Can an Agent get you a 60-day Visa?

Post by **VicVegas** » July 7, 2007, 12:19 pm

I have gone back a couple pages here and not found the info I need, so I'll post a new topic. Sorry if the answer is common knowledge.

Can the agents in Nong Kai secure a 60-day tourist visa for a customer, or do they only do 30-day tourist visas?

Are there agents here in Udon who preform this service?

I have a buddy coming up from Pattaya who wants an agent to take care of a 60-day visa. I've never used an agent myself. Personally I think he'll have to go spend the night in Vientienne and make two visits to the Thai consulate there, as I've done in the past.

Any info on this is greatly appreciated. =D>

laphanphon · Post by **laphanphon** » July 7, 2007, 12:33 pm

technically and legally, no, but i think most know that. the technical part being, you must carry your passport at all times. but probable or practical to do, depending on price, i'm guessing available, but i don't know of any myself. and since that little book is so important, the expense and hassle to replace, i don't think i would ever use or recommend an agent, unless i personally knew someone who recommended them due to their own use and experience with the agent.

Post by **wokkawombat** » July 7, 2007, 12:45 pm

I would have thought that the passport would have to show egress from Thailand and ingress into Laos so your agent would have to present the passport to Thai immigration for exit stamp and then Laos immigration for a entry visa. Seems a path fraught with danger just to save a night in Vientiane.

John

Post by **RALPHCUSENS** » July 7, 2007, 1:33 pm

About 4 or 5 months ago, they started to clamp down on "Agents" obtaining visas. there are no longer the touts outside of the Thai Consulate at Vientiane. as far as I know, it's no longer possible to use an agent to obtain any type of visa.

Post by **pompui** » July 7, 2007, 1:43 pm

Maybe best for him to use whatever agent he is using in Pattaya and get it done there before coming up to Udon to avoid hassles. Just let him know that Udon is not yet a mini Pattaya that has all the services associated.

Post by **Prenders88** » July 7, 2007, 2:53 pm

pompui wrote:Maybe best for him to use whatever agent he is using in Pattaya and get it done there before coming up to Udon to avoid hassles. Just let him know that Udon is not yet a mini Pattaya that has all the services associated.

Give it time.

Post by **VicVegas** » July 7, 2007, 3:51 pm

In the past he has paid a single fee with an agent in Pattaya which included airfare to Malaysia, hotel for one night, and visa fee, but apparently that is not available when you travel to Laos?

We talked to the Udon-Vientiane bus people today(who take a load straight to Vientiane and do the border paperwork for you) and they said they only take Thais. They won't do the paperwork for Falangs.

Thanks for all the responses.

Post by **BobHelm** » July 7, 2007, 3:58 pm

The only way, legally, that you can get a visa is applying for it yourself. You can, of course, take any person you wish WITH you while you do this. Personally i wouldn't bother, it is very easy to get a 60 day visa from Laos. Just a matter of taking copies of passport, couple of photos & 1,000 baht & filling in a form, waiting at the consulate a couple of times & a night in Laos.
About 5 years ago a friend of mine in BKK ended up with large problems (and paying a 20,000 baht fine) for using an agent for visas. It turned out that the agent concerned had just had a couple of rubber stamps cut & just stamped it himself. The issue with this is that, of course, nothing appears on the centralised computer system so the first time you try & physically exit the country you are in for a very nasty surprise !!!!

Post by **BobHelm** » July 7, 2007, 4:21 pm

Aah OK Vic I understand more what you want now....
I do not know of anyone who is offering this type of 'door to door' service in Udon but then I have never looked. It is really easy to do this from Udon by a combination of public transport (bus or train from Udon) tuk tuk to the bridge, bus over the bridge, taxi other side etc.. I would imagine to have some one taxi you all the way to the consulate, wait a night & then transport back would end up being expensive!!!

Post by **wokkawombat** » July 7, 2007, 4:34 pm

I also misunderstood. I thought you were looking for someone to take the passport to Laos and then return it to your friend in thailand with the visa.

John

Post by **ttom** » July 7, 2007, 5:00 pm

BobHelm wrote:Aah OK Vic I understand more what you want now....
I do not know of anyone who is offering this type of 'door to door' service in Udon but then I have never looked. It is really easy to do this from Udon by a combination of public transport (bus or train from Udon) tuk tuk to the bridge, bus over the bridge, taxi other side etc.. I would imagine to have some one taxi you all the way to the consulate, wait a night & then transport back would end up being expensive!!!

For Laos, you need a visa. You can obtain one on arrival, which takes from 30 min up to 90 min. Better is, to get a Visa from Lao Embassy or any Lao Consulate before start travelling to Laos. You might probably pay even less for your visa.

From Udon Thai you can use a comfortable direct bus from Udon Thani (central bus station, about 90 min.) or Nong Khai /bus terminal, about 45 min.) to Vientane (80 TBT one way) central bus station which is not too fare from Thai embassy.

This bus will not wait for time consuming visa application procedures at the Lao border; therefore it is wise to have a visa organised before leaving Thailand. The bus will surely wait until visa has been stamped! If you are quick (fist in line) you can also buy some cheap cigarettes ( about 70 TBT for 200) and spirits at the duty free border shop.

I Vientiane just jump on a tuk tuck and go straight to the embassy for your applications. They accept passports only during morning hours. In you can pick up your passport including visa. Go straight back to the bus terminal, buy your ticket (first come, first ride, seats are numbered) take the same route back to Thailand.

Post by **wokkawombat** » July 7, 2007, 5:07 pm

I think you will find the Thai Embassy/Consulate in Laos will keep your passport and you pick it up the next day. A Visa for laos can be obtained from the Laos Consulate in K K if you want to take that route.

Post by **VicVegas** » July 7, 2007, 5:16 pm

No, he will go to Vientiane but he wants someone to take care of the paperwork for him, like the border run services in Pattaya who drive you to Cambodia and take care of everything while you shop at the duty free shops. He says he has a similar service that flies you to Malaysia and gets you a hotel while they take care of the 60-day visa for you. He's had 3 consecutive 30-day visas so now he has to get a 60-day.

I've gotten two 60-day Thai visas from the consulate in Vientiane, both in 2006, but both times there were complications:

-First time (May 2006) the lady at the consulate told me I had to have money in a Thai bank to get a 60-day tourist visa.

That was news to me, but she insisted that was the law. What am I gonna do, tell a Thai immigration official that they're wrong about immigration requirements?

She settled for having my GF sign a statement vouching for me. As we left the same lady told me next time I would not be able to get another 60-day visa.

-Second time (September 2006) I made sure I had a bank statement with me, but this time the same lady didn't ask for it. I got the 60-day tourist visa, but again she told me next time I wouldn't get one. I asked "Why?", but she just ignored me.

I kept my cool and happily left with my visa.

So after hearing my experiences with the consulate in Vientiane, my buddy is a little concerned about dealing with them.

I'll let you know what happens with him.

Post by **BobHelm** » July 7, 2007, 5:47 pm

Vic i went on 29th. June 2007 to get 1..... Two (minor problems & both of my own making).
First I arrived in Vientiane at 12.30 so was too late to go to the Consulate that day - but I had realised that before I had left Thailand, so no real issues, just 2 nights instead of one.
Second, after i had filled the form in & arrived at the desk was told that I needed copies of my passport & that I could obtain outside the Consulate. Which I did - 50 baht is extortion but less than getting a tuk tuk back into town to find a shop

I did notice inside the consulate that they CAN actually insist that you are carrying a certain amount of Thai Baht in order to give you a tourist visa but they didn't ask me to show them.....memory is VERY hazy on what that amount was but I THINK it was 20,000 baht for an individual and 40,000 for a family.

Post by **pompui** » July 7, 2007, 5:55 pm

VicVegas wrote:No, he will go to Vientiane but he wants someone to take care of the paperwork for him, like the border run services in Pattaya who drive you to Cambodia and take care of everything while you shop at the duty free shops. He says he has a similar service that flies you to Malaysia and gets you a hotel while they take care of the 60-day visa for you. He's had 3 consecutive 30-day visas so now he has to get a 60-day
-

.

In the Bangkok post today maybe everyday,classified section page 7, has a company in pattaya called bri & joy co ltd talking about land trip to Vientienne offering to take care re tourist visa departing pattaya every sunday and wednesday so may as well let him speak to them seeing he is in pattaya now.
I always understood that for every 180 days you were only allowed two 30 day consecutive visas?

Post by **ttom** » July 8, 2007, 12:24 am

Best is doing it all by yourself.

If you want assistance, you can get some help from travel agent at the Pantawee Hotel in border town of Nong Khai. www.thailand.pantawee.com

They knew exactly all requirements and procedures.

This service isn’t cheap but pretty affordable and hassle free.

Post by **papaguido** » July 8, 2007, 6:53 am

Hey Vic,

I went about 2 weeks ago, it was a piece of cake. I posted my trip here and there's also a link to download a visa application.

http://www.udonmap.com/udonthaniforum/v ... php?t=5243

Also, download and complete the application and glue/paste the passport photos on the application the day before.

Post by **Paul** » July 8, 2007, 7:18 pm

Its 3 - not 2
And some people have reported that immigration are calculating it using number of times entered whilst others are counting the actual days and giving you 90 days in any 180 day period (better)

Post by **BobHelm** » July 8, 2007, 8:29 pm

Paul, I guess it is like all things with immigration in Issan it depends who you get & on what day. But I do personally know 2 people who were given a fourth consecutive VOA because the 3 they already had didn't actually add up to 90 days in Thailand. One received a VOA for 6 days & one received one for 12 days!!!

Post by **ttom** » July 8, 2007, 8:57 pm

BobHelm wrote:Paul, I guess it is like all things with immigration in Issan it depends who you get & on what day. But I do personally know 2 people who were given a fourth consecutive VOA because the 3 they already had didn't actually add up to 90 days in Thailand. One received a VOA for 6 days & one received one for 12 days!!!

Yes, that’s true and inline with recently changed regulations.

Before any entry was quoted = 30 days. This has changed by now.

Due to the fact that Immigration stamps entry and visa everywhere they like, sometimes people are getting a few days extra since they didn’t find all stamps that quickly, especially if there are long rows of people waiting. If there computer is working (happened more and more often) the machines helps counting….

Can an Agent get you a 60-day Visa?

Can an Agent get you a 60-day Visa?

Yes ...

Lao border check points and Consulates don't like agents muc

Immigration is counting days ...