Answered8 years ago
What are the recommended visa run services from Bangkok for activating a tourist visa?
Can anybody recommend a visa run service from Bangkok to any neighboring country.
I already have a tourist visa in my passport so just need to cross the border and back to activate it.
Tried calling thivisaservice but no answer and their website says no need to pre book just turn up at the meeting point so not completely sold on that.
thanks.
I already have a tourist visa in my passport so just need to cross the border and back to activate it.
Tried calling thivisaservice but no answer and their website says no need to pre book just turn up at the meeting point so not completely sold on that.
thanks.
Answer summary
The post discusses the need for a visa run from Bangkok to activate a tourist visa that is already in the user's passport. The user mentions attempts to contact a specific visa run service without success and seeks recommendations for reliable services. Various comments provide insights into visa rules and operational border run services. Some users confirm the existence of services that facilitate border runs, while others discuss personal experiences regarding visa usage and immigration officer discretion.
35 repliesnewest first
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Paul *********
Is the Ban Phu Nam Ron boarder open weekends?
Will be driving myself.
Will be driving myself.
Paul *********
I’m in Bangkok Chris so it’s the closest boarder to me.
I have used this crossing before just not on a weekend.
Cheers for the heads up though.
I have used this crossing before just not on a weekend.
Cheers for the heads up though.
Chris ******
@Paul ********
Be prepared for awesome questions. When I was there they asked me since I was from Phuket why I didn't do my border run from there. I told the IO Phuket doesn't border any other countries. Rather dumbfounded he stamped me in.
Ellie *******
borders open everyday..
Ellie *******
depends on your area and passport, another service operate border runs from near Asoke BTS station three days per week.
Richard *********
Is this group an advertising service? I hope not.
Richard *********
OK. Still think it should be advertising free. But obviously Tod runs it and does an amazing job for all of us so I respect his decision on adverts.
Ellie *******
this group arrows mentioning the service providers for only visa run or border run. It prohibits mentioning providers doing the visa application services in the country...
Michele *********
I can confirm as well: Excellent service.
Robert *******
That is a surprise, you have a tourist visa inside your passport but have to activate it? How did you manage that?
Mikkel *******
Being allowed entry, in however form or shape is always at the discretion of the particular IO you hand over your passport to. Be friendly and polite, and its not out of the question to ask for something. I also had friendly IO's (thai and laos) sqeeze in exit and entry stamps in on otherwise full pages in the middle of my passport, because I only just had two full pages left when I went to Laos to get a SETV, where the Laos visa and TV alone takes two whole empty pages.
Steve *******
@Rob***
I guess that's the one. No official stance just up to the Imm ORobert *******
You need the cooperation of the Immigration Officer, he/she can decide yes or no. If yes, you lucky and can use the Tourist Visa on a later entry but before the enter before date, if NO than the visa will be used.
Tom ************
OPImmigration saw it and under my 30day entry stamp they wrote a small note that i didn't want to use it for entry this time.
Sounds like i got lucky in the sense.
Sounds like i got lucky in the sense.
Gregor **********
the stance is, if the officer is willing to do it, it is up to his decision on how to handle it. That's the famous "Last word has the immigration officer"
Steve *******
@Gre***
Yes. Would be good to know the official stance on thisGregor **********
ah ok thank you
@Robert ******
i didn't see you replied already 😎Robert *******
@Gregor *********
Thanks for the trust, but I already answered several times.Steve *******
@Robert ******
Immigration told me the visa had to be used and wouldnt entertain me entering visa exempt whilst I had a valid visa in my passportGregor **********
probabyl lucky and they didn't see it. However I sincerely wish and would be happy if Robert Lagas or Tod Daniels could give us a definite answer if this is possible or not
Gregor **********
an SETV Visa is good for use within 3 months from the date of issue . so if he explains, he wants to stay in Bangkok for just a week, it is plausible he wishes to save that Visa for a later entry. Nowehere it says that he has to use this visa long before the "to be used until" date
Steve *******
@Gregor *********
Like I said immigration wouldnt let me do it, so I guess he just got luckyRobert *******
@Steve ******
It will not be voided, If the IO is wiling to stamp you in on VEE and save your TV it is okay.Gregor **********
@Steve ******
he just explained that was what he did. I remember having read it in a Thailand related forum a few years ago when somebody did exactly the sameSteve *******
@Gregor *********
Like I said, if immigration see the Tourist visa then you have to use it, also if they see that he entered without using it then it may well be 'voided'Gregor **********
it's a cool way to do it, if for example you wish to stay in Thailand for just a week before heading out to a neighbouring country, with the intention to come back to Thailand for a longer period. I reckon he actually must have come back from the intermittend trip on a second 30-Day Visa Exempt and now he needs the visa run to activate his original SETV (or METV)
Steve *******
@Gregor *********
You cannot do that, I tried it many moons ago but was told by immigration I had to use the VISA, maybe he just got lucky or they didnt see the visa in his passportSteve *******
@Rob***
OK that reply never came up on my viewing of this thread.Gregor **********
he could also do that with a Single Entry Tourist Visa, if that's what he has saved up for a later use. No need for a METV. I would rather say he has an SETV, because what he saved are the two Re-Entry Permits he's need if he had used the original visa
Robert *******
@Steve ******
He explained three replies ago, stamped in on Visa Exempt Entry to save his tourist Visa. Nice cooperation of the Immigration OfficerSteve *******
@Robert ******
I can only guess he has an METV and wants to activate another entry
Valère *************************
@Tom *****
That's also a way.... 😁😁😁Tom ************
OPI was only meant to be here a short amount of time and didnt want to waste the visa, so i asked to be stamped in on visa exempt 30 days, which they did for me.
Valère *************************
@Robert ******
you don't know how they do that? That's also a surprise 😉Ellie *******
This one is often mentioned in this group. Departing Tesco, Onnut. they say they work fine.
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