Job Discussion Forums

Ramblin' Man · Joined: 16 Nov 2008 Posts: 105

Hello all,

I will need to make the visa run next week. My phillipino gf who has been living here for a year (I just arrived a few weeks ago,) always goes to Cambodia for the visa run's and I was going to do that with her.

She told me that she was with another farang doing the visa run a while back and the police (legit police she claims,) required him to have the tourist visa to get back in.

Now I know that it may sound absurd, but right now my money is tight, I mean really tight and I don't even know if I can afford just 1000 baht for the tourist visa. I was thinking of just getting the 15 day stamp, as I have a money coming in shortly afterward.

Is there any legitamacy to this? if I just want to get the 15 day stamp where is the best place to go? Seems to me any border should be fine.

Regards

Ramblin' Man

Master Shake · Joined: 03 Nov 2006 Posts: 1202 Location: Colorado, USA

Go to Laos.

Depending on where you're from, you may be able to get a double-entry tourist visa.

Tourist visas are free right now.

MaiPenRai · Joined: 17 Jan 2006 Posts: 390 Location: BKK

That's right. Get yourself a free 60 day tourist Visa in Laos my friend. I think the free Visa deal is on till June, but they may extend it after the recent "mishaps". Although the Laos Visa will run you about 1500 so in your case may not be helpful. Don't you have anyone who can spot you 1500 baht man?

Ramblin' Man · Joined: 16 Nov 2008 Posts: 105

Master Shake · Joined: 03 Nov 2006 Posts: 1202 Location: Colorado, USA

With Cambodia, you have to go to the Thai consulate in Phenom Penn (crossing the Thai-Cambodian border will only give you a 15 day 'visa exemption' back into Thailand). This consulate is quite far away from the border.

For Malaysia, you have to go to Kuala Lumpur.

Both these places, to the bestof my knowledge, would work for you. I've never been to either of them, so I can't say one is better (or cheaper) than another.

But I know an awful lot of people who have gone to Laos to get their tourist visa and had no problems.

I also know a company that will arrange everything for you (accommodation, visa, food etc.) with the Laos option.

PM me if you're interested.

Ramblin' Man · Joined: 16 Nov 2008 Posts: 105

Master Shake · Joined: 03 Nov 2006 Posts: 1202 Location: Colorado, USA

Here is the number: 081-8154803 Email:[email protected]

This company has all inclusive packages that include transport to Laos, a room, food, and transport to the Thai Embassy. It costs about 4000 and leaves from the Tesco near BTS On Nut.

Good luck.

Ramblin' Man · Joined: 16 Nov 2008 Posts: 105

Hey all,

Have a question regarding this same subject, and since I was the op figured I should just bump this thread back up.

I am going for the tourist visa soon and am a bit surprised at what I read on the royal Thai Embassy for Cambodia's website. They claim you need the following

1. Copy of ID card
2. Copy of residence certificate (Carnet de Residence/ Family Record Book)
3.

6.1 Company employee must prepare company work certificate (Business card is not acceptable)

6.2 Self-employed applicant must prepare business registration/license (original)

6.3 Student must prepare guarantee letter from university or student card

(Copy of parent�s ID card and proof of parent�s profession)

6.4 Pensioner must prepare bank statement or pension fund

7. Hotel reservation in Thailand with name and dates of checking in/out
8. Airline ticket or confirmation slip with flight number and date of entry/exit

none of which I have

5 and 6 really surprise me, if you had these wouldn't you be getting a work permit or student visa instead?

I know this is southeast Asia, and things often are overlooked or not enforced.

If I go to the embassy will I have a problem without these forms or id. I know there are people out there working here without a permit, and what about somebody who just want's to be a tourist?

I was planning on doing this visa run without the assistance of an agency. I'm not worried about doing it on my own, but want to know if I will have problems without the proof they claim they will ask for.

If I do it with an agency will I not have this problem?

Will I definitely have a problem if I don't use the agency?

Regards

Ramblin' Man

Ramblin' Man · Joined: 16 Nov 2008 Posts: 105

Also interested in knowing how long it takes to process the tourist visa. Would assume 2 days, might be slower cause it's free.

MrMrLuckyKhan · Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 5:54 pm Post subject:

Ramblin' Man · Joined: 16 Nov 2008 Posts: 105

rc81 · Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 85

I came across your post and I wanted to write you because I am in a similar position. money is going to be tight for the next month and a half and I'm looking for a quick, easy and cheap way to get (hopefully) a 60 or 90 day visa. If 15 days is all I can get, I guess there is nothing I can do about it. But something else would make things a lot easier. I was thinking about Laos. Which option did you wind up choosing?

Also, what happened with the documents?

All i have is my passport. Is that going to be enough?

sigmoid · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 1276

Have a look at:

http://www.thaivisa.com

rigel · Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 308

You guys who are doing visa runs this week, I offer you my advice...Know that I used to work here in Thailand, so I do know the place a little bit. However, I need some advice as well. Advice on getting a good furnished apartment for 3,000-4,000 baht a month fror this fall, 2009...

Anyway, here is what you need to do to get a tourist visa that is worth the trouble and expense (I assume you'll be here a little while if you're worried about doing a visa run):

1. Go to the fort by the Chao Phrya river on Phra Arthit (?) road. This fort is near the KFC that is itself one street over from Kaoh Sarn Road. It's the big white fort in the curve just down from Sam Sen Road.

2. Across from the fort and a little up towards Sam Sen Sam Road are two travel agencies. One is P.L.'s or something (it's also a barber shop), while the other is just a little further up the street toward Sam Sen. The name of this little shop is Chukchai. They're just little places, but they are easy to find.

3. Go into one of these and ask for a bus ticket to Penang, Malaysia. Be sure to pronounce it PEE-nahng, and not Puh-NANG. Puh-Nang to them is the island down by Samui.

A ticket to Penang will run you 900 baht at P.L.'s and 800 at Chokchai, 700 if you buy it early enough.

4. Take the bus/minivan to Penang. The bus will leave the travel agency at 6-ish. Know the bus will take you to either Surathani or Hat Yai, depending on the number of passengers aboard. I know you'll definitely catch a mini van at Hat Yai and go the rest of the way in that. The big tour bus won't go all the way to Penang. I don't believe the bus will fit on the Butterworth-Penang ferry anyway.

5. Go into the guest house in Penang where the van lets you off and request a tourist visa for Thailand. They'll set you up. Know that processing will commence the next morning, as you'll arrive at the guest house too late to get that done. It usually takes about 5 or 6 hours for processing, but when you get the passport back, you should have time to catch the minivan back to Thailand.

6. Get your passport back, catch the van at the guest house, and do it all in reverse. I'm pretty sure you'll have to pay upwards of 1200 baht for the return trip, though. Plus there is a 10-baht fee for some charge at the Thai border, both leaving and coming back in.

The Thai tourist visa should be free, and the visa to Malaysia is as well, as you don't need one. Processing at the guest house will run you about 300 baht. If you have to stay the night, that will run you 200-600 baht, depending on what you want. The two-month visa is renewable for one more month, but it costs 1900 baht to renew it.

The trip takes about 21 hours, one way.

If you go to Cambodia, you'll pay about 400 baht for the ride there, 1600-2000 for the big visa that takes up an entire passport page, and then you'll get a Thai tourist visa that's good for only 15 days unless you do the run to the Thai embassy in the Cammy capital to get the 2-month one. The ride to the capital will run about another 400 baht.

The run to Laos will cost you about 600 baht there, plus the visa to go over into Laos will run you upwards of 2000, plus you need to get transport to the capital if you don't want to get just 15 days...

I hope this helps. I'm doing a visa run later this week, assuming I don't get out of here at the last possible second to go to a job in the Middle East (highly unlikely at this point).

Now. Assuming you would know, where can I get a good, cheap, furnished apartment in Bangkok for 4-6 months? It looks like I'm going to be needing one for the fall. It can be small. It must be clean and quiet, though.