Visa in Savannakhet, Laos

[bapak]

For those planning on a trip to Savannakhet for a visa, which has been available same day of application, be advised that as from 01/02/15, visa will be available for pickup on the next working day between 1500 and 1630.

[Jools]

Has anyone done this trip recently and could advise whether they issue the 90 day visa?
Caught between going to Penang for a 60 day tourist visa or going to Savannakhet for the 90 day type 'O'
Thank you for any information

[bapak]

They do O but not OA.

[lomuamart]

I'd imagine that the "O" visa will depend on your status - ie age, marriage status or if you've got children.

[bapak]

I am aware of recently applicants getting visa by saying that intend to get Retirement Extension on Hua Hin.

[SunandFun]

You may want to check out the website first or await a very recent experience with success there.
I applied for an "O" Visa in India and was told they are no longer available. I could apply for the full retirement Visa there but the process would take longer than I had left before leaving for Thailand. (Needed Medical, Police Report, etc.)
As a result, I came here on a 30 "Permission to Stay" stamp and have visited Immigration in Hua Hin. They have said I can get everything done here, just need the income verification from US embassy first. I will post again if I am successful with this. It will save me leaving the country. Cost is 1900 Baht for OA Retirement Visa and 1900 Baht for Multi Entry. Let's hope it works. An additional 30 days cost 1900 Baht, so this is the best way for me.

[lomuamart]

Good luck.

[SunandFun]

Thanks Lomu,
I went to Immigration twice, once to collect the forms and once after they were completed. Both times they said 1900 Baht, no problem. I will definitely post again when task complete or dead end reached. I go to US Embassy on Wednesday morning so I should have an answer on Thursday.

I have read previously that you must have a "Valid Visa" and not a "Permission to Stay." When I showed them what I heave, they said no problem. So I am not trying to slide anything through.

All prayers and blessings welcome!
For Non-religious: I welcome well wishers too!

[Jools]

Bapak,
I tried your way and they asked for documents. Asked what documents they wanted and was given a garbled reply that I couldn't understand. Gave up on third ask and got a tourist visa

[bapak]

Strange.... We had a Japanese husband and wife go there last Monday for O Visa. No excess documents required. They are now back in HH and during the last 30 days of their O Visa will be able to apply for Retirement Extesnion.

[SunandFun]

I arrived on April 1, 2015 on a "Permission to stay 30 days stamp."
I went to the US Embassy in BKK on April 22, 2015 and obtained a Notarized Letter for proof of monthly income. Cost US.$50.
I went to Hua Hin Immigration on April 23, 2015.
Applied and paid for Non-O Visa. This will take 15 days to receive from BKK. Cost 2000 Baht.
Applied and paid for 30 day extension to stay as my 30 days would expire before the Non-O Visa returns. Cost 1900 Baht.
Had option of waiting for two months and apply for Retirement extension but would have to go to BKK again and get another Notarized Letter from US Embassy. (Another US$50) Paid extra 6000 Baht to have Retirement Visa at the same time I receive the Non-O Visa. This saved me going back to BKK and saved US$50.
Applied and paid for Multi Entry. Cost 3800 Baht.
Took about 2.5 hours and no wait6ing as this was the day it rained hard. No one there but staff.
I will call the Officer on her personal cell phone at 10:00 am on May 11, 2015 to confirm all paper work is back from BKK. If all is received. I bring my passport to Immigration and receive Non-O Vise, Retirement Extension, Multi Entry Permit.
Did the same for my wife, however she did not need the 30 day extension for permission to stay as she just arrived to Thailand.
Hope this helps others who come on a Permission to stay stamp and want to get a Retirement Visa.

[Jools]

Thank you SunandFun.
I will look for that solution now.

[SunandFun]

As a follow up to the post below, The kind lady from immigration called me 4 days early to let me know that the O Visa was back from BKK and I could come and get all of my stats and approvals at m convenience. Unbelievable service!

I arrived on April 1, 2015 on a "Permission to stay 30 days stamp."
I went to the US Embassy in BKK on April 22, 2015 and obtained a Notarized Letter for proof of monthly income. Cost US.$50.
I went to Hua Hin Immigration on April 23, 2015.
Applied and paid for Non-O Visa. This will take 15 days to receive from BKK. Cost 2000 Baht.
Applied and paid for 30 day extension to stay as my 30 days would expire before the Non-O Visa returns. Cost 1900 Baht.
Had option of waiting for two months and apply for Retirement extension but would have to go to BKK again and get another Notarized Letter from US Embassy. (Another US$50) Paid extra 6000 Baht to have Retirement Visa at the same time I receive the Non-O Visa. This saved me going back to BKK and saved US$50.
Applied and paid for Multi Entry. Cost 3800 Baht.
Took about 2.5 hours and no wait6ing as this was the day it rained hard. No one there but staff.
I will call the Officer on her personal cell phone at 10:00 am on May 11, 2015 to confirm all paper work is back from BKK. If all is received. I bring my passport to Immigration and receive Non-O Vise, Retirement Extension, Multi Entry Permit.
Did the same for my wife, however she did not need the 30 day extension for permission to stay as she just arrived to Thailand.
Hope this helps others who come on a Permission to stay stamp and want to get a Retirement Visa.

[Toonmad]

Just got back from Savannakhet where I successfully applied for a multiple entry, one year, non immigration O visa for supporting a Thai wife. The documents I submitted were as follows.
Application form
Passport plus copy
Marriage certificate plus copy
Copy of wife's ID
Copy of Blue book (Which I'm not in)
5,000 Bt fee.
Those observant among you will notice that there were no financial documents submitted. Although I do qualify on the income requirement and did have photocopies of P60 etc I was not asked to submit them. Those of you who find it difficult to meet the financial requirements may want to think about using this consulate to apply for your visa's.
As in most cases you need to apply before 11 o clock and the documents are returned the next day after 2 o clock. The consulate is only a ten minute drive from the border and another ten minute drive takes you into the hotel/guest house area. The bridge is about a ten minute drive from the centre of Mukdahan.
I know it's a long drive from Hua Hin. I live in Issan now and I still had a four and a half hour drive to get there but if you haven't got the money in the bank and don't have the monthly income it gives you one way of overcoming the problem.

[Procyon]

Thanks for the heads up - a good option when Hua Hin are messing you around (whether you have the finances or not).

I presume on this visa you have to leave the country every 3 months?