, btw. the advice I learned about this border crossing is that you many times face a long queue partly because ppl. were paying agents to jump the queue. The trick is to take a bus from Udon to Vientiane to get fast and smoothly thru the border. Then you don't even need a taxi from the border into Vientiane.
, yes. 1) I guess easier to buy the eVisa online than queuing up at the border. 2) Yes, no need for car. 3) ok. 4) ok. I have been crossing this border but not very recently.
This has been discussed in many visa groups. I think the confusion comes from the fact that it is possible to find a link (if you spend enough time on it) at MFA site stating 10k and not 20k. MFA should overrule any embassy or consulate but what you explain above is what the one out of 10,000 experiencing this is being asked to show.
Firstly, you have to stamp into Laos before re-entering Thailand. For most nationalities to stamp into Laos will require an (e)Visa. Secondly, it is not easy to drive into Laos with your own car among other reasons because you need permission to drive a lefthanded car in righthanded Laos. Thirdly, it is not possible to answer if an agent is needed/beneficial without knowing if you are doing a border bounce on a visa to get new 60 or 90 days or to get another 30 days visa exemption? Fourthly, I do not know if this particular border station is one of the "stupid" ones asking you to stay one night outside Thailand before re-entering. Maybe someone else knows about this...
, sometimes, yes, sometimes, no. I have tried doing the first time online successfully but actually, the IM gave me a sticker in my passport when getting the extension about when do to the first 90-Day reporting meaning they did register me in the system already. The reason why most ppl will have to do the first 90-Day in person is exactly that the visa (extension) system and the 90-Day reporting system are not connected...
There are more and more reports that the Immigration Bureau has more and more focus on bogus ED visas. The school must be an officially recognized institution. An application for Elite Visa will be denied if having such a bogus EB visa in the past. They are checking it very carefully. About your passport, it doesn't help to get a new one IF you show up on the screen as someone with a past bogus visa, BUT the main focus at the border station is your present passport. So yes and no, sometimes it helps to get a new passport, sometimes not.
