Everything to expect on your visa run.
Teaching in Thailand comes with the inevitable requirement of completing a visa run to obtain a Non-Immigrant B (Non-B) visa. This visa allows you to apply for your work permit and remain in Thailand for the duration of your contract. Today’s blog is about my experience of the visa run.
SINE recommends that teachers complete their visa run with Meesuk Travel, and I can personally vouch for them as being an excellent company. SINE also has a team who take care of all your documents and every little detail, saving you the stress that often comes with the visa process. Meesuk offers several package options, but I recommend paying for the ฿10,800 package. This package includes transport to and from the Thai–Laos border. At the border, their staff guide you through Thai immigration and escort you into Laos. They arrange your hotel accommodation, provide all transportation between your hotel and the Thai embassy and handle the embassy processing to make the process as smooth as possible. The package also includes all of your meals throughout the trip, so you won’t need to worry about finding places to eat. The only additional cost is the 2,000 THB Non-Immigrant B visa fee, which you pay separately. SINE reimburses the full amount at the end of your contract anyway, and all you have to do is show up at the Meesuk office on the specified day.
Make sure to add Meesuk Travel on LINE before making the trip. Their response time is exceptionally quick, even late in the evening. I arrived at approximately 1:30 p.m. and found many other people already there, all preparing for their own visa run. Another great part of the experience was having the opportunity to meet so many fellow teachers.
The office is organised into several help desks, each labelled to represent the different stages of the process. This makes it easy to understand exactly where you are in the visa application process and what you need to do at each desk. They operate a ticket number system, so everyone is seen on a first-come, first-served basis. It’s worth arriving early so you have a better chance of leaving for Laos on one of the first vans.
Thankfully, SINE prepares your documents so efficiently that Meesuk has very little additional work to do, helping to speed up the entire process. I would recommend bringing four or five extra passport photos in addition to the number you’re told to bring, just in case.
Once all of our documents and photos had been checked, the vans were ready to take us to Laos! Travelling by van was much quicker than making the journey by coach.
The journey lasted around eight to nine hours. Depending on which van you board, they can be quite spacious, and I honestly found the journey perfectly comfortable. Fortunately, the drivers are required to make several rest stops along the way, giving everyone plenty of time to use the bathroom and buy food.
Once we arrived at the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge border crossing, we queued to have our passports stamped. Meesuk had already taken care of the arrival cards for us. The process itself was fairly quick. However, after such a long overnight journey, sleep deprivation definitely became a factor, so be prepared for that.
Once everyone had crossed the border, we travelled to the hotel, which was only about a 10-minute drive away.
At the hotel, you get your own room, air conditioning, towels, and everything else you need. We’re not expecting a five-star resort here, but it was perfectly comfortable for a short stay. The package also includes all of your meals, which are buffet-style. Top tip: if you’re a big eater like I am, bring some Tupperware and save a little food for later! (You definitely don’t have to, but I just so happen to be a massive foodie).
The reason the trip lasts two to three days is simply because you’re waiting for your visa to be approved. Meesuk is extremely confident in the approval process because they thoroughly check all of your documents before you even leave Thailand. Without the help of Meesuk Travel, this process can take anywhere from 10 to 15 days. With Meesuk, however, it only took two to three days, so I hope I’ve convinced you how worthwhile it is!
I travelled during peak season, and my visa happened to be the last one to be approved. It’s completely normal to feel apprehensive or worry that your visa won’t be approved in time, but I can assure you that it will be. In the worst-case scenario, you simply stay an extra night. The border is open from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m and my visa was approved at around 6:30 p.m. Our van waited for me while we hurried back to the border, and thankfully I managed to get my passport stamped and cross back into Thailand just before closing!
We then made the journey back to Bangkok, so be prepared for another night of very little sleep! Fortunately, our driver passed through the area where I was staying and kindly dropped me off close to my house. I was back home by around 5:00 a.m. the following morning.
Visa runs can sound like an intimidating experience, but you have my word that both SINE and Meesuk make the process as organised and stress-free as possible. They take care of everything. You simply need to show up and trust the process.
I hope you enjoyed this blog! If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. Best of luck with your own visa run and your teaching journey in Thailand!
Written by Teacher Stefan