3 replies to this topic

[holsteinpill]

Chaps,

I'm after the easiest option with some advice please.

I am currently living up in Korat and I have a 60 day double entry of which i have extended for another 30 days at the Korat Immigration Office ( No Problem )

The extended 30 days will be up on the 25th January whereas I will have to go to a border.  

Which is the easiest and quickest turn-around border Laos or Cambodia?  Also.......   Is there a fee for crossing and what is the procedure when arriving there?

After getting my second entry stamp into Thailand I will wait for my son to be born in March, once born  can I then apply for a family Visa, Non Immigrant 'O' ?  If so,  how do i go about this?

Any advice will be most welcome

Cheers

[Ohyesuare]

Chong Chom border crossing is closest. Take the 24 road from Khorat, direction Ubon Ratchathani. Turn right at Prasat on the 214 road and the border is approximately 40 km. A visa is required to enter Cambodia which will cost you more if you pay in baht. There is an e-visa service you can use so you don't get scammed with that. You exit Thailand and enter Cambodia and then come back right back if you want. You might also be asked a fee for the "express" service or something.

[holsteinpill]

Thanks for that mate, but I think that I'll be heading up to Laos albeit a bit further. I've just found out that my wife's Mum has a good friend who is a government official in Laos and it appears that she can wangle a few forms etc , so it looks like a trouble free stay after all.

Cheers

[pubstud]

<sub>From Korat go directly to Ubon Ratchathani. Go to the bus station and take the bus to Pakse in Lao. From memory there are a few departures/arrivals daily and it costs about 100Bt. At the Thai-Lao border you cue up and get your VOA, as you're British it costs $USD 35. That's what it was when I last went last year, it may or may not have uncreased. After you get your VOA the bus continues on to Pakse. Pakse is quite a nice little town and there are a few good things to see in the general vicinity, if time permits you can head down to the 40,000 islands in the Mehkong River.

As for your question about  family visa/non-imm O. My advice is to go to one of the many Pattaya visa services and have then do all the work for you. It'll cost naturally, probably about 20,000THB, including re-entry visas but it'll be fast and save you a lot of leg work and headache. You'll only need to get the agent to do it the first year, after then the annual renewals are fairly easy and straight forward. Others will tell you to save your dosh and do it yourself. So it's up to you if you want to do all the stuffing around and save some money. But if I was in your shoes I'd pay the agent and go have a cold beer while he does all the work.</sub>