What are the best options for expats in Thailand needing to exit and re-enter due to visa rules after Myanmar stopped border bounces?

Go nong khaino probs

John Doe wll certainly tell you that he doesn't know either , except that maybe , if etc...., and he probably will have a friend who even knows less , but can't be trusted anyway , so

..

Just get mth visa 😉

I would have gone to Chiang Kong.

I only deal with Savannakhet because the embassy is walk in.

Considering the fighting across the border here in Mae Sot... I wouldn't advise doing a 'bounce'. However... as a resident here I have not heard you can't do it.

You just need to go back to Mae sot and just explain to the border officials that what they are doing isn't in the spirit of friendship, quote clause 17.1 of the immigration act and they will stamp you in and out no issues ✌️

Best of luck. Let us know how you go

Laos

@Mike *******

So Thai immigration at Mae Sot told you that Myanmar is not allowing foreigners entry at the moment, right?

Anyway, you have time to get yourself to Chiang Khong (or even Nong Khai) but start early. I think you can reach Chiang Khong more quickly than Nong Khai from Mae Sot.

From Mae Sot (or is it Kampaeng Phet where you are now) its a 3 hour drive to Lampang. From there continue north to Phayao (about 90 mins) and then head in the direction of Chiang Rai. There are several turn offs for Chiang Khong, the last time I drove there I started from Lampang and then stopped off in Chiang Mai for some business, before continuing to Chiang Rai. Once there I drove in the direction of Mae Sai and shortly after the airport somewhere I followed the signs for Chiang Saen. Later on, a sign for Chiang Khong appeared and I followed that all the way to the border.

Another route is from Phayao to Chiang Kham and then from there to Chiang Khong.

Your GPS will tell you the quickest route.

My estimate is 7-8 hours from either Mae Sot or Kampaeng Phet to Chiang Khong.

Ignore my suggestion of Ban Huak as they definitely don't issue a visa on arrival for Laos. You want a border that is 100% so Chiang Khong is the one you want.

I’ve been there last weekend without a problem

Is a quick flight to Kuala Lumpur (or Vietnam, or Cambodia) not an option? What am I missing?

Mae Sai is 100% open but they require Covid documentation so you're better off going to the Golden Triangle crossing with Laos or even better, Chiang Khong. Nan is also an option and so is Phayao (Ban Huak).

I'm confused. I was just told the other day by a Burmese colleague in Myawaddy that foreigners can not only do border bounces but spend the day in Myawaddy. I asked him to confirm with Burmese immigration, but this guy is a bit of a know it all who says one thing and it turns out he means another.

Thanks for confirming, looks like I'll need to have my colleagues meet me on the Thai side of the border instead.

So your 30 extension to your exempt stamp runs out on 6th?

I don’t understand why there are some many different versions of this reality. According to the boarder police when I was trying to do this on the Cambodian border, they would not let me back in. The advice was to go home to my country, or at least go somewhere that I would arrive back at an international airport. So I went to Malaysia. Get a cheap roundtrip ticket, and spend at least one night abroad. That’s my advice if you’re getting tired of running around like this.