Avoiding the Laos visa run...

[schmitty]

Hello. I need to get a new tourist visa at the end of the month. I want to avoid the Laos trip as i've done it before and i really don't like it (too long, have to stay overnight in a hotel). I'm currently on a 15 day arrival visa.

 

One thing i noticed was when getting a new visa, I didn't actually have to do anything in person. The driver did it all for me (also, in Australia at least, you can get a visa through the mail). The only reason i see that i need to be there in person is when i get the visa stamped on entry. So I was wondering if it would be possible to go to one of the visa run services, and pay them some money to take my passport and documents and get a new visa for me. Then when they give me back my passport and visa, I can go to Cambodia (was only a 3.5 hour drive), and get it stamped on re-entry at the cambodian border. It would probably be cheaper as well. The border run to cambodia was only 1900. I would probably just have to pay a commission to the visa run service and the visa fees. Do you think this is possible? Or will they think it's odd when i leave thailand into cambodia, and i already have an unused visa?

 

EDIT: Just talked to a friend and he said this is illegal, but i can get a new visa in cambodia apparently.

Edited May 20, 2012 by schmitty

[Ohyesuare]

illegal, most reputable agencies won't do it. You can get a new visa in cambodia but only a single entry and it can take up to 4 days. There is a new place I think it is called Savan vegas or something that can meet you at the airport, take you to their casino and do all the visa stuff for you while you gamble or whatever. I guess you didn't enjoy Vientiane? I didn't mind going a second time, nice change of pace from Pattaya.

[schmitty]

I don't like the drive. I only went 3 months ago. A few days ago i went to cambodia to get my second entry stamped but i was one day too late (since i looked at the date on the stamp that told me when i had to leave, instead of the date on the visa that said when it expired). So the entire visa was voided and i had to get back in to thailand on a 15 day arrival visa.

[Ohyesuare]

Ah that sucks, well like I said you can always fly in to Laos and back or udon thani which is near the border.

[Scumbag]

You seem to be staying in Thailand long term. Why not consider a more appropriate visa. Perhaps an education visa?

[squared]

Champion Tours in Soi Postoffice sold me a 60 day visa extention by the immigration for 10,000 Baht in March, had a thread here asking if that was legit. Seems so, the immigation first granted me this extention, then on a second thought stamped it 'void' and granted a Non-Immigrant visa because they saw I could apply for the retirement visa having turned 50 in March. This week I got the retirement visa, so the stamps must be genuine.

This visa extention is certainly more comfortable than the long ride to Laos and back, and similar costs.