@Mike *******

Btw, there is no deadline. Overstay is 500 baht per day. I've cross border many times while on overstay, you just pay the fine at the border and you are good to go, and allowed back 30 min later no problem.

@Mike *******

You took offense that Jonathan said this "I know you said it was easier with the fixer but I genuinely don't see how. You just do the same thing as they did but on your own.". I was replying to this part in which you accuse him of being a Cheap Charlie instead of accepting that you were anxious due to previous rejection. It was easier with the fixer for you because of your high level of stress. It's not a weakness per se, but a lack of experience on your part. All of Laos border run possibility from Thailand are some of the easiest in the world. No rejection, very little hassle and scam attempt, etc. You felt for the only one that they have at that border. You got targetted right away. They knew the second you got there that you were a begineer. For your own sake, avoid certain border like Poi Pet, you will probably end up with a heart attack.

John is saying this because Kip is not needed. You need to pay for your Laos Visa in USD or you get overcharge by a few hundred baht/many kip. Laos is a country with a dead currency which hold no value outside of Laos. In most of Laos you can pay in Thai Baht or USD everywhere.

@Mike *******

And yes, can go in with your car, but you need the proper documentation and all. Need to be sorted out in advance you can't just go there and cross.

@Mike *******

You didn't use a fixer because you are not a cheap Charlie, you did it because you were stressed out of your mind. Be honest and humble about the whole experience rather then trying to look good. Nothing wrong with what you did, but nothing wrong with not using a fixer which will save most people time and money. I'm doing my border bounce in Nong Khai tomorrow morning and I'll be out and back in quickly. It does not matter that it as your last day, the visa run process in Laos is always a piece of cake.

@Stuart ********

No proof of covid jab needed for Savannakhet or Vientiane border run, right?

@Oleg **********

You needed an agent to hold your hand, which they did, and you paid premium price for it. I am not judging that, if you have the $, there is nothing wrong with it, but it's simply a fact. The other fact is that you got 3 months non-o + 12 months retirement extension, which were done at the same time, hence why you thought that you were clever and reinvented the wheel. Again, just be humble next time.

@Oleg **********

And since you are Russian, or at the very least Eastern European, you kind a had to use such agent to not get rejected at any step of the way. Because yes, there is discrimination here based on your country of origin. These shop are partially border run agency, but it's a legal loophole. They make 90%+ of their money with the visa and extension aspect. It's like when a shop call themself "massage shop" when in fact 90% of it is hand job happy ending. It's a front which is not legal but highly accepted. What you got is just the accelerated version of the 3 months non-o + 12 months retirement extension. You pay premium price to avoid stress and get everything done at once.

There are hundred of similar agency shop in Chonburi, and thousands all over Thailand. They help you for a fee much higher then what you would pay by doing it by yourself. They hold your hand to immigration and give an envelope to the worker there. Of if you are lucky you don't even go to immigration. It depend if you had the money in bank already or had to do the bank trick where they put the money there for you. We all knew you used an agent. You are fighting the wind at this point. Humble up man. It's okay to not know something.

@Oleg **********

Yes, that's a well known agency :)