Why should I fly to a city in Thailand close to the border to get a visa, and what are the advantages of stopping at the Thai Embassy?

Aug 11, 2018
6 years ago
James **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi Everyone, I'm doing my first Visa Run (60 day single entry) toward the end of this month. Probably to Laos or Malaysia. Just making sure I'm not going to make any rookie mistakes. Two questions are bothering me:

1. Why is always recommended to fly to a city in Thailand closest to the border then drive in (i.e. Udon)? Why not just fly into the airport at Vietienne or Kuala Lumpur?

2. The purpose of stopping at the Thai Embassy in these countries allows a 60 day pass as opposed to a 30 day one if I were to just fly into Thailand without getting pre-approved at the embassy?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion details the process of doing a visa run from Thailand to either Laos or Malaysia. It raises two main questions: why it's recommended to fly to a Thai city close to the border (like Udon Thani) instead of directly to Vientiane or Kuala Lumpur, and the benefits of visiting a Thai Embassy in these countries for obtaining a 60-day visa instead of just re-entering Thailand with a 30-day stamp. Comments provide insights into the ease of land border crossings, logistical considerations, and advice on embassy procedures.
Tod *********
@James *********
, seeing as this is your first visa run (meaning you don't have a passport full of back-2-back visa exempt and tourist visa stamps, you have an extremely LOW chance of being questioned when you fly back into thailand from Lao.

Still IF you're in the least worried about it just cross into thailand by land at the Nong Khai border then make your way to the Udon Thani airport. From there you're home free because you're flying domestic so you don't see passport control people
James **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks I might just fly back in for the simplicity of it and when I go back to the states and come back im just doing a 1 year visa so it wont be as much trouble
Thomas ********************
If you have a bit of time, I can only recommend flying into Vientiane and staying for a while. I have no patience for all that stressy stuff :)
Thomas ********************
Like Tod is saying below, you have nothing to worry about. The Vientiane consulate will give you the visa. Go back via air or land doesn't matter given your brief history.

If you want to be prepared, carry

1. proof of lodging in Thailand

2. proof of onward travel, and

3. 20k baht (or foreign equivalent)

But, again, 99.9% sure you won't need any of that.
James **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Good Advice, I made it so I'm staying at least 2 nights so far. Just gotta figure out the whole getting back into thailand thing now
Jason ******
Because the border crossing at Nong Khai is one of the easiest borders to enter Thailand with. Just because you get a tourist visa doesn't guarantee you entry into Thailand especially if you fly into Don Mueng from Vientiane with a new Tourist visa, they can still deny your entry.
Jenny *******
Great post. Very helpful. I need to run to Vientiane on 2nd/3rd September from Chiang Mai. Based in Chiang Dao at that time so trying to figure out timing re flights and buses. I will need to get to Chiang Mai first by bus at 6am. Any advice much appreciated. Thanks
Ivan ************
@Je***
yes you can make that flight back, I have done it several times. It's essential if you want to make that flight back that you get an early number the first day because they are given back the next day in the same order.

I usually then ask around at the consulate if anyone is going back to Udon Thani and try to arrange sharing a taxi to the border at least. If you have four people taxi all the way to Udon (arrange at the border) is as cheap as the minibus- and sometimes on the way back it seems hard to get minibus from the border to Udon. And you don't have much margin- so have usually got a taxi on the way back, sharing with other people I met either at the consulate or at the border.
Jenny *******
Thanks
@Ivan ***********
. I will go the day before. If I queue early on 'hand in day 1' could I possibly make that 18.00/ 18.30 flight to Chiang Mai from Udon T on pick up day 2? Love to hear if anyone has managed this?
Ivan ************
Air Asia and Nok both fly from Chiang Mai to Udon Thani. It's then a 200B/1hr minibus direct from Udon airport to the border. It's very straightforward. With the flight timings you really need to fly the night before. You can fly out the same day you pick the visa up IF you get a low queue number. Alternatively stay overnight in Udon on the way back.
Ron *******
KL is a fabulously multicultural city. Hard to beat it for shopping and dining out experiences. It loses Bangkok in the value for money stakes and infrastructure.
Loretta *******
I just returned from KL.. I looked online at what I needed for the 60 day..I had everything..got to kl Sunday ....went right through on Monday ..picked it up Tuesday...came back to Chiang Mai Wednesday...my philosophy is if I'm going to go somewhere that I have never been...see a few sites....๐Ÿ˜Š
Ron *******
If your in Pattaya, flights to KL from U-Tapao are cheap. Fly out in the morning and fly back in the afternoon with Airasia around 3pm. Gives time to collect your passport and visa and make the afternoon flight. The flights are not everyday though so check your times.

Oh, there are NO meter taxis operating from U-Tapao. A taxi using Grab from KL airport to the Embassy is around 65 Ringgit.

Tip number 2. DO NOT bring anything back from Malaysia you are not supposed too. No extra cigarettes, drink etc. You cannot get out of U-Tapao after collecting your luggage without having your bags scanned, inc your hand luggage. I fly that route frequently and many people are fined and have there stuff confiscated. The fine for extra cigarettes is 20,000 baht a carton and you will lose them.

Tip 3. Be sure your hand luggage flying from KL only weighs 7kg or less flying Airasia. They weigh ALL hand luggage at the barrier in KLIA 2 terminal building before you go through immigration.
Tod *********
Remember there are THREE thai consulates in Malaysia you can use;

Kuala Lumpur, Penang & Kota Bharu
Kenny *******
1. Because people are poor/cheap. Fly where you want to go.

2. If you go to a Thai embassy you can apply for a tourist visa. If you just fly out then back in you just get an entree stamp.
Robert *******
I can only add to answer of question 1: Most of the tourists who stay inside Thailand and want to stay longer by getting a new tourist visa, don't want to spent time abroad. It is already a hassle that they have to travel and loose their holiday time inside Thailand.
Diane **********
If you only wanted 30 days so you would not have to visit the embassy , just leave the country and re enter for a new 30 day stamp.

For the 60 day visa the embassy has to approve these, or for the 30 day extension (whilst in Thailand), and there is a fee for both of these but not the initial 30 days
Steve *******
1. It's usually a lot cheaper, obviously that's not an issue for some people plus on returning overland at Nong Kai it's a considered a fairly relaxed border crossing

2. Yes
Tod *********
IF you're going to use the thai consulate in Kuala Lumpur make sure you read and meet the requirements

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Tod *********
The difference in the cost of flights from Bangkok to Vientiane versus Bangkok to Udon Thani is apparent. AND for the most part the time points that the flights land and take off from the airport in Vientiane are not conducive to getting to the consulate after you land before they stop accepting applications OR getting your passport from the consulate the next afternoon and making it to the airport to catch a flight.
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