Put 800k in a Thai bank and just leave it there forever. If you can't afford to do that you can't afford to retire.

Proof of flight back to "country of origin", assuming it means country of your passport, of course is totally impractical in many cases, and they know most of them are doing a border hop to get another 60-day Thai exempt entry and may very well have no near-term travel plans. So again what is written on a scrap of paper and what is enforced can do with a reality check. Thanks.

As much as I sympathize with the people of Huay Xai who have been badly hit by lack of tourism and a weak deflating currency, there isn't much for a tourist to do there except pay one night's accommodation and buy some food and a Beerlao or two. So forcing someone to stay one night is of minimal benefit.

@Dca ****

Indeed the cost of a Laos visa at the border (Thai/Lao,Thai/Cam) has almost always been inflated in "other" currency. I've crossed at CK/HX many times over 25 years and the THB price was always based on some outdated/opportunistic exchange rate. On US passport, for example Lao VOA was $35 for many years, but they always charged 1500 THB (50 bucks). So now instead of $40 it's 2000b so it still pays to bring crisp USD and save around 600b.

Also funny/sad that the Laos gov't is demanding tourists use Lao Kip for their whole visit, not $ or ₿, but Lao border immigration won't even accept their own currency and local people will very happily take those other hard currencies. Also if you buy Kip on the way in it's a one-way trip cos they won't buy them back on the way out. LAK is soft and weak, especially now.

P.S. Yes this is the Thai Visa Advice group, but maybe just let this thread do it's relevant thing. Cheers.

So a piece of paper with "No Visa Run 1 Day" and what looks like the Thai Immigration logo. So that's about as "official" as it gets(?) 😉

Land borders between Thailand and Laos/Cambodia over the years (25 in my case) have been notorious for making up their own rules and setting their own prices. Sometimes we just have to play their game and move on.

Thanks!

Thanks for this helpful firsthand information. A few questions please:

1. "Thai immigration gave a document showing requirements to come back the next day."

Do you have a photo of that document? Like to see that.

2. "Laos still took 2000 THB for the VOA."

Most nationalities pay $40USD, which is around 1400 THB. Was the price posted/displayed?

3. "outbound flight to country of origin"

So "POOT" (Proof Of Onward Travel) to any country is not enough?

Thanks!

Some "know it alls" are often those who have been here many years, experienced the visa policy changes firsthand, and "know" not to believe everything you read, especially when social media hype jumps the gun. For Thailand it usually requires publication in the Royal Gazette to become "official".

Bhutan, Bulgaria, China, Cyprus, Fiji, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Malta, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, and Uzbekistan are on both lists. Is it possible someone "in charge" isn't thinking this through? 😉

You have to make an appointment.

When asking visa questions, please state your nationality/passport.