Just curious as to whether or not the embassy in Laos issue Non O visas (Thai wife) because if they do then I may head off there this time rather than KL. If anyone has any advice, I'd appreciate it.
Non O visa in Laos
Non O visa in Laos
Hi all
Just curious as to whether or not the embassy in Laos issue Non O visas (Thai wife) because if they do then I may head off there this time rather than KL. If anyone has any advice, I'd appreciate it.
Just curious as to whether or not the embassy in Laos issue Non O visas (Thai wife) because if they do then I may head off there this time rather than KL. If anyone has any advice, I'd appreciate it.
Don't try to impress me with your manner of dress cos a monkey himself is a monkey no less - cold fact
The Embassy issue tourist visas, so I'm sure they will issue Non Os as well. However, you might not get a multi-entry, just a single entry. I can't be sure about this as I havn't been there. If I were you, I'd take any financial evidence you have, particularly if you have savings in a Thai bank account or proof of overseas income, your marriage certificate, a copy of your wife's ID card and a letter from her asking the Embassy to issue you the visa so you can stay and support her in Thailand.
Their web site is here:
http://www.thaiembassy.org/vientiane/
Their web site is here:
http://www.thaiembassy.org/vientiane/
Lomuamart is quite right, but you didn't say where in Laos you want to go, I presume you mean Vientianne and not Savannakhet. In Vientianne you will easily get a Non-O(single entry), but as metioned by Lomuamart, multi-entry is more problematic and it's hard to pin down where will definately give you one.
Steer clear of Savannakhet if you want anything other than a tourist visa, I had a lot of problems getting a Non-O out of them last time I went.
As mentioned above, take all the documents you can.
Getting the initial Non-O is easy enough and that gives you 90 days, the problems start when you want to extend it to a year.
Vientianne might be a cheaper cost impact than going off to KL/Penang and you shouldn't have any visa related problems in Vientianne. Just check if there are any Thai or Lao official holidays around when you go as the embassy is closed for both.
Steer clear of Savannakhet if you want anything other than a tourist visa, I had a lot of problems getting a Non-O out of them last time I went.
As mentioned above, take all the documents you can.
Getting the initial Non-O is easy enough and that gives you 90 days, the problems start when you want to extend it to a year.
Vientianne might be a cheaper cost impact than going off to KL/Penang and you shouldn't have any visa related problems in Vientianne. Just check if there are any Thai or Lao official holidays around when you go as the embassy is closed for both.
Resolve dissolves in alcohol
While in Penang this week on holidays met a Stephen (60) 17879857 who arranges all sorts of visas for people for 30 Rinnghit (his charge). He does all the leg work. U also I was told pay for the normal Thai visa charges (tourist visa apparently free at the moment). Same day service (if you have all the relevant doc's and pics).
Return train (2nd a/c class sleeper) 2090 Bht. Good relaxing journey and terrific tucka in Penang!!!
PS if U qualify U can get a 10 year visa for Malaysia (malaysia my second home program). Pity LOS can't do the same !!!!
Return train (2nd a/c class sleeper) 2090 Bht. Good relaxing journey and terrific tucka in Penang!!!
PS if U qualify U can get a 10 year visa for Malaysia (malaysia my second home program). Pity LOS can't do the same !!!!
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Wanderlust
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I am also interested in the situation in Vientiane, as I am going to need another non O visa, because having successfully extended last year, while my income in pounds remained unchanged, the drop in the exchange rate meant I didn't qualify any more, added to the fact that they also changed the rules about being able to include wife's income, which would have enabled me to extend 
I have just got a 60 day extension from immigration (visiting Thai wife), and as it seems unlikely that the exchange rate will alter enough before that runs out I will need a new non O, but I would prefer a multi entry one; I got one from KL last time and didn't have to produce pictures or financial information, just marriage certificate, wife's ID card and the form/fee. Why some embassies/consulates ask to see these other things is a mystery to me, as they are only legally required for the extension in Thailand. Has anyone got a multi entry from anywhere other than KL recently and what did they ask for? I'd like to go somewhere different!
I have just got a 60 day extension from immigration (visiting Thai wife), and as it seems unlikely that the exchange rate will alter enough before that runs out I will need a new non O, but I would prefer a multi entry one; I got one from KL last time and didn't have to produce pictures or financial information, just marriage certificate, wife's ID card and the form/fee. Why some embassies/consulates ask to see these other things is a mystery to me, as they are only legally required for the extension in Thailand. Has anyone got a multi entry from anywhere other than KL recently and what did they ask for? I'd like to go somewhere different!
Can't say for sure WL but of all the local embassies in adjacent countries other than Penang/KL, Vientianne is going to be the most friendly for getting non-immigrant visas.
Last time I was there was about 8 months ago and they were handing out all types, B, O, AO etc, and met guys getting them.
They even have this on the main site,
Visa Types & Fees :
Transit: 800 Baht per entry
Tourist: 1,000 Baht per entry
Non-Immigrant: 2,000 Baht per entry
Non-Immigrant
(1 year): 5,000 Baht (Multiple Entry)
Non-Immigrant
(3 years): 10,000 Baht (Multiple Entry)
You know how it is with this stuff though, which way is the wind blowing today?
Might be OK at the moment as they are trying to encourage people to come and stay at the moment.
However, of anywhere, you're most likely to get one there. If you go and haven't been before, PM me and I'll give you a few free observations of mine regarding what you need to do and possible annoyances than can easily be avoided about the experience.
Last time I was there was about 8 months ago and they were handing out all types, B, O, AO etc, and met guys getting them.
They even have this on the main site,
Visa Types & Fees :
Transit: 800 Baht per entry
Tourist: 1,000 Baht per entry
Non-Immigrant: 2,000 Baht per entry
Non-Immigrant
(1 year): 5,000 Baht (Multiple Entry)
Non-Immigrant
(3 years): 10,000 Baht (Multiple Entry)
You know how it is with this stuff though, which way is the wind blowing today?
Might be OK at the moment as they are trying to encourage people to come and stay at the moment.
However, of anywhere, you're most likely to get one there. If you go and haven't been before, PM me and I'll give you a few free observations of mine regarding what you need to do and possible annoyances than can easily be avoided about the experience.
Resolve dissolves in alcohol
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Wanderlust
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- Location: Hua Hin
Thanks for that spitfire - I have been to Vientiane before but not for several years, and I believe the Embassy/Consulate has moved as well. That does sound hopeful, so I might be planning a trip to Laos in the near future! Why not share your observations with everyone as I am sure others will find them useful?
WL.
I'm not 100% certain of this, so read with caution.
There's a big difference between Embassies, consulates and honourary consulates.
An Embassy will play by the rules. Consulates will be partly self-determining/funded. I think that a consulate is funded by the Thai government and so has to balance the books. An honoury consulate is it's own business. It has the legal stamps but dosn't have to report financially to the Thai government other than some cut of the fees.
So, that's why the wind changes direction. Penang, as a consulate will just close the doors/make up their own rules if they're too busy. They'll just make life difficult. It dosn't matter to them. They're getting their salaries.
By all accounts, Vientiane seems a good bet for a single entry Non O. I wouldn't place any money on a multi-entry though.
Have you considered Australia? I think it's either Perth or Melbourne that will issue a multi-entry as long as you've got proof of marriage to a Thai. Maybe some Aussie members can confirm which city is the best for a visa?
I'm not 100% certain of this, so read with caution.
There's a big difference between Embassies, consulates and honourary consulates.
An Embassy will play by the rules. Consulates will be partly self-determining/funded. I think that a consulate is funded by the Thai government and so has to balance the books. An honoury consulate is it's own business. It has the legal stamps but dosn't have to report financially to the Thai government other than some cut of the fees.
So, that's why the wind changes direction. Penang, as a consulate will just close the doors/make up their own rules if they're too busy. They'll just make life difficult. It dosn't matter to them. They're getting their salaries.
By all accounts, Vientiane seems a good bet for a single entry Non O. I wouldn't place any money on a multi-entry though.
Have you considered Australia? I think it's either Perth or Melbourne that will issue a multi-entry as long as you've got proof of marriage to a Thai. Maybe some Aussie members can confirm which city is the best for a visa?
OK WL, will do, makes sense.
It also makes sense to start this assuming anyone this could apply to is starting off this adventure from Hua Hin. Some of this is self-explanatory or obvious but will include it all in case there are some that have never been. Check whether there are any official Thai/Lao holidays around the dates you want to go, the embassy will be closed for all of them and there are quite a few.
1. First thing to consider is, how are you going to get there?
-If you are going to drive, then you go to Bangkok obviously and then head northeast on Mittraparb Rd(A2, I think) which goes through Korat, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani and then on to Nong Khai, don't get off it, goes all the way. Average time lets say HH to Nong Khai(driving), maybe 10-12 hours at an average pace, it's a good 800km or so, give or take a bit, at a guess. Korat would be a good place to spend a night if you want to take it a bit slower, lots of good/reasonably priced hotels there. Korat would probably be about half way. There are places you can leave(in Nong Khai) you car/truck for a night or two which are safe while you go to Lao. Firstly there is a secure car par at the bus station which will charge you one hundred baht or so a night or you can rent a cheap hotel room which has a car par plus security and leave it there, done both myself, no worries with either.
-The bus is also another option but it's a long way and that bus trip would not be for the faint hearted. I'm not a big fan of the bus but some are. I gave up using the bus a while back for many reasons.
-If you're not driving then I'd probably go with the train, at least once you are in Bangkok. There's an overnight train(sleeper/1st class), not too expensive, that leaves Bangkok main train station in the early evening, not sure exactly when it leaves but it's going to be around 8 o'clock as it gets to Korat about 11-12 o'clock/midnight. It gets you to Nong Khai in the early morning about 5-6 am, which is perfect, as the bridge opens at 7:00-7:30 am. If you are hungry and want a recognisable breakfast then you can hop into Nong Khai(40-50 baht tuk-tuk) to the Pantawee Hotel which has a 24 hour restaurant open, food OK.
2. Cross the Friendship Bridge when it opens on the shuttle service, not too busy then. Get the visa to Lao on arrival, don't need the touts, it's easy. The office for a Lao visa is next to where the shuttle drops you off(Lao side of the bridge). Lao visa $31 or 1550 baht, cheaper if you have US dollars.
Taxi from the bridge to Vientiane about 300 baht, any more and they are trying to lift your skirt up.
3. Good idea to go straight to the embassy and get your application in asap. It can get very busy at the embassy and usually there are lots of people that don't have a pen, can't fill the form in properly, have no idea what kind of visa they want/need etc etc.
It says that you have to wait two working days for the return of the passport with the visa in it. This is somewhat misleading because if you apply on the morning(as decribed above) of, say, a Wednesday, then you go and pick it up in the afternoon of Thursday, the next day.
You can only apply for a visa from 8:30am(when the embassy opens) up until 12:00 midday, each day, cannot apply in the afternoon. 13:00 -16:30 everyday is used to hand back the passports to the people that applied the previous day.
Do not apply on a Friday unless you are happy to wait until Monday to get it back.
Do not lose the reciept they give you at the embassy when you apply. If you lose it they will make you wait till the end of the handing out session the next day and give you the Spanish Inquisition routine before you get the passport back, definately a massive interjection into your plans.
4. Good idea to download the visa application form from the embassy site and fill it in before you leave and have everything ready and done when you arrive, then it's just hand it over and pay the fee. Quickly do the aformentioned and get the hell out of there to the hotel of your choise. Lots of stuff around the fountain in the center.
Just tell the taxi/tuk-tuk driver you want to go to a restaurant called "Cop chai ders"(can't remember the spelling but that's how it sounds) and that will get you to the right area, the choise of hotel etc after that is yours but plenty there. A good place for breakfast/lunch in this area(next to the fountain square) is a place called the Scandinavian Bakery, famous and decent, nice food.
5. The following day, get to the embassy to pick up your passport at about 11:30-12 midday. It's much quicker to get it back than the process of applying. Then it's just the taxi(3oo baht) trip back to the bridge and hop over to Nong Khai.
However, this is were problems can start, the trip home, unless you are driving yourself. If you look at the train times of trains leaving Nong Khai you'll find that the afternoon train leaves at 13:00 which is no good for you as you have to pick up you passport in Vientianne at that time, missed it. The next one leaves in the very late afternoon/early evening.
Really, you need to get to Udon Thani train or bus station. You have two options. Take the bus from Nong Khai to Udon, which is one of those very slow buses that stops every 2 km to pick up someone and takes an hour to get to Udon and is not guaranteed to take you to the bus station anyway, you'll probably have to then take a tuk-tuk after it stops at the discretion of the driver to get to where you need to go.
The other option is to take a private taxi at the bridge to Udon, more expensive, but gets you straight to where you want to go. Otherwise, stay in Nong Khai for the night or just wait for the next train. You choise but this is just the senario, do as thou wilt.
If you end up in Udon, at the bus or train station then getting back to Bangkok is simple.
These are just a few observations and red flagging a couple of potential problems that may come up on this visa trip.
Couple of tips:
Take small denomination notes of baht or US dollars, it's very useful and you can easily use these currencies everywhere. If you change a 500 baht or 1000 baht note then they may be unable to give you the change in baht, thus requesting you accept kip(Lao currency). You really don't want kip and if you get then use it asap and don't have any left when you get back to Thailand, no bank here will change it, it's worthless.
Check out the duty free shop on the Lao side on the way back to Thailand, it's great, cheap as hell. A 70cl bottle of blue label vodka is about 280-300 baht, bought 4 last time I went,
, limit is two but they never check.
A liter jug of beer Lao will be about 9000-10000 kip/35 baht/$1 US maybe a little more now.
Exchange rate will be about 240 kip to 1 baht. You can pretty much change money anywhere, even restaurants/bars.
The location of the embassy has changed as WL said but that was about 5 years ago so should not cause any problems now.
Will have probably forgotten some stuff but any specific questions then feel free to ask, will do my best to answer, have done this trip about 20 times now, due to all those tourist visa runs and more recently Non O runs over the past 8 years or so.
Lomuamart does make some good points in his post aswell, well worth paying attention to it.
The above is a helpful read if you decide to go to Vientianne for a visa. Please remember that embassies/consulates do change their MO at will and at short notice. It can also depend on whether the official you are dealing with is just having a bad day doesn't want to be helpful. There are many variables.
If you go, I hope this is of some use.
Edited for clarity.
It also makes sense to start this assuming anyone this could apply to is starting off this adventure from Hua Hin. Some of this is self-explanatory or obvious but will include it all in case there are some that have never been. Check whether there are any official Thai/Lao holidays around the dates you want to go, the embassy will be closed for all of them and there are quite a few.
1. First thing to consider is, how are you going to get there?
-If you are going to drive, then you go to Bangkok obviously and then head northeast on Mittraparb Rd(A2, I think) which goes through Korat, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani and then on to Nong Khai, don't get off it, goes all the way. Average time lets say HH to Nong Khai(driving), maybe 10-12 hours at an average pace, it's a good 800km or so, give or take a bit, at a guess. Korat would be a good place to spend a night if you want to take it a bit slower, lots of good/reasonably priced hotels there. Korat would probably be about half way. There are places you can leave(in Nong Khai) you car/truck for a night or two which are safe while you go to Lao. Firstly there is a secure car par at the bus station which will charge you one hundred baht or so a night or you can rent a cheap hotel room which has a car par plus security and leave it there, done both myself, no worries with either.
-The bus is also another option but it's a long way and that bus trip would not be for the faint hearted. I'm not a big fan of the bus but some are. I gave up using the bus a while back for many reasons.
-If you're not driving then I'd probably go with the train, at least once you are in Bangkok. There's an overnight train(sleeper/1st class), not too expensive, that leaves Bangkok main train station in the early evening, not sure exactly when it leaves but it's going to be around 8 o'clock as it gets to Korat about 11-12 o'clock/midnight. It gets you to Nong Khai in the early morning about 5-6 am, which is perfect, as the bridge opens at 7:00-7:30 am. If you are hungry and want a recognisable breakfast then you can hop into Nong Khai(40-50 baht tuk-tuk) to the Pantawee Hotel which has a 24 hour restaurant open, food OK.
2. Cross the Friendship Bridge when it opens on the shuttle service, not too busy then. Get the visa to Lao on arrival, don't need the touts, it's easy. The office for a Lao visa is next to where the shuttle drops you off(Lao side of the bridge). Lao visa $31 or 1550 baht, cheaper if you have US dollars.
Taxi from the bridge to Vientiane about 300 baht, any more and they are trying to lift your skirt up.
3. Good idea to go straight to the embassy and get your application in asap. It can get very busy at the embassy and usually there are lots of people that don't have a pen, can't fill the form in properly, have no idea what kind of visa they want/need etc etc
.It says that you have to wait two working days for the return of the passport with the visa in it. This is somewhat misleading because if you apply on the morning(as decribed above) of, say, a Wednesday, then you go and pick it up in the afternoon of Thursday, the next day.
You can only apply for a visa from 8:30am(when the embassy opens) up until 12:00 midday, each day, cannot apply in the afternoon. 13:00 -16:30 everyday is used to hand back the passports to the people that applied the previous day.
Do not apply on a Friday unless you are happy to wait until Monday to get it back.
Do not lose the reciept they give you at the embassy when you apply. If you lose it they will make you wait till the end of the handing out session the next day and give you the Spanish Inquisition routine before you get the passport back, definately a massive interjection into your plans.
4. Good idea to download the visa application form from the embassy site and fill it in before you leave and have everything ready and done when you arrive, then it's just hand it over and pay the fee. Quickly do the aformentioned and get the hell out of there to the hotel of your choise. Lots of stuff around the fountain in the center.
Just tell the taxi/tuk-tuk driver you want to go to a restaurant called "Cop chai ders"(can't remember the spelling but that's how it sounds) and that will get you to the right area, the choise of hotel etc after that is yours but plenty there. A good place for breakfast/lunch in this area(next to the fountain square) is a place called the Scandinavian Bakery, famous and decent, nice food.
5. The following day, get to the embassy to pick up your passport at about 11:30-12 midday. It's much quicker to get it back than the process of applying. Then it's just the taxi(3oo baht) trip back to the bridge and hop over to Nong Khai.
However, this is were problems can start, the trip home, unless you are driving yourself. If you look at the train times of trains leaving Nong Khai you'll find that the afternoon train leaves at 13:00 which is no good for you as you have to pick up you passport in Vientianne at that time, missed it. The next one leaves in the very late afternoon/early evening.
Really, you need to get to Udon Thani train or bus station. You have two options. Take the bus from Nong Khai to Udon, which is one of those very slow buses that stops every 2 km to pick up someone and takes an hour to get to Udon and is not guaranteed to take you to the bus station anyway, you'll probably have to then take a tuk-tuk after it stops at the discretion of the driver to get to where you need to go.
The other option is to take a private taxi at the bridge to Udon, more expensive, but gets you straight to where you want to go. Otherwise, stay in Nong Khai for the night or just wait for the next train. You choise but this is just the senario, do as thou wilt.
If you end up in Udon, at the bus or train station then getting back to Bangkok is simple.
These are just a few observations and red flagging a couple of potential problems that may come up on this visa trip.
Couple of tips:
Take small denomination notes of baht or US dollars, it's very useful and you can easily use these currencies everywhere. If you change a 500 baht or 1000 baht note then they may be unable to give you the change in baht, thus requesting you accept kip(Lao currency). You really don't want kip and if you get then use it asap and don't have any left when you get back to Thailand, no bank here will change it, it's worthless.
Check out the duty free shop on the Lao side on the way back to Thailand, it's great, cheap as hell. A 70cl bottle of blue label vodka is about 280-300 baht, bought 4 last time I went,
, limit is two but they never check. A liter jug of beer Lao will be about 9000-10000 kip/35 baht/$1 US maybe a little more now.
Exchange rate will be about 240 kip to 1 baht. You can pretty much change money anywhere, even restaurants/bars.
The location of the embassy has changed as WL said but that was about 5 years ago so should not cause any problems now.
Will have probably forgotten some stuff but any specific questions then feel free to ask, will do my best to answer, have done this trip about 20 times now, due to all those tourist visa runs and more recently Non O runs over the past 8 years or so.
Lomuamart does make some good points in his post aswell, well worth paying attention to it.
The above is a helpful read if you decide to go to Vientianne for a visa. Please remember that embassies/consulates do change their MO at will and at short notice. It can also depend on whether the official you are dealing with is just having a bad day doesn't want to be helpful. There are many variables.
If you go, I hope this is of some use.
Edited for clarity.
Last edited by Spitfire on Thu Mar 19, 2009 7:12 pm, edited 3 times in total.
Resolve dissolves in alcohol
double post, can delete this gents if so desired.-
dtaai-maai
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Good post, hurricane . The only thing I would add from my two (fairly happy) experiences of Vientiane about 4 years ago is to make sure you have copies of your passport with you and to ignore the 'helpful', but extremely persistent, touts lying in wait outside the Embassy, who claim they will smoothe your path in all sorts of ways, but will only take your dosh!
And Nong Khai is well worth a night or two's stopover, just for a change if nothing else.
. The only thing I would add from my two (fairly happy) experiences of Vientiane about 4 years ago is to make sure you have copies of your passport with you and to ignore the 'helpful', but extremely persistent, touts lying in wait outside the Embassy, who claim they will smoothe your path in all sorts of ways, but will only take your dosh! And Nong Khai is well worth a night or two's stopover, just for a change if nothing else.
This is the way
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dtaai-maai
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Wanderlust
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Thanks for that spitfire. One other option on the travel front is to fly from Bangkok to Udon Thani - I just checked Nok Air and the return trip is under 3000 baht; I don't know how that compares to the bus, train or driving but I wouldn't think there would be much difference, although obviously you have to get from HH to BKK and from UT to Vientiane.
Spitfire, thank you for the your excellent and detailed post.
I'll be heading to Vientiane in the next week (for the first time) to collect my new Non-Immigrant Visa, the information you've posted will certainly be very useful.
I'll be heading to Vientiane in the next week (for the first time) to collect my new Non-Immigrant Visa, the information you've posted will certainly be very useful.
You cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus. - Mark Twain