Ranong visa run

[chillax]

Head to ranong for a visa run

[SunandFun]

If you are trying to get a new Visa on a current 30 day Visa, then please know that they are stoping this and after 3 border crossings (or less) you will have to get a long term proper Visa depending on age, status, etc.

[HHTel]

Surely nobody does Ranong any more!

[Arlo]

Where have you been so far? Remember this is still part of the real world. It may feel like a dream sometimes but I hope you take everything slow and enjoy it. If you choose to stay longer than you know you should, please have a plan. Best of luck to you!

[Korkenzieher]

Surely nobody does Ranong any more!

I have a 1 year O visa that requires me to do visa runs - Immi tells me I cannot do internal reporting on that category of visa. I do. I am not the only one, of that I am sure.

[kendo]

Diana welcome to the forum lots of great info on here dig deep and enjoy.

Kendo.

[joelle]

first welcome diana
to korkenzieher : do you mean that you go to ranong once a year and you get a full year visa each time and no problems ???
tried it once but did not know it worked every time

[Korkenzieher]

No. I have a 1 year multiple entry visa which doesn't allow me to do internal reporting. Apparently, I *could* swap it for a retiree visa if I was prepared to keep 400k baht in a bank account, but according to immigration, I have no alternative but to do physical exit and re-entry at least ever 90 days - I can come and go as often as I like as long as no single stay is more than 90 days. It is the 2nd time I have had one of these. It is some category of O/me visa bit I don't have it to hand right now to give you any more detail than that.

[joelle]

thank you for your answer

[PeteC]

^^ 800K for a retirement extension Kork. 400 is for the married visa I believe. Pete

[Korkenzieher]

I thought so too - I am only repeating what immigration told me earlier this year. The lady specifically said 400k, and repeated it when I queried if she meant 800k. Apparently any time within 1 calendar month before I would have to leave, I could apply to convert. I have no real interest in doing it - I am quite happy with the situation as it is, but I guess exits can be a nuisance on occasions/

[HHTel]

Korkenzieher, I meant that if you are in the Hua Hin area then Ranong is an awful long way to go to do your 90 day 'visa run'. Kanchanaburi is much closer. Land border so no water involved. Good roads and you can be there and back in half a day!! This border has been open for close to a year now.

[joejoe]

Anybody knows a good agency that offer one of those "all inclusive visa run trip"?

[Korkenzieher]

I'm aware of the Kanchanaburi option. I usually do one visa run per year, rarely 2 - most of my other entries and exits are covered as part of longer trips like returns to Europe at various periods.

The trips to Kanchanaburi appear to be difficult to do on your own because (I am told) you need someone to deal with the passport at the other end. In any case, I prefer to do it on my own - the trip down to Ranong is not unduly arduous on a large bus, and I can make a holiday for my GF out of it. It is generally cheaper than the crammed minibus option, and for sure cheaper than the dedicated car and driver option. In 7 years, I have only used Ranong twice - I have gone off to Malaysia on many occasions - usually for a week in Melaka; and also Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam. It suits my lifestyle, and I am happy to continue doing it that way.

[expat71NL]

Went to Kanchanaburi last Saturday for 90 day renewal. 3 hours drive from Hua Hin center. Border crossing very quiet. Everything done within 20 minutes. Plenty of people to help with filling in forms, etc. You have to pay 900 Baht for the bus transport from the Thai border to the Myanmar border (about 2 km up the mountain) but you don't need to get out of the bus at Myanmar, everything arranged by the driver. The only queue when arriving back at Thai immigration are the people on your bus (usually 3 or 4). Very efficient operation. I was back in Hua Hin early Saturday afternoon.