheless, if it means staying in Thailand another 3 months ... I do what I have to do.

 

Maybe next time I do a side trip to Cambodia or PI.

PI sounds nice, as I never been there.

[Bachelor 0]

Is taking a train to Malaysia a viable option for a visa run or is it too dangerous or too uncomfortable??

[wilnor41 0]

Hi guys, If you get a multi entry non immigrant visa which is good for 4 entrys with visa runs can you get another multi entry from within thailand or do you have to return to your own country for that.

The reason i am asking cause i want to stay in thailand permanently and have not enough cash to apply for retirement although i am age to qualify.

Thanks a lot for any help.

Bill.

[torrenova 644]

Is taking a train to Malaysia a viable option for a visa run or is it too dangerous or too uncomfortable??

For the train you have to go to Bangkok and then the best option is to go overnight with a companion. Takes forever and not so comfortable unless in the 1st class sleepers. I have taken it as far as Trang on the overnight but I would not go as far as Malaysia. Fly.

[sinbinjack 251]

Hi all I am wishing to stay for 4 monts and 10 days from mid april to late august next year what is the best (least hassle)way to do this , I know I can geta 60 day visa at the embassy but is that the way to go or have you BMs any suggestions that can keep me from running back and forward to the border every 30 days

thanks in advance

[irishman 0]

I've done a visa run to Malaysia in conjunction with a trip to Phuket and Krabi. The idea is to get to Hat Yai and stay overnight there. Go to the train station and get a ticket for the early train. Seems like it leaves around 7 in the morning and costs about a couple hundred baht. (This is the overnight train from Bangkok so you could do it from BKK also.) You pull into the station on the border and they stamp you out. Then you leave the train and walk over the tracks to the entrance which is on the Malaysian side and walk back through the border crossing for the road which is right next to the rail line. You walk maybe 1/4 mile down to the exit which empties you out onto a street where you catch a bus back to Hat Yai. The buss runs about every 15 minutes and is fairly easy to figure out. When you get back to Hat Yai, just take a trike to the hotel. The whole trip took about 4 hours for the whole deal and Hat Yai is a very interesting place to visit. Some decent nightlife also.

 

There are touts at the RR Station who will try to convince you to do the whole thing by taxi and it appeared to be a faster alternative but I wanted to ride the train and see what it was like.

 

Cheers

Edited November 24, 2005 by irishman

[torrenova 644]

Hi all I am wishing to stay for 4 monts and 10 days from mid april to late august next year what is the best (least hassle)way to do this , I know I can geta 60 day visa at the embassy but is that the way to go or have you BMs any suggestions that can keep me from running back and forward to the border every 30 days

thanks in advance

Get a multiple entry non immigrant "O" visa which will give you 90 days, extendable for 30 days at immigration. Then you would need only one border run.

[Niall 0]

Never done a visa run myself but listened to the endless horror stories about how one guy was an overstayer/wrong papers etc and they ended up hanging around at the border for hours waiting for this guy.

 

So question are there services that check to ensure that the guys on the coach have the proper papers so everything goes smoothly?

[landy2a 0]

From Udon, 90 min bus trip to Nong Khai, ezxit Thailand, 20 baht for shuttle, enter Laos, pay 1500 baht or US$ 30, go to duty free, exit laos, shuttle over bridge, enter Thailand, bus to Udon. 4 hours max

[torrenova 644]

Never done a visa run myself but listened to the endless horror stories about how one guy was an overstayer/wrong papers etc and they ended up hanging around at the border for hours waiting for this guy.

 

So question are there services that check to ensure that the guys on the coach have the proper papers so everything goes smoothly?

The one I used, 5* Visa Runs does all the paperwork for you, all you have to do is turn up.

[Bachelor 0]

Thanks for the replies Torrenova and Irishman.

[lemons 0]

Warning - SHAMELESS PLUG

 

Guys, we'd love to see you all at my Guesthouse in Sihanoukville Cambodia: http://ochheutealguesthouse.com/

 

Perhaps next time you need to do a run, you could extend your schedule and make it down to this interesting seaside town. My manager Doe can pick you up from the boat and give you all the advice etc you need while in town. Rooms are dirt cheap - usd$15 for an a/cond room with h/water, fridge and cable - less in low season!

 

Some of the features of Snooky:

A far more relaxed town than Pattaya, (perhaps Pattaya circa 1970?)

24hr trading - and at least 1 bar in town never shuts.

P4P scene with Khmer and Viet ladies for approx 1/2 Pattaya prices

At least 1 casino open in town at any time

White sand beaches

Ridiculously cheap grog and smokes, eg: 1l of J/Walker black for $18 and a carton of Marlboro Lights for $6. (Thats baht 740 & 248 respectively. And thats retail from the supermarket!!)

 

To get here, Had Lek (the Thai border post) is about 4hrs south of Pattaya. The boat leaves each morning from Koh Kong and takes about 4hrs as well.

 

Food for thought?

 

Cheers, Lemons

[bangkapiboy 5]

Is taking a train to Malaysia a viable option for a visa run or is it too dangerous or too uncomfortable??

Train to Penang is a great visa run trip. Easy and comfortable with your own bed overnight on board. But now with the muslim rebels in the south, already having set bombs on train tracks previously, Thais won't take the train anymore. I don't know how full the train is anymore, really. It's a shame.

[Badtz 0]

Just did my visa run today with 5*. Stupid me thought I could sleep on the minibus so I stayed up till 3:30am and slept 2 hours. DUMB. I think the shocks on those vans are about 100 years old. Felt like a rollercoaster the whole way. All in all it was pretty painless though. I'd recomend 5* at The Sportsman to anyone. Very professional and quick. Breakfast and lunch were good as well. 2400b and that includes your 800b Cambodia stamp.

 

Could they make those cambodia visas any bigger ? Takes up a whole damn page. Haha..

Edited December 24, 2005 by Badtz

[marcortez 0]

Warning - SHAMELESS PLUG

 

Guys, we'd love to see you all at my Guesthouse in Sihanoukville Cambodia: http://ochheutealguesthouse.com/

 

Perhaps next time you need to do a run, you could extend your schedule and make it down to this interesting seaside town. My manager Doe can pick you up from the boat and give you all the advice etc you need while in town. Rooms are dirt cheap - usd$15 for an a/cond room with h/water, fridge and cable - less in low season!

 

Some of the features of Snooky:

A far more relaxed town than Pattaya, (perhaps Pattaya circa 1970?)

24hr trading - and at least 1 bar in town never shuts.

P4P scene with Khmer and Viet ladies for approx 1/2 Pattaya prices

At least 1 casino open in town at any time

White sand beaches

Ridiculously cheap grog and smokes, eg: 1l of J/Walker black for $18 and a carton of Marlboro Lights for $6. (Thats baht 740 & 248 respectively. And thats retail from the supermarket!!)

 

To get here, Had Lek (the Thai border post) is about 4hrs south of Pattaya. The boat leaves each morning from Koh Kong and takes about 4hrs as well.

 

Food for thought?

 

Cheers, Lemons

Mr Lemons....

 

Please PM with FULL details about this visa run and staying at your place.

 

Will need to do this very thing mid February.