What documents are required for obtaining a multiple entry spousal visa at the Savannakhet consulate in Laos?

Aug 29, 2023
a year ago
AliJames *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
I am currently in Laos with some time to kill, I submitted my visa application earlier today, so I thought I'd give an update on getting a multiple entry spousal visa at Savannakhet consulate. These were the docs they wanted:

1. my passport ID page copy (signed by me)

2. wife's passport ID page copy (signed by her)

3. wife's tabien baan copy (signed by her)

4. wife's ID card copy with address that matches her tabien baan (signed by her)

5. kor ror 2 copy (signed by both of us)

6. marriage certificate copy (signed by both of us)

7. marriage certificate

8. Laos visa copy (signed by me) (he actually gave it back at first then I asked him if he really needed it then he took it back)

9. completed visa application form, with two photos. I used a white background in my photos and a black pen ( I was advised to do it with a black pen, don't know why).

Advice:

✤ Get there EARLY. I arrived at 8.50am, they hadn't opened (they open at 9) and there was already a fairly long queue waiting outside. I only just made the cut off point - was seen at 10.55am, cut off was 11am. Was very frustrating as only one window was open and some people, who had not done any research or prep, were at the window for a long time. One Indian family were there for a good 15-20 minutes. Also many people who were sent away to get more copies or do more paperwork came back and pushed in the front after they had finished what they were asked to do - there was an altercation between a Russian man and a Chinese man because of this.

✤ THEY CHECK EVERY DOCUMENT METICULOUSLY AT THE WINDOW, so don't go in there with a "ah they won't even bother looking or notice" kind of attitude with your paperwork.

✤ I don't know if the people behind me were seen after 11 am or not but I know many of them would not have been seen for another 30 minutes. Maybe they just close the gates to the embassy at 11am?

EDIT: I found out they close the gate at 11 and process anyone left in there even after 11. So don't worry if you're in the queue and there are 16 people in front of you and it's 10.55am, as long as you're within the gates you'll be processed.

✤ I paid a taxi driver at the border 200 baht to take me to the embassy, when I tried to barter down he got angry and told me that as I was a lone traveller I'd have to pay the full price.

✤ Also try to arrive on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. My very expensive taxi driver told me there were hundreds of people at the embassy on Monday.

✤ Get a Laos e-visa, it will save you about 30 minutes of queuing at the border. There is a separate booth where they process these. However, the official charged me 100 extra baht upon stamping my passport and when I told him I already paid for the visa, he got defensive and told me to pay up or not go through - no idea why he charged me 100 baht though.

✤ Do not stay at the Avalon, the Wifi is beyond terrible, took me three attempts to upload this.

✤ There is a copy shop opposite the embassy that will copy your Laos visa + stamp for 10 baht (or was it 15?) 10 or 15.

✤ If you are going to take the bus from Mukdahan to the border, pay 50 baht, it says 45 baht on the sign but the extra 5 baht is for immigration officials who work overtime in the early morning hours (poor them).
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The post outlines the required documents for applying for a multiple entry spousal visa at the Savannakhet consulate in Laos, including signed copies of passports, marriage certificates, and other specific paperwork. It emphasizes the importance of arriving early, being meticulous with documents, and offers tips on the application process, particularly the best days to visit and how to handle unexpected fees at the border. There are also comments discussing the increasing number of applicants and personal experiences with the application process.
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Karsten ********
It is required now that you have a bank statement not older then 7 days with 400k for 2 months.
AliJames *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Karsten *******
yeah as you can see this was written a little over three months ago before they started to get strict.
Karsten ********
@James ****
this is why I commented, it popped up because other members tagged others...
AliJames *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
AliJames *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Paul *******
Blocked that troll Paul Zelen.
Nick *******
Just arrived today at Savannakhet the immigration in Laos they tried to charge me as well the 100 THB extra on top of the 40 USD for the visa fee. I refused to pay and the guy got simply rude and offensive but I told him to get his corrupt ass out the way and give my pasport back right away. Didn’t need to pay the 100 THB and simply entered the country. As far what I understand the 100 THB is only for Asian nationals who enter Laos because they don’t need to pay separately for a visa.
Paul *******
@Nick ******
Well, I don't like paying these little extra fees either, but have noticed Lao tends to apply "overtime" fees when entering at certain times of day/days of the week (for which there should be a receipt, but isn't always). Also, it appears to me that some fees may be levied if arriving by car (I always arrive by car) but may or may not be, if you come by bus.

I don't want any issues with my car hence why I generally pay up without question (though these days, there's no question of being allowed entry if you come by car).

Pre Covid, there was a different system in place with officials having discretion to randomly deny your vehicle entry or restrict the time you're given on your entry permit to less than 30 days and/or restrict you to the province entered. These days, it's automatically done by a machine at customs. You no longer have to tell customs where you're going - if using a passport its an automatic 30 days for the car and you can exit at any border. For border pass holders, u have to exit at the same border.

Consequently, I always pay these small extra fees, which are usually no more than 100 Baht anyway.

On my last entry into Laos in a group of 4 (my family) it was just after 9pm, the border was less than an hour away from closing and the immigration guy wanted 100 Baht. Initially I understood him to mean 100 Baht per person, so I got out 400 Baht but he gave me back 300.

I recall several years ago, at another border (Phu Doo) I was charged 700 Baht for 4 passengers entering Laos.

The one time I definitely don't pay any extra is if some tout shadows me and tells me I need to pay such and such amount to the immigration officer. Then I know it's a scam.

It also depends on the country. Entering or departing Vietnam, I know there's nothing to pay, so I refuse. Since I don't enter Vietnam by private vehicle anyway (hardly anyone does as Vietnam makes it difficult to bring in a temporary import) then I don't need to be too cautious. In any case, I only pay immigration, not some tout.

I also definitely refuse scam health checks such as the one the Cambodians operated at some land borders before Covid, when only westerners and Africans were targeted.
AliJames *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Nick ******
wish I knew that 5 hours ago 😅 thanks for the tip
Paul *******
Excellent write up by the way and thanks for answering all our questions. This is a 1st class review.
AliJames *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Paul ******
much appreciated 🙏
Bobby *********
Make sure everything is OK
Paul *******
@James ****
Got it. Yeah, because I'm bringing my family to Laos and my son is very young there is no way I can bring them along to the consulate (they'll join only for the passport pickup, by waiting in the car while I do that).

My wife would be constantly complaining about the heat, the mosquitoes and the long wait, even more so because my son would be fidgety and getting bored after the first 10 or 15 minutes.
AliJames *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bobby ********
worked out great in the end
Paul *******
@James ****
Yeah I remember the procedure from before Covid, which thankfully remains unchanged now (my last application was March 2020 and of course I could only use the visa once, due to border closures that began less than 2 weeks after returning to Thailand).

The only annoyance that I'm likely to face, which your report and others before have mentioned, are the queues (particularly when you submit your application).

I hate queues. Especially ones in a place where you have to stand, there's no seating and no AC, thus airport queues generally aren't as bad.

Anyway, do they hand you a queue number now or is it simply a case of "first come, first served" based on your position in the queue?

I also guess that you can't go off to the toilet during the waiting period, so best not to drink anything before arriving.
AliJames *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Paul ******
first come first serve. You have to stand in the queue. If you come with someone you can take turns queuing and one can sit down. That's what the people in front of me did.
Nigel *********
is it pickup nexd day or 2 working days?
Nigel *********
and how much was the ME O visa?
AliJames *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Nigel ********
5000 baht paid in cash. I was worried as my notes were a little old with the visage of the former king printed on them but they still accepted. They give you a ticket and you come back the next day between 2 and 4 pm to collect.
Nigel *********
Nigel *********
Can you check what time the immigtation checkpoint closes on your way back pls. I arrive late on a sunday. thanks
Paul *******
@Nigel ********
10pm. However public transportation may be limited after 7pm as James has indicated.
AliJames *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Nigel ********
last bus across the border is at 7pm so no later than that
Nigel *********
@James ****
I will buy you cakes! Thanks.
Karsten ******
Hi, thank you for the writeup. You mentioned no.8 that we need Laos visa copy . What if i enter laos based on visa exemption? Do i just copy the stamp page on my passport? And no.7 marriage cert, do they give it back to us the original one aft checking? Thank you.
AliJames *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Karsten *****
just photocopy the stamp that they give you if you are exempt from a visa and yes they do give it back at the counter on the day you apply.
Paul *******
James AjrBest to get that photocopy done at Lao immigration when you first arrive or your hotel. You don't want to be heading across the road there if there's that many people waiting in line and find yourself getting into a fight with a Russian. Lol.
Karsten ******
@James ****
thank you James, appreciate it 👍🏻👍🏻
Kevin ********
Very complicated procedure, I don‘t know why they complicate things that way even for those married with Thai National 😞
Mike *******
Thank you as planning this same trip in next 2 months
AliJames *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mike ******
I found out they close the gate at 11 and process anyone left in there even after 11. So don't worry if you're in the queue and there are 16 people in front of you and it's 10.55am, as long as you're within the gates you'll be processed.
Paul *******
@James ****
That's good to know. Thanks! I'm going there soon. I do hope that applicant numbers will start to decline soon, but by the sounds of it I could be waiting for an hour or more, which is not something I'm looking forward to. I'll keep my family at the hotel as I can't see things working out if my young son has to spend over an hour waiting in line. Besides, he's not needed for the visa application.
AliJames *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Paul ******
there were two families in front of me both had a pair of young children under 10 years old. I was surprised at how patient they were considering the wait. I just kept thinking if I had brought my 8 year old daughter she'd be constantly complaining about being bored and hot.
Paul *******
Why are there so many people applying in Savannakhet? Before Covid, I went there every year for 3 years in a row. There were never too many applicants. Unless there's suddenly been an influx in foreigners marrying Thais in the last 3 years (which I doubt) then I don't understand what's going on. Chinese can't apply for Thai visas in Laos except if they live there and if that's the case, with VOA offered at most land borders, it doesn't make sense why any Chinese resident in Laos would need a Thai visa. Most of them run businesses there, which they wouldn't have the same freedom to do in Thailand.
Graham ******
@Paul ******
Because Sanahhakhet is one of the very few places where you can still get the 12 month multi-entry Non-O based on marriage in the region with no financial requirements
Paul *******
@Graham *****
Thats not the reason why all the Chinese and Russians are going there. These people aren't married to Thais. I go to Savannakhet because I'm married to a Thai so I know that place very well.
AliJames *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Paul ******
There were many, many Chinese in the queue. Bar one, they were all quickly processed.
Paul *******
@James ****
How many people in the queue, in total? It does sound like that Indian family held up things for everyone as if it wasn't for them, you could have been out of there at least 20 minutes earlier. Secondly, the peeps who had to run back and forth making photocopies.
เตเต้ ******
Paul James both trips I made this year I was nearly last and had a cue# above 350. From my own pre-Covid trips there I now observed way more Chinese, specifically younger with quite a few young girls groups. Of course more Russians, mostly younger (
***
being male) and a larger number of Filipino applicants (male and female) than I remember. And its always the Filipinos that have their shit together when it comes to paperwork. Normally there’s a handler within the group that checks out paperwork even if they’re not together. The Chinese/Russians ALWAYS had multiple applicants get kicked out over missing/inadequate paperwork.

This last trip almost 85% or more were from visa run agencies. I think I counted 25-30 minivans parked by 2pm. On pp pickup day I was at the end of the line again and I bet only 10 tuktuks made the trip to the border in total.

I don’t see reports anymore re Vientiane runs and I wouldn’t be surprised if the reason is because Chinese and/or Russian visa agents are abusing/gaming the appointment system. Everyone I’ve ever talked to about going there said they can never get an appointment when they go online.
Paul *******
เตเต้ สตีฟI just saw a visa run company advertising their services going to Savannakhet twice a week. They leave Bangkok on Sundays and Wednesdays apparently. They also do pickups from nearby Thai airports such as Nakorn Phanom, which is about 100km north of the Mukdahan/Savannakhet border.

This may explain all the applicants on certain days of the week.

The ad was here on Facebook.
Paul *******
@เตเต้ *****
Pre Covid, I didn't notice anyone going to Savannakhet for a visa other than farang married with Thais (some of them women married to Thai men). There might have been the occasional Russian, but they were far and few between. On most occasions, I would show up to the consulate around 10 or 1030 and be either the only one there or there would be at most 1 other applicant. I rarely saw anyone there, except at 2pm on pickup day, when I'd suddenly see about 10 people.
Paul *******
@James ****
Very unusual. I guess these aren't yr business owning types. Just that a Chinese businessman who lives in Laos doesn't have time or a need to spend more than 15 days in Thailand, hence why the VOA would be sufficient for them. Secondly, Chinese nationals have a more extensive list of requirements to obtain a tourist visa than we require.
Paul *******
Kor ror 2 copy - from memory you just use the one from when you got married, even if years ago. You don't need to get an updated one from within the last week or month right? I know immigration inside Thailand wants a recent one from your khet, but if I recall correctly, at Savannakhet they don't care.

Can you confirm?
AliJames *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Paul ******
yes the one I used was from years ago
Av **********
Lol my name is Avalon....on behalf of Avalon I'm sorry lmao
Paul *******
Great write up...I went a couple of weeks ago ..the 100 baht they ask for is just tea money...in and out they asked, I asked what it was for going in as I had photos and dollars for the visa..he said service charge so I politely declined and he didn't say anything, same on the way out the next day, asked for 100 baht straight away, again I declined.
Jorge ****
Thank you for taking the time to share. Good luck tomorrow and have a safe trip back. Make sure the entry stamps are correct.
AliJames *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
เตเต้ ******
@James ****
awesome work man! Glad everything worked out for you! 🙏🏼
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