How busy is the Thai consulate in Vientiane and is there enough time for passport pick-up before a 6:30 PM flight?

Oh, and get a photocopy of your Laos visa and arrival stamp the day/evening before you go to the consulate rather than using the photocopiers at the consulate and risking getting stuck behind an agent wanting photocopies of 20 plus passports

I was really pushed for time getting back to Udon Thani to catch the 6.30pm flight. It was very stressful. The journey from the consulate to the border was fine. Crossing out of Laos was quick. It was going back through Thai immigration that was the nightmare. 1 and hours of queuing meant that I missed the shuttle bus that would have gotten me to Udon Thani in comfortable time. Instead I took a hairy taxi ride at an exhorbitant cost with a taxi driver who was probably legally blind. Got caught in rush hour Udon Thani traffic. Arrived at the aiport, literally ran to the departure gate which was already locked. Escorted to the tarmac and then a long brisk walk to the plane. Boarded 10 minutes before take off. If I was to do it again I would stay an extra night in Vientianne or Nong Khai or get to the consulate ealier than 8.00am as even at that time the queue was enormous. I would also avoid applying for a visa on a Monday

What time do I need to hand my passport in and how many photos do I need please

No problem. I was number 142 and got my passport 20 minutes after they opened at 13.30

It's always busy over 700 when we were there last week.They do move the lines quickly. Not the Consulate staff but the mini van drivers who actually do a great job of moving people through. Time is money. They even wear shirts saying staff. LOL! Why the rush we enjoy staying for 5 to 7 days. Border can be extremely long and busy. PM me and I will tell you how to get across quickly because you're Canadian. Canadian passport is more expensive for the Laos visa. Don't know why.

something that can help you get your passport back quickly on the afternoon when you pick them up is to be at the front of the line the morning before when you turn in your passport and application.

They give the passports back in the order they take them (or they are supposed to except for the queue jumpers) :/

I got from the Vientiane consulate all the way back to the Udon Thani Airport to catch a flight to Bangkok at 6:55PM

If you're flying out of Vientiane you're totally fine, if you're flying out of Udon, you can't screw around after you get your passport back you gotta hoof it to the border and then on to Udon.