@Dylan *******************

I would definitely wait until you have all visas and passports (they will hold all of your passports for the 2 days) back in your hands before booking flights.

Also, flights are way cheaper from Udon Thani than Vientiane. You can catch an international bus (2 hours) from Central Bus Station in Vientiane (80 THB each) to Udon Thani.

@Dylan *******************

pics for reference

Line out the front Lak40 is cafe. There are also print, copy, photo places across the road and next to the cafe if you need them. All locals will ask - do you have form, no walkins

Inside Embassy - everyone sits in line you just go up when person in front is finished

@Dylan *******************

Urgh! (Tuesday) They wanted a Police Check for my Education Visa - which I got, went back next day (Wednesday) to give certificate, waited in lines again only to be told they were too busy come back next day (Thursday) (the day I was told to collect my passport) so I thought it wouldn’t be approved - handed in the Police Check - guy (Counter 2) snatched it, didn’t even look at it and gave me passport).

You will get a ‘collection notice’ for two days time saying collect passport between 1.30pm - 4pm, I started lining up just before 1pm. So the same situation but the line got very long, very fast - first in first served. And it’s hotter! Be prepared, have everything ready on day one, a lot of people were still fill out forms on a table inside - there is a great cafe Lak40 next door with toilets and WiFi. There are also toilets in Embassyz

When you go to pick up passport just hand the notice to them and they will give you back passport. Once inside the embassy the seating area is covered, but passport collection line went back to the gate so people were standing. It will be a long time for your little ones! My thinking was Id rather wait 30mins before than who knows how long once gate opens, glad I did

@Dylan *******************

Hey Dylan I’ve just been there a couple of days ago.

Here are some tips.

There is no shade take an umbrella - I was waiting in line for 45 minutes both days. You have to show the appointment form as you go in. The appointment time does not matter! So you can get there at 8.30am, but it will not open until 9am on the dot. You go inside and sit on chairs (in another line) numbers are not called out. Just first in first served. There were only 2 counters open, and on one day only 1 counter (guy on number 2 counter is known to be grumpy - he got angry at me for not giving appointment form to him first - it’s him not you!)

Good Luck! If you have a baby people are kind and will let you go to the front of the line.

@Nigel *************

Gotta love Thailand right?! All the best for your border bounce.

I think I’ll write a post about getting my Education Visa here in Vientiane - who knew I needed a Police Check, that I got overnight (super stressful 4.30am messaging company in Sydney), lined up at Embassy for nearly an hour again, get to counter - no, too busy come back tomorrow. Came back, guy didn’t even look at the Police Check document and just gave me my passport with Ed Visa 🤦‍♀️. Also requested a bank statement which I had heard is rare to be asked but can happen - luckily I had one printed. I’m hoping tomorrow is uneventful and I can go check out the Red Lotus Lake!

@Nigel *************

Important!

I found out this today - you can only book the bus on the day you want to travel (!!!) unless it is the first bus for the next day (8am). So I booked a ticket today for the first bus tomorrow. I’m not sure how quickly the buses fill. Other tourists were frustrated by this because you pick up visa from Embassy between 1.30pm-4pm and they wanted to book 3pm bus but couldn’t until the following day.

- Also you need to pay in Thai Baht 80-85

- And then you need to pay 80,000 kip at the border