Ajarn Forum - Living and Teaching In Thailand - View Single Post - Non-Imm B Visa run to Vientiane with pics

Robin Hood · 4th November 2007, 10:11

Visa run to Vientiane 31/10/07.

I have just got back from a visa run to Lao for my Non – B, I did it the Duncecap way.

I took the 20.45 train to Nong Khai from Huay Lumpong.

I arrived at Nong Khai about 9.15 am, no problems.

(Please be warned though, I had ordered a breakfast of rice soup with pork and when it came it was freezing cold and B95 . The beer was also B120 for a large Singha)

I then got a tuk – tuk outside the station to the border, B30. 5 minutes by vehicle, 20 by walking.

When you get through Lao customs there are a lot of drivers quoting B3 – 400 for a lift to the Thai consulate. I opted for a songtaew with 5 other people, big mistake!

We agreed the destination and the price before we started; he took us to the market.
The reason being is this; the consulate only accepts visa applications up until 11.30am, then you have to wait until the next day. The time was about 10.40am and he basically said either pay him another B50 per person or get out and miss the visa application cut-off time.

This was not a misunderstanding; later in the day I met a Filipino who had the same experience but had given them B250 originally.

Got to the consulate (with about ten minutes to spare) filled in my visa application and handed in my documents for checking.

This is what I submitted.

Letter from M.O.E stating they accept me as a teacher after checking my degree.and T.E.F.L.

A copy of my degree, T.E.F.L certificate and a letter from my university confirming my degree.

A copy of the contract between my employer and myself.

A copy of my employer’s licence to operate and their financial status.
A letter to the consulate asking for a Non immigrant B visa for myself by my sponsor.

Something about the M.O.L

The head of the company’s photo and copies of their Thai I.D CARD.

A Thai police clearance report.

Two photo’s

Copies of EVERY page of my passport.

There may be more but it was in Thai, so I’m not entirely sure what it was.

Every one of these documents had the stamp of the school, a certified copy stamp, my signature and my sponsors.

They DID NOT ask to see the originals but I took them just in case.

They told me to wait in another area and after about 20 minutes they called my name and asked for the fee, B2000 for a single entry Non B valid for 3 months.

I left the consulate and negotiated with one of the vultures outside a lift to a hotel ( B150) I had found on the internet called “The Mali Namphu” It had good reports so I handed a downloaded map from their site to the driver and away we went.

When I arrived at the hotel it was fine apart from the prices had changed to what was being quoted on the Internet.

I paid B675 for a double Air-con with cable TV, en-suite bathroom and breakfast instead of the B550 but in all the hotel was very good and the breakfast ok.

(One down side was the cost of the laundry, B90 a kilo)

PLEASE NOTE.

All you pay 4 players, The hotel, under any circumstances do not allow “guests” in the room. I saw a very drunk Australian trying to get his new - found girlfriend in and being flatly refused.

A few good bars by the river (which is only 5 minutes walk ) if you are drinking Beerlao , it is cheap but any other beer, then you are paying over the top prices.
I found an Indian restaurant near my hotel called “Narims” I had an excellent meal of pakora and samosa starters , popadoms and chicken biriyani. All the pickles , sauces etc you expect to find and a large bottle of Beer lao. B180. Well worth it in my eyes.

I went to other bars around the area and all of them where ok as long as you were drinking Beerlao.

I arranged with a tuk-tuk driver to take me to the consulate wait for me there and then take me to the border B300. (Please believe me when I say, there is not much room for negotiation with these prices. They have got you by the ……. and they know they have)

I arrived at the consulate at 12.15pm for the afternoon opening of 1pm. There was a steady stream of people arriving and by 12.50pm there was a lot of people waiting for there passports.

I received my passport with my visa about 1.15pm and then to the border.

The usual performance crossing and then I walked to the train station (Not being tight, I had 5 hours to kill)

When I arrived at the train station I was informed the trains were on strike and the 18.40 sleeper to Bangkok had been cancelled. Not happy.

I booked a ticket for the next day’s 6.00am train to Bangkok. No 1st class this time , so 2nd class with air.

So off to Nong Khai in a tuk – tuk B30 and found a room. “The Khiang Khong” B400 and a very good room to. Air , double with en-suite and cable.

I went for a walk and found a Vietnamese restaurant and had an amazing meal of BBQ pork , glass noodle salad with lime, ginger and chilli and a large Singha for B150 unbelievable. Try getting that in Bkk for less than B500.

I found a few local ex-pat bars where they seemed to be waiting to die and looked rough as…….. But the beer was cheap so who am I to judge.

I got to the station the next day ( B60 tuk – tuk this time?) at 5.50am and then the train was an hour late, we left at 7.00am.

The train constantly kept breaking down and I arrived in Bankok at 11.15 pm, that’s right, an amazing 16 hours or more on a train…….

I got into my house at just after 12.30 am. Nackered !

So there you go, an up-to date visa run to Lao. Sorry no pictures, my camera is broken.

Untill next time…….

4th November 2007, 10:11	#20 (permalink)
Robin Hood Robin Hood is..... New Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 7 vCash: 500 Rep Power: 0	Re: Non-Imm B Visa run to Vientiane with pics Visa run to Vientiane 31/10/07. I have just got back from a visa run to Lao for my Non – B, I did it the Duncecap way. I took the 20.45 train to Nong Khai from Huay Lumpong. I arrived at Nong Khai about 9.15 am, no problems. (Please be warned though, I had ordered a breakfast of rice soup with pork and when it came it was freezing cold and B95 . The beer was also B120 for a large Singha) I then got a tuk – tuk outside the station to the border, B30. 5 minutes by vehicle, 20 by walking. When you get through Lao customs there are a lot of drivers quoting B3 – 400 for a lift to the Thai consulate. I opted for a songtaew with 5 other people, big mistake! We agreed the destination and the price before we started; he took us to the market. The reason being is this; the consulate only accepts visa applications up until 11.30am, then you have to wait until the next day. The time was about 10.40am and he basically said either pay him another B50 per person or get out and miss the visa application cut-off time. This was not a misunderstanding; later in the day I met a Filipino who had the same experience but had given them B250 originally. Got to the consulate (with about ten minutes to spare) filled in my visa application and handed in my documents for checking. This is what I submitted. Letter from M.O.E stating they accept me as a teacher after checking my degree.and T.E.F.L. A copy of my degree, T.E.F.L certificate and a letter from my university confirming my degree. A copy of the contract between my employer and myself. A copy of my employer’s licence to operate and their financial status. A letter to the consulate asking for a Non immigrant B visa for myself by my sponsor. Something about the M.O.L The head of the company’s photo and copies of their Thai I.D CARD. A Thai police clearance report. Two photo’s Copies of EVERY page of my passport. There may be more but it was in Thai, so I’m not entirely sure what it was. Every one of these documents had the stamp of the school, a certified copy stamp, my signature and my sponsors. They DID NOT ask to see the originals but I took them just in case. They told me to wait in another area and after about 20 minutes they called my name and asked for the fee, B2000 for a single entry Non B valid for 3 months. I left the consulate and negotiated with one of the vultures outside a lift to a hotel ( B150) I had found on the internet called “The Mali Namphu” It had good reports so I handed a downloaded map from their site to the driver and away we went. When I arrived at the hotel it was fine apart from the prices had changed to what was being quoted on the Internet. I paid B675 for a double Air-con with cable TV, en-suite bathroom and breakfast instead of the B550 but in all the hotel was very good and the breakfast ok. (One down side was the cost of the laundry, B90 a kilo) PLEASE NOTE. All you pay 4 players, The hotel, under any circumstances do not allow “guests” in the room. I saw a very drunk Australian trying to get his new - found girlfriend in and being flatly refused. A few good bars by the river (which is only 5 minutes walk ) if you are drinking Beerlao , it is cheap but any other beer, then you are paying over the top prices. I found an Indian restaurant near my hotel called “Narims” I had an excellent meal of pakora and samosa starters , popadoms and chicken biriyani. All the pickles , sauces etc you expect to find and a large bottle of Beer lao. B180. Well worth it in my eyes. I went to other bars around the area and all of them where ok as long as you were drinking Beerlao. I arranged with a tuk-tuk driver to take me to the consulate wait for me there and then take me to the border B300. (Please believe me when I say, there is not much room for negotiation with these prices. They have got you by the ……. and they know they have) I arrived at the consulate at 12.15pm for the afternoon opening of 1pm. There was a steady stream of people arriving and by 12.50pm there was a lot of people waiting for there passports. I received my passport with my visa about 1.15pm and then to the border. The usual performance crossing and then I walked to the train station (Not being tight, I had 5 hours to kill) When I arrived at the train station I was informed the trains were on strike and the 18.40 sleeper to Bangkok had been cancelled. Not happy. I booked a ticket for the next day’s 6.00am train to Bangkok. No 1st class this time , so 2nd class with air. So off to Nong Khai in a tuk – tuk B30 and found a room. “The Khiang Khong” B400 and a very good room to. Air , double with en-suite and cable. I went for a walk and found a Vietnamese restaurant and had an amazing meal of BBQ pork , glass noodle salad with lime, ginger and chilli and a large Singha for B150 unbelievable. Try getting that in Bkk for less than B500. I found a few local ex-pat bars where they seemed to be waiting to die and looked rough as…….. But the beer was cheap so who am I to judge. I got to the station the next day ( B60 tuk – tuk this time?) at 5.50am and then the train was an hour late, we left at 7.00am. The train constantly kept breaking down and I arrived in Bankok at 11.15 pm, that’s right, an amazing 16 hours or more on a train……. I got into my house at just after 12.30 am. Nackered ! So there you go, an up-to date visa run to Lao. Sorry no pictures, my camera is broken. Untill next time…….