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Is Mae Sot Border Open on Saturday, and Can I Extend My Visa in Kamphaeng Phet?
Visa ExtensionsBorder RunsThai Visa RulesMae Sot BorderKamphaeng Phet ImmigrationTourist Visa60-Day Tourist VisaCOVID-19 Impact on Visas
Apr 3, 2023
3 years ago
Mike ********
ORIGINAL POSTERSo I came in on a 60 TR Evisa extended it by 30 with extension, did Mae sot border bounce for another 45 on re entry, got another 30 day extension on that today at Kamphaengphet Immigration, plan on doing another border bounce when this is due to expire, a couple of questions,. Is Mae sot open on a Saturday, and assuming I can get it done can I extend it by another 30 days at Kamphaeng Phet ? ( I know I will have to go back to uk after this) and finally, would I have a problem returning back to thailand in November this year (2023)
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user inquired about their current visa situation after multiple entries and extensions in Thailand. They asked if Mae Sot border is open on Saturdays and if they can extend their visa by another 30 days at Kamphaeng Phet Immigration. Responses confirm that Mae Sot border is indeed open every day, including weekends, and mention the limit of two land border bounces per calendar year, cautioning the user about the risks of overstaying as well as necessary documentation for border crossings.
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Paul *******
Interesting that Myawaddy is using the same stamp as they use for visa based entries. Pre Covid, they always used an old black one day stamp that was easy to distinguish from the light blue one you have.
Tse *******************
Any suggestion of company that nurse visa run?
David *********
Interesting to see mae sot border is open for border bounce, I’m in tak myself but heard the border is closed for tourists
Paul *******
@David ********
You're welcome.Paul *******
@David ********
It's an unusual arrangement but they're allowing border bounces just not allowing foreigners to spend the day in Myawaddy as previously permitted pre Covid. Thai nationals are allowed to roam around Myawaddy during the day, but foreigners are not.Foreigners are permitted to enter and remain in Tachilek and Kengtung if coming across from Mae Sai though!
Each crossing has its own rules. No other country is quite this weird, but Myanmar has always been an outlier.
David *********
@Paul ******
thanks for the info 👍🏻Reply to
David *********
Reply
Mike ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@David ********
They let you stamp out of thailand and in/out of mayanmar, just walk over no1 friendship bridge and you get approached by an official who takes your passport, gets it stamped in/out mayanmar and returns it to you after giving 500 bht,. Go back to Thai immigration and stamp back in,.it’s allot easier than the 30 day extension I did at imo in Kamphaeng Phet,.Ben *********
@David ********
but you cannot continue into Myanmar right?Paul *******
@Ben ********
No. Only border bounces permitted. Can't even go to a coffee shop to buy coffee. Thais can, 3rd country nationals can't.Reply to
Paul *******
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Graham ******
@David ********
they started re-opening the Myanmar borders in JanuaryReply to
Graham ******
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Phil ********
You're at the discretion of the officer... 🙄
Best to have the 3 proofs in any case, even with a TR visa... or doing a border bounce to get another visa exempt entry...
hotel booking for a few days & onward travel reservation within your allowed days, & 20,000 thb or equivalent in $ £ € in CASH is needed.
Lack of funds is the most common reason cited for denying entry.
Make hotel/onward travel bookings that you can cancel for free.
No brainer, innit?
YMMV
TIT
Best to have the 3 proofs in any case, even with a TR visa... or doing a border bounce to get another visa exempt entry...
hotel booking for a few days & onward travel reservation within your allowed days, & 20,000 thb or equivalent in $ £ € in CASH is needed.
Lack of funds is the most common reason cited for denying entry.
Make hotel/onward travel bookings that you can cancel for free.
No brainer, innit?
YMMV
TIT
Thomas ************
very poor
Steve *******
Border crossings are open 7 days a week.
Roberto *********
Do you have any history of covid extensions, ED visa or Volunteer Visa in the last three years?
Mike ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Roberto ********
No, I’ve not been to thailand since December 2019, and always just come in on a 30 day visa exemption,. other than a 1 day overstay (warning) no previous issues,.Reply to
Mike ********
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Tom *********
Remember it's only 2 times LAND border visa run/bounce per calendar year. So if you have only 1 so far it looks legit but then no more before 1st of Jan. 2024
Steve ********
So what you're saying is you'll have been in the country as a "tourist" for 225 days? You just need to be wary that there are some immigration officers who believe once you've passed 180 days you're no longer a "tourist". Might be safer either getting a border-run company to nurse you over the border, or alternatively have a visa run to a neighbouring country and get a new visa. Whether you can repeat in November is anyone's guess. Just remember you're only allowed two land border bounces per calendar year
Mike ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Steve *******
I am 68 going on 69 in may, and I’m just working the system, the imo have my residence address and I’ve not had any questions regarding my stay, I am playing the “tourist” card genuinely,. The imo have mentioned I would be better off with an OA visa for longer stay,.Mma *******
@Mike *******
Good stuff mate enjoy- you deserve it. And yes no problems coming back in November.Alistair **********
@Mike *******
most posts I've seen of people being rejected entry were warned on a previous entry. Things like being told this is last entry for a while, or getting extensively questioned.You qualify for retirement visa, so if you encounter issues just say you wanted to stay a little bit before deciding to get a retirement visa and you'll get the right visa at immigration.
Steve ********
@Mike *******
I don't understand. Why don't you just get the proper visa? I've been on retirement for years. One simple visit to Immigration every year sure beats the shit out of continually scampering to borders to get 30 day entry stamps. For the life of me I can't work it outMike ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Steve *******
I haven’t been able to visit thailand since December 2019 due to C19 and all the BS that brought with it, so I continued to work in uk 3 years over/into my retirement age 66.5 y/o,. I only officially retired from work on November 18th 2022,.originally planned to come back to thailand for 3 months from nov 25/23, untill feb 22/23 but as I’ve not got work to get back to in uk I decided to hang it out in thailand as long as possible (legally/authorised). Ariving in BKK thinking 90 days will be plenty, but the longer you are here I thought I will tough it out,. I’ve done the 2 weeks/1 month trips since 2009, 90 days seemed like plenty at the time,. Look on this amount of time I am spending here as a trial run I suppose,. I intend to get an O or OA visa next time I’m back, as I agree, visiting immigration offices at borders or at your local town is a bit of a pain,. But that’s what I have to do this trip, it’s been an expierience anyways,.rightly or wrongly I’ve not drawn a penny from any of my 3 pensions in uk (government/workplace/persona) so meeting the *****
*****
, untill feb *****
but as I’ve not got work to get back to in uk I decided to hang it out in thailand as long as possible (legally/authorised). Ariving in BKK thinking 90 days will be plenty, but the longer you are here I thought I will tough it out,. I’ve done the 2 weeks/1 month trips since 2009, 90 days seemed like plenty at the time,. Look on this amount of time I am spending here as a trial run I suppose,. I intend to get an O or OA visa next time I’m back, as I agree, visiting immigration offices at borders or at your local town is a bit of a pain,. But that’s what I have to do this trip, it’s been an expierience anyways,.rightly or wrongly I’ve not drawn a penny from any of my 3 pensions in uk (government/workplace/persona) so meeting the 800000 in a Thai bank account should be doable,. Just got to get my ducks in line and we will see how we go,.Paul *******
@Mike *******
Land border crossings such as Mae Sot and smaller, quieter immigration offices such as Kampaeng Phet, Nakorn Sawan, Mae Sot (Tak) and Mae Hong Son are fairly straightforward to deal with and sometimes you can be in/out in minutes as you probably know well.A completely different story when it comes to Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket and Chiang Mai.
Mae Sot has a lot of Burmese workers using it, but they're usually dealt with in a separate building, where it's mainly westerners (often times you'll see missionaries) and some unexpected nationalities such as Japanese, Cambodians and Laotians and of course the odd Chinese national. Waiting times are rarely longer than half an hour.
Paul *******
@Mike *******
You probably won't have issues coming back in November but in the longer term, it is probably still better to get an O or OA. Even for the next trip.Reply to
Paul *******
Reply
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