My visa exempt entry to Thailand at the Nong Khai post was declined today.

I obtained my new US passport last year. I flew to Thailand twice last year, got 1 extension of the two exempts. And used one border cross from last year. This was going to be my very first entry to Thailand in 2025, I am very surprised to be declined. Did anyone have a similar experience lately ? Supervisor said I stayed too long in Thailand, he said I should go back to Laos and fly to Thailand. But on the paper he gave me he marked (1) and (3), I think meaning they think I work in Thailand, which is nonsense, I don't work. I think we are back to pre-pandemic days, Thailand does not need repeat tourists anymore

I got my E-Visa in November and went to Tha Bo in the Nong Khai province in order to open a bank account. That's where I stay with my SO. The biggest problem I ran into was the banks had never dealt with an E-Visa, and they had a hard time understanding that it was the long-term visa needed to open a bank account. Two banks said if I got a Thai driver's license they would do it and even after I got the license they said that wasn't good enough. They needed a certificate of residency from immigration. Nong Khai immigration won't do that unless the bank requests it, the banks say they can't request it. I even had the COR from my driver's license (copy) and they said they needed the original. I finally found a wonderful lady in Si Chaing Mi at Krungthai bank that made it happen. I hit every bank I saw in Nong Khai and Tha bo and finally got lucky. Just a heads up for those in the Issan area wanting to open a bank on the E-Visa. Krungthai only accepts wise transfers of 49,999 baht at a time, so that is a pain as you can transfer up to 1 million at a time to Bangkok bank.

Hi everyone,

I was wondering if anyone has used a train ticket as proof of an onward ticket, and if it was accepted by AirAsia staff at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The ticket I intend to buy is from Nong Khai, Thailand, to Vientiane, Laos.

Many thanks in advance!

I am on a non O visa which I just renewed. I don’t have a multi entry stamp and we are trying to plan a trip to Lao. Can I get a re-entry stamp driving across at Nong Khai or do I need to get it in Khon Kaen immigration where I do my visa stuff? Can I get it based on a date we are planning or do I have to go the day we are leaving?

Hello group members,

Need some advice regarding land border entry for tourism.

Nationality: Indian, eligible for 60 day visa free entry

1. Planning to fly in to BKK, travel to the north for 7 days (Chiang Mai-Chiang Rai) , cross-over to Laos, and take the boat to Luang Prabang, and spend 10 days in Laos.

2. Cross over to Thailand via Nong Khai border (avail visa free entry), travel Nong Khai to BKK , then take the bus from BKK to Siem Reap (Cambodia).

3. Stay in Cambodia for 10 days, crossover again to Thailand from Aranyaprathet, and fly back to India.

Key questions:

1. Is the visa free entry scheme for Indian citizens valid for these 2 border crossings- Nong Khai and Aranyaprathet. I have seen reports of some Indians being denied entry at Nong Khai and asked to fly from Vientiene to Bangkok instead.

2. Is there any restriction on the number of times a person can avail the visa free entry scheme, (i will be entering Thailand 3 times within a period of 30 days, before finally flying back to India)

3. Am i expected face any additional scrutiny or entry denial on account of my nationality, vs say a person from a first world country?

Kindly provide your inputs.

Warm Regards

Shivam S

Hello, I will be doing border run on the 3rd nov approx to Laos, apparently you need to stay for 48 hours now, does anyone have any recommended companies I can book it with or your recent experience? Thanks 😇

Anyone know current situation re border visa exemption Vientiane/ Nong Khai ?

I'm wanting to use the train to Udon Thani from Vientiane but presume I can only use train from Nong Khai and have to get a taxi from Vientiane to the border .

Cheers

Hi.

I'm crossing the border to laos on Thursday from thailand to vientiane. Does anyone knows until what time during the day we can cross?

Also anything I should have with me they might ask for on either side?

Thanks

Hi there, does anyone know if there's an option for getting a Re Entry permit at the Friendship bridge (Nong khai) going from Thailand to Laos?

I will be crossing to Laos by land and need to make sure I can get a Re Entry at the spot. Thanks!

Education Visa Question.

Hi All, I am currently in Vientiane, Laos, and have all the docs (from the school) for my Education Visa appointment on Tuesday. I’m wanting to organise getting back to Chiang Rai.

Has anyone had issues with Education Visa approval through Bangkok BKK Airport?

I think I read on here somewhere DMK airport isn’t a good option for Visa approval?

Or should I just do the 13 hour bus trip from Nong Khai?

Thanks very much!