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What are the best options for a visa run from Chiang Mai considering a group of six?

Visa RunChiang Mai30 Day Visa ExemptionTourist VisaVientianeMae SaiVisa ExtensionTravel OptionsTransport Costs
October 12, 2018
6 years ago
Tamara *****************
ORIGINAL POSTER
We need to do our first Visa run. Came in on 30 day exemption and did one border bounce for another. Planning on being here through December at least. There are 6 of us. Flights adding up quickly. 1) Is our cheapest option to take a bus or maybe rent a car? 2) Vientiane the closest in that case? 3) it wouldn't count as 2nd land crossing as it would be a 60 day tourist Visa and not a end 30 day exemption, is that correct? 4) any better ideas or crucial bits I'm missing? 5)Thanks!!!

Edited to add: we are in Chiang Mai
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A group of six expats in Chiang Mai is considering their options for a visa run as their initial 30-day visa exemption is about to expire. They are exploring the most economical means of transportation, debating between taking a bus, renting a car, or flying. The suggestions include: 1) A visa run to Vientiane, Laos, where they can obtain a 60-day tourist visa at the Thai consulate. 2) A less expensive option of a border bounce at Mae Sai, which is more convenient and allows them to extend their stay without impacting their entries for the year. 3) It's also mentioned that extensions for their current visa can be made at an immigration office, allowing for additional 30 days. The conversation highlights the importance of planning to avoid overstays and to consider costs and logistics as they prepare for their extended stay through December.
Duncan *******
if economics are your consideration rent a car - easy two day drive to the border (can be done in one if pushing it). 5-6 days car rental is going to be about 6k give or take vs ~12k for you flights. With kids route 12 through Petchabun is elephant country and theres some nicd places to stop off.
6 years ago
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Tamara *****************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Duncan ******
 I've started searching a bit for a rental, but I'm seeing like average 45usd per day. Is that the norm or do you have suggestions where to look? Thanks!
6 years ago
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Tamara *****************
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Tod *********
I will caution people to stay on topic or STFU okay?

People's financial situations OR their motivation for doing what ever they want to do is NOT up for debate.

Feel free to add to the conversation BUT if you feel like trolling, keep on scrolling. :)
6 years ago
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Thomas ********************
"if you feel like trolling, keep on scrolling"

There's some meme potential here. Thanks, Tod!
6 years ago
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Thomas ********************
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Tod *********
One thing I will point out, children under 15 cannot be fined for overstay AND children under 18 cannot be banned for overstay. While that's not the same as saying they don't need a visa, there are no penalties for them if they overstay.

I would say, don't bother getting tourist visas for the kids and just let them enter at Nong Khai for a new 30 day visa exempt entry and then let them overstay until you leave the country,
6 years ago
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Tamara *****************
ORIGINAL POSTER
oh wow, so no extensions for them at all? That would actually be nice not to need to haul them on the bus back up there and back. We have friends we could leave them with here in town. Plus, it would save us money! We were looking at 380usd for extensions.
6 years ago
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Tod *********
@Tamara ****************
 right. I'd just get a 30 day extension on the entry you have now, then border bounce at Mae Sai - Tachiliek for your last 30 day visa exempt entry and extend that another 30 days too. That'd give you almost 90 days (30 day extension on this entry, a 30 day visa exempt entry and a 30 day extension on that entry) and just let the kids overstay from now on and don't worry about it at all. I mean if you wanted to you could bounce them in and out at Mae Sai to get a new 30 day visa exempt entry but I'd just let them overstay on the stamp they're on and leave them on the thai side while you bounce out and back in.
6 years ago
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Tamara *****************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 so, if we go no Visa route. And extend, bounce, extend. We could extend all 6, border bounce, then just extend adults?
6 years ago
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Tamara *****************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Mind blown
6 years ago
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Tamara *****************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 🤯🤯🤯
6 years ago
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Tamara *****************
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Tamara *****************
ORIGINAL POSTER
You are all a godsend! Thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge...repeatedly! 🙏🏽
6 years ago
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Robert *******
Somehow i got the feeling we answered this question not long ago and:
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6 years ago
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Robert *******
Or get as adviced the Single Entry Tourist Visa in Vientiane
6 years ago
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Ivan ************
Right OK, from that "we only have done our 1st 30 days exemption from flying in". So that air entry does not count against your 2. Only land entries. And you have only done one bounce, so you can do another if you want. Same thing again in Mae Sai.
6 years ago
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Tamara *****************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ******
 that was the FIRST one 😀 And I followed some great advice for a first bounce. Now trying to find best combo to get us through to Jan.
6 years ago
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Tamara *****************
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Ivan ************
Have you extended your visa exempt entry? If you haven't, and you do that that would bring you forward until November. Then the easiest is to do a border bounce at Mae Sai. You have only used one land entry so far, and it is now 12 October, so if you get 30 more and then do a run in November that would bring you through to 2019 where the land entry visa exempt counter resets anyway. Green Bus VIP to Mae Sai, 319B each way for VIP, 205B for regular.

If you want to go to Vientiane, fly Air Asia or Nok to Udon. But the Mae Sai bounce will be cheaper and quicker if it is an option. A visa land entry won't count against you 2 per year but you have 1 left anyway, may as well use it.

EDIT: I'd add here, I'm presuming your initial entry was by air. If it was by land, disregard, go to Vientiane (after renewing, if applicable).
6 years ago
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Ivan ************
You can only extend each entry once. After extending once, you have to go out. But when you come back, it's a new entry, which you can again extend, once.
6 years ago
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Tamara *****************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ivan ***********
 WHY did I not think I could extend twice?! Lol. THANK YOU. I'm just laughing out loud, yikes. Glad I asked. My brain is overwhelmed. It was definitely time to "settle down" for a few months!
6 years ago
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Ivan ************
Extend - new stamp = 23 Nov

Bounce on 23rd - new stamp = 22 Dec

Extend again - new stamp = 21 Jan
6 years ago
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Tamara *****************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ivan ***********
 right now we expire the 24th of Oct. I think if we need to be here say for Christmas day maybe then we need to hang out a few days before reentry to push our dates a bit to actually reach 2019. I'll play with the dates now and figure that out. Thank you for the help! I might as well use our last land border crossing, I was forgetting the extension option!
6 years ago
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Ivan ************
Yes you can go any time for extension and it is added to the end of your current stamp, so don't need to wait until near the expiry. 1,900B each and you get 30 days added on the end.

Then if you do the Mae Sai thing again, and extend that, you'll be in 2019. At which point the 2 land visa exempt entry counter resets.
6 years ago
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Tamara *****************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ivan ***********
 and is it correct that we don't need to wait, if we go now and get new stamps they will extend our current stamp by 30. We don't need to wait until the last minute to not lose days right?
6 years ago
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Tamara *****************
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Tod *********
Also keep in mind that you can extend your 30 day visa exempt entries by 30 days for 1900baht at the immigration office too
6 years ago
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Tod *********
IF your profile is to be believed, (and you're in Chiang Mai) I'd say fly to Udon Thani, take a mini van from the airport to the Nong Khai border, cross into Lao and go to the thai consulate to apply for a single entry tourist visa. Then when you get the tourist visa (it takes two days) you can go back to Udon and fly to chiang mai
6 years ago
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Tamara *****************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 thank you. I've read and read, but I always feel nervous I'll overlook something and be left standing there with 4 kids in tow STUCK. lol Appreciate the help!
6 years ago
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Tod *********
@Tam***
 right (y) it's only IF you enter the country by land without a visa (on a 30 day visa exempt entry) that you have a limit of two entries per year
6 years ago
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Tamara *****************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 we are in Chiang Mai, yes. So coming on on a tourist Visa by land wouldn't burn the 2nd for the year correct? Just trying to figure out the most cost effective way to get us to Jan
6 years ago
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Tamara *****************
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Tod *********
Okay you burned one of your TWO 30 day visa exempt entries allowed in a calendar year, meaning you have one more 30 day visa exempt entry you can get by a land crossing this year IF you needed to

The thai consulate in Vientiane is the most user friendly and easy consulate to deal with getting a single entry tourist visa (which stamps you in for 60 days).
6 years ago
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Robert *******
It all depends on where you stay, it could be Penang in Malaysia.
6 years ago
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Tamara *****************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ******
 sorry! Chiang Mai
6 years ago
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Tamara *****************
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