@Allen *******

visa agents, there are lots of them in the tourist areas, Pattaya is probably the best place to get everything sorted.

@Allen *******

just use the services of an agent, they can open a bank account for you, I did it recently on a tourist visa, i also converted my home country driving licences, along with an IDP into full car and motorcycle licenses.

@Cliff ********

I was told a lot of the rules and regulations changed sometime around march 2023, making it very difficult or impossible to open an account on a short term visa, it's a catch 22 situation, because most people enter Thailand on say a tourist visa, and then want to open a bank account to make a deposit to meet the financial requirement, for acquiring a long term visa, but now the banks are saying you can only open an account on a long term visa, that's why now most people are just using the services of an agent.

@Cliff ********

I assume you're doing the "copy and paste" with this comment every time someone asks about opening a bank account, it's out dated information, the rules and regulations have recently changed regarding opening a bank account, if you don't already have a long term visa you will be refused by most or all the banks you visit, you will likely need the assistance of an agent if you're on a short term visa.

@Rick *****

you don't need to buy a re-entry permit, if you have got a multiple entry tourist visa (METV) when you cross the border back into Thailand by most land borders, you just need to fill in the TM6 arrival card, and present that along with your passport and a printed pdf copy of your METV to the immigration officer, and make sure you check they have stamped you in for 60 days, before you walk away.

@Steve ******

I would say it's a ticket to the Thai/savannakhet border, not savannakhet itself, but anyway it's a matter of opinion I suppose, but the opinion that matters, is the opinion of the people issuing visas, and I read these visa pages quite often, and people seem to always suggest they will only accept a flight ticket, showing your exit plan within the time you're stamp in for, and a bus or train ticket will be rejected, personally I've only ever purchased a cheap flight ticket to a neighbouring country, and it's always been accepted.

@Steve ******

yes I've been on that bus from mukdahan to savannakhet, but what Brandon thurkettle is trying to tell you, the bus stops at the Thai immigration, you stamp out of Thailand, it then it goes across the friendship bridge and stops at Lao immigration, you then need to buy a Lao visa, and walk around on to the Lao side, and arrange another bus or taxi, to go into savannakhet, the bus you crossed the bridge on, it then turns around and goes back to the Thai immigration, and then back to mukdahan bus station, I've done it few times doing border bounces.

@Kool ******

the Thai visa process is only easy for people that have educated themselves, it's only simple when you're experienced, I'm still learning everyday. 😅😅

I have been in Thailand now for 7+ months on an METV, I did the border bounces at the thai/Lao border myself, with no problems whatsoever, you basically just stamp out of Thailand, cross the friendship bridge on a bus, fill out a simple Lao visa form, you can pay for the Lao visa with Thai baht, its ฿1700, you just need a passport size photo, and a printed pdf of your METV, and obviously your passport, you can leave Thailand at the Lao border and come back the same day if you wish, when you return back to Thailand you just need to fill out the TM6 arrival card. If you don't want to do it yourself, depending on your location, there are border bounce companies that take you to the border and back again, if that would be easier for you.

Are you aware you can get 8 to 9 months out of the METV visa?? Check the expiry date on the visa, it should be valid for 6 months, if you do a border bounce just before it expires, and after that a final 30 day extension, that gives you 8 to 9 months in total.