What are the best options for doing a border run from Phuket for a 6-month multi-entry visa?

Mar 10, 2024
9 months ago
Kevin ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Good Afternoon all ,

My son ( in Phuket ) is coming up to the halfway mark on his 6 month multi entry visa , so has to do a border run .

While i was over there a lady got him stamped after the first 60 days and said she can organise him a run for 2500 baht ( which is no problem ) but she said Burma pick up 5 am and home that night , but our over cautious Burmese friends here in New Zealand said to not risk it .

Side note …. Bless his heart but if he had to fly and do an over night by himself 100 percent he will miss the plane or leave his passport at the 7/11 next to the snickers bars .

So any advice or companies, ride shares etc would be Amazing .

Passport stamped till March 23 .

Have a Great Evening ,

Regards Kevin
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A user seeks advice about their son's upcoming border run due to the halfway mark on his 6-month multi-entry visa while living in Phuket. Concerns include the son's ability to travel alone and potential risks associated with the border run. Suggestions include various options: using a minivan service to Ranong and crossing to Myanmar, flying to Malaysia, or engaging a visa run company for a hassle-free experience. Community members offered personal experiences, emphasizing the ease of border runs and discussing the importance of the son's independence.
Dan ********
From phuket, just take a seat with visa run company at 2500, whereever they go on the day, either Ranong to Myanmar, or head south to a border checkpoint with Malaysia. Out/back in in 5 minutes, the driver guides you through, any problems they step in, get home some day. He can fly out/back in, also same-day, or stay any amount of nights, and do it on his own steam. He has the visa so should be no problem with re-entry.
Kevin ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Dan *******
Thank you very much mate
Jeffrey **********
Contact
@Jaidee ***********************
they will pick him up at his place. drive him to the border, cross with him, and drive him home same day
Tara ********
People in phuket go to Malaysia border. Super easy with a border run company. Everything with very organised for him
Kevin ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tara *******
Many Thanks πŸ™
Gary **********
I've done the run to Burma many times. It's easy it's a good day out and never any probs ..apart from the v.i.p bus does go fast ...

Like you said leave at 5 am back by 6 pm ..I really enjoyed this run ..I'd say just do it ..
Kevin ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Gary *********
Thank you
Gary **********
@Kevin ***********
your welcome ...also you meet new people on the day great πŸ‘
Michael **********
I was in thailand by myself when I was 19 and nobody was wiping my ass. At that time there was little to none internet and most of the time I was on bangla surrounded by walkers. Let him grow and get in sh*t sometimes otherwise he'll never learn. Doing a border run is one of the easiest things in the world, literelly every tourist boot can organize that. I'm not trying to be rude or an d1ck, but let him handle this situation, jeez
Us *****
Why is he doing a border run as if he doesn't have an METV? Get him a ticket and fly to another country for a couple of days and fly back. He'll need a mental and physical break from training. If he does a border run on a minibus, it would physically drain his body and brain. It's more expensive to fly and book a hotel, but it is worth it.
Ross **********
A bit confused by all the comments. Is he going to Burma/ Myanmar ? Is he in the north west of Thailand ?
John ********
@Ross *********
get a map
Ross **********
@John *******
I don’t need one . He mentioned Burma
Terary **********
Let him loose his passport. Likely he will make that mistake once.
Victoria *******
I did a border run last month with this company, everything was fine, message the whatsapp
Kevin ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Victoria ******
thank you Victoria πŸ™
Christopher *************
Should he even be over here by himself?
Kevin ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Christopher ************
Almost a fair call πŸ˜Šβ€¦. He is 18 living and training Muay Thai over there ( in real good hands with trainers that have taken him under their wing ) but first time away from home , and to be fair his mother did everything for him bar wiping his Ass .

So although this is an Amazing opportunity for him to grow and become independent, the Dad in me still worries a little
Gary ******
@Kevin ***********
Hello Kevin how is his training going?
Christopher *************
At least he is learning to defend himself but that can't take the place of street smarts which was your job and common sense. Maybe you should come back and take him yourself or send mum?
Chris ********
Send him home he shouldnt be outside unaccompanied!! Yeesh
Nongnuch ********
he should do the Minivan border run to Ranong and Myanmar, the longtail boat takes him across and back. Absolutely fair a price (just as comparison - it is 4800.- THB with a Visa-Run Company from Hua Hin) and absolutely flawless run. The Ranong/Kawthoung border is open and the Myanmar side is fast and courteous, The company is guaranteeing his success
Robert *********
Or

Fly to trat ,go over and back ..then come see the opposite end of Thai tourism ....non crowded ,non commercial ,beautiful ,lush Koh kood ,Koh mak .include Koh Chang as well

It's a completely different world .
Mark ********
@Robert ********
If only Koh Chang still was...like Benidorm now
*****
years ago beautiful and quiet.
Robert *********
Michael ********
Sounds like a drive up to Ranong from Phuket. Borders not risky some companies mini bus drivers can be manic though.

Easy alternative is cheap flight air asia etc to KL from phuket and back. Booking closer to date is more expensive with flights though
Kevin ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Kevin ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks Michael , is it as simple as us booking him flights and a nights accommodation in a hotel close to KL airport , and in the morning he goes back to airport and flies back to Phuket , job done ? No specified amount of days out of Thailand ( when not using a local visa run company ?

Many Thanks πŸ™
Marijke ********
@Kevin ***********
as Micheal Dawson said. No risk taken
Michael ********
@Kevin ***********
i used to fly out in morning from phuket go to food court at KL airport get some rotu pop into supermarket stock up on curry powder and marmite and head back to phuket in afternoon. No need to stay overnight
Kevin ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Michael *******
I appreciate you mate , Thank you
Nigel *********
@Kevin ***********
he can fly out , stamp in to Malasia ( Kul) and head straight back again.

Ranong border is a bit of a nightmare recently. For Ranong he will need to show 20,000thb. Proof accom and onward ticket.
Dan ********
@Nigel ********
Ranong is sweet if you're with a visa agency. I've been many times in the last two 2 years. I was there exactly 1 month ago.
Kevin ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Nigel ********
Thank you Mate …

So my son can literally fly to KL exit the airport and come back in an hour later for a return flight ( no proof of anything , or money etc etc ) ?

When we applied for this visa several months ago ( from here in NZ ) we had to have A ) a thai guarantee and B )proof of accom for the first 60 days C )and i think we had to have 9k in his bank account

This has just occurred to me after posting ….. shit i may need to do a bit more homework,

Thoughts ?

Regards Kevin .
Ivan ************
@Ke***
they can ask for the proof anywhere, it's just a question of how likely that is. That depends on border and also the history/nature of the border bounce. I'd guess first bounce on a METV with no history they probably wouldn't ask but anything is possible. It's possible Air Asia might want a return ticket but unlikely, you can check in online for KUL and you don't need to go to check in, they didn't ask me anything a few weeks ago.

I would tend to trust a border run company as to what is required at the specific border they use as they do this every day and they will know what the deal is at the specific border they go. I would not be overly concerned about Myanmar from the civil war perspective, these border bounces you step a couple of meters into Myanmar (if that) and go straight back out. There is a war there but I don't think border bounce is a problem from that perspective, as long as the border is actually open (the Myanmar border nearest here in the North has opened and closed, depending on the situation). Again, visa run company will know and if generally if they say they can do it for a price they will do it.

There is generally less risk with land border runs.

You can do a straight turnaround in KL, I did one recently with 2 hours turnaround (only option for a same day return from Chiang Mai) and that's about as tight as you would want, 1 hour he wouldn't make it. It was 30 mins queueing just to get stamped in to Malaysia, and I don't think that was a bad day. Then KLIA2 is HUGE and there is a lot of walking to get back to departure, like there are signs saying 10 mins walk to X and when you get there you find another sign saying 10 mins to the gate. 2 hours is doable, not risk free but doable. If you want to book with shorter than a 3 hour turnaround, you need to do separate tickets, Air Asia won't sell you a return with less than 3 hours.
Kevin ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Sorry , probably just answered my own question … all that was sent to embassy, but on arrival in Thailand none of that mattered ( as visa was in Passport already)
Kevin ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
PS , apologies if i have asked a question that has been asked a million times
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