Answereda year ago
What are the costs and experiences of a border run from Pattaya to Vientiane for a visa extension?
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Border run #2 22.8.25
Drove to vientiane border from pattaya, drank 1 drink and came back to Thailand. When I left Thailand the IO lady was looking at the computer quite a few moments, I didnt ask why but I was thinking because I did my TDAC 5minutes before going to her 🤔
When I got back, the IO wanted to tell me that my visa is DTV and I will get 180days, that was quite funny, that was all the conversation we had 😆 never experienced explaining before, for 4years
Why I post is the budget;
Car 700thb
Gas 2500thb (honda city)
Laos visa 1700thb(+100thb because i forgot to take passport picture) thats $52 if you pay with dollars its $40
Leave your car next the 711 parking lot, 50thb. Tuktuk to bus station 50thb (i offered he accepted), bus 30thb each way
Thats a total of 5160thb for another 180days. And about 24h of time (had 2 of us, each driving one way)
I also got a speeding ticket of 1000thb, they set a trap at the mountain speedlimit lowered to 40 (altho same time says cars 60, who knows) when we were rolling down only using break 😅, a lot of fog so cant see much, i was following car ahead of me because i could see the lights, for "some reason" they looked at him and let him go and picked me 🤣
Also got picket at 1 of the 6 big stops we encountered...
"ooh.... silence.... you speak thai? -mai"
"what you name? -Toni"
"where you go? -pai Chon Buri"
"Ok pa"
Drove to vientiane border from pattaya, drank 1 drink and came back to Thailand. When I left Thailand the IO lady was looking at the computer quite a few moments, I didnt ask why but I was thinking because I did my TDAC 5minutes before going to her 🤔
When I got back, the IO wanted to tell me that my visa is DTV and I will get 180days, that was quite funny, that was all the conversation we had 😆 never experienced explaining before, for 4years
Why I post is the budget;
Car 700thb
Gas 2500thb (honda city)
Laos visa 1700thb(+100thb because i forgot to take passport picture) thats $52 if you pay with dollars its $40
Leave your car next the 711 parking lot, 50thb. Tuktuk to bus station 50thb (i offered he accepted), bus 30thb each way
Thats a total of 5160thb for another 180days. And about 24h of time (had 2 of us, each driving one way)
I also got a speeding ticket of 1000thb, they set a trap at the mountain speedlimit lowered to 40 (altho same time says cars 60, who knows) when we were rolling down only using break 😅, a lot of fog so cant see much, i was following car ahead of me because i could see the lights, for "some reason" they looked at him and let him go and picked me 🤣
Also got picket at 1 of the 6 big stops we encountered...
"ooh.... silence.... you speak thai? -mai"
"what you name? -Toni"
"where you go? -pai Chon Buri"
"Ok pa"
Answer summary
The post describes a border run from Pattaya to Vientiane to extend a visa, detailing the costs involved, the process at the border, and some personal experiences, including encounters with immigration officers and a speeding ticket. The total cost for the trip was 5160 THB for an additional 180-day visa. Comments from the community suggest alternative methods for visa extensions and offer differing opinions on the efficiency and expense of border runs.
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Andrew ********
Flying is cheaper
Toni *******
OP@Andrew *******
wasnt about money, we dropped stuff at khon kaen. Just put out the figures for people to see. You can do your calculations here how you do border run the cheapest way from pattaya, all costs, it helps others to decideAndrew ********
@Toni ******
yes and i was just adding for others flying is cheaper option if they were looking at cost me personally nothing wrong with a road tripToni *******
OP@Andrew *******
music and bj 🤣 this is thailand 😆Toni *******
OP@Andrew *******
yea and dont have a schedule when you are your own boss, i had 3days left, so we could have done anything if we wanted 😎Andrew ********
@Toni ******
understood im a fan of road trips with music myselfToni *******
OP@Andrew *******
we were looking the easiest way, for 2, always cheaper to drive of course...Toni *******
OP@Andrew *******
we were looking at driving to u-tapao and taking flights to udon thani, but there we would need other transports to reach the border... too complicated, but then a friend called and needed transport of stuff to khon kaen, so we didnt have to think the easiest way anymore :)Toni *******
OP@Andrew *******
would need to use public transport, thats not for everyone... taxis from pattaya to airport and back around 3000 i think, so can count out flying if not going with a busAndi ***********
Interesting and eventful extension.
Anonymous ******************
Just go to immigration office in jomtien and get your 6 months extension would be easier; so finally it’s not a 5 years visa even a student don’t need to go out from the country; and how many times these borders runs will work
Anonymous ******************
Yes it’s very good cost effective visa but I was just thinking about all these people who thinks that they get a residence card for 5 years with this visa; it’s not more then a multi entry tourist visa giving 6 months per stay very cost effective and good option;
Elías ********
Participante anónimo 641 multi entry tourist visa reportedly (I don't know and I don't care, either) doesn't allow to work remotely from Thailand. The DTV does, so I can say out loud both to Thais and to people in my country that I'm legally working from Thailand.
Andi ***********
@Elías *******
Exactly, you can be open about working in ThailandToni *******
OP@Elías *******
thats true, its a gray zone, but you are right.Toni *******
OPAnonymous participant 641 in my case its specified, because the employer costs vary based on where you work
Toni *******
OPAnonymous participant 641 i agree for softpower, 6months course for 5years doesnt make much sense, but however for workcation, its a different case. My contract for example says remote work in thailand, not remote work in general, so I feel like I should be allowed to use the 5years they gave me. Up to them however. I dont see any problems coming my way, but I know, this is Thailand 😝
Andi ***********
@Toni ******
My contract is very similar. You are fine for the 5 years.Toni *******
OPAnonymous participant 641 i was on student visa before, that was
*****
+5000+5000 for 9months. We are talking about *****
thb 5year visa here, I gladly accept its not same for usAndi ***********
Anonymous participant 641 it is a 5 year multi entry visa. The border runs work as many times as you use. Getting an extension is not that simple which is why IOs recommend doing border runs to get an extension.
James ********
@Andi **********
agreed 💯👍Anonymous ******************
@Andi **********
I understand but that’s why we say it’s a tourist visa; you cannot be in the country legally more than 6 months; it’s a multi entry tourist visa valid for 5 years; which confirm the consideration of Thai banks to not open bank account to dtvPaul *******
@Andi **********
Some offices require you to hold a Thai bank account and deposit the 500K in there prior to seeking an extension of stay. If you can't open a Thai bank account or no longer hold one, you won't be getting an in-country extension, thus the borders being necessary.James ********
@Elías *******
and at the end of one year you must leave Thailand and reenter Thailand to get a NEW 180 day stamp.Elías ********
Participante anónimo 641 you can be in the country as much as you want (within 5 years), I've been already here for 1 year 🤷🏼 since I got my DTV
Andi ***********
Anonymous participant 641 Where are all these DTV people thinking they get residence cards? Have seen no postings of such.
Andi ***********
Anonymous participant 641 You can be in the county legally for a year via an immigration office extension. A Thai bank account is not why someone applies for the visa and it is not a necessity.
Anonymous ******************
All that pain and misery for nothing, why not enjoy the country it’s stunning.
Toni *******
OPAnonymous participant 999 and i agree it was a pain in the *... next time i do it before im about to run out of time, so i actually can choose a time when i can actually stay somewhere if i feel like i want a holiday 😅 but my life here is like holiday, so i dont know 🤣
Toni *******
OPAnonymous participant 999 been many times, and have stuff to do here so not this time
James ********
Thank You for your helpful BORDER BOUNCE report 🤗
Sunshine ********
Why not just fly to KL?
Toni *******
OP@Sunshine *******
we dropped some stuff at khon kaenPaul *******
Speeding tickets are 500 Baht and you can pay later. You got fleeced if you paid 1000.
Paul *******
@Stefan ***********
No, Thais will call you "farang ngo" behind your back.Toni *******
OP@Stefan ***********
yea i figured soToni *******
OP@Paul ******
"police station 2000 here 1000" thats what he said, i didnt feel like arguing, no point and dont carePaul *******
@Toni ******
Learn Thai and be a little more assertive. I rarely pay anything and if I do it's the standard 500 that you pay when you get a ticket. No ticket = no pay.Paul *******
@Toni ******
You were dumb enough to pay the farang price. I only pay the Thai price and never pay on the spot...police stopped doing that back in 2019. If you weren't issued a ticket you got SCAMMED..Toni *******
OP@Paul ******
wtf lol, i think you dont live here 🤣 please argue over 500thb when you come here for a holidayPaul *******
@Toni ******
It's 500 now troll. You got scammed, but hey that's YOUR problem no need to be so butthurt. These days no one pays the cops in cash anymore anyway, that ended before Covid. Now you pay a ticket they issue and the fine is always 500 Baht.Toni *******
OP@Paul ******
you want me to tell them there is some troll called Paul in facebook who says it was 500 years ago? 😅 I bet that would end good 🤣
John **********
@Paul ******
I think 1000 baht is pretty standard now but can go up to 5000 bahtPaul *******
@John *********
No, it's not. It's 500 Baht.Paul *******
@Stefan ***********
You can't even drive anyway, because you're a loser who can't afford a car. You wouldn't know how to deal with Thai traffic but when you do get pulled over on your scooter, you freak out and pay 1000 Baht, while the locals just get waved through..Paul *******
@Stefan ***********
You probably speak taxi Thai with a strong accent. Of course you pay whatever you're asked, coz you're a clueless farang. You probably even tip the police because they're "underpaid".Stefan ************
@Paul ******
and since when did I pay ? Guess what , I'm really smart. I don't need to pay because I don't break the law you Einstein.Stefan ************
@Paul ******
I don't speak any Thai 5555 you are so funny man.Such a Little looser you lowlife 🤣🤣Paul *******
@Stefan ***********
You don't speak any Thai, you're just a dumb farang who pays more than they need to. I pay whatever the normal Thai price is, which is 500 Baht when a traffic ticket is issued.Stefan ************
@Paul ******
are you fluent in Thai ? Because I am Mr. Super smart. The way you talk shows me already , there is nothing smart about you. And guess what , dumb people always think they are smart. 😉Paul *******
@John *********
You don't even drive anymore old man. The fine is 500 Baht. You want me to show you the last 4 rickets I received? All 500 Baht. Get a hobby instead of producing misinformation all day.Paul *******
@Stefan ***********
Yes I am better than you. For starters I don't pay farang rates for traffic fines. Only stupid people do that.Paul *******
@Stephan **********
I'm a smart person, not a dumb farang who pays more than they should.Paul *******
@Stefan ***********
Yes dumb farang who pay more than they should
Stephan ***********
@Stefan ***********
He's a "traffic rules ignoring farang sucker"... 😁Stefan ************
@Paul ******
farang suckers... What are you ? Living in Thailand for some years and now think you are something better ? You are a human sucker.Paul *******
@John *********
No it didn't. It's 500 Baht. I have received several speeding fines recently. Only farang suckers pay more. It remains 500 Baht. If they increased it, no one would pay it anyway. Thais can't afford to pay more than 500 and the police have enough trouble collecting fine payments as it is.John **********
@Paul ******
it used to be, went up recently
Anonymous ******************
I'd rather just fly to Singapore or Malaysia and back for the same price and do a day trip. Less time involved, and I don't need to worry about driving. 🤷♂️
Paul *******
Anonymous participant 603 Driving is more fun and low cost airlines suck. However, I wouldn't do a same day return like the OP did. I'd drive across to Laos, spend a night or two then come back. Always worth hanging out somewhere like Vientiane just to grab some nice French or Lao-French food, catch up with a friend or two and for a change of scenery.
Toni *******
OP@Paul ******
yeah and we dropped some stuff to khon kaen too
Christopher ***********
@Paul ******
‘Low cost airlines suck’. We fly almost always Air Asia or Vietjet every other month. Aircraft are spotlessly clean and aircrew couldn’t be more pleasant. What more do you expect for 700 baht? Obviously you haven’t driven (much) in Laos.Paul *******
@Christopher **********
Is there something wrong with you? What's wrong with stating obvious facts? Backpackers catch Air Asia flights! Nothing wrong with that. Only you seem to be in denial.Christopher ***********
@Paul ******
You tell me. It was you who brought up backpackers to dis low cost airlines. Need more medication?Paul *******
@Christopher **********
How do you identify a "backpacker"? I'm sure there are western backpackers on every Air Asia flight save for one's going to places like Khon Kaen or Ubon Ratchathani.Stefan ************
@Christopher **********
he's full of shieet. He thinks he is the king of Thailand . He does everything better and way more often then anyone else. And in reality he will be a obese old man without friends , having to make stupid comments in FB to make himself feel like he would be someone.Christopher ***********
@Paul ******
Never seen a backpacker (cheap or expensive) on our Air Asia or VietJet flights yet. Almost 100% Thais plus the occasional falang. Never claimed an international flight was 700 baht.Paul *******
@Christopher **********
Again, Air Asia sucks. When I fly I fly real airlines such as THAI, Vietnam Airlines and so forth. Air Asia is for cheap backpackers and no way an international flight is 700 Baht. More like 3500 one way.Paul *******
@Christopher **********
I drive to Laos all the time. Obviously you don't know what your talking about. I've driven in Laos more than almost any other farang. Mine is the ONLY Thai car that has crossed the Lao-Cambodian border in about 2 years.
Expat **********
Anonymous participant 603 yes but then have to pay a few thousand baht more. Cheap Charlies won’t be liking that option.
Toni *******
OP@Expat *********
not everyone can come and go as they please, it has nothing to do with the money, i got my share during 2years without visa having to fly for holiday every 2months. Thats not my thing anymore, I posted to show people the actual cost, so they can compare to agencies
Chris **********
These are the kinds of posts we need on here. Not the nonsense anon posts talking out their butts with no proof. Good post man
Toni *******
OP@Chris *********
exactly the point, to help people figure out how they want to do itChristopher ***********
@Chris *********
100% that’s the way it should be (and is). What we suffer daily are sad troll tales and the opinions of bored OAP’s.Anonymous ******************
@Chris *********
The same old broken record gang. Around 70% of the posts here are from anons. So what exactly are they pretending you don't agree with?Toni *******
OPAnonymous participant 804 Luis why you changed to anonymous? 😅
Stephan ***********
@Toni ******
He just felt uncomfortable being part of the minority in this group (aka "we/us")... that's why... 😁Chris **********
Anonymous participant 804 All the nonsense posts about getting pulled aside and being asked to prove X Y Z when entering Thailand. It simply doesn't happen
Chris **********
Anonymous participant 804 yes I'm aware of immigrations rules and regs. But it just simply isn't happening with the DTV
Paul *******
@Chris *********
I agree; on DTV visas there are no such checks.Anonymous ******************
@Chris *********
I've never seen any pretending that checks apply to 100% of entries. It's more based on rare and random checks. And by the way, immigration has the right to conduct such checks or even deny you an entry: *************************************************************************************
*****
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